14 Days in Guatemala
Trip Overview
This two-week circuit lays out Guatemala's full spectrum: the pastel facades and cobblestone lanes of Antigua, the misty peaks around Lake Atitlán, the thundering limestone pools of Semuc Champey, and the coral-fringed beaches of the Caribbean. Days are packed but the pace stays moderate, thanks to strategic one-night stays and two-night anchors that let you unpack and breathe. You'll taste smoky pepián in local kitchens, hear howler monkeys before dawn in Tikal, feel the cool spray of jungle waterfalls and watch sunrise paint volcanic silhouettes gold.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120, 160 per day
Best Seasons
November, April (dry season)
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Nature lovers, Culture seekers, Moderate adventurers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Touchdown & Taste of Antigua
Land in Guatemala City and transfer straight to colonial Antigua for market strolls and sunset from Cerro de la Cruz.
Morning
Private transfer to Antigua
Meet your driver outside baggage claim for the 45-minute ride past coffee fields to Antigua's grid of pastel houses and church ruins.
Book in advance to skip taxi negotiations
Lunch
Rincón Típico
Afternoon
Central market & convent ruins
Wander the arcaded Mercado de Artesanías, then explore the sepia arches and bougainvillea of ruined Capuchin convent.
Evening
Sunset lookout & dinner
Climb Cerro de la Cruz for volcano views, then dine at Samsara for creative vegetarian tasting plates
Where to Stay Tonight
Northeast quadrant inside old city walls (Hotel Posada del Ángel)
Walking distance to every major sight yet quiet at night
See all Guatemala accommodation options →ATMs inside Antigua dispense USD; withdraw here before heading to smaller towns.
Day 1 Budget: $100, 120
2
Coffee Fincas & Jade Carvers
Morning cupping session on a shade-grown coffee finca followed by a jade workshop and mezcal flight.
Morning
Finca Filadelfia coffee tour
Ride a red cable car over rows of bourbon beans, smell roasting parchment, taste bright citrus notes over volcanic soil terroir.
Reserve 9 am slot to avoid midday heat
Lunch
Café Sky rooftop
Afternoon
Jade Maya workshop
Watch artisans saw jadeite boulders, chisel Maya glyphs, and string necklaces. Craft your own small pendant to take home.
Evening
Mezcal tasting & tapas
Los Tres Tiempos: underground bar for smoky mezcal flights paired with chapín tapas
Where to Stay Tonight
Same as Day 1 (Hotel Posada del Ángel)
Second night lets you unpack and enjoy free evening
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Bring a light sweater; high-altitude nights drop to 15 °C even in dry season.
Day 2 Budget: $130, 150
3
Pacaya Volcano Sunrise Trek
Pacaya National Park
Pre-dawn hike to toast marshmallows over glowing lava vents with panoramic views of four volcanoes.
Morning
Guided sunrise trek
Headlamps at 4:30 am, climb black volcanic sand, hear crunching pumice underfoot, smell sulfur vents before sunrise paints Agua and Acatenango peaks pink.
Book the night before. Guides provide walking sticks
Lunch
Pollo Campero (on Highway back)
Afternoon
Rest & spa soak
Return to Antigua for a eucalyptus steam at Casa Santo Domingo's 17th-century converted convent spa.
Reserve slot before trek in case spa fills
Evening
Early dinner & pack
Rainbow Café for veggie curry and live Andean music before tomorrow's shuttle
Where to Stay Tonight
Antigua (Hotel Posada del Ángel)
One last night before Lake Atitlán transfer
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Wear hiking shoes you don't mind getting dusty. Volcanic ash sticks to everything.
Day 3 Budget: $120, 140
4
Highway to Panajachel & Lake Crossing
Lake Atitlán
Wind through pine-clad highlands to Panajachel, then glide across cobalt water to car-free Santa Catarina Palopó.
Morning
Shuttle to Panajachel
Shared minivan climbs switchbacks, passes Kaqchikel villages, arrives at the lake framed by three towering volcanoes.
Hotel can reserve seat. Pay on board
Lunch
Café Bombay
Afternoon
Water taxi to Santa Catarina Palopó
Board a lancha, feel cool lake spray, watch painted blue houses rise up steep slopes, check into lakeside inn.
Boats leave every 20 minutes from main dock
Evening
Sunset & fish dinner
Casa Palopó terrace: grilled black bass and mezcal margaritas while the sun sinks behind Volcán Atitlán
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Catarina Palopó (Casa Palopó boutique inn)
Terrace infinity pool faces volcanoes and avoids Panajachel crowds
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Ask boat captain for 'drop-off' at private dock to avoid uphill hike from public pier.
Day 4 Budget: $140, 160
5
Village-Hopping by Lancha
Lake Atitlán villages
Circle the lake by boat, visiting Santiago Atitlán's folk-art co-ops and San Juan La Laguna's natural-dye textile studios.
Morning
Santiago Atitlán market
Step from boat into a maze of embroidered huipiles, smell grilled corn on cob, watch shamans tending Maximón shrine in smoke-filled room.
Hire local guide at dock for $10 to explain Maya beliefs
Lunch
Casa de la Abuela
Afternoon
San Juan textile tour
Walk pastel alleys to women-run cooperatives, see indigo leaves crushed into deep Mayan blue, try back-strap loom yourself.
Co-op tours start on the hour
Evening
Return & lakeside pizza
In Santa Catarina, Pizzeria La Puerta serves wood-fired pies with lake views
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Catarina Palopó (Casa Palopó)
Second night to leave luggage unpacked
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Carry small bills. Boat fares and co-op purchases rely on exact change.
Day 5 Budget: $110, 130
6
Quetzal Trail to Cobán Cloud Forest
Cobán
Descend from highlands through coffee plantations, then climb into misty cloud forest searching for Guatemala's national bird.
Morning
Shuttle via Los Encuentros
Minivan switch at mountain junction, continue through cardamom farms, arrive in Cobán where orchids cling to pine trunks and air smells of damp moss.
Direct shuttles leave Panajachel at 7:30 am
Lunch
Café La Posada
Afternoon
Biotopo del Quetzal hike
Walk hanging moss trails, listen for flute-like quetzal calls, spot emerald tail feathers flashing against cloud-filtered sunlight.
Arrive before 3 pm for best bird activity
Evening
Cobán town square
Grab marquesote bread and hot chocolate from street vendors while kids play on colonial bandstand
Where to Stay Tonight
Cobán town center (Hotel Casa Duranta)
Wooden balconies overlook central plaza and nightly street life
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Pack rain jacket regardless of season. Cloud forest showers appear suddenly.
Day 6 Budget: $100, 120
7
Semuc Champey's Turquoise Pools
Semuc Champey National Monument
White-knuckle 4×4 ride to swim in limestone-rimmed pools, then float through candle-lit caves on inner tubes.
Morning
Shuttle to Lanquín, then 4×4
Bumpy two-hour ride on unpaved switchbacks, river glimpses below, arrive at jungle eco-lodge where cicadas buzz overhead.
Hotel can bundle shuttle & 4×4
Lunch
El Retiro Lodge buffet
Afternoon
Semuc Champey pools & K'an Ba caves
Hike to El Mirador for aerial view of stepped turquoise pools, then slide into cool water, later grab candle and tube inside dripping limestone caverns.
Start pools at 1 pm. Caves at 3 pm to avoid tour groups
Evening
Jungle bonfire & cacao ceremony
El Retiro's nightly event with local cacao farmer explaining ancient Maya chocolate rituals
Where to Stay Tonight
Lanquín (El Retiro Lodge)
Riverfront hammocks and on-site tour desk for next day's transport
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Bring water shoes. Pools are slippery limestone.
Day 7 Budget: $120, 140
8
Rio Dulce Jungle Waterway
Boat through emerald canyon walls, past manatee sanctuary and Garífuna villages to laid-back Livingston.
Morning
Shuttle to Rio Dulce boat dock
Leave jungle at 7 am, reach riverside town by 10 am, board covered lancha with breeze scented by mangrove and diesel.
Shuttle plus boat ticket sold as package
Lunch
Riverside café at Tortugal Marina
Afternoon
Boat to Livingston
Glide past Castillo de San Felipe fort, watch pelicans dive, disembark in Caribbean town where drum beats mingle with reggaeton.
Boats depart when full. Latest 4 pm
Evening
Reggae sunset & tapado dinner
Happy Fish bar on stilts above the water for coconut-shell cocktails and seafood soup
Where to Stay Tonight
Livingston beachfront (Hotel Villa Caribe)
Sea-view rooms and easy boat pier for next day's departure
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Livingston is Garífuna; English is common and coconut-based dishes dominate menus.
Day 8 Budget: $110, 130
9
Livingston Slow Day & Kayak Mangroves
Sleep in, then paddle quiet canals past red mangroves where manatees surface and howler monkeys roar.
Morning
Kayak Los Siete Altares
Paddle 30 minutes to series of freshwater cascades, feel cool mist, swim in jade pools surrounded by heliconia blooms.
Rent from Happy Fish. Life jackets included
Lunch
Bugas Beach Club
Afternoon
Lazy hammock time
Swing in a dockside hammock, watch fishing boats paint ripples across the Caribbean, read with occasional coconut refills.
Evening
Punta drumming show
Casa Rosada rooftop for live Garífuna drums and fire dancers
Where to Stay Tonight
Livingston (Hotel Villa Caribe)
Second night lets you leave luggage unpacked
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Bring cash; Livingston banks are unreliable and cards rarely accepted.
Day 9 Budget: $90–110
10
Fly North to Flores & Sunset Temple
Flores Island
Boat, shuttle, flight combo to reach Petén's jungle gateway, then climb Temple IV for Tikal's orange sunset.
Morning
Early lancha back to civilization, minivan to tiny Mundo Maya airport, 45-minute flight over patchwork jungle canopies.
Book TAG 11:30 am flight months ahead. Seats fill fast
Lunch
Café Arqueológico Yax-ha
Afternoon
Tikal sunset tour
Enter park at 3 pm when crowds thin, climb Temple IV's steep wooden stairs, watch spider monkeys swing below as sun sets behind Temple I.
Park closes at 6 pm. Book guide through hotel
Evening
Island dinner with fireflies
Cool rooftop of Casa de las Tortugas for candle-lit lake views and tikin-xic fish
Where to Stay Tonight
Flores Island (Hotel Isla de Flores)
Rooftop pool catches lake breezes and sunrise alarms for early Tikal entry
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Pack headlamp for temple climb. Steps are steep and poorly lit.
Day 10 Budget: $180, 200
11
Dawn Chorus in Tikal & Night Jungle
Tikal National Park
Enter the ruins at 4 am to hear howler monkeys roar as dawn breaks over the Great Plaza, then spend the night inside the park.
Morning
Sunrise tour
Flashlight walk through tarantula-guarded trails, climb Temple IV in darkness, watch first light ignite limestone temples and toucans flitting between ceiba trees.
Hotel arranges 3:30 am pickup
Lunch
Comedor Tikal inside park
Afternoon
Lost World complex & museum
Explore Astronomical Observatory, decipher stelae glyphs, cool down in air-conditioned museum filled with jade masks and obsidian blades.
Evening
Night safari walk
Guided 8 pm walk to spot kinkajous, tarantulas and glowing fireflies around Temple III
Where to Stay Tonight
Inside Tikal park (Jungle Lodge)
Wake to howler monkeys and walk straight to temples at sunrise again if desired
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Bring insect repellent for dusk. Jungle mosquitoes are relentless.
Day 11 Budget: $150, 170
12
Yaxhá Sunset & Return to Flores
Yaxhá ruins
Explore lesser-visited lakeside ruins including the twin-pyramid complex, then watch crimson sunset from Temple 216.
Morning
Shuttle to Yaxhá
Leave Tikal at 9 am, bump along red-dirt road, arrive at jungle-shrouded Yaxhá with howler monkeys as background bass.
Book through Jungle Lodge desk night before
Lunch
Picnic by Lake Yaxhá
Afternoon
Temple 216 climb & sunset
Climb the steep stone steps until the whole lake spreads below, water mirroring sky so well you can't tell where one ends. Scarlet macaws arc overhead, their wings flashing crimson against the sinking sun.
Evening
Back to Flores & lake swim
Leap from the wooden dock at Hotel Isla de Flores, splash into cool water, then towel off for grilled lobster at Capitán Tortuga while the lake laps the pilings.
Where to Stay Tonight
Flores Island (Hotel Isla de Flores)
Same hotel to pick up luggage and enjoy waterfront one more night
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Yaxhá allows drone flights. Bring batteries for sunset aerials.
Day 12 Budget: $120, 140
13
Flight to Guatemala City & Historic Core
Catch the morning flight back to the capital. By late morning you're walking Avenida La Reforma, murals stretching wall to wall, before stepping into the gold-encrusted cathedral where candlelight glints on every surface.
Morning
TAG flight to GUA
The 7 am prop plane lifts above patchwork jungle and jagged volcanic ridges, skimming so close to the peaks you see morning mist caught in the folds. Touch down in the capital at 8:30 am with the scent of fresh coffee curling from the baggage claim kiosk.
Book aisle seat for volcano views
Lunch
Tamper Café
Afternoon
Historic center walking loop
Stroll the palm-lined Plaza Mayor, push open the baroque cathedral doors to a haze of copal incense, study Diego Rivera murals splashed across the National Palace walls, then bite into a hot chuchito straight from the street cart.
Free English tours leave Palace hourly at 2 pm
Evening
Craft beer & jazz
Cervecería 14 in Zone 4 for Guatemalan IPA and nightly jazz sets
Where to Stay Tonight
Zone 10 (Zona Viva) (Hotel Barceló Guatemala City)
Near airport with rooftop pool for final-night chill
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Uber works well in Guatemala City. Avoid hailing street taxis.
Day 13 Budget: $130, 150
14
Popol Vuh & Jade Market Farewell
Spend the morning among Museo Popol Vuh's Maya ceramics, pottery glowing under spotlights, then browse jade pendants and jaguar carvings before the airport transfer arrives.
Morning
Museo Popol Vuh
Follow 3,000 years of Maya artistry: incense burners blackened by ritual fires, obsidian mirrors catching your reflection, and the Dresden Codex facsimile turning beneath soft museum lights like a living manuscript.
Opens at 9 am. Perfect pre-flight slot
Lunch
Mercado Central food court
Afternoon
Jade & textile shopping
Haggle for fair-price jade pendants at Mercado de Artesanías, finger hand-woven huipil cushion covers, then flag a 15-minute taxi to the airport with bags of color slung over your shoulder.
Allow 2.5 hours before international flights
Evening
Departure
Where to Stay Tonight
Departure (None)
Check-out and airport transfer
See all Guatemala accommodation options →Keep receipts; Guatemala has $500 duty-free allowance on crafts.
Day 14 Budget: $80–100
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Antigua, Lake Atitlán and most other legs rely on tourist shuttle vans (book through hotels). The domestic flight (Flores, Guatemala City) shrinks an 8-hour bus ride to 45 minutes. Lake Atitlán and Rio Dulce move by lancha boats. Settle the fare before stepping aboard. Tuk-tuks buzz around towns for short hops.
Book Ahead
Domestic flights (TAG), Pacaya sunrise guide, Tikal sunrise entry, El Retiro Lodge in Lanquín, Casa Palopó on Lake Atitlán.
Packing Essentials
Pack a light fleece for chilly highland nights, a rain jacket for dripping cloud forest, reef-safe sunscreen, swim shoes for Semuc Champey's slippery rocks, a headlamp for cave tunnels and temple stairways, and cash in small bills.
Total Budget
$1,700, 2,200 excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Swap boutique stays for hostels (El Hostal in Antigua, Zoola in Lanquín), ride chicken buses instead of shuttles, eat at comedores for $3 meals, and pitch a tent at Tikal Jaguar Inn to drop the total to $1,100, 1,300.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to Casa Palopó's master suite, charter a private lancha across Lake Atitlán, book a helicopter hop to Tikal, check into La Lancha on Lake Petén Itzá, and secure a private archaeologist for a sunrise tour that pushes the tab to $3,500, 4,000.
Family-Friendly
Shorten the Pacaya hike by taking horses, reserve family rooms at El Retiro with a pool, arrange a private shuttle with car seats, trade Livingston kayaking for a gentle Rio Dulce boat tour, and tack on a half-day Pacaya zip-line the kids will brag about.
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