Ultimate 2-Week Guatemala Travel Itinerary
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Guatemala has been my favourite Central American country so far, the diverse scenery, rich culture and incredibly welcoming people all make it the perfect place for you to visit next.
We ended up spending 7 weeks in Guatemala which wasn’t originally the plan, but after speeding through Mexico and Belize we decided to travel slower. And boy I’m glad we did, we visited UNESCO heritage sites, went to a Spanish school, hiked through the jungle and slept under the stars next to an active volcano. And that’s just a few of the highlights from Guatemala.
I understand not everyone has 7 weeks free to spend in Guatemala. So after spending over a month and a half in Guatemala, I have compiled what I think would be a fabulous 2 week Guatemala travel itinerary.
2-Week Guatemala Travel Itinerary
This itinerary starts in Flores and I realise most people fly into Guatemala City airport (although Flores does have a small airport) so you could reverse this plan or there is a night bus from Antigua to Flores. If you find yourself crossing into Guatemala at the Belizean border, like us Flores is the most common first stop.
Flores
Day 1 - Day 3
A small but charming town on an almost island on Lake Peten Itza, although you’ll be able to do a lap of the island in about 10 minutes, there’s plenty to see.
The most common site to visit from Flores is Tikal, which is the first UNESCO World Heritage site to be recognised for both its cultural significance as well as its extraordinary biodiversity. Also, don’t sleep on the sunsets in Flores, they are some of the best I saw in all of Guatemala.
Read my post all about the fantastic things to do in Flores —>
Lanquin/Semuc Champey
Day 4- Day 5
Although it does take some time to reach Lanquin, it’s about a 7/8 hour bus ride from Flores, it’s totally worth it. I would personally travel to Lanquin on day 3 of being in Flores so you allow yourself 2 full days. One to explore Semuc Champey and then for the second day maybe take a rest day or opt to do an activity like river tubing.
If you’re not familiar with Semuc Champey it’s a national park known for its cascading turquoise blue pools and surrounding dense forest and caves. And Lanquin is the nearest town which many tourists opt to stay in, although there are more accommodation options popping up next or in the national park.
Check out my ultimate guide to Semuc Champey including some budget-friendly travel tips ->
Lake Atitlan
Day 6- Day 9
Lake Atitlan has to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, this volcano crater lake is sure to give Lake Como a run for its money. Although Semuc Champey is a wonder I think Lake Atitlan just takes the crown as the most beautiful location in Guatemala. Just note it's a long journey from Lanquin to Lake Atitlan and it takes a whole day.
There are plenty of beautiful accommodations scattered all around the lake and I highly recommend Atitlan Sunset Lodge (read more here) but if you choose to stay in one of the more built-up villages, here’s a little run down of what to expect.
Panajachel- The largest village in Lake Atitlan, most touristy but well connected to other Guatemalan destinations and has the most amenities e.g. supermarket, hospital.
San Pedro- Party central for backpackers, also, it's where you should stay if you wish to hike the Indian Nose for sunset.
San Marcos- The place you want to be if you want to connect a little more to nature, think yoga classes, meditation ceremonies and generally a more hippie vibe.
With plenty of public boats ready to take you around the lake it’s easy to explore the different lakeside spots. If you fancy a bit more adventure you can go paragliding, scuba diving, zip-lining or take on one of many hikes around this lake. Or maybe you want to find some peace and serenity at Lake Atitlan and just take some slow days reading and swimming by the lake.
Antigua
Day 10- Day 12
Antigua is actually a UNESCO World Heritage and served as Guatemala’s capital city for many years before a deadly earthquake meant the capital needed to relocate. Home to historical remains, colonial-style architecture, cobbled streets and stunning views of surrounding volcanos you will immediately feel the charm of Antigua.
Read my full travel guide to Antigua —>
Volcano Acatenango Trek
Day 13- Day 14
How many places in the world offer to take you on a hike to see an extremely active volcano erupt lava into a starry night sky? The Volcano Acatenango trek was not on my radar before this trip but if you’re heading to Guatemala this should be on your to-do list.
This 2-day hike will see you tackling the uphill battle to your camp before you wrap up around the fire and watch Fuego erupt time and time again. Then you’ll be getting up bright and early on day 2 for a sunrise hike before taking in the incredible views over Antigua and Lake Atitlan on the way back down.
Got more questions about the 2-day hike? Check out my detailed guide to Acatenango here ->
And that rounds up your busy 2 weeks in Guatemala. There are a few travel days factored into the itinerary so if you have some spare days you could tag them onto the 2 weeks to give you longer in the above-mentioned destinations or check out one of the below destinations in Guatemala.
Other Destinations in Guatemala to Consider
Xela/Quetzaltenango- Perfect if you like to get off the beaten track, it’s the second largest city in Guatemala and not too far from Antigua/Lake Atitlan. Popular among hikers, volunteers and students read exactly why you should visit Xela here ->
Rio Dulce- You’ll find this sweet river based on the eastern side of Guatemala and by all accounts, it offers a different side to Guatemala. The town of Livingston has strong Caribbean influences and the river itself is home to a tropical jungle and diverse wildlife.
El Paredon- This black sand beach town has become increasingly popular with backpackers and tourists alike in recent years. With plenty of hostels that look more like resorts, it does have quite the reputation for a good party. Also if you find yourself there at the right time you can see sea turtles hatching and taking their first steps.
Guatemala City- This often gets overlooked by tourists because of its sketchy reputation, however, it is the hub of the country with plenty of museums and galleries to learn more about Guatemala. Also, I have recently seen the downtown area has had a lot of investment and has become crawling with cafes, bars and restaurants to attract more tourists.
My Slow Travel Itinerary in Guatemala
After starting our trip by jumping from place to place once we got to Guatemala we decided it was time to slow things do. We were barely getting our bearings in a place before it was time to leave again and that wasn’t what we wanted for Guatemala. Also having to wait for a delivery in Antigua added a bit more time than we first expected.
If you have the time I would so recommend travelling through Guatemala slowly and taking more than enough time at each stop. Also, this way you don’t have to plan out your route as rigidly and can change your plans based on the places you love and the people you meet.
7 days in Flores
4 days in Lanquin
2 weeks in Xela
10 days in Lake Atitlan
2 weeks in Antigua
Guatemala Travel Tips
The main language of Guatemala is Spanish, however, there are 22 official Mayan languages and 2 other indigenous languages spoken here. I would advise brushing up on some basic Spanish phrases before travelling to Guatemala or opt to learn Spanish in the country.
The currency used is called quetzal (which is the name of the national bird), we never had a problem taking cash out at ATMs, however, there was always a fee of about £3/4.
Guatemala has two seasons, the rainy season is typically from May to October and then the months of November to April are the dry months.
Guatemala is home to 37 volcanoes and trust me you’ll see plenty. You will be relieved to know out of the 37 only 4 are active, Volcano Pacaya, Fuego, Santiaguito and Tacaná.
The plug sockets are type A and B which is the same as the US, so unless you have US chargers you will need a travel adaptor.
Our average daily spend per person in Guatemala was £37 and we weren’t always choosing the most budget option. So you can class Guatemala as an affordable country to travel to.
Don’t listen to the scaremongering around safety issues I found Guatemala to be nothing but welcoming, as always keep your wit about you. I would personally recommend sticking to tourist shuttles over public transport, but everyone travels in different ways so whatever works best for you.
I fell in love with Guatemala after just a few days and 7 weeks later I was sad to say goodbye. Without a doubt, it has made it into my list of favourite countries and I would go back in a heartbeat. The country offered me so much adventure, fun, and culture and even inspired me to learn a new language. I know I come away from my time in Guatemala with memories that will last a lifetime.
And for that reason, I urge you all to add Guatemala to your travel bucket list, whatever your travel style may be. I hope this guide helps you to create a trip through Guatemala as dreamy as mine. Let me know how it goes…
