Nestled in the heart of Central America, Guatemala is one of the most popular countries to visit in this part of the world. Whether you are visiting Guatemala as a part of a wider Latin America backpacking trip or you are taking some time off work to visit the country for a week or so, we’ve got you covered! There’s so much to explore, see, do, and eat when you’re in Guatemala that it can be overwhelming, but don’t worry; that’s where we come in.
Here is our ultimate 10-day Guatemala itinerary for a trip of a lifetime! If you have more time, we will also provide you with some more amazing destinations to visit.
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Guatemala Itinerary 10 Days
A 10-day Guatemala itinerary will give you enough time to get a nice taste. 10 days will allow you to see some of the main highlights of Guatemala, without rushing around too much. While you can easily spend up to 2 weeks (or more!) in this beautiful country, 10 days is the absolute minimum we would recommend for Guatemala. So, pack your bags and get ready to explore one of our favorite countries!
Day 1: Land in Guatemala City (Head Straight to Antigua)
Unless you are traveling by land border from Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, or Mexico, you’ll start your trip to Guatemala in the capital, Guatemala City. This is the largest airport and the only international airport in the country.
Guatemala City doesn’t have much to offer tourists, and unfortunately, it is not the safest place, which is why we recommend heading straight to Antigua.
You can take a shuttle, taxi, or Uber from the La Aurora International Airport to your accommodation in Antigua. Depending on the traffic conditions in Guatemala City, it should take between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours.
Day 1 to 3: Antigua
Antigua is a breathtaking city with a rich history, amazing architecture, and tons to do! Since the city is so close to the airport, it only makes sense to start off your trip here. You’ll spend 2 nights here, with 2 full days to explore.
Antigua translates to “ancient” in Spanish, and once you arrive, you’ll understand why. The city was founded in the mid-16th century and was abandoned after massive earthquakes destroyed most of the buildings in the 1700s. The city is covered in colonial ruins and is surrounded by 3 massive volcanoes, truly a spectacle.
As the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala, Antigua has a lot to offer. This is the main hub when it comes to tourism in the country, so you’ll find better infrastructure and a surprising number of international restaurant chains here.
Where to Stay in Antigua
Unsurprisingly, Antigua has the largest selection of hotels, hostels, and resorts in Guatemala. Here, you’ll find everything from family-owned homestays to luxury hotels, budget hostels, yoga retreats, and more. Here are a few of the best places to stay in Antigua:
- Barbara’s Boutique Hostel: Best Budget Option
- Hotel Y Arte: Best Mid-Range Option
- Hotel Soleil La Antigua: Best High-End Option
Check our complete list of the best places to stay in Antigua for more recommendations.
What to Do in Antigua
Of course, no itinerary in Guatemala is complete without a ton of fun activities! Antigua has plenty to do, so you definitely won’t get bored during your time here. Here are a few of the best things to do in Antigua:
- Hike up Cerro De La Cruz (small hill overlooking the city)
- Explore the ruins of the old Spanish colonial city
- Have a cocktail on a rooftop terrace
- Hike Volcan Pacaya (an active volcano near Antigua)
- Go on a free walking tour of Antigua
Where to Eat in Antigua
Antigua is a foodie’s paradise with an insane number of restaurants spread around the city. Looking for street food, New York-style pizza, local restaurants, and fine dining all in the same small town? Antigua has you covered! Here are a few of our favorite restaurants in Antigua.
- Street Food at Iglesia de la Merced: Affordable and authentic street food.
- Quiltro: Blend of European, South American, and Guatemalan food in a fine dining setting.
- Rincón Antigueño: Best restaurant to try local food.
- La Casa De Las Sopas: Traditional Guatemalan soups and other dishes.
- Artista de Cafe: Spectacular artisan coffee and cafe food.
- Fernando’s Kaffee: Traditional Guatemalan breakfast, good coffee, and a cute cat.
- Brooklyn Pizza Co: Authentic New York-style pizza restaurant.
- Caoba Farms: Farm-to-table deliciousness in a beautiful outdoor setting.
For more food recommendations in Antigua Guatemala, check out our article on the topic!
Day 4 to 5: Climb Acatenango
After spending a few days in Antigua, you will have the chance to embark on a hike up one of Central America’s tallest mountains. Volcán Acatenango is over 13,000 feet tall (4,000 meters), so this is definitely not a hike for the faint of heart. The main draw of hiking this behemoth is that at the top, you will be able to watch Fuego Volcano erupt.
This is a 1.5-day overnight hike that starts and ends in Antigua. The best way to do the hike is with an organized tour, though it is possible to do it by yourself.
Fuego, as the name would suggest, is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and erupts with a magnificent display of smoke, fire, and molten rubble every 10 to 30 minutes. If you are up for the challenge, you can even choose to hike out to the ridge of Fuego, where you can get up close to the action.
This is truly one of the most difficult hikes we have ever done, but it was 100% worth the trek. It is also worth noting that it gets very cold on the hike, especially at the Fuego Ridge and Acatenango Summit. If you struggle with altitude, have bad knees, or don’t do much cardio, we would highly recommend avoiding this hike. You can check out Volcán Pacaya instead, which is MUCH easier.
Best Tour Companies for Climbing Acatenango
Unless you have a lot of hiking experience and are serious about wanting to do everything independently, you’ll want to book your Acatenango hike through a tour company. While the quality of the tours definitely varies, most will provide food, water, a shared cabin, rental equipment (sleeping bags, warm clothes, and head torches), and return transportation from Antigua.
- OX Expeditions was the tour company we used. They are a mid-range option with experienced guides, free equipment rental, and an emphasis on minimizing environmental impact.
- Old Town Outfitters is a more premium tour company that costs a bit more than other options, but they are highly rated as well and have years of experience.
- Any Tourist Office or Hostel/Hotel in Antigua will also sell tickets for the hike. You can find good budget options as well, though keep in mind that the equipment and the shelter may not be of the same quality.
Day 5 to 7: Lake Atitlan
After spending a few days enjoying everything Antigua has to offer, it is time to head to Lake Atitlan straight from your return from the volcano. This is a large, high-altitude lake with breathtaking views and a rich indigenous culture. It is truly fascinating to listen to local people talk to each other in Tz’utujil, Kaqchikel, or other various Mayan languages.
In Lake Atitlan, you can immerse yourself in the local life and experience some of the vibrant, diverse cultures of Guatemala.
The main hub of Lake Atitlan is the town of Panajachal (also simply referred to as “Pana”), which is around 3 hours by shuttle from Antigua. In Pana, you can catch a public boat to just about any other town on the lake. There are several villages scattered around the lake, each with its own distinct identity. Here are a few of the most popular places to visit in Lake Atitlan:
- Panajachal: Main tourist hub and most developed town in Atitlan.
- San Pedro: Large town with a sizeable local population, popular with backpackers and budget travelers.
- San Juan: Local town with amazing artisan shops, coffee, and street art.
- San Marcos: Small, secluded village that is popular with hippies and for yoga retreats.
During our time in Lake Atitlan, we stayed in a small town called Jaibalito at the famous boutique hotel La Casa Del Mundo.
Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is a region of Guatemala rather than a city or town, so there are many accommodation options spread around the lake.
Keep in mind that while you’ll find accommodation in all budgets, Guatemala is a developing nation, so the “fancy” hotels here may not be up to the same standard as in the USA or Europe. Here are a few of the standout places to stay in Atitlan.
- Free Cerveza (Santa Cruz): Best Budget Option
- Eagle’s Nest (San Marcos): Best Mid-Range Option
- La Casa Del Mundo: Best High-End Option
Check out our full list of the best places to stay in Lake Atitlan.
What to Do in Lake Atitlan
While the views alone are good enough reason to add Atitlan to your Guatemala itinerary, the lake is also stocked full of fun activities.
- Hike up to the summit of Rostro Maya for sunset
- Hop around to the different villages around the island
- Stay at a local homestay and do a Spanish immersion course
- Jump off a 40-foot (12-meter) cliff in San Marcos
- Climb the San Pedro Volcano
- Sample coffee at a plantation
- Go paragliding over the lake
- Take a weaving workshop
Where to Eat in Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is a perfect place to try some authentic Guatemalan food. We found there to be fewer food options in this region compared to Antigua, but there are still plenty of restaurants to try out.
- Pizzeria El Callejon (San Pedro): Delicious woodfire pizza restaurant at a reasonable price.
- TacoMex (San Pedro): Cheap and tasty place for tacos and tortas.
- El Indigo (Jaibalito): High-quality and relatively affordable restaurant with amazing views.
- Konojel Restaurant (San Marcos): Local restaurant with delicious vegetarian-friendly Guatemalan dishes.
- Deli Jasmin (Panajechal): Great restaurant in Pana for breakfast and lunch with a wide selection of food and drinks.
Day 8 to 9: Flores and Tikal
After spending a few days soaking up the culture at Lake Atitlan, you’ll head to Flores, a small jungle town located on an island in the northeastern part of Guatemala. The main reason that tourists flock to Flores is to visit Tikal, the ruins of an ancient city that is thought to have been one of the major hubs of the Mayan classical period.
The town of Flores itself also has a lot of charm, so we recommend spending one day exploring Tikal and another hanging out in Flores.
Flores is actually closer to Belize than it is to Antigua or Atitlan. Taking a bus or shuttle will take more than 10 hours, so considering this is only a 10-day itinerary, we highly recommend flying from Guatemala City. A shuttle from Panajachal to Guatemala City takes around 3 hours, and the flight itself only takes around 45 minutes, so if you leave early, you can be in Flores by lunchtime!
Where to Stay in Flores
Most of the places to stay in Flores are concentrated on the island, but there are also homestays and hotels spread around the area, and a few accommodation options are located in Tikal National Park.
- Los Amigos Hostel: Best Budget Option
- Hotel Casazul: Best Mid-Range Option
- Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal: Best High-End Option
What to Do in Flores
Flores is not as packed with activities as Antigua or Lake Atitlan, but there is more than enough to fill 2 days. Here are a few of the must-do activities in Flores.
- Visit Tikal Ruins on a sunrise or sunset tour
- Take a catamaran boat tour around Lake Peten Itza
- Explore the cute and colorful island town by foot
- Head to Jorge’s rope swing
- Go ziplining in Ixpanpajul Natural Park
Where to Eat in Flores
While Flores may be a small town in Guatemala, and you shouldn’t expect the same dining options as in Antigua, there are still plenty of places to eat.
- Los Amigos Hostel: Hostel restaurant and bar with good food at a fair price
- Sky Bar: Rooftop bar with a good view and descent food and drinks
- Terrazzo, Ristorante E Bar: Italian restaurant with a large selection of food
- Maracuya Flores: Excellent place for coffee, smoothies, and healthy/vegetarian food
Day 9 to 10: Lanquin and Semuc Champey
Located deep in the jungle, about halfway between Guatemala City and Flores, Lanquin boasts an incredible natural wonder: Semuc Champey. You’ll be able to find an easy shuttle from Flores to Lanquin, which is a 7-hour ride. You should arrive in the afternoon.
From the dropoff point at Lanquin, your hotel or hostel should pick you up, so let them know you are coming!
Where to Stay in Lanquin
There are not a ton of places to choose from when visiting Lanquin, but you still have options. Here are the accommodation options we recommend:
- Hostal Oasis: Best Budget Option
- El Retiro: Best Mid-Range Option
- Mountain Nest: Best High-End Option
What to Do in Lanquin
Once in Lanquin, head over to its main attraction, Semuc Champey. Semuc Champey is a collection of six stunning turquoise pools with a natural limestone bridge over the river. It’s a great place to relax in the water and take a whole HEAP of Instagram-friendly photos. This idyllic setting is incredibly photogenic!
Your accommodation may be within walking distance to Semuc Champey. But if not, you’ll need to arrange drop off and pickup with your hotel or hostel. Alternatively, you can book a full-day tour, which includes some cave exploration.
The limestone Lanquin caves are another must-see if you’ve got the time!
Where to Eat in Lanquin
You won’t have the most options in terms of restaurants in Lanquin, but that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to eat well! Here are some restaurants we recommend checking out for a bite to eat during your stay:
- ZEN: Probably the best place to eat in Lanquin. Mid-priced family-run restaurant. Amazing burgers.
- Comedor Shalom: Tasty local food (and cheap!) with tons of tortillas to fill you up.
- Aragoncito Bistro al Carbón: Amazing food with delicious vegetarian options as well!
- Restaurante la Viña del Chef: Cheap and good food with vegetarian options.
Day 10: Fly out of Guatemala City
Unfortunately, your time in Guatemala has come to an end with this 10-day Guatemala itinerary! It’s time to take a shuttle back from Lanquin straight to the Guatemala City airport.
Have More Time in Guatemala? Here are More Things to Do!
If you have the flexibility to travel to Guatemala for a bit longer, you can easily spend 2 weeks or more in the country. If you have more time in the country, this gives you more time to not only fully explore the country’s main attractions but also spend more time in a few destinations.
El Paredon
El Paredon was one of our favorite destinations in Guatemala. While there isn’t a ton to do here, it is definitely worth a visit—if only for the amazing seafood you’ll get to eat! Plus, you’ll get some much-needed beach time. This is a pretty small town you can walk across in just a matter of minutes, but besides simply relaxing, there’s a quite few activities to keep you occupied, including surfing, fishing, mangrove tour, attending a peach party, doing an ATV tour, and so much more. For more details on what to do and where to stay, check out our El Paredon, Guatemala, travel guide.
Spend More Time in Antigua
One extra day of exploring in Antigua may not seem like a lot, but with so many activities to do in the city, it can be a game-changer. We spent more than a month in Antigua as digital nomads, and we can safely say there are plenty of things to do to fill your time. This will give you more time to explore the town, try the amazing food, and maybe even take a chocolate-making workshop! You could even participate in the Antigua Bar Crawl if you’re feeling up for it.
Visit Chichicastenango Market
If you decide to spend an extra day in Antigua and you happen to have a Thursday or Sunday free, don’t miss a chance to visit the famous Chichicastenango Market! It’s one of the largest and most vibrant markets in Central America. And beyond simply being a market, it’s a whole cultural experience! People travel from all over the country comes here to sell everything from textiles, wood carvings, ceramics, and even fresh produce. Even if you don’t come with the intention of buying anything, it’s a great place to do some window shopping, take in the sights and energy of the market, and maybe even support some local artisans. The best and easiest way to get here is via a tour. Here’s a tour to Chichicastenango Market from Antigua.
Rio Dulce and Livingston
For something completely different, head east to the lush, tropical region of Rio Dulce. This area is all about slow river life, natural beauty, and Afro-Caribbean culture. Here, you can take a boat ride through the stunning gorge between Rio Dulce and Livingston while admiring the cliffs, waterfalls, and even hot springs. Livingston itself feels so different and unique from the rest of Guatemala, thanks to its vibrant Garifuna culture. It’s a bit off the standard tourist trail, but if you have the time, it’s totally worth it.
El Mirador
If you’re up for a real adventure, you’ve got to add El Mirador, the Lost City of the Maya, to your Guatemala itinerary. Hidden deep in the jungle, this massive ancient Maya city can only be reached by a multi-day hike (or a helicopter ride if you’re feeling fancy) from Flores. It’s bigger than Tikal but way less visited as it’s quite difficult to get to. So, if you make the trek and get to La Danta pyramid by the end of it, the journey here will feel all the more worth it!
What to Know About Visiting Guatemala
Now that we’ve got your 10-day Guatemala itinerary on hand, it’s time to give you all the tips you need to visit the country and take advantage of your trip to the fullest!
When to Visit Guatemala
Guatemala has two seasons: a dry season and a wet season. And unless you happen to be a big fan of torrential downpours and floods, we highly recommend visiting Guatemala during the dry season.
The dry season in Guatemala runs from November to April. During this time, the temperatures are very warm and pleasant. Expect temperatures between 23-32 degrees Celsius (73-90 F) during the day but a LOT cooler at night, especially in areas like Antigua and Guatemala City, which are higher in elevation!
Guatemala does not get HUGE crowds of tourists (ahem, Italy and France), so you don’t have to worry too much about avoiding high season. But with that said, December and January are definitely the most popular months to visit Guatemala. So, if you’d rather have a calmer trip with fewer tourists around, we recommend visiting Guatemala in March or April!
How to Get to Guatemala
There are two main methods to get to Guatemala: either through the land border from Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, or Mexico, or through the Guatemala City airport.
While most are likely to arrive in Guatemala through the latter, we’ll quickly discuss how to get to Guatemala by bus.
By bus: In the neighboring countries, you’ll find daily (or near daily) bus services to take you from where you are to Guatemala. Depending on whether you are coming from the north or the south, you will have plenty of stops along the way. In fact, a popular route for those in Belize is to switch up the itinerary and start in Flores and Tikal first before slowly making your way down to Antigua and Lake Atitlan.
By plane: Most travelers will be arriving in Guatemala by plane, straight into the international airport at Guatemala City, the capital. While there are other airports in the country, this is the largest and the ONLY international airport. The airport code you’ll need to look for is GUA, the La Aurora International Airport.
How to Get Around Guatemala
Guatemala is a surprisingly large country to cover. So, how do you get around? When in Guatemala, you’ll find yourself using a mixture of different forms of transport.
- Chicken bus: If you’re really on a budget, theoretically, you could travel around the entire country, hopping from chicken bus to chicken bus, the only form of public transport in the country. Trust us; we’ve met people who’ve done it! Also called camionetas, chicken buses are definitely not the most comfortable or safe form of transport, but they can get you from point A to point B—albeit with a lot of detours and stops.
- Tourist shuttle: This is the most popular method of getting around from destination to destination within Guatemala. The shuttles themselves may not be the most modern, but they are fairly comfortable. The tourist shuttle company we used was Itamati Travels. They don’t have a website as far as we know, but their WhatsApp number was +50239742484. Another company we used was Gekko. They weren’t the most comfortable, but they did the job.
- Night bus: When heading from Antigua to Flores, or vice versa, you’re going to need to take a night bus. While you can certainly take a tourist shuttle, the night bus is going to be MUCH more comfortable for that 10+ hour drive.
- Private driver: If you’re feeling a bit fancy, you can hire a private driver to take you from one town to the next. This will rack up a pretty bill, but you’ll be much more comfortable than you would be in a packed shuttle.
- Plane: When getting from Antigua to Flores, one option is to hop on a plane. This is a quick but expensive flight. The other two options are to take the night bus (best option!) or a shuttle.
- Rideshare: While you generally wouldn’t use Uber for intercity transport, Ubers did come in handy for us whenever we were in larger cities or towns, like Antigua or Guatemala City.
- Tuk-tuk: Another form of transportation within a town is a tuk-tuk. While we personally never used one, you’ll find tuk-tuks all over. So, if you’re not feeling up for a half-hour walk, this is a great way to give your legs some much-needed rest!
- Boat: When in Lake Atitlan, the main form of transport between towns on the lake is via boat. In fact, this is the only way to get to some of the towns!
Cost of Travel in Guatemala
In our opinion, Guatemala is a mid-range budget travel destination. While it is possible to travel the country on a budget, it is harder in general to find a more budget restaurant than it is a fancy restaurant (for example). Here is what you need to keep in mind in terms of money when traveling around Guatemala.
Budget Traveler
- Accommodation: $10 to $30 per night (bunk in a shared room in a hostel)
- Food: $15 to $30 per day (eating at local restaurants and street food only)
- Activities: Free to $20 per activity + $50 for budget Acatanengo tour
- Transportation: $1 to $5 per ride (chicken bus only)
Mid-Range Traveler
- Accommodation: $30 to $80 per night (private rooms in B&Bs, hostels, and hotels)
- Food: $25 to $50 per day (mix of local and tourist restaurants)
- Activities: $12 to $150 per activity
- Transportation: $12 to $77 per ride (shuttles and night buses only)
High-End Traveler
- Accommodation: $80 to $200+ (nice hotels)
- Food: $30 to $75 per day (sit-down restaurants and fancier spots)
- Activities: $12 to $250
- Transportation: Around $200 per day
What to Pack for Guatemala
Guatemala is an interesting destination to pack for. While most of the time, the weather will be warm, you’ll also need to pack for some cooler nights. When we were in Guatemala, this is what we each packed:
- 7+ tops (t-shirts and tanks)
- 3 pairs of shorts (plus 1 skirt if you want!)
- A pair of pajamas
- A pair of jeans
- Workout clothes
- 2 or 3 sweaters, jumpers, or jackets
- Hiking shoes
- Running shoes
Guatemala can be hot, but we would caution against bringing sandals (maybe just a pair of flip-flops for those beach days). Our sandals got absolutely MAULED in Guatemala due to the dust and hard wear and tear. So, keep those sandals at home and wear more comfortable shoes!
For more on what to pack, check out our full Guatemala packing list and ultimate packing guide for digital nomads.
🛑 WAIT! Don’t forget insurance!
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Is Guatemala Safe?
As with most destinations in South America, whether or not Guatemala is safe depends on where you travel. For example, while you can definitely go out and explore Guatemala City (or Guate), most locals recommend that tourists skip the city and head straight to Antigua. Why? Well, Guate has some level of crime, and there are just a handful of areas of the city that are considered safe for tourists. And even then, it’s not generally recommended to head out alone at night!
On the flip side, Guatemalan destinations like Antigua, Lake Atitlan, and El Paredon, among others, are incredibly safe! We never felt unsafe walking around at night, and during our time in the country, we rarely heard of any crime targeted towards tourists, if any! Of course, you should have a level of caution, and if you do feel unsafe, trust your gut. Better safe than sorry!
Travel Insurance for Guatemala
When traveling to Guatemala, you’ll need travel medical insurance. Even if you’re the least accident-prone person in the world, you never know what may happen during your travels. There are a lot of adventure activities to be had by tourists visiting Guatemala, so you want to ensure you are covered.
Our personal recommendation for travel medical insurance is SafetyWing. We love that it’s easy to use and affordable. Plus, you can get coverage even when you are already abroad, which is perfect if you accidentally forgot to get insurance before the start of your trip!
Digital Nomad Visa for Guatemala
If you’re a digital nomad looking to get to know Guatemala on a deeper level, you might want to consider staying in Guatemala for longer than your standard tourist visa allowance. Most digital nomads in this situation would look for a digital nomad visa.
Unfortunately, Guatemala does not offer a specific digital nomad visa as of 2024. However, if you’re a citizen of the US, the UK, the EU, or another visa-exempt country (Category “A”), you’re in luck! You can stay in Guatemala for up to 90 days without the need to apply for a visa. If you want to stay longer than the initial 90 days, head on over to Guatemala City to apply for a Tourist Extension Form.
It’s worth noting that Guatemala is a part of the Central America Border Control Agreement (CA-4), which is basically Central America’s answer to the Schengen Zone. Once you enter this area, you can freely move among those countries for up to 90 days. This is great and makes for much less of a headache when visiting Guatemala. However, as a digital nomad, keep these 90 days in mind if you plan to visit other countries in the CA-4!
Make sure to check out our guide to living in Antigua, Guatemala, for digital nomads!
Get to Know Guatemala with This Ultimate Itinerary!
As you can see, there’s literally so much to explore and get to know in Guatemala. From the awe-inspiring temples of Tikal to the gorgeous shores of Lake Atitlan, Guatemala has so much to offer. While spending 10 days in Guatemala with this itinerary can help you make the most of your trip, you can easily spend even more time if you could! Trust us; we spent a whole month here, and would do it again in a heartbeat.
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