Guatemala Itineraries

Guatemala is located in Central America, tucked between several countries. El Salvador and Honduras meet its southern border while Mexico meets its northern. And on the Caribbean side, it neighbors Belize. Due to its location and past, it is both geographically and historically significant. It offers beautiful tropical rainforests, lakes, mountains and volcanoes. It also has an enriched culture that is reflected from its Spanish and Mayan influences.

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Guatemala One Week Itinerary

Although Guatemala is a relatively small country, a one week visit should focus on just one region of it. By focusing on one area, you are able to see the beauty of Guatemala while also limiting your time traveling from attraction to attraction. For this itinerary, the trip will be mainly in the south central part of Guatemala. This area captures Guatemala’s ancient and colonial history while also exhibiting how these ideas combine to create this country’s present day culture.

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Day 1-2 Guatemala City (Arrival Day) to Antigua

Arrive at La Aurora International Airport and leave straight to Antigua. You can take either a bus or taxi. It is about an hour and a half commute. At the end of the trip, you will be able to revisit Guatemala City and see all its landmarks then.

Once in Antigua, depending on the time of the day, you can either check into your hotel and call it a night or go exploring. You will also have all of day two to go sightseeing. The top attraction in Antigua include, Santa Catalina Arch,Cerro de la Cruz, San Francisco Church,Tanque La Unión and ChocoMuseo. Just wandering through the streets of Antigua, you can see how unique and colorful this town is.

Day 3 Pacaya

Most of day three will be set aside for your trip to Pacaya Volcano. It is about an hour and a half drive to the site from Antigua. It is best to start your journey to Pacaya in the morning so you have plenty of time to hike up the volcano. To reach its peak, it will take about another hour and a half. Once at its top, you can see little towns that surround the volcano, as well as, Guatemala’s beautiful natural scenery.

Day 4-5 Lake Atitlán

On day four, you will set out for Lake Atitlán. It takes about three hours to get here from Antigua. There are numerous places to stay that overlook this beautiful lake. The most popular area for tourist is San Pedro La Laguna but there are 11 towns that surround the area so there are plenty of options. If you want a bustling town with an active nightlight, go with Panajachel. If you want the opposite, go with the quaint and sleepy town of San Marcos.

As far as activities go, water sports, relaxing retreats, kayaking, swimming, and cliff jumping are among the most popular. Visiting nearby towns is a great activity for those looking to immerse themselves in Guatemalan culture.

Day 6 Iximche, Chimaltenango

A day trip to Iximche is a must for anyone who is fascinated by ancient Mayan history. It is still in the south central part of Guatemala and only two hours away from Lake Atitlán. Although a relatively small site compared to others in Guatemala, Iximche has a lot to offer. First, there are significantly less tourist here, which makes getting around much easier.

The structures within Iximche are also very unique. And it is one of the few Mayan sites that still have practicing rituals. Any well-rounded trip to Guatemala is not complete without visiting at least one Mayan site and Iximche is one of the most underrated attractions in Guatemala. You can either spend the night in one of the neighboring towns near Iximche or travel another hour and a half to Antigua.

Day 6-7 Guatemala City (Leaving Day)

The last days will be spent heading back to Guatemala City. As the country’s capital, there is much to see here. You should spend at least one night here so you can split up your time before ending your trip. The top attractions in Guatemala City include the National Palace, Museo Popol Vuh, Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, Cathedral of Guatemala City, Museo Miraflores, and Mercado Central.

It should be noted that there are some safety precautions that should be taken into account when visiting Guatemala City. Zone 1 should be avoided at night. Zones 10 and 13 are relatively the safest areas.

Guatemala Two Week Itinerary

Spending two weeks in Guatemala definitely allows you plenty of time to really enjoy the entire country. In this itinerary, there is one day cut out strictly for traveling from one side of Guatemala to the other. This travel day is needed in order to see all of Guatemala’s top attractions.

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Day 1-2 Guatemala City (Arrival Day)

Arrive at La Aurora International Airport and head straight to the hotel to drop off luggage. The first days here can be spent exploring Guatemala City. The top attractions in Guatemala City include, Museo Popol Vuh, the National Palace, Archaeology and Ethnology Museum, Cathedral of Guatemala City, Museo Miraflores, and Mercado Central. Delicious restaurants that offer authentic Guatemalan food include Kacao, Casa Chapina, and La Cocina de Señora Pu.

Day 3-4 Antigua

Antigua is about an hour and a half away from Guatemala City. It is known for its enriched culture and history that dates back to Spanish colonial times. Besides exploring the town, you can also visit neighboring volcanoes like Pacaya or the La Horqueta Volcano Complex for the day.

Day 5-6 Lake Atitlán

Leaving early in the morning on day five, you will head to Lake Atitlán. This natural landmark has been a top attraction among tourist since the early 21st century and for good reason. It offers beautiful sceneries, a fun nightlife, good restaurants, lively towns, and, of course, crystal waters. Lake Atitlán offers a more relaxed way to end the week after spending the first few days in the busy cities of Guatemala City and Antigua.

Day 7 Travel Day

It is highly suggested that you grab a night bus to Flores which is about 10 hours away from the south central part of Guatemala. You can also take an hour flight from Guatemala City to Flores if it's in your budget. Regardless of how you get to the northern part of Guatemala, day seven will mostly be a travel day. Once you reach the Petén Basin region, the best places to stay are in Flores. From there, you have an easy commute to the nearby Mayan sites.

Day 8-12 Petén Department

The northern part of Guatemala, where numerous Mayan sites are located, is called the Petén Department.The most popular Mayan attraction in Guatemala, and arguably in all of Central America, is the ancient city of Tikal. This site should be noted on any avid traveller’s bucket list. As a part of Tikal National Park, it is surrounded by lush tropical rainforests. In the jungles, you can see wildlife and native shrubbery. The site itself offers a glimpse of a once powerful civilization.

Other sites, some far less busy than Tikal, include Uaxactún, Yaxha, and El Mirador. There are many places to stay in this region, especially near Tikal. You can always stay in Flores and just make day trips to the sites as well.

Day 13-14 Flores, El Petén (Leaving Day)

There is so much more to Flores than just being close to Tikal. The charming town of Flores has its own deep-rooted history which is shown in its architecture and culture. Situated on Lago Petén Itzá, this island can be explored entirely by foot. You can also visit the neighboring towns of  San Benito and Santa Elena. You can visit local shops, restaurants, and even their zoo, the Petencito Zoo.