Where to Go in Guatemala
Are you wondering where to go in Guatemala?
Guatemala is one of my favorite countries in Latin America. I spent several months in Guatemala and I was consistently blown away by how beautiful and diverse this country was.
The reason I spent so long in Guatemala in the first place is because I was spending a month taking Spanish lessons before traveling around the country for a few weeks and continuing my journey throughout Central America. However, I actually ended up coming back to Guatemala because I liked it so much and there was more of the country that I still wanted to see and had missed the first time around!
Below are the top destinations in Guatemala I’d recommend that you visit…
Antigua
Antigua is the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala. This small, charming colonial city is located about an hour from Guatemala City and it’s the first place most visitors go when they land in Guatemala.
Filled with colorful buildings, historic churches, cobblestone streets, and surrounded by volcanoes, Antigua is truly a picture-perfect destination. The city has an amazing atmosphere and there are lots of cool restaurants, cafes, bars, shops, and things to do since it’s such a popular destination.
This is the perfect place to start your trip to Guatemala. I’d recommend spending at least five days here. Within the city, there are lots of cool historic sites to explore. You can also walk up to Cerro de la Cruz for amazing views over Antigua. In the hills above the city, Hobbitenango is a fun, unique destination.
If you like hiking, there are two popular volcano hikes you can do from Antigua: Acatenango, which is a more challenging overnight hike and Pacaya, which is an easier day hike.
Antigua is also a popular place for taking Spanish lessons, and there are numerous Spanish schools throughout the city. This is what I did for a month in Antigua and I really enjoyed it! One-on-one Spanish lessons are affordable and most Spanish schools also offer homestays, social activities, etc.
Related: Where to Stay in Antigua, Guatemala
Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is another popular destination in Guatemala. Located 2.5 to 3 hours from Antigua by car, Lake Atitlan is a stunning destination surrounded by more volcanoes and mountains.
The best way to get to Lake Atitlan from Antigua is by booking a tourist shuttle. These are easy, safe ways to travel in Guatemala and you can go from Antigua to many of the popular towns along the lake, including Panajachel and San Pedro La Laguna. I’ve broken down the best towns in Lake Atitlan and where to stay in the guide linked below — each town has its own personality and is known for something different.
I’d recommend spending at least a few days in Lake Atitlan. Regardless of where you base yourself, you can take lanchas (small boats that are the main form of public transportation on the lake) to explore the other towns. The boats don’t have set schedules but they run all morning and afternoon.
Along with Antigua, this is a must-visit destination in Guatemala. If you only have one week in Guatemala, I’d recommend starting in Antigua then spending a few days in Lake Atitlan.
Related: Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Semuc Champey
If you’re short on time (as in, you can only spend a week or so in Guatemala), I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Semuc Champey because it’s pretty difficult to get to and it’s not close to anything else. But if you have more time to spare, this adventurous destination in the middle of nowhere is worth it!
Semuc Champey is an amazing natural formation made up of tiered limestone pools filled with clear turquoise water. You can swim in the pools, explore nearby caves and waterfalls, go tubing, and more.
From Antigua, it’s about an 8-hour drive to Lanquin, the town closest to Semuc Champey, although it can take even longer because the roads are sometimes in bad condition. This is definitely a journey you’ll want to book a shuttle for, and there are departures from Antigua to Lanquin every morning.
You’ll want to spend at least two nights in Lanquin (so you have one full day for Semuc Champey) although I booked a third night to break up the long journey time. From here, you can head back to Antigua or take another 8-hour shuttle ride to continue north to Flores (which I’ll talk about next.)
Related: Where to Stay in Semuc Champey, Guatemala
Flores
Another one of the best places to go is Flores. This small town is located on an island in the middle of Lake Petén Itzá in northern Guatemala. It’s the starting point for visiting the Mayan ruins of Tikal.
There are several ways to get to Flores. As I mentioned above, if you’re coming from Semuc Champey, it’s an 8-hour shuttle ride. If you’re coming from Antigua, it’s a 12-hour shuttle ride (these run overnight or start extremely early in the morning.) The fastest option is flying. There are multiple flights from Guatemala City to Flores every day which take about one hour. This is actually what I did to get to Flores!
I’d recommend spending a few nights in Flores. You can use it as a base to visit Tikal, or you can stay closer to Tikal (which is what I did.) If you stay closer to Tikal, you really only need to spend one night in Flores. It’s a cute town and you can take a boat trip out on the lake, but there’s not a ton to do here.
In the guide linked below, I’ve listed some hotels in both Flores and Tikal.
Related: 7 Best Hotels Near Tikal, Guatemala
Tikal
Tikal is one of the coolest destinations in Guatemala. These Mayan ruins deep in the jungle are some of the best-preserved in the world. You might recognize Tikal as a Star Wars filming location.
This was one of my favorite places in Guatemala, and I think part of the reason I enjoyed it so much is because I spent a couple of nights staying out in the jungle instead of just coming on a day trip from Flores.
From Flores, it’s a 1.5-hour drive to Tikal, so it’s definitely possible to visit on a day trip. But staying in the jungle was such a unique experience, and I was able to visit Tikal on a special sunset and nighttime tour which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise, so I would highly recommend doing that.
Related: 7 Best Hotels Near Tikal, Guatemala
El Paredon
If you have some extra time in Guatemala, El Paredon is another great destination. This is a Pacific Coast beach town that is about 2.5 hours from Antigua. There’s not much to the town — once a sleepy fishing village, it’s become a popular spot for surfing but it’s still very quiet and rustic.
This is a great place to come for a couple of days from Antigua if you want to spend some time surfing. Lessons are available for all skill levels, even if you’re a total beginner. Other things to do here include taking a boat tour of the nearby mangroves and enjoying the amazing sunsets over the Pacific Ocean.
Related: Where to Stay in El Paredon, Guatemala
Xela
Finally, Xela is a great destination if you want to get off the main tourist path in Guatemala. Although the city is actually called Quetzaltenango, most people use the Mayan name Xela to refer to it. Xela is located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala and it’s a popular destination for hiking and trekking.
There are many hikes you can do around the mountains and volcanoes of the Western Highlands. Xela is another popular place to study Spanish. I actually came here for several weeks to take more Spanish lessons. It’s even easier to learn and immerse yourself in Spanish here since it’s less touristy.
To get to Xela, you can take a shuttle from Lake Atitlan (which takes 2 to 3 hours depending on which town you’re coming from.) You can also take a shuttle from Antigua, a journey of 3.5 hours.
Related: 7 Best Hotels in Xela, Guatemala
Where to Go in Guatemala
This guide showed you where to go in Guatemala.
If you have just one week in Guatemala, I’d recommend focusing on Antigua and Lake Atitlan. If you have two weeks, you can also add on Semuc Champey, Flores, and Tikal. And if you have more time, El Paredon and Xela are also worth visiting. Of course, there’s plenty more to discover in Guatemala!
For example, I’d love to return to Guatemala and spend some time in Rio Dulce and Livingston, on Guatemala’s small Caribbean coast. The Mayan market town of Chichicastenango, which is located north of Lake Atitlan, is another destination I missed that looks like it would be amazing.
Guatemala is an amazing destination with beautiful scenery and a rich culture. These are the best places to go on your trip to Guatemala to get a taste of this incredible Central American country.
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