The Ultimate 7-12 Day Guatemala Itinerary: A First-Timer Guide
Antigua Guatemala: 1-3 Days
Antigua Guatemala
Guatemala is as beautiful as it is filled with history. Nothing shows this more than Antigua Guatemala, the old capital of the country, situated in between volcanoes and built on historic Spanish architecture. Considered a UNESCO World Heritage site, this city serves as a perfect backdrop for the beginning of our journey.
You can spend roughly 1-3 days in the Antigua Guatemala area. The main city takes around a day to fully enjoy, and the Hobbitenango area in the north can take half a day or more. If you’re a hiker or a nature lover, I’d recommend taking an entire day just to explore the Acatenango Volcano.
Since there’s so much to do in Antigua alone, I made it into a separate post! Check out the many things you can do in the old capital city here.
Lake Atitlán: 2-5 Days
Lake Atitlán
By far one of the most popular lakes in Central America, Lake Atitlán is guarded by Guatemala’s tall volcanoes and colored teal by the lush forests of the highlands. Formed from the remains of an erupted supervolcano, this lake invited flowing waters, green forests, and a diverse collection of cultures.
There are around 12 towns you can visit around the volcano, though we’ll talk about just a few of the highlights around here. If you’re planning on hiking the three volcanoes around Lake Atitlán, keep in mind that you’ll need at least 5 days to fully enjoy your exploration routes!Â
San Juan La Laguna
Views from San Juan La Laguna
This town lies on the west end of the lake, and it’s most well-known for its local artistry. The streets of this city are colored in murals, art installations, claywork and sewn fabric of all kinds. Here are just a few highlights from the town:
La Calle de las Sombrillas (Umbrella Street)
Streets of San Juan
A spectacular display of multicolored umbrellas suspended in mid-air hangs over this busy marketplace.Â
It’s especially impressive during the day when sunlight peers through the umbrella’s fabric. The best part of it is that it ends on a long walk through the pier, towards the spectacular views of Lake Atitlán.
Overall, it’s a perfect place for a sunset walk with your loved one along the road.
Textile work in San Juan
La Calle de los Sombreros (Hat Street)
Hat Street
A little deeper inward on the 5th Avenue road is a mural-painted street with sombreros hanging overhead. This is a fantastic place to take pictures and admire on a lovely walk, especially if you love art. The rainbow houses and technicolor murals exude a level of love and appreciation for the craft that’s just infectious when you first walk in.Â
In the night, some of the sombreros glow from lights hidden on the wire. It’s a beautiful view that’s better experienced in person than described. It’s especially captivating when you sit down and listen to the history associated with the street.
Mirador Kaqasiiwaan
Further ahead on the border of the town, you’ll find one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Central America. While the shots of the surrounding volcanoes and the lake across the roads are gorgeous, what makes this place special are the paintings on the boardwalk.
The paintings here showcase daily life for the locals in that unique, technicolor dream-like array that you may see in a Frida Kahlo painting. There are flowers, ferns, tall trees and leaves of all sort, and they make fantastic portraits alongside the nature far below.Â
You’ll also get great shots of the town from here in case you want to see it from far above.
Santa Catarina Palopó
Santa Catarina Palopo
One of the most colorful towns along Lake Atitlan, this humble collection of houses by the mountains has been famous for its iconic views from afar and its rainbow streets. It’s a worthwhile place to visit for the aesthetics alone!
Markets of Panajachel
Breadmakers in the markets
Panajachel is a bustling municipality on the northeast of Lake Atitlán. Its main claim to fame is the busy artisanal markets along the roads and the hospitality and creativity of the local population.Â
Here, you can find various textile products ranging from clothes, souvenirs, bags, and other artistic goods. There’s also delicious authentic Guatemalan cuisine in most markets you come across, so Panajachel is a great place to start a culinary adventure.Â
Santa Cruz La Laguna
This calm, soothing town in the north end of Lake Atitlán is much quieter and more slow-paced compared to the other areas of the lake. It has great waterfront views of Atitlán and has a thriving indigenous population with their customs and culture deeper inland.Â
You can take some time trying new lakeside activities, like stand-up paddling, or relax by the local restaurants and hotels to take a breather.
Santiago Atitlan
If you want a taste of the traditional culture of Lake Atitlan, there’s no better place to find it than here. Santiago’s people work hard to preserve their indigenous culture, where much of the population still retains the old Tz’utujil Maya ways–you can even see it in how they dress.Â
The women here can often be seen wearing patterned purple skirts, while the men wear similarly patterned trousers. They also greet and welcome visitors into workshops sharing their history and culture. Like many other parts of the lake, you’ll also find a thriving arts scene in the markets here.
Guatemala City: 1 Day
As the capital of the country, Guatemala City is a bustling urban sprawl full of life and activity. It’s the biggest city in Central America and one of the busiest places you’ll find on your travels. Here’s a few highlights I’d recommend visiting if you’re stopping for a day:
Metropolitan Cathedral
Metropolitan Cathedral
A grand historical building in the area, this towering structure stands over the monumental Plaza de la Constitucion. The church opens at 8 AM and closes at 8 PM on a daily basis.Â
It’s a massive building with a dozen tall pillars lining up the entrance leading into the echoing interior. All over the area, you can also admire the religious statues, carvings, and frescoes of old Spanish antiquity.Â
The surrounding plaza is also a fantastic place to walk around and learn the history of Guatemala.Â
Palacio Nacional de la Cultura
Palacio Nacional de la Cultura
Unlike the structures near the Plaza de la Constitucion, this palace is relatively modern, built during the reign of General Jorge Ubico in 1943. The beauty of the classic architecture celebrates Guatemala’s fight for independence.
Other than various gilded details, you’ll also find various political murals and monuments representing Guatemalan hopes and dreams for the future along the halls. It’s a nice, reflective place to visit on our long Guatemala itinerary.Â
The 45-minute guides here often shines some of the more intricate details hidden within these walls. The museum opens at 9:30 AM and closes at 5:00 PM, and tours cost around $5 (Q40).
National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
If you’re interested in Mayan or other indigenous Mesoamerican histories, this is essentially the museum to visit on your trip. The indigenous cultures of the region left behind countless historical artifacts, though many were lost to time during the Spanish conquests.Â
Here, archaeologists and ethnologists come together to maintain and preserve the statues, stonework, clay work, and other things left behind by these ancient civilizations. The museum typically opens at 10 AM and closes at 7 PM.
Coban: Half a day
If you have half a day to spare in your Guatemala itinerary and you love coffee and nature, Coban is a perfect place to stop by. The forests here are vast, the breeze is cool and the waters run wild down the rivers.
Coffee at Chicoj Coffee Tour in Coban
Coban is a major player in Guatemala’s coffee-growing scene, and it also grows the lovely cardamom spice. You’ll also find a variety of flowers, like orchids, growing along the roads here. The city is also quite pleasant to visit, though many residents speak indigenous languages rather than Spanish.Â
After exploring and enjoying a cup of coffee in Coban, you can head on the nearby wonder of Semuc Champey and the Kanba Caves.Â
Semuc Champey: 1 Day
Semuc Champey
These picturesque, gold-colored limestone bridges stretch over 300 meters along the Cahabon River a few miles east of Coban. These bridges are filled with turquoise water of the river, forming semi-circular pools in a stairway formation down the landscape.
The forests around Semuc Champey are also thriving with life and geological wonders. The waterfalls, caves and forests are all well-respected within the local indigenous culture, and basking amidst them is like traveling back in time to when the Mayans still thrived.
Semuc Champey
There are various shuttle services to the pool that you can take from the nearby town of Laquin. In the area itself, there’s an entrance fee that costs roughly $6 (or Q50) per person and several hiking trails leading up to a viewpoint.Â
The 3-mile hike climbs about 1,050 feet and is quite steep (around 1,050 feet in elevation), it’s paved in stairs and the final shot above is spectacular. Take your time photographing the area, but note that drones are strictly prohibited.
You can also swim in the river! Plenty of people dip their toes in the little pools, and you’ll even find some fish that eat the dirt off your feet around here. They’re ticklish, but quite fun as an experience.
Kanba Caves
If you have some time to spare after visiting Semuc Champey, you can also take a dive down the Kanba Caves. The caves can get a little rocky since they’re deep and slippery, but if you have a good guide from the nearby town, they’ll be able to guide you safely down.
Here, you’ll get the chance to dive into underground pools, slide down naturally-made structures, and explore the cavern structure.Â
Hotels & Stays
Paniste Boutique Hotel
This is around the time where we moved hotels to somewhere closer to our next destinations. Here are a couple of good hotels you can find in the Semuc Champey area:
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Paniste Boutique Hotel: A gorgeous hotel we stayed at during our time around Semuc Champey. It’s a bit of a drive away from the area, but it’s a luxurious tropical getaway with a lot of amenities to make up for it. This is also a great place to stay if you’re visiting Coban.
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Mountain Nest: While there aren’t many comfortable hotels near Semuc Champey, this bed and breakfast provides much of the same comfort with an added rustic charm to it. If you’re visiting the area with a 4×4 vehicle, you can ride up to the hotel and relax in the countryside environment.Â
Tikal: 1 Day
Another UNESCO-protected site, Tikal is one of the most iconic ancient Maya archaeological sites in the world. It’s filled with numerous holy temples, castles, and various public spaces for the old people to gather and do their daily activities.
Tikal
Much of the ruins are surrounded or covered by the lush forests of Guatemala. You may even see a few wild cats on the way, so be sure to bring a guide to lead you safely into the ruins. Guides can also give you the best experience in fully understanding the ruins all around here.
Tikal is also near the town of Flores, a bustling city by the Lake Peten Itza. While you’re in the area, it’s worthwhile visiting one of Flores’s most popular destinations.
Isla de Flores: 1 Day
Flores
Isla de Flores is a small patch of land at the side of Lake Peten Itza that’s connected inland to a humble bridge on the shores of Flores. It’s much older and more traditional than the mainland, and it has many colorful houses so frequently seen in Guatemala.
Near the island in a harbor across the waters are the beaches of Playa Chechenal. The sands here are white and the waters a crystalline turquoise, making it a great place to swim and enjoy the waters of the lake.Â
The island is a popular tourist hotspot and thus has a great number of restaurants and attractions to choose from. Since the area is near an airport, it’s a nice place to end our little Guatemala itinerary. Â
The streets of Flores
