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The Scoop: What to Know About Overseas Adventure Tours (OAT)

This small-group specialist runs tours to all continents..

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• Looking at an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) tour, but want to know more about this small-group tour company?
• Here’s everything you need to know about the tour company, all updated for 2024.

Overseas Adventure Travel —more commonly referred to as OAT (saying the letters as opposed to naming the grain)—is a small-group tour specialist with tours on all continents. As its name suggests, tours with Overseas Adventure Travel tend to be fairly active, so participants should be comfortable with six to eight hours of activity each day, including walking distances ranging from three to six miles.

OAT has a great reputation for its solo guest focus (more on that below), and offers a generous number of no-additional-cost single spots on its tours. It also has women-exclusive departures on many itineraries.

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On OAT tours, accommodations tend to be less about amenities and more about authenticity. Another thing to note is that airfare is often bundled into the up-front price of the tour (unless you specify that you want to book your own travel). OAT is one of the family of Grand Circle Corp. companies, also including Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line.

TourScoop Takeaways

• Countries: OAT has tours on every continent 
• Tour Size Average: OAT specializes in small-group trips of no more than 16 people. Its small-ship tours are aboard 50- to 98-passenger ships max out at 25 travelers. 
• Tour Type: Coach, van, small ship, rail, and air

Credibility Check

Overseas Adventure Travel is BBB accredited with a rating of A+. It’s an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). The OAT website posts verified guest reviews on each tour page (sometimes with hundreds of reviews) so it’s easy to see what past travelers think of each tour. 

Tour Destinations

For 2024, OAT has 80 itineraries that include tours on every continent. Some of the most popular tours are to destinations in Italy, Egypt, and multi-country tours in Africa and around the Adriatic. 

Overseas Adventure Travel gives all its tours an Activity Level Rating that ranks tours from one (easy) to five (strenuous) to help travelers find the right fit. It has both women-only departures and many no-additional-cost single traveler spots on tours. 

There are multi-country and single country tours. On many tours, OAT creates spaces for discussion and learning with its Controversial Topics program that covers topics such as Scottish independence on its Scotland Revealed itinerary and female genital mutilation on its Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari tour. 

Tour Guides

OAT’s tour guides are called Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and have a range of skills, certifications, and experience specific to the tour destination and experience. Trip Experience Leaders focus on both the logistical and the experiential, and help connect travelers with destinations by sharing firsthand insight that brings a destination to life. 

Inclusions/Extras

Inclusions are tour-specific (there’s a “What’s Included” section on each tour’s page), but generally include round-trip flights, many (but not all) meals, transportation, accommodations, activities, and gratuities for local guides, porters, etc. As with most tour companies, gratuities for trip experience leaders is separate. 

Typical Travelers

OAT’s guests are mostly American travelers aged 50 and older. In the last few years, Overseas Adventure Travel has seen a major jump in the number of solo travelers—more than half of all OAT guests are now solo travelers, and 80% of these solo travelers are women.

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OAT does right by its strong solo traveler base —in 2024, the company is offering 25,620 single spaces—91% of which are free (the remaining 9% of single spots have what OAT says is the lowest single supplement in the industry). And a number of itineraries also have women-exclusive departures. 

Communication

After booking, travelers have access to all trip details through the “My Planner” section on the website. The section includes details like flight information, destination weather, and itinerary information.

Then, two weeks before departure, travelers receive all their final documents, and are also contacted by their Trip Experience Leader. Any additional questions can be directed to OAT’s customer service email or phone number.

Loyalty Program

OAT’s loyalty program is the Sir Edmund Hillary Club . Membership benefits kick in when travelers reserve their third trip, and increase after traveling with OAT five and ten times. Benefits include credits to use on future trips, travel credits, exclusive gifts, and priority luggage service. 

Private Options

OAT offers Personalized Private Adventures for groups of five to 10 people. These private departures are available using existing itineraries, and include a dedicated Trip Experience Leader. The private group premium amount depends on the number of travelers in a group. Some of the most popular private tours include Ultimate Africa , Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes , and Japan’s Cultural Treasures . 

Sustainability Efforts

OAT is part of Grand Circle, and participates in the Grand Circle Foundation , which supports projects around the world focused on water and sanitation, education, community development, renewable energy, the protection of indigenous cultures, conservation, historic preservation, and disaster relief.

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Health and Safety Practices

On OAT tours that include time onboard a ship, additional precautions include crew trained on best health and hygiene practices to prevent onboard spread of illnesses, nightly electrostatic disinfection of public areas, and disinfection of high-efficiency air filtration systems before each sailing. The OAT website is the place to go to read more about the current health and safety practices for land and ship tours.  

Family Companies

The Grand Circle family of companies includes Overseas Adventure Travel , Grand Circle Cruise Line , and Grand Circle Travel .

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• Best Senior Travel Tour Companies
• Best Tour Companies for Solo Travelers

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New Vacation Trend: European River Cruise Companies Are Now Targeting Family Travelers

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Guatemala Travel Guide

Last Updated: September 1, 2023

The rugged mountains and jungles offer adventurous travelers a chance to get off the beaten path and explore pristine landscapes for a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere in the world. And the ruins are underrated and a must-see for history buffs, including the impressive Tikal, an ancient Mayan city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

I love this country and have always had an incredible time here. (One of my favorite memories involves camping in Tikal National Park)

In this travel guide to Guatemala, I’ll show you how to make the most of your trip, save money, and stay safe in one of Central America’s most popular destinations!

Table of Contents

• Things to See and Do
• Typical Costs
• Suggested Budget
• Money-Saving Tips
• Where to Stay
• How to Get Around
• How to Stay Safe
• Best Places to Book Your Trip
• Related Blogs on Guatemala

Top 5 Things to See and Do in Guatemala

1. Visit Lake Atitlán

This spectacular lake is actually a massive volcanic crater. The lake sits 1,500 meters (4,921 feet) above sea level and is also one of the deepest lakes in Central America. It should come as no surprise that it’s one of the best spots to watch the sunset in Guatemala. On the northern coast of the lake lies the tourist village of Panajachel, a good base to arrange lake and volcano tours (there are two volcanoes here you can explore, Toliman and San Pedro). The village offers incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes and you can also enjoy restaurants, bars, and nightlife in a rustic lakeside setting here too. Boat tours are available as well.

2. Head to Antigua

Antigua is a picturesque colonial city in a highland valley between three volcanoes. It’s full of colonial Spanish architecture, including cobbled streets, what’s left of the centuries-old San Francisco church, houses, and ruins. There’s a vibrant market with colorful Guatemalan blankets and fabrics as well as lots of crafts and souvenirs. Head to the Plaza Mayor to take in the city’s amazing garden and don’t miss a hike up the Fuego volcano (which is active). There are two routes to choose from: La Soledad and the super high, extremely steep Alotenango Route. Conversely, you can hike the difficult (yet super popular) Acatenango volcano, which offers well-earned views of Fuego spitting lava, fire, and ash into the air. The best time for these hikes is during the dry season from the end of November to early April.

3. Explore Tikal National Park

Tikal is home to the most popular Mayan ruins in the country . Located in Petén Province in the north of Guatemala, this enormous national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and spans nearly 600 square meters (6,500 square feet), housing centuries of Mayan history and archeology covered in lush vegetation. It is famous for rare animals like pumas, toucans, snakes, monkeys, and many species of birds. Arrive early and stay late as the park empties out in the afternoon when tour groups leave. I also recommend sleeping over in the park to catch the sunrise. You will need to pay extra for a guided tour if you want to see the sunrise or sunset. Ticket prices vary depending on if you buy day tickets, sunrise tickets, or sunset tickets. Admission is 150 GTQ for day hiking before sunset. You can reach Tikal from Flores by shuttle bus or even from neighboring Belize .

4.Visit Semuc Champey

This natural attraction outside the town of Lanquin near Coban consists of 300 meters (984 feet) of limestone bridges over the Cahabòn River that form natural lagoon-like pools. Take a candlelit tour through the Kamba caves, go tubing down the Cahabòn, or swim in the turquoise pools along the bridge. Keep in mind that the caves can only be visited with a guide. It’s possible to get here with local transport, private shuttles, or on a day trip. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds. To avoid getting rained on or risk that the area is flooded, visit during the dry season (December-April). Day trips cost 250-300 GTQ.

5. Explore the Chichicastenango Market

Most people who come to Guatemala visit Chichicastenango, the largest indigenous market in North America. Every Thursday and Sunday, thousands of Quiché Mayans come to town to buy and sell handicrafts, flowers, poetry, trinkets, pottery, and colorful textiles. There are plenty of places to eat tasty street food and buy local fruits and veggies, try fresh juices or Guatemalan coffee, and buy delicious handmade tortillas. Don’t forget to bring smaller bills and remember to bargain for the things you buy. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds.

Other Things to See and Do in Guatemala

1. visit the national museum of archaeology and ethnology.

Located in Guatemala City, this museum houses the many artifacts uncovered from the Mayan archaeological sites around the country. Created in 1898, the museum holds over 20,000 items and artifacts and is a good place to visit so you can learn more about the Mayan culture. Admission is 60 GTQ.

2. See the Yaxha ruins

If Tikal is too touristy for you, consider the more secluded Yaxha ruins. Like Tikal, Yaxha is a massive Mesoamerican archaeological site. Located in the northeast, it was the third-largest Mayan city in the region. Home to several huge stone pyramids, the site was “discovered” in 1904 and dates to 250-600 CE. Spend a few hours looking at ancient drawings and intricately carved hieroglyphs. Admission is 80 GTQ.

3. Explore Quirigua

The archaeological site of Quirigua, located in the southeastern corner of the country near the border with Honduras, contains the largest stelae (upright stone columns covered in drawings or carved into shapes) ever discovered in the Mayan world. Nine stelae are arranged around a central plaza, accompanied by altars carved into zoomorphic shapes that date from the 2nd-8th centuries CE. Although the stelae are unrestored, they are a magnificent sight; the largest of these is a whopping 25 feet tall! Admission is 80 GTQ.

4. Hike the Volcán de Pacaya

This active volcano frequently erupts ash clouds over Antigua, however, it makes for a fun day hike (don’t worry, it’s safe). The trail is relatively easy (it’s not that steep) and takes around two hours to hike, giving you lots of time to admire the view before you actually get a chance to peer into the volcano’s cone. Pacaya can only be accessed with an authorized guide so you will need to book a tour. Be aware the cheap tours often just offer transportation and a Spanish-speaking guide. If you don’t speak Spanish you will need to ask for an English-speaking guide. Guided hikes start at 250 GTQ . Some of the tours also include a visit to a thermal spa where you can soak in the naturally warm waters as well as a chance to roast marshmallows over the volcano.

5. Wander Flores

A small island, Flores sits on Lake Peten Itza, a large lake in the north and the second-largest lake in the country. A narrow man-made causeway connects the island to the mainland and the region is perfect for hiking, swimming, and spotting wildlife. From here, you’re just a short drive away from some of the most untamed jungles in the country (it makes for a good base for exploring the nearby jungles). It’s also close to the ruins at Tikal.

6. Visit the ruins at El Mirador

El Mirador is one of the most undiscovered Mayan sites in Guatemala. Located near the border with Mexico in the northeast, the majority of its complexes lie in the depths of the jungle and remain relatively inaccessible to tourists. It’s the largest of all the Mayan ruins, rivaling even the pyramids in Egypt in size. Though discovered in 1926, researchers didn’t start studying it until 2003! Multi-day tours cost around 2,300-3,100 GTQ since it’s so remote.

7. Explore Rio Dulce

Rio Dulce is a gorgeous river and popular backpacker destination in eastern Guatemala. Two towns, El Relleno and Fronteras, lie on either side of the river and are connected by one of the largest bridges in Central America. The area is famous for its trekking and water activities, including the Finca Paraiso hike, which leads to a hot spring and a waterfall. The Quiriguá ruins (mentioned above) are also nearby and worth a visit.

8. Visit the Antigua Market

This sprawling market is colorful and somewhat chaotic. It’s open-air and filled with everything from fruits and vegetables to handmade crafts and poultry to fake DVDs and knock-off jeans. Come here to buy souvenirs, people watch, and take in the bustling chaos!

9. Relax at Monterrico

This is the most popular beach in the country. Located close to Guatemala City and Antigua, this laid-back beach town is a relaxing place to catch some sun and hit the waves. Between June-December, you can also see giant leatherback, green sea, and smaller olive ridley turtles. There are also lots of tours of the nearby mangroves.

10. Hike Acatenango

Located near Antigua, Acatenango is a stratovolcano standing almost 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). It’s the third-highest volcano in Central America and last erupted in 1972. It offers a strenuous 7-8-hour hike up to a campsite, where you camp overnight before summiting to watch the sunrise. Overnight hiking tours cost around 600-800 GTQ and include cold-weather gear, an English-speaking guide, and park admission.

11. Watch the sunrise from Indian Nose

The sunrise from the Indian Nose volcano is quite possibly one of the most magical sunrises you will ever experience. Located next to Lake Atitlan, you’ll get to look out across the water and the magnificent volcanoes before you (including the Atitlán and San Pedro volcanoes). You can do this hike alone but it is difficult finding the path in the dark so it is much better to go with a guide. Expect to pay around 465 GTQ.

12. Learn to surf

Guatemala isn’t known for its beaches but the small coastal town of El Paredon is a well-kept secret where you can hit the waves. The black sand beach is beautiful and the surf is great. A board rental is around 100-125 GTQ per day and surf lessons cost around 120 GTQ for a private class, including a board.

Guatemala Travel Costs

Budget hotels are plentiful in Guatemala and rooms cost as little as 235-250 GTQ for a double or twin bed with basic amenities. For a mid-range hotel with free breakfast, expect to pay closer to 500 GTQ

Airbnb is available around the country, with private rooms starting at 200 GTQ per night. For an entire home or apartment, prices begin around 300 GTQ per night though they average closer to 800 GTQ. Book early to find the best deals.

For those traveling with a tent, camping is not common and not recommended. You can camp in the parks of El Paredon and Tikal though. Camping there costs around 50 GTQ per night.

Food – Guatemalan cuisine leans heavily on traditional Mayan foods with a strong influence from Spain (the Spanish arrived here in 1524). Traditional foods use a lot of corn, chilies, avocados, and beans. Popular dishes include tamales, seafood soup, and meat stews (usually chicken or beef), which are readily available and usually quite affordable. Gallo en perro (spicy stew), tapado (seafood soup with green plantain and coconut milk), and fried rice are other popular dishes.

If you’re on a budget, you can get a large meal of beans, rice, corn, and meat for around 40 GTQ from a comedor (local eateries that usually offer large portions). Another local favorite is a tortilla with beans and eggs with sour cream and fried plantain on the side, which usually cost the equivalent of just a couple of dollars.

Lunch is the main meal of the day here, and many restaurants offer affordable set menus. These usually include soup and grilled meat.

Pre-made plates of food (usually chicken or beef, rice, and tortillas) are often sold on the buses during stops for about 25-30 GTQ. Street food, like hot dogs or tamales, can be found for less than 15 GTQ.

A three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant with a drink costs around 250 GTQ. Mexican-style dishes like tacos or enchiladas are a popular evening choice (since dinner is usually a lighter meal).

Fast food like McDonald’s costs around 45 GTQ for a combo meal. For a meal at a Western restaurant (think burger and fries or pizza), expect to pay at least 100 GTQ.

A beer costs 15 GTQ, bottled water is 6 GTQ, and a cappuccino/latte costs around 19 GTQ.

If you plan on buying your own groceries, expect to pay around 200 GTQ per week for staples like vegetables, rice, seasonal produce, and some meat.

Backpacking Guatemala Suggested Budgets

As a budget backpacker in Guatemala, expect to pay around 250 GTQ per day. This assumes you’re staying in a hostel dorm, cooking most of your meals, sticking to free activities (like hiking and the beach), limiting your drinking, and using public transportation to get around.

On a mid-range budget of 650 GTQ, you can stay in an Airbnb, eat out for all your meals, enjoy a few drinks, take some guided tours, use taxis here and there, and visit more attractions such as museums or ruins.

On a “luxury” budget of 1,750 GTQ per day, you can stay in a hotel, take taxis everywhere, book higher-end tours (including private tours and day tours), and eat out every meal at nicer restaurants. This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

You can use the chart below to get some idea of how much you need to budget daily, depending on your travel style. Keep in mind these are daily averages — some days you’ll spend more, some days you’ll spend less (you might spend less every day). We just want to give you a general idea of how to make your budget. Prices are in GTQ.

Guatemala Travel Guide: Money-Saving Tips

It’s easy to save money while traveling in Guatemala since the country isn’t that expensive. However, a good budget traveler always looks for ways to maximize value. Here are some of the best ways to save money in Guatemala:

• Take a free walking tour – In some of the larger cities (like Antigua) you can find free walking tours. They’re the best way to get introduced to a new destination. Freetour.com has options you can choose from. Just be sure to tip your guide at the end!
• Stay with a local – While accommodation is cheap here, staying with a local via Couchsurfing makes it free. Not only will you save some money, but you’ll get firsthand knowledge from a local!
• Visit the Mercado – Although eating out is cheap in Guatemala, it makes sense to shop at the markets for your food to take on day trips or to prepare at your hostel. Fruit costs mere pennies and everything is always fresh.
• Eat street food – The local street food is the cheapest food you can eat — and the tastiest. Stick to street food when it comes to eating out.
• Avoid flying – Bus rides are longer, but if you are trying to see the country on a budget you shouldn’t fly. An hour-long flight can cost hundreds of dollars. Avoid flying as much as possible!
• Avoid drinking – Sure, the beer here is cheap but a couple of beers every day will add up. Watch your drinking to keep your budget intact!

Where to Stay in Guatemala

Guatemala has plenty of hostels in all the major cities. Here are some of my suggested places to stay:

• Maya Papaya (Antigua)
• Barbara’s Boutique Hostel (Antigua)
• La Iguana Perdida (Santa Cruz, Lake Atitlan)
• Casa de Grethel (Flores)
• Hostal Los Lagos (Guatemala City)
• Hostal Guatefriends (Guatemala City)

How to Get Around Guatemala

Public transportation – The main method of transportation in Guatemala is las camionetas (“chicken buses”). They are old school buses from North America and are the most inexpensive way to get around. Expect to pay around 10 GTQ for a 1-2 hour journey. Shorter journeys can cost as little as 5 GTQ.

If you are traveling between places like Antigua and Lake Atitlan, shuttle buses are the most common form of transport for backpackers. Travel between Antigua and Guatemala City costs around 150 GTQ on a shuttle bus. On a chicken bus, it costs considerably less.

Train – There are no trains in Guatemala.

Bus – Because of the poor condition of the roads in Guatemala large coach buses aren’t available on many routes. You can find night buses between Guatemala City and Flores to take you to countries like Mexico , Belize , and Nicaragua . For most other places, you have to rely on shuttle buses.

You have two options for booking: asking in your hostel to call and book for you and pay in cash, or booking online through guatego.com. Unfortunately, websites like Busbud don’t operate in Guatemala as their transport infrastructure is still developing.

Keep in mind the shuttles are pretty basic. Most don’t have working AC and are not very spacious. Plan for delays as well.

Flying – There are regular flights from Guatemala City to Flores, usually costing around 1,000-1,400 GTQ per person for the one-hour flight. If you are short on time and have plenty of money to spend, I suggest flying. But for most travelers, the bus is the best option.

Car rental – Renting a car costs around 175 GTQ per day. Do take care if you decide to drive in Guatemala as the roads aren’t the best and landslides are common during the rainy season (which can often result in both accidents and road closures). Make sure you have an International Driving Permit (IDP) — you’ll need one for any car rental.

For the best car rental prices, use Discover Cars .

When to Go to Guatemala

Guatemala is a fantastic place to visit at any time of the year because of its spring-like climate. As many places are at altitude, you can expect cool mornings and evenings and warm days. Expect temperatures to sit between 18-28°C (65-82°F).

Many choose to avoid Guatemala during the rainy season (May-September) as the rain can be a bit disruptive, especially if you want to do things like hiking. That said, it is during these months that Guatemala is at its most beautiful as the country turns green and the flowers bloom. Prices also drop significantly during the rainy season.

To beat the crowds, visit in the shoulder season (the start or end of the rainy season). You’ll see fewer people and things will be a little cheaper. The weather won’t be perfect but it will still be sunny and warm most days so you’ll still be able to hike.

How to Stay Safe in Guatemala

While Guatemala is generally safe, there’s no denying that certain precautions should be taken as there is a lot of petty crime (and other safety issues) in the country. Avoid isolated areas, especially at night and in big cities. Keep your personal belongings on you while using public transit (especially chicken buses) and night buses.

Additionally, don’t wear flashy jewelry or leave your valuables out in the open. Petty theft is common here so you must be vigilant.

Violent attacks against tourists are rare. Most of the time it’s because the tourist was involved in something drug-related or was where they shouldn’t be at night.

Scams are common in the larger cities so be wary of any overly friendly strangers. You can read about common travel scams to avoid right here.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.). Whenever possible, share a taxi with friends and avoid walking around alone just to be safe.

Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes so volcanic activity isn’t uncommon. Be sure to check for warnings before you embark on any hikes/activities (especially ones on or around volcanoes).

Additionally, due to its political instability, protests and demonstrations are common. If one is occurring near you, simply head back to your accommodation and avoid taking part.

If you experience an emergency, dial 110 for assistance.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. You can use the widget below to find the policy right for you:

Guatemala Travel Guide: The Best Booking Resources

These are my favorite companies to use when I travel. They consistently have the best deals, offer world-class customer service and great value, and overall, are better than their competitors. They are the companies I use the most and are always the starting point in my search for travel deals.

• Skyscanner – Skyscanner is my favorite flight search engine. They search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites tend to miss. They are hands down the number one place to start.
• Hostelworld – This is the best hostel accommodation site out there with the largest inventory, best search interface, and widest availability.
• Booking.com – The best all around booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation. In all my tests, they’ve always had the cheapest rates out of all the booking websites.
• Get Your Guide – Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions. They have tons of tour options available in cities all around the world, including everything from cooking classes, walking tours, street art lessons, and more!
• SafetyWing – Safety Wing offers convenient and affordable plans tailored to digital nomads and long-term travelers. They have cheap monthly plans, great customer service, and an easy-to-use claims process that makes it perfect for those on the road.
• LifeStraw – My go-to company for reusable water bottles with built-in filters so you can ensure your drinking water is always clean and safe.
• Unbound Merino – They make lightweight, durable, easy-to-clean travel clothing.
• Top Travel Credit Cards – Points are the best way to cut down travel expenses. Here’s my favorite point earning credit cards so you can get free travel!

Guatemala Travel Guide: Related Articles

Want more info? Check out all the articles I’ve written on backpacking/traveling Central America and continue planning your trip:

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Costa Rica?

The Best Tour Companies in Costa Rica

The 6 Best Hostels in Panama City, Panama

Is Belize Safe to Visit?

Is Central America Safe to Visit?

How to Get Around Central America on a Budget

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Things to know before visiting Guatemala

Nov 2, 2023 • 7 min read

Guatemala is a fascinating country with so much to see – here are tips that will help you make the most out of your trip © Fernanda Reyes / Getty Images

Guatemala has been my second home for nearly two decades, and the country still captivates me: the landscape with its volcanoes and coffee trees, the lakes and rivers and tropical beaches, Mayan ruins peeking out above the treetops. 

Mayan traditions are still alive and well, and the weather’s almost always fine in the Land of Eternal Spring. However, there's information travelers to Guatemala should know before visiting if you really want to enjoy all it has to offer. 

Get your shots before you leave

If you come in from a country where yellow fever is endemic, you’ll need to be vaccinated against this mosquito-borne disease. It’s also recommended that you’re up to date with your typhoid, hepatitis A and B, rabies, flu and TDaP (tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough) shots. It’s best to visit a travel clinic at least a month before your trip if you need to get vaccinated so there’s enough time to give you full protection. Some vaccines, like hepatitis B and rabies, require follow-up doses.

Bring your own bug spray if you like it DEET free

Most of the things you may have forgotten at home are available in Guatemala, but some items are more difficult to find or very expensive. Bug spray is easy to find but usually contains DEET. The locally produced DEET-free repellents aren’t very effective, so you’ll want to bring a good brand from home. The mosquito-borne diseases of malaria, zika, dengue fever and chikungunya are all endemic in parts of Guatemala. 

Don't go without sunscreen

Sunburn is a real risk if you spend time outside. Some of the larger stores and pharmacies sell chemical sunscreens, but these generally don’t have an SPF higher than 25. The stronger stuff and natural mineral sunscreens are normally only available in a handful of specialty health stores, with limited options and much higher prices. Pack enough of your favorite sunscreen, and remember to use it.

Your preferred feminine hygiene products might be hard to find

In terms of feminine hygiene products, most shops stock pads only. Some larger stores and pharmacies stock tampons with applicators. You might find the kind without an applicator, as well as menstrual cups, in specialty health stores, but the price will reflect the fact that they’re imported.

Pack lightweight clothing

Because Guatemala’s weather is mainly warm and humid, light clothing that dries quickly is more useful than jeans, which are heavy, too warm for the climate and take forever to dry. For cooler days, a light sweater or jacket is generally sufficient. If you need more clothes than you brought or just a wardrobe revamp, most towns have a paca , a place where you can buy secondhand clothing for as little as Q5 (less than US$1). 

When in doubt, cover up

Guatemalans tend to be religious: practicing Catholic, evangelical or, to a smaller extent, traditional Mayan belief systems. That deep-rooted faith also means that they are generally more socially conservative, especially in Maya-dominated communities. 

Men don’t go shirtless unless they’re at the beach. Women prefer knee-length shorts and oversized T-shirts to bathing suits. In the large cities and Ladino-dominated areas, people are more open to shorts, shorter skirts and tank tops. In the Maya communities, however, the women usually wear traditional clothing in public, and their cortes – a garment worn as a skirt – always fall below the knee.

If you’re not sure whether your clothing is appropriate, it’s best to cover up: put on a shirt and don’t wear anything shorter than mid-thigh. If you visit a church or other spiritual site, it’s respectful to cover your shoulders and arms.  

Avoid illegal drugs

Some bars and hostels turn a blind eye to the use of marijuana and other illegal drugs. However, police raids on bars and hostels aren’t uncommon, and if you’re found with any illegal substances in your possession, you will be arrested. 

Don’t drink the water

Tap water in Guatemala is not safe to drink. To reduce your risk of getting parasites, stick to purified water: bottled water is readily available everywhere. Hostels and restaurants will usually let you refill your water bottle, sometimes for a small fee. You may also want to skip the raw salad unless you’re sure that purified water was used for washing produce. 

If you do contract parasites, a trip to the pharmacy is often all you need to get the right treatment.

Guatemalans can get personal but don’t mean harm

It’s not unusual in Guatemalan culture to call people by some physical attribute. Being called guapo or guapa (attractive one) can feel uncomfortable at worst, but being called gordo or gorda (fat one) may sting. If you don’t like the nickname you’ve been given, try not to act offended; the trick is to let it slide and to tell the person your name instead. 

You may also find that Guatemalans like to ask personal questions: how old you are, how many children you have, where you are going. If you answer in the negative as to whether you have a spouse, this may even lead to questions about the status of your virginity, no matter your age. If you feel uncomfortable, remain polite, joke, and change the subject. 

Politeness goes a long way – most of the time

Guatemalans appreciate politeness. A friendly buenas  (good morning/afternoon/evening) or hola  (hello) creates a good first impression. Por favor  or simply porfa  (please) and gracias  (thank you) show that you were raised right. If you learn to say thank you in the Mayan dialect spoken at your destination, it’s guaranteed to elicit a smile. Ask locals how to say thank you in their language, repeat the phrase back to them and then use it for as long as you’re in that town.

One area where being too polite will do you no good, though, is standing in line. People will patiently wait in line in a more formal setting, such as at the clinic or a government office. At the market or in a neighborhood tienda (corner store)? If you don’t speak up, somebody may very well step in front of you as if it’s the most normal thing in the world – and in Guatemala, it is. 

The travel experience might be different for female visitors 

The culture of machismo is rife in Guatemala. Local women generally don’t frequent bars and cantinas on their own because of the risk of sexual harassment and violence. Even in pairs, women may face harassment. If you want to go out drinking, it’s best to do it in a mixed group: the presence of men in your group will deter those who won’t take no for an answer.

Women travelers may also encounter micro-aggressions like being talked over or ignored in favor of the men in their group. They’re also held to a higher standard than male travelers when it comes to dress or how they behave in bars and at parties. Sexual harassment and violence are real risks, and the conviction rate for offenders is low. 

However, as a woman traveler, you may find real solidarity – local women tend to be protective of female tourists traveling on their own. If a situation makes you feel uncomfortable, try to move closer to groups of other women. And who knows: you might make some real connections and make some new friends!

The LGBTQI+ scene is small   

Same-sex relationships are legal in Guatemala but frowned upon. The LGBTIQ+ scene in the country is small and mostly confined to the largest cities and tourist areas. While violence against LGBTIQ+ tourists is rare, local activists have been attacked. Take your cues from your surroundings and watch how the local community behaves towards transgender people or public displays of affection between same-sex couples, for instance. If you’re unsure, err on the side of caution. 

Always hike with a local guide

Some tourists who come to Guatemala climb volcanoes on their own with no issues. However, hiking alone is not a good idea because of the risk of getting robbed, injured or lost. Use local guides and follow their instructions: if they say they’re not going any farther, turn around with them. Guides know what the risks are, and the risks are very real – Guatemala has seen several high-profile deaths of hikers in recent years. Rescue teams are normally made up of volunteers using donated gear. When they have to risk their lives to rescue you, the decent thing to do is to reimburse them for their trouble.   

To stay safe, don't take unnecessary chances

Is Guatemala safe? As a tourist, you’re unlikely to run into serious trouble. That said, listen to local advice about areas to avoid, always be aware of your surroundings and never leave your belongings or your drinks unattended. 

Guatemala has a reputation for corruption and poor enforcement of laws. You may hear of travelers who bribed officials and got away with it. You may also hear of travelers who weren’t so lucky, so just don’t do it. 

This article was first published March 2022 and updated November 2023

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The Ultimate One- or Two-Week Guatemala Itinerary

By Author Steph Dyson

Posted on Last updated: 25th November 2023

If there’s one thing you notice when you first arrive in Guatemala it’s how colour seems to bleed from every feature of life here.

In Antigua Guatemala, the 17 th -century buildings are painted in vivid pastel shades, while in the villages surrounding nearby Lago de Atitlán, local people dress in vivid huipiles , with millennial-old symbols woven in bright threads.

Above, the sky is the bluest you’ve ever seen, while the lofty apexes of still-bubbling volcanoes rise out of the earth, surrounded by patchwork fields of crops.

Guatemala is the heartland of the ancient Maya people. A large proportion of Guatemalans are of Maya descent; with the culture survived the arrival of the Spanish and has since fostered a unique national identity that pervades every part of daily life.

What’s more, a wealth of wildlife, dazzling volcanic landscapes dotted with ancient ruins and beautiful, crumbling cities grant it a charm that has long been overlooked by travellers who instead opt for places like Blue Hole National Park in Belize or vibrant Merida, Mexico on the skirts of the Yucatán Peninsula’s UNESCO-listed archeological sites.

But Guatemala’s beyond-the-beaten-path status is all part of the appeal and these one and two-week Guatemala itineraries are a great way of getting under the colourful skin of one of Central America’s most fascinating countries.

Click to navigate this article:

Guatemala travel itinerary: How to start planning your trip

Recommendations for how to use these itineraries and things to know when travelling in Guatemala:

• Compared with many other Latin American countries, Guatemala is compact, spanning an area around the size of the state of Tennessee. However, poor infrastructure and even poorer quality Guatemala transportation – including the now legendary “chicken buses” – mean that getting around Guatemala can be quite a trial. While chicken buses are a truly local experience (expect live chickens and blaring pop music for the duration of the ride), a more comfortable option are the more expensive Pullman public buses or the private shuttle services, the latter of which are aimed at tourists . These are by far the more expensive option but are considerably safer. Atitrans Panajachel operate shuttles to most destinations in this itinerary and can be booked in advance (note that their destinations list for their shuttles only makes sense in Spanish – the English version translates Antigua into old , among other entertaining errors).

• Guatemala has a long and turbulent history and crime is still an issue in the country. For travelers, staying safe means taking sensible precautions to protect yourself. Guatemala City can be dangerous and it’s for this reason that tourists generally opt to stay in nearby Antigua. Armed robberies and muggings are common in Guatemala City, but can be avoided by taking Uber or radio taxis at night and by not flashing expensive jewellery, camera equipment or phones. ATMs can be tampered with, so always aim to use an ATM attached to a bank and don’t withdraw cash if anything seems wrong.
• Guatemala is a very cheap destination to visit. Hostels and guesthouses cost from $30 USD for a double and even high-end hotels are a steal at upwards of $100 USD per night. Restaurants in Antigua are pricey compared with the rest of the country, but you can find comedores, cheap eateries frequented by locals and serving up tasty soups and corn tortillas accompanying everything from mashed beans to fried meat and guacamole from only a few dollars per meal.

• With a year-round spring climate found across most of the country, the best time to go to Guatemala is difficult to pin down. Much of the country is at altitude, with cities such as Antigua at 1,533 metres (5,029 feet) above sea level, making day time temperatures hover around the mid-20s (high 70s) most of the year. However, the rainy season, which runs from May through October, does impact travel , with heavy downpours are common in the late afternoon, however the rest of the day is generally cooler and more pleasant than during the dry season. Tropical storms in September and October are more serious, often bringing heavy rains and poor conditions for travel and it’s recommended to avoid this period if you’re looking to visit Tikal and the Petén region, where mud and humidity levels can be unpleasant.
• Tap water isn’t safe to drink in Guatemala. Whenever I travel, I avoid spending lots of money on buying water (and polluting the environment with single-use plastic) by bringing my own portable water filter. I’ve personally found the Grayl Geopress and Steripen to both quickly and reliably purify water, eliminating all viruses and bacteria to make any water safe to drink (and you can read how I came to this conclusion in this article comparing six of the most popular travel water purifiers.
• I’ve only personally spent a few weeks in Guatemala, however his entire Guatemala travel guide has been checked by my friend who works for the UN in Guatemala. She has lived in Guatemala for the past 2.5 years – so you can rest assured that it’s up-to-date and informed by expert local knowledge.

One-week Guatemala travel itinerary: Antigua – Lago de Atitlán – Tikal

With a one-week vacation in Guatemala, there’s time to appreciate the country’s prettiest colonial city, Antigua, head out to colourful communities around the volcano-fringed waters of Lago de Atitlán and stand in awe before the country’s flagship Maya ruins of Tikál in the Petén region.

Day one: Antigua

Fly into Aeropuerto Internacional La Aurora and organise in advance a shuttle to take you directly to Antigua (around $10 USD, 50 mins to 1.5 hours).

It won’t take long for you to understand why this splendid city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Founded by the Spanish in the 16 th century and serving as the capital of what was effectively all of Central America for two centuries, Antigua is a remarkable example of colonial architecture at its finest.

Even those without religious leanings can’t fail to be dazzled by the city’s richness of churches and pastel-hued grand homes and the best way to appreciate its fine architecture is by spending your first day in Guatemala exploring the city’s cobbled streets. There are plenty of things to do in Antigua , whether you have one day or choose to extend your stay.

Start in the main square, the Parque Central, at the spectacular Cathedral , which was only partly rebuilt after a devastating 18 th -century earthquake attempted to raze it to the grounds. Head to the ruins at the back to see how splendid this building once was.

On the northern end of Avenida Cinco Norte, don’t miss the Iglesia de la Merced , with its striking canary yellow façade. This road is also home to the iconic 17 th -century Arco de Santa Catalina , a yellow archway that, when faced from the north, seems to sit beneath the towering peak of Volcán de Agua in the distance.

Souvenir shops line this road, although you’ll want to save your money to buy directly from the artisans themselves to ensure the quality of your purchases and that they receive a fair wage for their work.

Finally, while away the afternoon in Santo Domingo , a former monastery turned luxury hotel and spa that is home to seven museums and a wealth of ruins, crypts and cultural exhibitions.

Where to stay in Antigua: In a spectacular setting, El Convento Boutique Hotel ($255 USD double) has just 26 rooms, all of which are decorated in a charming, historic style and many of which play host to their own private jacuzzi or terrace. A small pool and vine-slung courtyards make for perfect spots for relaxing, while its location, a few blocks north of the Parque Central, ensures an oasis of calm at the very centre of the city.

Where to stay in Antigua on a budget: Modern décor is combined with plenty of outdoor patio and garden space for guests at the top-notch Adra Hostel ($100 USD double, $20 USD dorm), situated just a few blocks east of Parque Central. Rooms are spacious and there’s a fantastic bar and restaurant if you don’t want to leave your lodgings in the evening, while a rooftop terrace with outstanding views across the city is the cherry on the top of this excellent hostel.

Day two: Santo Domingo Xenacoj

Much of Guatemala’s unique heritage lies in its Maya people, who form the largest indigenous group in the country, accounting for around 40% of the population of Guatemala.

However, indigenous groups in Guatemala are disproportionately poor compared with the rest of the population and one means of addressing this inequality is through community-level tourism, which focuses on one of the many strengths of the Maya people: their textiles .

Beautifully woven, these include traditional huipiles (loose-fitting tunics) as well as religious garments, all of which reflect thousands of years of craftsmanship and even the beliefs and traditions of the Maya themselves.

Spend a day with the Consejo de Tejedoras de Santo Domingo Xenacoj (The Weaving Council of Santo Domingo Xenacoj) in Santa Domingo Xenacoj , which lies 30 kilometres north of Antigua. At their workshop, you can learn about how the patterns of the textiles reflect millennia-old religious symbols as you try your hand at weaving – with the help of the female artisans of course.

Take a day trip from Antigua with local operator  Guate4You . A tour of the weaving community and other local groups in Santo Domingo Xenacoj, plus a local lunch costs from $125 USD per person (minimum of three) or $75 USD per person for a group of six or above.

Days three and four: Lago de Atitlán

Flanked by a picturesque collection of volcanoes, as well as traditional Maya villages, Lago de Atitlán is surely one of the most spectacular lakes in Central America and, as such, a must on any Guatemala itinerary.

Wherever you go on the lake, keep an eye out for local people dressed in traditional outfits, with the symbols and patterns of which denoting exactly which villages they hail from.

While backpackers often head across the lake to the party hangout of San Pedro La Laguna, a more authentic Guatemalan experience is can be found in San Juan La Laguna , a small village known for its striking textiles and unique artistic style of painting.

There’s plenty to do in this small town. Spend a day visiting local weaving cooperatives and buying beautiful textiles as souvenirs, learning about traditional Maya medicine, or visiting one of the town’s clutch of art galleries.

Alternatively, organise a guide to hike up Rupalaj K’istalin, the mountain above the village, for glorious lake views. Be sure to catch the sunrise across the lake from the Sendero Nariz del Indio, an unguided hike which also leaves from the village.

For tours within San Juan La Laguna, contact the Asociación de Guías de Ecoturismo Rupalaj K’istalin (+502 4772 2527/ +502 5930 4773, [email protected] , or visit their office ) in advance of your visit. 

You can also use San Juan La Laguna as a base from which to explore different towns. San Marcos La Laguna is the lake’s official hippie hangout, home to a beautiful nature, Cerro Tzankujil, as well as yoga studios and vegan cafés galore.

To get to San Juan La Laguna, boats for all villages depart from regional hub Panajachel, a two-hour, 45-minute bus journey from Antigua (again, I recommend Atitrans Panajachel (2.5 hours, from around $15 USD) for the shuttle). The pier at the end of Calle del Embarcadero has boats to San Pedro La Laguna from where you can connect with vessels to San Juan La Laguna.

In Panajachel

If you’ve got a few hours to spare when you get to Panajachel , make sure you jump on a local bus (from Calle El Amate, the main road heading south out of town) for Santa Catarina Palopó .

This shoreside settlement home to the project Pintando Santa Catarina , where bold patterns and colours taken from the designs of local textiles have been painted onto houses. The project’s aim is to preserve Maya culture, using art as a tool to bring sustainable tourism to a place where 80% of the inhabitants live in poverty.

You can take a tour of the artwork (which is highly recommended if you want to better understand better the designs) from the project’s headquarters (in the Plaza Central) at a cost of $95 Q ($12 USD).

Where to stay in San Juan La Laguna: Stay overnight in a homestay with a local family , where you’ll dine on a traditional meal cooked by your hosts, and have the opportunity to chat with them and learn more about their lives. Facilities are basic, but your contribution is vital to these families, many of whom use the money to send their children to school.

For more information or to book a homestay, contact the Asociación de Guías de Ecoturismo Rupalaj K’istalin (+502 4772 2527/ +502 5930 4773, [email protected] ).

Days five and six: Flores and Tikal

For Lago de Atitlán, return to Antigua and then take a shuttle to the airport in Guatemala City.

Catch a flight to Mundo Maya International Airport (1 hour, $170 USD one-way) with Avianca or TAG – although be sure to turn up on time to the airport, as flights can often be overbooked, while departures can also often be delayed.

Perched on an island in the middle of Lago Petén Itzá and connected to the mainland by a 500-metre causeway, Flores is a tiny, picture-perfect village of cobbled streets flanked by grand old colonial buildings painted in primary shades.

There’s not an awful lot to do here – although taking a dip in the water or hiring a kayak from your hotel and heading out onto the lake is a great way to pass a few hours – but it’s the perfect spot for exploring the nearby archaeological site of Tikal and other interesting things to do around Flores .

The region of Petén was at the centre of the Maya culture, which blossomed here from 1,000 BC until around 150 AD, when the culture moved to Yucatán in modern-day Mexico. One of their legacies was Tikal , Guatemala’s most iconic Maya archaeological site, which lies just an hour away from Flores.

Tikal is believed to have been one of the most important Maya city states. 1,600 hectares of barely cut back jungle within Parque Nacional Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site , is still packed full of temples, ceremonial platforms, squares and roads, some of which date as far back as 500 BC and measure over 60 metres high.

Excavations have sought to understand more about Tikal and, after you’ve wandered around the ruins themselves, you can discover what archaeologists have learned by visiting the two on-site museums which contain many of the treasures unearthed at Tikal.

The ruins are best explored with a guide, and it’s a good to arrive here for sunrise (for an additional Q 100 ($13 USD)) to avoid the heat of the afternoon. To get here, take a tourist shuttle from your hotel for around 100 GTQ ($13 USD, includes cost of guide), and pay the entrance fee to the site of  Q 150 ($20 USD).

Useful information about the park is available here . You can also stay overnight at a hotel right inside the national park, allowing you to see sunrise at the temples without having to wake up too early.

If you want to go with a guide, Gem Trips and local archaeologist Roxy Ortiz are a good bet.

Where to stay in Flores : A short drive from the airport and with a dazzling location on Laguna Exequil, just a few kilometres east of Flores, Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel ($300 USD double) is a true paradise. Bungalows built on stilts overlook the lake and each has enjoy a balcony, from which you can enjoy a sundowner. Try out their kayaks for a gentle paddle on the water, join their guides for an early-morning monkey tour or take a dip in their freshwater pool ; whatever you choose,there’s plenty of love here. They can arrange tours of Tikal, as well as airport transfers.

Where to stay in Flores on a budget: Rooms are dated at Zapote Tree Inn ($40 USD), but that doesn’t matter when you’ve got a view of Lago de Peten Itzá and Flores quite like this. The swimming pool and terrace have the vest views in the house, while close proximity to hiking trails and a nearby beach give this guesthouse an excellent location. It’s situated a short boat ride from Flores, but the owners can help you organise tours of Tikal, transport and practically anything you need.

Alternatively, you can stay within Parque Nacional Tikal, a short walk from the entrance to Tikal.

Where to stay near Tikal: Right inside the national park, Jungle Lodge ($100 USD double) is a remarkably up-scale hotel right in the middle of the jungle. Individual cabins are hidden away into the undergrowth, with beds made up with crisp white sheets and silky mosquito nets. A series of patios and a swimming pool allow you to while away the afternoon absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle, while a bar and restaurant provide decent dining options. They organise direct shuttles to the airport to connect with flights and lead sunrise and day tours of Tikal.

Where to stay near Tikal on a budget: The more affordable Jaguar Inn ($70 USD double, $30 USD two-person tent) is also situated right in the heart of Parque Nacional Tikal. Private bungalows are clean and comfortable and surrounded by the forest, while you can also book a campsite or a campsite and tent if you’re on more of a budget – although the humidity can make camping a fairly uncomfortable experience.

Day seven: Guatemala City and home

Catch a flight back to Guatemala City and head home.

Two week-Guatemala travel itinerary: Antigua – Lago de Atitlán – Chichicastenango – Tikal and Yahxá – Río Dulce

Visiting Guatemala for two weeks gives you more space to slow down and delve into the country and its unique culture. You can explore some of the country’s most picturesque natural spots, spend longer appreciating ancient Maya ruins deep in the jungle and even climb to the crater of an active volcano.

Days one to three: Antigua

Follow the itinerary above but on your third day set up an adventure tour to hike up one of the nearby volcanoes .

Many of the volcanoes can be visited as part of a day trip from Antigua, although, as some are still active, it’s a good idea to check the governmental website INSIMUVEH for up-to-date information before you decide to climb any.

An hour’s drive from Antigua lies Volcán Pacaya , an active complex volcano that last erupted in 2014 – but only showered nearby cities with ash.

There’s a moderate climb to reach the crater, where you can see molten lava glowing against blackened ash and even toast marshmallows. You’ll want hiking boots and to go with a licensed tour operator based out of Antigua (from $15 USD including transport to the volcano).

Another option is Volcán Acatenango , although only if you’re in good shape as it’s a challenging climb to the summit.

A seven-hour hike up to the 3,975-metre peak promises outstanding views across Antigua Guatemala in the distance, as well as many of the nearby volcanoes including the smoke-puffing Volcán Fuego. Again, you’ll want to organise a tour with a company in Antigua (from $90 USD pp). 

Where to stay in Antigua on a budget: Modern décor is combined with plenty of outdoor patio and garden space for guests at the top-notch Adra Hostel ($100 USD double, $20 USD dorm), situated just a few blocks east of Parque Central. Rooms are spacious and there’s a fantastic bar and restaurant if you don’t want to leave your lodgings in the evening, while a rooftop terrace with outstanding views across the city is just the cherry on the top of this excellent hostel.

Days four to seven: Lago de Atitlán and Chichicastenango

Follow the previous itinerary but on day seven, hop on either a tourist shuttle from Panajachel ($14 USD) or for a considerably cheaper option, catch a series of local buses ($11 Q) to Chichicastenango (known as Chichi by the locals), a pretty highland town home to mostly Maya people of the K’iche culture. 

The town’s main attraction is its local market , with Chichicastenango taking the riotous colour and chaos of the traditional Latin American market to the next level.

Every Thursday and Sunday the town comes alive, with stalls offering everything from high-quality huipiles and other beautiful traditional textiles to pottery, ceremonial wooden masks and every fruit and vegetable you could ever find in Guatemala.

While you’re in town, be sure to pop into the church, Santo Tomás , which has been the site of a curious mix of Catholic and Maya religious beliefs for the past few centuries.

Inside (enter through the side door and don’t take photos – it’s strictly forbidden) you’ll find local people praying for their ancestors and making offerings of maize, flowers and bottles of alcohol.

Return to Antigua in the evening and stay overnight.

Days eight to ten: Petén – Tikal and Yaxha

Follow the previous itinerary but on day ten organise a tour to visit the Maya site of Yaxhá ($30 USD entrance), which lies just 30 kilometres away from Tikal.

Although it is smaller in size than its better-known brother, Yaxhá is home to around 500 structures including nine mighty temples that tower over the jungle landscapes of this remote part of Guatemala.

Visited by far fewer tourists than Tikal, Yaxhá is a place to get under the skin of the Maya, in a site that has still barely been excavated from the jungle. It’s thought that the first structures here were built around the same period as Tikal and it similarly found itself abandoned sometime around the 9 th century AD.

Spend a couple of hours exploring the site and be sure to climb up Structure 216, a restored pyramid that has outstanding views of the surrounding landscapes and Laguna Yaxhá that lies nearby. Sunset is particularly spectacular.

While it’s possible to get here under your own steam, it’s far easier to take a tour from Flores. These start from $175 USD per person and local operators Mayan Adventure and Gem Trips run excellent English-language tours.

Where to stay in Flores: A short drive from the airport and with a dazzling location on Laguna Exequil, just a few kilometres east of Flores, Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel ($300 USD double) is a true paradise, with bungalows built on stilts overlooking the lake. Try out their kayaks for a gentle paddle on the water, join their guides for an early-morning monkey tour, enjoy a sundowner on your balcony or take a dip in their freshwater pool – there’s plenty of love here. They can arrange tours of Tikal, as well as airport transfers.

Where to stay in Flores on a budget: Rooms are dated at Zapote Tree Inn ($40 USD), but that doesn’t matter when you’ve got a view of Lago de Peten Itzá and Flores quite like this. A swimming pool and terrace have the vest views in the house, while proximity to hiking trails and access to a nearby beach give this guesthouse an excellent location. It’s situated a short boat ride from Flores, but the owners can help you organise tours of Tikal, transport and practically anything you need.

Alternatively, you can stay in Parque Nacional Tikal, a short walk from the entrance to Tikal.

Where to stay near Tikal: Right inside the national park, Jungle Lodge ($100 USD double) is a remarkably up-scale hotel right in the middle of the jungle. Individual cabins are hidden away into the undergrowth, with beds made up with crisp white sheets slung with mosquito nets. A series of patios and a swimming pool allow you to while away the afternoon absorbing the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle, while a bar and restaurant provide decent dining options. They organise direct shuttles to the airport to connect with flights and lead sunrise and day tours of Tikal.

Where to stay near Tikal on a budget: The more affordable Jaguar Inn ($70 USD double, $30 USD two-person tent) is also situated right in the heart of Parque Nacional Tikal. Private bungalows are clean and comfortable and surrounded by the jungle, while you can also book a campsite or a campsite and tent if you’re on more of a budget – although the humidity can make camping a fairly uncomfortable experience.

Days eleven to thirteen: Río Dulce and Livingston

From Flores, hop on a bus bound for Río Dulce Town (four hours), a non-descript community with access to the sparklingly beautiful Río Dulce gorge. A vast river that winds through a towering canyon, stunning tropical vegetation and a rich array of jungle wildlife await.  

Get picked up from Río Dulce by boat and head out to your jungle lodge tucked deep into the gorge. Spend at least one day relaxing in a hammock or paddling up the tributaries of the river with a kayak, keeping your eyes peeled for howler monkeys and toucans in the canopy above. 

During your time here, you can take a day trip out to Lago de Izabal , a vast lake that feeds into the Río Dulce and whose shores are lined by dense jungle. Notable places to visit include the remarkable Finca Paraíso , a hot spring waterfall where the scorching spray mixes with the icy water of a secondary river that feeds into the pool beneath the falls.

Make sure you carve out a day to truly appreciate the canyon, with a day trip out to Livingston . Accessed only by boat, this shabby town bridges the gap between Guatemala and the Caribbean, lying as it does on the Caribbean Sea.

There’s not much to do in Livingston – and the beaches aren’t much to write home about – but it’s the journey there that’s unforgettable.

The most spectacular part of the gorge known is located in the final few kilometres of the 30-kilometre stretch of river to Livingston, with the walls reaching up to 100-metres high at points and, if you’re lucky, the chance to spot manatees in the water.

When you get to Livingston, make sure to try the local delicacy, tapado (a spicy fish stew).

Where to stay in Río Dulce: Situated on the shores of the Río Dulce between Río Dulce Town and Livingston, El Hotelito Perdido ($30 USD double) is a rustic but charming eco lodge, with cosy thatched cabins, each with hammocks on their private terraces. It’s a great place for a bout of relaxation; hire a kayak, arrange a tour by boat or just enjoy a refreshing drip in the river. Delicious dinners are served for guests in the evening around a large family table, making this the ideal place to get chatting to other travellers.

Where to stay in Río Dulce on a budget: Reached by boat up a tributary of the Río Dulce, Finca Tatin ($25 USD double, $10 USD dorm) is a true jungle paradise, with basic cabins, many of which overlook the river, making up the lodgings here. Private doubles and dorms provide a range of accommodations for different budgets, while you can organise a hiking trip or hire a kayak to keep you busy during the day.

Day fourteen: Guatemala City

Take the bus back to Guatemala City (6 hours) and then head home.

Alternative destinations to add into your Guatemala travel itinerary

If you’ve got a little more time for your Guatemala vacation or fancy switching out some of the cultural destinations for more nature-focussed activities, these following places will be right up your street.

El Paredón (two to three days)

If you want to chill out in a hammock, learn about local environmental projects or do some surfing, the scruffy beach village of El Paredón is a great option for a couple of days, and is located a two-hour shuttle from Antigua .

Lying on Gutaemala’s Pacific Coast (where the water is far warmer than what you find further south), El Paredón is a relaxed little village known for its turtle population and surfing.   

The best place to see them is with a tour of the nearby mangroves and river – one of only seven sea turtle feeding grounds in the world.

The fantastic La Choza Chula , a social enterprise and tour operator who run a series of social and environmental projects in the community, run tours ($25 USD).  They can also arrange homestays ($13 USD) if you fancy staying with a local family.

On the beach, you’ll find a turtle hatchery where, if you’re in luck and visiting between June and November, you might get to see baby turtles being released across the beach to the sea.

Where to stay in El Paredón: There aren’t many options in El Paredón, but for surfers, there’s no better choice than Surf House El Paredón ($85 USD double, $30 USD dorm), which supports the work of local social enterpriseLa Choza Chula. All of the bungalows have spectacular beach views, with more rustic dormitory-style bungalows and smarter double cabins with terraces and comfy seating offering a range of options depending on your budget. Breakfast and dinner are included in room rates and they have surf boards to rent and operate surf classes.

Semuc Champey (one to two days)

If you’re got a couple of extra days or instead of visiting Río Dulce, you can head out to Guatemala’s most photographed natural landform: Semuc Champey .

A series of six turquoise pools are stepped into the river bed on a natural limestone bridge over the Río Cahabón. It’s the ultimate place to spend a day wallowing in the refreshing water and admiring the picture-perfect location, which is set within an idyllic valley thick with jungle.

Semuc Champey is difficult to include on a short itinerary because of the difficulty in getting to the destination.

You can either get here by an eight-hour shuttle from Flores or Antigua to the town of Lanquin, from where it’s easiest to take a tour (around $30 USD) or catch a local pick-up truck (just be aware that you’ll need to leave early to catch the final one back).

Where to stay near Semuc Champey: Down river from Semuc Champey, Utopia Eco Hotel ($35 USD double, $11 USD dorm) doesn’t quite live up to its name, but it tries its best, with its clutch of basic rooms boasting large open terraces with views across the jungle and the river beyond. Yoga classes, plenty of communal space and a great on-site restaurant serving up tasty local dishes almost makes up for the cold showers.

How to amend this Guatemala itinerary

Want to learn Spanish while getting to explore some of Guatemala’s most exciting destinations? Combing travel with language learning with this two- or four-week immersive Spanish language course , that takes you from Antigua to Lake Atitlan and then up to Shemuc Champey and Flores, giving you the chance to explore some of Guatemala’s most beautiful locations, go hiking through the jungle at the Mayan city of Tikal, and even take part in volunteering along the way. This course includes accommodation, various activities, and transportation, plus small-group Spanish language classes across the two- or four-week program – just remember to use the code WorldlyAdventurer to secure a 5% discount.

Saturday 1st of October 2022

Hey, thanks so much for this very detailed and authentic article, is there any way i can contact you for more question as i'm heading there with a friend around christmas time.

Steph Dyson

Wednesday 12th of October 2022

Hi Alexandre. Yes: [email protected]

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10 Days in Guatemala: The Ultimate First-Timer’s Guatemala Itinerary

last Updated: December 5, 2023 antigua flores guatemala lake atitlan

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Planning 10 days in Guatemala and looking for the best Guatemala itinerary out there?! Read on for everything you need to know – how to get around, where to stay, my favorite volcano views, and of course a crazy comprehensive 10 day Guatemala itinerary!

Imagine wandering around tiny colonial towns full of colorful homes and quaint, cobblestone streets. Sipping cocktails on a rooftop terrace while watching the sunset over a horizon full of volcanoes. Learning how to make traditional textiles and then finding the perfect pieces at a local market.

Listening to howler monkeys in the jungle at sunrise after climbing up a Mayan temple. Swimming in the clearest blue waters you’ve ever seen (true story). Zipping from colorful village to colorful village by lancha boat. 

That’s Guatemala in a nutshell. And it’s absolutely glorious.

If gorgeous natural lakes, delicious coffee, bustling outdoor markets, towering and impressive Mayan ruins, and hiking active volcanoes are your thing, I can guarantee that you’ll love Guatemala just as much as I did. Oh – you can’t forget about that Guatemalan cacao tea, all the fresh fruit juices you could want, and that sweet, sweet Guatemalan chocolate. Delish! Such a rich cultural heritage we couldn’t get enough.

I recently came home from 10 days in Guatemala and am urging everyone I know to get there sooner than later. Everyone heads to Panama and Costa Rica; Guatemala is unfortunately kinda forgotten about. But I have a feeling this Central American country is about to get a whole lot more popular!

Here’s everything you need to know to plan the absolute best Guatemala itinerary, promise!

10 Days in Guatemala Itinerary Logistics

Main regions visited on this guatemala itinerary.

• Lake Atitlan (plus Chichicastenago)
• Antigua (plus Pacaya Volcano)
• Flores (with a side trip to Tikal, obviously)
• Guatemala City (for a delicious dinner)

This Guatemala itinerary starts in Guatemala City (since it’s where most international flights arrive), heads over to Lake Atitlan for a few days, then makes its way back to charming Antigua.

With 10 days in Guatemala, you can also visit Flores and Tikal – the most impressive of the Mayan Ruins in all of Latin America.

If you’ve got your heart set on visiting Semuc Champey, you’ll need to add on an extra few days as getting there takes quite some time. I decided not to tackle the hella long bus ride on this trip – just gives me an excuse to visit Guatemala again in the future!

So let’s get to it – the most perfect 10 day Guatemala itinerary coming right up! But first, some important logistics!

Where is Guatemala and How to Get There 

Guatemala is located in Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north and west, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean Sea to the east, Honduras to the east and southeast, and El Salvador to the south. 

Flying Internationally

You of course gotta get yourself to Guatemala! Flying is the most common and convenient way to get to the country, with two main international airports:

• La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City
• Mundo Maya International Airport in Flores

Many major airlines offer direct flights to Guatemala from the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and Europe. 

For the sake of this 10 day Guatemala itinerary, you’ll wanna fly into La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (the airport in Flores is about 10 hours away, haha). However, if you wanna do the itinerary in reverse, feel free to fly into Flores, although I suspect it’ll be way more expensive (if you’re not already in Central America).

Coming from San Francisco , my flight connected in Mexico City first, then we continued on to Guatemala. For reference, I chose to fly basic economy (the cheapest ticket you can possibly buy), and paid around $350 on AeroMexico round trip from the West Coast USA during Guatemala’s prime busy season of January/February. 

I thought flights were super economical, although I saw flights rise in price a week or so later. My advice – see a flight price you like? Buy it ASAP, like that very minute (then decide within 24 hours if you want to keep it). 

Coming from Elsewhere in Central America or Mexico

If you’re traveling from a neighboring country, you can also drive or take a bus to Guatemala. Guatemala shares borders with Mexico (you can easily take the ADO bus), Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador, so there’s plenty of border crossings available.

On my last trip to Guatemala, I actually took a shuttle bus from Belize City to Flores (a very common route)!

Visas : No visa is required for U.S. citizens traveling to Guatemala as long as a valid tourist passport and proof of onward travel is in possession, and you’re traveling to the country for 90 days or less.

How to Get Around During Your 10 Days in Guatemala

For our Guatemala itinerary, we used quite a few methods of transportation! Shuttles, taxis, Ubers, back of rickety pickup trucks (yup!), tuk-tuks, lanchas (boats), and our own two feet. You may even need to fly between some destinations that are terribly far by road.

Despite its small size, Guatemala’s infrastructure and transportation system are not up to par. Because of this, it’ll likely take longer than expected to get from one area to another, even if they look close on a map.

I’ll explain in detail how to get from place to place in the Guatemala Itinerary below, but here’s some info on each: 

• Tourist shuttles: Shared shuttles run all throughout the country, and are readily available to all major tourist destinations, including Guatemala City, Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Flores. Find schedules and pricing info on GuateGo .
• Lanchas (water taxis): You’ll be using lanchas to get around both Lake Atitlan and Lake Peten in Flores.
• Uber : Uber operates in both Antigua and Guatemala City.
• Private transfer: This is how we primarily traveled around Guatemala – perfect if you’re traveling with a few others as the cost is obviously higher than booking yourself on a shared shuttle.
• Tuk-tuks: These are small, 3-wheeled vehicles used in the small towns/villages of Guatemala. You’ll see them around Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Flores.
• Chicken buses: These are a popular and affordable mode of transportation in Guatemala, used mainly by locals. They’re essentially retired American school buses that’ve been brightly painted and decorated with various designs and slogans. They’re called “chicken buses” because they’re often used to transport not only people, but also livestock, including chickens! However, chicken buses are usually pretty crowded, so they’re not the most comfortable. Plus, safety can be a concern. If you can afford another way of getting from Point A to Point B, skip the chicken buses.
• Domestic flights: If you wanna squeeze Tikal and Flores into your 10 day Guatemala itinerary, it’s highly recommended to take a short 45-minute flight from Guatemala City.

When to Plan Your Guatemala Itinerary (Weather and Crowds)

Before planning your Guatemala itinerary, it’s important to understand the country’s weather patterns. Like other spots in Latin America, Guatemala experiences two distinct seasons, the dry season (November to April) and the rainy season (May to October).

If you’re looking for comfortable temperatures and little to no rain, I highly suggest you visit during the dry season, which is actually Guatemala’s winter. Don’t be put off by “winter”, as the temperatures are still quite pleasant almost every day! 

Also, it’s worth noting that temps can vary depending on the region, so it’s important to pack smartly. The highlands (including Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and Guatemala City) can be quite cool, especially at night, while the lowlands (including Flores and Tikal) can be hot and humid year-round.

Dry season (November to April): Dry season is high season for a reason – the weather is generally sunny and dry, making it easier to travel and explore the country’s outdoor attractions, like hiking volcanoes and sightseeing around the colonial cities.

This is the busiest time of year in Guatemala (although it never feels crazy crowded), and there’s definitely higher prices for accommodations and tours (but nothing is crazy expensive in Guatemala so don’t worry).

The town is especially crowded over Christmas and Semana Santa (Holy Week), so you’ll definitely want to book accommodations and tours in advance. A few friends I met in Flores were headed to Antigua during Semana Santa and they had suuuuch a hard time finding rooms at the last minute. Book ahead of time (at least a month or so out) and you should be ok. 

For reference, I visited in February/March, and had almost perfect weather.

I was able to see the volcanoes in both Antigua and Lake Atitlan each and every day (they’re sometimes covered by low-hanging clouds/overcast skies), and temps were really comfy (never too hot nor too cold). Jacaranda trees (with those gorgeous purple flowers) were in full bloom in Antigua, and I couldn’t get enough. Absolutely perfect!

Rainy Season (May to October): It ain’t called rainy season for nothing! During these months (particularly June through August), frequent afternoon rain showers and occasional thunderstorms are common, with high levels of humidity. Thankfully these don’t last all day, and are typically followed by some sunshine!

While the rain can make some areas more difficult to access (think mudslides and flooding), it also means that the landscape is greener and the waterfalls and rivers are at their fullest. 

But honestly? If this is your first time to the country, I’d plan your Guatemala itinerary in the dry season to stay on the safe side. Can’t beat near perfect weather!

Are 10 Days in Guatemala Enough?

Yes…. but no?! The country isn’t very large (it’s about the same size as Tennessee, and slightly smaller than Ohio), so you can really see a whole lot within just 10 days in Guatemala.

It’s double the size of Costa Rica, and almost quadruple the size of Belize. So you’ll definitely want to allocate at least 10 days in Guatemala to see the main highlights. 4 or 5 days won’t cut it, unless you’re only visiting one (or max 2) region/s.

This Guatemala itinerary includes big city life in Guatemala City, sunsets over the lake in Flores , walks in the colorful colonial town of Antigua , village exploring in Lake Atitlan , and impressive Mayan ruins in Tikal. You can also visit Hobbitenango and Chichicastenango as day trips.

But with that being said, there’s SO much to see in Guatemala, you’ll 1000% wanna come back. I already have a list of spots I missed on this trip that I wanna see next time, including both Semuc Champey and the challenging Acatenango hike.

Guatemala Itinerary FAQS

Currency and Exchange Rates in Guatemala 

The local currency in Guatemala is the Guatemalan quetzal (GTQ). At the time of writing (April 2023), the quetzal is equivalent to 12 cents USD (or 1 USD = ~ 7.7Q). At first I found it kinda difficult to convert, but semi-figured it out within a few days. I thought of prices in 100Q’s and used that as my base, so for example: 

• 50Q ~ $6 USD
• 100Q ~ $12 USD
• 200Q ~ $25 USD

It takes a bit of practice but after a day or two you’ll be able to do the conversion quickly in your head. And if not, there’s always currency conversion apps (no shame).

I was surprised that a lot of market vendors and transport services accepted US dollars.

However, I strongly urge you to always pay in Guatemalan Quetzales – you’ll get the best price, no matter what. Most times, the price will be highly inflated if you pay in US dollars, and you’ll wildly overpay for the same exact service/good. If you get quoted in USD, always ask for the price in Q.

Cards vs. Cash in Guatemala: For this 10 day Guatemala itinerary, you’ll wanna have a mixture of both credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) and cash on hand.

You’ll need cash for street food, for shopping in the handicraft markets, to pay for taxis/shuttles/lanchas, for tips, and in remote villages. Look for the yellow 5B ATM machines – they’re common around Guatemala and typically accept foreign debit cards (while some others do not).

Plus, not all businesses accept cards, especially in more remote areas, so it’s a good idea to carry around some cash as a backup. Also, those that do accept cards sometimes impose a fee to use them (upwards of 5-8%), making the overall bill higher. I used cash whenever I could, and honestly spent way less than I initially thought. 

How to Get the Best Exchange Rate: I always take out cash at an ATM upon arrival in the new country I’m visiting, and never ever through an exchange desk or beforehand in my home country. ATMs provide the best exchange rate, always. 

If you want to avoid those pesky ATM fees every time you take out cash, simply look into a no-fee debit card, such as through Charles Schwab (which I have and love).

Language in Guatemala

Spanish is the official language of Guatemala, and I always recommend knowing some basic Spanish phrases when visiting the country. Make an effort; the locals will totally appreciate it! I tried brushing up on my Spanish before I left, and found it super handy.

Many individuals in tourism (at hotels, restaurants, shops, etc) speak some degree of English, and many younger locals speak some level of English as well.

However, don’t expect everyone to speak English, as some taxi/Uber drivers, local residents, and market/street food vendors only spoke Spanish (or Mayan). Even most staff at the main bank in Antigua didn’t speak a word of English.

A few helpful phrases to start you off:

• Hola = Hello
• Adios = Goodbye
• Buenos dias = Good morning
• Buenas tardes = Good afternoon 
• Buenas noches = Good night
• Cuanto cuesta? = How much does it cost?
• Cómo te llamas? = What is your name?
• Me llamo… = My name is…
• Soy de… = I am from…
• Cerveza = Beer
• Margarita = Margarita
• La cuenta, por favor? = The check, please?
• Muchas gracias = Thank you so much
• Para llevar = take away

In addition, there’s also 22 (!!!) different Mayan languages plus two other Indigenous languages (Garífuna and Xinca) spoken in various parts of Guatemala. Since many indigenous Maya people live in the country, you’ll hear some of these Mayan languages as well (although Spanish is the primary language spoken in the country). 

For reference, we heard the most Mayan at Lake Atitlan. A few times that I attempted to use my broken Spanish, I later realized the person possibly spoke Mayan, whoops! 

Safety in Guatemala

I know what you’re thinking – is it even safe to travel to Guatemala?! What’s the point of this whole Guatemala itinerary anyways?! 

That was the #1 concern of my friends and family when I told them I’d be traveling there. Understandably, since Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in Latin America, with high levels of poverty, violence, and social unrest.

Unfortunately, petty crimes such as pickpocketing and muggings do happen quite frequently, including to tourists.

I’m not gonna lie – it’s not the safest country in the world, but I didn’t feel threatened or concerned about my safety once while there. As always, use normal precautions like elsewhere in the world. A few tips to help ensure your safety, which make sense no matter where you’re traveling:

• Let friends/family back home know where you’re traveling
• If you’re taking a taxi/Uber alone, send the taxi # and/or license plate to a friend/family member.
• Be extra cautious when visiting local bars and nightclubs. Know your alcohol limit.
• Don’t make yourself an easy target. Keep expensive jewelry/watches at home, and keep those electronics hidden. Ladies – wear your bags cross-body, and men – keep your wallets in your front pockets.
• Be extra careful and observant at banks and ATMs.
• Don’t buy or do drugs, ever – plain and simple.

Also, before traveling anywhere, I always check safety warnings and scams on travel.state.gov . This is not to scare you or deter you from going on your trip, but knowledge is power my friends.

If you do find yourself in danger, get in contact with Guatemala’s National Tourist Assistance Program ( PROATUR ). They provide 24-hour emergency assistance and routine guidance to tourists.

PROATUR also provides additional security in locations frequented by tourists. The call center is staffed with Spanish and English speakers and can be reached 24/7 by calling 1500 or +502-2290-2800.

Is Guatemala safe for a solo female traveler? After my few times in the country, I’d say yes, but for experienced solo travelers only. I wouldn’t make Guatemala the first place you ever travel solo. 

For reference, I traveled with a group of friends for part of my Guatemala itinerary ( Lake Atitlan and Antigua ), and then solo for the remaining bit ( to Flores and Tikal ). During my time solo in Guatemala, I met over a half dozen females traveling by themselves.

If you stay on the main backpacker trail (Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Flores, and Semuc Champey), you’ll undoubtedly run into tons of other solo travelers. Would I go back to Guatemala solo? Totally.

Health and Food in Guatemala

First of all, know that you absolutely cannot drink the water here in Guatemala – you’ll need to stick to bottled/purified water, which most restaurants and hotels have. Also, make sure all ice is purified (which it typically is in tourist areas, but it never hurts to double check if you’re not positive). 

In terms of food, know that normal stomach problems are unfortunately pretty common here. I have a bunch of friends who traveled to Guatemala before me and they all had stomach issues… I didn’t want that happening so I was very particular about what I ate.

My friends and I were extra, extra careful – probably overkill, but we didn’t get sick once. We stuck to restaurants with high reviews, didn’t eat many uncooked veggies, and ate relatively healthy in general.

When it comes to street food, you always wanna look for vendors that are busy and have a high turnover of food. Always avoid food if it’s been sitting out in the sun for a while.

And now, what you’ve been waiting for, a complete 10 days in Guatemala itinerary!

The Perfect 10 Days in Guatemala Itinerary

A few notes about this Guatemala itinerary: 

• This Guatemala itinerary assumes you have a full 10 days in Guatemala. Meaning if your flight arrives mid-day or late at night, you’ll want an extra day in order to see and do all the things on this itinerary.
• It’s very GO GO GO and busy. I tend to travel quite fast. If you’d prefer a more relaxed type of trip, I recommend leaving off an entire region entirely (skip Tikal and Flores). While the country isn’t huge, it does take time to get from place to place, which can sometimes mean waking up early to get to the next destination with enough time to explore a bit afterwards.
• Most people visiting Guatemala start in Antigua and make their way to Lake Atitlan afterwards. While you can technically go from Guatemala City → Antigua → Lake Atitlan, I chose to head to Lake Atitlan before Antigua. Why? To get the long drive out of the way first. I think it just makes more sense this way, especially when you’re battling jet lag and/or are tired from a long travel day.
• These 10 days in Guatemala don’t account for any long hikes, including the popular Acatenango Volcano Hike. If you’ve got this on your bucket list and wanna see everything else on this itinerary, consider spending an additional day or two in Antigua (where the hike begins).

10 Day Guatemala Itinerary At-A-Glance

This classic 10 day Guatemala itinerary packs in the key highlights of the country, including Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Antigua, Flores, and Tikal. 

• Day 1: Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan
• Day 2: Lake Atitlan
• Day 3: Lake Atitlan
• Day 4: Antigua

Day 5: Antigua

• Day 6: Antigua 
• Day 7: Transfer to Guatemala City; fly to Flores
• Day 8: Tikal
• Day 9: Flores
• Day 10: fly to Guatemala City; depart home

Part 1: Lake Atitlan!

Ah, Lake Atitlan! One of the most beautiful and enchanting places in Guatemala. Picture this: you’re standing on the shore of Lake Atitlan, the sun is shining, and the water is crystal-clear. There’s volcanoes and colorful villages and it’s such a good time. It’s a breathtaking sight and one of my favorite places in all of Guatemala!

Lake Atitlan is located in the highlands of Guatemala, about 1500 meters above sea level. It’s a large volcanic lake, formed thousands of years ago, and it’s considered one of the deepest lakes in Central America.

It’s full of natural beauty, surrounded by lush green hills and VOLCANOES – makes sense that it’s considered one of the most scenic destinations in the entire country. I visited for 3 days and wished I had at least a week!

And while the lake itself is impressive, it’s the traditional Mayan villages surrounding the lake that really got my attention. Each has its own unique charm and character, distinct cultures and traditions, and personality and vibe. You’ll wanna visit quite a few!

Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan

When deciding where to stay in Lake Atitlan, there’s lots of things to consider! All the towns have their own unique feel, and where you stay makes a huge difference. 

Do you wanna be closer to all the action in Panajachel, have a more remote/romantic stay in a small hotel right on the lakefront, or spend your few nights in a buzzy, eclectic town with lots of backpackers?

Do you want your choice of restaurants for dinner and be able to easily take cheap, public lanchas or want some privacy and romance with your partner? All questions you gotta ask yourself.

We stayed at La Fortuna at Atitlan , a gorgeous eco-hotel right on the lake with only 5 suites/bungalows. We loved the private dock, eco-luxury bungalows, fantastic dinners, sauna inside an old-school VW bus (yup, really), and impressive pool overlooking the lake. It’s great for photography and chilling out in the sun for a few mornings.  

While we loved our stay overall, there were definitely a few cons. Since La Fortuna’s pretty remote, there were no restaurants/food options nearby; thankfully we loved all the meals at the hotel. Also, it was difficult to get public lanchas to pick us up, so we relied on using private boats which were more expensive. Nothing too horrible for a short stay!

Hotel Options in Panajachel: Pana has all the facilities any traveler could want or need and tons of restaurant options, but it’s much more chaotic than the other villages surrounding the lake. You likely won’t need to take a lancha to your hotel as shuttles and private transfers go directly to Pana. 

There’s loads of hotel options here, with Selina Atitlan being one of the best hostels (my friend stayed there so of course I had to peek in), and Hotel y Centro de Convenciones Jardines del Lago , Hotel San Buenaventura de Atitlán , and Porta Hotel del Lago being some great affordable luxury spots!

Hotel Options in/near Santa Cruz: This village is way more peaceful, and doesn’t really see many tourists since there’s honestly not tons to do here. Get a hotel right on the lakefront and you’ll get great views of all three volcanoes! Note that you’ll need to plan in advance for food/make restaurant reservations here since it’s pretty remote. 

• La Casa del Mundo : Technically in Jaibalito, this resort is perched on a secluded cliff, has gorgeous gardens, and even has a hot tub hanging over the lake. I heard SUCH good things about it and kinda wanna stay here on my next trip to Lake Atitlan.
• Casa Prana Hotel : A STUNNING luxury hotel located next to the town of Santa Cruz, but crazy expensive by Guatemala standards (~$300/night). Probably one of the bougiest spots on the lake – I’m sure my husband would love it, haha. And who wouldn’t? There’s panoramic views of the magnificent Lake Atitlan and its surrounding volcanoes, a saltwater pool with plenty of sun beds, wellness facilities, and even a helipad! 

I also heard good things about Atitlan Sunset Lodge and La Iguana Perdida !

Hotel Options in San Pedro La Laguna

San Pedro is Lake Atitlan’s backpacker hub, with many amenities like Pana has, but it’s a tad more relaxed and not as chaotic (although still very busy). It’s also on the other side of the lake, with lots of nightlife and cheap places to stay. There’s always something going on here.

• Sababa Resort : Ready for a high-end resort with trendy, boho-chic decor? Stay here! We wandered through, had one look at the pool, and never wanted to leave. There’s dorm beds as well as private rooms, all with access to the hotel’s stunning outdoor pool and hammocks. Book early as it’s easily the most popular hotel in San Pedro. I can totally see myself staying here next time I visit Lake Atitlan.

Other great options include Hotel Mikaso , Amigos (great for solo travelers), and El Delfin Hotel .

How to Get Around Lake Atitlan

Lanchas : Since there’s no road that connects all the villages, you’ll be relying on lanchas. These are public water taxis in Lake Atitlan, and you’ll use them to get between the different villages on the lake.

They’re cheap, only a few quetzales (15-30Q), and while they don’t really have a set schedule, they generally run between 8am and 6pm.

Do note the lake is quite large, and it takes about 45 minutes to get from one end to the other (Pana to San Pedro). Lanchas are not always the most comfortable and can be quite choppy and bumpy (especially later in the day), but they’re cheap and efficient.

Tuk-tuk: We took a tuk-tuk between Panajachel and Santa Catarina, and it was only a few quetzales. You can also take tuk-tuks around the larger villages themselves.

Walk : Many of the villages are quite small, so you can easily walk around to all the attractions once you get there.

A few things to know about Lake Atitlan

• Don’t hike between villages without a local – the pathways between them are not always the safest (although there are a few exceptions). Armed robberies have occurred.
• Cash is king here; I don’t think I used a credit card once in Lake Atitlan! You’ll wanna stock up on cash in either Panajachel or San Pedro before visiting other towns though, since not all towns have ATMs! 
• Lake Atitlan is home to a primarily Indigenous community. You’ll hear a few Mayan languages spoken all throughout the villages – so don’t assume everyone speaks Spanish. Also, Mayan men never catcall or hit on non-Mayan women.

Day 1: Arrive in Guatemala City and Transfer to Lake Atitlan

Depending on when you arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, kinda determines when you’ll transfer to Lake Atitlan. If you land at night, you’ll wanna wait until the next morning (roads are safest during daylight hours).

Our flight landed at around 11am, and after all was said and done, we didn’t get to our hotel in Lake Atitlan until a bit before sunset. 

Unfortunately, traffic is kinda a gamble. It took us FIVE hours (yes, 5) to get from the airport in Guatemala City to Lake Atitlan, although it’s only supposed to take about 3 hours with private transport. We sat in over 2 hours of traffic (it literally didn’t move for almost the full 2 hours), and we were ready to pull our hair out. 

Thankfully, once we made it there, Lake Atitlan was well worth the drive, but I say this so you’re well prepared. Bring snacks, ask your driver for bathroom breaks if you need it, and stay patient. It’s best not to plan too much on this first day of your Guatemala itinerary just in case you find yourself in our shoes sitting in crazy amounts of traffic.

You’ll most likely arrive in Panajachel (the main village in Lake Atitlan and where most of the shuttles/private transport end), and then need to take a lancha (local boat) over to where your hotel is. You’ll find these at the public dock waiting for tourists for only a few Q (15-35Q depending where you’re going).

If you’ve traveled to Lake Atitlan the day before, you’ve got the entire day to explore (look at days 2 and 3 for ideas)! And if you made it here this afternoon, well, maybe you’ve still got some time to hang out.

Settle in to your hotel, wander around your village/resort, and have dinner while watching the sunset over Lake Atitlan. You’ve certainly earned it!

Days 2 and 3: Explore Lake Atitlan

You’ve made it to the lake (one of my favorite in the world) – now time to explore!

Explore the Villages!

Besides relaxing and taking in views of the volcanoes, the main draw of Lake Atitlan is exploring all the villages surrounding the lake . And there’s quite a few – we LOVED exploring a whole bunch, and since they’re all so unique, our exploring never got old! We somehow managed to visit 6 different villages in only a few short days.

You can easily visit 1-2 villages a day, possibly 3 if you really wanna squeeze them in. With two full days exploring the villages, I recommend the following: visit Panajachel, Santa Catarina Palopo, and San Marcos in one day, and San Pedro, San Juan, and Santiago Atitlan the next.

You can easily get between Pana and Santa Catarina Palopo by tuk-tuk, and San Pedro and San Juan are super close to each other.

Here’s a brief overview of each:

Panajachel : Panajachel (commonly known as Pana) is the largest town on the lake and is a great starting point for exploring the area. It’s known as the gateway to Lake Atitlan, and you’ll probably get dropped off here upon arrival in Lake Atitlan. Pana is also where you’ll find most of the ATMs and banks in the area.

Here you’ll find a thriving tourist town, filled with plenty of restaurants and cafes, plus shops selling souvenirs, handmade crafts, and textiles. We loved wandering the stalls – so much beautiful, colorful stuff! I should have totally brought an extra suitcase because I wanted to buy IT ALL. 

Definitely go shopping on Calle Santander (the main street in Pana), take a walk on the lakefront boardwalk, have a coffee at Crossroads Cafe (the best coffee in Pana), and take pictures with views of the lake. If you’re up for some adventure, you can even go paragliding! 

Have more time? Take a short tuk-tuk ride to Reserva Natural Atitlán and Mirador del Lago Atitlán – two spots I missed that are high on my list for next time!

Santa Catarina Palopo: This village is a great place to escape the crowds and experience a more traditional way of life in the Mayan highlands. It’s smaller than the other villages and there’s honestly not tons to do here, so it’s perfect for a quick wander through town.

We loved walking around Santa Catarina Palopo with no plan, and photographing all the blue buildings with their traditional Mayan motifs. 

Don’t miss the Pintado el Cambio, Central Culturo, and nearby Mirador Santa Catarina (a 15 minute hike for great views of the blue town). I recommend heading here before/after Pana, as it’s easily accessible by tuk-tuk for a few Q’s.

I loved this tiny village so much that I wrote an entire post on it! Come check out everything you need to know about Santa Catarina Palopo .

San Pedro La Laguna: San Pedro is a popular backpacker destination with a lively nightlife scene – there’s always something going on here! It’s one of the buzziest towns around the lake, and I kinda wish I stayed here! The main street is lined with restaurants and bars, and there’s plenty of affordable accommodation options.

The town is known for its many Spanish language schools, Los Termales (heated thermal pools overlooking the lake you can soak in), and La Sababa resort (looks super fun and where I’d stay in San Pedro). 

You can also hike Indian’s Nose at sunrise (for spectacular views of the lake), relax at Parque Puerta Hermosa (don’t miss the charming white church over here), and even swim at a black sand beach (easy to get there by tuk-tuk). 

San Juan La Laguna: Ohh… San Juan. One of the most colorful villages on Lake Atitlan; and one I was most excited to visit. Everywhere you look you’ll see vibrant murals, funky art pieces, and tons of Mayan culture. 

The village is full of weaving associations, hidden cafes, and tons of color (after a walk down La Calle de los Sombreros I was in heaven!). I loved watching the tuk-tuks drive down the instagram-worthy umbrella street – what a scene that was! 

It’s known for its traditional textiles, art galleries, and organic coffee farms (which you can tour). Don’t miss a weaving demonstration (at either Casa Flor Ixcaco or the Lema Association), a visit to Liccor Marron Chocolate Factory for a chocolate demonstration, and an information session on Mayan bees and honey (at Abejas Nativas). 

I learned so much in San Juan, and wish I had longer to explore. You can easily visit San Juan from San Pedro, as they’re a short distance away from each other.

Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz is a quiet village located on the northern shore of the lake. While there’s honestly not a ton to do here, it’s perfect for a lazy afternoon of lake viewing, SUPing/kayaking, and taking in the stunning scenery. 

It’s true – Santa Cruz may just have the best views of all the villages in Lake Atitlan. The village is built on a hill, and there’s only a few small shops and restaurants.

Santiago Atitlan: Santiago Atitlan is a traditional Mayan town located on the southwestern shore of the lake. It’s actually the largest of all the towns, and has a much more local feel (it’s not visited by many international tourists – we only saw one other group of tourists besides us).

I appreciated getting a glimpse into the more traditional way of life of the Mayas, and felt it was authentically different from the other villages around the lake (there’s nothing purposefully attracting visitors here).

We visited a bustling local market (full of possibly everything and anything you can think of), and were able to see both women and MEN in their traditional outfits (not super common anymore). You can also visit the main church, Saint James the Apostle, visit the deity Maximón inside a local family’s home, and do a lot of people-watching.

San Marcos: San Marcos isn’t everyone’s cup of tea – and I can see why. It’s got an active meditation and New Age community, and it’s kinda over the top all-things-hippie. You’ll see tons of flyers advertising unity circles, tarot card and chakra readings, reiki massages, and lots, lots more.

Makes sense since San Marcos is known for its spiritual and healing centers, yoga centers (Eagle’s Nest is a popular spot), and there’s plenty of vegetarian and vegan restaurants to choose from. I swear I had the best energy ball of my life at Samsara’s Garden (honestly, I thought that thing had magical powers…).  

You can also swim at Cerro Tzankujil Preserve, a natural reserve with hiking trails and stunning views of the lake. Instead, we had sunset drinks at Kula Maya, a boutique hotel right on the lake since the mirador and preserve were unfortunately closed that day.

Read Next: 10 Epic Lake Atitlan Towns You Need to Visit

Optional day trip to Chichicastenango: If you’re interested, you can also take a day trip to the Chichicastenango Market, the largest and most colorful outdoor market in all of Latin America. If you’re looking for some culture and don’t mind a lot of chaos, this is the place to be! 

Chichi (as it’s commonly called), is a little over an hour away from Panajachel, meaning you can easily visit for a half day or so. 

Make sure to visit on famous market days – Thursday and Sunday mornings. Vendors sell everything under the sun (figuratively and literally), including (but not limited to) candles, handicrafts, food, spices, masks, pottery, medicinal plants, machetes, pigs, chickens, and baby kittens. Yes, you read that right. Nothing will surprise you after walking through the market a few times.

It honestly doesn’t get more authentic than this! Visiting Chichicastenango was one of the most epic days of my life — it’s just so, so, so hectic! 

Part 2: Antigua

Up next — the cute colonial city of Antigua !

Antigua is full of Spanish colonial architecture (gorgeous red-tiled roofs and intricately carved wooden doors), a vibrant cultural heritage, stunningly beautiful churches, quirky Hobbitenango , and tons of gastronomic delights.

There’s also a whole bunch of amazing coffee shops and cafes (many with volcano views!), the iconic yellow Santa Catalina arch, vibrant markets and street performers, and leafy green gardens and plazas.

There’s a reason it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site afterall!

There’s just something so electrifying and unique about Antigua – maybe it’s the romantic atmosphere, lush gardens, or colorful artisanal crafts (I couldn’t get enough). Or just the fact that there’s volcano views everywhere around town. You’ll love it, I promise!

Where to Stay in Antigua

Antigua’s got a wide range of accommodation options, from colonial-style luxury hotels to cute trendy boutiques to inexpensive yet design-forward hostels. If your aim is to check off a bunch of fun things to do in Antigua, stay in the center of town. Thankfully, there’s tons of choices!

We stayed in a private room at Ojala Hostel , which was honestly more like a boutique hotel, and loved our King size bed, steamy showers (with amazing water pressure I might add), and flower-filled gardens. 

The fact that we could see the fiery red lava from volcano eruptions at night from the common space right outside our room made it all that much more special. Ojala also has dorm beds, which is perfect if you’re rocking solo and on a budget.

Other affordable luxury hotels on my list were Good Hotel Antigua , Porta Hotel , El Convento Boutique Hotel , and Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo – but we booked too late and those were all already sold out! If you’re coming between February and April, I’d make sure to book a few months in advance. I was honestly really surprised just how fast accommodations sold out.

On a budget? I’d also look at Selina Antigua , Maya Papaya (Ojala’s sister hostel), Casi Casa , and Barbara’s Boutique Hostel . So many amazing options!

How to get around Antigua

Easy — On your own two feet! We were able to walk practically everywhere during our 3 days in Antigua, besides a few spots further afield. 

The town is compact and easy to navigate, with most of the major attractions located within walking distance of each other. I loved wandering around town, soaking up the atmosphere of Antigua’s colorful streets and colonial architecture. Bring comfy shoes – we walked a ton! 

You’ll also see some tuk-tuks and thankfully, Uber works in Antigua which we used to head to Hobbitenango and El Hato Verde one morning (although it’s not always the most reliable).

Day 4: Transfer to Antigua, then spend the rest of the day exploring 

It’s time to head to the little colonial city of Antigua! Many visitors head to Antigua from Lake Atitlan, which is actually what we did! It should take about 2 to 3 hours to get from Lake Atitlan to Antigua, depending on traffic (and sometimes there’s lots of it).

But if you get an early-morning transfer from Lake Atitlan to Antigua, you’ll have lots of time to explore! 

Note that Uber DOES NOT operate in Lake Atitlan (like it does in Antigua and Guatemala City), so don’t rely on that to get to Antigua.

How to get to Antigua from Lake Atitlan:

There’s private and public shuttles from Panajachel (the main tourist village in Lake Atitlan), and which you decide to use solely depends on how many people you’re traveling with. Since we were a group of 5, we opted for a private shuttle (since it was actually less expensive than each of us paying for a seat on a public shuttle). 

For reference, we paid about $100USD (total) to get from Pana in Lake Atitlan to our hotel in Antigua, Guatemala. Our hotel in Lake Atitlan was able to set up a private shuttle for us – ask your hotel; they’ve typically got reliable drivers they work with. A great option if you’re splitting the cost with a few friends like I was. 

You can also pre-book a private minivan from Lake Atitlan to Antigua ahead of time if you’re not comfortable waiting until you arrive in Guatemala like we did. You can also take a chicken bus but it’s not as comfortable and safe, and takes much longer.

On your first official day in Antigua, I recommend the following:

Hill of the Cross

Why not start off your few days in Antigua with one of the best panoramic views in all of the city? Head on over to Cerro de la Cruz (also known as Hill of the Cross in English). From up here, you’ll get a stunning panoramic view of Antigua, the surrounding mountains and volcanoes, and even the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral. 

The trailhead is located just a few blocks from the main park in Antigua, and you can either walk or take a taxi to reach the start of the trail. To reach the top of the hill, you’ll need to walk up a semi-steep trail (only ½ mile out-and-back), taking about 20-30 minutes roundtrip. Don’t worry – there’s plenty of lookout points along the way if you get tired! 

Wander around Historic Antigua

One of my fondest memories of Antigua was simply wandering around the old colonial streets, camera in hand. I swear, around every bend there was something to photograph in this charming city.

As I was wandering the cobblestone streets, I felt like I was transported back in time to the colonial era, with beautiful architecture, vibrant colors, and stunning colonial-style buildings around every corner.

Exploring the historic center can be easily done in an afternoon since it’s relatively small. To gain deeper insights into the city’s distinctive history and geography, I suggest signing up for a walking tour on your first day in Antigua.

Many of the buildings date back to the 16th and 17th centuries, and their ornate facades and intricate details are a testament to the city’s rich history and culture. You’ll see everything from brightly colored colonial-style homes and shops to grand churches and public buildings, all with their own unique stories to tell. 

A few special spots not to miss:

• Santa Catalina Arch (obviously!)
• Parque Central
• La Merced Church
• The Santa Clara Convent
• San Francisco Church
• Tanque la Union

Rooftop Terrace in Antigua for Sunset

End your first night in Antigua with drinks at sunset on a rooftop terrace. Trust me, there’s no better way to soak up the beauty of this charming colonial city than by grabbing a drink or a bite to eat while taking in the stunning views from above. There’s plenty around the city, many with volcano and city views. 

I recommend Antigua Brewing Company (a craft brewery with volcano views – get a flight to sample a few beers), Cafe Sky (easily the most popular rooftop in the city), and Rooftop Antigua (such a lovely space with views of the ruins and volcanoes).

Keep your eyes peeled – you may even see Fuego, one of those magnificent volcanoes, erupting right before your eyes.

Morning: Hobbitenango and/or El Hato Verde

Hobbitenango is a really cool and unique attraction located just outside of Antigua, Guatemala! If you’re a fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” or “The Lord of the Rings,” you’ll definitely want to add this spot to your 10 day Guatemala itinerary.

Hobbitenango is truly where fantasy meets reality. It’s perfect for Middle Earth fans, and seriously one of the quirkiest spots I’ve ever been to. So enchanting and off-the-grid; it totally feels like stepping into another world. Such a great little escape from the city. 

What is it exactly?! A hobbit-themed eco-park (!!!) that’s nestled in the lush green hills overlooking Antigua. The park features a few hobbit-style houses built into the hillsides that you can explore – we loved going inside; it had such a magical and whimsical atmosphere!

There’s also plenty of hikes (with lots of scenic views), fun and quirky photo spots (including the famous Hobbitenango hand – don’t miss a photo on it!), a giant tree swing, and some archery games.

​​I loved Hobbitenango so much I wrote an entire post on it – check that out over here (including how to take the shuttle to Hobbitenango, ATV tours that head there, the #1 mistake you don’t wanna make – that I made, haha, and way more).

On the flip side, El Hato Verde is a chic space up in the hills –  you get to hang out and relax in cool nets and tree houses overlooking the volcanoes! And it was super spectacular to say the least – I’ve never done anything like it in my life.

We had a perfect view of the lush, green countryside and it felt absolutely wild sitting/relaxing on the nets staring at the volcanoes in the distance. Wow! What an incredible view and place they have created. Such a special memory. 

Getting to El Hato Verde is a tad confusing. You first need to call an Uber or taxi which will take you up the mountain to their parking area (or drive yourself), and then you’ll be greeted by El Hato Verde staff who take you up in golf carts to the viewpoints and restaurant. We didn’t know this at first so we were kinda confused!

Afternoon: Markets, Ruins, and Cafes 

Once you’re back from your morning adventures, it’s time to explore the markets, check out some ruins, and relax at some cafes ! And thankfully, Antigua has plenty of each! 

They’re all scattered around the city, and there’s quite a few so you won’t have time to visit each and every one, but here’s a quick sampling of my favorites (find even more info in my huge guide to Antigua ).

• El Gran Cafe: A super aesthetically pleasing little shop, with baristas who are super passionate about their job. I picked up a bag of beans here!
• 12 Onzas: Another gorgeous spot, and they have a full brunch and lunch menu with super friendly staff. Really beautiful interior with turquoise tiles and a gorgeous back courtyard.
• Artista de Cafe: Great ambiance and great coffee! I unfortunately didn’t make it here, but it’s firmly planted on my list for next time!

Interested in Antigua’s cafe culture? I wrote an entire post on the best coffee shops and cafes in Antigua – check that out for lots of caffeine!

• Mercado de Artesanias (Artisan Market): This is a popular market filled with stalls selling a wide variety of products, from textiles to leather goods, and it’s a great spot to bargain with local artisans for the best prices. Don’t miss the beautiful fountain in the middle! 
• Mercado de Artesanias El Carmen (Carmen Market): El Carmen is a lesser-known artisan market in Antigua, but definitely worth checking out. We actually liked this one much better than the Mercado de Artesanias, as it seemed much cleaner and easier to navigate. 
• Mercado Central: This large open air market is jam-packed with all sorts of vendors selling EVERYTHING under the sun — fresh produce and meats, flowers, spices, electronics, clothes, and tons more! I won’t lie, it was a bit overwhelming to navigate since it’s so huge, but trust me, it’s worth it!

• Convento Santa Clara: This convent and church, founded in 1699 by nuns from Puebla in Mexico, is known for its amazingly beautiful ornate facade and the amazing courtyard with its fountain in the middle. 
• Catedral San Jose: If you make it to one ruin, make it this one. It was completed in the 1680s, and damaged by earthquakes in the 18th and 19th centuries. It’s now a popular tourist attraction known for its towering columns, picturesque giant pillars, intricate stonework, and collapsed ceiling. Psst – it’s also called “Antigua Guatemala Cathedral” and “Catedral de Santiago” – this confused me a whole lot!
• Casa Santo Domingo Hotel: This hotel is located in a former convent and monastery, which was founded in the 16th century and partially destroyed by earthquakes in the 18th century. Casa Santo Domingo features a museum of colonial-era artifacts, and we loved wandering around the property. 

Night: Dinner at Frida’s and Drinks at Ulew

Head over to Frida’s for dinner – we loved this trendy spot and everything we ordered was top notch! Plus, the bar area was oh so fun!

Afterwards, head to Ulew. A spot I don’t think I ever could forget. I absolutely loved this place – the vibe, the atmosphere, the wacky decor, the bartenders, and of course the drinks. It’s by far the best speakeasy in all of Antigua, and I could have come here every single night of my trip. 

Here’s the kicker – there’s no menu, so the bartenders make you whatever you’re in the mood for. The cocktails are some of the most creative and innovative I’ve ever seen, and the presentation was second to none. My drink was even served on a snow globe coaster!

Day 6: Antigua

Morning: Caoba Farms for Breakfast

If you’re a foodie like me, you’ve got to get yourself over to Caoba Farms. This special spot is a sustainable organic farm known for its delicious farm-to-table dining and DIY farm tour.

We came here for breakfast one morning and absolutely LOVED our visit – our dishes used the freshest ingredients and the beautiful surroundings of the farm just made our visit even more exceptional!

We loved wandering around the farm, admiring all the colorful flowers, leafy green plants, and plenty of crops, including fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Plus, those tiny piglets were oh so cute!

Do note that Caoba Farms is located just outside of the city center of Antigua. We walked there (only about a 20 minute walk or so), but you can also take a tuk-tuk or quick taxi/Uber ride.

Early Afternoon: Chocolate Making Class

Guatemala is known for their chocolate, so what better way than to lean into this by making your own chocolate IN Guatemala itself?! 

The chocolate making class at ChocoMuseo is an incredible experience, and was one of my favorite things we did in Antigua! We learned all about the history of chocolate and how it’s made, from the cacao tree to the final product. Our class was led by an expert chocolatier who guided us through the process step-by-step.

The class took about two hours, and at the end, we got to take home our own handmade chocolates. Book a class in advance as they do in fact sell out – they’re popular for a reason. I took home the most delicious bag of chocolates, plus some cacao tea (which I now drink on the regular). Reason enough to visit Antigua in my opinion!

Late Afternoon/Night: Sunset Hike to Pacaya Volcano

One of the most popular day trips from Antigua is to Pacaya Volcano , and lemme tell you, it’s an absolute blast! I did this on my first trip to Antigua, and if I had more time, I would have totally done it again. 

Plus, how many of your friends can say they’ve been hiking on an active volcano?! Yup, you read that right – you’ll be hiking on an ACTIVE volcano. 

Pacaya Volcano is located about 19 miles (30 km) southwest of Antigua and is one of the most active volcanoes in Central America. Thankfully, the volcano hike isn’t too strenuous, but it can be steep and rocky in some parts, so definitely wear comfortable shoes and bring plenty of water.

The hike usually takes around 1 ½ to 2 hours (with the hardest portion being a 15-20 minute steady incline). You’ll be rewarded with some incredible views of the surrounding landscape.

As you get closer to the top, you’ll be able to see steam rising from the volcanic vents, and you might even be able to feel the heat coming from the ground. Whoa! Something you don’t see every day!

And the best part? Roasting marshmallows over the hot volcanic rocks! How cool is that? Trust me; they taste amazing with that smoky flavor from the volcanic heat.

Since you can’t hike Volcano Pacaya independently (you need a certified guide with you at all times, because, ya know, it’s an active volcano and all…), it’s best to book a tour in advance.

I recommend this Small-Group Sunset Pacaya Volcano Tour from Antigua . My friends climbed up the volcano just before sunset – and their photos were absolutely beautiful. Plus, you get to stop for a freshly prepared picnic to enjoy along with views of nearby volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango! Doesn’t get better than that!

Part 3: Flores and Tikal

Next stop on this 10 day Guatemala itinerary — Flores and Tikal !

As soon as I got to Flores, I was in love. Located in the heart of Lake Peten, this tiny island (known as Isla de Flores) is full of colorful colonial-style houses, cobblestone streets, and a laid-back attitude – three of my favorite things. It actually reminded me a bit of Guatape in Colombia , another colorful town set on a lake that has so much character.

It’s also a great base for exploring the nearby Tikal National Park, one of the largest and most important Mayan archaeological sites in the world.

During your few days in Flores, you can explore ancient ruins (hello Tikal National Park!), take a dip in the crystal-clear waters, and simply sit back and enjoy a cold beer or two at the plenty of waterfront restaurants and bars (or in my case – a whole lot of watermelon juice).

But whatever you do, don’t miss the island’s sunsets as they’re simply breathtaking! I loved wandering the town – it’s got such a charming atmosphere. 

Where to Stay in Flores:

For such a tiny island, there’s quite a lot of accommodation options!

I booked a private room at Los Amigos Hostel (with a stunning view of sunrise over the lake), and I swear it’s the most eclectic hostel I’ve ever stayed at. Oh so colorful and hip and fun. 

The garden restaurant looks straight out of a jungle – don’t miss one of their famous smoothie concoctions here! Los Amigos gets booked up fast (it’s crazy popular for a reason), so reserve your bed or private room ASAP. There’s also a travel agency right inside the hostel if you’ve got time for extra activities. 

I originally wanted to stay at the hip and trendy Hotel Isla de Flores , but the rooms were already all sold out. If you want beautiful lake views, check out Hotel Peten and Casazul (I almost stayed here!). 

Hotel Casa Turquesa is another great option that doesn’t break the bank, but do note it’s next to a nightclub with music blasting for hours so keep that in mind. 

How to get around Flores:

• Lanchas : If you want to explore the lake (which you should), you can hire a lancha (water taxi) to take you around the island, making stops at the different tourist attractions nearby.
• Walk : Isla de Flores is small enough that you can easily explore it on foot. The streets are paved with cobblestones, so I’d recommend having comfy shoes.
• Tuk-tuks and taxis : There’s also motorized tuk-tuks and taxis (you can usually find them parked near the main square) that can take you around the island quickly and affordably.

A few things to know about Flores:

• There’s only a few ATMs on the island, and they frequently run out of cash. Aim to carry enough cash with you for your few days in Flores, juuuust in case. If all else fails, there’s more ATMs across the causeway at the Maya Mall.
• While the infrastructure is decent, it’s not uncommon for the island to lose power. During my 3 days in Flores, the entire island lost electricity a few times. Just something to keep in mind. They’re all very used to it, and the power typically comes back within an hour or so.
• Skip the night market on the bridge connecting Isla de Flores to the mainland. I heard it’s not very sanitary and I wouldn’t risk the possibility of getting sick.

Day 7: Transfer to Guatemala City; Fly to Flores

If you’ve only got time for 10 days in Guatemala (and wanna see the impressive Tikal ruins in the northern part of the country), you’ll need a quick way to get there. Driving takes over 10 hours, on a good day (it’s usually more like 12-13). But thankfully, there’s quick and easy nonstop flights! Phew!

Today’s a travel day, and you’ll need to get yourself back to Guatemala City (easy from Antigua), and then onto a flight to Flores. If I had an extra day to allocate to your Guatemala itinerary, this is where I’d add it – juuuust in case something happens with your flight (like if it’s canceled or delayed).

Look at TAG airlines and Avianca – there’s a few flights per day, so if you book early you’ll have some options.

Think you’ll want more time in Antigua? Book a late afternoon flight. Want to get a head start on exploring Flores? Schedule an early morning flight to Flores to spend the bulk of the day there.

Regardless of when you arrive in Flores, have some dinner and sunset drinks on the lake – you’ve surely earned it! I recommend Sky Bar, Terrazzo, and the Rooftop Bar at Hotel Isla de Flores.

Day 8: Explore the colorful town of Flores and Lake Peten

After a somewhat hectic and tiring travel day yesterday, take today to rest up a bit and explore the colorful town of Flores. Most people head to Flores en route to Tikal (on tomorrow’s agenda, don’tchu worry!), but the colorful island and its surroundings are definitely worth checking out too!

To say I loved this tiny island (Isla de Flores) is an understatement – I could have easily stayed a week and gotten into a routine of wandering the cobblestoned streets, having brunch overlooking the lake, and watching the sunset with a watermelon juice in hand every single night.

There’s just something so special about this tiny island, I can’t put my finger on it.

Morning: Wander Isla de Flores

The tiny island of Flores (Isla de Flores) is super small so you can practically see all of it in a single day. I must’ve walked every single street a few times!

This morning, take a stroll around the charming island, checking out the colonial-style architecture, all the colorful doors and buildings, and of course admiring the beautiful views of the lake from the malecon (the lakefront boardwalk surrounding the island).

There’s no reason to really plan out your walk in advance – just take your camera, throw on some comfy shoes, and start walking.

A few of my favorite foodie spots not to miss:

• Maracuya : The best place on the island to stop for some brunch, or simply a smoothie and/or snack. I sat on the airy terrace overlooking the lake, but there’s also a bunch of other spaces to hang out in, including a real-life butterfly exhibit!
• Delirio Bakery : As soon as I saw this soft-pink cafe, I knew I had to pop in. And what a great choice I made – indulging in some passion fruit pie was the perfect break from all my exploring. 
• Maple y Tocino: Another favorite of mine – a great spot for a lazy lunch with a perfect view of the lake. My avocado toast with beans and plantains was delish; next time I wanna try the epic Four Seasons waffle.

Afternoon: Scenic boat trip on Lake Petan

You’re on an island – get out on the lake itself for a few hours! You’ll find plenty of exciting things to see and do surrounding Isla de Flores, so I recommend hiring a lancha for a few hours to take you around.

The cost depends on how many stops you want to make, and will typically cost less per person the more people joining you! I took a scenic trip on Lake Peten with a few girls I met at my hostel, and we each paid about 200Q ($25) to go to Jorge’s Rope Swing, the mirador, and Playa Chechenal with a local on his boat. 

For a PRIVATE 5 hour “tour”, we thought this wasn’t bad at all! We even watched the sunset on the boat as we were heading back to the island – so super spectacular. 

You can also visit ARCAS (an animal sanctuary) and the Zoologico Petencito Flores Peten (Flores Zoo), but we decided to skip these as I had heard mixed reviews and I don’t find zoos of any nature to be ethical. 

A few stops not to miss:

Jorge’s Rope Swing: What’s better than swinging out over the water on a rope swing, all while enjoying breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding jungle. The entire establishment is actually a family’s business, and they sleep there at night! Just imagine waking up to peaceful sunrises on the lake every morning, without a soul in sight. 

And don’t worry – it’s still super fun even if you don’t jump into the lake. Watching all those brave souls was good enough for me! There’s hammocks and areas to chill out, plus beers and snacks for purchase. And only a five minute lancha ride from Flores!

Mirador de Canek: This scenic lookout point/observation deck has panoramic views of Lake Peten Itza and the surrounding jungle, and it’s absolutely gorgeous, especially on a sunny day. You’ll need to do a short hike to get up here (don’t be like me and wear sandals…), but it’s not too bad! The views from the top are well worth the effort!

Playa Chechenal: This is one of the only true beaches near Isla de Flores, and it’s packed with locals enjoying the sun. I was honestly a bit disappointed with Playa Chechenal, as it was crazy crowded when we visited and there were no picnic tables near the water left for us. 

Plus, the beach was super rocky and it really hurt walking into the water! We loved hanging out on the rainbow dock taking pictures though, haha. If you just want a quick look at it and aren’t planning to swim for long, I’d say an hour or so at Playa Chechenal is enough.

Day 9: Sunrise at Tikal; relax in town 

Ohhhh Tikal – the main reason for heading all the way up to Northern Guatemala.

Imagine this: Towering ancient temples amongst the thick jungle landscape. Listening to howler monkeys wake up and then watching them play in the trees. Climbing up ruins before sunrise in the heart of the Guatemalan jungle. Watching colorful toucans and parrots fly from tree to tree. That’s Tikal for you, and you cannot miss it.

This complex of over 3,000 Mayan ruins deep in the rainforests of northern Guatemala is 100% pure magic. It’s one of the major sites of Mayan civilization, inhabited from the 6th century B.C. to the 10th century A.D. 

I’m sorry Chichen Itza, but Tikal is easily one of the best sights in all of Latin America, and a definite highlight of Guatemala. I can’t imagine a complete Guatemala itinerary that didn’t include the impressive Tikal. 

Tikal is absolutely enormous, and you can spend hours exploring and climbing the temples, plazas, and other ruins that date back to over a thousand years ago. One of the most iconic structures is the Temple of the Giant Jaguar (Templo 1), which towers over the jungle (but you unfortunately cannot climb this one).

I also checked out the Gran Plaza, surrounded by impressive ruins such as Templo II (Temple of the Masks) and the central and north acropolis. I loved the Plaza of the Lost World and feeling so tiny beneath Templo 5.

But Tikal isn’t just about the history – it’s also a nature lover’s paradise! The surrounding jungle is home to a variety of wildlife, including howler monkeys, toucans, and colorful parrots (I saw a whole bunch!). You might even catch a glimpse of a jaguar or a puma if you’re lucky.

And while there’s lots of day trip options, if you want a magical experience like no other, I highly recommend heading to Tikal for sunrise.

Yes, we had to wake up at 3am and were exhausted the rest of the day, but listening to those howler monkeys wake up in the jungle and wandering around the almost-completely empty sites was simply breathtaking. An experience I’ll never forget. 

Book your sunrise tour to Tikal here (don’t wait on this – this is a small-group tour with space for a max of 9 guests).

If your idea of fun doesn’t include an early morning wake up call, you can certainly visit later in the morning or midday. Just note it’ll undoubtedly be much, much more crowded, and a lot hotter and stickier. Because of that I recommend taking a sunset tour to Tikal – you’ll get the best of both worlds; no waking up early, fewer tourists, and even cooler temperatures.

Once you’re done at Tikal, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at your hotel and wandering the town – I was so tired I even took a midday nap! Something I NEVER do!

Day 10: fly to Guatemala City, depart home

Phew, what a jam-packed 10 days! You’re most likely flying home from Guatemala City, so on the last day of your 10 day Guatemala itinerary, you’ll need to get yourself back to Guatemala City of course!

Thankfully, the flight from Flores to Guatemala City is less than an hour, so you can make it back to the city in no time. This means you can either spend an extra morning or so in Flores, or head back to Guatemala City in the AM.

TAG has numerous nonstop flights a day, and last I checked, Avianca has at least one. If you’re flexible on time and book in advance, you may even be able to get a flight for $50! Can’t beat that!

If you catch a morning flight and your flight home doesn’t depart until later that night, I highly recommend having a meal at Sublime Restaurante or Flor de Lis in Guatemala City. Both are super inventive spots with impeccable tasting menus. 

Our 12-course tasting menu at Sublime was easily one of the best 10 meals I’ve ever had… in my life. Yes, it actually beat out all those wondrous tasting menus in Mexico City – I was shocked! And it costs us less than $90, drinks and well-deserved tip included.

Psst – If you’ve got an extra day to spare, you could totally spend it in Flores and the surrounding areas. I took a day trip to Crater Azul , and was seriously stunned at just how turquoise blue the water was.

Hope this helps you plan the best possible 10 day Guatemala itinerary! Are you traveling there soon?!

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March 9, 2024 at 11:23 am

I sponsor a girl in Guatemala city and have been wondering if I should visit. Guatemala is so colourful and inspiring. Thank you so much for this very informative article Caroline ❤

March 10, 2024 at 11:01 am

Wow that is so special — you should definitely go visit! Guatemala is so underrated and such a special place.

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Has anyone ever traveled with OAT?

I get interesting brochures from them and some of the trips appear to be quite reasonable.

Please advise.

Tampa, did you go on the safari with OAT? My wife and are considering booking a Tanz & Kenya safari with OAT are would appreciate hearing about your exoerience.

I would love to hear about your experience on the OAT Africa safari tour. My wife and I are considering taking one with OAT in 2014

We have seen a number of question about OAT and comparisons with other small group tour companies, in particular, Odysseys Unlimited, so we thought we would offer you our views:

We just returned from our first trip with OAT to Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia with an extension to Burma. We have taken 6 Odysseys Unlimited (OU) trips - Guatemala, Morocco, India (northern), Baltic Capitals, Southern Africa, and Southern Italy/Sicily. In all cases we met people who had taken multiple trips with the company and seemed to be totally dedicated to that company. On one OU trip we met some people who had taken multiple OAT trips and recommended OAT to us – which is one reason why we tried them on the last trip. On this OAT trip there were people on their 7th and 8th OAT trips and two couples that had also taken an OU trip.

How do they compare? We would be delighted to travel with either company again and the choice would primarily depend on availability and schedule. But, if you have strong feelings about what you expect from a trip that might not be your view, so here is our summary of the key differences. It is true that we have experience of only one OAT trip, but we questioned travel companions on this trip about the comparison between this trip and other OAT trips they had taken so we feel that it was representative.

Size: OAT promises 10 to 16 people, OU 12 to 24 (although some safari trips are smaller). Our OAT trip had 16, most OU trips had not many more. Both companies generally provided busses large enough to that nobody had to sit next to another person (sometimes the seating was 2 + 1 so not everybody had an empty seat next to them) but on occasions local situations required a smaller bus, so occasionally it was a little cramped. We like the smaller group size, but it is not an overriding consideration.

Pace of trip: OAT crammed a lot more in so the pace was relatively hectic (something of a plus to us). With OU tours, for example, we usually arrived (back) at the hotel with plenty of time to shower and change before dinner and then time for a drink at the bar, with OAT we were often somewhat rushed to get showered and changed before dinner. OAT provided many more opportunities to be in contact with the local people – to see how they lived, worked, and ate. OU often has a school visit and some sort of a family visit, but we didn’t find them as satisfying. OAT stopped in many villages or roadsides areas where we could observe locals in typical work/living conditions. Obviously there was some staging involved – who would be happy with a busload of gawking tourists dropping in if there had not been some pre-arrangement (and compensation) but it seemed to be authentic and if there was some compensation involved, one felt that it was helping the local economy. There was less of this on the OU tours and it seemed to be more touristy.

Value: OAT is usually less expensive, but it shows in the quality of the hotels and to some extent the restaurants (OAT trips generally had less western style food – a positive experience for us - but often the included local restaurants provided a slightly westernized version of a meal ). We take tours to travel in places where individual travel is too challenging or difficult, but we also like the fact that tour operators can negotiate great hotel rates so we can stay in the sort of places we would not usually want to pay for when traveling on our own. Except for the Burma portion, the OAT hotels were somewhat disappointing – in some cases we would have chosen better hotels if traveling on our own. The OU hotels were always among the best in town (although in some regions of the world that may not be very good!) For example, on many OU trips we stayed an extra night because we usually make our own travel arrangements. In Delhi (Crowne Plaza) and St Petersburg (Sheraton) an extra night in the hotels used by OU cost us $600 – purchased directly from the hotel. An extra night in the Bangkok hotel on the OAT tour cost us $81. (To be fair, a 5-star hotel in Bangkok would cost about $250.)

OAT often has no single supplement (probably because most high-end hotels charge by the room, whereas many less expensive hotels charge by the person overseas).

OU includes almost everything – there are no optional side tours (except for things like balloon and helicopter rides) whereas the OAT trip had 5 optional extra cost tours. This was fine with us, since we did not want to take two of them and preferred to do other things.

OU also covers all tips except for the tour leader, whereas with OAT one is expected to also tip the bus driver, the bus driver’s assistant, additional local tour guides, the drivers of the frequent “local transport experiences” (ox-carts, donkey carts, rickshaws, etc) and chamber maids. It requires setting out with a large wad of small bills and a number of larger ones – we used about $40/day for the two of us, of which about $16 went to the our tour leader.

Guide quality: In all cases we were very happy with the tour leaders. Obviously some were better than others, but all were knowledgeable and helpful.

Payment and Discounts: OAT requires an initial $375 deposit per traveler, but it is refundable until final payment is due (usually 90 days before departure) and all can be made on a credit card (which to us means miles!) The big advantage of cancellability is that there is plenty of time to makes one’s own travel arrangements – which we usually do either to use miles or to find a good deal for business class fares elsewhere (usually one cannot do much better on coach fares than the tour offers but there are often much better deals on upgraded travel than offered by the tour operator). OAT requires a $350 deposit that can be by credit card. It is refundable for 14 days which may give you time to make alternate travel plans.

OU gives $100 off per person after the 1st trip, $200 off per person after the 3rd trip and $300 after the 10th trip. (On one OU trip apparently some people were very unhappy with the tour leader, although we found her to be pretty good. OU apologized and offered us and additional $250 off on the next trip if taken within a year.) OAT provides a credit towards the next trip of 5% if taken with one year of return that drops to 3% for the second year. They also provide a discount if you pay in full by check in advance of between 10% (12 months in advance) and 1.5% (5 months in advance). Normally we would not pay a travel agent by other than a credit card because with a credit card you have some recourse if the operation goes belly up, but OAT seems to be large enough and stable enough that we took advantage of this. OAT also provides a referral discount – both to the referrer and the referee. If you have already traveled with OAT and refer another traveler to them, you get $100 (which increases with multiple referrals in a year) and the referee gets $100 off. (If you are thinking of an OAT trip, find someone who has taken one and get them to refer you – both you and they will gain!)

Shopping: OU seemed to include more stops at places that, while demonstrating some local manufacturing process were probably more intended to sell you something. We generally hate these events and find most of the stuff on sale to be pretty garish. Besides, we have reached the stage in our lives where we need to be getting rid of stuff, not buying more. These opportunities are obviously positive to some travelers.

Bottom line: If your priority is comfort and a low-hassle vacation, you might be better off with OU. If your main interest is to get close to the local “culture” and you are looking to hold expenses down, you might be better off with OAT. We don’t think you will be disappointed with either if you are flexible.

Thank you very much for your excellent analysis. It is very helpful

One of the best summaries I've seen about OAT. We have taken three trips with them, contemplating a fourth. You have drilled their operation down very well!

I have been to Peru and New Zealand/Australia with OAT and to France with GCT. The trips were all great. Right now a friend and I are looking for a spring trip. All the staff are great. The tour guide in Peru was somewhat aloof and not particularly available. All of the other have been absolutely wonderful.

Love the company!!!!!!!!!! Have been on three different trips, now looking with a friend to plan another. Can't think of another company I'd travel with.

TheOAT school and home host visits can become tiresome and unproductive. In China we had a home host in an artist village and a list of questions proposed by oat to flesh out the experiece but no interpreter to assist so this was fruitless in mingling other than another day when the entire group met with all hosts. OAT touts the school visits which are sponsored by its foundation but the statistics of OAT's charity to the local schools is somewhat appalling-rather trivial when compared to the number of visits made by OAT.

OAT also appears to be tone deaf to complaints and its websitee is non=-transparent-most reviews are favorable and there is now ay to contact the responder. On a Turkey t trip we had a bus driver that within inches almost drove us off a cliff despite the tour leader and all passengers yelling to let us off the bus and walk down the road past this dangerous spot We filed a lengthy complaint with the Turkey office and an email to OAT and received no response whatsoever to our concerns.

OAT prices on small group tours have risen and perhaps could be lessened somewhat if they decreased the constant barrage of advertising once you put something on your wish list.

And the size of some small group tours-particularly those with a ship like the Wilderness Patagonia has increased from 16 to 24+ as has the price.

Things to keep in mind when you evaluate a trip.

Sophia, I have taken several trips with OAT and enjoyed them.

Meredith Boston

Have taken 2 trips with OAT and both were great! Spent a month in Vietnam and Thailand, two weeks in each and was a great experience. Also spent a month in Africa, combining Tanzania, Kenya, Victoria Falls and Johannesburg. Had great tour guides in all the venues. Will be planning another trip soon and it will be with OAT. I like the fact that they are small groups, no more than 16, so you are not in the herd of some of the other travel organizations.

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A Perfect Guatemala Itinerary In 10 Days, 2 Weeks Or 3 Weeks

So you’ve decided to go to Guatemala? Congratulations, great choice! It’s a beautiful and fascinating country, and you’re going to have an amazing time.

Contents (click to view)

Of course, now comes the hard part – planning your Guatemala itinerary, and deciding where to go, how long to spend in each place, and what to do there.

Well fortunately I have good news!

First, Guatemala is a relatively small country with loads to see and do. That means that even in a short amount of time, you can still cover a lot of ground and see most of Guatemala’s highlights.

Of course, if you don’t have much time that does mean it can be a bit overwhelming deciding where to go and what to leave out.

And as you may have already discovered, there are many blogs and guides online offering confusing information. People who claim to have written ‘The Ultimate Guatemala Itinerary in 10 days’ or ‘The ONLY Guatemala 2 week Itinerary you will ever need’ when in reality they were only there for a few days, or in some cases, not at all!

But don’t worry, because that’s not the case with this Guatemala guide.

About this Guatemala travel itinerary

I spent three months travelling and living in Guatemala. I’m an overthinker and a champion planner, so I did masses of research, read all the guides, studied other 10-day, 2-week, and 3-week Guatemala itineraries, and talked to a lot of fellow travellers.

I also leaned on my years of independent travel experience, taking into consideration important things like when the buses actually leave, and practical tips for backpacking in Guatemala .

So this guide is not only comprehensive, it’s also realistic!

During my travels around Guatemala, I learned a lot, made a few mistakes, and now I’m here to share my conclusions with you. This is not the exact route or timetable that I did – instead, I’ve used my experience and research to create what I think is probably the perfect Guatemala itinerary, whether you have 10 days, two weeks, or longer.

But just to be sure – and because everyone has different preferences, I’ve also offered alternatives so you can customise this Guatemala travel itinerary to suit you.

So read on to begin planning your Guatemala trip, and let the adventures begin!

Why visit Guatemala?

Guatemala is a beautiful country with plenty of attractions crammed into a relatively small area, and whether you’re into sightseeing, hiking, culture, or just relaxing, there’s something for everyone.

From the gorgeous colonial city of Antigua , to tropical jungle crammed with towering ancient temples, from the picturesque Lake Atitlán, to the highlands with dozens of volcanoes and hiking trails, to the colourful Maya culture and friendly people, Guatemala is a rich and varied country with plenty to keep you occupied on a two or three week trip.

And what’s more, not only is it one of cheapest places to travel in Central America, it’s also much less touristy than neighbouring countries like Mexico or Costa Rica. What’s not to love?!

The best time to do this Guatemala itinerary

Guatemala has two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season falls between November and April, and the rainy season is between May and October. I highly recommend trying to plan your visit during the dry season, when you’re likely to be treated to blue skies and good weather. However, since this is the more popular time to visit, you’ll find prices are higher and things book up more quickly, so be sure to plan ahead. If you visit around Easter, you’ll get to see the colourful Holy Week processions , but Antigua will be particularly busy.

During rainy season you’ll have more freedom to leave things to the last minute and prices will be lower, so there are advantages to travelling at this time! And don’t worry, although the weather is not as good, mornings are usually bright and dry, so you’ll still be able to get out and enjoy all this beautiful country has to offer.

How long to spend in Guatemala

To answer the question, ‘How many days in Guatemala’ rather depends on how much time and money you have. I was there for three months, after all! However if you want to see all the highlights as quickly as possible, without having a mental itinerary that leaves you no room for enjoyment, I’d say 2-3 weeks is optimal.

You can see the real highlights in 10 days, or even squeeze your trip into 9 days in Guatemala if you’re really pushed for time. But you’ll be a bit rushed, so if you can extend your trip up to two weeks, I’d recommend it.

Some people want to spend just a week in Guatemala. If that’s you, then I’d recommend just visiting Antigua and Lake Atitlan. You’ll have an amazing time without being too rushed, and you’ll just have to come back to see some of the other highlights another time!

Getting around in Guatemala

There’s no passenger rail service in Guatemala, so the only way to get around is by road. It is possible to rent a car, but the driving can be a bit mental, many of the roads are badly maintained, and it’s not considered safe to drive at night. So unless you’re confident driving in Central America, it’s not really recommended.

It’s much better to travel either by public bus, or by tourist shuttle.

Public transport in Guatemala

There are three kinds of public buses: micros, colectivos (known as ‘chicken buses’) and Pullmans.

• Micros are small minibuses seating up to about 15 passengers (though they will squeeze in as many as they can possibly fit!). These are for short journeys within towns and cities and usually cost no more than about Q2.5-5 (about 25-50p / 30-65c) per journey.
• However for short journeys it’s usually easier, safer, and not much more expensive to get an Uber or a taxi .
• Chicken buses (colectivos) are former US school buses that have been shipped over to Guatemala and customised with bright colours and flashing lights. They cover rural areas and towns, of journeys usually up to about an hour, and cost between Q10-25 (£1-2.50 or US$1.30-3.25) per person. For longer distances, you will probably need to change buses a few times. They are part of the Guatemala experience and worth a try at least once, but they’re not very safe or comfortable, so my recommendation is that for most of your Guatemala trip, you travel by tourist shuttle.
• Pullmans are the long-distance buses. They travel between cities and large towns like Guatemala City, Xela , Rio Dulce and Flores , as well as internationally to Belize, Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras. They’re usually a lot more reliable and comfortable than the chicken buses and a bit more expensive (the 4.5-hour trip from Xela to Guatemala City cost me Q90 (£9 or US$12). But they are not door-to-door so you will have to get yourself to the bus terminal (usually easy enough by taxi).

Read more: Is Guatemala Safe? 60+ Practical Tips For Safe Travel In Guatemala

Tourist shuttles in Guatemala

Tourist shuttles are most people’s preferred way to travel around Guatemala. They are easily organised through your hotel or local travel agency, can be booked online, and will pick you up and drop you off door-to-door. They do cost a fair bit more than the public buses (typically about Q175-300 (£17-30 / US$23-40) depending on the distance), but for speed, convenience, safety and reliability, they’re the best way to travel. They’re also great for meeting fellow travellers going to the same destination as you.

For this Guatemala travel route I’ve assumed you’ll be taking tourist shuttles. That means that all journeys are planned for the morning, when most of the shuttles leave (though in high season there is usually an afternoon departure as well).

If you decide to travel by public transport, you may have a bit more flexibility with your timetable, but your journeys will take longer.

How expensive is Guatemala?

Compared to many other countries, Guatemala is cheap! Even a tourist shuttle journey of 8 hours will only cost you about Q300 (£30 or US$40) and a meal in a nice restaurant typically costs no more than Q100 (£10 or US$13) including a main course and a drink.

A private room in a basic hotel will set you back about Q300-500 (£30-50 or US$40-65). Hostel dorm beds can be as little as Q80-100 (£8-10 or US$11-13) a night!

That means that you can travel around Guatemala for 10 days or even two or three weeks, travelling by tourist shuttle and staying in fairly decent hotels, and not break the bank!

My 10 day, 2 week or 3 week Guatemala itinerary: the route

All versions of this itinerary follow more or less the same route – just with a bit more time and a couple of extra places added in for the longer versions.

As you’ll notice, this route skips out the far north, northwest and southwest of Guatemala, but it does take in all the major highlights, including the fabulous colonial city of Antigua , the beautiful Lake Atitlán, and the Maya ruins at Tikal. The 2- and 3-week itineraries give you a few extra days in these places and also add in Guatemala’s second city, Quetzaltenango (Xela) and the Caribbean coast areas of Rio Dulce and Livingston .

Guatemala 10 day Itinerary: Antigua – Lake Atitlan – Semuc Champey – Flores

This is the most compact version of my itinerary, allowing you to tick off all of Guatemala’s major highlights and strike a good balance between culture and adventure in a short amount of time. There are a few long bus rides, but you have time to recover in between, and it’s worth making the effort to see the very best Guatemala has to offer!

10 days in Guatemala: In detail

Day 1 – arrival.

Unless you’re coming overland from one of Guatemala’s neighbouring countries, your point of arrival will be La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

Guatemala City has little to recommend it: it’s dirty, dangerous, and most tourists do not venture here for good reason. On a short 10-day or 2-week trip to Guatemala there are better places to spend your time, so as soon as you arrive, hop in a taxi or shuttle and go straight to Antigua, just 1-2 hours’ drive from the city.

After your long journey it’s time to relax in your hotel, grab dinner at one of Antigua’s many cool restaurants, or if you feel like stretching your legs, hike the 25 minutes up to the viewpoint at Cerro de la Cruz to watch the sun set on your first day in Guatemala.

Where to stay in Antigua

• Budget: Yellow House. A cute and central hostel with small but nicely-decorated private rooms and shared bathrooms. Yellow House has a friendly vibe, is spotlessly clean, and has a pretty roof terrace with space to work, read, or chat to your fellow guests.
• Mid-range: Ojala. A hostel-slash-hotel with very affordable dorm rooms, and charming private rooms that are much nicer but also more expensive. Ojala is just a couple of blocks from the Parque Central and has its own courtyard café.
• Luxury: Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo. Located in a grand and historic former convent, Casa Santo Domingo is an Antigua icon, with a huge complex including courtyards, a pool, restaurant, spa and gym, art gallery, archaeological museum and more.
• Retreat: Villa Bokéh. Villa Bokéh is about 10 minutes’ taxi ride outside central Antigua, but the journey is worth it for a chance to stay in this exquisite designer mansion set in 6 acres of parkland, with huge rooms decorated with local art and a celebrated on-site restaurant.

Read more: A Review Of Villa Bokeh, A Luxury Hotel In Antigua Guatemala

Day 2 – Explore Antigua

Antigua is the jewel in Guatemala’s crown: a gorgeous and colourful colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, with masses to see and do. Today is your chance to explore.

Visit some of the many historic buildings, from the iconic Santa Catalina arch and the ruined Las Capuchinas Convent, to the historic cathedral, devastated by earthquakes. Pick up beautiful woven textiles or handcrafted wooden toys in the many shops, visit the jade museum or the art and history museums at Casa Santo Domingo, or just explore Antigua’s celebrated coffee scene in the many cafés.

Read more: 28 Tried And Tested Things To Do In Antigua Guatemala

If you’re into hiking, you could also do a morning or afternoon half-day tour to hike up Volcan Pacaya . Tours leave at 6 am or 2 pm and last about four hours, only about an hour of which is actually hiking up the volcano, so don’t worry, it’s not far!

If you’re on Instagram, check out my Hiking Volcan Pacaya reel for more information.

However, if hiking is really your thing, I’d recommend staying in Antigua a couple of extra days to climb Acatenango instead. Jump down to my two- or three-week itineraries to find out more about this epic adventure.

You can also get more inspiration on what to do in Antigua from my Things to Do In Antigua reel.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bella 📸 Passport & Pixels (@passportandpixels)

Day 3 – Antigua to Lake Atitlán

Plenty of companies offer shared shuttles from Antigua to Panajachel (aka ‘Pana’), the gateway to Lake Atitlán. The journey only takes a couple of hours, so if you leave at 8 am you’ll be at the Lake by mid-morning. Check into your hotel in Pana and then you’ll have the rest of the day to begin exploring.  

Some options for your first afternoon include:

• Take a tuktuk or a pickup to Santa Catarina Palopó , the colourful painted town with Instagrammable houses everywhere you look.
• Continue your journey beyond Santa Catarina to San Antonio Palopó, famed for its handcrafted ceramics and where all the women wear the traditional blue and purple handwoven ‘traje’ (costume).
• Take a ‘lancha’ (public boat) to San Marcos to explore the Lake’s ‘spiritual town’ and do a yoga class or get a massage.
• Head to Santa Cruz La Laguna for a 3-hour Maya cookery class and learn how to make authentic Maya dishes.

Getting about on Lake Atitlán

Moving about on the Lake can bit a bit unpredictable: the public boats don’t run to any kind of reliable schedule so sometimes you can get lucky and grab a quick departure; other times you may be waiting up to an hour for the boat to fill up and leave. In addition, if you have a lot of stuff, you’ll soon get tired of lugging it between towns and on and off boats. Since you don’t have much time, I think it’s far better to just base yourself in one place (probably Panajachel as it’s the best connected town on the Lake), and then do day trips from there.

The only exception to this is if you have any pre-dawn starts, as the boats don’t run at night. For the sunrise ‘El Rostro Maya’ (Indian Nose) hike or San Pedro Volcano you’ll need to stay the night before in San Pedro, and if you want to do a dawn birdwatching tour to see a Guatemalan quetzal bird you’ll need to stay the night in Santiago Atitlán.

The first boat is usually around 6 am, and the last boat somewhere between 4.30 and 7 depending on the destination. Make sure you check and keep an eye on the time or you may end up stranded on the wrong side of the lake.

Read more: How To See The Resplendent Quetzal Bird In Guatemala

Where to stay in Panajachel

• Budget: Hospedaje El Viajero. This is where I stayed for several nights in Pana. With a dozen private rooms arranged around a central courtyard right on the main street and a short walk from the pier, El Viajero is astoundingly cheap and the best-value place in town. There’s even a talking parrot!
• Mid-range: Regis Hotel Spa. Just off the main street and a short walk from the lake, Regis Hotel Spa has spacious and clean rooms with a pretty garden, a hot tub, and on-site massages.
• Luxury: Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo. The four-star Don Rodrigo hotel overlooks the lake and has spacious rooms, a pool, gardens and an on-site restaurant.
• Retreat: Casa Palopó. For a taste of genuine luxury on the lake, splash out and head to the stunning boutique hotel Casa Palopó at Santa Caterina Palopó, about a 15 minute taxi or tuktuk ride outside Panajachel.

Day 4 – Explore Lake Atitlan

Today you have a full day to explore the stunning Lake Atitlan. With vivid blue waters, and surrounded by rolling green hillsides and three volcanos, it’s not surprising it’s been described as the most beautiful lake in the world.

The water tends to be calmer in the mornings, so if you’re into kayaking, do that first. Later, take a lancha to one of the towns you haven’t seen yet, such as:

• San Juan La Laguna. Probably my favourite of the Lake towns, with a prettily-decorated main street, plenty of art and craft shops, and masses of colourful street art . If you have time, hike up to the mirador (viewpoint) for stunning lake views, or take this comprehensive 5-hour walking tour that includes visits to art galleries, local family homes, and a women’s weaving cooperative.
• Santiago Atitlán. The largest town on the Lake with a very traditional feel. Visit the market, the main church, the mirador over the Lake, and the many shops selling beautiful embroidery and woodwork. If you’re into birdwatching, you can also take a tour from Santiago Atitlán to try to spot Guatemala’s national bird, the resplendent quetzal . Birding tours leave at dawn, so if you want to do this, it’s better not to stay in Panajachel but instead take the last boat to Santiago Atitlan at 4 pm the day before and stay the night there.
• San Pedro La Laguna. More touristy, and more of a party town, with plenty of hostels, bars and restaurants. If that’s not your scene, San Pedro does get quieter the further away you stay from the main jetty.

In general, and to allow for boat delays, I’d say you have enough time to see one town in the morning and one in the afternoon, except for where you can travel more quickly between towns by tuktuk or pickup, such as San Juan to San Pedro, and Santa Catarina/San Antonio to Panajachel.

Where you stay on night four will depend on what you want to do the next day. If you’d like to go hiking, it’s better to base yourself in San Pedro; if not, head back to Panajachel.

Read more: Guatemala People: 30 Portraits Of Guatemalans That Show Their Rich Culture

Where to stay in San Pedro

• Budget: AmiGos Hostel. The popular backpackers’ choice, AmiGos is a friendly place with cheap dorm rooms and clean, good value privates. Some of the rooms have lake views.
• Mid-range: Mikaso Hotel. Located on the quiet side of town away from the noise of the party bars, Mikaso is a beautiful old property right on the water’s edge. Staff are friendly and helpful and some of the rooms have patios overlooking the lake. Be warned that their hot water is pumped by electricity, so during rainy season power cuts you may not be able to have a hot shower.
• Luxury: Sababa Resort. The four-star Sababa Resort overlooks the Lake and also has a restaurant, swimming pool, garden and bar. Rooms are modern and clean and breakfast is included.

Day 5 – Hiking or Markets around Lake Atitlan

If you’re into hiking, today’s the day for you! San Pedro is the gateway to two popular hikes, the relatively easy but early 1-hour climb up to the Indian Nose viewpoint (El Rostro Maya) for sunrise, or the harder 6-hour morning hike up to the top of Volcan San Pedro and back again.

If you’re extra keen, you can book a private tour and do both in one day, starting at around 4 am for El Rostro Maya, returning for a quick breakfast at about 7.30, and then summiting San Pedro volcano at about midday. Be aware that the clouds can often roll in over the volcano mid-morning, so if the views are important to you, it’s better to skip Indian Nose and leave earlier.

Read more: Backpacking in Guatemala: All You Need To Know Before You Go

If you’re not a hiker, head to one of the region’s most famous and colourful markets. The biggest and most famous is Chichicastenango, which takes place on Thursdays and Sundays; shuttles will pick you up from your hostel first thing in the morning an bring you back at 2 pm.  

Chichicastenango market is vividly chaotic, a buzzing extravaganza of buying and selling that will take your breath away, and if you can arrange to be there on a Thursday or Sunday, I highly recommend a visit.

If this doesn’t fit your schedule, an alternative is the colourful Friday market at Sololá , just 20 minutes away from Panajachel. Travel there by chicken bus, or take a tour with a local Maya guide which also includes a visit to another Maya village and the chance to witness a Maya ceremony.

Whatever you end up doing, you’ll need to head back to Panajachel for the night, ready for your bus the next day.

Day 6 – Travel to Lanquín / Semuc Champey

Book a morning shuttle from Panajachel to Lanquín, the gateway to Semuc Champey . This takes 8-10 hours, so make sure you’ve got your headphones and music handy and watch the Guatemalan countryside roll by. The bus will drop you on the edge of Lanquín, from where your hotel will pick you up – don’t forget to book ahead and tell them you’re coming!

Note that this drive will be shorter if you start from Antigua. Depending on the time you arrive on Day 1, you could consider swapping the Lake Atitlán and Antigua legs of this Guatemala travel itinerary around, so you go to the Lake first. This would make your first day longer, but cut down the journey time to Semuc Champey.

Or you could hop back to Antigua for one night after you’ve been to the Lake, ready to head to Semuc Champey in the morning.

Read more: 30 Beautiful Pictures Of Guatemala And The Stories Behind Them

Where to stay at Semuc Champey

• Party Hostel: Greengos. I didn’t stay here myself but I heard good things from people who had. Greengos is just a short walk from Semuc Champey itself, with large dorms, private rooms, a bar and a pool. It’s famously a party hostel though, so don’t stay here if that’s not your vibe.
• Chilled out: Utopia Eco Hotel. Utopia has rustic cabins nestled in the jungle, a friendly communal area and a yoga studio. Morning yoga is free, and dinners are vegetarian and eaten together, family-style. I spent two nights here and really liked the friendly atmosphere; I enjoyed the bugs and mosquitoes a little less, but that’s the jungle for you!

Day 7 – Semuc Champey

One of the greatest natural wonders of Guatemala, Semuc Champey is a 300m-long limestone bridge over the rushing river Cahabón, topped with clear turquoise pools that are great for swimming. There’s a 30-minute hike up to a mirador for stunning views, and the surrounding jungle is home to wildlife including howler monkeys and toucans.

Arrange a drop off and pickup with your hostel, or you can book a full day tour that also includes an underground candlelit adventure to some nearby caves.

Check out my Semuc Champey Reel on Instagram for more inspiration.

Read more: Semuc Champey Guatemala: All You Need To Know Before You Go

Day 8 – Travel to Flores

Another big journey I’m afraid, but it’s worth it to get to Flores ! Book the morning shuttle through your hostel, which will also drop you back into Lanquín town to meet it. The shuttle costs about Q300 (US$40) and takes 6-8 hours depending on the roads.

You should arrive in plenty of time to wander the tiny and colourful Isla de Flores before enjoying dinner and a drink while watching the sun set over Lake Peten Itzá.

Where to stay in Flores

• Budget: Los Amigos Hostel. With colourfully-decorated dorms, spacious private rooms, an excellent bar and restaurant, an in-house travel agency, and some of the nicest staff I met in my entire time in Guatemala, Los Amigos really does deserve all its glowing reviews.  It’s a bit of a party hostel, but private rooms are tucked away on the upper floors and the main bar shuts at 10, so it wasn’t a problem for me.
• Mid Range: Ramada by Wyndham Tikal Isla de Flores. A modern chain hotel right on the waterfront, the Ramada Flores is a reliable stalwart with an outdoor pool and spa.  
• Luxury: Hotel Isla de Flores. A beautiful and central boutique hotel with large and stylish rooms and a swimming pool, the Isla de Flores is the sister hotel to the atmospheric Jungle Lodge at Tikal and staff can arrange airport pickups and transfers between the two.

For more inspiration, check out my Things To Do In Flores reel on Instagram.

Day 9 – Tikal

Tikal was one of the most powerful cities in the Maya civilisation and is one of the highlights on any itinerary for Guatemala. Today it’s a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site, where towering ancient temples loom mysteriously out of the thick tropical jungle, while spider monkeys jump through the trees above your head.

You can get a public bus there and pay the standard Q100 (£10 or US$13) day entry fee to walk around by yourself, but I highly recommend taking a guided tour from Flores so you know what you’re looking at and can learn more about the magnificent Ancient Maya.

There are sunrise, early morning, daytime and sunset tours, but be aware that as well as paying for the park entry fee and the cost of the tour/guide, if you choose to do sunset or sunrise you will have to buy an additional Q150 ticket to be allowed into the park after hours.

I’d recommend either doing the morning tour for maximum time in the park, or if the forecast is good, the afternoon and sunset tour. Depending on your itinerary for the next day, you could also spend a night in the park, for the chance to fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

For more inspiration, here’s my Visiting Tikal reel on Instagram.

Where to stay at Tikal

• Budget: Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostel. Private rooms with shared bathrooms which are attached to the hotel of the same name (see below). Rooms are smaller and darker than the posh hotel ones, but other than that the Jungle Lodge Hostel is the same place, so you get access to all the facilities including the restaurant and pool. A great option for a chance to stay inside the park without breaking the bank.
• Mid-Range: Hotel Tikal Inn. One of only three hotels inside the park, this is the best one that’s not Jungle Lodge. Tikal Inn also has rustic cabins in the jungle, with a pool; it’s not quite as posh as Jungle Lodge, but it’s also a fair bit cheaper.
• Luxury: Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal. The priciest and probably the fanciest of the three hotels at Tikal, Jungle Lodge has private bungalows tucked away down shady jungle paths, though having stayed here I’m not convinced that you get much extra luxury or service for your money. Note that the wifi doesn’t reach to the rooms and there’s no phone signal either.

Read more: A Colourful Guide To Flores Guatemala: Gateway To The Maya World

Day 10 – Departure and onward connections

If you’re heading back to Guatemala City, you can either take an internal flight from Flores airport (several a day, takes about 45 minutes), or get your hostel to book you a shuttle (which takes a very tedious 10 hours). Note that shuttles leave early so if you want to do this, you won’t be able to stay at Tikal the night before.

From Flores you can also get buses to Belize or, if you’re doing my 14-day itinerary, head to Rio Dulce instead.

And that’s the end of your 10-day tour of Guatemala! As you can see, it’s pretty jam-packed with a few long bus rides, so my recommendation, if you can possibly spare the time, is to squeeze in a few extra days and spend 2 weeks in Guatemala instead.

Keep reading to find out more.

A Guatemala 2 week itinerary: Antigua – Xela – Lake Atitlán – Semuc Champey – Flores

If you’re planning to spend 2 weeks in Guatemala, this version of the itinerary follows a similar route, but adds in one of the country’s top highlights, Volcan Acatenango , as well as the second city, Xela and ideally an extra day in Flores .

With 4-5 extra days you get a chance to see more of the highlights, and a bit more time to recover between long bus journeys.

My Guatemala Itinerary in 2 weeks: the detail

Days 1 and 2 – arrival and antigua.

These are the same as for the 10-day itinerary above.

Day 3 – Hike Volcán de Acatenango

Today is your chance to experience one of the highlights not only of Guatemala, but all of Central America. Volcan de Fuego is one of the most active volcanos in the world, and it’s very close to Antigua Guatemala. To see it, you need to hike up the next-door volcano, Acatenango, from where you get a front row seat to the action. You’ll spend the night in a comfortable campsite with views of Fuego erupting late into the night, before descending the next day .

Read more: The Thrilling Volcan De Acatenango Hike In Antigua Guatemala

Since this is a two-day commitment, it’s a stretch to fit it into a 10-day trip unless you miss something else spectacular, but it’s absolutely worth trying to fit this incredible experience into your Guatemala itinerary if you can. Click here to book your Acatenango overnight tour right now!

Or get a sense of what it’s like via my Hiking Acatenango Instagram reel .

Day 4 – Acatenango descent and relax

You’ll descend Acatenango the next morning and be back at your hostel by lunchtime. Have a shower and a nap, and then spend the afternoon relaxing at the Casa Santo Domingo spa or chilling out in a café or bar.

Day 5 – To Quetzaltenango (Xela)

Time to wave goodbye to Antigua and head to Guatemala’s second city, Quetzaltenango, known locally as Xela (pronounced Shella). Xela is very different from Antigua and much less touristy: it’s a traditional, hardworking city, friendly but conservative, and the heartland of the Maya culture.

The journey from Antigua to Xela only takes around three hours. Have lunch at one of the restaurants in near the Parque Central and then spend the afternoon exploring the city.

Read more: The Complete Guide To Xela Guatemala: Things To See And Do

Where to stay in Xela

• Budget: Casa Kiwi. Xela’s popular party hostel, Casa Kiwi attracts a more energetic crowd, thanks to its rooftop bar and dorm rooms. They also have a travel agency to help you organise your excursions and shuttles.
• Mid-range:   Muchá Arte Hostal. The best place to stay in Xela, and not even that mid-range as it’s actually pretty cheap. Muchá has six huge and comfortable rooms arranged round two sunny central courtyards. There’s a kitchen guests can use, a delicious breakfast is included, the staff are incredibly friendly and it’s spotlessly clean. I ended up staying for two months. Book early to avoid disappointment (you can always cancel later).
• Luxury: LATAM hotel Plaza Pradera Quetzaltenango. Located a little way outside the city centre, Plaza Pradera has clean and modern rooms, a rooftop pool, fitness centre, and a restaurant on site.

Day 6 – Explore around Xela

One of the main reasons people come to Xela is for the hiking opportunities, and today’s your chance to take advantage. Tackle one of the big volcanoes like Santa Maria or, if it’s safe to do so, Tajumulco, the highest peak in Central America. Or for something a little less strenuous but still rewarding, head for the spiritual crater lake Laguna Chicabal, or the Maya religious site of Cerro Quemado .

Read more: A Sunrise Hike Up Volcan Santa Maria In Xela, Guatemala

If you’re not a big hiker, an alternative option would be to take a day trip to one of Xela’s many nearby attractions, such as the colourful town of San Andres Xecul, the Friday market at San Francisco El Alto, or the hot springs at Fuentes Georginas.

Read more: Visiting San Andres Xecul, Guatemala: Home Of The Famous Yellow Church

Days 7-13: Lake Atitlan, Semuc Champey, Flores and Tikal

These days are the same as for the 10-day itinerary.

Day 14 – Around Flores

On your return from Tikal, I highly recommend heading back to Flores and spending another day exploring the area. If you haven’t had enough of Maya ruins, head to Yaxhá which, while not as big as Tikal, is still magnificent. You can either do a morning tour with lunch , or an afternoon tour to watch the sun set over the ruins with almost no one else around.

Other options include a trip to swim in the crystal-clear Blue Crater , walking on bridges through the jungle canopy at Skyway Ixpanpajúl, or exploring the nearby town of El Remate or the Isla de Flores viewpoint.

There are reels on Instagram for more inspiration.

• Things To Do In Flores
• Visiting the Ruins of Yaxha
• Visiting the Crater Azul

Day 15 – Back to Guatemala City or on to Belize

As with the 10-day itinerary, this is just a travel day as you sadly say farewell to Guatemala.

3 week Guatemala itinerary: Antigua – Xela – Lake Atitlán – Semuc Champey – Flores – Rio Dulce

So you’ve read this far and still want more? Good for you!

Here’s my suggested itinerary if you have three weeks to spare in Guatemala. As before, it’s pretty much the same as the 10-day and two week itineraries, but with bonus features!

Guatemala 3 week itinerary: the detail

As you can see from the outline above, this Guatemala 3 week itinerary is pretty similar to the 2 week one, just with more time to relax and enjoy places, and a few extra things added in:

• I’ve added an extra day in Antigua on Day 5. It’s a beautiful city, and it really is very easy to just chill out here and enjoy the vibe.
• I also added an extra day in Xela on Day 8 so you don’t have to choose between hiking and a cultural day trip, you can do both!
• Similarly, there’s now an extra day at the Lake, so you can visit Chichicastenango , do a hike, or go quetzal spotting without having to miss anything. Since you’ll have a bit more time, you should be able to shuffle your schedule around so one of your lake days coincides with Chichi’s Thursday or Sunday market days.

• If birdwatching is really your thing, another option would be to add in a day in Coban instead. Coban is close to Lanquín, and home to the Biotopo del Quetzal, a nature reserve where you stand a good chance of spotting Guatemala’s national bird. If you want to do this, get a shuttle from Panajachel to Coban and stay the night there; in the morning you can do a sunrise birdwatching tour, before carrying on to your Semuc Champey accommodation at the end of the day.
• After Flores , I’ve added in a new destination to break up your journey back to Guatemala City: Rio Dulce. Rio Dulce town is gritty and unimpressive, but the river that flows from the town to Guatemala’s Caribbean coast is famed for its beautiful scenery, bird life, and tranquil backwaters dotted with relaxing eco lodges that are only accessible by boat. Stay a couple of nights at one of them, relax and go kayaking on the river, or take a day trip to the coastal town of Livingston and check out the Caribbean vibe.

Read more: Rio Dulce Guatemala: Is The ‘Sweet River’ Worth It?

Where to stay in Rio Dulce

• Budget: Hotel Kangaroo Rio Dulce. Just a short boat hop from where the bus gets in, Hotel Kangaroo has cheap dorms and private rooms set in lush tropical jungle, a hot tub, and a boat shuttle pickup from Rio Dulce.
• Mid-range: El Hotelito Perdido. This is where I stayed for three nights. Hotelito Perdido is a charming eco-retreat that garners rave reviews, with shady jungle gardens, a dock for swimming in the river, paddleboards and kayaks to rent, cute jungle cabins (there’s a dorm too) and enormous breakfasts. Note that everything is solar powered so the wifi is rubbish and the fans are weak – when I was there it was almost unbearably hot and humid but the place itself is delightful.
• Luxury: Boatique Hotel and Marina. Boasting charming eco-cabins in the jungle just 10-minutes by boat from Rio Dulce town, Boatique Hotel has everything the other places have but with the addition of a swimming pool and air-conditioning!

A Guatemala itinerary coming from Mexico

If you’re entering Guatemala from Mexico , the easiest way to get here is by tourist shuttle from San Cristobal de las Casa to Xela. In that case just amend this itinerary so you start in Xela, then go to Lake Atitlán, then Antigua, and carry on from there.

A Guatemala itinerary coming from El Salvador or Honduras

If you’re coming from the south, your arrival point will likely be either Guatemala City or Antigua, so you can follow this itinerary as written.

A Guatemala trip itinerary coming from Belize

If you’re coming from Belize your point of entry to Guatemala will be Flores. In that case you’ll need to do this itinerary in reverse: Flores first, then Semuc Champey, then Rio Dulce if you have time, Antigua, Xela, Lake Atillán, and back to the city.

Getting from Semuc Champey to Rio Dulce

Note that if you want to travel from Semuc Champey to Rio Dulce (or vice versa if you prefer), the road between the two is bad! Unsealed, bumpy, and potholey. Shuttles don’t run every day, only when there are enough people, so if you’re travelling alone you may have to wait a day or two. And during rainy season the road may be impassable.

That said, it is doable (I did it!), and although the road was bumpy, the journey only took about 5 hours and we made the boat in time, so it was ok. Just note that the road is very dusty, so if the vehicle is a pickup with an open back, try to sit inside the cab if you can or you’ll end up orange!

I made a reel about this one too.

And that’s it! Three options for a Guatemala itinerary in ten days, two weeks or three weeks. Hopefully they will help you plan your perfect Guatemala adventure.

New posts on most of these destinations, and much more practical advice for travelling Guatemala will be added to the blog over the coming weeks and months, so check back soon, or subscribe for updates .

Where to next?

If you liked this, here are some more Guatemala posts you might enjoy:

• The Complete Guide To Xela Guatemala: Things To See And Do
• Visiting San Andres Xecul, Guatemala: Home Of The Famous Yellow Church
• The Colourful Market In Solola Guatemala: A Photo Guide
• A Sunrise Hike Up Volcan Santa Maria In Xela, Guatemala
• Yaxha Guatemala: The Magical Mayan Ruins You Need To Visit

Or if you’re still deciding where to go, here are some other itineraries you could try:

• A Dream Itinerary For Sri Lanka In Two Weeks
• An Ideal Morocco Itinerary in 2 Weeks
• An Epic Uganda Itinerary In 2 Weeks
• A Review of G Adventures’ Costa Rica 16-Day Tour

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Bella is a multi-award-winning travel writer, wildlife photographer and science and history documentary director from London. Among many awards and nominations she won Blogger of the Year at the British Guild of Travel Writers’ Awards 2023 and Best Photography at the Travel Media Awards 2020. Her work has been published by National Geographic, Wanderlust, and BBC Travel among others. Her films have been shown around the world including on the BBC, Discovery and PBS.

Further Reading...

Tandem Skydiving: Why I Hated Jumping out of a Plane

Chichicastenango Market in Guatemala: A Photo Guide

Kipalo Hills Lodge In Tsavo West, Kenya: My Complete Review

The expert guide to xela guatemala: things to see and do.

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Best tour companies where Rick Steves doesn't go (?)

We are big fans of Rick Steve's Europe, haven taken 4 tours and signed up for two more this year. But (unfortunately) Rick doesn't go everywhere. Chatting on RS tours we have heard good things about Overseas Adventure Travel. Have folks on this forum used them, or do you have other recommendations for tour companies that compare favorably with Rick Steves? We are interested nearer term in in Australia/New Zealand, India, or African safaris.

I highly recommend Odysseys Unlimited - small group tour company.

It's not cheap, but TAUCK is the best tour company we have EVER been with. We can't afford many of their trips, but they are a true experience, the best guides, education, history. I'll be curious to follow this thread.

We know people who have done OAT tours and really liked them. They have even smaller groups than RS. We went to a presentation event for them because we shared your interest in going to locations RS does not. For what it's worth here was our impression: This is corporate business model. The presenters were all "kids" who were clearly in their first post-college job. There was a lot of chatter about special promotions if you sign up "right now". They do not promise you that the date you sign up will actually go. We sat next to OAT travelers who have done several tours with the company- and about half of the time the dates they picked got changed. OAT paid the airfare difference if you had purchased airfare on your own. Tips are NOT included in the tour price and only about half of the excursions are included. I think the hotels they use are probably nicer than RS tour hotels. They handle your luggage and if you book airfare with them someone will meet you at the airport. (This service is an upcharge if you book your own airfare.) I was disappointed, because in addition to the unique locales, they had a Village Italy and an Adriatic itinerary that I thought was better than RS. However, we left that presentation feeling out of sync. I guess RS has spoiled us with the local leaders/guides he pays well enough that they have been with him for decades and don't expect or accept tips. In retirement we have flexible schedules, but the hassle of changing all those airline flights when the tour company suddenly cancels the week you had scheduled seems awful. The one thing that OAT does have going for it is that there is no single supplement. Since we always travel as a couple that is moot, but for single travelers it is a MUCH better policy than RS.

There is a recent thread on this subject in the Rick Steves Tours forum titled "Tour Companies Outside Europe Similar to Rick Steves" which should provide you the desired information.

Check out Vantage Travel out of Boston, we have done three trips with them and like their product at great price.

My other go-to tour group is Road Scholar. There is no tipping with Road Scholar. I prefer it over OAT. I was not impressed with any of the listings with OAT because there are surcharges for side trips/excursions. The initial price is deceptive in that is appears low until you start adding up the surcharges and tips. My husband hates being nickeled and dimed, so we will never use OAT. I like Road Scholar because there is a group leader who handles the logistics. Another person, usually a PhD, who is the instructor giving lectures and/or you get local instructors as tour guides. Perhaps, the only advantage with OAT is the no additional charge for single occupancy, which a couple of my single female friends have done.

We went to Peru on an OAT tour and really enjoyed it. Local guide, small tour, less expensive tour. I will say that I was disappointed in the group meals that were pretty bland, catering to least objectionable tastes - that said, we did try local dishes like guinea pig and alpaca.

I've used OAT several times and had no issue with trip departing as planned. I have friends that had some issues though. I like their smaller groups but on some trips, they have two groups of 16 or so. This happened to us on our Egypt trip. They do nickel and dime you with extra tour options which I don't like. I did enjoy my England, Scotland and Wales tour, Costa Rica, and some other country which escapes me. I've read some pretty bad reviews about the company though. I don't find their pricing of tours to be all that great. They used to be a little less than other operators a few years ago. Some of the hotels used were a little out of the way of attractions. Most were very nice! I suggested to my husband that we try another OAT tour and he said no. RS tours are for him if he has tours in the areas we want to see.

We also like Odyssey trips and have taken 5 so far with 2 more in 2017. Group of 24, no optionals, and you only tip the main guide. Nice hotels, good food etc.

I've used several different tour companies and now I travel exclusively with Gate 1 Tours. They are better in price and the accommodations are first class. I've been on 8 different tours with them - all places that RS doesn't go. check them out here is a link: Gate 1 Travel

Just a warning when looking at prices of tours. Some tour companies are not including the cost of airfares for airplane trips made during the tour. I found this to be true when looking at Australia/New Zealand tours. On those tours you can have as many as 7 fights. Most of the tour companies are making you book all of the airfares. If you should have to cancel before your final payment, you are still having to pay for all your flights. I just book a tour to Australia and New Zealand by Holiday Vacations. All of the airfares were included even getting to and returning from New Zealand. I had to put a $200 deposit which is completely refundable up to 76 days before departure. All sightseeing was included like Rick Steves tours. There were not optional tours.

My OAT trips to Chile/Argentina, Israel/Jordan and Colombia were excellent, but it is true that you have to trip the main guide. No problem with them cancelling trips, at least not on my trips. I took their airfare for the first two trips but bought my own for colombia and saved quite a lot. But I would recommend them. The Colombia trip was great fun.

Ditto for Odysseys. We have done two tours (Peru and Tanzania) with them and will be on a third this summer. They are more pricey than OATS but you get what you pay for. Odysseys gives excellent customer service and a great tour experience. Our last tour in Tanzania was spectacular.

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Cambodia with Explore! a UK based company. It was my fourth trip with them -- they have a US office: https://www.exploreworldwide.com/destinations . Note that since they are a UK company they do not book air arrangements from US cities. They typically offer several trips to many worldwide destinations. Also Road Scholars has a wide variety of trips: https://www.roadscholar.org . I only traveled with them once but was very happy with all aspects of the trip. Both companies have roommate matching for single travelers. I have also traveled several time with OAT but their prices tend to be higher than these two companies.

I have used Caravan to travel to Costa Rica and Guatemala. They are very inexpensive and I really enjoyed the trips. The hotels were beautiful. Our tour guide in Guatemala was a former professor who was very interesting and very into giving tours. When someone is passionate about his or her job, it makes all the difference. She was the best tour guide I ever had. I highly recommend the Guatemala tour. All the meals were included on the Costa Rica and Guatemala tours and they give you unlimited bottled water. The tour group is a max of 50 people. There is a single supplement but they are relative inexpensive so it is not a big deal.

As for tipping, it is pretty common to tip your guide and driver. I have never been on a tour with any company where it wasn't expected.

You might want to check out this company: http://imprinttours.com Caveat-I haven't traveled with them but do know Reid Cohen has been with Rick Steves for a long time. In her blog, Sarah Murdoch (also an experienced and excellent RS guide for several years) talks about an upcoming association with Imprint Tours beginning next year during her off season. Since both Reid and Sarah have been with the RS organization for so long, I would think their tours will be run much the same as RS. I have looked at the offered itineraries and tours and they appear to me to be very similar to what RS offers in so far as what's included and expectations of tour members. I know they go to Africa, Thailand and some other (to me!) exotic destinations but not sure if this is what you might be looking for.

There are dozens of tour companies and you shouldn't have any trouble finding one that travels to places that ETBD doesn't. A few that you could look at.....

• Trafalgar Tours (one of biggest operators world wide, but some of their groups are ~52 people which would be a problem for me)
• Globus Tours
• Insight Tours (smaller group sizes than the first two, but slightly more expensive).
• G Adventures (also smaller groups I believe and they cover a lot of destinations)
• Tauck Tours (as mentioned previously - very high end and nice if you can afford them)
• Collette Tours

Hey James how are you man?? For India you can try www.indiasomeday.com its a bunch of young guyz n galz n caters to your need as per your requirements. they r specialists in customised travels. hope this helps Vikas. P.S How's your love with Budapest???

I have been successful with Smartours out of NY. Great price , guides and lodging, taken 4 tours so far. I have been disappointed with RS tours lodging selections in general for the 2 tours I took. However I do enjoy RS guidebooks and find them very accurate and well done. His tours are Way overpriced imo. Smartours is spot on for price, free time, guides etc. I am a decerning traveler who has traveled all my life independently and now want someone else to do the planning, driving etc.

You might consider Earthbound Expeditions, based in the Seattle area. They offer guided trips to Australia and New Zealand, Africa, ans South America, in addition to Europe.

http://earthboundexpeditions.com/

The owner is on our local PBS stations on Thursdays.

We used Globus when we went to Europe a few years back. They were awesome. As it was our first time overseas we wanted to do a one week bus tour before we went out on our own for the rest of our 13week holiday. Our Globus tour took us England, Wales, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and back to London. Host and driver were awesome and knew their stuff perfectly. In my planning it became clear that they do more than other bus companies. For instance, in Venice they stay on one of the islands whereas most others stay on the mainland. So I'm sure the Globus travels in other countries would be just as good...

Smartours is spot on for price, free time, guides etc.

Thanks for bringing Smartours to my attention.

10 days in China for ~$1,000

https://www.smartours.com/tour/beijing-shanghai/

14 days in Croatia and Slovenia for ~$3,000.

https://www.smartours.com/tour/jewels-of-the-adriatic-croatia-slovenia/

RT US flights included! And a Find a Tour Roommate Forum. Will definitely look into this company.

We recently took a tour with G Adventures to Costa Rica. It was fabulous tour, but it is not the exact same model as the RS tours. They have a lot of optional activities that you can do, and you have to pay for those activities after you reach the destination.

They also don't include nearly as much food as the RS tours. Tipping is not included in the cost.

Having said all of that, it was the trip of a lifetime. Our guide was amazing. I fell in love with Costa Rica.

Now I haven't been on a RS tour yet (first one is later this year!), but those are the most obvious differences that I see from what we did there and what I have read on the website here.

James, I can highly recommend Back-Road Tours based out of the UK. We recently did one of their 10 day Highlights of Britain tours. It is was as the name implied absolutely 'backroads'. They are small group tours. We had 16 people. Max is 18, I think. Travelled in a late model well equipped Mercedes Benz coach. Out Hotel accommodation and meals included (for 6 nights) were all first class. Check out their web page.

Andante travels in the U.K. (And they have an office in NYC) arrange tours for those interested in archaeology to countries all over the World. They are accompanied by both a tour manager and an expert, usually an archaeologist with special expertise in the area. All meals, with wine were provided!

Adventures Abroad in Vancouver are also recommended. A friend of mine has been in at least six of theirs and swears by them. I have used them once on a trip to Libya (!) when that country appeared to be opening up for tourism. After months of waiting for a visa only two visas were issued from the group of 11 but Abventures Abroad went ahead with the two of us. An amazing trip and one that will not be repeated any time soon.

Both companies include Africa and Australia and New Zealand.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.

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Road scholar, gate 1 travel, g adventures.

Overseas Adventure Travel   Reviews

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Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT): Force Majeure or Gross Negligence

I was on an OAT trip to Tasmania/Australia/New Zealand 12/1/23-1/5/24. Cyclone Jasper (CJ) manifested approximately 12/5/23. At that time, our guide, GH sent email to OAT office in Sydney (S) about CJ recommending that our group be diverted from the Cairns/Port Douglas (C/PD) segment of the tour to another location in Australia. Our C/PD segment was scheduled for 12/16-12/20/23. CJ made landfall at PD on 12/13/23. CJ then stalled for several days in the area until 12/18/23. CJ caused power losses, drinking water shortages,trees to uproot,overflow of rivers and creeks,and mudslides and destabilizing damage on many roads. People needed to be rescued. C airport finally closed (12/16-17/23). Mossman and Daintree River also flooded. Crocodiles were seen floating through Ingham. CJ was the wettest tropical cyclone to impact Australia on record. On 12/16/23, while we were in Ayers Rock, G told us that after CJ had hit things were back to normal in C/PD. When we landed in C. we were met with torrential rain. After several detours, we arrived at the hotel about 12 Midnight. P told us to be in the lobby at 9am for the Wildlife Tour. On 12/17/23 morning, P told us that there would be no trip to the Wildlife Zoo nor any planned activities. We were confined to the hotel. Some of us wrote emails to OAT about our situation in PD. On 12/18/23, we all received an email from Marisela R. Perez, Traveler Relations, OAT that acknowledged the situation we were in and attributed it to circumstances beyond OAT's control. She reiterated that our safety remained OAT's priority. We were angered by her letter. On 12/19/23, planes started to fly in and out of C airport. All the various roads between C and PD were impassable. PD started up a Ferry Service between PD and C. On 12/20/23, we took the Ferry from PD to C and then flew from C to S as originally scheduled. On 12/22/23, we all received another email from Marisela reiterating that the change in program in C/PD was out of OAT's control. As a gesture of good will, we were provided a travel voucher for $500.00 per person to use on any OAT or Grand Circle Tour within the next two years. This second letter angered us even more. We wrote a group response where we all agreed to reject the $500 credit offer from OAT and requested compensation of $10,000.00 cash for each person for OAT's gross if not criminal negligence for sending us into an existing dangerous situation putting our lives at risk. G mentioned the suggestion for altering our itinerary was nixed by Sandrine Le Gillard, VP Regional General Manager, South Pacific. On 1/23/24, Marisela spoke with SC and said the Executive Team would not authorize any refund at all. On 1/28/24, I sent an email to Harriet Lewis, Chairman of the Board with Grand Circle Corporation (GCC), Brian Fitzgerald, CEO GCC and Nicholas D'Angelo, Executive VP Traveler Relations OAT. I requested the following from OAT: 1. A letter from OAT acknowledging their accountability in this grossly negligent incident with an apology 2. Compensation of $10,000.00 for the gross negligence. 3. A conversation with a person in the OAT organization with authority over quality control and processes to get assurance that this will never happen again-to anybody. On 1/31/24 Marisela and I spoke. She said that she was speaking on behalf of Brian Fitzgerald. She said that the decision to send our group to C/PD was based on phone calls to the airline where OAT was told that the planes were flying and to the tourist businesses in C/PD where OAT was told that the tourist venues were open. That was the info OAT had at the time and what happened in PD was unexpected. This is "Force Majeure" or "Act Of God". However, the foreseeable conditions in PD nullifies the third test of unforeseeability to trigger the "Force Majeure" clause. I received a refund of $27,000.00 that I had paid in full for four OAT trips. I will no longer travel with OAT.

Date of experience : December 16, 2023

First and last trip with OAT

First and last trip with OAT. Absolutely terrible. Guide was horrible. Didn’t help or guide us- Hank was his name. He would drive us for hours in a bus and drop us off at museum and give us a brochure to read to learn about Japanese history and culture. I have so many horror stories. Do NOT travel with this company

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

Excessive Service Fee!

Poor experience when cancelling an additional night at hotel 34 days before our stay. OAT gave us a sevice fee of $300. I think this is excessive. Paul Kaese - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

I took an OAT trip to New Zealand with…

I took an OAT trip to New Zealand with Australia add one for $3000.00. Half of this trip was supposed to be a trip from Sydney to Cairns. However this portion of the trip, which was half of what i paid for, was cancelled due to typhoon. i contacted oat about this trip interuption and was informed by customer service representative that i would be refunded half of trip. this never happened. after many calls and literally hours on hold with oat "Customer service" i was informed that the representative had no authority to authorize this refun d and to file a claim with my insurance company. my insurance company is about to deny my claim because oat has steadfastly refused to provide necessary paperwork, Oat promotes itself as catering to seniors and single travelers. i am both of these categories and they have stonewalled, baited and switched and outright lied to me. having to deal with their cusomer service is a nightmare.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

Bad customer service when it comes to processing refunds

We cancelled a trip we had booked with OAT on 11/30/2023. It is now 1/9/2024 and we are still waiting for them to credit back our deposit to our credit card. Their stock answer when we call is that it takes 45 days to process a refund. As anyone with any intelligence know, that is not true. Every other travel company we have ever booked with processes credits/refunds in 2 weeks or less. Please be aware that this is the attitude of this company toward customer service prior to booking trips with them.

Date of experience : November 30, 2023

Be Very Careful, Very Careful when you work with these people

When I began to research OAT, I said to my husband, there are really bi-modal reviews – people either had a great time or it was a “horror show”. Initially, I was reluctant to sign up for a trip given the negative reviews, but then a friend who has been on a number of trips with OAT encouraged me to sign up. So, I signed up on Feb 2 for a trip to Costa Rica in September. However, the trip didn’t get set up and I couldn’t see what I had reserved, etc. so I decided to cancel on Feb. 4. Our deposit was $1598 – most of which was for travel insurance. When I spoke with the representative, Barbara, she told me that the bulk of the deposit would be returned within days as it was for an outside agency and the balance would be paid 45 days later. No credit appeared on my account and when I called about a week later, the fellow helping me left me on the phone for a while and then returned to tell me that the entire amount would be refunded in 45 days – that my information was wrong. The clock is still ticking and I have my calendar flagged to check on the refund – HOWEVER I feel compelled to write this for the record. It is ridiculous that I should have to pay this charge on my credit card while OAT gets to use my money. There is NO reason not to refund the deposit in a timely fashion and I recommend that they PROMINENTLY display this questionable policy of their materials. I'll be back if I don't see that refund hit my credit card on March 20.

Date of experience : February 04, 2024

Very poor customer service

After planning 10 trips w this company, I can NO longer recommended this company. In Feb, we booked a trip to Africa, paying an addtnl $3890 for business class upgrade, AS WE ALWAYS DID WITH INTERNATIONAL FLTS. When OAT went to finally purchase the air fare in Aug, (after keeping my money for 6 mos) they erred in purchasing coach seats and sent me a refund for $3890 without any explanation. I NOTICED we were in coach, called them and was told we would now have to pay $12k to sit in business class. Therefore this trip is now costing me an addtnl $8k that we never expected to pay!! If I had known this in Feb, we may not have taken this trip. NO ONE AT OAT HAS APOLOGIZED OR ADMITTED TO THIS ERROR. I too have been getting continued poor customer service as of late, since the pandemic.

Date of experience : November 10, 2023

Don't book with OAT if there is the slightest chance you or they will cancel

I have had the WORST experience in decades of travel with OAT. I booked a trip for 2024 and had to cancel. I'm due a refund of the amount paid over the deposit/insurance. It has been two full months since cancelling and no refund has been made. I have called OAT customer service twice - one month after cancellation then today, two months after. Both times, they CS reps gave the same story with a slight twist: first call after one month - my refund should've been processed within 30 calendar days, but it was "in process" and would be paid in the next 15 calendar days at most. Today, after two months, my refund should've been processed within 45 calendar days, but it was "in process" and would be paid "whenever finance got around to it." I am going to have to contact my bank for a fraud claim because, at this point, I don't believe that OAT will refund my money and "whenever" is not an acceptable timeframe. They seem to be unable to process refunds, which does not speak well of their financial health. I am an independent traveler and read high recommendations for OAT - not my experience at all.

Date of experience : January 02, 2024

We have traveled 11 times--NEVER again!

We have traveled 11 times, spending more than $110,000 with this company---NEVER again! Booked our last trip with them to Egypt. On our return home our tickets on American Airlines on our final leg were cancelled by British Air. The flight was not cancelled--only our tickets. If we wanted to get home we had to pay $650 for tickets on the same flight that OAT had already booked us on. we were at the gate ready to board and told tickets cancelled. We paid, now OAT says it's not their responsibility even though they made all flight reservations and were paid for all reservations. Beware--OAT will take your money but give no help when they owe you $$$

Date of experience : November 18, 2022

OAT deserves a consumer class action

Anyone know a good consumer class action attorney? That's what this company deserves. I was mostly satisfied with Road Scholar, but was seduced by an OAT trip's pre- and post-options, as well as the 'no single supplement,' so signed up. I told the Travel Dep't I wanted to travel Business Class, and they made the reservation I had researched and requested. Now that it's time to pay, I noticed that they also charged me $1200 for economy round-trip airfare. Even though their website says "Free round-trip economy airfare!!!" I have never seen anything so outrageous. The customer service guy I ended up practically screaming at kept repeating lines from the handbook trying to appease me, but couldn't/wouldn't address my complaint about paying for airfare that a) supposed to be free and b) I'm not using. The R/T business fare I found on Google was just a few dollars more than what they're charging me for the Business Class 'upgrade'. Please, someone sue these people on behalf of all of us!

Date of experience : August 14, 2023

I canceled my trip for October on April…

I canceled my trip for October on April 26th. I was informed in writing since I had the Allianz trip insurance that I would receive a refund by May 11th. When I did not receive it I wrote to inquire. I was told the policy had changed to 30 days - May 26th. I replied that I was not notified of any policy change and expected them to honor thw agreement they put in writing. The next response said I would not receive my refund to June 8th. I called and spoke to a rep then escalated to a manager and was told there was nothing they could do their finance department is overwhelmed. That might be a BIG clue for those thinking of booking with them!

Date of experience : May 14, 2023

THIEVES! Buyer Beware! My mother had legitimate reasons for cancelling and even purchased Cancel for any Reason insurance. Allianz insurance assured her she’d be reimbursed in full and then OAT deducted $2,000 from her reimbursement. This company lacks honesty and integrity and we will spread the word far and wide to save others from such deception and shameful business practices!

Date of experience : April 01, 2023

Excellent tour company

I've taken 2 tours with OAT. They do a great job of handling all the arrangements, and I've had an excellent experience talking with their customer service representatives. Their tour leaders and guides have been consistently knowledgeable. And I love that there is no single supplement.

Date of experience : August 05, 2022

Refund delayed.

I booked a trip but needed to cancel just in time to get my down payment of $350.00 back. I was told it would take 45 days. Now it is 55 days and no refund. I called OAT several times but was given excuses for the delay.

I really don't know how to improve…

I really don't know how to improve terrible! The customer service is beyond repair and will never ever use them again. We booked our reservations with the promise that a discount would be applied and never happened. We signed up based on getting the discount! Bait and switch tactics. After weeks of the same run around and promised calls back from inept supervisors, we finally got one that was just as useless as the first tier advisors. It was like talking to children who were never educated. Customers don't mean anything to these people or company. We have not even left for our trip and now really worried that they will not perform as promised during our trip. They have our money and can you imagine the fiasco trying to cancel and get it back? Not worth the effort and if you are thinking of using this company, our word of warning, . . DON'T! If you do . . . GOOD LUCK! We just hope that this nightmare will not carry forward during our trip . . . please pray for us!

Date of experience : November 10, 2022

Disappointing!

Disappointing! This is my third trip with OAT and I have to say that I have been happy with the actual trips - well organized, knowledgeable guides, good hotels and food - that's why I gave it one star! I understand it's been a difficult year but customer service and policies have been hard for me to manage - HOURS and HOURS waiting on the phone, mistakes in invoicing which were difficult to correct, not honoring the flight upgrade price when we were closer to the departure date, cancelling the post trip without contacting us to rebook the flight home (I had to contact them) , charging a $600 fee EACH to rebook my travel partner and I on the same flight home (they called it a "custom" flight fee) - so many issues that I had to deal with makes this company not worth the time and effort. I will not travel with them again!

Date of experience : June 16, 2022

Neither legal nor ethical

To be courteous and professional, I am letting you know in writing that this information is also going to the Attorney General’s office in Boston, the BBB, Yelp, Google, Tripadvisor, ConsumerAffairs, and Trustpilot. It has been a tremendous waste of our time trying to get our money back after cancelling our trip. Starting on 29 Nov 2022, we were told multiple times, both by phone and by email, that our request has been given to the finance department for review. We have never heard back nor have we received our refund. This is ridiculous. Both my wife and I are retired and have traveled extensively with many other companies but never has any company given us such a runaround/delay. From numerous calls and emails and hours on hold, this is without a doubt the worst customer service we have EVER experienced. No one should ever be treated this way…especially a loyal returning customer. One can only theorize OAT is planning to go out of business. We were told that we have until the end of 2023 to use the credits from our cancelled trip. But due to your policy of requiring a COVID vaccination, which you did not have in place when we initially booked our trip with you, we will not have time to use the credits. Holding our money, from the initial booking on 29 Mar 2021, while making it impossible to use the credits is neither legal nor ethical. Also, if we were to book and trip after being treated like this everyone on the trip would hear firsthand how we have been treated. No…that’s a promise. After this complaint is filed, there will be no more, “contact us at…so we can assist you”. Enough is enough. Just do what is right or we will keep this up. Customer # 2822077

Date of experience : November 29, 2022

I have been on hold for hours and hours…

I have been on hold for hours and hours over several days and have not got through - I dont know how I ever got through in the first place to make a booking. This is ridiculous

Date of experience : January 28, 2023

Hiddens Gems? OAT projection

i booked a trip w/OAT. my first return to international travel since covid. i liked that the trip was on a small ship with a cap of 25 fellow travelers . better yet the ship would transit through the corinth canal (part of my bucket list for years). two days ago OAT advised me via letter that he itinerary had changed a bit. i was informed that the corinth canal is closed and that instead of making the transit to delphi by ship , it would be done instead by a 7 hour bus ride over mountainous terrain. other modifications were also revealed. I called OAT to cancel. i was informed that siince i was cancelling 35 days out, i would be subject to a 65% cancellation "fee" (read penalty) and that i could recoup the balance from the "any reason" trip insurance i had purchased from their travel partner allianz (more on this below). by this time , i had researched the status of the corinth canal and had discovered that the corinth canal has been closed since january 2021and that the authorities have indicated a re-opening of the canal in summer 2023. NEVER at any time or in any correspondence did an OAT representative offer any information regarding the canal. in discussing my desire to cancel the OAT,agent asked if i would like to move my departure date to MAY 2023. you have got to be ... that "any reason" trip insurance ? well it turns out that you do have to have a reason and the exclusion list of coverage is longer than the inclusions . cancelling because OAT made a consequential change to the itinerary does not qualify.so if you dont have a qualifying reason , allianz will issue a travel voucher w/OAT for a future trip w/OAT for the balance of what i had originally paid minus the 35 % reimbursement from OAT. had i not cancelled when i did , allianz would be offering me a 100% travel voucher. after my experience w/OAT the last thing i want is a travel voucher from them. it is my sincere belief that OAT has ,from the very first contact ( and continues today) acted in bad faith. proof? go look up this trip on their website . they are still marketing the corinth canal today with nary an asterix regarding the canals closure. pure and simple deceit; delays in notifications that then create higher penalties; lack of transparency; disregard for ethical treatment of customers are all attributes that this company embraces. if you are considering travel with them I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO RUN FOR THE DOOR P.S.- i wish i could have gone with zero stars

Date of experience : February 17, 2023

Actually, we haven't left for our trip yet. We are scheduled to leave in mid October and decided to arrive early and spend the nights of 10/13- 15 at the hotel in Lisbon where the tour will start. My mistake was booking and paying for this early arrival before the tour starts thru OAT. The friend I am traveling with wants to take me on a special trip to Porto for the nights of 10/14 (my birthday) and 10/15. So I called OAT to cancel the early pre tour starting nights of 10/14 and 10/15. No can do. If I had booked directly with the hotel I could have. So so greedy, OAT. Now for one night (1 night) it will cost me nearly $1,000.00, the full price of all 3 nights.. For one night. Checking in at 3pm on 10/13 and leaving the hotel at 10:00 am the next morning. Cost for 1 night/ 19 hours will be close to $1,000.00. So be aware, friends, that changes, even a month in advance, to early arrival pre-tour on your own will cost you the full price with no refunds if you book thru OAT. Book on your own with the hotel. This is the hotel they booked me in for that I now have to pay nearly $1,000.00 for one night. Check out the prices if you book on your own. Turim Marques Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Rates at this hotel if you book on your own is between $100- $200 a night. I have learned my lesson. These companies may have been good pre pandemic. Now they are just trying to make up for lost profits by these sorts of business practices. I have traveled extensively on my own (48 countries) but thought that traveling with a small group would be easier now. After this trip, however, I am back to traveling on my own. I would never have to spend nearly $1,000.00 for one night/19 hours on a hotel if I was traveling on my own.

Date of experience : September 21, 2023

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Climate - Guatemala

The climate in detail

• North - Flores
• Center-north - Puerto Barrios
• Hills and mountains - Guatemala City, Quetzaltenango
• South - Puerto San José

What to pack

Center-north

Puerto Barrios

Hills and mountains

Guatemala City

Quetzaltenango

Puerto San José

A Tour of Egypt is Unforgettable with Overseas Adventure Travel

A tour of Egypt is a wondrous experience anytime, but with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) it becomes multi-dimensional

Traveling through Egypt on Overseas Adventure Travel’s (OAT) Ancient Egypt and the Nile River Tour took us to all the highlights on a person’s bucket list: Egyptian Museum — check; Step Pyramid — check; King Tut’s mummy — check; Karnak Temple — check; Valley of the Kings — check; Abu Simbel — check; Giza Pyramids — check; the Sphinx — check.

Those 6,000 years of history alone would have made it an astounding trip, impossible to wrap one’s head around. And, I suspect, pretty much parallels the itinerary of most tours to Egypt.

But OAT, as always, does more and deserves more than an afterthought in any travel article about one of its tours. First, OAT places great importance on the philosophy of Learning and Discovery which OAT takes very seriously, and our guide, Hussien, even more so, which elevated an already enticing itinerary to a far more immersive travel experience.

Hussien, whose Ph. D. in Egyptology made him astoundingly knowledgeable and whose sense of humor, was abundantly entertaining and whose honesty left no controversial question unanswered and no subject off the table.

“The good, the bad and the ugly,” was his mantra. 

This was Egypt, after all.

OAT’S Philosophy of “Learning and Discovery” Adds a Whole New Dimension to a Standard Itinerary

He also delighted in expanding the limits of our proscribed itinerary in several ways. First, OAT encourages exploration and the personalization of one’s own experience. There are always options of things to do during free time but if tour participants had sightseeing ideas of their own, Hussien would work to make it happen, either in addition to the itinerary — or even in place of it. Flexibility is paramount.

But where OAT shines are the encounters experienced outside the itinerary. While walking one of the streets of Cairo, Hussien randomly approached several young girls sitting on a bench and asked if they would be willing to talk to us, two wore hijabs, one more western attire and two were Coptic, Egypt’s Christian minority.

That insight alone was meaningful to all of us.

A lively discussion ensued which dealt with their schooling, their free time and the fact that they were not the least bit interested in marriage. A disappointment to Hussien who was looking for his second wife (just kidding, Hussien).

Interestingly, they didn’t want their pictures taken despite the fact that every one of them had a cell phone in hand. Another day, we spoke to a young lad studying English literature whose English was probably better than mine as was his knowledge of John Dunne.

You don’t learn these things just hanging out with your tour colleagues.

Another day in a Cairo market was no doubt a regular destination for most tours, but again, OAT added another dimension.

We spent considerable time with a spice merchant, who described the intimacies and intricacies of his many spices from the basic oreganos and cinnamons to the more exotic fenugreeks and corianders, both used individually or in combination with others. Many in the group left with their favorites and I had to deal with the unfortunate fact that obviously many more people actually cook meals than I wanted to personally acknowledge.

And in addition to an itinerary that covers all the must-see attractions that define a trip to Egypt, OAT also focused on immersing its clients in the culture and lifestyle of a destination often overlooked by other tour companies.

A Day in the Life of a Farm Family brought us in close contact with a village, its inhabitants, and their way of life. We spent the day interacting, observing, participating and helping in the creation of a meal using techniques practiced for 5,000 years. 

Our host said, “If you sit with us, eat with us, talk we us, you are part of our family.”

And indeed we felt that way.

Immersion in Local Culture is Another OAT Specialty

Dinner with a Coptic (Christian) family provided further insights into a part of Egyptian society rarely included in a mainstream itinerary. We learned about their history in the country and the prejudice they suffered under the Muslim Brotherhood’s control of the government in 2012.

The current government under Abdel el-Sisi has provided them new protections, and as controversial as el-Sisi is outside Egypt because of an abysmal human rights agenda and lethal treatment of his opposition, he is better regarded in much of the country because of some level of economic stability and numerous improvements in infrastructure.

Again, the good, the bad and the ugly.

And finally, to the boat and our trip down the Nile, which I’d been anticipating since I first viewed it from our Cairo hotel balcony.

Blue waters, green fields, yellow mountains beyond and history everywhere. Once again, OAT prevailed as it owned the boat — one of the only ones with balconies — and was limited to 75 passengers on the tour. It made for a very homey journey.

Towels on our bed shaped daily into various animals never failed to delight. Our daytime tours were divided into small groups, each with its own guide and personal listening device.

Sailing down the river, where close to 95% of the population lives, you’d never know that Egypt is over 90% desert. The warm breeze negated the 105-degree temperature reading. The river controlled the Egyptian lifestyle from fishing to agriculture to trade to family.

The opening of the Aswan Dam in 1970 irrevocably changed Egyptian life by making electricity readily available — even to small villages — as well as curtailing the floods that used to destroy them.

Sitting on the sundeck, I thought back to just two weeks before when I was staring up at the movie screen, mouth agape, at impossibly huge carved stone structures encased in Egyptian pyramids and temples as part of Death in the Nile , the most recent film version of the Agatha Christie classic. The seemingly futuristic CGI creations are instead impossible-to-imagine historic wonders from 6,000 years ago.

And now, I was staring up, mouth still agape, at the very same wonders, only this time from the deck of my own Nile River boat.

Our Trip Throughout Egypt was Enhanced by the Overseas Adventure Travel Tour Company

Bus rides, an inevitable part of touring, were more than transport from one spot to another with OAT. Unlike other tours I’ve traveled with, in which the tour leader sat next to the driver and ignored the rest of us until we arrived at our destination, Hussien kept up a running commentary that enthralled us as we traveled.

We learned so much about the Egyptian way of life, political, cultural and personal — as fascinating as the itinerary itself — and not the least bit sugar-coated.  We were encouraged to ask any question about Islam, the government and the culture — without concern that it might be offensive.

He often gave several sides to controversial issues — which OAT not only does not shy away from but encourages the discussion of.

Controversial discussions are actually built into the itinerary. One evening’s “Controversial Subject” was about the role of women in Egypt — and how it is stymied as well as changing and conducted by Selma, a young single, working woman with a BA in sociology who approached the topic from many angles, like the importance of modesty in dress from burkas to hijabs to modern clothes, workplace challenges, divorce, faith as a personal choice vs. imposition of men and safety issues.

Everywhere we went, Hussien warned us off all the vendors — the Valley of the Vultures, so named — do not stop, do not make eye contact, do not look at anything they have no matter how low the price. It is useless junk and you will be taken! Nothing discourages them so just say no repeatedly and accept that this is part of the experience.

Needless to say, this will not be the part of the experience you remember. 6,000 years of magical history and OAT’s unique presentation of it will remain with you long after the harassment.

For more information, visit OAT’s Nile River Cruises online.

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