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Guatemala is situated to the south of Mexico and has borders with Honduras, El Salvador and Belize. Like many other countries in Central America, Guatemala has two coastlines, the Pacific and the Caribbean, however the Caribbean side is not very suitable for surfing. The conditions on the Pacific side however are much better.

Guatemala has a much diversified landscape: the tropical north with lots of rain forest and mountains and in the higher regions even pine forest. Guatemala offers, besides good surf, a lot of other attractions for the visitor.

The Mayan cities are especially impressive. Tikal, the most famous amongst them, is a world cultural heritage site. Another highlight is the Atitlan-Lake, 1500m above the sea level; surrounded by three volcanoes it has a quite unique atmosphere.

On the Pacific coast you can find a comfortable and warm climate all year long. Due to the proximity of the ocean the air is tropically humid, but in the dry period from November till April there is a significant reduction in rainfall.

In the east of Guatemala however it stays hot and very humid all year long and only in the higher regions does temperatures and rain decrease. From July till the end of October the affects of passing hurricanes can hit the country and bring heavy rain.

With constant warm water, empty line-ups and breathtaking nature, Guatemala offers all a surfer could wish for on its short Pacific coastline. It’s great breaks can be surfed all year long.

Beginners can find good conditions throughout the year whereas advanced surfers should focus on the period from June till October. In this time powerful swells travel the long fetch from the southern oceans and find their way to the Guatemalan coast.

Best season for beginner: September – May
Best season for advanced surfer: June – October

Crowd factor: low

A journey to Guatemala is usually via the Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora (GUA) in Guatemala City. The country is also reached by a comfortable bus service, which connects too many Central American countries.

Once you arrive you can continue your journey by regional bus lines for very low prices. If you wish to be more independent, it’s advised to organize a cab.

Another option, especially for long distances, is using of domestic flights. If you intend to visit other countries it pays off to buy an “all American Air Pass” which allows cheap flights in-between countries in Central and South America.