Guatemala itinerary, day by day

From colonial Antigua to Lake Atitlán and its ring of volcanoes, then north to the temples of Tikal in the jungle: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.

🗓️ 3, 7 or 14 days📍 3 stops☀️ Best time: November to April

Antigua · Photo HAROLD PRODUCTIONS / Pexels

Route map (numbers = order of the stops).

Guatemala in 3 days

2 stops · 12 things to do · ≈ 120 km

1Antigua

Days 1-2

The colonial capital until earthquakes in 1773 moved the government away, leaving cobbled streets and ruined churches between three volcanoes. UNESCO-listed since 1979.

🎟️ Worth booking

Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)2 days · from €80
A steep climb to a camp at around 3,600 metres, then a night watching neighbouring Fuego throw up lava, and the summit at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Colonial centre and ruins, guidedHalf day · from €15
The churches and convents the earthquakes brought down, and the story of the city that was rebuilt around them.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Santa Catalina Arch · The central plaza · The ruined convents · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Adra Hostel (€25 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (€140 a night) · Luxury: Pensativo House Hotel (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Picasso Café ↗ ★ 5 · 440 reviews
el bowl ↗ ★ 4.9 · 646 reviews
Rosanta - Cocina sostenible | Farm to Table ↗ ★ 4.9 · 356 reviews
Franca ↗ ★ 4.9 · 176 reviews
27 Adentro ↗ ★ 4.8 · 1229 reviews · €€

Photo Alejandro Quiñonez / Pexels

🚐 Shuttle · 2h30 · 120 km

2Lake Atitlán

Day 3

A deep lake in a volcanic crater at over 1,500 metres, watched by the San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes. Maya villages line the shore, most reached by boat.

🎟️ Worth booking

Boat tour of the Maya villagesFull day · from €25
A day hopping by launch between the lakeside villages, each with its own weaving, market and way of dressing.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sunrise kayak below the volcanoesHalf day · from €20
Out on the water at first light, when the lake is flat and the volcanoes are clear, before the afternoon wind rises.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

San Juan and San Pedro La Laguna · The weaving and coffee markets · Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes · The trails between the villages

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hotel Utz Jay (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Prana (€110 a night) · Luxury: Casa Palopó (€230 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Comedor Mary ↗ ★ 4.9 · 280 reviews
ElChef ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
El Ultimo Refugio ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
Delhi 6 ↗ ★ 4.7 · 616 reviews
The Little Spoon ↗ ★ 4.6 · 992 reviews

Photo Isaac Cortés / Pexels

Guatemala in 7 days

3 stops · 18 things to do · shuttle & flight

1Antigua

Days 1-3

The colonial capital until earthquakes in 1773 moved the government away, leaving cobbled streets and ruined churches between three volcanoes. UNESCO-listed since 1979.

🎟️ Worth booking

Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)2 days · from €80
A steep climb to a camp at around 3,600 metres, then a night watching neighbouring Fuego throw up lava, and the summit at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Colonial centre and ruins, guidedHalf day · from €15
The churches and convents the earthquakes brought down, and the story of the city that was rebuilt around them.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Santa Catalina Arch · The central plaza · The ruined convents · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Adra Hostel (€25 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (€140 a night) · Luxury: Pensativo House Hotel (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Alejandro Quiñonez / Pexels

🚐 Shuttle · 2h30 · 120 km

2Lake Atitlán

Days 4-5

A deep lake in a volcanic crater at over 1,500 metres, watched by the San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes. Maya villages line the shore, most reached by boat.

🎟️ Worth booking

Boat tour of the Maya villagesFull day · from €25
A day hopping by launch between the lakeside villages, each with its own weaving, market and way of dressing.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sunrise kayak below the volcanoesHalf day · from €20
Out on the water at first light, when the lake is flat and the volcanoes are clear, before the afternoon wind rises.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

San Juan and San Pedro La Laguna · The weaving and coffee markets · Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes · The trails between the villages

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hotel Utz Jay (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Prana (€110 a night) · Luxury: Casa Palopó (€230 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Comedor Mary ↗ ★ 4.9 · 280 reviews
ElChef ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
El Ultimo Refugio ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
Delhi 6 ↗ ★ 4.7 · 616 reviews
The Little Spoon ↗ ★ 4.6 · 992 reviews

Photo Isaac Cortés / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 1h · to the Petén

3Tikal (Petén)

Days 6-7

One of the great cities of the Classic Maya, abandoned over a thousand years ago and taken back by the Petén forest. Its temple pyramids rise above the canopy; the tallest, Temple IV, is about 65 metres high.

🎟️ Worth booking

Tikal, guidedFull day · from €25
A full day in the ruins with a guide who can tell a temple from a palace and spot the wildlife in the trees.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sunrise over the templesMorning · from €30
An early start to climb Temple IV and watch the forest wake up below you, often in mist, with howler monkeys for a soundtrack.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Temples in the jungle · Howler monkeys and toucans · The Great Plaza · Sunset over the canopy

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostel Flores (€15 a night) · Luxury: Las Lagunas Boutique (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Bistro Puertas del Cielo ↗ ★ 4.7 · 664 reviews
Restaurante Big fish ↗ ★ 4.7 · 326 reviews
Maple & Tocino ↗ ★ 4.6 · 1422 reviews · €€
Restaurante Raíces del Lago ↗ ★ 4.6 · 420 reviews
Tacos Los Peches ↗ ★ 4.6 · 394 reviews

Photo Matthias Stutzman / Pexels

Guatemala in 14 days

4 stops · 24 things to do · shuttle & flight

1Antigua

Days 1-4

The colonial capital until earthquakes in 1773 moved the government away, leaving cobbled streets and ruined churches between three volcanoes. UNESCO-listed since 1979.

🎟️ Worth booking

Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)2 days · from €80
A steep climb to a camp at around 3,600 metres, then a night watching neighbouring Fuego throw up lava, and the summit at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Colonial centre and ruins, guidedHalf day · from €15
The churches and convents the earthquakes brought down, and the story of the city that was rebuilt around them.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Santa Catalina Arch · The central plaza · The ruined convents · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Adra Hostel (€25 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (€140 a night) · Luxury: Pensativo House Hotel (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Alejandro Quiñonez / Pexels

🚐 Shuttle · 2h30 · 120 km

2Lake Atitlán

Days 5-7

A deep lake in a volcanic crater at over 1,500 metres, watched by the San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes. Maya villages line the shore, most reached by boat.

🎟️ Worth booking

Boat tour of the Maya villagesFull day · from €25
A day hopping by launch between the lakeside villages, each with its own weaving, market and way of dressing.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sunrise kayak below the volcanoesHalf day · from €20
Out on the water at first light, when the lake is flat and the volcanoes are clear, before the afternoon wind rises.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

San Juan and San Pedro La Laguna · The weaving and coffee markets · Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes · The trails between the villages

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hotel Utz Jay (€30 a night) · Mid-range: Casa Prana (€110 a night) · Luxury: Casa Palopó (€230 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Comedor Mary ↗ ★ 4.9 · 280 reviews
ElChef ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
El Ultimo Refugio ↗ ★ 4.8 · 226 reviews
Delhi 6 ↗ ★ 4.7 · 616 reviews
The Little Spoon ↗ ★ 4.6 · 992 reviews

Photo Isaac Cortés / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 1h · to Flores

3Tikal (Petén)

Days 8-11

🎟️ Worth booking

Tikal, guidedFull day · from €25
A full day in the ruins with a guide who can tell a temple from a palace and spot the wildlife in the trees.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Sunrise over the templesMorning · from €30
An early start to climb Temple IV and watch the forest wake up below you, often in mist, with howler monkeys for a soundtrack.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

Temples in the jungle · Howler monkeys and toucans · The Great Plaza · Sunset over the canopy

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Hostel Flores (€15 a night) · Luxury: Las Lagunas Boutique (€220 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Matthias Stutzman / Pexels

✈️ Flight · 1h · return

4Antigua

Days 12-14

The colonial capital until earthquakes in 1773 moved the government away, leaving cobbled streets and ruined churches between three volcanoes. UNESCO-listed since 1979.

🎟️ Worth booking

Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)2 days · from €80
A steep climb to a camp at around 3,600 metres, then a night watching neighbouring Fuego throw up lava, and the summit at dawn.
Book on GetYourGuide →
Colonial centre and ruins, guidedHalf day · from €15
The churches and convents the earthquakes brought down, and the story of the city that was rebuilt around them.
Book on GetYourGuide →

✦ Free, not to be missed

The Santa Catalina Arch · The central plaza · The ruined convents · The craft market

🛏️ Where to sleep · Budget: Adra Hostel (€25 a night) · Mid-range: Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (€140 a night) · Luxury: Pensativo House Hotel (€190 a night)

🍴 Where to eat · top rated

Photo Alejandro Quiñonez / Pexels

Hotel prices are per room per night, activity prices per person, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links (Booking, GetYourGuide): we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

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Good to know before you go

🍽️ What to eat

Pepián: a thick, spiced stew of meat and vegetables in a sauce of roasted seeds and chillies, one of the national dishes.
Tamales and chuchitos: maize dough filled with meat or sauce, steamed in banana or corn leaves.
Black beans and corn tortillas: on the table at every meal.
Rellenitos: mashed plantain stuffed with sweetened black beans, sometimes with a little chocolate, then fried.
Highland coffee: grown on the volcanic slopes around Antigua and Atitlán, and among the best in Central America.

⚠️ What to avoid

Use tourist shuttles rather than the old chicken buses between towns.
Do not travel by road after dark, and avoid empty streets at night outside the tourist areas.
Drink bottled water, and give yourself a day to adjust to the altitude in Antigua and at Atitlán.
Climb volcanoes only with a registered agency and a guide.

Plan this trip

📒 The free printable Guatemala guide→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Guatemala, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book before you go→

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