7-day trip to Guatemala
A bit of everything
A 7-day trip to Guatemala is enough to give you a taste of this beautiful country, with its archeological ruins, Mayan cities, and friendly locals. This sampler week in Guatemala takes you to some of the hottest tourist spots where you’ll learn more about the culture and history of this Latin American country.
For anyone interested in seeing Guatemala, this tour gives you the country’s highlights. You’ll visit historical sites, take a boat tour, and visit one of the most beautiful cities in Central America, Antigua Guatemala.
Lake Atitlan
Latin America’s most beautiful lake
Tikal
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Antigua Guatemala
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ancient traditions
Living Mayan Culture
Highlights
Guatemala is a culturally important country with a strong Mayan history. It’s also known for its natural beauty and this trip will show you the top sights here. You’ll climb an active volcano where you can roast marshmallows over a volcanic vent, explore local markets, and meet the people who live here. You’ll also have a chance to visit Lake Atitlan and explore some surrounding towns. And don’t forget your trip to Antigua, Guatemala, a UNESCO site you don’t want to miss, packed with friendly people, dedicated artisans, and delicious Guatemalan food.
Itinerary
Once you land in Guatemala City, your guide will pick you up and you’ll head to Lake Atitlan. The drive is beautiful, winding through the mountains and you’ll catch a glimpse of the lake’s deep blue water long before arrival. The lake itself is in the crater of an extinct volcano with three more volcanoes surrounding it, so it is quite picturesque.
You’ll arrive in Panajachel, the most famous and heavily transited town on the lake. From there, you’ll hop on a boat to cross the lake to one of the many smaller towns along its edges. You’ll spend your night surrounded by beautiful nature and birdsong.
- Two nights in Lake Atitlan
For your second day in Guatemala, you’ll be taking a boat tour to visit some of the indigenous pueblos around the edge of the lake. Every town has its own vibe and traditional dress. We’ll stop at three towns on our way around the lake:
Santa Catarina: This colorful town features brightly painted houses, covered in Mayan designs. The initiative to paint the homes throughout Santa Catarina was meant to improve the local economy. To have their homes painted for free, homeowners must agree to send their children to school and to keep the area around their homes tidy. It makes for a stunning photo opportunity.
Santiago Atitlan: Santiago is well known for its talented artisans. As you walk up the hill from the docks, you’ll find the entire street lined with vendors who offer woven textiles, paintings, and woodwork. The town is mostly made up of Tz’utujil people who have their own culture and language.
San Juan La Laguna: Coffee lovers will be thrilled to visit this town. You’ll have a chance to visit a coffee farm and see exactly where coffee is grown and how it’s processed. You can also visit local artists and a weaving cooperative to learn more about how people live here.
So many people love Lake Atitlan that we offer an optional extra day at the lake. You have many choices for activities during your extra time, including:
Cooking class: A local Maya cook will teach you how to make several Guatemalan dishes. You’ll first go to the market to purchase the ingredients, which is an experience in itself, before returning to the class and cooking up some delicious local delicacies for lunch.
Sunrise Hike up the Nose of the Mayan: The Nose is a well-known hill overlooking the lake and you get the best views from the morning. From its peak, you’ll see all three volcanoes around the lake and even spot Volcan Fuego erupting far away.
Kayaking on Lake Atitlan: Hop in a kayak and paddle around this stunning lake. You’ll see the villages from a unique perspective, as well as view the natural beauty that abounds here.
Stand-up paddleboarding: If paddleboards are more your speed, you can head out on the lake early in the morning. The water is calm at this hour and you will get the best views of everything along the shore, including fishermen, women washing their clothes, and coffee plantation workers.
Ziplining: Interested in a bit more adventure? Head back across the lake to the Atitlan Nature Reserve. As you hike up the mountain, you may spot coatis, monkeys, and other creatures living here, deep in the jungle. The longest zipline canopy tour in Central America will take you along several ziplines through the forest and even over a piece of the lake. And, for those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, there’s plenty to explore in the reserve, from waterfalls to a butterfly habitat.
ATV tours: Another option is to tour the lake on ATVs. We’ll drive around the edge of the lake, through assorted indigenous villages where you can check out local artists, visit colorful markets, and taste coffee and chocolate produced right here.
Of course, you may also opt to just relax and have a Maya sauna, spa treatment or yoga class in town.
Leaving Lake Atitlan behind, we’ll drive to Chichicastenango, where one of the most famous markets in Central America takes place, on Thursday and Sunday. You’ll find stunning examples of Guatemalan handicrafts and weavings here and a range of other things to purchase.
We’ll have a quick lunch before heading to Iximche, the ruins of the very first capital city of Guatemala. The ruins are still used for Mayan rituals, so you may spot some indigenous people as you wander through the multiple ceremonial plazas. While this site is fairly worn down, you can still see the market square, the ball arenas, and the remains of the temples that were once an important part of the city.
Finally, we’ll drive to Antigua Guatemala, where you can relax at your hotel or enjoy a stroll around the cobbled streets.
- Two nights in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala is a UNESCO World Heritage site packed with beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets. Nearly everyone who visits Guatemala will stop in Antigua at some point since it’s a central spot to travel from.
With many churches and convents dating back to the 16th-18th centuries, Antigua is like stepping back in history. You can visit the many ruins of this stunning town, many of which were convents or churches destroyed in 1773, by a massive earthquake. That same quake caused the capital city to move from Antigua to its current location of Guatemala City.
Your tour of Antigua will include the famous cathedral located in Central Park, as well as many of the incredible colonial convents and churches. You’ll also have a chance to taste some local food, beautifully prepared by the restaurants here.
As soon as you set foot in Guatemala, you’ll spot volcanoes. They’re everywhere and today you have a chance to climb one for yourself. Volcan Pacaya is the most active volcano in the country and from the top, you’ll easily see three more volcanoes, Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. It’s a fairly easy hike and lets you see volcanic rock and even roast a marshmallow over a volcanic vent.
If you prefer not to climb a volcano, we have alternatives that include:
Colonial towns and coffee tour: Experience life in Guatemala when you head to a nearby coffee plantation. You’ll walk through the coffee fields, help harvest coffee berries, and learn how to process and even roast the coffee using traditional tools. You’ll finish off your visit by brewing a fresh cup of delicious coffee.
Food tour: For those interested in a culinary tour, we’ll take you around Antigua to taste amazing traditional foods at several locations. You’ll have a chance to experience the cuisine of this unique country from a variety of cooks while learning more about the city and culture.
ATV mountain excursion: Ride an ATV with our guide who will take you to the top of two mountains overlooking Antigua. You’ll pass avocado plantations, visit Cerro de La Cruz, and see Hobbitenango, a Lord of the Rings eco-park high in the mountains surrounding Antigua.
Finally, we’ll finish up the day with a trip to the capital city where you’ll board a small plane and fly to Flores Island.
- Overnight on Flores Island
After a lovely night on Flores Island, our driver will take you to Tikal National Park. This stunning nature reserve is beautiful as is, but tucked away in its depths are the remains of an ancient civilization. Tikal is possibly one of the most famous Mayan ruins you can visit. It covers over 222 square miles, but we’ll be exploring the main area. You’ll walk through the jungle, spotting monkeys, birds, and many insects on your way.
Tikal was a Mayan city with around 100,000 people at its peak. It was one of the biggest cities in Mesoamerica at the time and had more than 3,000 structures. Most people know the iconic Temple IV, which is the tallest temple and towers over the surrounding trees. However, there are several other temples, palaces, and other, smaller buildings.
Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage site, thanks to its importance in the world of archeology. The site taught archeologists a lot about Mayan history and the pyramids here were once used as observatories of the sky. The city was active from 200-900 AD, but there’s evidence that the area was farmed long before that time. It’s truly a piece of history that you can explore and stand in.
After your tour, we’ll fly back to Guatemala City with a flight time of just one hour.
- Overnight in Guatemala City
Your 7-day trip to Guatemala has come to an end. We’ll take you to the Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City for your return flight.
map, expenses & price
7-day Trip to Guatemala
Expenses included:
-Private transportation.
-Domestic flights.
-Six nights of hotel accommodations.
-Local professional on-site guides.
-All park entrance fees.
-Tours and excursions as listed.
-Daily breakfast.
Extensions
7-day trip to guatemala
Rio Dulce or “Sweet River” is a 43 km river that runs from Lake Izabal to the Caribbean Sea. It was once a bustling thoroughfare for trade boats and was frequently threatened by pirates. The Spanish built the San Felipe Castle at the entrance of the lake to prevent pirates from reaching the port and you can still explore the castle to this day. Bright green water and towering limestone cliffs make a boat trip along this river a wonderful opportunity to take photos and spot some of the many bird species that make this their home.
7-day trip to guatemala
The limestone rock that makes up much of Guatemala creates some unique geographical wonders, like Semuc Champey. Nestled in the jungle, this site features multiple turquoise pools that spill into each other. The humid atmosphere and the inviting waters make this not only a photo-worthy spot but also a popular place to take a dip. Naturally formed waterslides let you swoop from one pool to the next. There’s nothing quite as incredible as swimming in these pristine waters.
7-day trip to guatemala
While Tikal may be the best known of the Mayan ruins, Yaxha is only 30 km from Tikal and is generally overlooked by tourists. You’ll enjoy having the site almost to yourself as you explore the twin pyramid complex and the more than 500 structures uncovered here. The ancient Mayan city is perched on a ridge above the beautiful blue Yaxha lake and surrounded by jungle and nature. Be sure to climb Temple 216 for the most incredible view in the park.
7-day trip to guatemala
Belize Cayes
Belize has a lot to offer and since it’s so close to Guatemala, you can take a short trip to visit the Cayes. These small islands are fun to explore and have a rich history full of Mayans, pirates, and even British loggers. We’ll check out the two largest options, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, but you’ll also have time to snorkel over the second-largest coral reef system in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef. Have a blast snorkeling, swimming, and generally exploring the area.
7-day trip to guatemala
Monterrico
Have you ever seen a black sand beach? Monterrico is a stunning miles-long beach on the Pacific coast of Guatemala, made up of volcanic sand. The surf here is rough and strong, but these beaches are the nesting area for sea turtles. If you visit between July and January, you can help release baby sea turtles into the sea. Mangroves are another important part of Monterrico, full of birds and marine life. You can take a boat trip through the mangroves to catch a glimpse of some of the wildlife here.
