Are you planning a trip to Guatemala? This outstanding destination in Central America has so much to offer that it will leave you craving more. In this article, I will go deep into the best 7-day, 10-day and 15-day Guatemala itinerary to get the most out of your vacations. From black-sand beaches to hiking an active volcano, Guatemala is the perfect country for adventurous souls. So get ready to visit one of the most exciting places in Latin America.
Also, don’t miss this article on the 15 things you should know before traveling to Guatemala!
15-day Guatemala Itinerary (Summary)
Day 1: Arrival – Trip to El Paredon
Day 2: El Paredon – Beach life
Day 3: El Paredon – Beach life
Day 4: Antigua – Arrival
Day 5: Antigua – Exploring the city
Day 6: Antigua – Hiking Acatenango
Day 7: Trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Day 8: Lake Atitlan – Water sports
Day 9: Lake Atitlan – Town hopping around the lake
Day 10: Trip from Lake Atitlan to Lanquin
Day 11: Semuc Champey
Day 12: Trip from Lanquin to Flores
Day 13: Exploring Flores
Day 14: Tikal ruins
Day 15: Departure
10-day Guatemala Itinerary (Summary)
Day 1: Arrival – Trip to Antigua (Day 4 in the itinerary breakdown)
Day 2: Antigua – Exploring the city
Day 3: Antigua – Hiking Acatenango
Day 4: Trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Day 5: Lake Atitlan – Water sports
Day 6: Lake Atitlan – Town hopping around the lake
Day 7: Trip from Lake Atitlan to Flores
Day 8: Exploring Flores
Day 9: Tikal ruins
Day 10: Departure
7-day Guatemala Itinerary (Summary)
Day 1: Arrival – Trip to Antigua (Day 4 in the itinerary breakdown)
Day 2: Antigua – Exploring the city
Day 3: Antigua – Hiking Acatenango
Day 4: Trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Day 5: Lake Atitlan – Water sports
Day 6: Lake Atitlan – Town hopping around the lake
Day 7: Departure
Guatemala Itinerary Breakdown
(For the 10-day Guatemala itinerary and the 7-day Guatemala itinerary, start at day 4 of this breakdown.)
Day 1 of this Guatemala Itinerary: Arrival – Trip to El Paredon
If you are arriving by plane, you’ll probably land in Guatemala City. I recommend heading directly to El Paredon as soon as you arrive, since there’s nothing very special to see in the capital. It’s a 3-hour drive and I recommend taking a shuttle. Once you’re there, take this first day to settle in and walk around the town to get familiar with it.
You’ll be amazed by the black-sand beaches on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. El Paredon is a laid-back town popular among backpackers and local surfers. If you want to know what the best places are to stay and eat in El Paredon, check out this article.
Days 2 and 3: Beach life in El Paredon
Although El Paredon is a small town, there are plenty of things to do that will keep you busy for a few days. One of the most popular activities is surfing among other water sports like fishing, kayaking and wakeboarding. Read this article to find out what the best activities are in El Paredon.
Day 4: Antigua – Arrival
Take a door-to-door shuttle to Antigua. If you are in El Paredon, make sure to book it at your hotel/hostel reception at least one day in advance. Here, you’ll find a list of the best things to do in Antigua.
If you are doing the 10-day or 7-day itinerary, you’ll probably land in Guatemala City. I recommend heading directly to Antigua as soon as you arrive, since there’s nothing very special to see in the capital. It’s a 45-minute drive and you can take either a shuttle or a taxi. Once you’re there, take this first day to settle in and walk around the town to get familiar with it.
Read this article to see the best transportation options from Guatemala city airport to Antigua.
Day 5: Antigua – Exploring the city
On your second day in Antigua, you’ll visit some of the top attractions this town has to offer. This town is very small and the best way to explore it is by foot. Walk around and get lost in its cobbled streets and don’t forget to get inside the many patios (inside yards) that you’ll find open to the public. Some of them host cafés and bars; in others, you’ll find small shops. There’s nothing more relaxing than having a coffee while sitting in these lovely spots filled with plants and flowers.
While you are walking, make sure to include these spots on your route:
-Local Market (called Mercado de Artesanias)
-Main Plaza
-Santa Catalina’s Arch
-Capuchinas Convent
-Santa Clara Convent
Later on, you can walk to Cerro de la Cruz. This small hill offers unbeatable views of the nearby volcanoes and an aerial view of the town. The way up is pretty easy and takes about half an hour to reach the top.
After sunset, I strongly encourage you to go to Cerveceria 14. You can get to this brewery by Uber and it’s only a 15-minute drive. The place is located in front of Acatenango, an active volcano that erupts on average 12 times per hour! From this spot, you’ll get amazing views of the volcano in action while sipping a beer in front of a bonfire.
Day 6: Antigua – Hiking Acatenango
On day 3, you’ll embark on the most exciting activity you can do in Guatemala: hiking an active volcano. Mind you that this hike is not for everyone. It’s quite challenging and it involves camping at a base camp on the top of the mountain. You can read this article to see a more detailed description of what this hike implies, how the tours are organized, and much more.
Alternative: If you decide that this hike is not for you, you can hike Papaya volcano instead. This is an easy, family-friendly hike where you’ll see old traces of solid lava and roast marshmallows with the heat that comes up from the volcanic floor (FYI: in this hike you won’t USUALLY see fluid lava).
Day 7: Trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Since you spend the night camping in the mountains when you hike Acatenango, on day 4 you’ll hike down and, by noon, you’ll be back in town. Here, you’ll take a shuttle to Lake Atitlan. Most shuttles will take you to Panajachel (2-hour drive) and from there you can take a boat to the other towns around the lake.
Day 8: Lake Atitlan – Water sports
Being on Lake Atitlan is a great opportunity to enjoy some water sports. There are plenty to choose from: kayaking, paddle boarding, water bicycles, and while you enjoy the water you’ll get amazing views of the volcanoes that surround the lake. After, you can enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants located by the water and relax on the beach.
Day 9: Lake Atitlan – Town hopping around the lake
There are many lovely towns around the lake. The most popular are:
-Panajachel: the biggest town of all and probably your first destination, as most transportation options will drop you off here
-San Pedro la laguna: popular among backpackers; very vibrant night-life
-San Juan la laguna: quieter than its neighbor San Pedro, this town is full of bright-colored buildings and paintings all around
-San Marcos la laguna: yogi vibes
-Santiago Atitlan: more traditional atmosphere No matter in which town you are staying, you just have to head to the dock and there will be boats waiting that function as water taxis. Just let one of the drivers know to which town you want to go and they’ll tell you when the next boat departs (usually, you won’t have to wait more than 15 minutes). One day is enough to visit 3-4 towns. If I were you, I wouldn’t miss San Pedro, San Juan and San Marcos.
Day 10: Trip from Lake Atitlan to Lanquin
Now it’s time to head to your next destination. If you are staying in Guatemala for just one week, you’ll probably have to go back by shuttle to Guatemala City to take your flight. If you are doing the 10-day itinerary, skip to day 12, where you’ll head to Flores.
If your trip continues with the 15-day itinerary, it’s time to visit the unique waterfalls of Semuc Champey. To visit these turquoise-water formations, you’ll have to take the shuttle to Lanquin. The trip will be long (around 10 hours), but I promise you it’s worth it.
Day 11: Semuc Champey
Today, you’ll visit Semuc Champey, a stop that lovers of nature shouldn’t miss. There are local trucks that will take you from Lanquin to the entrance of the park. These trucks depart from the main plaza (ask at your hotel reception) and the trip takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour, depending on the weather.
The trip is an experience in itself. You’ll go on a truck surrounded by locals, some of whom don’t even speak Spanish, but rather some Mayan dialects. The views are insane. You’ll be dropped off at the entrance of Semuc Champey, you buy the ticket and just enjoy a whole day surrounded by mountains, forest and turquoise water. Make sure to check out the lookout point to get an aerial view of the river and its pools.
To go back to Lanquin, take the same trucks you used to arrive at the park, but in the opposite direction. They stop right outside the entrance of Semuc Champey and they’ll drop you off at Lanquin’s main plaza, where you started your trip in the early morning.
Day 12: Trip from Lanquin to Flores
Once again, the recommended transportation is a tourist shuttle and the trip lasts about 7 hours (or 12 hours if you are doing the 10-day itinerary and you are coming from Lake Atitlan). As you will spend most of the day traveling, once in Flores take some time to settle in, scroll around the town and have a delicious Guatemalan meal in one of the many restaurants the town has to offer. Read this article if you want to learn more about the best places to stay in Flores.
Day 13: Exploring Flores
Today, it’s time to explore Flores. You’ll mainly want to see the island (connected with Flores by a bridge) and take a boat to visit the other coast of the lake. Make sure to check out Jorge’s Rope Swing, a gathering place for young people where you can go for a swim, enjoy the sun and, of course, use the rope swing to jump into the lake. This article details the best things to do in Flores!
Day 14: Tikal ruins
It’s time to visit the Mayan Ruins of Tikal. You’ve probably seen thousands of pictures of the Mayan ruins in Mexico, but Tikal is even more impressive. The archeological site is located in the middle of the forest, giving the whole place a mystical atmosphere.
You can either go by yourself on public transportation or take a tour. I strongly recommend the last option, since it’s essential to have a guide with you to understand the history behind the buildings.
I also have an article about the best way to visit Tikal Ruins.
Day 15 of this Guatemala Itinerary: Departure
Depending on your next destination, you can either take a night bus to Guatemala City, take a flight directly from Flores airport, or continue your trip around Central America. From Guatemala, it’s very easy to visit other countries like Belize, Honduras and Mexico.
Do you have some extra days? You can explore El Remate, a least visited destination located near Flores. Read this article about everything you need to know before visiting El Remate!
You might also like:
- 15 Things You Should Know Before Traveling to Guatemala
- 16 Top Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala
- The Best Things to Do in Flores Guatemala
- El Remate Guatemala – Ultimate Guide to this Off-The-Beaten-Path Destination
- El Paredon Guatemala – Ultimate Guide
- Accommodation and Food in El Paredon Guatemala
- Acatenango Hike Complete Guide
- Is Tikal Worth Visiting? Ultimate Tikal Guide
- Is Hobbitenango Worth Visiting? Complete Hobbitenango Guide
- Guatemala City Airport to Antigua Guide
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