Carnaval de Mazatenango

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Carnival & ParadeMazatenango

DatesDates TBA · Usually FebruaryCheck locally before booking

Duration9 daysListed event span

Crowd-Public scale varies

Best forMasks, paradesFew Guatemalan festivals stack as many

Language["es"]Currency: GTQ

CategoryCarnival & ParadeFestival type

The story

Carnaval de Mazatenango in Mazatenango

Mazatenango's Carnaval Mazateco is Guatemala's best-known Carnival celebration, running for about eight days before Ash Wednesday in Suchitepéquez department. The program centers on the Desfile de las Comparsas on Carnival Tuesday, costumed groups and floats moving through downtown streets, alongside a run of queen coronations, an equestrian parade, sports events, and juegos florales, a literary competition with older roots than the modern carnival itself.

Mazatenango's carnival is the most prominent Carnival celebration in Guatemala, held in Suchitepéquez department during the days before Ash Wednesday and formally dated to July 8, 1885, when municipal authorities institutionalized what had already been an informal local custom.

Your trip starts here

What is special

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

Few Guatemalan festivals stack as many distinct competitions into one week as Mazatenango does: five separate queen titles are contested and crowned, from Reina del Carnaval to the indigenous-representation Reina Indígena, each with its own coronation ceremony treated as a social event

The mystery stays covered

The carnival's roots reportedly predate its 1885 formal institution, growing out of older street celebrations tied to the Virgen de Candelaria that involved throwing confetti and cascarones, hollowed eggshells filled with confetti, at passersby

The city starts moving

That informal street-play custom persists alongside the now-elaborate float parades, giving the week a mix of centuries-old neighborhood horseplay and modern parade spectacle

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Street-level cascarón and confetti throwing among crowds

Water and renewal

Living ritual

the Desfile de las Comparsas on Carnival Tuesday

The sacred route

Living ritual

and the crowning of multiple separate carnival queens (Reina del Carnaval

The local code

Living ritual

Reina de los Juegos Florales

Tradition 5

Living ritual

Reina Indígena

Tradition 6

Living ritual

Reina Infantil

Tradition 7

Living ritual

and Señorita Mazatenango) are documented recurring customs of the event

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually February

Getting around

Stay close enough to the part of Mazatenango you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

What to wear

Casual, weather-appropriate clothing suits daytime parade-watching in Suchitepéquez's hot lowland climate, though attendees at the queen coronation galas dress considerably more formally. If...

Safety

Carnaval de Mazatenango is easier when valuables are secure and the group knows where to meet if separated.

Where to stay

Base yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Carnaval de Mazatenango runs late.

Tickets/cost

Many carnival moments are public, but confirm paid areas or stands before travel.

Language/currency

["es"] · GTQ

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map14.53 N, 91.51 W Open in Google Maps

Mazatenango, Suchitepequez, Guatemala

Nearest airportGUA — La Aurora

TransportStay close enough to the part of Mazatenango you will actually use, especially if the event runs late.

Stay areaBase yourself where the last trip of the day stays easy, especially if Carnaval de Mazatenango runs late.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Mazatenango via local transport.Search routes Find a place to stayStays near Mazatenango, close enough for the event-day route.Browse stays Find flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for February.Compare fares Festival gearCasual, weather-appropriate clothing suits daytime parade-watching in Suchitepéquez's hot lowland climate, though attendees at the queen coronation galas dress considerably more formally. If you plan to join in any street-side confetti or cascarón throwing, expect your clothes to end up covered in bits of colored paper by the end of the day.Shop the kit Check visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for Guatemala and apply online.Check entry rules Travel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Carnaval de Mazatenango?

Carnaval de Mazatenango is listed for Past edition: 1–9 March 2025. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Carnaval de Mazatenango take place?

The festival is listed in Mazatenango, Guatemala. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

9 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Needs editorial review. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Mazatenango, Suchitepequez, Guatemala

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLAwaiting confirmation

Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →

Listed datesDates TBA · Usually February

Source statusNeeds editorial review

Spotted something out of date? Submit a correction →

Carnaval de Mazatenango

Carnaval de Mazatenango in Mazatenango

The part that makes it specific.

The place changes

The mystery stays covered

The city starts moving

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Water and renewal

The sacred route

The local code

Tradition 5

Tradition 6

Tradition 7

Essential information

When to go

Getting around

What to wear

Safety

Where to stay

Tickets/cost

Language/currency

Family friendly

Mazatenango, Suchitepequez, Guatemala

Your Trip Starts Here

Quick answers.

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

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