Are you looking for a destination that blends culture, history, dramatic landscapes, adventure, great weather, delicious food, friendly locals, and is budget-friendly?
Look no further: Guatemala!
Guatemala had been on our bucket list for a while. Although it’s relatively close geographically, it somehow felt out of reach… Up until then, we didn’t personally know anyone who had been. In fact, even now, Guatemala still isn’t a mainstream destination for many travelers, and you don’t hear much about it or see it widely promoted.
On top of that, Guatemala has (which felt quite unfair based on our experience) a reputation for being an unsafe destination. So everyone was surprised when we told them we were planning to spend a few days there with our two young kids (ages 6 and 7 at the time). We chose to ignore the concerns, packed our bags, and went. Our trip lasted 17 days in total: 10 days in Guatemala and a week in Belize.
It was an amazing trip and exceeded all our expectations.
First of all, follow me on Instagram @danae_explore – that’s where you can keep up with my trips, find lots of travel tips, and send me a DM anytime. I love chatting about travel!
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Guatemala is genuinely stunning. From historic towns dating back to the Spanish colonial era to striking landscapes, remarkable Mayan ruins, and clear rivers and waterfalls. You can even surf on the Pacific coast (or so the experts say — we’re not surfers ourselves). The locals were incredibly friendly and welcoming, the tourism infrastructure felt reliable, prices were very reasonable, and the weather was fantastic.
So here’s our ten-day Guatemala itinerary!
We decided not to rent a car, relying on private transfers instead (some booked directly through hotels, others through GetYourGuide and Civitatis), and also took a domestic flight. Here’s an overview of our ten days exploring Guatemala and in this post you can find our Belize itinerary — it turned out to be a fantastic trip!
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Ten-day Guatemala itinerary overview
Our Guatemala itinerary turned out to be a fantastic trip, with a great mix of culture, nature, and adventure. Here’s how we structured our 10 days, including where we based ourselves and the main experiences along the way:
1️⃣ Arrival in Guatemala and transfer to Antigua, where we stayed at Hotel Casa del Parque.
2️⃣ Antigua: Exploring the colonial town, its historic streets, viewpoints, and restaurants (a free walking tour is a good ideia)
3️⃣ Pacaya Volcano hike, one of the highlights of the trip, or Acatenango Volcano (this is a two-day hike; if you choose this option, skip one day at Lake Atitlán).
4️⃣ Transfer to Lake Atitlán + afternoon in Panajachel, where we stayed at Hotel Porta del Lago for the next few days
5️⃣Lake Atitlán village hopping: San Marcos La Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlán, and Jaibalito.
6️⃣ Lake Atitlán: Visit to the Atitlán Nature Reserve and time on the lake.
7️⃣ Lake Atitlán: slow travel day. Optional early-morning hike to Indian Nose for sunrise views and Quetzal bird-watching.
8️⃣ Transfer to Guatemala Cityand domestic flight to Flores, the base for visiting Tikal. Transfer to Jaguar Inn Tikal, the hotel we stayed right by the park.
9️⃣ Full-day visit to Tikal National Park, one of the most impressive Mayan sites in Central America.
🔟 Transfer to Belize, to continue the trip, here is our Belize itinerary and Belize guide
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Day 1 – How to get to Guatemala
We arrived at La Aurora International Airport, the country’s main international gateway. We flew from São Paulo with Avianca and had a short layover in Bogotá.
Depending on where you’re coming from, you can get to Guatemala via Panama with Copa Airlines, or connect through the United States, often via Miami (just make sure to check whether you’ll need a U.S. visa).
We decided to skip Guatemala City on our way in, though we did spend a night and morning there after our days in Belize, before our return flight.
Upon arrival at the airport, we headed straight to Antigua Guatemala, about 40 km (25 miles) away. Our transfer was ready for us at the airport, and it took about an hour to reach Antigua.
While renting a car is an option, we chose not to and didn’t feel like we missed anything. The places we visited had well-organized tourist services at reasonable prices. Plus, from what we saw, the traffic on the narrow roads and streets is quite chaotic, with all kinds of drivers, motorbikes, bicycles, pedestrians (a lot of pedestrians!), and even dogs, cats, chickens, and goats. Driving here is definitely doable but requires a lot of attention and patience.
To rent a car, I always use RentCars, where I usually find the best options, and with the DANAE promo code you still get an additional 5% off. Shall we go?
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Days 2 and 3 – Antigua
Antigua, a charming town in southern Guatemala surrounded by volcanoes, was our first stop on our ten-day itinerary in the country.
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Where to stay in Antigua
We stayed at Hotel Casa del Parque, a small, charming hotel right in the heart of town. The room we stayed in was perfect for four people and had a really impressive view. From a side window, we could see Volcán de Agua, while the front window looked out on Volcán de Fuego and Acatenango. It was, honestly, such a beautiful view.
Other options I had considered were Porta Hotel Antigua and Hotel Museo Spa Casa Santo Domingo, which is set in an old convent and has fantastic reviews.
Check availability and prices here:
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What to do in Antigua, Guatemala
We only stayed in Antigua for 2 days and 3 nights, but we easily could have stayed another day or two. Antigua has so much to offer that you could spend four days without getting bored.
The town is beautiful, with cobbled streets, colonial-era houses, and many churches in different states of preservation. It also has excellent restaurants, bars, and cafés, and the ruins of old churches make for great photos. I highly reccommend a free walking tour around the town.
We spent one day simply wandering around town, and on the other, we took a Pacaya volcano tour, which was erupting at the time.
If you enjoy adventure and want a truly unforgettable experience, I’d recommend hiking up Acatenango Volcano. Most tours are done over two days, with an overnight camp near the summit. From there, you can watch Fuego Volcano erupting, which must be quite a sight, especially at night. We didn’t do it, as we thought it would be too challenging for the kids at that time (and now I must confess I regret it) .You can easily fit the Acatenango Volcano hike into this 10-day itinerary by skipping the Pacaya Volcano tour and one day at Lake Atitlán.
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Days 4 to 7 – Lake Atitlan
From Antigua Guatemala, we set off early in a transfer to Lake Atitlán, a drive that took about two and a half hours.
Lake Atitlán is surrounded by three volcanoes — Atitlán, San Pedro, and Tolimán (none of which are active), and I can say, without hesitation, that it’s one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen.
The lake is surrounded by several small towns; we chose to stay in Panajachel, which has the best tourist infrastructure in the area. Plus, it offers great sunset views over the lake.
Our days here were filled with boat rides, stand-up paddleboarding, exploring the Atitlán Nature Reserve, with its network of trails, butterfly sanctuary, and zip lines through the forest, and visiting villages around the lake. We enjoyed the sunsets, relaxed in cafés and restaurants, and really slowed down.
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Where to stay on Lake Atitlán
We stayed at Hotel Porta del Lago, right by the lake. As far as I could tell, all rooms have lake views, each with a small but cozy balcony where you can sit and take in the scenery. While the hotel could use a bit of a decor refresh, the view and location make up for it completely. The beds were comfortable, breakfast was decent, and the pool was great. It’s an easy walk from the hotel to the main street.
Another great option, though in a more secluded area, is Hotel La Casa del Mundo in Jaibalito. We spent a few hours there, enjoying a beer with beautiful views. Hotel Toliman in San Lucas Tolimán also looks like a great option if you prefer staying in that area.
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Day 8 – Return to Guatemala City and flight to Flores
After lunch in Panajachel, we headed straight to La Aurora International Airport (about a two-and-a-half-hour drive) to catch our evening flight to Flores, the closest airport to what I was most looking forward to on the trip: the Mayan ruins of Tikal.
When we arrived in Flores, a transfer was waiting for us at the airport to take us to our hotel, the Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal, located right at the entrance to Tikal National Park, perfect for an early start exploring the ruins.
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Where to stay in Tikal and Flores
When we visited Tikal, there were three hotels right at the park entrance. We stayed at Jaguar Inn Tikal, but there’s also Hotel Tikal Inn, which has a nice pool, Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostel, also with a pool, and Jungle Lodge Tikal, located next to the hostel — they seem to be part of the same property.
I chose the Hotel Jaguar Inn Tikal because it was the only one available on our dates. Going against all my usual travel planning advice, this was actually the first thing I booked — even before the flights — and we built the rest of the itinerary around those dates.
Alternatively, there are many places to stay in the town of Flores, about an hour and twenty minutes from Tikal park. The best place to stay is on the island, where you’ll find the main tourist area and the best restaurant options. Some good choices include Hotel Casona de La Isla, Hotel Villa del Lago, and Hotel Casa Amelia. If you prefer a larger hotel with full facilities, Ramada by Wyndham Tikal Isla de Flores is a good option.
That said, I really, really recommend trying to stay at one of the hotels near the park. They’re not expensive, and the facilities are more than adequate. There are also several agencies offering full-day trips to Tikal from Flores.
The biggest advantage of staying nearby Tikal ruins is how close you are, we could (and did) walk to the entrance, just about 100 meters away. This made a huge difference in our experience. We avoided the crowds, explored Tikal at our own pace, and had time to take it all in without rushing. And at night, we were treated to an unforgettable starry sky.
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Day 9 – Tikal National Park
You can easily visit the park in one day, as we did. If you have more time, spending two days there lets you explore at a slower pace and enjoy some of the hikes in the area.
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Day 10 – Departure
We woke up early and our transfer took us to the next destination of the trip: Belize!
The drive from Tikal to the Belize border takes about an hour and a half. After clearing immigration, we walked a few meters to cross into Belize. On the other side, a new driver was already waiting for us, ready to continue to San Ignacio, our first stop in the country. In this post I share all the details on how to get from Guatemala to Belize by land.
Now take a look at our full Belize itinerary and all our tips on what to do in Belize. I’m sure you’ll, just like we did, fall in love with this small country, packed with great places to explore and memorable experiences.
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Here are the websites I always use to plan my trips:
– 🛌 Accommodation: Booking
– ☀️ Tours & activities: Civitatis & Get Your Guide
– 📱 eSIM for mobile data: Airalo e-SIM – use promo code DANAE2375
– 🚗 Car rental: RentCars – use promo code DANAE
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All our posts about traveling in Central and South America:
Brazil:
- Complete guide to visiting Lençóis Maranhenses: Tips and essential itinerary
- Chapada dos Veadeiros Guide: what to do, where to stay and more
- Brazilian Amazon – How to visit the Amazon Rainforest
- What to do in Alter do Chão: Exploring amazonian beaches and rainforests in Brazil
- Chapada das Mesas – Complete itinerary: what to do, where to stay, how to get there
- The best tours to do in Bonito, Brazil, in 4 days
- Ultimate Guide to Bonito: Exploring the southern Brazilian Pantanal’s hidden paradise
- What to do in Chapada dos Guimaraes – Mato Grosso
- What to do in Pirenópolis: charming ecotourism in the heart of Central Brazil
Colombia:
- What to do in 3 days in Bogotá
- What to do in Cartagena de Indias – Colombia
- How to visit Tayrona National Park – the most beautiful beaches in mainland Colombia
- The best of Colombia – 12-day itinerary
Guatemala
Argentina
- The best of Ushuaia: 4-day itinerary for spring and fall
- El Calafate and Perito Moreno Glacier – the best of Argentinan Patagonia
- Northern Argentina: 10-day itinerary through Salta and Jujuy
Chile
Belize
- One week in Belize: a perfect itinerary for first-time visitors
- Things to do in Belize: the best of San Ignacio, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker
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