Chicacao Travel Guide
City City in Suchitepeque known for coffee production
Chicacao straddles coffee and sugarcane country; visitors look for small coffee fincas, colonial-era churches and lively municipal markets, or use the town as a route to Pacific beaches.
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Why Visit Chicacao? #
Chicacao sits amid Suchitepéquez’s fertile plains, where coffee and sugarcane plantations shape the local economy and marimba music scores community life. Visitors come for lively market days, patronal fiestas with processions and local street food such as tamales, and for exploring nearby rural landscapes. The town offers a snapshot of coastal-lowland Guatemalan culture and a chance to see traditional agriculture up close.
Best Things to Do in Chicacao
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Chicacao Bucket List
- Parque Central de Chicacao - Town plaza hosting weekly markets, municipal events, and local gatherings.
- Iglesia de Chicacao - Local church notable for community festivals and traditional patron saint celebrations.
- Mercado local de Chicacao - Market selling coffee, fruits, vegetables, and regional street food specialties.
- Fincas cafetaleras cercanas - Nearby coffee farms offering tours, tastings, and insight into local production.
- Mirador Cerro Blanco - Short hike to a modest peak providing views over the Pacific plain and sugar fields.
- Río para nadar - Calm river spots used by families for swimming and weekend picnics.
- Xetulul and Xocomil (Retalhuleu) - Theme parks offering rides, cultural shows, and water attractions within an hour's drive.
- Monterrico coast - Black-sand beaches with turtle conservation projects and mangrove tours.
Best Time to Visit Chicacao #
Chicacao is on Guatemala's warm Pacific side with a distinct dry season (Nov-Apr) and a rainy season (May-Oct). Visit in the dry months for easier travel and coastal activities.
Best Time to Visit Chicacao #
Chicacao's climate is classified as Tropical Monsoon - Tropical Monsoon climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Temperatures range from 18°C to 31°C. Heavy rainfall (3670 mm/year), wettest in June with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. The driest month with just 26 mm and mostly sunny skies.
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February
February is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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March
March is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 19°C. Moderate rainfall (59 mm).
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April
April is warm with highs of 31°C and lows of 20°C. Significant rainfall (173 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is the warmest month with highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C. Heavy rain (360 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (649 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Heavy rain (422 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Heavy rain (498 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Heavy rain (646 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. Heavy rain (527 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is warm with highs of 29°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (198 mm).
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 18°C. Moderate rainfall (66 mm) and mostly sunny skies.
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How to Get to Chicacao
Chicacao is best reached by road from Guatemala City (GUA) or nearby departmental towns. There is no passenger rail or commercial air service for Chicacao; buses and colectivos handle most connections.
La Aurora International Airport (GUA): Chicacao is reached by road from Guatemala City’s La Aurora (GUA). There is no commercial airport in Chicacao; long-distance road travel from GUA or nearby departmental hubs is the standard approach.
(No local scheduled flights): Chicacao has no scheduled commercial flights; overland travel is how most visitors arrive.
Train: Guatemala currently has no passenger rail network serving Chicacao.
Bus: Intercity buses and local colectivos link Chicacao with Retalhuleu, Mazatenango and other towns in Suchitepéquez. Bus travel times are relatively short from nearby departmental centres but vary by route; buy tickets at terminals or directly from drivers on local services.
How to Get Around Chicacao #
Chicacao’s town center is small and walkable; local transport includes chicken buses and shared vans to neighboring towns and the coast. Tuk-tuks or moto-taxis are common for short hops; fares are low but vary - ask locally and carry small cash.
Where to Stay in Chicacao #
Where to Eat in Chicacao #
Shopping in Chicacao #
Shopping mainly takes place at the municipal market with produce, household goods and locally produced coffee-related items. Expect practical markets and small shops rather than specialty retail; bargaining is common at informal stalls.