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GUATEMALA IS A FANTASTIC ADVENTURE DESTINATION TO HEAD TO - EVEN IF YOU ONLY HAVE A FEW WEEKS TO SPARE. THIS 2 WEEK TRAVEL ITINERARY IS PACKED FULL OF EPIC ADVENTURES, BEAUTIFUL TOWNS AND LOTS OF FUN. EXPLORE IT BELOW.
Guatemala is an absolutely stunning Central American country full of history, culture, and adventure. And thanks to its rather small size you can really see a lot of its highlights in about 2 weeks (though as usual, the more time you have the better!).
Below is my action packed 2 week travel itinerary, where you will find an outline of the top destinations and the amount of time you should spend there. While this itinerary doesn't cover every place in Guatemala - trust me, there is a whole lot to see - it should give you a great taste of how amazing this country is.
THE PERFECT GUATEMALA TRAVEL ITINERARY
GUATEMALA CITY
While the capital of the country is quite large, it doesn't really have a lot to offer (unfortunately). Most likely you will only spend time in the city either as you enter the country (especially via air) or as you leave.
If you do end up having to spend a day there, then consider visiting Zona 1/The Historic Center, which is where you will find many of the most important and historical buildings Including, the National Palace of Culture (Palacio Nacional de la Cultura), the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress, the Presidential House (Casa Presidencial), the National Library, and Constitution Plaza, which is the old Central Park.
TIME NEEDED: 1 day
ANTIGUA
But really one of the first places you should head to upon entering Guatemala - especially if coming from Guatemala City - is Antigua. This very beautiful old town is full of amazing buildings, great food, delicious coffee, lots of history and a lively atmosphere.
While I ended up spending more than a week here, I think you can see most of the major sites and get a feel for its atmosphere in a couple of days.
► Find my FULL Antigua, Guatemala Travel Guide (which includes the top 5 things to do, plus where to stay and eat) here.
TIME NEEDED: 3 days
EXPLORE MORE | THE TOP 8 COFFEE SHOPS TO VISIT IN ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
ACATENANGO VOLCANO HIKE
If you are looking for an epic Guatemala adventure then make sure to add hiking up Acatenango Volcano to watch Fuego erupt to your travel itinerary. Located about an hour from downtown Antigua, Acatenango is an absolutely incredible place to spend a couple of days - especially if you get lucky and have clear skies.
While I go into more detail in my Acatenango Hiking Guide, the basic premise of this adventure is you hike up to basecamp on Acatenango Volcano (which takes about 7 hours and is relatively challenging), and watch Fuego Volcano erupt nearby, and then the next morning you wake up for sunrise and summit Acatenango before hiking back down.
This 2-day adventure costs around $50 - $70 USD and can easily be booked in Antigua.
TIME NEEDED: 2 days
LEARN MORE | HIKING IN COLOMBIA: WHAT ALL ADVENTURERS NEED TO KNOW
LAKE ATITLAN
After hiking up Acatenango Volcano it is time to head to another famous and beautiful spot in Guatemala: Lake Atitlan.
Known as the deepest lake in all of Central America, this massive body of water is surrounded by volcanoes and small villages - many of which you can really only get to via boat. Because of this, you have a lot of choices when it comes to things to do. From hiking in the nearby hills - including to the famous Rostro Maya (Indian Nose) formation - to boating around to all of the small towns to just sitting at a waterside bar drinking a cocktail or two, you can easily spend 3 or 4 days here and feel like you haven't done it all.
💬 INSIDER TIP: definitely make sure to visit the village of San Marcos, which is considered the "hippy" town. Here you can find lots of coffee shops and health-conscious restaurants, spiritual houses and yoga/meditation retreats.
Once you get your fill of the lake, consider spending a day visiting the nearby Chichicastenango Market - one of the largest traditional markets in the country. If you want to buy unique and authentic souvenirs, then this is the place to go.
TIME NEEDED: 3-4 days
SEMUC CHAMPEY
Another can't-miss spot in Guatemala is the increasingly popular natural wonder of Semuc Champey. Located in the heart of the Guatemalan jungle near the small town of Lanquin, this national monument - which includes 6 turquoise colored pools, a candlelit cave and some waterfalls - is an awesome spot to head to if you are an adventurous traveler looking to explore the more natural side of the country.