Full Must See Guatemala Travel Guide
Guatemala is an unbelievably underrated country. Everyone should go there and few people are talking about it. I spent three weeks exploring the country in 2022. Every day, I woke up to one of the most beautiful views I had ever seen, often featuring pointy volcanos coughing up smoke in the horizon.
If you love nature, adventure, and warm tortillas tucked into hand woven cloths, THIS is the place for you. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know much Spanish to get by.
What to Pack for Guatemala
There is a big tourism industry catered to backpackers. That doesn’t necessarily mean you need one. I dragged my carry-on suitcase around the entire time. Big suitcases might become a bit of a hassle though.
For any long (overnight) treks you can rent a backpack from a local shop so don’t worry about a big hiking packs either.
Transportation
There are private shuttle buses going to/from most major towns across the country. They’re super easy to book with tourist shops lining the main roads in major towns.
I did minimal research beforehand and was able to resolve most travel plans within 1-2 days notice. They usually pick you up and drop you off directly at your stay.
Sunset view in Flores
Itinerary
There are 3 major tourist regions in Guatemala.
- Antigua, Lago Atitlán, and the Volcanos
- Flores, the Mayan Ruins, and the Rainforests
- the beaches along the Pacific Coast
You can see two of these within a week or all 3 within ten days. Personally, I skipped the Pacific Coast because the waters are infamously cold and choppy. I was more interested in the culture and landscapes offered by the rest of the country.
Below is everywhere I went and my favorite activities at each spot.
Antigua
Most people who land in Guatemala City immediately leave and head to Antigua, a colonial town two hours away. You’ve probably seen the famous yellow archway.
The city itself is a UNESCO world heritage site. There’s something magical about the cobblestone streets with el Volcán de Agua looming in the background.
I went during Easter week and saw the famous “Alfombras,” intricate carpets made of colorful sand, flowers, and seeds. Locals spend all day pouring/designing them onto the streets before a procession of people march over them. They do this every day for a week, while blasting music. I’m not religious but it was a beautiful experience.
Acatenango Volcano
Hiking up Acatenango was by far my favorite thing to do in Guatemala.
Tour companies offer gear rentals including a backpack and warm layers (as it’s pretty cold at the top). You can pay a porter to carry your pack uphill and rent hiking sticks for the trek. Tents are set up at base camp so you don’t have to worry about that either. All you really need to do is get your body up the hill.
The hike is easier than you think and 100% worth it. Trust me, I was at the tail END of my group. At some point, one of the guides asked if I wanted to pay for a horse to bring me because I was SO slow. He played me for no reason. I made it just fine.
Volcan Fuego from Acatenango Base camp
For more experienced hikers, you can add Volcan Fuego to the same trip. It’s a bit taxing as you have to go there and back the same day you get to Acatenango.
Weather conditions greatly affect your experience but it’s unpredictable. When I woke up at 3AM to summit there were 70MPH winds and a 30% chance of visibility. Three hours later there were perfectly clear skies (above image).
Lake Atitlán
Lago Atitlán has an endless blue vista and some of the dreamiest Air Bnbs scattered across its banks. Open a new tab and take a look for yourself.
I stayed in Panajachel, the least sexy but most convenient town as most buses stop there to access the Lake. It’s easy to catch a boat at the docks and visit other towns around the Lake. You simply hop on/off and pay the boat driver directly for the ride.
Pro tip: do an early tour for clear skies. It usually gets cloudy after 12PM.
Flores
The main reason people go to Flores is to visit the Mayan ruins nearby.
Tikal, specifically, is a huge ancient city turned into a National Park. Archeologists believe the Mayans abandoned it over a thousand years ago, burying everything in dirt. Every structure has been carefully excavated and maintained, although they estimate hundreds more still lay beneath the surface.
Pro tip: Go in the early morning to avoid the horrendous midday heat. Wear the thinnest clothing you can find.
Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is the hardest place to get to on this list, albeit gorgeous. It’s a limestone bridge in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle.
It takes 9 hours to reach from Lake Atitlan and 7 hours from Flores. It’s only worth it if you intend on staying a couple of nights and relaxing in the jungle. Otherwise, you will spend more time in commute than there.
The best part of Guatemala was how lovely all of the people were. Everyone I met was kind, polite, and helpful when I inevitably asked a ton of questions. I met many English-only speakers that had an incredible time as well.
While you definitely need a spirit of adventure to enjoy its best parts, rest assured you will see some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world.
