Pacaya
Pacaya is a mountain and volcano located in the Sierra Madre de Chiapas range in the Escuintla Department. It stands at an elevation of 2,552 meters and is one of the most looked-up sights in Guatemala.
Planning a visit
The driest months to visit are December through March, when rainfall is minimal, ranging from 6 mm to 20 mm over 2 to 4 days. Temperatures during this period remain mild, with daily highs between 21 °C and 23 °C and lows around 10 °C to 11 °C. The rainy season begins in April and peaks between June and September, often seeing over 25 days of rain per month. La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City is the nearest airport, located 24 km away. The volcano itself is 31 km from Guatemala City. You can combine a trip to Pacaya with nearby sights such as the Arco de Santa Catalina, which is 24.5 km away, or the Museo Popol Vuh, located 28.1 km from the site. Other nearby locations include the National Palace at 30.6 km, Volcán de Fuego at 31.9 km, and Acatenango at 32.5 km.
Weather by month
Temperatures stay much the same all year, around 16 °C on average. The wettest is June, with about 473 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| Average low, °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Rainfall, mm | 6 | 13 | 20 | 81 | 287 | 473 | 374 | 352 | 455 | 302 | 64 | 15 |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 27 | 28 | 25 | 13 | 3 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
