The Ultimate 2 Weeks in Guatemala Itinerary

Gorgeous volcanos, colorful cities, Mayan ruins, crystal clear swimming holes, dirt cheap prices, and adventure around every corner–if that sounds like your kind of vacation destination, it’s time to consider spending 2 weeks in Guatemala.

Set just south of Mexico and west of Belize, there are a seemingly endless number of incredible things to do in Guatemala, all packed into a small, relatively navigable space about the size of Tennessee–and as a bonus, it also boasts the best food in Central America.

Two weeks in Guatemala is the perfect amount of time to start exploring this fascinating country: you won’t see everything, but it’s enough time to move through several different destinations, and get a taste of what different regions have to offer.

We’ve put together this suggested 2 week Guatemala itinerary based on our month-long trip backpacking Guatemala and can’t recommend this adventurous and beautiful corner of Central America enough.

Here’s how to make the most of a trip to Guatemala!

kate storm and jeremy storm in front of volcan de acatenango as a volcano erupts in the background

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Have More (or Less) Than 2 Weeks in Guatemala?

If you only have one week available, don’t worry–you can easily adapt this itinerary for 2 weeks in Guatemala into a shorter trip by focusing on Antigua and Lake Atitlan only.

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If you have longer? Rio Dulce and other areas of the eastern half of the country may be calling your name… or you can do what we did and relax on Lake Atitlan for two weeks instead.

Whatever you choose, there’s no doubt that you’ll leave Guatemala completely overwhelmed by how much excitement it packs into a tiny amount of space.

pools of semuc champey guatemala from above

How We Structured This Guatemala Itinerary

This itinerary for 2 weeks in Guatemala only accounts for 11 full days.

Due to a few long days of travel that will be required to get from place to place, we feel it’s better (read: more realistic) to plan on having some days dedicated completely to traveling from place to place when trying to see Guatemala in 2 weeks, rather than over plan and end up burning out from trying to squeeze too much in.

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The Ultimate 2 Week Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala Itinerary Stop 1: 2 Days in Tikal + Flores

The Highlights of Visiting Flores + Tikal

Tikal is known as one of the most impressive sets of Mayan ruins in Central America, and as a bonus for Star Wars lovers, it was used as a filming location for A New Hope.

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Sunrise tours are popular here, but for those of us who have difficulty pulling ourselves out of bed hours before dawn, daytime tours, and sunset tours are also available (often for a lower price than the popular sunrise tour!).

I went ahead and noted spending two days here to allow yourself to recover from the journey to Flores and enjoy the small island village–but the island of Flores is very small, so if you have lots of energy and are ready to move on, you could consider spending only one day here instead!

view of the gran plaza of tikal guatemala, an essential part of a 2 week guatemala itinerary

Tips for Visiting Tikal + Flores

Though Flores is the closest touristic town to Tikal and the usual stop along the backpacker trail for people interested in seeing the ruins, it is still about a 2-hour drive each way from the town to Tikal, so be prepared for a long day.

Also, assuming you fly into Guatemala City initially, it is a long day (10+ hours by van or bus, or a very short but expensive plane ride) to get from Guatemala City to Flores–be prepared for that when making your plans.

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Alternatively, if you are approaching as a backpacker from Belize, Flores is the first logical stop in Guatemala and will make sense logistically to access.

Travelers coming from Chiapas, Mexico to the north or from Honduras to the south should also be able to find transport directly to Flores, though prepare for long travel times.

view of the rooftops of flores guatemala from above

Should you book a Tikal tour in advance?

Flores is a hotspot for Tikal tours–you’ll have no problem finding a ride to Tikal on the ground in Guatemala, and you’ll absolutely pay less than if you book in advance.

However, if you’re on an extremely tight schedule or want to guarantee a detailed tour with a guide who knows their history, this well-reviewed Tikal tour is a great option for you.

main pyramid of tikal guatemala as seen from the side, an unforgettable sight on an itinerary guatemala

Where We Stayed in Flores, Guatemala

Hotel Villa Margarita — If we had to sum this hotel up in a word, it would be “bland”.

It wasn’t good enough to rave about (and the shower mildly electrocuting me a couple of times definitely dampened any goodwill I felt for the place), but there was nothing terrible about it either.

I would consider this a solid choice for a quick stay in Flores, but don’t expect to be wowed.

Check rates & book your stay at Hotel Villa Margarita!

view of bridge leading to flores island guatemala

2 Week Guatemala Itinerary Stop 2: 1 Day in Semuc Champey

The Highlights of Visiting Semuc Champey (+ Lanquin)

Semuc Champey is a series of crystal-clear pools and small waterfalls, and the area is known as a traveler’s playground.

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Stay in the town of Lanquin, and take a tour or simply grab a ride in one of the many nearby pickup trucks/taxis to reach the pools, and spend a day relaxing and reveling in the gorgeous nature.

kate storm sitting in the waterfalls of semuc champey during 2 weeks in guatemala

Semuc Champey easily makes the list of most magical places that we found in Central America or even the world–there’s an unbelievable, I-can’t-quite-believe-I’m-here quality to it that left us utterly enchanted.

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Don’t be surprised if this is one of your favorite stops during your 2 weeks in Guatemala!

Nearby wet caves can be explored with the help of a guide and a candlestick that you hold in your hand, as well–we didn’t try it, but if you’re feeling like an adventure, definitely give it a shot!

pools of semuc champey guatemala as seen from above

Tips for Visiting Semuc Champey

There are really just no two ways around this: Semuc Champey is a complete headache to get to.

It’s approximately an 8-hour shuttle ride from Flores to Semuc Champey, and an additional 8 hours to Antigua once you leave.

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The only good thing that can be said for this is that it is at least vaguely on the way to Antigua, and totally worth the trouble.

Lanquin, the nearest village to Semuc Champey (about 30 minutes away), is almost entirely off-grid: it’s one of the only places in our travels that we went without wifi, which was bizarre for the first 12 hours or so and very peaceful after that!

waterfalls of semuc champey guatemala

Where We Stayed When Visiting Semuc Champey

Vinas Hotel — Located less than a ten-minute walk from the center of town, the only issue we had here was with the lack of electricity for most of our stay–but there wasn’t anything the hotel could do about that.

The room was clean, the property well kept, and the restaurant had good food at low prices. We would not hesitate to stay here again if we returned to the area!

Check rates & book your stay at Vinas Hotel!

kate storm and jeremy storm standing on a deck overlooking semuc champey during 2 weeks in guatemala itinerary

Guatemala Itinerary Stop 3: 4 Days in Antigua

The Highlights of Visiting Antigua, Guatemala

Colorful buildings, cobblestone streets, ruins from the 18th century, plentiful volcano hikes nearby, enormous markets, and more: this is Antigua.

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The city is easy to get sucked into, from its hilltop views to the remains of destroyed buildings scattered throughout the town–relics of an 18th-century earthquake that erupted through the then-capital of Guatemala.

kate storm and jeremy storm taking a selfie in antigua guatemala when traveling guatemala on a budget

While Antigua itself is worth exploring during your 2 weeks in Guatemala itinerary, the real gems lie outside of town: if you’re up for an overnight excursion, hike to the top of Volcano Acatenango and–if you’re lucky–catch sight of Volcano Fuego erupting next door.

While the hike is far from easy, climbing Acatenango is absolutely one of the best things to do in Guatemala!

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If you’d prefer a day trip, consider climbing Pacaya.

Lucky visitors will get to see lava rolling lazily down the volcano, and almost all day trips include a marshmallow to roast with the natural heat.

Jeremy tacked on a Pacaya hike to our time in Antigua in addition to our climb up Acatenango, and he loved the experience!

sunrise over volcano near acatenango, as seen during a trip to guatemala itinerary

Tips for Visiting Antigua

Antigua is a great jumping-off point for backpacking Central America as a whole–if you’re planning to head south to either El Salvador or Honduras via bus after two weeks in Guatemala, Antigua is a great place to plan on leaving from.

If you’re flying in internationally, there’s also a good chance you’ll head from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua to get started, so keep that in mind as well!

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We loved our time in the little city and even returned to hang out a little longer after our time in Lake Atitlan.

Don’t come here with an enormous list of things to do (outside of climbing a volcano, that is)–Antigua is a great place to relax and wander through the town center.

As always, be cautious, especially at night–we felt very safe during the day here but uneasy at night, a sentiment many travelers we met echoed as well.

cerra de la cruz in guatemala, crucifix in foreground

Where We Stayed in Antigua

Sadly, the hostel that we loved so much in Antigua, La Dolce Vita Guesthouse, has permanently closed.

Here are two similar properties we would consider staying at these days, both of which are highly rated, with private rooms, wifi, and an excellent location.

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Casa Gitana — Just 400 meters from Antigua’s central plaza, you can’t find a better location in Antigua. A shared kitchen is also available.

Check rates & book your stay at Casa Gitana!

Un Hotel en la Antigua — Perfect for someone who’s looking for a quiet place to stay not far from the action, Un Hotel en la Antigua is located a 7-minute walk from the main plaza, while still being located in the heart of downtown Antigua.

Check rates & book your stay at Un Hotel en la Antigua!

view of famous yellow gate in antigua guatemala, as seen during guatemala in 2 weeks itinerary

2 Weeks in Guatemala Stop 4: 4 Days in Lake Atitlan

Highlights of Visiting Lake Atitlan

There could be no better way to close out a 2 week Guatemala itinerary than to relax at magical Lake Atitlan.

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Beautiful, quiet, relaxing, and literally mystical depending on who you ask, Lake Atitlan has been drawing writers and other artistic types of generations, including the famous Aldous Huxley.

The joy of Lake Atitlan is in its small villages, each with a distinct feel: head to San Pedro to enjoy the biggest, most tourist-centered town, with plenty of restaurants, shops, and tours nearby.

view of lake atitlan guatemala as seen from a pier on a guatemala vacation

San Marcos is the haven for hippies, where anything from meditation to crystal healing can be found advertised on its many bulletin boards.

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Then, there are the smaller villages that see few tourists at all–we stayed at an amazing Airbnb in San Pablo, where no other tourists or tourism infrastructure was nearby.

True, that meant a tuk-tuk ride to one of the other villages for our Spanish lessons, grocery store visits, and horseback riding–but you couldn’t beat the view from where we stayed.

kate storm and jeremy storm riding horses along the shore of lake atitlan during a trip to guatemala

Tips for Visiting Lake Atitlan

What village you stay in on Lake Atitlan will have an enormous impact on your experience–before booking a place, be sure you know where it is and what kind of experience you are looking for.

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As what we wanted from this trip was peace and quiet, along with some Spanish lessons, our out-of-the-way spot was exactly what we were looking for.

jeremy storm studying spanish in guatemala with a tutor, a large part of our trip to guatemala cost

Had we been wanting to hit bars or even eat out for more than an occasional meal, though, the location would have gotten old very quickly.

Also, as a side note: people do swim in Lake Atitlan, but sadly as gorgeous as it is, it’s very polluted.

Most people will advise against getting into the water, though even without the warning, we didn’t feel a need to try. This is a lake best admired from above.

view of lake atitlan from above, an amazing view during a 2 weeks in guatemala itinerary

Where We Stayed on Lake Atitlan

Stuart’s Airbnb — We loved this bungalow on Lake Atitlan!

The views were incredible, there was plenty of hot water, there was decent enough wifi considering the location, and the host was wonderful. This was an incredibly comfortable place to work and relax.

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The downside was that it’s in San Pablo, a tiny village on Lake Atitlan with no tourism infrastructure whatsoever.

To experience the best of what Lake Atitlan has to offer to tourists, you’ll need to visit some of the other villages by tuk-tuk or lancha.

view of lake atitlan guatemala from the shore

Getting Around During 2 Weeks in Guatemala

Though chicken buses and collectivos are available for cheap, unless you are on a very tight budget when visiting Guatemala, I would recommend using a tourist shuttle for at least the travel to Flores/Tikal (if you’re coming from Guatemala City), to Semuc Champey, and to Antigua.

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Those distances are long enough as is, you don’t want to risk adding significant amounts of time.

We took one collectivo while in Guatemala, from the border to Flores: while we saved some money, 18 humans and two puppies were an incredibly tight squeeze in a 15 passenger van–frankly, we wouldn’t bother doing it again.

white church in antigua guatemala as seen from above, views like this are worth trip to guatemala cost

Within towns and cities, tuk-tuks are readily available in most spots (though oddly not as many in Antigua–not much of an issue, as it’s very walkable).

During our backpacking Guatemala, we primarily used tuk-tuks or our own feet to get around within cities and towns and to get between different villages on Lake Atitlan.

sunrise as seen from volcano acatenango hiking trail

What to Pack for a Trip to Guatemala

Here are a few things we recommend bringing along on your trip to Guatemala!

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without insurance–anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.

Traveling to Guatemala is generally safe, of course, but it also likely involves stepping outside your comfort zone and trying out new adventures in a foreign land… where you may or may not speak the language. We use and recommend Safety Wing for trips to Guatemala.

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Pacsafe — We can’t recommend our Pacsafe enough: this travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room during your 2 weeks in Guatemala (not that you should need to worry much about theft in your hotels, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!).

tropical fruit for sale, typical to what you'll see during an itinerary guatemala in 2 weeks

Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for your 2 week Guatemala itinerary, that’s totally understandable.

Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used a Northface Jester backpack for years and loved it as well.

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Steripen — Save money and avoid adding more plastic to the Earth–a SteriPen is a win/win. We’ve used ours in more than a dozen countries over the years, including all throughout Mexico and Central America, and never gotten sick from the water.

Two Weeks in Guatemala

Nalgene — Goes hand-in-hand with the Steripen: you have to have somewhere to put that clean water when backpacking Guatemala! Opt for the wide-mouthed version in order to make the water sterilization process easier.

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Purell Hand Sanitizer — We carry this everywhere, and never been sorry to have it floating around in our day bag.

4 photos of guatemala travel, including volcano acatenango and semuc champey. red and yellow text reads "two weeks in guatemala"

About Kate Storm
Image of the author, Kate Storm

In May 2016, I left my suburban life in the USA and became a full-time traveler. Since then, I have visited 50+ countries on 5 continents and lived in Portugal, developing a special love of traveling in Europe (especially Italy) along the way. Today, along with my husband Jeremy and dog Ranger, I’m working toward my eventual goal of splitting my life between Europe and the USA.

49 thoughts on “The Ultimate 2 Weeks in Guatemala Itinerary”

  1. Wauw! I always wanted to go to Middle America, but always went the other direction ( Asia and Australia 😉 ) Guatemala looks so pretty and relaxed. I will bookmark your itinerary to add to our bucket list. Great read!

    Reply
  2. Your itinerary sounds perfect and it seems the ideal destination for couples! Did you see many solo backpackers? In December I am going to Mexico and will spend some time there, so perhaps, I will consider coming here. And yes, if I go I will stay more than two weeks, so just googling río dulce and more things to do in the East 😉 Thank you for tiny piece of inspiration!

    Reply
    • Thanks!! Yes, we saw tons of solo backpackers throughout Guatemala and the rest of the region–more solos than couples, honestly. Hope you have a great time in Mexico! It’s one of our favorite countries in the world.

      Reply
  3. I’ve always wanted to explore Central America for its rich cultural heritage, history and natural beauty. It seems as though Guatemala has ticked all of those boxes! I also love the sights you featured here. I definitely have Antigua and Tikal National Park in my bucket list!

    Reply
    • It definitely does tick all the boxes! Antigua is such a great city–if you want to take Spanish classes, it’s a super popular spot for that as well!

      Reply
  4. Wow Semuc Champey looks like a dream! I think some of the best places on this planet are a pain to get to, but totally worth it. Stuart’s Airbnb sounds wonderful, and with great views too. Such beautiful photos, it looks like you both had an amazing time!

    Reply
    • A dream is a perfect way of describing Semuc Champey, especially since we had no internet while we were there. It was an amazing detox!

      Reply
  5. What an interesting two week itinerary for Guatemala, this is high on my list. The view over the city and mountain is beautiful. Too bad Lake Atitlan is polluted. It seems like you have done your homework and had an amazing trip.

    Reply
    • I love that view, too–just a quick “hike” (aka walk) up a hill in Antigua! We did have a wonderful time. 🙂

      Reply
  6. I really enjoyed your post on Guatemala and all the places you went to in the country. I love how you really wanted to feel a raw experience and get away from all the hustle and bustle of the main tourist attractions and rather stay away from the hubs to take in the beauty of all the places you were at. Very well advised post and definitely will take into consideration when I go, which hopefully will be soon!

    Reply
  7. Your pictures are so stunning and stir up my wanderlust to an ultimate high! I’ve never been to Guatemala, but I sure want to go now! It’s so sad that Lake Atitlan is polluted! There are crazy people everywhere that don’t care how clean the water is or not. I live right next to the Great Salt Lake in Utah and it amazes me how many people wade into that icky lake!

    Reply
    • Aw, thank you Rachelle! I agree–it’s so sad when things get polluted, and I will never understand people who jump in anyway!

      Reply
  8. Weeeell, thanks to you, I have now just added a new destination to my list! 🙂
    Your photos look beautiful and I love that Guatemala is a bit “off the beaten path” compared to maybe Costa Rica, which seems to be overcrowded with backpackers!

    Reply
    • Glad to help that list, Aryane! 😉 Honestly, we way preferred Guatemala to Costa Rica (Nicaragua was our favorite in Central America, and Guatemala our second favorite–we visited all but El Salvador on this trip). We did visit Costa Rica at the end of this trip, so I feel like we should give it another try one day, but it’s hard to prefer it when Costa Rica costs double what Guatemala does!

      Reply
  9. Guatemala looks stunning. Your pictures are great and those volcanoes look like proper volcanoes. I’ve never been to Central America (except for Mexico – Tijuana) but would love to go one day. This post has inspired me to dig a bit deeper in regards to finding out everything it has to offer. Nice uplifting post.

    Reply
  10. When I visited Tikal I came in from Belize City and left on the day bus to Guatemala City. Like you say, Tikal is shown so clearly in the Star Wars – A New Hope movie so Star Wars fans will love it and who isn’t a Star Wars fan? If I read this post earlier I would have visited Semuc Champey on the way to Guatemala City / Antigua. Your photo of Volcano Acatenango is a stunner!

    Reply
  11. Guatemala is calling my name, although I think I’ll possibly combine it with El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Not sure about Tikal or Semuc Champey (both out of the way), but I think Atitlan and Antigua look unmissable. You’ve given me some food for thought…

    Reply
    • Your trip sounds wonderful! We didn’t make it to El Salvador, but can speak highly of all the others. We had incredible experiences in each of them!

      Reply
    • If you go to Honduras don’t miss the best of the best:
      Cayos Cochinos national park .
      The Islas de la Bahia/ Bay Islands, with the second largest coral reef in the world.
      Copan archeological park, the most beautidul city of the mayan world.

      Reply
  12. We were in Guatemala a few months after you and have very similar adventures. So I can validate your recommended two-week itinerary. Did you do any costing analysis for your trip there? We are always interested in understanding other couple’s budget and actuals to see where we can improve or stretch our dollars.

    After spending a whole year in New Zealand (#vanlife and house sitting), we’ll be following you a bit in Europe from December 2018.

    Good luck with your travels and adventures. Stay safe.

    Reply
    • We did–there’s actually a whole post on our Guatemala budget if you search the site. 🙂 Guatemala is still our least expensive country when calculated at cost per day–a little over $30/USD/person/day.

      Enjoy New Zealand! We’d love to do a similar adventure one day.

      Reply
  13. Hi guys! Thanks so much for this, this itinerary is great! My boyfriend and I are actually only going to have 9 days in guatemala, so transit times are scaring me a bit. Do you think you could post some links as to the buses you used to get from place to place?
    Thanks!!!

    Reply
    • Hi Savana!

      Yes, the transport times are formidable–I’d probably either focus on western Guatemala (Antigua and surrounding volcanoes, Lake Atitlan) or eastern Guatemala (Semuc Champey, Tikal, and a side trip to San Ignacio Belize for the ATM Cave) with 9 days to work with instead of trying to deal with criss-crossing the country. But, it’s all up to you–I know it’s hard to trim things down!

      As for buses, we didn’t book anything before getting to Guatemala (and we don’t recommend it–WAY too overpriced), but there are several tourism agencies in all of these destinations in Guatemala where you can easily purchase onward tickets a day or two in advance. 🙂

      Reply
  14. Hey guys! This all sounds great, I was just wondering how you guys arranged transport from flores to semuc champey.

    Thanks in advance!

    Savana

    Reply
    • From Flores to Semuc Champey significantly, we booked a tourist shuttle a day in advance at one of the many tourism agencies Flores. 🙂

      Flores is very tourist-friendly–I know how annoying it can be not to have guaranteed plans in advance (going through that same thing right now with the current trip we’re planning!), but I promise it’s super easy to get done on the ground!

      Reply
  15. Thanks for this! I’m curious about the safety situation given it has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. I’m aware most of that is not directed at tourists but nonetheless I wonder how careful you felt you had to be and whether that impacted your experience at all? Like: presumably you have to somewhat stick to the beaten path?

    Reply
    • Hi Sarah!

      So, we can only offer our subjective experiences, but we felt very safe in Guatemala. There are certain precautions we took, sure–we booked shuttles for long distances, climbed Acatenango on a group tour, etc, but generally we felt perfectly comfortable there. We did stick pretty much to the beaten path, but the nice thing about Guatemala is that the beaten path is not so beaten (you’ll see plenty of other backpackers, but it’s no Chiang Mai or Tulum), so it still feels like quite the adventure.

      You’ll want to do a little research if you plan on doing anything particularly unusual–for example, climbing Volcano Agua isn’t recommended without armed guards, but there’s also little to no reason to go up there, that kind of thing–but overall, I wouldn’t worry much about the safety as long as you take typical travel precautions.

      Reply
    • Hard call!

      I would say that Guatemala is cheaper, more compact, has better food, and feels a bit more adventurous/offbeat.

      Colombia is a bit more developed along the tourist routes, more expensive, and has a wider range of landscapes. Our suggested 2-week itinerary for Colombia involves a domestic plane ride to cover the distance, and in Guatemala, that’s not necessary.

      If you’re having a hard time deciding, I’d try picking 2-3 “must-do” experiences (Caribbean beaches in Colombia? Climbing the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala? Cocora Valley in Colombia? Hiking Acatenango in Guatemala?), and then pick from there.

      Either way, you’re in for an amazing trip!

      Reply
  16. Hello,

    Thank you for all this fantastic information. We are looking at travelling from Lake Aititilan to Semuc champey. We were wondering if you know if there are any night buses to get there.

    Thank you
    Amy

    Reply
    • Hi Amy!

      I’m not sure if there are any night buses–your best bet would be to talk to a tourist agency near Lake Atitlan and see if they have any night shuttles.

      However, I’d personally recommend against a night bus if you can avoid it–the roads aren’t the safest to begin with, and traveling at night is a bit riskier than during the day.

      Reply
  17. Thank you both so much for this posting! I am planning to visit Guatemala and El Salvador in December and now thinking it best to just focus on Guatemala for two weeks.

    My roundtrip from Atlanta to Guatemala and back is around little over $500. Besides that how much would you recommend to have total for food, lodging, trips and others. I as solo tend to be budget traveler and have used resources as Airbnb and Hostels in Asia before.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Samar! We have a blog post on how much we spent in Guatemala (you can find it by searching “Guatemala budget” or similar in the search bar at the top right.

      Overall, we found Guatemala extremely affordable. I’d say $30/day is perfectly fine if you’re willing to stay in hostels and take less-than-comfortable transportation, and maybe add on a little extra for a splurge on a specific experience like climbing Volcano Acatenango or touring Semuc Champey.

      Reply
  18. Hi

    I just came across your website while searching for information about Guatemala. I am still deciding between going 2 weeks to Guatemala + 1 week in Belize or just 2 weeks in Costa Rica.

    I want to do see nature, lush forests and wildlife and also enjoy nice ocean beaches time.

    what do you recommend?

    Costa Rica has always been my dream but I think Guatemala packs more of culture and history besdies being cheaper too :))

    thank you!!

    Reply
    • Personally, Guatemala is by far and away our favorite of those 3, so of course I’d vote for that one! I’d say it probably has the lowest number of beach options of the three (there are some, though), but it definitely has lush forests and wildlife, as well as amazing volcanoes and of course Lake Atitlan!

      Reply
  19. I was wondering, how you get from one destination to another? Do you suggest renting a car, taking buses? What is the easiest way to get around the country? Thanks ?

    Reply
    • Hi Vincent! Generally, the easiest thing to do is book tourist shuttles from place to place–there are tons of them that operate along the stops on this Guatemala itinerary, they’re never hard to find. If you’re on a very strict budget, you can take collectivos, which will save you money but will take longer and be less comfortable!

      Reply
  20. Hi, I have experience in backpacking adventure trips but not since having kids. Do you think Guatemala would be ok for a family of 5 with two teens and a 7 year old?

    Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Michael! Of course it would depend on the particular children involved and your risk-taking preferences, but I think you can definitely plan a family-friendly trip to Guatemala!

      Reply
  21. My son, born in Wisconsin, built 6 Airbnb,tiny houses, on the volcano in San Pedro, La laguna, Solola ( plus a beautiful tent) to rent. Its called refuegio del volcan. It’s amazing with beautiful gardens and views of Lake Atitlan. I’ve been there many times and LOVE the town, people and surrounding towns on the lake ( reachable by boat). As a older woman I’ve always felt safe. Tho, in the evening I would use a tuk tuk and probably go out with another. You need to experience the flavor of Lake Atitlan.

    Reply
    • Hi Sue!

      It depends on the area and your tolerance for potential catcalls, honestly (I’m leaning on the experience of my many friends who have traveled the area solo here, as I was with Jeremy the whole time).

      In touristy areas like Antigua, it’s very common for visiting women to wear shorts. I certainly did, though I wasn’t solo.

      Reply

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