Which month is best to visit
Aug 24th, 2007, 12:09 PM
#1
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Which month is best to visit
Between January and April which is the best month to visit regarding: weather, cost of hotels, etc. If I only have 8 days what should I do. Is it cost effective to do a organized tour or do it ourselves. thanks. Alana
Aug 25th, 2007, 05:58 AM
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Are you talking about Costa Rica? If so, for most parts of CR, Mayish-Novemberish is the rainy season for most areas. Many hotels charge lower rates during this time - what they call the green season. January - April would be drier, and more expensive. December/January are really popular times to go because people are on holiday and the weather is dry. Really you have to decide what you're interested in: wildlife, beach, hiking, restaurants, waterfalls, volcanoes, etc. and then people will be happy to guide you in the right direction. If you're talking about another country, you still need to specify your interests and people can guide you from there. Let us know...
Aug 25th, 2007, 06:36 AM
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No, tully, the answer is 35. 
Alana, I know when you start a thread here, the program lets you (and encourages you to) select a country as its topic, but it all gets listed in the Latin America forum, and so the rest of us can't see which country you selected. Let us know.
Alana, I know when you start a thread here, the program lets you (and encourages you to) select a country as its topic, but it all gets listed in the Latin America forum, and so the rest of us can't see which country you selected. Let us know.
Aug 25th, 2007, 09:03 AM
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I'm so sorry, I am planning to go to Guatemala, visiting Antigua area and the lake and then flying up to Tikal area. Should I rent a car in Antigua to visit the area. Is Guatemala city the only airport to fly up to Tikal. thanks. alana
Aug 25th, 2007, 12:21 PM
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Okay. Having just been in Guatemala over a period of several weeks from March through June of this year, and having done the WHOLE country in that time, I think I can answer this one.
Weather: You should have dry weather any of those months. March and April are the warmest months of the year, but for places at higher elevations, such as Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Guatemala City, it never gets too hot. Tikal will be very warm, but it's warm all year.
Costs: Most places in Guatemala do not do high-season/low-season rates based on time of year, although up around Tikal they do, and that time of year is the high season. Hotels in Antigua charge higher rates on Friday and Saturday nights, no matter what the time of year. It's a popular weekend destination for people in Guatemala City.
Also along these lines, Holy Week falls during that time, and Easter is very early next year (March 23, 2008). The entire week before is the greatest time of year to be in Antigua to see the Holy Week processions, especially on Good Friday. It also means the biggest crowds and highest lodging costs in Antigua too. Reserve FAR in advance if you plan to be there that week. Alternatively, processions go on in Antigua all during Lent, especially on the Sundays preceding Holy Week. They are smaller versions of the Good Friday processions, but I think, spectacular in their own right, and without the hordes of visitors.
Transport: I really think it's entirely possible to do Guatemala without a car. Many companies in Antigua, Panajachel and Guatemala City operate minivan shuttles that go from place to place, and will pick you up from and drop you off at your hotel. It's far more convenient than public transportation, and far less costly than renting a car.
Flying: In such a short time, you really have to fly to Tikal. The airport, just outside the towns of Flores and Santa Elena, receives flights a couple of times daily from Guatemala City. Those are the only two functioning airports in the country. The airport is still 65 km (33 mi) from the ruins. You can sign on to a day trip to Tikal that includes airfare and transport to the ruins. They leave Guatemala City or Antigua VERY early in the morning, give you the morning to wander the ruins, lunch up there, and fly you back in the afternoon. It's nice to spend the night up there if you have the time, but with eight days, maybe the day tour is the way to go. It's what the majority of visitors do.
On the topic of eight days, does that include your travel time too? Most flights to Guatemala City get in in the evening and most depart early in the morning. Does that effectively put your time in Guatemala at six days? That's still enough time for a wonderful trip, but don't try to pack too much in there. And if you're like most first-time visitors, you'll at least consider making a visit to Chichicastenango on market day (Sunday or Thursday). You can find shuttle transport from Guatemala City, Antigua or Panajachel on those days.
I hear there's a new Fodor's guide to Guatemala coming out next year too.
Weather: You should have dry weather any of those months. March and April are the warmest months of the year, but for places at higher elevations, such as Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Guatemala City, it never gets too hot. Tikal will be very warm, but it's warm all year.
Costs: Most places in Guatemala do not do high-season/low-season rates based on time of year, although up around Tikal they do, and that time of year is the high season. Hotels in Antigua charge higher rates on Friday and Saturday nights, no matter what the time of year. It's a popular weekend destination for people in Guatemala City.
Also along these lines, Holy Week falls during that time, and Easter is very early next year (March 23, 2008). The entire week before is the greatest time of year to be in Antigua to see the Holy Week processions, especially on Good Friday. It also means the biggest crowds and highest lodging costs in Antigua too. Reserve FAR in advance if you plan to be there that week. Alternatively, processions go on in Antigua all during Lent, especially on the Sundays preceding Holy Week. They are smaller versions of the Good Friday processions, but I think, spectacular in their own right, and without the hordes of visitors.
Transport: I really think it's entirely possible to do Guatemala without a car. Many companies in Antigua, Panajachel and Guatemala City operate minivan shuttles that go from place to place, and will pick you up from and drop you off at your hotel. It's far more convenient than public transportation, and far less costly than renting a car.
Flying: In such a short time, you really have to fly to Tikal. The airport, just outside the towns of Flores and Santa Elena, receives flights a couple of times daily from Guatemala City. Those are the only two functioning airports in the country. The airport is still 65 km (33 mi) from the ruins. You can sign on to a day trip to Tikal that includes airfare and transport to the ruins. They leave Guatemala City or Antigua VERY early in the morning, give you the morning to wander the ruins, lunch up there, and fly you back in the afternoon. It's nice to spend the night up there if you have the time, but with eight days, maybe the day tour is the way to go. It's what the majority of visitors do.
On the topic of eight days, does that include your travel time too? Most flights to Guatemala City get in in the evening and most depart early in the morning. Does that effectively put your time in Guatemala at six days? That's still enough time for a wonderful trip, but don't try to pack too much in there. And if you're like most first-time visitors, you'll at least consider making a visit to Chichicastenango on market day (Sunday or Thursday). You can find shuttle transport from Guatemala City, Antigua or Panajachel on those days.
I hear there's a new Fodor's guide to Guatemala coming out next year too.
Aug 26th, 2007, 04:44 PM
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Thank you Jeff for all the information. Now I just have to look for a really good airfare. My son will be coming from Atlanta Georgia and my husband and I will be coming from Virginia Beach. Any good suggestions on airlines. Thanks. Alana
Aug 26th, 2007, 07:04 PM
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It'll be fun to plan the trip, alana, and even more fun to take it.
With connections:
Delta via Atlanta
American via Miami
US Airways via Charlotte
Continental via Houston
Spirit Air via Fort Lauderdale
TACA via Miami (partners with United)
United via Los Angeles (that one's not a likely option for you from the east coast)
With connections:
Delta via Atlanta
American via Miami
US Airways via Charlotte
Continental via Houston
Spirit Air via Fort Lauderdale
TACA via Miami (partners with United)
United via Los Angeles (that one's not a likely option for you from the east coast)
