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The first thing you will notice about Guatemala is all the color! Then you will get swept up into the hustle and bustle of the streets. When you aren’t exploring the charming Guatemalan towns, you’ll become absorbed in all the beautiful natural areas throughout this Central American country.

This Guatemala itinerary is based on my personal trip, but also on all of the hours of research I did beforehand. A friend of mine lives in Guatemala and was a huge help in providing suggestions and giving a local perspective.

Follow this Guatemala itinerary for a taste of the can’t miss places and experiences. 5 days in Guatemala is really not enough to see and do all that the country has to offer, but it will give you enough time to explore the southern part of the country around Antigua and Lake Atitlán. If you have more time you can easily extend the number of days in each location, take more day trips, and/or visit the northern part of the country around Tikal National Park.

Planning Your Guatemala Itinerary

How Do I Get to Guatemala?

Unless you are traveling from a bordering country it will make the most sense to fly into Guatemala City. Although I was coming from Mexico, I chose a short two hour flight instead of a very long bus ride that would include a border crossing.

The international city is well connected to other Central American cities as well as several big US cities including Atlanta, New York City, and Los Angeles.

How Do I Get Around Guatemala?

Chicken Buses

This is the cheapest option. I didn’t personally try them, but I did enjoy checking out the cool designs and watching people jump into and out of them. The buses are old yellow school buses from the US that have been painted and converted into public transportation.

The name comes from people bringing anything and everything onto the buses including live chickens! I’m sure they would be an experience, but they are often very crowded and uncomfortable. Usually any drive takes much longer on a chicken bus and they are known to break down. Crime is also common. There is no set schedule. I wouldn’t attempt these without speaking Spanish.

Shared Shuttles

Shared shuttles are common between the main destinations in the country. They are used most commonly for tourists. There are several different companies that offer shuttles so you can compare times and prices.

Companies I looked into included Atitrans, GuateGo, and Guatemala Transportation.

Rideshares (Uber)

Ubers are the easiest transportation when going between Guatemala City and Antigua. It’s currently about $30 USD for that trip.

You’ll be able to use Uber in Guatemala City and Antigua and to other places. Ubers are not as common in other places and you may not be able to find an Uber back to Guatemala City or Antigua.

Uber works the same in Guatemala as it does in other countries. You can pay ahead of time with a credit card and the option to have your route tracked for security is available.

Private Transportation

If you are traveling with at least one other person the cost of private transportation isn’t that much more than shared shuttles for two people. Use Uber when available, but for other routes pre-book private transportation.

With private transportation you are able to travel in a nice vehicle, leave when you want, and have more control over stops. You don’t need to make stops that aren’t necessary, but you can also ask the driver for a restroom stop if required. Private transportation is also needed if you choose to go anywhere that the shared shuttles don’t run.

The companies linked above for shared shuttles also offer private shuttles. You can also ask locals for personal recommendations of drivers.

Rental Car

The last transportation option is renting a car. I rarely drive, even in the US, so I didn’t consider this option. If you don’t mind driving, renting a car in Guatemala City will give you the most flexibility.

How Much Does it Cost to Travel in Guatemala?

If you have been doing your research you have probably found almost every post saying how cheap it is to travel in Guatemala. You can travel around Guatemala for a very low cost, but you can travel in a lot of places in the world for a very low cost. It all depends on how you travel.

If you spend more time in each location, take chicken buses, stay in hostels, and eat street food it will be cheaper. Again that style of travel is cheaper anywhere though. If you want to visit more places in a shorter amount of time, do the “must do” activities, have comfortable and reliable transportation, and dine in restaurants, the costs add up.

Overall for the same style of traveling in the US, Guatemala is a cheaper destination, but I didn’t find the difference as significant as I was expecting. I found a lot of the ways I would save money in the US weren’t possible in Guatemala. For example in the US I would hike for free without a guide, but the Pacaya Volcano hike required a guide.

What Currency Does Guatemala Use?

Quetzals is the local currency which can be obtained by exchanging money or going to an ATM. Hotels and the majority of sit down restaurants accept credit cards. Most tours and/or transportation booked online will also accept credit cards, but you may wish to have some cash on hand for tips.

Do I Need a SIM Card in Guatemala?

You’re asking a traveler who doesn’t have a phone plan in the US and rarely buys a phone plan! Ultimately it depends on your level of comfort with planning ahead and handling not being connected.

There was a power outage in Antigua, wifi not working in my Panajachel hotel, and I lost my phone. I’m still sad about all the photos I lost because my phone didn’t have service to sync photos for about 48 hrs. Hopefully those experiences do not happen to you, but be aware that wifi can be unreliable. There was wifi in some places at the Guatemala Airport. On arrival I didn’t get it to connect until after customs. Most restaurants seemed to have wifi.

You can pick up a SIM card at the airport on arrival. You can also buy an eSIM online ahead of time (just make sure your phone is eSIM compatible) or buy a service like Google Fi.

Is Guatemala Safe?

I always have a hard time answering this question as I believe good and bad things can and do happen everywhere. When yet another school shooting just happened in the US, I would say that if you take precautions in Guatemala you are safer from violence there than in the US.

Antigua is known as a safe city. One night the power was out. Except for lights from cars and my travel flashlight it was pitch black. Unlike most US cities that don’t have people walking around on a normal night, I would be terrified in the pitch black streets of Atlanta if this would happen there. While it wasn’t great in Antigua, there were plenty of people around.

Guatemala City is known for being an unsafe city. Many recommend skipping the city altogether. I wished I would have had more time to explore it. Many zones of the city are safe including 4, 9, 10, and 11. We walked in zone 10 in the evening and it felt like a nice part of the city, especially around Fontabella mall.

5 Day Guatemala Itinerary

Guatemala Itinerary: Days 1 & 2 Antigua

What to Do in Antigua

Free Walking Tour

Unfortunately a walking tour didn’t fit in my Guatemala itinerary, but I would have really liked to explore the city with a local guide. There are several different individuals that lead tours. Check out GuruWalk for a list of all the tours and times.

If those don’t fit your schedule you can also take a private walking tour that you are able to help customize to your interests. A food walking tour is a great way to see the city and try a variety of local restaurants at the same time.

Of course if you have limited time in Antigua then you can walk around on your own. The city is small enough to wander around and discover the top places naturally, but keep your eyes out for Santa Catalina Arch, Parque Central, and la Iglesia de la Merced.

Cerro de la Cruz

This viewpoint is located just outside of the city center. There are quite a few people around so you shouldn’t have a problem walking up alone. Depending on your pace the walk only takes about 15 minutes and is mostly stairs. There are tons of people at the top along with security personnel walking around. Tuk Tuk taxis are at the start of the walk if you prefer a ride on the road to the top.

Awesome views of Antigua and the surrounding mountains will greet you at the top. A couple of signs point out the landmarks below you and the volcanoes in the distance. With plenty of places to sit it is a nice place for a picnic or a rest. Plus there are free restrooms!

Shopping and ChocoMuseo

Take some time as you are wandering around the streets to visit the shops. You don’t want to miss the chocolate museum. It isn’t much of a museum, but chocolate making workshops are available as well as chocolate to purchase.

We went when the power was out in Antigua so I couldn’t see anything in the store, but I did use my flashlight to receive a few samples!

Where to Eat in Guatemala

27 Adentro

27 Adentro is a Latin American restaurant with an upstairs terrace that offers good views of the surrounding mountains. Bring a sweater on cooler nights. There are heat lamps, but not enough to keep everyone toasty!

I ordered a Cuban dish, the vaca frita. I did feel a little strange having Cuban as my first meal in Guatemala, but the dish was excellent. The shredded beef had a very different taste that I couldn’t place, but it was very flavorful. The plantains were my favorite part. This is also a good restaurant to try the traditional Guatemalan stew, pepian. Rincón antigüeño is known for it, but I liked it better here.

Rincón Antigüeño

This daytime spot is very popular. You may need to wait in line and watch the tortilla ladies at work. Once in the door you will be given a table and then directed to another line to order your food. I think a much better system could be in place as tables sit empty for a while when people are waiting in line.

Portions are big and prices are good. I wasn’t overly impressed with my chicken pepian here. I liked the flavors of the stew, but despite the poor man who was sweating away roasting the chickens I thought the chicken was a bit dry. The juice received with the meal was an excellent addition.

Fridas

One night in Antigua the power was out in almost the entire town. There were very few restaurants with lighting. Fridas was one of the only places opened. It wasn’t my first choice initially as it is Mexican cuisine and I had just been in Mexico, but my meal was very good. I had a shrimp dish that was served with chips.

More Places to Eat in Antigua

Por Qué No?
Cafe Sky (good for sunset)
Cafe Boheme (has good views)
Hector’s Bistro

Where to Stay in Guatemala

La Capitanía

Be prepared that La Capitanía Hotel is confusing to find. It’s best to use the Ermita de Santa Lucia address. When in the courtyard facing the Ermita you’ll see a gate to the left of the church. You need to go through the gate, which is unlocked (slip your hand in and open the latch). The hotel is a couple of buildings behind the gate on the left. Once you find the location it is perfect as it is walking distance from everywhere in Antigua. It is tucked away enough that it is fairly quiet (except the church bells in the morning)!

The staff are very friendly and accommodating, but you’ll need to speak Spanish to communicate effectively with them. Breakfast is on demand at the time you request the night before or when you ask in the morning. The breakfast is freshly cooked in either Guatemalan or American style.

Other Highly Rated Places to Stay in Antigua

Guatemala Itinerary: Day 3 Volcano Hike

Pacaya Volcano

You will want to include a volcano hike in your Guatemala itinerary. Pacaya Volcano is the most popular volcano hike near Antigua. The hike is fairly easy and usually the entire trip including the drive and hike takes about 6 hours from Antigua.

Read my full Pacaya Volcano post to learn everything you need to know about the hike before booking your Pacaya Volcano tour.

Acatenango Volcano

The other hike near Antigua that is deemed safe (little risk of being robbed) is Acatenango. It can be hiked in a day, but it is commonly hiked as an overnight hike.

It’s a challenging hike that involves an optional hike partially up Fuego volcano (an active volcano). With many tours you’ll need to carry your own belongings or hire a porter.

Guatemala Itinerary: Days 4 & 5 Lake Atitlán

If you only have a night or two around Lake Atitlán it is easiest to base yourself in Panajachel. It is located directly on the lake and the closest town to Antigua and Guatemala City. You can take boats (lanchas) to reach the other lake towns.

What to Do in Lake Atitlán

Lake Atitlan Nature Reserve

The nature reserve is just outside of Panajachel. It is definitely walking distance, but there is a short section of highway that isn’t the safest to walk alongside as traffic comes very close. If you do walk, wait until a chicken bus passes and then go quickly. You may luck out and not have one of those flying by as you walk on the shoulder of the road. Tuk Tuks in town will also take you to the reserve and be waiting at the exit.

The reserve is a beautiful place with several walking trails. You’ll encounter many swinging suspension bridges along the way. Nice views of the lake and forest can be found at the top of the trails. Also make sure to walk down to the lake for views from the bottom.

Keep your eyes peeled for monkeys and coatis. I didn’t see any monkeys, but I did spot some coatis a couple of times. I expected to see more the farther I went from the visitor center, but apparently they like to hang out around the entrance!

You can easily spend a couple hours walking around on all the trails, but if you need more of an adrenaline rush go on the zip lines or the cable bike in the sky!

Lanchas to Small Towns

There are several small towns around the lake that you can check out. You reach the small towns by taking boats (lanchas). There are private and public boats. With private you will pay more (around 100 Quetzales), but be able to leave immediately. With public boats you may need to wait 30 minutes or so until more people show up, but it is about 25 Quetzals.

I was so excited to go on a boat ride. My first one was a little choppy, but still fun. The boat ride back later in the day was very bumpy. Think like flying out of your seat bumpy. It didn’t even feel like we were on water with how hard the boat was hitting the waves. This was also after my kayaking trauma (described below) so I wasn’t that nuts about the boat ride. Taking a taxi on the roads is an option, but it takes much longer.

This post includes more things to do in the towns around Lake Atitlán.

Kayaking in Lake Atitlán

Anyone who has heard my kayaking story will question my sanity in recommending this to you. This could be a full post on its own, but let’s just say my kayaking experience did not go as planned! Although I have kayaked all over the world, the intense winds made kayaking extremely difficult. I ended up swimming in the lake longer than kayaking.

Los Elementos Adventure Center in Santa Cruz rents kayaks. Be aware of the conditions before setting out. Don’t rely solely on the advice of the workers at the kayak company as they told us it was fine to kayak, when it most certainly wasn’t! A good clue is if the lancha ride to Santa Cruz is choppy, kayaking will be even worse. Mornings are typically calmer as the wind picks up through the day.

Where to Eat in Panajachel

Guajimbo’s

This Uruguayan spot is located along Calle Santander, the main thoroughfare of Panajachel. The restaurant is open along one side and offers the perfect vantage point for people watching.

I ordered fish with potatoes and vegetables. It also came with garlic bread. Everything was good, but the sauces on the side really elevated the flavor of the fish and vegetables.

Tuscani

One of the highest rated and recommended restaurants in Panajachel is Tuscani. The Italian spot is small, but cozy. There are a few more typical Guatemalan meat based dishes, but mostly typical Italian fare including pastas and pizzas.

I had a pepperoni pizza. Maybe I was extra hungry, but I needed some chocolate cake afterwards from Magic Coffee Santander to fill me up.

La Herradura Panajachel

This is a really good taco place. Be aware when you order a taco order it is 3 tacos. Good thing I only got “two” tacos instead of “three” as that meant I had two orders of tacos! I really liked the al pastor best. There are a lot of sauces to choose from.

Where to Stay in Panajachel

I stayed at the Perla Maya Hotel. The hotel is not taking bookings online, but I was hesitant to recommend it as there was a circus nightclub next door blasting music until about 10pm. I couldn’t find any information about it online, but it seemed they were taking it down on Sunday. It could be a weekend only event, but don’t chance it if you do want an early night’s sleep!

Other than that, the hotel was basic, but nice. The inner courtyard area with a pool is very pretty. The staff was more than accommodating with filling up water bottles in the water filter in the kitchen and storing luggage.

Daily breakfast is made when you arrive in the dining room each morning. You can have either an American or Guatemalan breakfast. We weren’t offered the Guatemalan breakfast though!

Other Highly Rated Places to Stay in Panajachel

Guatemala Itinerary: Day 5 Return to Guatemala City

Make sure to return to Guatemala City in plenty of time for your flight. Ideally returning the night before if you have a morning flight. Traffic delays can and do happen frequently. Two days after I returned to Guatemala City there were street protests and drivers weren’t able to drive the route.

Where to Eat in Guatemala City

Fontebella Mall

The mall is located in a safe area, zone 10, of Guatemala City. It is close to many hotels (that are close to the airport). The upscale mall with a classy Spanish or Southwest feel is full of courtyards and water fountains.

With many restaurant options it makes for a good spot for a meal. Tre Fratelli is a nice Italian place. 100 Montaditos is a Spanish chain that serves 100 different mini sandwiches. It’s tapas style so you can try several or have a light meal if you aren’t too hungry.

Where to Stay in Guatemala City

Zone 10 is a safe area of Guatemala City that is also close to the airport. I stayed at the Courtyard, which is a lovely modern hotel with all the room amenities you could need. The hotels in Antigua and Panachjel were fine, but it was nice to have all the luxuries of a Marriott again!

Other Highly Rated Places to Stay in Guatemala City

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