Guatemala is one of our favorite travel destinations in this part of the world. We have traveled there on numerous occasions, visiting different parts of the country. Yet we keep returning as there is always so much more to be explored. From ancient Mayan ruins to colonial towns with volcano views, from enchanting lakes to surfing beaches, there is plenty to experience in this Central American country. We collaborated with some of our fellow travel bloggers to bring to you this list of the best places to visit in Guatemala.
Watch this video about our top favorite travel experience in Guatemala – Fuego Volcano Eruptions.
Are you an Indian planning to visit Guatemala? Read about Guatemala Visa for Indians.
Antigua Guatemala
Contributed by Vicky of Buddy The Traveling Monkey. You can also find her on Instagram.
One of the best places to visit in Guatemala is the city of Antigua Guatemala. Located about an hour west of Guatemala City, it can easily be reached by bus, shuttle, or taxi. Antigua was once the capital of the country. Unfortunately, the city was almost destroyed in 1773 by a series of earthquakes. This caused many to leave. There are still many historic buildings to see, though.
Antigua has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some of the top attractions here are the Santa Catalina Arch, the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral, the Church of the Merced and the ruins of the convent. The Choco Museo is a popular stop for chocolate lovers. Coffeeholics will be happy to know that there are many shops around town to indulge in Guatemala’s aromatic and flavorful coffee. Fun fact, coffee is the country’s biggest export and source of income.
Another great thing about Antigua is its weather. Although there is a rainy season from May through October, overall, you will find pleasant weather year round. With that said, it is always a great time to visit Antigua.
Related reading: Things to do in Antigua Guatemala | Acatenango Volcano Hike
Lake Atitlan
Contributed by Nicole of Go Far Grow Close. You can also find her on Facebook.
Lake Atitlan is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the entire world. It is 130 sq.km. (32,000 acres) in size, the largest in Central America, and 300 meters (1000 feet) deep, the deepest lake in Central America. The lake is surrounded by dormant volcanoes. Lake Atitlan’s natural beauty is mesmerizing. Everywhere you look you see enormous mountains plunging dramatically into the lake. Occasionally, a small Mayan village pops up between two enormous peaks and other than that, you are immersed in awe-inspiring surroundings.
The main way to travel around Lake Atitlan and reach the isolated Mayan towns is by boat. There are many amazing things to do in Lake Atitlan. However, make sure you take a boat and visit one of the small Mayan villages. Each offers unique attractions. For example, San Juan has a long history of weaving. You can visit a studio and learn how the women of the village spin yarn from cotton seeds and dye them from natural seeds and plants. The boat trip also allows you to see the spectacular surrounding mountains from a different angle.
Tikal
Contributed by Holly from Globeblogging. You can also find her on Facebook.
For history enthusiasts, Tikal should feature high on the list of places to visit in Guatemala.
Tikal was once one of the largest Mayan cities, believed to be inhabited from the 6th Century to the 10th Century AD. It stands testament to the mystery of the Mayan civilization, abandoned by its residents at some point. The reasons for which can only be theorized.
The entire site is spread through the Guatemalan jungle and includes more than 3000 structures. There is plenty more yet to be excavated, and it is believed to have rivalled Rome in size at its peak. Like the Romans, they were advanced in their city construction. Tikal had extensive constructions providing the city with a water supply.
It is worth taking a guided tour of the site in order to get an insight into the history and significance of the buildings, and hear how the Mayans lived. Many of the pyramids are able to be climbed by visitors. Temple IV, the tallest still standing in all of Mesoamerica will delight any Star Wars fan who will recognize it from seven seconds of footage in the original film.
Flores
Contributed by Lara of The Best Travel Gifts. You can also find her on Facebook.
One of the best places to visit in Guatemala, if you are coming from Belize, is Flores.
Flores is a town in northern Guatemala. It is located on a tiny island called Isla de Flores on Lake Peten Itza. Technically, it is not an island because there is a road connecting Flores to the city of Santa Elena on the mainland.
Many people only come to Flores as a gateway to the World Heritage listed Tikal ruins. But Flores by itself is also a cute cobbled street town with several fun things to do.
One of the best things to do in Flores is to watch the beautiful sunset over the lake. Two places which are great for that are the Sky Bar and restaurant San Telmo. Another fun thing to do is to visit the market that is held every afternoon on the road that connects Flores to Santa Elena. You can find small Guatemalan snacks and souvenirs here.
Lastly, exploring the fun activities around the lake is another great thing to do in Flores. You can rent canoes, go hiking to get a great view over Flores or take a boat to visit other places on the lake, such as Jorge’s Rope Swing.
Semuc Champey
A long and bumpy ride on the rough roads of rural Guatemala will lead you to Semuc Champey. It is a natural monument consisting of stunning river and jungle landscapes. Wrapped in the lush greenery of tropical rainforest, the Cahabon river makes its way flowing under a limestone bridge. Along the course, several turquoise colored natural pools are created, rice terrace style. This unique topography makes Semuc Champey one of the most beautiful places to visit in Guatemala.
There are two interesting ways to experience Semuc Champey. First, hike from the entrance point for about 45 minutes to reach El Mirador. This is a viewpoint from where you can observe the glorious geographic formation of Semuc Champey. Second, hike down to reach the river and swim in the natural pools. There are lockers available to store your belongings.
The nearest town is Lanquin, which you can use as a base for exploring Semuc Champey along with some other activities like cave tour and river tubing.
Rio Dulce
Contributed by Erika of Erika’s Travelventures. You can also find her on Instagram.
Rio Dulce is a river and National Park in eastern Guatemala, near both Belize and Honduras borders. The river carves its way through some jungle-covered cliffs and empties into the Caribbean sea near the town of Livingston. This part of Guatemala is known for its natural beauty, lush rainforest terrain, and beautiful fincas, or large lodges, that are tucked away in the jungle.
Many visitors to the Rio Dulce join a boat tour that explores different sights along the river, including ruins of old colonial buildings, local villages built over the water, and scenic limestone cliffs covered in tropical trees and vines. Travelers on a budget can also just take the local ferry to marvel at these sights, which stop at various accommodations along the river as needed. If you are lucky, you may spot a resident monkey or a manatee.
Staying in a riverfront finca is highly recommended while visiting the Rio Dulce. Spending the night in an isolated jungle accommodation is a perfect way to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. Popular activities for visitors staying in the Rio Dulce include trekking in the rainforest, birdwatching, swimming in the river, or just spending time in a hammock listening to the sounds of the Guatemalan jungle.
El Paredon
Contributed by Zoe of Zoe Goes Places. You can also find her on Instagram.
Located on the Pacific coast just two hours from Antigua, El Paredon is Guatemala’s best surf spot and beach town – perfect all year round. During the week, this is an unassuming and quiet coastal town. But, on the weekends, this is one of the country’s top party spots for backpackers, tourists and domestic travelers alike.
There is not much to do in El Paredon, but that is the beauty of the place. If you are not heading out at sunrise for a few hours of surfing before the unrelenting coastal heat hits, then another must-do activity is to watch the release of newly hatched turtles into the wild. Head to the beach any morning at 5:45 am between September and December to enjoy this magical experience.
Watching the sunset is also very much a community affair. Grab some drinks and head to the beach to watch nature’s own light show. But be sure to bring bug spray, the conditions are irritatingly perfect for sand flies and mosquitoes!
On the weekends, it will not be hard to find the parties. You will hear the music and see the lights from anywhere in this tiny town of just a few roads. And, if in doubt, just head to the beach where you will most likely find the party has spilled onto.
Todos Santos
Contributed by Sharon Gourlay of Germany Footsteps.
Among off the beaten track, amazing places to visit in Guatemala, consider Todos Santos especially if you are interested in learning more about Guatemalan culture or learning Spanish.
Located about 40 kilometres northwest of Huehuetenango, the road here is a rocky and long one with buses taking a couple of hours and mostly leaving in the early hours of the morning. On arrival, you will find yourself somewhere quite unique immediately – this is one of the few places in Guatemala where both men and women wear indigenous clothing. The men wear striped red and white pants and blue shirts. Market day is the best day to visit which is on Saturdays. Many people are out and about, music plays and the town comes alive.
Todos Santos is not somewhere you visit for must visit attractions – it is about soaking it all in. The main thing to do in the area is hiking and you can take a multi day hike here with Quetzal Trekkers. The best thing to do, however, is to take Spanish lessons with one of the local schools. This way, you get the opportunity to learn more about the local community while you learn Spanish, and there are opportunities to volunteer, take weaving classes and learn more through film nights and excursions. At 2,500 meters above sea level, it can be chilly here, so take some warm clothes.
Iximche
Contributed by Claudia Tavani, My Adventures Across The World. You can also find her on Instagram.
Iximche is one of the lesser known Mayan sites in Guatemala, located on the western Guatemala highlands, about half way between the old capital of the country, Antigua Guatemala, and the famous market town of Chichicastenango. It used to be the capital of the late postclassic Kaqchikel Mayan kingdom, and reached its highest splendor in 1470 but started being abandoned in 1524 once the Spanish colonizers arrived.
What makes it a special place to visit in Guatemala s not just the actual ruins, which are not as old as others in the country, but also the actual events that take place there on a regular basis. So, while you should definitely go there to admire the pyramid temples (temples 1 and 2 are the ones you should definitely spot), ball courts, palaces (the most remarkable is Great Palace 1) and murals that show evidence that the Maya civilization practiced human sacrifice, what will surely fascinate you is that the site is still very much used by local people who come to celebrate Mayan rituals.
The site is open every day from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and admission is 50 Guatemalan Quetzales (~6.5 USD) for foreigners. Getting there by bus can be a bit of a challenge, so you are better off getting a guided tour. There are day trips that depart regularly from Antigua Guatemala.
Guatemala City
Contributed by Daniel of Layer Culture. You can also find him on Instagram.
When looking for places to visit in Guatemala, the urban metropolis of Guatemala City is one of Central America’s liveliest capital cities. In most travel guides you will notice that Guatemala City is often advised to avoid because of safety reasons and although this cultural hub must be approached with caution, it also should not be missed. Most travelers who visit Guatemala arrive in Antigua from Guatemala City directly from the airport, but why not stay a night in Guatemala City first?
There are areas such as Paseo Cayala where you will find public plazas and green spaces open to all visitors and tourists. With the months between December and February being the best time to visit for dry weather you can also take guided tours that give you access to some of the country’s natural treasures.
Some of the best places to see in Guatemala City include Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena which is one of the best museums to observe Mayan artwork, Parque Central, an attraction that boasts its 18th century Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings such as the National Library of Guatemala and the Palacio Nacional. Then you have Zona Viva, which is known as one of the safest places in the city offering a variety a wide variety of restaurants and hotels with modern skyscrapers that make you feel a world apart from the UNESCO city of Antigua.
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