Are you planning a trip to Guatemala?

Looking to backpack around the country?

But struggling to put together an itinerary.

In this post, I’m going to share with you 4 Guatemala itinerary ideas. These itineraries are ideal for anyone who loves exploring the history, culture, and food of another country as well as taking in its natural beauty. There are also plenty of opportunities for climbing volcanoes, exploring ancient ruins, visiting shamans, and just chilling out in a hammock.

You’ll find two 1-week itineraries, a 2-week itinerary, and the granddaddy of them all—a month-long backpacking itinerary.

These itineraries are based on my 3 months of traveling, working online, and studying Spanish in Guatemala.

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Before we get started, I have 2 WARNINGS about planning any Guatemala itinerary:

#1 – Guatemala may be a small country, but it can take a long time to get from one place to another. There are lots of mountains. Roads are narrow and in poor condition. There are not enough lanes to handle daily traffic. Traffic jams in and out of Guatemala City are terrible. It can even take 2 hours to travel 23 miles (38 kilometers)!

#2 – Even though Guatemala is located on both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, the beaches are not all that good. I wouldn’t plan an itinerary around spending a lot of time on beaches. Instead, plan some relaxation time around one of Guatemala’s beautiful lakes and rivers: Lake Atitlan, Lake Peten, Rio Dulce, or Semuc Champey.

Now that’s out of the way, let’s go straight to those 4 itineraries.

Jump to the itinerary that most appeals, but first read about the main stops on each itinerary in the Overview Section.

• Overview of Guatemala Itinerary
• 1-week Guatemala Itinerary with Acatenango Volcano
• 1-week Guatemala Itinerary without Acatenango Volcano
• 2-Week Guatemala Itinerary
• 1-Month Guatemala Itinerary

You can also add Belize or Copan, Honduras to your itinerary. Check out my travel guide to San Ignacio, Belize for ideas on what to do there.

If you want details of the destinations in these itineraries, check out these guides:

• Antigua blog
• Lake Atitlan blog
• Flores and Tikal guide
• Chichicastenango guide
• Quirigua guide
• Rio Dulce and Livingston guide

Overview of Guatemala Itinerary

Here’s an overview of the main stops on the 4 Guatemala itineraries.

• Stop #1: Antigua
• Stop #2: Lake Atitlan
• Stop #3: Chichicastenango (day trip from Lake Atitlan)
• Stop #4: Lanquin and Semuc Champey
• Stop #5: Flores, Tikal, and El Mirador
• Stop #6: Rio Dulce and Livingston

Stop #1: Antigua

The first stop on all 4 Guatemala itineraries is Antigua.

The city was one of Guatemala’s old capitals before an earthquake destroyed it in 1773.

Today it’s the country’s cultural capital. You’ll find that Antigua is full of fascinating history, rich culture, delicious food, and beautiful architecture.

Exploring Guatemala’s history in Antigua:

Don’t leave Guatemala without learning about the country’s history. Antigua is the best place to do it, and these itineraries give you plenty of chances with a reasonably-priced walking tour given by a famous historian and some world-class museums.

The Museums of Santo Domingo should definitely not be missed!

My other favorite part of the city’s history is the many ruins of the churches and convents that had been destroyed in the 1773 earthquake. When Guatemala’s capital was moved to Guatemala City, the religious structures were left as is and never bulldozed or rebuilt. Exploring them feels like you’re time-traveling to the past.

Sampling the Coffee and Chocolate in Antigua

Guatemala is known for two commodities: coffee and chocolate. Antigua is a great place to learn about them. These itineraries give you plenty of chances to do that.

On the outskirts of Antigua are two coffee farms, where you can take a tour to find out how coffee is grown and processed. At Finca Filadelfia, I had the best coffee of my life!

Chocolate originated in Central America, and although it’s not really grown in Guatemala anymore, you can find a lot of chocolate workshops where you can learn about the Maya’s relationship to cacao as well as sample different kinds, and even make your own.

They’re so much fun!

And delicious!

Trying Guatemala’s food in Antigua

These itineraries give you lots of opportunities to eat and learn about the cuisine of Guatemala in Antigua. There are several restaurants in the city that serve traditional dishes as well as several food markets that sell Guatemalan street food.

In all the itineraries, you’ll find 2 awesome street food tours to choose from and in the month-long backpacking Guatemala itinerary, there’s the best cooking class I’ve ever taken.

Architecture of Antigua

One of my favorite things to see when I travel to a city is the architecture. I could wander around Antigua for hours taking photos of the colorful colonial buildings against the backdrop of the Agua Volcano.

Volcanoes in Antigua

Antigua is surrounded by mountains and three volcanoes, providing lots of great opportunities for hiking, taking pretty photos, and having loads of adventures. Most travelers rave about their experience hiking Volcano Acatenango and seeing and hearing El Fuego erupt. For those who are less physically fit, you can hike the smaller Pacaya Volcano.

Honestly, there are so many things to do in Antigua that you could stay a week and not get bored.

Wondering where to stay in Antigua? A lot of what makes a trip to Guatemala so magical is staying in the perfect hotel or even hostel! In Antigua, you’ll want a place to stay with views of the volcanoes. The amazing thing is that if you choose the right accommodations, you can actually see El Fuego erupt and see the lava spew out of its top. It’s so cool! Check out this very useful guide on the best places to stay in Antigua.

Stop #2 Lake Atitlan

Stop #2 is Lake Atitlan—the most beautiful lake in the world.

The lake began forming over a million years ago when a volcano erupted and a crater formed at its summit. Over the centuries rainwater and sediment accumulated in the crater, creating Lake Atitlan.

Today we have a lake surrounded by steep mountains, three picture-perfect volcanoes, and thirteen towns.

Enjoying the natural scenery of Lake Atitlan

I recommend staying in a hotel, hostel, or Airbnb in Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, or Tzununa. In these towns, you’ll find the best views of the lake and you’ll have access to the shore to go kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming.

Check out this easy-to-follow guide to the best places to stay at Lake Atitlan.

You’ll also find opportunities in these itineraries for hiking the mountains and volcanoes around the lake.

Learning about the Maya at Lake Atitlan

These four Guatemala itinerary ideas also give you a window into the world of the Maya, an indigenous group that makes up between 40% and 60% of the population of Guatemala.

The Maya reside in the towns around the lake. You’ll find some like Santiago, where the people still retain their traditional culture, and San Juan, where locals have been able to promote their traditional culture to tourists in a way that’s not cheap or tacky.

However, there are other towns like Panajachel and San Pedro that have become overrun with tourism. Then there’s San Marcos, which has become a western enclave of new-age hippies and hipsters where you can find everything from yoga retreats to cacao ceremonies

For a complete list of ideas for exploring the Mayan culture, check out this guide to Lake Atitlan.

Stop #3: Chichicastenango

About 23 miles (38 kilometers) from Lake Atitlan is the highland city of Chichicastenango.

Locals wearing their traditional clothes and tourists from all over the world converge on Chichi (as it’s known by Guatemalans) every Thursday and Sunday for its huge market.

You should too!

It was my favorite thing I did in Guatemala.

Even if you’re not into shopping, just wandering around the market and people-watching is quite an experience.

But there’s more to see and do besides the market. There are two historic churches where locals practice an interesting religion that mixed Catholicism and traditional Mayan beliefs.

The colorful cemetery should also not be skipped. You can often find shamans conducting fire ceremonies.

Finally, there’s an indoor vegetable market that is a great place to photograph.  

For more info, read this fabulous guide to visiting the Chichicastenango market.

I’ve plotted out a day trip to Chichi in all the itineraries except the first 1-week one.

Stop #4: Lanquin and Semuc Champey

The next destination on your Guatemala itinerary is the town of Lanquin.

 It takes a day to get here, so it’s really only possible to visit on longer itineraries like the 2-week and one-month ones that you can read about below.

Why visit Lanquin?

On the outskirts of the town (about an hour by truck) is the most beautiful natural wonder of Central America: Semuc Champey—a 300-meter limestone bridge that crosses a series of layered pools. The color of the water changes from emerald to turquoise green depending on the mood of the sky.

The pics do not lie! It’s truly THAT beautiful.

Where to stay in Lanquin? I didn’t like the place I stayed at, Pachamaya, and I can’t recommend it. But I have heard Utopia Eco Hotel and Greengos are both good. Check Booking.com or Agoda for more ideas.

Stop #5: Flores, Tikal, El Mirador & El Remate

The next stop on these Guatemala itineraries is the lowlands called El Peten. There are several attractions here: the famous Tikal ruins, the island of Flores, Lake Peten Itza, the El Mirador ruins, Crater Azul, and the lakeside village of El Remate.

The principal town in the area is Flores. It’s the commercial, transportation, and tourism hub of the Peten. Flores is made up of 2 parts: an island in the middle of Lake Peten and the mainland called Santa Elena. Staying on the island is a pleasant option. However, there are other places to stay around Lake Peten that are even better. You can find out all about these places in my guide on where to stay in Flores.

Why you should visit Tikal

The Peten was where the ancient Maya set up their grand city-states between 200 and 900 CE. The most famous and powerful city was Tikal. All the other ones were either vassals of Tikal or its rival, the snake kingdom of Calakmul. Tikal and Calakmul would use their vassals to fight proxy wars with each other. They fought over control of trade routes and resources and for prisoners to be used as sacrifices to curry favors from their gods.

The rulers of Tikal built magnificent temples, pyramids, and palaces. Then around 900 CE, all the Mayan cities of the Peten collapsed, and the people scattered to as far away as the Yucatan and the Guatemalan Highlands.

You can tour the remains of Tikal’s once-amazing pyramids and palaces. It’ll take half a day to see them all. You can also climb to the top of a pyramid to watch the sunrise or sunset over the ruins.

What else can you do in Flores?

Most people visit the Peten just to see Tikal. But if you’re backpacking in Guatemala for a month or more, you’ll have time to see the other gems that this region is known for. In this itinerary, I’ve included the famous 5-day hike to the hidden ruins of El Mirador.

Following the hike, you’ll need some time to rest. Spend a few days in the village of El Remate along the shore of Lake Peten Itza—kayaking, swimming, paddle boarding, and hammock-chillin’. Take some time to visit Flores, Crater Azul, and Yaxha. 

Read my blog post to find out the 20 amazing things to do in Flores.

Wondering where to rest your head while visiting Flores? For me, trying to figure out where to stay in Flores was a big headache. All I found was confusing and incomplete info. I don’t want you to have the same problems that I had when booking accommodations. So, I created this guide to help you find a place to stay in Flores and Tikal. Check it out!

Stop #6: Rio Dulce and Livingston

The last stop on the 1-month Guatemala itinerary is the Caribbean Coast. The principal attraction along the coast is the Rio Dulce (Sweet River)–a river that flows from Lake Izabal into the Caribbean Sea.

You can find several reasonably priced lodgings along the river that are tucked away in the jungle. They are perfect places to spend a few days lying about in a hammock, sipping a beer or a cocktail, and reading a good book. You can only get to them by boat.

But not to worry. You won’t be bored. There are loads of things to do in Rio Dulce if you like nature, food, and history. There’s a beach, waterfalls, hot springs lagoons with manatees, canyons, forts, and Mayan ruins.

In the remote town of Livingston reside the Garifuna, an Afro-Caribbean ethnic group that has its own distinct language and culture. They’re known for their drum music and food flavored with coconut. This itinerary gives you an opportunity to try their delicious cuisine.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to like Rio Dulce as much as I did. In the end, I stayed a week.

What’s missing from this itinerary?

I didn’t include Quetzaltenango, Huehuetenango, and the Pacific Coast in these Guatemala itineraries for a number of reasons.

I’ve been to Quetzaltenango, and I don’t think it’s all that special unless you’re studying Spanish. I never visited Huehuetenango, so I’m not sure how good it is. I’ve seen better beach destinations than the Pacific Coast of Guatemala. If you’re in Guatemala during the fall or you like swimming, then I’d go to the Pacific Coast destinations of El Paredon and Montericco.

The other reason I didn’t add those 3 places was that it takes a long time to travel from city to city in Guatemala. I prefer to spend more time in one place than to hop around so much.

If you have more time than a month, I’d add those places to my itinerary. I stayed three months in Guatemala, but I spent 3 weeks studying Spanish and a lot of time working online.  

PRO TRAVEL TIP: Wondering what to pack for Guatemala? What bag to bring? Suitcase or Backpack? I recommend using a backpack–easiest to carry across the cobblestoned streets, up and down stairs, and over rough terrain. Plus! If you’re doing the Acatenango hike, El Mirador hike, or the Xela-Lake Atitlan hike, you’ll need a backpack. Check out this Guatemala packing list for some great ideas!

Guatemala Itinerary 1 Week (with Acatenango)

This 7-day Guatemala itinerary packs lots of stuff into a short amount of time. I’ve tried to give you a bit of everything: culture, history, food, nature, and adventure. You’ll also find some time for rest and relaxation, which you’ll probably need after the strenuous Acatenango hike.

This itinerary is based on a similar one that friends of mine did last year.

I’ve also provided an alternative itinerary for those who aren’t doing Acatenango—jump here to view it

Day 0/7 – Arrive in Guatemala

Today you’ll arrive in Guatemala. Most people arrive by plane at Guatemala City’s international airport. I recommend booking a public or private shuttle with Guate Go before arriving in the country. The shuttle will take you from the airport to the door of your hotel in Antigua. It can take from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on traffic.

You can read my guide on things to know before visiting Guatemala for info on getting from Guatemala City to Antigua.

Day 1/7 – Antigua

Day 1 is all about history, architecture, and chocolate! Enjoy!

1. Walking Tour – Cultural Walking Tour with Elizabeth Bell, a famous historian (9:00 – 12:30 pm) – Includes a visit to the cathedral ruins, the Jade Museum, and the Museums of Santo Domingo–tickets are included in the price (US$28); Alternative walking tour with Free Tours starting at 3:15 or 3:30 pm.
2. Lunch – Rincon Antigueno – I do love the food here! And the price is fantastic!
3. Explore the city on your own – Visit the Arch of Santa Catarina and Iglesia de la Merced and get lost taking in the city’s beautiful colonial and colorful architecture
4. Take a chocolate workshop – learn about chocolate including sampling and making your own chocolate at Ek Chuah at 4:00 pm. I had so much fun here!
5. Dinner –  La Fonda de la Calle Real for traditional Guatemalan food

Where to stay in Antigua? In order to make the most of your stay in Antigua, choose a hotel in the center of town with a garden or rooftop terrace that has views of the volcanoes. You can watch El Fuego erupt at night and during the day. It’s pretty cool! I recommend Meson de Maria or the hostel, The Purpose. For more ideas, check out my guide on where to stay in Antigua.

Day 2/7 – Antigua

Day 2 is all about coffee, history, and food!

1. Coffee Tour – Filadelphia Coffee Plantation to learn how coffee is grown and processed – Do it on your own or join an ATV tour with Simoon Tours
2. Lunch – La Cuevita de Los Urquizu for traditional Guatemalan food
3. Antigua ruins – Visit Convento Santa Clara or Convento Capuchinas
4. Evening Street Food Tour with Cuscun or Free Tours with Klaudia (Saturday; at 4:30 pm). I LOVED my food tour with Cuscun! A bit pricey BUT worth it! If you’re backpacking Central America, at least do one food tour. THIS is the one!

Day 3/7 – Volcano Acatenango

1. Volcano Hike – Climb Volcano Acatenango. At 3,976 meters or 13,045 feet, it is not an easy hike. You’ll be staying overnight at a base camp near the top. This is where you can watch and listen to the neighboring volcano, El Fuego erupt and spew out lava. For the even more adventurous, you can hikeon over to El Fuego!

Day 4/7 – Volcano Acatenango and Lake Atitlan

1. Hike to the summit – Climb to the summit to see the sunrise.
2. Hike down Volcano – You should get to the bottom at noon.
3. Take a shuttle to Lake Atitlan (2 hours)
4. Rest and relax – Recover from your hike at your hotel at Lake Atitlan by grabbing a hammock and watching the sunset over the lake

Where to stay at Lake Atitlan? Check out this amazing guide to the best hotels and hostels at Lake Atitlan for all budgets. It includes a detailed analysis of the different villages around the lake to determine which one is the best for you!

Day 5/7 – Lake Atitlan

If you’ve got the energy after Acatenango, start with kayaking and then spend the day at the two BEST villages. Check out my guide to the 50 things to do at Lake Atitlan for more ideas on how to spend your day.

1. Kayaking or paddleboarding – Many hotels around the lake have kayaks available for guests to use; it’s best to kayak in the morning when the lake is smoother and there’s less boat traffic
2. Santiago village – Visit the god Maximon and the Church of Sant James the Apostle.
3. San Juan village – Visit the handicraft shops and art galleries, get coffee at San Juan Café, visit a weaving cooperative, and destress in a temezcal (a traditional Maya sauna).

Day 6/7 – Travel to Flores

1. Travel to Guatemala City Airport – It’ll take at least 4 hours; if you can, hire a private car and driver
2. Fly to Flores – There are many flights a day to Flores; it’ll take 1 hour – check out this guide for information on getting to Flores
3. Explore Flores or just relax by the lake or pool – If you have time either tour Flores Island and Lake Peten, tour the Yaxha ruins, or just chill out near the hotel pool or on the lakeshore. Read this Flores travel guide for more options on things to do.

Day 7/7 – Tikal

1. Sunrise Tikal tour – Do the sunrise tour at Tikal
2. Explore Tikal – It’ll take half a day to explore the ruins of Tikal; the park doesn’t have any written explanations of the pyramids, temples, and palaces, so a guide is a good idea.
3. Travel – Fly back to Guatemala City; A bus or shuttle often takes 12 hours

Read this post on how to visit Tikal and what else to do in Flores.

Guatemala Itinerary 1 Week (without Acatenango)

If you don’t want to do the Acatenango hike, this is an alternative 1-week Guatemala itinerary.  I’ve substituted Acatenango with a hike up the smaller and easier Pacaya Volcano and added a day trip to experience the Chichicastenango market.

Day 0/7 – Guatemala City

Today you’ll arrive in Guatemala. Most people arrive by plane at Guatemala City’s international airport. I recommend booking a public or private shuttle with Guate Go before arriving in the country. The shuttle will take you from the airport to the door of your hotel in Antigua. It can take from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on traffic.

You can read my guide on things to know before visiting Guatemala for info on getting from Guatemala City to Antigua.

Day 1/7 – Antigua

Day 1 is all about history, culture, architecture, and CHOCOLATE!

1. Walking Tour – Cultural Walking Tour with Elizabeth Bell (9:00 – 12:30 pm) – Includes a visit to the cathedral ruins, the Jade Museum, and the Museums of Santo Domingo–tickets to museums are included in tour price (US$28); Alternative walking tour with Free Tours starting at 3:15 or 3:30 pm (Klaudia is the guide). I’ve done both tours and LOVED them both!
2. Lunch – Rincon Antigueno – Reasonably priced and delicious food!
3. Explore the city on your own – Visit the Arch of Santa Catarina and Iglesia de la Merced
4. Take a chocolate workshop – learn about chocolate including sampling and making your own chocolate at Ek Chuah at 4:00 pm. So fun!
5. Dinner –  La Fonda de la Calle Real for traditional Guatemalan food

Where to stay in Antigua? In order to make the most of your stay in Antigua, choose a hotel in the center of town with a garden or rooftop terrace that has views of the volcanoes. You can watch El Fuego erupt at night and during the day. It’s pretty cool! I recommend Meson de Maria or the hostel, The Purpose. For more ideas, check out my guide on where to stay in Antigua.

Day 2/7 – Antigua

Day 2 is for those who love coffee, food, and history.

1. Coffee Tour – Filadelphia Coffee Plantation to learn how coffee is grown and processed – Do it on your own or join an ATV tour with Simoon Tours
2. Lunch – La Cuevita de Los Urquizu for traditional Guatemalan food
3. Antigua ruins – visit Convento Santa Clara or Convento Capuchinas
4. Explore the city – just get lost and take in the beauty of this charming city
5. Evening Street Food Tour with Cuscun or Free Tours with Klaudia (Saturday; at 4:30 pm). I loved my tour with Cuscun!

Want some more ideas on how to spend your time in Antigua? Check out my list of 30+ things to do in Antigua.

Day 3/7 – Antigua and Lake Atitlan

1. Pacaya Volcano – do the early morning hike of Pacaya Volcano; Pacaya was last active in 2021. It’s not as steep and not as tall as Acatenango. Book your volcano trip with your hotel or a travel agency in Antigua.
2. Travel – take a private or public shuttle to Lake Atitlan; book your ticket online through Guate Go or book it through your hotel or a travel agency in Antigua.
3. Lunch – Have lunch at Café Sabor Cruceno; best food in Lake Atitlan. The restaurant has amazing views of the lake
4. Rest and relax – Relax at hotel on Lake Atitlan–go for a swim, do some kayaking or paddle boarding, and end the day by watching the sunset over the Lake Atitlan

Where to stay at Lake Atitlan? I loved Hotel Casa Del Mundo and Atitlan Sunset Lodge. For a complete list of my favorites, check out this amazing guide to the best hotels and hostels at Lake Atitlan for all budgets. It includes a detailed analysis of the different villages around the lake to determine which one is the best for you!

Day 4/7 – Lake Atitlan and Chichicastenango

On day 4, you’ll take a day trip to Chichicastenango. Only do this if it’s a Thursday or Sunday as those are the only days when the market runs. If not those days, skip and check out my guide to Lake Atitlan for other things to do.

1. Travel – take a tourist shuttle at 8:00 am from Panajachel to Chichi; buy your shuttle ticket at a travel agency in Panajachel at least the day before
2. Chichicastenango Market – It’s huge and it’s easy to get lost; it’s less busy in the morning than in the afternoon
3. Capillo del Calvario church – great views of the market and sometimes you’ll find a shaman performing a fire ceremony in front of the church
4. Regional Museum of Chichicastenango – small archaeology museum
5. Iglesia de Santo Tomas – Wow! A historic church but not your typical Catholic church, watch a shaman perform a ceremony and the parishioners crawl to the front of the church
6. Indoor vegetable market –photographers will love, love, love this market!
7. Cemetery – Another delightful place for photographers; look out for the shamans performing a fire ceremony—ask first before taking a photo!
8. Travel – take the shuttle back to Lake Atitlan at 2:00 pm

Day 5/7 – Lake Atitlan

Start with a sunrise hike and then spend the day at the two best villages on Lake Atitlan.

1. Sunrise hike – hike to the summit of Indian Nose to see the sunrise over the lake
2. Santiago – Visit the Maximon deity and the Church of Sant James the Apostle
3. San Juan – Visit the handicraft shops and art galleries, get coffee at San Juan Café, visit a weaving cooperative, and destress in a temazcal (a traditional Maya sauna.

Day 6/7 – Travel to Guatemala City and Fly to Flores

1. Travel to Guatemala City – It’ll take at least 4-5 hours; if you can, hire a private car and driver
2. Fly to Flores – There are many flights a day to Flores; it’ll take 1 hour – check out this blog for info on transportation to Flores
3. Explore Flores or just relax by the lake or pool – If you have time either tour Flores Island and Lake Peten, tour the Yaxha ruins, or just chill out near the hotel pool or on the lakeshore. Read this Flores travel blog for more options on things to do and this blog for the best hotels for Tikal.

Day 7/7 – Tikal

1. Sunrise Tikal tour – Do the sunrise tour at Tikal. Check out a list of hotels near Tikal.
2. Explore Tikal – It’ll take half a day to explore the ruins of Tikal; there aren’t any written explanations of the pyramids, temples, and palaces
3. Travel – Fly back to Guatemala City; A bus or shuttle often takes 12 hours

Guatemala Itinerary 2 weeks

Looking to spend 2 weeks in Guatemala?

Here is your guide.

This itinerary adds some rest days to the one-week itinerary and tacks on a trip to Semuc Champey and Chichicastenango.

Day 0/14 – Guatemala

Today you’ll arrive in Guatemala. Most people arrive by plane at Guatemala City’s international airport. I recommend booking a public or private shuttle with Guate Go before arriving in the country. The shuttle will take you from the airport to the door of your hotel in Antigua. It can take from 1 hour to 2 hours depending on traffic.

You can read my guide on things to know before visiting Guatemala for info on getting from Guatemala City to Antigua AND all the things you’ll need to enter the country.

Day 1/14 – Antigua

Day 1 is all about history, architecture, and chocolate! Enjoy!

Read this guide for other things to do in Antigua.

1. Walking tour – Cultural Walking Tour with Elizabeth Bell, a famous historian (9:00 – 12:30 pm) – Includes a visit to the cathedral ruins, the Jade Museum, and the Museums of Santo Domingo–ticket prices to museums are included in the price (US$28); Alternative walking tour with Free Tours starting at 3:15 or 3:30 pm.
2. Lunch – Rincon Antigueno – I do love this restaurant!
3. Explore the city on your own – Visit the Arch of Santa Catarina and Iglesia de la Merced and get lost taking in the city’s beautiful colonial and colorful architecture
4. Take a chocolate workshop – learn about chocolate including sampling and making your own chocolate at Ek Chuah at 4:00 pm
5. Dinner –  La Fonda de la Calle Real for traditional Guatemalan food

Where to stay in Antigua? In order to make the most of your stay in Antigua, choose a hotel in the center of town with a garden or rooftop terrace that has views of the volcanoes. You can watch El Fuego erupt at night and during the day. It’s pretty cool! I recommend Meson de Maria or the hostel, The Purpose. For more ideas, check out my guide on where to stay in Antigua.

Day 2/14 – Antigua

Day 2 gives you coffee, history, and more food!

1. Coffee Tour – Filadelphia Coffee Plantation to learn how coffee is grown and processed. Finca Filadelphia offers tours at 9:00 am, 11:00 am, and 2:00 pm. You can visit on your own or be more adventurous and join an ATV (all-terrain vehicle) tour with Simoon Tours
2. Lunch – La Cuevita de Los Urquizu for traditional Guatemalan food
3. Antigua ruins – visit Convento Santa Clara, Convento Capuchinas or Convento Recoleccion
4. Explore the city – Wander around, get lost, and enjoy the beautiful architecture
5. Evening Street Food Tour with Cuscun at 7:00ish or Free Tours with Klaudia (only Saturday; at 4:30 pm). I absolutely LOVED the food tour with Cuscun. It’s a bit pricey BUT so worth it!

Day 3/14 – Volcano Acatenango

1. Volcano Hike – Climb Volcano Acatenango. At 3,976 meters or 13,045 feet, it is not an easy hike. You’ll be staying overnight at a base camp near the top. This is where you can watch and listen to the neighboring volcano, El Fuego erupt and spew out lava. For the even more adventurous and physically fit, you can also add on a hike to El Fuego.

Day 4/14 – Volcano Acatenango and Antigua

1. Hike to the summit – Climb to the summit to see the sunrise.
2. Hike down volcano
3. Stay at Earth Lodge – Earth Lodge is a beautiful eco-friendly lodge in the mountains outside of Antigua—you get to stay in treehouse-like accommodations. Check out this blog on best places to stay in Antigua for photos and a description of my experience at Earth Lodge.
4. Recover from Acatenango hike – relax at Earth Lodge

Day 5/14 – Antigua – Earth Lodge

1. Rest and relax at Earth Lodge – There are lots of things to do here like yoga, hiking, chilling by the fire, gazing at the gorgeous views, resting in a hammock, destressing in a traditional Mayan sauna
2. Optional activities – El Hato Verde or Hobbitenango for dinner and watching the sunset over Antigua and the mountains and volcanoes.

Day 6/14 – Travel to Lake Atitlan

1. Travel – take a tourist shuttle to Lake Atitlan—you can book them with your hotel or a travel agency in Guatemala or with GuateGo
2. Lunch – Have lunch at Café Sabor Cruceno; best food in Lake Atitlan with amazing views of the lake
3. Relax and enjoy lake views – relax, grab a hammock, go for a swim, or enjoy a sauna or hot tub at your accommodations.

Where to stay at Lake Atitlan: I recommend staying nights 6 and 7 in either Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa, or San Marcos to enjoy the best views of the lake. Get a place with good views. I list a few in this Lake Atitlan accommodation guide. Then for nights 8 and 9 stay in either San Juan or San Pedro in order to do the sunrise Indian Nose hike. It’s impossible or just really expensive to take a boat from other parts of the lake so early in the morning—you’d need to find a boat to take you at 3:00 am.

Day 7/14 – Lake Atitlan – San Marcos

San Marcos is one of those places that you either hate or love. It’s a divided town–on one side of the tracks (near the shore) are the western new-age hippies and hipsters. Here you’ll find yoga retreats, gi gong classes, vegetarian restaurants, and health food stores that carry everything you’d find at Whole Foods. On the other side of the tracks (further up from the shore) is where the locals live and where you can find some local restaurants.

I still recommend it for its yoga classes, cacao ceremonies, food, and nature reserve. Plus there’s a nice 3-hour hike from Santa Cruz to San Marcos that you can do.

1. Kayaking or Paddle boarding – many hotels have kayaks or paddle boards for guests to use; it’s better to kayak in the morning when the lake isn’t so rough and boat traffic is less – it’s good to kayak at Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, San Pedro, or Panajachel. Check out my guide to Lake Atitlan for places to rent kayaks and boards.
2. Travel to San Marcos village
3. Yoga or cacao ceremony – Yoga at Eagle’s Nest or do a cacao ceremony at Keith’s Cacao
4. Lunch – at La Casa Zapote in San Marcos (reservations required)
5. Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve – go swimming or cliff diving  OR if you’re staying in San Marcos or Jaibalito, hike back along the trail that lines the shore—it’ll take at least 3 hours so don’t do it too late and don’t carry too many valuables. The trail can be unsafe.

Day 8/14 – Day Trip to Chichicastenango

On day 8, you’ll take a day trip to Chichicastenango. Only do this if it’s a Thursday or Sunday as those are the only days when the market runs. If not those days, skip and check out my guide to Lake Atitlan for other things to do.

1. Travel – take a tourist shuttle at 8:00 am from Panajachel to Chichi; buy your shuttle ticket at a travel agency in Panajachel at least the day before
2. Chichicastenango Market – It’s huge and it’s easy to get lost; it’s less busy in the morning than in the afternoon
3. Capillo del Calvario church – great views of the market and sometimes you’ll find a shaman performing a fire ceremony in front of the church
4. Regional Museum of Chichicastenango – small archaeology museum
5. Iglesia de Santo Tomas – Wow! A historic church but not your typical Catholic church, watch a shaman perform a ceremony and the parishioners crawl to the front of the church
6. Indoor vegetable market –photographers will love, love, love this market!
7. Cemetery – Another delightful place for photographers; look out for the shamans performing a fire ceremony—ask first before taking a photo!
8. Travel – take the shuttle back to Lake Atitlan at 2:00 pm

Day 9/14 – Lake Atitlan – Sunrises & Mayan Villages

1. Sunrise hike – Hike to the summit of Indian Nose to see the sunrise over Lake Atitlan. It’s a 30-minute hike up a steep slope.
2. Santiago – This traditional town is a must-stop. Experience Mayan traditional religion by visiting the cult of Maximon—you might see a shaman doing his or her thing! Then visit the beautifully-austere Church of Sant James the Apostle, where an American Catholic priest was gunned down by a paramilitary death squad in the 1980s.
3. San Juan village – San Juan is a favorite town of most travelers. Visit the handicraft shops and art galleries—they are fantastic! Get coffee at San Juan Café, Visit a women’s weaving cooperative to see how locals make their own textiles, and destress in a temescal (a traditional Maya sauna) or head to San Pedro to enjoy the solar pools at Los Termales.

Day 10/14 – Travel to Lanquin (Semuc Champey)

Take a tourist shuttle from Lake Atitlan to Semuc Champey. It’ll be a long ride and will take all day. The shuttle will drop you off in Lanquin.

You’ll either stay in Lanquin or an hour outside of the town within walking distance from Semuc Champey park. The latter is the better option.

If you stay outside of Lanquin make sure you’ve arranged for your accommodation to pick you up at the place where shuttles drop you off.

Choose your hotel wisely. I didn’t stay long in Lanquin because my hotel/hostel was so unsafe and the people who worked there were so creepy, dishonest, and mean that I had to get away as soon as possible. Be careful of accommodations that get low ratings.

Day 11/14 – Lanquin – Semuc Champey

You can see the attractions like Semuc Champey and caves on your own or with a tour.

1. Semuc Champey Park and Cascades (if you’re staying near the park, you can walk to them; if you’re staying in Lanquin, you’ll need to take a public truck to the park and back)
2. Kanba Caves (Cueves de K’anba) by candlelight – I didn’t do this cave and I probably wouldn’t because I hate bats and caves, but read the reviews, especially about the guide who put bat guano on the travelers’ face—really don’t ever let anyone do that to you!
3. Tubing down the river is another popular thing to do in Semuc Champey

Day 12/14 – Travel to Guatemala City and Fly to Flores

1. Travel by tourist shuttle from Lanquin to Flores. This will take about 8 hours.
2. Check into your hotel. If you’re doing the sunrise tour, I recommend staying at a hotel right outside the gates of the National Park of Tikal. You can find out my hotel recommendations for Tikal in this guide.

Day 13/14 – Tikal

1. Sunrise Tikal tour – Do the sunrise tour at Tikal. Check out a list of hotels near Tikal.
2. Explore Tikal – It’ll take half a day to explore the ruins of Tikal; there aren’t any written explanations of the pyramids, temples, and palaces
3. Chill out – Relax by the pool if staying near Tikal or by the lake if in El Remate

For info on how to visit Tikal and what else to do in Flores, check out my guide to Flores and Tikal.

Day 14/14 – Travel Back to Guatemala City

1. Explore Flores – If you’re not flying out in the morning, spend some time exploring Flores island.
2. Brunch – Get some really good waffles at Tocino & Maple. I loved the 4 seasons waffles. And don’t skip their fruit drinks. Lovely!
3. Travel – Fly back to Guatemala City (1 hour) or take a tourist shuttle or bus back (12 hours). You can also take a night bus. Check out this travel blog on how to travel to and from Flores.

Backpacking Guatemala Itinerary – 1 month

This detailed itinerary is for the lucky people who are able to spend 1 month backpacking in Guatemala. 

Day 1/30 – Antigua

On your first day in Antigua, enjoy the history, architecture, cuisine, and CHOCOLATE of Guatemala!

1. Walking Tour – Cultural Walking Tour with the historian, Elizabeth Bell (9:00 – 12:30 pm) – Includes a visit to the cathedral ruins, the Jade Museum, and the Museums of Santo Domingo (museums tickets are included in tour price (US$28); Alternative walking tour with Free Tours starting at 3:15 or 3:30 pm. (Klaudia is an awesome guide).
2. Lunch – Rincon Antigueno – the roast chicken and potatoes are soooo good!
3. Explore the city on your own – Visit the Arch of Santa Catalina and Iglesia de la Merced
4. Take a chocolate workshop – learn about chocolate including sampling and making your own chocolate at Ek Chuah at 4:00 pm. It was lots of fun!
5. Dinner –  La Fonda de la Calle Real for traditional Guatemalan food

TRAVEL TIP: When booking your accommodations for Antigua, make sure the place has a rooftop terrace or an outdoor space where you can watch El Fuego erupt. When I stayed at the Purpose Hostel, I could see the lava coming out of the volcano at night. It was an unforgettable sight! Check out this list of the best hotels and hostels in Antigua.

Day 2/30 – Antigua

Day 2 is all about coffee, history, and food! If you’re looking for other things to do in the city, check out my Antigua blog.

1. Coffee Tour – Filadelphia Coffee Plantation to learn how coffee is grown and processed – Do it on your own or join an ATV tour with Simoon Tours
2. Lunch – La Cuevita de Los Urquizu for traditional Guatemalan food
3. Antigua ruins – visit Convento Santa Clara or Convento Capuchinas
4. Evening Street Food Tour with Cuscun or Free Tours with Klaudia (Saturday; at 4:30 pm)

Day 3/30 – Antigua

1. Market tour and cooking class – learn how to cook traditional Guatemalan food with Cuscun. I know the class is a bit pricey. BUT hear me out: My class with Cuscun was the highlight of my time in Antigua. The kindness, hospitality, and food were unforgettable.
2. Explore Antigua – spend time wandering around the city on your own; I highly recommend the ruins of Convento Recoleccion
3. Dinner – Go to the street stalls near La Merced church for some delicious and inexpensive Guatemalan street food.

 

Day 4/30 – Volcano Acatenango

1. Volcano Hike – Climb Volcano Acatenango. At 3,976 meters or 13,045 feet, it is not an easy hike. You’ll be staying overnight at a base camp near the top. This is where you can watch and listen to the neighboring volcano, El Fuego erupt and spew out lava. For the even more adventurous and physically fit, you can also add on a hike to El Fuego.

Day 5/30 – Volcano Acatenango and Stay at Earth Lodge

1. Hike to summit – climb to the summit to see the sunrise
2. Hike down Volcano
3. Stay at Earth Lodge – Earth Lodge is a beautiful eco-friendly lodge in the mountains outside of Antigua—you get to stay in treehouse-like accommodations. Check out this blog on best places to stay in Antigua for photos and a description of my experience at Earth Lodge.
4. Recover from Acatenango hike – relax at Earth Lodge

Day 6/30 – Antigua – Earth Lodge

1. Rest and relax at Earth Lodge – There’s lots to do here like yoga, hiking, chilling by the fire, gazing at the gorgeous views, resting in a hammock, destressing in a traditional Mayan sauna
2. Optional activities – El Hato Verde or Hobbitenango for dinner and watching the sunset over Antigua and the mountains and volcanoes.

Day 7/30 – Travel to Lake Atitlan

1. Travel – take a tourist shuttle to Lake Atitlan
2. Lunch – Have lunch at Café Sabor Cruceno; best food in Lake Atitlan with amazing views of the lake
3. Relax and enjoy lake views – relax, go for a swim, or enjoy a sauna or hot tub at your accommodations. Hopefully, you’re staying in one of the hotels I recommend in this blog post on where to stay at Lake Atitlan.

Where to stay at Lake Atitlan: I recommend staying nights 7, 8, and 9 in either Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa, or San Marcos to enjoy the best views of the lake. Get a place with good views. I list a few in this Lake Atitlan accommodation guide. Then for nights 10 – 13 stay in either San Juan or San Pedro in order to do the sunrise Indian Nose hike. It’s impossible or just really expensive to take a boat from other parts of the lake so early in the morning—you’d need to find a boat to take you at 3:00 am.

Day 8/30 – Lake Atitlan – San Marcos

Day 8 is a visit to the town of San Marcos–one of those places that people either love or hate. The town is divided into two parts–on one side near the shore are the western new-age hippies and hipsters. Here you’ll find yoga retreats, gi gong classes, vegetarian restaurants, and health food stores that carry everything you’d find at Whole Foods.

On the other side and further up from the shore is where the locals live and where you can find some local restaurants.

I recommend suspending all judgment and enjoying what San Marcos has to offer– world-class yoga classes, cacao ceremonies, great food, and a nature reserve. Plus there’s a nice 3-hour hike from Santa Cruz to San Marcos that you can do.

Try spending your money at establishments owned by locals.

1. Kayaking – many hotels have kayaks for guests to use; it’s better to kayak in the morning when lake isn’t so rough and boat traffic is less
2. Yoga or cacao ceremony – Yoga at Eagle’s Nest or do a cacao ceremony at Keith’s Cacao
3. Lunch – at La Casa Zapote in San Marcos (reservations required)
4. Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve – go swimming or cliff diving OR if you’re staying in Santa Cruz or Jaibalito, hike back along the shore. It’s a 3-hour hike, so leave early so that you don’t get stuck on the trail after dark.

Day 9/30 – Day Trip to Chichicastenango

The main reason to visit Chichi is for the market. It’s only held on Thursdays and Sundays. If day 9 is not one of those days, then rearrange this itinerary. The city and market are fabulous and should not be skipped.

1. Travel – take a tourist shuttle at 8:00 am from Panajachel to Chichi; buy your shuttle ticket at a travel agency in Panajachel at least the day before
2. Chichicastenango Market – It’s huge and it’s easy to get lost; it’s less busy in the morning than in the afternoon
3. Capillo del Calvario church – great views of the market and sometimes you’ll find a shaman performing a fire ceremony in front of the church
4. Regional Museum of Chichicastenango – small archaeology museum
5. Iglesia de Santo Tomas – Wow! A historic church but not your typical Catholic church, watch a shaman perform a ceremony and the parishioners crawl to the front of the church
6. Indoor vegetable market –photographers will love, love, love this market!
7. Cemetery – Another delightful place for photographers; look out for the shamans performing a fire ceremony—ask first before taking a photo!
8. Travel – take the shuttle back to Lake Atitlan at 2:00 pm

Day 10/30 – Lake Atitlan – Santiago

1. Kayaking – most hotels offer kayaks for guests or you can rent one or a paddleboard from several places around the lake
2. Santiago town – travel by public boat
3. Maximon – visit Maximon deity to experience one of the most fascinating aspects of the Mayan traditional religion
4. Saint James Apostle Church – visit this historic church
5. Visit Peace Park – learn about what happened during the civil war in Guatemala
6. Santiago Market – wander through a local market
7. Lunch or early dinner – Have a meal in Panajachel

TRAVEL TIP: Getting to the different towns around the lake is easy. Just take a public boat for around Q20-Q25. Pay when you get off the boat. The last boat is between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

Day 11/30 – Lake Atitlan – San Juan and San Pedro

Day 11 is all about San Juan and San Pedro villages.

1. Indian Nose sunrise hike – Hike Indian Nose to see the sunrise over Lake Atitlan
2. San Juan village – Wander around the village of San Juan
3. San Juan Café – Get coffee at San Juan Cafe
4. Handicrafts and art galleries – Visit the handicraft shops and art galleries on the main street in San Juan
5. Weaving Cooperatives – Visit a women’s weaving cooperative in San Juan to see how textiles are dyed using natural material and then weaved using a traditional backstrap loom method.
6. Tzunun Ya Museum – Visit  Tzunun Ya Museum in San Pedro to learn about the history, geology, and culture of Lake Atitlan
7. Los Termales or a temzacal– Visit the solar pools in San Pedro to get a massage and/or soak in their thermal pools. Alternatively, visit one of the many temazcals (traditional Mayan sauna) in San Juan

Day 12/30 – Santa Catarina San Antonio Palopo

1. Travel to Santa Antonio Palopo town – you can do this on your own or you can do an ATV tour with Simoon Tours
2. Ceramics of San Antonio – Visit the pottery workshops to see the blue-green pottery of San Antonio – Ceramica Palopo Multicolor  and Mayan Ken
3. Travel to Santa Catarina
4. Painted houses of Santa Catarina – wander around the city looking at the painted houses
5. Museum – Visit the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó Museum (closed Sundays)
6. Hot springs – Soak in the hot springs in the lake at Santa Catarina (bring water shoes)

Day 13/30 – Lake Atitlan

You have a number of options on your last day at Lake Atitlan. You can find a list of all these activities on this travel guide to Lake Atitlan.

• San Pedro Volcano hike – Hike San Pedro Volcano (3,000 meters | 10,000 feet). You don’t need a guide for this challenging hike
• Atitlan Volcano hike – Hike Atitlan Volcano (3,500 meters | 11,600 feet). Hire a guide a good idea for this volcano (US$70).
• Solola Hike – hike from Santa Cruz to Solola and some remote mountain villages with the highly-regarded Los Elementos tour operator (US$70)
• Hidden Waterfalls Hike – Hike from Santa Cruz to Pumpatin Canyon and 5 waterfalls with the Los Elementos tours (US$30)
• Go scuba diving – Ati Divers offer high-altitude diving in Lake Atitlan (US$70 – $360)
• Go paragliding – There are 2 paragliding businesses, Real World Paragliding and Paragliding Guatemala, at Lake Atitlan where you can do tandem paragliding (US$100)
• Tour of remote mountain villages and Solola Market – The highly-regarded tour operator, Los Elementos, does a tour to the Solola Market and the mountain village of Concepcion where you can witness a Mayan fire ceremony, visit a church built in 1612 and a local deity called Maximon. (US$85).
• Just swim, kayak, paddleboard, and be lazy

Day 14/30 – Travel to Lanquin

Take a tourist shuttle from Lake Atitlan to Semuc Champey. It’ll be a long ride and will take all day. The shuttle will drop you off in Lanquin.

You’ll either stay in Lanquin or an hour outside of the town within walking distance from the Semuc Champey waterfalls. The latter is the better option.

If you stay outside of Lanquin make sure you’ve arranged for your accommodation to pick you up at the place where shuttles drop you off.

I recommend staying at Greengos

Day 15/30 – Lanquin – Semuc Champey

You can see the attractions like Semuc Champey and caves on your own or with a tour.

1. Semuc Champey Park and Cascades (if you’re staying near the park, you can walk to them; if you’re staying in Lanquin, you’ll need to take a public truck to the park and back)
2. Kanba Caves (Cueves de K’anba) by candlelight – I didn’t do this cave and I probably wouldn’t because I hate bats and caves, but read the reviews especially about the guide who put bat guano on the travelers’ face—really don’t ever let anyone do that to you!
3. Tubing down the river is another popular thing to do in Semuc Champey

Day 16/30 – Travel to Flores

1. Travel by tourist shuttle from Lanquin to Flores. This will take about 8 hours.
2. Check in at your hotel. If you’re doing the sunrise tour, I recommend staying at a hotel right outside the gates of the National Park of Tikal. You can find out my hotel recommendations for Tikal in this guide.

Day 17/30 – Tikal

1. Sunrise tour of Tikal – Just be aware that you might not see much since there’s a good chance there will be fog. Check out a list of hotels near Tikal.
2. Tikal ruins – Explore Tikal on your own or with a guided tour; it’ll take half a day to see the ruins; it gets hot and crowded in the afternoon so it’s best to tour the ruins in the morning
3. Prepare for your next day’s hike to El Mirador—When I did my El Mirador hike, we left from Flores at 5:00 pm the day before it started and stayed overnight in Carmelita (the beginning of the trail). But I know other tours leave Flores really early in the morning on the first day of the hike.

Day 18/30 – El Mirador Hike – Day 1

You can get to El Mirador by hiking for 40 kilometers through the jungle or you can take a helicopter to the archaeological site. One is, of course, more expensive (helicopter) than the other (hiking). You can also do a combination hike and helicopter ride—hike into the jungle and take a helicopter ride out or vice versa. I did the full hike.

1. Hike 20 kilometers to El Tintan ruins – you’ll camp in tents here
2. Sunset from a pyramid at El Tintan – Climb to the top of one of the pyramids at El Tintan to watch the sunset over the jungle

How to book an El Mirador hike or helicopter tour: There are 2 tour operators who run trips to El Mirador. I did my hike with Carmelita Cooperative. They have an office in Flores. The other one is Dinastia Khan.

Day 19/30 – El Mirador Hike – Day 2

1. Hike 20 kilometers to El Mirador
2. La Muerta Temple –
3. Sunset from El Tigre temple – Climb to the top of El Tigre temple to see the sunset over the jungle

Day 20/30 – El Mirador Hike – Day 3

1. Sunrise from La Danta – Climb to the top of La Danta pyramid to watch the sunrise over the jungle
2. Tour of the archaeological ruins of El Mirador – guides speak only Spanish; you can hire an interpeter
3. Sunset from La Danta – Climb to the top of La Danta pyramid to watch the sunset over the jungle

Day 21/30 – El Mirador Hike – Day 4

1. Hike 20 kilometers to El Tintan ruins

Day 22/30 – El Mirador Hike – Day 5 and El Remate

1. Hike 20 kilometers to Carmelita – you should arrive back at noon.
2. Lunch – my tour provided lunch in Carmelita
3. Drive back to Flores – 2-3 hours
4. Rest and Relax at your accommodations along Lake Peten either El Remate or another lodge along one of the lakes in the area. For ideas on where to stay, check out my accommodations guide to Flores.

Day 23/30 – El Remate or somewhere else around Lake Peten

You’ll need a day or more to recover from your 80-kilometer hike to and from El Mirador. A great place to do it is around Lake Peten.

1. Rest and Relax – Swim, kayak, paddleboard, or just lie in a hammock all-day

Day 24/30 – El Remate

1. Crater Azul – A river system with gorgeous, crystal-clear blue-green water

Day 25/30 – El Remate – Yaxha ruins

1. Flores island – Explore this historic island –
2. San Miguel and Mirador de Canek for panoramic views of the lake
3. Lunch – Maple & Tocino or Maracuya
4. Yaxha ruins – Watch the sunset from the top of a pyramid at Yaxha. There’s often a tour leaving at noon for Yaxha.

Day 26/30 – Travel to the Caribbean Coast and the town of Rio Dulce

1. Travel in the morning to Rio Dulce town
2. Take a boat to your lodging – check out this fabulous Rio Dulce travel guide for information on all the fabulous places to stay along Dulce River.
3. Chill out – rest and relax at your riverside lodgings

Day 27/30 – Rio Dulce – Boat Tour of the top attractions in Rio Dulce

The best way and most efficient way to see the sights along the Rio Dulce and near Livingston is to hire a boat and driver. Through my hotel, Boatique Hotel and Marina, I went with four other guests. However, there are other great hotels and hostels along the river that I’m sure can arrange a boat and driver.

If you see everything on your own, it would take a long time to get to everything and I don’t think they’re spectacular enough to do. It’s just quicker to do it all together on a tour.

1. Seven Altars Waterfall – a mini version of Semuc Champey. You can swim in a nice pool at the bottom of a waterfall
2. Playa Blanca – beach along the Caribbean Ocean
3. Livingston town – not as interesting as expected
4. Lunch – seafood coconut soup is a delicious Garifuna specialty
5. Hot springs – a small part of the Rio Dulce with a hot spring

Day 28/30 – Rio Dulce – Quirigua

To complete today’s itinerary, you’ll need to leave early in the morning (around 7:00 am) to Quirigua from Rio Dulce.

1. Maya ruins of Quirigua – Travel by public transportation to the Quirigua ruins. I have a guide to Quirigua that will tell you exactly how to get to the ruins and what you’ll see there. It should take half a day to tour the ruins. If you leave early enough (around 7:00), you should get back to Rio Dulce at 1:00 pm.
2. Lunch – Churrasqueria Chusin –I had a huge tortilla stuffed with freshly grilled meat and veggies. It’s very affordable and tasty. Locals seem to love this place.
3. Castle of San Felipe de Lara – A castle/fort from colonial times that was used to protect the coastal settlements from pirates – you can walk to it from Rio Dulce town, take a tuk-tuk or take public transport.

Day 29/30 – Rio Dulce –El Paraiso Waterfalls and El Boqueron

Head to the area around Lago Izabal on day 29. From Rio Dulce, take a bus heading to El Estor. If you don’t want to visit El Paraiso and El Boqueron on your own, contact Reserva Canon Seacacer or Rio Dulce Travels to see if they have tours or ask at your accommodations.

1. El Paraiso – A waterfall/hot springs
2. El Boqueron – Take a canoe upriver or hike along the gorge and then go tubing back down the river through Seacacar Canyon

Day 30/30 – Travel back to Guatemala City

Make your way back to Guatemala City. It’ll take about 8 hours or more or less. When I did this route, there were endless traffic jams.

Be careful about transportation strikes. They can shut down a country and leave you stranded or force you to fork over loads of money for a private driver and car to get back to Guatemala City. Register with your embassy or join the Guatemala Expat Facebook group to get up-to-date information on the country.

Final Thoughts

I hope these 4 recommended itineraries have helped you in planning your trip to Guatemala.

If you want a description of any of the activities in the itineraries, check out my list of 35 things to do in Guatemala. Or you can check out my city guides:

• Antigua Travel Guide
• Antigua Hotel & Hostel Guide
• Lake Atitlan Travel Guide
• Lake Atitlan Hotel & Hostel Guide
• Flores and Tikal Travel Guide
• Flores and Tikal Hotel & Hostel Guide
• Rio Dulce and Livingston Travel Guide
• Chichicastenango Travel Guide

Where to Go after Guatemala?

• Belize Travel Guide
• Honduras Travel Guide
• El Salvador Travel Guide
• Nicaragua Travel Guide
• Mexico Travel Guide
• Central America Travel Guide