The Good 7-Day Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala, situated in Central America, is thought to be one of many international locations with the very best focus of volcanoes on the planet.

That’s really one of many predominant the explanation why we determined to go to Guatemala. We needed to see an lively volcanic eruption from up shut and this was one of many uncommon locations the place it’s potential. Nonetheless, we had been shocked by simply how far more there may be to this nation. Stuffed with historical Mayan ruins, a wealthy indigenous tradition, lovely volcanic lakes, and scrumptious meals, Guatemala ended up being a complete spotlight of our travels. 

Nonetheless, with so many issues to see, it might be tough to determine tips on how to finest plan your time. Because of this, we have now provide you with the last word 1 week Guatemala itinerary that features a few of our favourite experiences. In case your tastes are barely completely different, we have now additionally added some various choices that may be swapped or added in in case your keep is longer.

How lengthy must you spend in Guatemala

We’d advocate staying a minimum of 10 days to see all of the highlights of the nation at a cushty tempo. Though one week is feasible, you will have to skip on a minimum of one of many predominant experiences.

Many of the major sights equivalent to Guatemala Metropolis, Antigua, the volcanoes, and Lake Atitlan are clustered in an identical space within the south.

The opposite predominant websites like Semuc Champey and Tikal, nevertheless, are within the north and more difficult to achieve. It is for that reason that attempting to incorporate each Tikal and Lake Atiltan in the identical one-week itinerary can be too rushed.

In our proposed plan of 1 week, we selected to go to Tikal for Mayan historical past as a substitute of Lake Atitlan for a extra unwinding lovely surroundings kind of journey. Nonetheless, this may be simply swapped as shall be defined additional down. If nevertheless you’ve got 10 days, it is possible for you to to go to each areas!

1-Week Guatemala itinerary

In our proposed plan of 1 week, we selected to go to Tikal for Mayan historical past as a substitute of Lake Atitlan for a extra unwinding lovely surroundings kind of journey. Nonetheless, this may be simply swapped as shall be defined additional down. If, nevertheless, you’ve got 10 days, it is possible for you to to go to each areas!

We had personally spent near 2 weeks in Guatemala and have skilled every of those actions. To see the most effective that Guatemala has to supply in 7 days, we imagine this itinerary is good! 

Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala Metropolis – transport to Antigua – Meals tour

In your first day, your worldwide flight to Guatemala will arrive at La Aurora Worldwide Airport in Guatemala Metropolis. Total, we might not advocate staying in Guatemala metropolis as there are elevated charges of crime and a few security considerations. 

Because of this, we suggest reserving a transport direct from the airport straight to Antigua. This transport takes between 90-120 minutes relying on visitors however is a nice experience by way of the countryside.

As soon as arrived in Antigua and checked in to your resort, probably the greatest methods to get your bearings on the town is a Meals Tour. With a Meals tour, not solely will you get to expertise a few of the most genuine native dishes, however additionally, you will be dropped at areas that you could be in any other case miss. 

The information will even clarify to you the historical past of the nation and provide you with a greater understanding of your entire Guatemalan tradition. 

After a tiring day of flights, that is the perfect exercise because the expertise may be very laid again. There are a number of night Meals excursions in Antigua which you’ll register for upon your arrival.

If a meals tour shouldn’t be your factor, then perhaps attempt a cooking class. We really feel that cooking class additionally means that you can be taught loads in regards to the tradition and offers you entry to the experience and data of your information. 

Day 2: Discover Antigua and ruins

Antigua is a ravishing Colonial metropolis surrounded by 3 outstanding volcanoes, which contribute to the breathtaking panorama of the area. Spend your second day simply roaming across the metropolis and admiring the structure. You’ll shortly discover the distinct model of the buildings, reflecting the Spanish Baroque affect of their colonial instances.

Along with strolling by way of the cobbled streets, probably the greatest issues to do is go to the church buildings and cathedrals, or their ruins. As a consequence of a number of earthquakes up to now, many of those grand constructions have collapsed and left behind the gorgeous framework of the buildings.

Many of the cathedral domes have collapsed, permitting the intense sky to light up the remaining archways, facades, and courtyards. This creates a really mysterious and ethereal feeling and presents you with some unbelievable pictures alternatives.

Our favourite ruins embrace the principle Antigua Cathedral in addition to Convento Santa Clara. We spent round 3-4 hours visiting each and photographing the gorgeous structure. When you have extra time, listed below are a few of the different predominant ruins:

• Convent of La Campaña de Jesus
• Iglesia El Carmen
• Nuestra Señora de la Merced 
• Iglesia de San Francisco
• San Juan El Viejo
• Convent of Las Capuchinas

Additionally, be certain that to cease by the Santa Catalina Archway on the northern aspect of the city. This is without doubt one of the most iconic landmarks of Antigua the place the intense yellow archway frames the volcano within the background. This spot is ideal to go to at sundown the place the orange glow of the sky makes the view much more magical.

Day 3: Acatenango hike

Probably the greatest experiences in Antigua is the two day, one-night hike as much as witness the lava eruption of Volcano Fuego from Volcano Acatenango. On the primary day, you can be doing a grueling 6-hour hike as much as the bottom camp of Acatenango the place you can be spending the night time. Right here, relying on the tour group you go together with, you can be sleeping whether or not in a tent, a shared cabin, or a person cabin. From right here, you get the proper vantage level to witness the volcanic eruptions of Fuego. 

Nonetheless, if you’re extra daring, you may embark on the extra 2-3 hour hike up the slopes of Volcano Fuego the place you’ll rise up near the eruptions. This was a really difficult hike for us however so value it! 

Standing on the naked peak of the volcano, whipped by the torrential winds, witnessing the night time sky lit up with the intense orange glow of the lava. It is a second we’ll at all times bear in mind.

You’ll then hike again the identical technique to return to your base camp. After dinner, spend the night time dozing off and listening to the rumble of the distant volcano.  

For a extra in-depth breakdown of all the most effective issues to do in Antigua together with the volcano hike, the logistics of all of the actions, and images highlighting the experiences, try our information on finest issues to do in Antigua with 3, 4, 5 days.

Day 4: End Acatenango hike – Transport again to Guatemala Metropolis – flight Flores

On the subsequent day, you can be ending up your Acatenango hike. Rising early within the morning, you should have the choice of mountaineering as much as the height of the volcano Acatenango to witness the view from the summit. 

After that, you’ll return to base camp for breakfast earlier than heading downhill. Mountain climbing down the mountain is 1000x simpler than mountaineering up and by round midday, you can be again to Antigua. At this level, you’ll doubtless be very drained so spend the day enjoyable in transport. You may e book the identical firm to move again to Guatemala metropolis airport straight after which take a flight to Flores in Northern Guatemala. 

At Flores, it is possible for you to to witness a few of the most unbelievable Mayan ruins and jungles and go to the world-renowned UNESCO heritage website of Tikal. 

Though it’s fairly out of the way in which to go to Flores and Tikal, we really feel it’s 100% value it. Having traveled to many different international locations which have Mayan ruins together with Chitzen Itza in Mexico, the expertise at Tikal was much more genuine, distinctive, and memorable. 

Earlier than arriving in Flores, attempt to already arrange your tour to Tikal. The perfect instances to go to Tikal are throughout Dawn and Sundown so it’s higher to plan forward. We’d extremely advocate contacting Los Amigos Hostel who arrange glorious excursions across the space.

Day 5: Discover Tikal

On the fifth day, you can be visiting Tikal throughout dawn or sundown. These are the perfect instances because the glow of the rising and setting solar on the ruins creates a magical expertise. 

Tikal is an historical archaeological website and one of many largest and most important Mayan cities in Mesoamerica. Situated within the rainforests of northern Guatemala, Tikal served as a serious political, financial, and cultural heart of the traditional Maya civilization. Right here, you may witness a few of the largest Mayan constructions ever constructed and even have the possibility to climb up and stand on the highest of a few of them. 

With the assistance of the information, you’ll be taught a lot in regards to the Mayan tradition and historical past, and a number of other fascinating info of their affect even up until in the present day. For instance, the Mayans used a numbering system of traces and dots that’s nonetheless in the present day mirrored within the Guatemalan foreign money.

Visiting Tikal will take your entire day. The drive to achieve there takes about an hour every approach and shall be included within the tour. In case you are considering of visiting Tikal, be certain that to take a look at the information we talked about earlier than as we offer lots of useful ideas.

Day 6: Discover Yaxha + Flores

The subsequent day, we might advocate taking the time to go to Yaxha, one other spectacular Mayan metropolis deep within the jungles of Guatemala. You may be questioning if visiting two Mayan ruins again to again would get repetitive, however Yaxha really brings its personal distinctive expertise.

For us, what made it stand out was how immersed you’re feeling. The ruins had been solely partially excavated and the encompassing forest left fully intact, preserving the surroundings that the town as soon as existed in. Additionally, at Yaxha, you might be allowed to climb up lots of the pyramids and constructions, additional enhancing the expertise. We went to go to Yaxha for sundown and extremely advocate it.

Spend the remainder of the morning or night visiting Flores. It’s a small however very cute city full of colourful buildings and a lot character. There are additionally some extremely scrumptious eating places that we might advocate. 

For a full breakdown of what to do in Flores, tips on how to plan your time visiting Tikal and Yaxha, in addition to meals suggestions, try our Flores Guatemala Itinerary for 3, 4, or 5 days.  

Day 7: Flight again to Guatemala metropolis after which departure

Your closing day shall be spent totally on transport. You may be taking the flight from Flores again to Guatemala metropolis after which await your worldwide flight again dwelling.

Relying on the time of flights, you might be able to spend the morning in Flores exploring and even going kayaking on the lake.

Make sure that to select up some Guatemalan espresso on the way in which out as it’s scrumptious! 

Various or you probably have 10 days

If Mayan historical past and archeology are of much less curiosity to you, then you may as a substitute go to Lake Atitlan a couple of hours away from Antigua. Lake Atitlan is a volcanic lake surrounded by lush forests. There are a number of little cities that you would be able to keep at, every offering a singular trait. For instance, there’s a city targeted on meditation and yoga, one other targeted on artwork, whereas one targeted on backpackers. 

In case you are concerned about visiting Lake Atitlan, then select this route as a substitute for Days 4-7 in our authentic itinerary. If, nevertheless, you’ve got 10 days in whole, then you may merely add these 3-4 days to the unique itinerary.

• Day 4: Transport to Lake Atitlan from Antigua + discover Panajachel
• Day 5: Discover Casa Del Mundo resort + go to San Juan for the road artwork and galleries + spend the night having fun with the Scorching tub at Casa Del Mundo
• Day 6: Weaving class or yoga class (this may be executed within the close by cities)
• Day 7: Take the 3-hour bus transport to return to Guatemala Metropolis after which departure in your worldwide flight

For extra particulars about what to do, the place to remain, the place to eat, and a few of our spotlight experiences in Lake Atitlan, try our Lake Atitlan full itinerary breakdown. We go into much more element in regards to the proposed days 4-7 as described above. 

Finest time to go to Guatemala

The perfect time to go to Guatemala is throughout January, February, March, April, or November to December. The summer time months from Might to September are the wettest in Guatemala. 

Guatemala is named the land of everlasting spring so the temperatures have a tendency to stay fairly fixed at round 22-27 levels celsius. Because of this, the perfect months are these with the bottom likelihood of rain. We ended up visiting finish of November and had excellent climate!

Is Guatemala protected?

A query we get requested usually is that if Guatemala is protected. The general reply is Sure, Guatemala is protected. We spent lots of time touring by way of Flores, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan and at all times felt protected. The one space that we felt a bit extra on edge was Guatemala Metropolis. It is for that reason that we advocate skipping Guatemala Metropolis and heading straight to Antigua. In Antigua, we went out strolling at night time after visiting Las Palmas Latin bar and felt very snug.

On the whole, so long as you keep inside the principle vacationer areas, then you must really feel protected.

Is Guatemala costly?

Total, Guatemala is a really reasonably priced nation to go to. Lodging may be had for a mean 30-50$ per night time, and if consuming native meals, meals are between 5-15$ per individual. The most important bills of our journey had been the excursions to go to Tikal and the Volcano Acatenango.

As a degree of reference, visiting Tikal prices round 70 CAD per individual and the Volcano trek prices round 100 USD per individual. Guatemala additionally had surprisingly progressive worldwide delicacies which price round 40-60$ per couple. 

Abstract: 1-Week Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala, full of volcanoes, Mayan tradition, and such a wealthy historical past, makes for an incredible nation to go to. With this 1 week Guatemala Itinerary, you might be in your technique to planning your subsequent journey!

We now have included the traditional historical past of Tikal, the comfort at Lake Atitlan, the journey of Volcano Acatenango, and the wealthy tradition of Antigua, all into one journey that’s certain to fulfill everybody’s pursuits!

Ryan & Nan, journey storytellers and journey photographers at Wayless Vacationers, share their ardour for exploration. Having journeyed by way of 25+ international locations, they supply journey planning insights and fascinating pictures to gas your subsequent journey.

They search genuine tradition, journey, mountaineering, and venturing off-the-beaten paths to uncover the true marvels of the world. Go to their Instagram account.