The Good 7-Day Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala, positioned in Central America, is thought to be one of many nations with the best focus of volcanoes on the earth.

That’s truly one of many predominant the reason 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 attainable. Nevertheless, we have been shocked by simply how rather more there may be to this nation. Stuffed with historic Mayan ruins, a wealthy indigenous tradition, lovely volcanic lakes, and scrumptious meals, Guatemala ended up being a complete spotlight of our travels. 

Nevertheless, with so many issues to see, it could be tough to determine the way to finest plan your time. For that reason, now we have give you the last word 1 week Guatemala itinerary that features a few of our favourite experiences. In case your tastes are barely completely different, now we have 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 might advocate staying at the least 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 at the least one of many predominant experiences.

A lot of the main sights corresponding to Guatemala Metropolis, Antigua, the volcanoes, and Lake Atitlan are clustered in the same space within the south.

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

In our proposed plan of 1 week, we selected to go to Tikal for Mayan historical past as an alternative of Lake Atitlan for a extra unwinding lovely surroundings sort of journey. Nevertheless, this may be simply swapped as will probably be defined additional down. If nevertheless you will have 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 an alternative of Lake Atitlan for a extra unwinding lovely surroundings sort of journey. Nevertheless, this may be simply swapped as will probably be defined additional down. If, nevertheless, you will have 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 very best 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’d not advocate staying in Guatemala metropolis as there are elevated charges of crime and a few security considerations. 

For that reason, 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 pleasing experience by way of the countryside.

As soon as arrived in Antigua and checked in to your resort, top-of-the-line methods to get your bearings on 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 may also clarify to you the historical past of the nation and provide you with a greater understanding of the complete Guatemalan tradition. 

After a tiring day of flights, that is the best exercise because the expertise could be very laid again. There are a number of night Meals excursions in Antigua which you’ll be able to 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 lets you study so much concerning the tradition and offers you entry to the experience and information of your information. 

Day 2: Discover Antigua and ruins

Antigua is an exquisite Colonial metropolis surrounded by 3 distinguished 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 rapidly 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, top-of-the-line 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 attractive framework of the buildings.

A lot 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 attractive structure. You probably 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 sure to cease by the Santa Catalina Archway on the northern facet of the city. This is likely 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

The most effective 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 may be doing a grueling 6-hour hike as much as the bottom camp of Acatenango the place you may be spending the night time. Right here, relying on the tour group you go along with, you may be sleeping whether or not in a tent, a shared cabin, or a person cabin. From right here, you get the right vantage level to witness the volcanic eruptions of Fuego. 

Nevertheless, in case you are extra daring, you may embark on the extra 2-3 hour hike up the slopes of Volcano Fuego the place you’ll arise near the eruptions. This was a really difficult hike for us however so price 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 are going to all the time bear in mind.

You’ll then hike again the identical approach 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 very best issues to do in Antigua together with the volcano hike, the logistics of all of the actions, and photographs highlighting the experiences, take a look at 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 following day, you may be ending up your Acatenango hike. Rising early within the morning, you’ll have the choice of climbing 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 climbing up and by round midday, you may be again to Antigua. At this level, you’ll possible be very drained so spend the day stress-free in transport. You possibly can e book the identical firm to go again to Guatemala metropolis airport immediately 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 best way to go to Flores and Tikal, we really feel it’s 100% price it. Having traveled to many different nations which have Mayan ruins together with Chitzen Itza in Mexico, the expertise at Tikal was way more genuine, distinctive, and memorable. 

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

Day 5: Discover Tikal

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

Tikal is an historic archaeological website and one of many largest and most important Mayan cities in Mesoamerica. Positioned within the rainforests of northern Guatemala, Tikal served as a significant political, financial, and cultural middle 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 study a lot concerning the Mayan tradition and historical past, and several other attention-grabbing info of their affect even up until as we speak. For instance, the Mayans used a numbering system of strains and dots that’s nonetheless as we speak mirrored within the Guatemalan foreign money.

Visiting Tikal will take the complete day. The drive to succeed in there takes about an hour every method and will probably be included within the tour. If you’re pondering of visiting Tikal, be sure 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’d advocate taking the time to go to Yaxha, one other spectacular Mayan metropolis deep within the jungles of Guatemala. You could be questioning if visiting two Mayan ruins again to again would get repetitive, however Yaxha actually brings its personal distinctive expertise.

For us, what made it stand out was how immersed you’re feeling. The ruins have been solely partially excavated and the encompassing forest left utterly intact, preserving the atmosphere that town as soon as existed in. Additionally, at Yaxha, you’re allowed to climb up most 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 crammed with colourful buildings and a lot persona. There are additionally some extremely scrumptious eating places that we’d advocate. 

For a full breakdown of what to do in Flores, the way to plan your time visiting Tikal and Yaxha, in addition to meals suggestions, take a look at our Flores Guatemala Itinerary for 3, 4, or 5 days.  

Day 7: Flight again to Guatemala metropolis after which departure

Your last day will probably be spent totally on transport. You can be taking the flight from Flores again to Guatemala metropolis after which await your worldwide flight again residence.

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

Be sure to select up some Guatemalan espresso on the best way out as it’s scrumptious! 

Different or when you’ve got 10 days

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

If you’re focused on visiting Lake Atitlan, then select this route as an alternative for Days 4-7 in our authentic itinerary. If, nevertheless, you will have 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 Sizzling 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, take a look at our Lake Atitlan full itinerary breakdown. We go into much more element concerning the proposed days 4-7 as described above. 

Greatest time to go to Guatemala

The very best time to go to Guatemala is throughout January, February, March, April, or November to December. The summer time months from Could 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. For that reason, the best months are these with the bottom likelihood of rain. We ended up visiting finish of November and had good climate!

Is Guatemala secure?

A query we get requested usually is that if Guatemala is secure. The general reply is Sure, Guatemala is secure. We spent lots of time touring by way of Flores, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan and all the time felt secure. The one space that we felt a bit extra on edge was Guatemala Metropolis. It is because of this 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 comfy.

Typically, so long as you keep inside the principle vacationer areas, then you must really feel secure.

Is Guatemala costly?

Total, Guatemala is a really inexpensive nation to go to. Lodging could be had for a median 30-50$ per night time, and if consuming native meals, meals are between 5-15$ per particular person. The biggest bills of our journey have been the excursions to go to Tikal and the Volcano Acatenango.

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

Abstract: 1-Week Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala, crammed with volcanoes, Mayan tradition, and such a wealthy historical past, makes for an incredible nation to go to. With this 1 week Guatemala Itinerary, you’re in your approach to planning your subsequent journey!

We have now included the traditional historical past of Tikal, the relief 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+ nations, they supply journey planning insights and charming pictures to gasoline your subsequent journey.

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