My next travel adventure took me to Guatemala! This Central American country is full of beautiful views and the biggest physical adventure (hiking the Acatenango Volcano) I’ve ever had.
This post is a good starting place if you want to plan a trip to Guatemala, and it’s specifically about my travels to Antigua and the Lake Atitlan area. Read on for all my trip tips!
Why Visit Guatemala
Our reason for visiting Guatemala was to hike Acatenango to see the Fuego Volcano’s lava. Though we didn’t accomplish that, we still enjoyed the trip. Here are some of the reasons to visit Guatemala:
- Hiking
- Seeing Volcanoes – there are 37 of them, which is a lot for a small country
- Enjoying outdoors
- Exploring colonial buildings and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Antigua)
- Finding a spiritual experience with Mayan tradition
- Traveling on a budget
Things to Know When Traveling to Guatemala
- Currency: Guatemalan Quetzals. The exchange rate is about $1 USD to Q7.72.
- Language: Official language is Spanish. You may also hear Mayan languages.
- Water: Not safe to drink from the tap. Most hotels and rentals will have EcoFiltro jugs, usually in a common space. Bring a reusable water bottle or use the glasses provided to enjoy fresh water.
- Vaccines: No vaccines required; make sure everything is up to date.
- Visa: No advance planning needed for U.S. residents. You will get a visa stamp when you arrive at the airport. No additional cost.
- Tipping: Restaurants typically add a service charge. Tips for hotel workers, drivers, and tour guides are not necessary but appreciated.
- WhatsApp: This is the primary way to connect with shuttle operators and tour guides if you have booked anything ahead of time.
Best Time to Visit Guatemala
The dry season is typically November to April and the wet season is May to October. The dry season tends to be cooler, so pack layers. I would avoid the days around Christmas and Easter.
Is Guatemala Safe?
The U.S. government recommends travelers “reconsider travel” (level 3 out of 4) due to crime in specific areas. Petty crime can be an issue, and normal caution should be observed. This includes not flashing expensive items, being aware of your surroundings and personal items, not being out late at night, and staying in safe areas.
I stayed in tourist-oriented cities with no issues and followed the recommendation to not spend much time in Guatemala City, where the international airport is located.
Check your government advisories and news for the latest updates before you travel.
How to Stay Healthy in Guatemala
When it comes to health, you should be on your guard in Guatemala. I’ve gotten uncomfortable (not quite sick) on my travels, so I used extra caution in Guatemala.
- Don’t pet the street dogs and cats
- Don’t drink tap water – many places to stay provide access to EcoFiltro jugs to fill up a reusable bottle
- Bring medicine like charcoal pills and vitamin c
- Use caution with food – aim for freshly cooked
- Use bug repellent (and check your vaccinations) – to avoid malaria, dengue, and zika
- Wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer
Here’s what we packed in our health/emergency kit.
- First aid kit
- Charcoal pills (for upset stomach)
- Motion sickness pills (for hilly shuttles)
- Acetaminophen (for altitude sickness)
- Ibuprofen (for mild headaches)
- Vitamin C packs (for immunity)
- Bug spray (for mosquitos)
- Lavender spray (for bed bug prevention)
Flying to Guatemala
La Aurora International Airport (GUA) is located in Guatemala City and is the only international airport in Guatemala. From there you can fly to Flores to visit Tikal National Park or take a shuttle to Antigua or Lake Atitlan.
Transportation – Getting Around Guatemala
There are several ways to get around: tourist shuttle, chicken bus, tuk-tuk, boat, and Uber.
Shuttles
For transport between Guatemala City, Antigua, and Panajachel, we used Atitrans, a tourist shuttle. We booked all our shuttles on their website before our trip and they were $18-20 per person for a shared shuttle. We took one private shuttle from Guatemala City (airport) to Antigua, and it cost $65 total. They will confirm the time and meeting spot, typically your hotel. Know that the time is approximate, and you could wait up to 30 minutes for arrival.
You can also use GuateGo or Bookaway to find shuttles.
Typical travel times
- Guatemala City to Antigua: 1.5 hours
- Guatemala City to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 3 hours
- Antigua to Panajachel, Lake Atitlan: 2.25 hours
Public Transportation
If you are saving money and more flexible with your time, you can flag down a chicken bus, one of the very colorful school buses that you will see everywhere. Locals use these and they make frequent stops.
For travel within a city, there are tuk-tuks, which are small like a pedicab, and Uber. We found that most places were within a 20-minute walking distance, so we walked most of the time.
Boats
To travel to cities around Lake Atitlan, it is much faster to take a boat.
- Public boats (“lancha”) leave from Panajachel from 7 am to 7 pm, and you can walk up and catch one every 20 minutes.
- The cost depends on the distance. The farthest you’ll go from Panajachel is San Juan and it’s Q25 (about $3.25) one way. It is about 30 minutes if you’re going direct (private boat) but there will likely be stops in between, so budget up to 50 minutes.
- If you have luggage, it’s typically an extra Q5.
- Exact change is necessary.
- The last boat from San Pedro back to Panajachel leaves at 5 pm.
- Private boats are available. You can arrange with your hotel or walk up to the boat dock.
Where to Visit in Guatemala
We visited the most popular tourist cities. Here’s a little more about them.
- Antigua – If you love historic buildings, this is your city! It’s very walkable and has plenty of restaurants.
- Lake Atitlan – Visit the lake for the sunrise Rostro Maya hike (30 minutes), to take a yoga class, participate in a cacao or temazcal (sweat lodge) ceremony, and visit some artisan shops.
- Panajachel – This is the jumping-off point at Lake Atitlan since shuttles will bring you here and the public boat leaves from here to take you around the lake. It’s a busy city with a natural reserve you can visit, but you’ll likely head towards another town on the lake. Because of its size, it does have a lot of restaurant and coffee shop options.
- San Juan La Laguna – My favorite town on Lake Atitlan, San Juan is artistic, laid-back, and filled with local artisan shops. It’s a good place to stay to go hiking.
- San Pedro La Laguna – Known as the backpacker town, San Pedro has many hostels and party options. It has a bunch of Spanish schools and is a 10-minute boat ride from San Juan.
- San Marcos La Laguna – This town is known for its hippies and yoga expats. You’ll find many boutique retreats and restaurant options here. If you want to cliff jump, you can do it here at Cerro Tzankunjil Nature Reserve.
Where to Stay in Antigua
When looking at places to stay, I read reviews before booking. Here are some things to look for:
- Location: Is it a safe neighborhood and close to the things you want to see/do
- Shower Drainage: Does the shower drain well? We had this issue with a few places.
- Hot Water Shower: Lukewarm water seemed common
- Cleanliness: Any issues with bed bugs or mold?
- AC: Many mid places in Guatemala do not have added AC units. It can get hot/humid during the day but cools off at night. Look for this if it’s a priority
- Noise: Whether it is late-night revelry or morning bird songs, Guatemala has an above-average noise level when you’re trying to sleep
We stayed in one hotel and two rentals in Antigua. This Airbnb rental was one of my favorite places to stay during the trip, and the host has several properties. We also liked this Airbnb rental. Hotel La Sin Ventura was ok, a basic hotel with a good location, though it was a tad loud.
I also looked at these places in Antigua:
Where to Stay around Lake Atitlan
We stayed in two hotels at Lake Atitlan – one in Panajachel and a boutique property with its own dock. While Panajachel has a good selection of restaurants and coffee shops, in hindsight, we would have enjoyed staying in San Juan La Laguna the whole time.
Hotel Regis was a convenient and safe place to stay in Panajachel. It has its own guard and gate.
We also liked La Fortuna at Lake Atitlan, a boutique property with six casitas that runs 100% on solar power and has a private dock. It is secluded, so you are limited to their menus ($7 for breakfast, $8 for lunch, $25 for dinner), and the boat costs more to arrive and depart from their private dock. However, the perks are complimentary use of their VW van turned sauna, hot tub, wading pool, kayaks, and paddleboards. Also, the grounds are immaculate and private.
Here are some other places around Lake Atitlan to consider:
- Eco-Hotel MayAchik – boutique hotel in San Juan
- La Casa del Mundo – also has a private dock but more affordable stay
- La Iguana Perdida – a more affordable hostel in Santa Cruz with private rooms
- Porta Hotel Del Lago – 4-star in Panajachel
- Jenna’s River Bed and Breakfast – Panajachel
- Kula Maya – luxury stay with spa in San Marcos
- Casa Prana – luxury resort near Santa Cruz
- Eco Hotel Uxlabil – boutique hotel in San Juan
Best Things to Do in Guatemala
This post shares nine things to do in Guatemala. I’m an enthusiast for old, historic buildings. Another option is hiking Acatenango!
Where to Eat in Guatemala
Check out this post about eating and drinking in Guatemala to learn about typical dishes and restaurant recommendations.
Guatemala Trip Budget
Guatemala is more affordable than other countries in Central America, and there’s a wide range of options depending on how much you want to spend. You can find a bed in a hostel for $15 a night to a room in a 4-star hotel for $70 a night. All in, we spent about $1,000 per person for 9 days.
We aim for mid-luxury, so our hotels were around $50-60 a night while our shuttles were about $20 a person. The one private shuttle we booked from Guatemala City to Antigua (estimated 1 hour but with traffic, it took us almost 3 hours) was $65 total. For food, our dinners ranged from $15-50 a person.
Our round-trip flight from Austin to Guatemala City with a stop in Houston was about $635 per person, but our flights were “free” because we booked with points. I highly recommend a rewards credit card for perks like this! (Chase Sapphire and Capital One Venture are popular.)
1-Week Itinerary
We spent 9 days in Guatemala, Saturday to the following Sunday. About 2 cumulative days were spent traveling. We took time for slow travel on this trip, but sometimes I get a little bored when we do that! If needed, I suggest more time in Antigua than Lake Atitlan.
Many backpackers spend multiple weeks in Guatemala, so this itinerary might seem rushed. This itinerary is geared toward travelers who want to maximize their limited vacation time. You could squeeze this trip into a long weekend. Many do for weddings, but they typically only visit Antigua.
Here’s my recommended (adjusted) trip itinerary.
Day 1
- Travel to Guatemala City
- Shuttle (3 hours) from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan
- Stay in San Juan La Laguna
Day 2
- Sunrise Rostro Maya Hike
- Explore cities around the lake: San Juan, San Pedro, San Marcos
- Cacao Ceremony in San Marcos
Day 3
- Shuttle (2.25 hours) from Panajachel to Antigua
- Explore Antigua
Day 4
- Acatenango Hike
Day 5
- Return from Acatenango Hike
- Explore Antigua
Day 6
- Travel Home
I hope this post helped you plan your Guatemalan adventure!
See these posts for more Guatemala planning:
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