Visiting Guatemala? Here are nine things you should add to your itinerary.
Guatemala is a country for people who love historic buildings, outdoor adventures, and artisan crafts. This colorful country has a lot to offer. We visited Antigua and several towns around Lake Atitlan, but there are sights outside these areas too.
Here are 9 things you should do when you visit Guatemala.
Explore Antigua’s Old Buildings
My favorite thing about our trip was seeing Antigua’s historic buildings. The architecture is Baroque-influenced, and the city was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. An earthquake in 1773 is why there are many ruins to see. Here are some of the sights we visited:
Arco de Santa Catalina
San José Cathedral Antigua and Ruinas de La Antigua Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago – favorite!
Iglesia San Francisco el Grande and Museo del Hermano Pedro
Antiguo Colegio de la Compañía de Jesús
Iglesia de la Merced
Convento Santa Clara – favorite!
Real Palacio de los Capitanes Generales
Hike Rostro Maya
This is a popular hike out of San Juan La Laguna. You’ll start around 4:45 am to make it to the top by sunrise (between 6-6:30 am). The steep hike is about 30-45 minutes and somewhat challenging. While the path is straightforward, a guide is recommended because it crosses private land. We booked this affordable guide on Tripadvisor. Don’t forget to bring a headlamp.
Shop for Local Handicrafts
You’ll love the colorful textiles and pottery, and you’ll see them everywhere. This art was created by indigenous women with traditions passed through generations. The traditional weaving can be found in skirts worn by local women, tablecloths in restaurants, and bed runners in hotels. Here are some of my favorite shops we visited and ones where you’ll find more authentic items:
- Casa de los Gigantes (Antigua)
- Casa Flor Ixcaco Weaving Cooperative (San Juan La Laguna)
- Casa Del Tejido y Tours (San Juan La Laguna)
- Algodones Mayas (Antigua)
- Weekend market at the Antigua Square
Take Part in a Mayan Ceremony
Lake Atitlan is known as a spiritual place, and there are various ways to experience mindful ceremonies around the lake. These include cacao, fire, and temazcal (Mayan sweat lodge) among others. In any of these ceremonies, you’re taking time to self-reflect, meditate, and learn about the traditions.
We took part in a cacao and fire ceremony at Kawoq Forest led by a teacher. Each person brings their intention to the circle, like asking for guidance on a decision, and we use this space and time to slow down and connect with ourselves and the earth. We sat around a small fire pit, drank cacao to open the mind and heart (not psychedelic, just caffeine), burned things like wood and herbs, and prayed for gratitude and hope as the teacher shared specific prayers to the 20 Mayan nahual (spirits). This is a good (easier) ceremony to attend, but there are ones with other plant medicines if you want to go deeper.
San Marcos La Laguna is known as the spiritual town at the lake. I liked Kawoq Forest, and here are a few more places to research to find the right experience for you:
Hike Acatenango
Many visit Guatemala for hiking and Acatenango is the biggest challenge. Hiking Acatenango gives you a great view of the neighboring Fuego Volcano, which typically erupts lava every 20 minutes. We were disappointed to visit during its two-month break, and it erupted 8 days after our hike.
See this post for all the details about our Acatenango hike.
Take Photos of Street Art
From colorful murals in San Juan La Laguna to the picturesque windows and doors everywhere, I enjoyed taking pictures on our walks. San Juan La Laguna is especially colorful because of its community of artists.
Drink Guatemalan Coffee
You can’t miss it – it’s everywhere! Guatemala is a top 10 exporter of coffee beans in the world, and you’ll find a lot of Guatemalan coffee in the U.S. But it hits different when you drink it in Guatemala. Sometimes all you need to add is a bit of sugar. You can find coffee shops everywhere, especially in Antigua and Panajachel.
If you’re a foodie nerd (like me), take a step further and visit a coffee farm (finca in Spanish). We didn’t do it on this trip since we did it a lot when we visited Indonesia, but here are some farms you could check out. You can also find tours on Tripadvisor or Viator.
- Shangri-La Atitlan (San Marcos La Laguna)
- Finca La Azotea (Antigua)
(Learn about craft coffee in this post.)
Learn About Chocolate
Similar to coffee, you should try the chocolate here. You’ll see chocolate on coffee shop menus and bars of chocolate in gift shops. You can also tour cacao farms to learn about the process from tree to bar, make chocolate in a workshop, or take part in a cacao ceremony for a more spiritual experience.
Cacao was known as the “drink of the gods,” a sacred gift consumed by the elite on special occasions. It opens the heart, gives you focus, and deepens your connection.
(See my chocolate posts to learn more.)
Visit Tikal National Park
We didn’t add this to the schedule because of the distance, but one of the most popular sights to see in Guatemala is Tikal National Park. This is one of the largest Mayan archeological sites. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is far from other sights, in the north part of the country, so it can be hard to get to. From Guatemala City, you’ll take a flight to Flores and then a 1.5-hour shuttle from Flores to Tikal.
If you need more ideas, check out the natural pools of Semuc Champey or the beaches of El Paredón.
I hope you get to see this beautiful country for yourself! From historic buildings to inspiring landscapes, Guatemala is for adventurers!
Want to read more about Guatemala? See these posts:
- Eating and Drinking in Guatemala + Favorite Restaurants
- Guide to the Acatenango Volcano Hike in Guatemala
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