Updated for 2026.
Guatemala’s giant kite festivals take place every year on November 1st, during All Saints Day and Day of the Dead traditions. In 2026, the barriletes gigantes festivals in Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez will fall on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
When you think about Guatemala’s Day of the Dead celebrations, there is nothing quite like the sight of the barriletes de Guatemala: giant, colorful kites rising into the sky every November 1st. These are not just festival decorations. They are a way of honoring loved ones who have passed, connecting with ancestors, and keeping one of Guatemala’s most beautiful traditions alive.
Growing up in Guatemala, I always saw pictures of the barriletes in newspapers and watched TV reports showing crowds gathered around these massive creations. But honestly, it was not until I stood there myself, in a field in Sumpango, watching a kite rise against the backdrop of Volcán de Agua, that I truly felt the connection: to the past, to the people, and to something much bigger than a festival.
If you want to experience Guatemala’s Day of the Dead traditions in person, I can help you build a custom itinerary around the giant kite festivals in Sumpango or Santiago Sacatepéquez, along with Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and other meaningful cultural experiences. Learn more about my Guatemala travel planning services here.
In this article, I’ll share what the barriletes are, where the tradition started, what the designs mean, how these incredible kites are made, and why they have become such an important part of both Guatemalan festivals and Day of the Dead Guatemala traditions.
What Are the Barriletes de Guatemala?
The barriletes de Guatemala, or Guatemalan giant kites, are much more than colorful creations floating in the sky. They are a living tradition that blends Maya spirituality, community pride, remembrance, and extraordinary artistry.
Built almost entirely by hand using bamboo, rope, and delicate tissue paper, these enormous kites can stretch up to 20 meters in diameter and take months to complete.
While many are circular, you will also see kites with creative shapes in both Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, including figures with outstretched wings, human forms, animals, and bold outlines that make the designs stand out. Though flat, these shapes give the kites a dramatic presence, and some include flags or banners attached to the tops so they move with the wind.
Families, youth groups, and community teams spend countless hours designing, cutting, gluing, and assembling the intricate patterns and powerful messages that decorate each barrilete. Some kites are meant to fly, while the largest ones are carefully raised and displayed upright, held in place by wooden structures.
Each kite reflects the team that made it: a blend of artistry, faith, tradition, and memory passed down through generations.
What sets the barriletes apart from other kite traditions around the world is their deep spiritual and cultural meaning. Originally created to honor the dead and connect with ancestors during All Saints Day and Day of the Dead Guatemala celebrations, today’s barriletes also speak to the hopes, struggles, and dreams of modern Guatemala.
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The Origins of Guatemala’s Giant Kites
The tradition of building giant kites in Guatemala reaches back hundreds of years, long before visitors began traveling to see them. The practice has deep roots in Maya Kaqchikel culture, where kites were connected to spiritual beliefs about communication with the spirit world.
It was believed that the colorful kites helped protect villages by clearing away bad spirits and creating a path for the souls of ancestors to visit during special times of the year.
When Spanish colonizers arrived in Guatemala, Catholic traditions like All Saints Day and Day of the Dead were introduced. Over time, Maya communities wove these new holidays into their own beliefs. The kite tradition evolved too, becoming a way to honor loved ones who had passed while keeping Maya spirituality alive within Catholic celebrations.
Both Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez have preserved this tradition for generations, each with its own approach to the festival. Santiago’s celebration is smaller and more intimate, while Sumpango draws larger crowds and more international attention.
Today, when you stand among the giant kites of Sumpango or Santiago Sacatepéquez, you are witnessing more than a festival. You are seeing the survival of an ancient way of understanding the world, where memory, spirit, community, and art rise together into the sky.
Symbolism and Stories Behind the Designs
Each barrilete gigante is much more than a beautiful piece of art. It is a story woven from the hopes, struggles, memories, and beliefs of the people who create it.
Traditionally, the designs on the kites focused on honoring ancestors, protecting families from bad spirits, and celebrating the spiritual connection between the living and the dead.
Over time, the meaning behind the designs has grown. Today, many of the giant kites carry powerful messages about issues affecting Guatemala and its Indigenous communities. Some kites show images of nature and remind us to protect the environment. Others call for peace, human rights, justice, or respect for Maya identity and language.
Even the choice of materials reflects deeper meaning. Bamboo represents strength and flexibility. Tissue paper, fragile yet bright, mirrors the delicate but lasting connection between past and present.
When you walk among the barriletes at the festival, it is not just the size or color that takes your breath away. It is the feeling that each kite is speaking, sharing both ancient traditions and the urgent hopes of today’s Guatemala.
How Guatemalan Giant Kites Are Built
Building a barrilete gigante is an act of patience, teamwork, and artistry. The process starts months before the festival, often during the rainy season, when families and community groups begin meeting to plan their designs.
These are not quick projects. Some kites can take up to six months to complete, with hundreds of hours of careful, detailed work.
The frames are made from long strips of bamboo, tied together with rope or twine to create a base that is strong but flexible. Bamboo is light enough to lift but sturdy enough to hold the weight of the huge paper designs.
The skin of the kite, its colorful surface, is made from thousands of pieces of thin tissue paper, each one cut and glued by hand. Layer by layer, teams build complex images that look almost like paintings when finished.
Even the glue is often made by hand using natural materials like yucca root or cornstarch, helping the delicate paper stay in place without tearing.
On the morning of the festival, the giant kites are assembled directly on the field. Watching the teams work is one of the most emotional parts of the day. Neighbors, friends, and family members come together to lift something that is both beautiful and deeply meaningful.
In Santiago Sacatepéquez, some teams build figures with sculptural effects or three-dimensional elements that rise from the kite’s surface. The level of detail and storytelling varies between communities, but the craftsmanship in both towns is extraordinary.
Whether meant to fly or simply to stand, each Guatemalan kite reflects the pride, memory, and resilience of the people who created it.
The Evolution of Barriletes de Guatemala: From Spiritual Bridges to Voices for Change
The first barriletes de Guatemala were simple. Made with natural materials and colored by hand, they served as bridges between the living and the dead, carrying prayers, gratitude, and hopes into the sky during All Saints Day and Day of the Dead Guatemala celebrations.
But as Guatemala’s history unfolded, through struggles for Indigenous rights, political violence, migration, and environmental challenges, the meaning behind the kites began to shift.
Today, many barriletes still honor ancestors, but others tell new stories. Some denounce injustice, protest environmental destruction, or call attention to the rights of Maya communities. Others offer messages of peace, love, and hope for a better future.
Kite-making has become a way for communities to express not only their faith but also their voices, dreams, and frustrations. What was once mainly a spiritual practice has grown into a living art form that continues to evolve with each new generation.
Whether you are drawn to the traditional designs or the bold modern messages, standing among the barriletes is a powerful reminder that in Guatemala, memory and hope are carried on the same wind.
Kites, Day of the Dead, and Guatemalan Traditions
In Guatemala, the Giant Kite Festival is more than a celebration of art. It is a way of connecting with those who are no longer here.
The festival takes place on November 1st, which is All Saints Day, and is closely tied to Day of the Dead traditions in Guatemala. While many Latin American countries celebrate by building altars or decorating graves, Guatemala adds something unique to the sky: the barriletes gigantes.
The tradition began as a way to communicate with spirits and guide them safely back to visit their families. Even today, many believe the giant kites help clear the skies of bad energy, creating a path for souls to return.
During the festival, families also gather to share special foods, including fiambre, a colorful cold salad made with vegetables, meats, and pickled ingredients. It is one of Guatemala’s most important Day of the Dead foods and a dish that brings families together while honoring loved ones who have passed.
The spiritual meaning of the festival is present not just in the kites themselves, but in the ceremonies that open the day. Maya spiritual leaders often hold a blessing before the kites are raised.
A circle forms around a ceremonial altar made from pine needles, marigolds, candles, and bundles of tied sticks arranged in symbolic shapes. The colors and patterns reflect the four cardinal directions, the natural world, and the connection between the living and the dead.
With the scent of incense in the air, prayers are offered to the ancestors and to the earth. It is a moment of stillness before the celebration begins, and a reminder that this is sacred ground, not just a festival field.
Some kites even include prayers or messages for the ancestors. One I saw carried a message that read:
“¡Oh hijos nuestros! Nosotros nos vamos… No nos olviden. Volverán a ver vuestros hogares y sus montañas… Establézcanse allí, y que ¡así sea!”
This message, written in honor of Maya elders and spiritual leaders, called on descendants not to forget where they come from and to continue walking forward with memory and purpose.
In Santiago Sacatepéquez, the giant kites stand tall around the small cemetery, surrounded by tombs decorated with flowers. In Sumpango, the festival takes place under the shadow of Volcán de Agua, which rises behind the field like a silent witness. The volcano, the kites, the wind, the colors: they all come together in one breathtaking moment that blends tradition, nature, and spirit in a way only Guatemala can.
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Where to See the Barriletes Gigantes in Guatemala
If you want to experience the barriletes gigantes in person, there are two main towns in Guatemala where you can see them in their full size and splendor: Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez. Both are located in the department of Sacatepéquez, not far from Antigua Guatemala.
These are the best-known places where the tradition of building giant kites for All Saints Day has continued at this scale.
Sumpango’s festival is larger and draws big crowds, including many international visitors. It feels more like a major festival, with food vendors, music, traffic, and thousands of people gathered around the kite field.
Santiago Sacatepéquez feels more intimate and deeply tied to the cemetery, where tombs and mausoleums are decorated with flowers. The atmosphere is more rooted in the local Day of the Dead traditions, but the artistry is just as impressive.
Both towns display dozens of enormous kites, many over 10 meters wide and some reaching up to 20 meters high. Each one is a work of communal devotion, cultural memory, and visual storytelling.
In recent years, a selection of kites from the festivals, often the largest and most symbolic, have also been displayed in Parque Central in Antigua Guatemala after November 1st. These post-festival displays give visitors another chance to see the kites up close with more space and fewer crowds.
To learn more about the Sumpango kite festival, check my complete guide: Giant Kite Festival Guatemala: Insider Tips for Experiencing Sumpango’s Barriletes Gigantes.
Sumpango vs. Santiago Sacatepéquez: Which Giant Kite Festival Should You Visit?
If this is your first time visiting Guatemala for the giant kite festival, Sumpango is usually the easiest choice. It is larger, more organized for visitors, and better known internationally. You will see massive kites, lots of food vendors, music, crowds, and the full festival atmosphere.
Santiago Sacatepéquez is the better choice if you want something that feels more intimate and connected to cemetery traditions. The setting beside the cemetery makes the connection to All Saints Day and Day of the Dead much more visible.
Both are worth visiting, but I would not try to do both in one day unless you have private transportation and are prepared for traffic. For most travelers, choosing one and experiencing it fully is better than rushing between the two.
Tips for Visiting the Giant Kite Festival in Guatemala
- Go early. Traffic builds quickly on November 1st, especially on the roads around Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez.
- Bring cash. Food vendors and small shops may not accept cards.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You will be walking on uneven fields, cemetery paths, or crowded streets.
- Expect crowds. Sumpango in particular gets very busy.
- Bring sun protection. November is usually dry and sunny, and shade can be limited.
- Be respectful. These are not just photo opportunities. The kites are connected to remembrance, community, and spiritual tradition.
- Do not climb on structures or touch the kites. They are fragile and represent months of work.
- Plan your transportation ahead of time. Getting there is easy enough. Getting back with the crowds can be the harder part.
Frequently Asked Questions About Barriletes de Guatemala
When is the Giant Kite Festival in Guatemala in 2026?
The Giant Kite Festival in Guatemala takes place every year on November 1st for All Saints Day. In 2026, the festival will be on Sunday, November 1, 2026.
Where can I see the giant kites in Guatemala?
The two best-known places to see Guatemala’s giant kites are Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez, both in the department of Sacatepéquez near Antigua Guatemala.
What are barriletes gigantes?
Barriletes gigantes are giant Guatemalan kites made by hand from bamboo, rope, and colorful tissue paper. They are created for All Saints Day and Day of the Dead traditions and are used to honor ancestors, carry messages, and celebrate community identity.
What do the giant kites symbolize?
The giant kites symbolize the connection between the living and the dead. Traditionally, they were believed to help communicate with ancestors and clear away bad spirits. Today, many also carry messages about peace, justice, Indigenous rights, the environment, and hope for Guatemala’s future.
Is Sumpango or Santiago Sacatepéquez better?
Sumpango is larger, more crowded, and easier for first-time visitors who want a big festival atmosphere. Santiago Sacatepéquez feels more intimate and closely tied to the cemetery and Day of the Dead traditions. Both are meaningful, but the experience is different.
Can you visit the giant kite festival from Antigua?
Yes. Both Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepéquez are close enough to visit as a day trip from Antigua Guatemala, but traffic is heavy on November 1st. Leaving early and arranging transportation ahead of time makes a big difference.
Do the giant kites actually fly?
Some smaller giant kites do fly, but the largest barriletes are usually displayed upright because they are too large and heavy to fly safely. Watching them being raised is still one of the most impressive parts of the festival.
Is the giant kite festival good for families?
Yes, but go prepared. Kids usually love the colors, music, food, and open-air setting, but the crowds can be intense. Bring water, sun protection, snacks, and a plan for where to meet if anyone gets separated.
Turn This Into a Guatemala Trip
The Giant Kite Festival Is Just the Beginning
If you are coming to Guatemala for the barriletes, I can help you turn that one unforgettable day into a full trip with Antigua, Lake Atitlán, local food, cultural experiences, markets, and places that fit your travel style.
Through her writing, Paula helps travelers discover Guatemala beyond the typical tourist route with practical advice, local recommendations, and authentic experiences that connect visitors with the country’s people, culture, and traditions.
Planning a trip to Guatemala? Paula offers personalized Guatemala itinerary planning and trip consultation services tailored to your interests, travel style, and budget. Contact her at [email protected] to learn more.
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