What to book before you travel to Guatemala?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length

Weekend One week Two weeks

6 activities to book · about €195 per person

Antigua

Days 1-3

Days 1-3Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)2 daysA steep climb to a camp at around 3,600 metres, then a night watching neighbouring Fuego throw up lava, and the summit at dawn.€80Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 1-3Colonial centre and ruins, guidedHalf dayThe churches and convents the earthquakes brought down, and the story of the city that was rebuilt around them.€15Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: The Santa Catalina Arch · The central plaza · The ruined convents · The craft market

All activities in Antigua on GetYourGuide

Lake Atitlán

Days 4-5

Days 4-5Boat tour of the Maya villagesFull dayA day hopping by launch between the lakeside villages, each with its own weaving, market and way of dressing.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 4-5Sunrise kayak below the volcanoesHalf dayOut on the water at first light, when the lake is flat and the volcanoes are clear, before the afternoon wind rises.€20Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: San Juan and San Pedro La Laguna · The weaving and coffee markets · Tolimán and Atitlán volcanoes · The trails between the villages

All activities in Lake Atitlán on GetYourGuide

Tikal (Petén)

Days 6-7

Days 6-7Tikal, guidedFull dayA full day in the ruins with a guide who can tell a temple from a palace and spot the wildlife in the trees.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

Days 6-7Sunrise over the templesMorningAn early start to climb Temple IV and watch the forest wake up below you, often in mist, with howler monkeys for a soundtrack.€30Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Temples in the jungle · Howler monkeys and toucans · The Great Plaza · Sunset over the canopy

All activities in Tikal (Petén) on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Guatemala cost?

€195 per person if you do them all, across 6 bookings. The most expensive is "Acatenango volcano climb (2 days)" at €80, the cheapest "Colonial centre and ruins, guided" at €15. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Guatemala without booking anything?

12 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with The Santa Catalina Arch, The central plaza, The ruined convents, The craft market. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Antigua, with 2 activities to book, against 2 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From Half day for the shortest to 2 days for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Guatemala guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Guatemala, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→