March is the month to choose for Semana Santa in 2027: the Palm Sunday-to-Easter window is 21-28 March. Earlier in the month, Guatemala Impact Marathon lists race day on 6 March. Decide whether your trip is built around Holy Week, running or general sightseeing before choosing your dates.
Our best time to visit Guatemala by month compares March with the rest of the year.
March weather by altitude
These are the parent guide’s published March values from its 1996-2025 Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis series. Average daily high/low is in °C, with °F in brackets; the published rounding is retained. They describe historical model averages, not official station normals or a forecast for your stay.
| Destination and elevation | March high/low |
|---|---|
| Antigua (1,540 m) | 27/15 (80/59) |
| Lake Atitlán, Panajachel (1,580 m) | 24/16 (75/60) |
| Xela (2,360 m) | 20/11 (67/52) |
| Tikal (300 m) | 32/20 (89/68) |
| Livingston (sea level) | 28/22 (82/72) |
| Monterrico (sea level) | 32/23 (90/74) |
March’s share of annual rainfall in that series is 3% at Tikal, 4% at Livingston and 1% at Monterrico. These are rounded seasonal shares, not the chance of rain on a particular day. Plan for the warmer lowland afternoons while retaining an evening layer for the highlands.
For Tikal or the coast, consider organising your days around your tolerance for heat. For a highland itinerary, do not let the warmer daytime average persuade you to leave all warm clothing at home.
March dates for your itinerary
| Date in 2027 | Occasion | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1-7 March | Guatemala Impact Marathon trip | Organiser’s arrival-to-homecoming schedule |
| 6 March | Impact Marathon race day | Organiser’s schedule |
| 21 March | Palm Sunday | Church calendar |
| 25 March | Holy Thursday | Church calendar |
| 26 March | Good Friday | Church calendar |
| 28 March | Easter Sunday | Church calendar |
Semana Santa and Lent processions
These Holy Week dates follow the church calendar, with Easter Sunday on 28 March 2027. They do not establish a church’s procession route or departure time. Our Antigua Lent processions guide and Guatemala City Lent processions guide are starting points for choosing which local programme to follow.
For the full Holy Week picture, see our Semana Santa guide. For schedules not yet published, check the relevant Hermandad. Before arranging a transfer or committing to a viewing location, confirm the current procession route and municipal access information. Do not transfer last year’s departure times or parking arrangements to your travel dates.
If your main aim is Holy Week, choose your base around the ceremonies you want to attend and leave flexibility for their final programmes. If you mainly want general sightseeing, decide whether you want those religious events to be part of the trip before choosing the late-March window.
Impact Marathon earlier in the month
The organiser’s schedule places arrival on 1 March, race day on 6 March and homecoming on 7 March 2027. Use our Guatemala Impact Marathon guide to review the trip, then confirm package terms and availability directly before booking flights.
Seasonal food to look for
AGN’s Holy Week food overview includes molletes, garbanzo en dulce, torrejas and bacalao a la vizcaína. Use those names when exploring seasonal menus rather than expecting every restaurant to offer the same selection. Our Lent and Holy Week food guide explains the dishes and distinguishes historical food-event information from current arrangements.
What to pack and budget for
Bring comfortable walking shoes, lightweight daytime clothing, sun protection and a warm highland evening layer. Add a rain layer if your itinerary includes Petén or the Caribbean. Use the Guatemala packing guide for activity-specific choices.
Check actual accommodation and transport quotes for your dates, along with cancellation terms. The Holy Week calendar alone does not establish a hotel surcharge or crowd level. If a ceremony or race is the reason for your journey, confirm its practical arrangements before making non-refundable bookings.
Sources
- Guatemala Life: monthly weather tables and methodology — read 4 November 2026; published Open-Meteo ERA5 figures.
- USCCB: liturgical calendar — read 4 November 2026; church-calendar dates, not local procession schedules.
- Impact Marathon: Guatemala programme — read 4 November 2026.
- AGN: traditional Holy Week dishes — read 4 November 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Semana Santa in Guatemala in 2027?
The Palm Sunday-to-Easter travel window is 21-28 March 2027. Holy Thursday is 25 March and Good Friday is 26 March, following the church calendar.
Are March procession routes confirmed?
Check the relevant Hermandad’s programme. Church-calendar dates establish Holy Week, but do not establish a procession’s departure time, route or return time.
When is Guatemala Impact Marathon in 2027?
The organiser’s schedule runs from arrival on 1 March to homecoming on 7 March, with race day on 6 March 2027.
What should I pack for Guatemala in March?
Bring lightweight daytime clothing, sun protection, comfortable walking shoes and a warm layer for highland evenings. Keep a rain layer if visiting Petén or the Caribbean.
