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Guatemala is, and always will be, one of the best countries I’ve ever visited.
Packed with vast nature, rich culture, and seeped in history, Guatemala offers such a wide array of things to see and do, and this is the ultimate 2 week Guatemala itinerary, perfect for first timers. My trip to Guatemala was initially based off a whim decision to visit my friend and her husband, who were holidaying there. I flew in from Costa Rica and landed not really knowing anything about the country, just some bits and pieces from what my friend had briefly told me.
Nerves and anticipation set in as I landed. I had no idea what to expect. As I headed off the plane I met a group of Dutch girls who invited me into their Uber as we were all heading in the same direction out of Guatemala City to the first stop on this Guatemala itinerary. As I approached Antigua it completely blew me away as I saw the charming colonial style houses with volcanos protruding in the background… I knew I was going to like it here. This post will give you everything you need to know to have the ultimate 2 weeks in Guatemala.
Guatemala seriously has a little bit of everything, from hiking active volcanos, locally sourced coffee, ancient Mayan ruins and so much more. If you’re someone that enjoys adventure, variety and culture bursting at the seams, Guatemala is the place for you.
This all inclusive itinerary is the best overview of the country, with a mix of destinations and activities, quenching your need for adventure and excitement. This two week itinerary has everything you need for the ultimate time in Guatemala, and is perfect for your first time.
where is Guatemala?
Guatemala is located in Central America, below Mexico and above Honduras and El Salvador. It’s the third largest country in the region, and is home to a string of 27 volcanos in its southern part. Due to its geographical layout, Guatemala has a very unique variety of climates and terrains as you move throughout the country, which is one of the reasons it’s such a great destination to visit.
Guatemala’s rich Indigenous heritage still holds a lot of dominance within the country, setting it apart from its neighbours. The Mayans stretched through Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Belize and even down to Nicaragua, and you can find some of the most well preserved ruins in parts of Northern Guatemala.
What is Guatemala's currency?
Guatemala’s currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal, which is named after the national bird of Guatemala. Quetzal feathers used to be used as currency back in ancient Mayan culture!
Guatemala is a very cash heavy country, so it’s always best to have cash at all times. One really important thing to note though, Guatemala is known for it’s unreliable and frequent power outages, which often means no access to ATMs during these times. I unfortunately got caught out with this and only had about £5 to my name in cash, while the ATMs were out of use for over 12 hours.
In case of this happening it’s always best to try and have plenty of cash stored somewhere safely. Visiting some of the more remote parts of the Guatemala itinerary also means limited access to ATMs at all, so remember to forward plan.
How to get to Guatemala?
Guatemala is very well connected, especially with its increasing popularity for tourists. I flew from Costa Rica into Guatemala City, however you can also get the overland bus from neighbouring countries like Mexico, Belize, and El Salvador. I flew from Costa Rica and I recommend looking at Avianca for flights as they have a lot of great flight options for North and South America, along with long haul flights from Europe.
Travelling overland within Central America is also fairly straight forward. After my time in Guatemala I went overland into Belize, and you can book with companies that will take you door to door. From Mexico one of the most popular routes is from San Cristobal, Chiapas to either Antigua or Lake Atitlan, this takes around 9 – 11 hours.
From San Salvador, El Salvador, it’s only a 6 hour bus to Guatemala City, so this is a great option if you’re travelling to more Central American countries. Alternatively, you can also fly!
The best way to find and book buses is by looking at either BusBud or 12Go.
is Guatemala safe?
Latin American often gets a bad rap for being notoriously unsafe. From what’s online there’s a lot of mention of petty theft, gangs, kidnapping and so on. I always say I can only speak on what I experienced and saw, and it’s very important to practice caution everywhere, but in my opinion, Guatemala is an incredibly safe country to visit.
I went to Guatemala alone and while I did end up travelling with two girls I had met, as a three we never experienced anything bad. It’s not to say bad things don’t happen in Guatemala, but bad things happen everywhere and I think if you’re looking for trouble, you can definitely find it.
Guatemala City has the highest reported crime in the country, which is why I recommend heading straight from the airport to the first stop on this Guatemala itinerary, Antigua. The itinerary includes places that are known to be safe for tourists, but it’s always important to instil safe practices while travelling.
Some safety precautions to follow include: don’t walk around alone late at night, don’t wander into areas you aren’t sure about, learn some basic Spanish, travel in a group setting if and when you can (for example book transport with tourism companies) and don’t be very flashy with possessions.
The ultimate 2 week Guatemala itinerary: Perfect for first timers
antigua: 2 - 3 nights
To start off your ultimate Guatemala itinerary you first need to head to Antigua. Located just an hour away from Guatemala City, it’s the perfect introduction to the country. Antigua feels like you’re stepping back in time. Its cobbled streets and colourful colonial style houses are tucked away in a valley surrounded by a selection of Guatemala’s volcanos.
Antigua is a small city, but definitely feels energetic with a lot of locals and tourists alike enjoying the cafe culture and interesting bar scene. The array of charming doorways and houses make it a great destination to walk around, not to mention Antigua is known to have the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world! You can also enjoy the city from above with some small hikes leading up to several viewpoints.
The city is a hub of great cafes, lively parks and a pretty bustling nightlife, so it’s the perfect place to begin. Of course one of the most iconic things to do in Guatemala commences from Antigua, the Acatenango hike. We will talk about this shortly.
If you’re flying into Guatemala City its super easy to get an Uber straight from the airport to Antigua. When you’re exiting the airport there are also stalls where you can organise transport once you arrive, however Uber is easy and effective.
Although Antigua is a city, it’s pretty small. You can really do and see everything in two full days, however, if you had extra time you could stay a night longer as it’s a great place to relax and stroll around.
what to do in antigua
Antigua is both a lovely city to slow down and enjoy, or there are a few great activities you can check out:
- Climb up Cerro de La Cruz
- Convento Santa Clara
- Hobbitenango
- ATV Sunset tour
- Street food tour
- Half day bike ride and coffee tour
- The world’s prettiest McDonalds (you can find it on the map here)
- Iglesia de la Merced
- Enjoy the amazing brunch scene (Cafe Boheme is an absolute must)
WHERE TO STAY IN Antigua
There are a lot of great accomodation options in Antigua for all price points.
If you’re looking for a beautiful boutique hotel with a gorgeous courtyard and great location, then you need to stay at Cacao Boutique Hotel. The hotel offers free breakfast, and can help you organise tours during your stay. Book Cacao Boutique Hotel here.
For a simple, no fuss guesthouse you need to stay at Casa Capirucho. Just a few minutes walk from all the main sights in Antigua, this guesthouse has everything you need, along with a rooftop overlooking the views of the city and surrounding volcanos. Book your stay Casa Capirucho here.
In terms of hostels there are honestly a lot of incredible hostel choices to check out and I stayed in some of the best. Firstly is Selina. As a popular hostel chain throughout prodominantely Latin America, their property in Antigua really does have everything that you would need, all in a colonial style building complex with lovely grounds to enjoy. Book your stay at Selina here.
The next hostel is Adra Hostel, and this is potenitally my favourite out of the group. This hostel has a gorgeous courtyard, rooftop and very functional rooms that aren’t too expensive. I actually stayed in their 30 person dorm! Book your stay at Adra Hostel here.
The last hostel is Tropicana. This is definitely the liveliest hostel out of the three and is more of the ‘party’ vibe, if that is what you’re hoping for. Tropicana is also where you can book and plan the Acatenango Hike, and as a part of the tour you can rent warm clothes from them (which is very needed) and store your luggage with them for the night. Book your stay at Tropicana here.
ACATENANGO HIKE
One of the absolute highlights of Guatemala is the Acatenango hike. Situated just outside Antigua, this overnight hike takes you on a 6 hour steep climb up the side of an active volcano, Acatenango. In the late afternoon you’ll reach basecamp, where you will set up for the night and look across to the spectacular views of the neighbouring volcano, Feugo.
Feugo is another active volcano that erupts almost every day of the year, spurting lava and smoke hundreds of meters into the air. From its neighbour you can sit and enjoy the spectacle throughout the night, then in the early hours of the next morning summit the volcano to see more exceptional views over Feugo.
This is by far one of the most challenging hikes I’ve ever done, but definitely comes with some of the most rewarding views. This hike is incredibly weather dependent and unfortunately, we didn’t see any lava ourselves, but we did get an incredible sunrise.
If you plan on doing this hike, it’s best to add on a night to your itinerary and have 3 nights in Antigua + one additional night for the hike. Furthermore, when you’re planning I recommend slotting the hike in the middle of your Antigua time, so you have a chance to rest when you return from Acatenango. For example 2 nights Antigua, 1 night Acatenango, 1 final night in Antigua.
If you’re looking to book the hike you can do it through Tropicana Hostel, or alternatively, you can book it on GetYourGuide here. ,
Lake Atitlan: 5 - 7 nights
The second stop on the Guatemala itinerary is Lake Atitlan. This ginormous lake seeps into a volcanic crater and spans 130.1 km² while being surrounded by unparalleled views and beautiful lakeside towns. There are five main towns people stay in around Lake Atitlan, and each hosts their own charm. The five towns are:
- Panajechel
- San Pedro
- San Juan
- San Marcos
- Santa Cruz
During your Guatemala itinerary you could choose to split your time across multiple towns and spend a few nights in each, or venture out on day trips across the lake. I stayed in both Panajechel and San Pedro, as these are the biggest towns along the lakeside, although are directly across the water from each other.
Panajechel is a little more quiet than San Pedro, with small markets and a few local eateries. San Pedro is busier and is more of hub for travellers, with an array of amazing food spots, great hostels and lively bars. San Pedro is also home to a lot of Spanish schools, where you can take a week up to a month living with a local family and perfecting your Spanish.
The easiest and fastest way to get around the lake is by water taxis. These leave from all the major towns listed and run throughout the day, and stop when it gets dark. The price ranges between £2 – £4 per ride and the boat generally leaves once full. The only short distance between the towns is San Pedro to San Juan, which is only a 10 – 15 minute tuktuk ride!
what to do in Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan offers a really wide range of activities, from water sports, coffee tastings, cooking classes and hikes. The allocated five nights for your stay in Lake Atitlan will give you a good amount of time to see and do everything, while seven nights allow for some extra relaxation time by the water.
Some of the best things to do in Lake Atitlan are:
- Indian Nose Hike in San Pedro
- Mirador Kaqasiiwaan in San Juan
- Coffee tasting in San Juan
- Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve (with a 15m platform jump) in San Marcos
- Create your own cocktail at Simoneta Mixology Cantina in Panajachel
- Rent paddleboards or kayaks
- Hidden Waterfalls and Secret Paradise Hike in Santa Cruz
- Mayan Cooking Class
- Chichicastenango market
- Los Thermales in San Pedro
Where to stay in Lake Atitlan
There are lots of beautiful accommodation options across the lake in each respective town, from functional guesthouses to luxurious hotels. In terms of which town you should stay in, it generally depends on what you’re looking for.
Here is what you can expect from the towns:
- Panajachel is busy but has a lot more of a local feel
- San Pedro is the busiest tourist area with most amount of restaurants, bars and accommodation options
- San Juan is the coffee hot spot and is a lovely colourful town, but is close enough to San Pedro so it doesn’t have too many accommodation choices
- San Marcos is known as the ‘hippy’ town. It has a great yoga studio, lots of vegan/vegetarian restaurants and a beautiful national park to swim in
- Santa Cruz is a very small town with only a few choices, but a lot of people stay at one of the best hostels on the lake, Free Cerveza.
panajachel accommodation
For accommodation in Panajachel Villa Santa Catarina is a beautiful resort overlooking the lake and volcanos. With clean rooms and a massive outdoor swimming pool, it’s the perfect place to unwind. Alternatively, another lovely hotel on the lakefront is Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Jardines del Lago.
You can book Villa Santa Catarina here or Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Jardines del Lago here.
As for hostels, the two best hostels in Panajachel are Selina and Dream Boat. Selina has beautiful facilities and its own restaurant, coworking space, pool and lots of common areas. Dream Boat is smaller but a lot more social, with a lively rooftop that has a small pool and nightly events.
You can book Selina Panajachel or Dream Boat here.
San Pedro Accommodation
San Pedro is the biggest town along the lake and has the most options to choose from. If you’re looking for your own space then Atitlan Luxury Suites are private, comfortable and host lovely views over the lake. While being on more of the expensive end of the scale, it’s definitely a great choice if you want to escape and relax.
Book your stay at Atitlan Luxury Suites here
For hostels, there are two great options. Firstly Amigos is right by the ferry terminal and offers both dorms and private rooms. The common areas are clean and it’s easily one of the best hostels in San Pedro. Alternatively, Mandala’s is a little further away, tucked down a side street, but has the best owner who goes above and beyond. There is a lovely rooftop and a kitchen too.
You can book either Amigos here or Mandalas here.
For just a simple guesthouse then Homestay Mama Tuch will make you feel right at home. With breakfast included, this is a great, affordable accommodation and works perfectly if you want to practice your Spanish, too!
Book your stay at Homestay Mama Tuch here.
San Juan Accommodation
San Juan is a small town not too far from San Pedro. If you would prefer to stay in San Pedro and either get a short water taxi or tuktuk over to San Juan, this is super easy. San Juan is a lovely town with colourful streets, street art and decorations overhead. Its lively coffee culture is one of the main selling points here.
An affordable, lakefront hotel that offers great views is Eco Hotel Uxlabil Atitlan. While being quite a basic accommodation option, it really does have everything you need and is within walking distance of the main town.
Book your stay at Eco Hotel Uxlabil Atitlan here.
If you’re looking for a hostel option then 4 Elementos Hostal is an affordable and very homely hostel in San Juan. It offers a common room, cosy rooms and clean bathrooms.
Book your stay at 4 Elementos Hostal here.
San Marcos Accommodation
San Marco is known as the ‘hippy’ town along the lake. While the town is small it has some lovely accommodation options along with a good range of cafes and restaurants.
Tucked away at the top of San Marcos is Casa AHAU. This accommodation has the loveliest owner along with a rooftop and super comfy beds. This is the perfect place to escape during your time here.
Book your stay ay Casa AHAU here.
For something a little more expensive, but with a more luxruious vibe, then Baba Yaga Atitlan is perfect. There is a private beach area, garden and water sports you can use during your stay, so definitely worth the little extra! Another great hotel choice along the lakefront is El Dragon Hotel. This hotel offers clean rooms and a pool on the shorefront, along with its own restaurant, bar and lounge you can use.
Book your stay at Baba Yaga Atitlan or El Dragon Hotel here.
The final accommodation in San Marcos is this beautiful apartment Escape Contemporary Stay, owned by a sweet local family. The space is light and airy, with private bathrooms and a communal kitchen you can use during your stay, it’s the best affordable option in the area.
Book your stay at Escape Contemporary Stay.
Santa Cruz Accommodation
There are two amazing places to stay in Santa Cruz that you need to know about.
Firstly, the best hostel in Santa Cruz, and arguably in Lake Atitlan, is Free Cerveza. This hostel has a mix of glamping pods and small bungalows that you can either share as a dorm or rent privately. The property is stunning and sits right on the lake. The hostel offers yoga classes, paddleboards, activities and events, along with a kitchen, restaurant and bar. It’s definitely worth visiting and be prepared, you’ll probably fall in love!
Book your stay at Free Cerveza here.
For more hostel recommendations check out my Hostel Reviews and Recommendations blog post, with over 160 hostels from around the world!
If you’re someone who enjoys their own space, then an alternative accommodation option in Santa Cruz is Peaceful Hideaway. This apartment has a small kitchen, a private bathroom and a cosy feel.
You can book your stay at Peaceful Hideaway here.
semuc champey: 2 - 3 nights
The next stop on the Guatemala itinerary takes you right into the country’s centre to the small town of Lanquin. Nestled in the heart of the jungle Lanquin is the stop off to get to the spectacular natural monument, Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a formation of dozen rock pools with crystal blue waters flowing through them, and it’s one of the highlights of the country.
To get to Lanquin you first must take a 10 – 12 hour bus from Lake Atitlan, stopping through Antigua and Guatemala City on the way north. The journey is long and the minivan is incredibly uncomfortable, so pack snacks and download a good playlist or podcast. You can book the bus on GetYourGuide here or you can ask at your accommodation to see if they can organise it for you.
Once you (finally) arrive in Lanquin you’ll be greeted with pick up trucks from your respective accommodation, that will haul you in the back with all your luggage and take you to where you’re staying. Lanquin is a very small remote town with little tourist infrastructure, so don’t expect too much when you arrive. Although it does offer its own charm.
For this itinerary, 2 nights and 1 full day will offer plenty of time to explore Semuc Champey in the day, either while staying in Lanquin or you can stay at Semuc Champey itself. If you did have extra time there are some really lovely accommodation options where people choose to stay an extra day or two, just for that! We will talk about where to stay in a minute.
what to do in Semuc Champey
The best way to see Semuc Champey is to book onto a full day tour as there’s loads to see and do in the area and having a guide is the best way to do everything. This GetYourGuide tour is the perfect day tour to book onto or most accomodations offer a full day Semuc Champey tour which is the best way to see this natural monument. From Lanquin it’s still roughly 40 minutes driving and to get there you have to cram back onto the back of the truck… just make sure to hold on because it’s pretty bumpy.
The first part of the tour is a small hike up to the viewing platform overlooking Semuc Champey. For this I definitely recommend good shoes as it’s pretty muddy and a bit of a climb to the top. The view is beyond spectacular and you can see each rock pool with the water flowing through.
The next part of the tour is enjoying the beautiful water! Your guide takes you through each pool and you can slide down ‘natural’ slides and venture into some of the caves. The next part of the tour is something I wasn’t a huge fan of because I’m VERY claustrophobic, but a cool experience nevertheless.
Ever thought about caving in the pitch black with water up to your chest and only a waterproof candle to light the way? Well me neither, but that is something you can do in Semuc Champey. This part of the tour isn’t for the faint hearted, and you’re welcome to skip this out if you need to. Inside the cave is small and you have to squeeze through some very small holes to get in and out… but all for the adventure!
The final part of the tour is tubing down the river. Locals swim out with beers you can buy or you can even bring your own. This is definitely more my vibe and is a great way to end the day.
If you’re a nature lover your next destination needs to be Kyrgyzstan, you can read my 2 Kyrgyzstan week itinerary here.
where to stay in Semuc Champey
The accommodation options in Lanquin/Semuc Champey are quite limited and generally quite basic. There are a range of guesthouses and hostels to choose from. Staying in the town of Lanquin means you’ll have more options for places to eat, plus you can check out some of the local markets and shops. Alternatively staying at Semuc Champey means you’ll be close to exploring the pools, but it’s a lot more limited with options outside of your accommodation.
A lovely, simple, family run guesthouse in Lanquin is Casa Mary. This accommodation is simple, but has everything you need for a comfortable stay during your time in Lanquin. You can book it here.
By far the best hostel to stay in is Zepher Lodge. The hostel has a beautiful pool overlooking the jungle, with clean rooms and a tasty restaurant. It’s a great social hostel with tours to Semuc Champey daily and shuttle services to other parts of Guatemala. Just be warned, this books out well in advance, so definitely try and organise this before you get there! You can book it here.
If Zepher is booked out you can also stay at Oasis the Traveller, which is another hostel right down the road. This accommodation is a lot more basic with treehouse style bungalows. Don’t expect too much, it foes the job. You can also walk to Zephyr and use their pool and restaurant too.
If you want to stay closer to Semuc Champey, there are some hostels right next to the National Park. Greengo’s is another hostel that is incredibly popular and a great hostel to hang out at outside of the Semuc Champey excursion. You can book Greengo’s here.
If you’re looking for more hostel options, you can also check out my hostel recommendations and reviews blog post with over 150 hostels from across the world.
flores: 3 - 4 nights
The final stop on this itinerary is Flores. This is another long bus journey from Semuc Champey, roughly 10 more hours overland. Flores is a municipality in the north of Guatemala and is a perfect final destination on this itinerary. The colourful Maya buildings make this small island pop with life, while the surrounding lake offers a great place to cool off and explore.
The town of Flores itself is very small, and you can walk around the whole island in 30 – 40 minutes. There’s a selection of cafes, restaurants, bars and across the bridge there is a main supermarket and everything else you would need. Around Flores there are some great activities like Jorge’s Rope Swing, a few beaches and the ancient ruins of Tikal.
Flores is famously known for Tikal. These ancient Mayan ruins are incredibly well preserved and hidden deep in the jungle. From Flores you can do a half day tour that takes you through this complex of ruins with an experienced guide. When I visited I did the second earliest tour, which left at 4am in time for sunrise.
where to stay in flores
Flores is a tiny island but does have a lot of accommodation options to choose from for all different price ranges.
If you’re looking for the best hostel to stay in, then you need to book Los Amigos. This is one of the best all rounder hostels I’ve ever stayed in and is perfect for meeting people. The hostel offers tours to Tikal, along with their own restaurant, comfy rooms and they have a late night hostel club.
Book your stay at Los Amigos here
For a beautiful lakeside hotel with an outdoor pool and hot tub, then Hotel Casona del la Isla is the best choice. This hotel boasts beautiful views of the lake, while being clean and comfortable.
Book your stay at Hotel Casona del la Isla here.
Finally, for a comfortable midrange option then Casa Ramona is perfect. With its own restaurant and terrace, plus great AC rooms, you’ll definitely enjoy your stay here.
Book your stay at Casa Ramona here
TIKAL
Tikal is a complex of Mayan ruins right in the heart of the jungle. The drive takes a little over an hour from Flores and the best way to see these ruins is by booking a tour. I booked my tour through the hostel I was staying in, Los Amigos, however, you can also book the tour on GetYourGuide here.
There are several starting times throughout the morning, and the tour takes around 8 hours. The earliest tour starts at 4:30am, and gives you a chance to enjoy the sunrise while exploring the ruins. The following tour times are 6:00 am, 8:00 am and 10:00 am. To be completely honest, you want to leave as early as possible for a few reasons.
Firstly, you’ll beat some of the crowds and other tour groups, which I always think is a good idea. Secondly, it’s incredibly hot and humid at Tikal, especially because you’re right in the jungle. The guided tour will take you to some of the most well preserved parts of the complex and you’ll get some free time at the end to explore further. You’re also allowed to climb the ruins in designated areas and from the top, you can get great views above the thick canopy of trees.
Guatemala is one of the most spectacular, diverse countries in the world. With such diverse scenery, rich culture, friendly locals and the ability to fully ignite your sense of adventure, Guatemala has everything. With this Guatemala itinerary, you can rest assured that your time will fulfil your time as best as possible. If it’s your first time to Guatemala, don’t worry, with this itinerary you’re in safe hands.
