Despite being a relatively small country, Guatemala is home to ancient historical sites, active volcanoes, jungles, colourful colonial cities, beaches, as well as incredible landscapes. It would be easy to argue that Guatemala was the most diverse and fascinating destination in Central America. Known as the Mayan heart of Central America, Guatemala is very culturally rich and still preserves the Mayan culture. You will immediately notice the very colourful, woven traditional Guatemalan clothing, which is still worn today. It would be easy to list a lot more than 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala.
Guatemala is a very affordable country, with hostels ranging from 60 GTQ (8USD) and basic private rooms from approx. 200 GTQ (25USD). Local food in Guatemala, like in many other Central American countries, includes a lot of beans, corn and avocado. You can expect to pay around 40 GTQ (5 USD) for a meal at a local restaurant, which tend to have large portions. A cup of coffee will be around 1-2USD and a local beer will be around 2-3USD.
Before diving into the 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala, I want to address something many of you might be concerned about – safety. Guatemala, as well of other countries in Central America, tends to be displayed in the media as a dangerous and unsafe country. Hence, you might be under the impression that Guatemala is very dangerous and therefore you might be hesitant about giving it a change. For some practical advice on how to stay safe, read these 14 tips for staying safe while traveling
While the crime rates are certainly high, most incident of violent crime are drug and gang related and as such, is not targeted towards tourists. Petty crimes such as pick pocketing do occur, just like pretty much anywhere else. After having traveled through Guatemala for about three weeks, I can say that I never felt uncomfortable or unsafe. I actually found that the local people are warm and welcoming, and go out of their way to help tourists and make them feel safe.
With that being said, here are 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala!
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1. Antigua
It’s easy to fall in love with the charming colonial town of Antigua. Featuring bright colourful buildings and cobblestone streets, as well as historical churches and buildings. On the subject of historical sites – the entire city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Make sure to visit Arco de Santa Catalina, a bright yellow arch in the middle of the city that symbolises the entrance to Antigua. Cerro de la Cruz is also a must visit for anyone visiting Antigua – it’s viewpoint from where you’ll have a view of the city with the volcanic backdrop. Due to its location in a valley surrounded by three volcanoes, Antigua is also a great base if you want to hike some of the volcanoes.
Antigua is also a known as being one of the best (and most affordable) place to learn Spanish, making it the perfect place to improve your Spanish – or if you don’t know any Spanish yet, this would be an ideal starting point to learn the basics before exploring the rest of the country.
Where to stay in Antigua
Antigua has a very luxurious problem – there is an abundance of gorgeous hostels that have a 9+ rating. This is of course a luxury, but also makes it extremely difficult to choose one. I remember spending ages trying to compare all these picturesque hostels with flawless ratings. I actually ended up spending way more time in Antigua than I originally planned, and stayed in a couple of hostels. My absolute favourite one was Maya Papaya – it has everything you could possibly wish for in a hostel, the photos and the reviews really speak for itself 🙂
2. Chichicastenango
Do not worry if you have problems pronouncing the name of this village, it took me quite a while to get it right! The good news is that people will know what you mean when you say “chichiblalala” and then mention a market (mercado in Spanish). It really stands and falls with the word market – this is because Chichicastenango is where you find the largest indigenous market in Central America. The market is open every Thursday and Sunday – which is when locals travel from their villages and gather at this market and sell all types of handicrafts, jewellery, fresh food, colourful clothes and textiles, flowers and Mayan goods.
One thing you must keep in mind when visiting the market is to keep your belongings close to you and keep an eye on them at all times. Do not keep your valuables in a backpack on your back. As the market can get crowded, it tends to be a target for pick pocketing. I recommend that you keep your bag at your front and hold it at all times, or cover it with a piece of clothing, making it harder for pick pocketers to access it.
The market is pretty much all there is to Chichicastenango, although there are some beautiful churches near the market that are worth checking out. A couple of hours is all you need to explore the market so a day trip is really all you need.
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3. Lake Atitlán
Lake Atitlán (or in Spanish, Lago de Atitlán), is without a question one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake was formed about 84.000 years ago (so very oldddd) from a collapsed volcano. Lake Atitlán is the deepest lake in all of Central America (up to 340m), but it’s more famous for the stunning landscape around it. Surrounding the lake are volcanic mountains as well a a handful of unique Mayan villages. Each of the villages differs from the next, they all have their own atmosphere as well as each having their own traditional style of clothing. That being said, you should definitely aim to visit more than just one or two!
Must do’s at Lake Atitlán include wandering through the villages, enjoying the views from one of the cafés, riding the water taxis and/or kayaking, hiking the Indian Nose (I would recommend a guided tour) and watching the sunsets. Lake Atitlán is also a popular yoga destinations and around the lake you’ll find lots and lots of yoga studios.
The villages around Lake Atitlán
Panajachel (usually just called Pana) is known as the “tourist town”. Perhaps because it’s the most easily reachable, as this is where the buses/shuttles will drop you off. From there you can get to the other villages by water taxis that are readily available. They only take cash so make sure to have some of that! Being the most accessible village – it’s where you’ll find the most variety of accommodations.
San Pedro is very backpacker driven and attracts a lot of young people. Here you will also find many Spanish school as well as good nightlife. For coffee lovers, Café Cristalinas is a must try – they roast their own coffee and it’s delicious. The Fifth Dimension is a vegetarian restaurant that offers view of the lake, but more importantly, amazing and very fresh and healthy food. Wouldn’t mind eating there every day 🙂
San Marcos is more chilled and is known as the “hippie town”. Here you will also find plenty of vegetarian food options. I really recommend Vida for delicious food and view of the lake. Restaurant Fe is another option, they also have excellent food, but no view of the lake. The town is very small so it won’t take you long to explore.
San Juan is the arty town. This is where you’ll find the best art and textiles. Throughout the town you will see plenty of painted murals as well as art markets. San Juan is one of the less visited town around the lake and has a very relaxed vibe.
Santa Cruz is very traditional and authentic, perhaps due to the fact that it’s pretty isolated as it’s only accessible by boats. There isn’t a whole lot to do here, however, it’s a great choice for experiencing the authentic lifestyle and relax. Make sure to visit Cafe Sabor Cruceño which is operated by a non-profit school, offering tasty food and of course, views of the lake.
Where to stay in Lake Atitlán
When it comes to where to stay, I will say that the hostels here aren’t as great as the ones in Antigua, but there are still some pretty good ones. Here I’m gonna list some of my favourite ones.
Dreamboat Hostel – hostel located in Panajachel. Features a swimming pool & social atmosphere, however the dorms have no fans or windows that can be opened so it can get pretty hot. They still have a 9,2/10 rating so it’s not all bad. Dorms range from 7 USD and private ones from just under 40USD.
La Iguana Perdida – hostel located in Santa Cruz. Has gorgeous views of the lake, hammocks, good vibes and yoga classes. They offer both dorms and private rooms. Dorms range from 6USD and private ones from 13USD.
Sababa Resort – hostel/hotel located in San Pedro. Despite it being a resort, the prices are not what you would normally pay for a resort. They offer both dorms (from 30USD) and private rooms (from 120USD), all the rooms are super cute. So is the pool and the whole outdoor area . The only con here would be that it has more of a hotel vibe, so it might not be a great option for solo travellers that are looking to meet new people. But you could still stay there for a night or two just to enjoy the pool & the views 🙂
Hotel Hospedaje El Viajero – hotel located in Panajachel. Nothing fancy but has everything you need. They have a cute garden area and private rooms ranging from 15USD.
4. Tikal
In the depths of the Guatemalan rainforests you will find the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal. These now ancient ruins, used to be one of the major sites of the Maya civilization in the 8th century BC. As you make your way through the jungle, you will discover many temples, squares and palaces. The stunning nature as well as seeing the monkeys and parrots just roaming around, really adds to the experience. It really feels as if you’re in an Indiana Jones movie. The view from the top of the 65m high Temple IV, where you have views of the jungle as far as you can see, is truly something you will never forget. Seeing the sunset from up there was one of the most amazing experience of my life. Since the Tikal ruins are less accessible than other Mayan ruins in Central America, they tend to be less crowded than sites like Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Copán ruins in Honduras.
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Practical info for visiting Tikal
The entrance fee is 150 GTQ (19 USD) and must be paid in cash, foreign currency and credit cards are not accepted. This is apart from whatever you might pay to your guide or for transportation. I would strongly recommend having a guide, both to get to know a little bit of the history and simply to make sure you don’t miss anything important. And to not get lost. Although Tikal is magical, you definitely don’t wanna get lost there. I imagine it’s a lot more creepy than it is magical once it gets dark 🙂 Maybe I’m just good at getting list, there certainly are paths and signs, but I feel like I could have easily gotten lost somewhere in all this jungle.
Where to stay when visiting Tikal
When it comes to where to stay, you basically have two option – staying close to the ruins or in Flores.
If you want to stay close to the ruins, Jaguar Inn is the only option. This is something I would only recommend if you are planning to be in Tikal for sunrise, as it will allow you to sleep in a little more and just have a more hassle free morning. The downside, however, is that you are really limited in your options for food and activities, since there is really nothing else there.
Your other option is to stay in the small city of Flores, which is known as the gateway to the Tikal ruins. Once in Flores, it’s easy to book a day trip to Tikal, you can either do so at the front desk of your hostel/hotel or from one of the many tour operators you will find on every corner. Flores is a man-made island roughly a 1,5 hour drive away from the ruins. Even though it’s classified as an island, it’s not really an island in the sense that you can actually drive there. But it’s certainly surrounded by water, apart from that one road, so I guess it’s almost an island?
While the only reason Flores is on people’s radar is its proximity to Tikal, it could be a destination on it’s own. It’s small but very beautiful, filled with cute and colourful buildings and cobblestone streets. Flores also features stunning sunset views, make sure to visit Sky Bar for the best view of the sunset!
My hostel recommendation for Flores would be this one – it has AC, a pool with a stunning view and a bar in the pool – need I say more? I would even add a day or two to my trip just to chill at the pool 🙂
5. Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is the name of crystal blue natural pools surrounded by incredible green scenery. Semuc Champey means “where the river hides under the stones”, and that’s exactly what it is. It’s a 300m long natural limestone bridge, under which flows the Cahabón river. Over time, those natural pools have formed on top of these bridges. I’m not quite sure how this all comes together, but apparently this is how it happened 🙂
Located in central Guatemala, and I mean deep in the middle of the Guatemala jungle. As such, it’s not easily accessible. In fact, it’s a bumpy ride on what can only be described as a seeming endless road through unpaved dirt roads. Seemingly endless, in this case, means about 10-12 hour drive, depending on the conditions and where in Guatemala you’re coming from. But even so, it’s the most visited place in Guatemala, so definitely don’t let that stop you 🙂 It will all be worth it once you are swimming in the turquoise blue water in the middle of the jungle!
What to bring & things to know when visiting Semuc Champey
First of all, make sure to bring a little cash to buy drinks and fruits from the local vendors. There is no food sold inside the park, so bring snacks or buy some food at the entrance. The entrance fee is 50 GTQ (6,5USD). You should also bring plenty of water, preferably in an insulated water bottle since those will keep it nice and cold, which, lets face it, is much nicer than drinking boiling hot water from a plastic bottle. If you plan to hike up to the viewpoint (and I think you should 🙂 ) the hike is not flip flop friendly, so wear some sneakers. And of course bring a bathing suit & a camera!
There is really no need to hire a guide, as exploring the area is really straight forward. It’s open every day from 8am to 4pm, I would suggest being there as soon as it opens in order to avoid the crowds. Once you enter, you have two paths to choose from. One will take you to the viewpoint (mirador in Spanish), which is where you’ll have stunning panoramic views of the Semuc Champey and the surrounding mountains. A 40-50 minute hike through the jungle will get you to the viewpoint. I’d suggest to start with that, and then go back and take the other path that will lead you to the pools. You will probably feel like cooling down after the hike, and luckily, swimming is allowed in the pools, for the most part. The areas where swimming is save and allowed are market with signs.
It’s worth noting that during the rainy season (roughly from May to October) it happens that Semuc Champey floods and therefore visitors are not allowed. This usually only lasts for a few days.
Where to stay when visiting Semuc Champey
The shuttle/bus will drop you off in the nearby town Lanquin, which is the closest town to Semuc Champey, located 11km away. As tends to be the case with places that are seemingly in the middle of nowhere, the accommodation options aren’t very fancy, but I’ll list some of the better ones.
The first option is to stay in Lanquin, there isn’t a a lot to this town, but you have a few restaurants and a supermarket. From there it’s easy to get a bus or a shuttle to Semuc Champey, which are available throughout the day. Lanquin is very small, perhaps better described as tiny.
El Muro Lanquin – a pretty basic hotel but does the job. Private rooms from about 28USD
Vinas Hotel – Located about 5 minutes from the center of Lanquin, has a pool & a nice outdoor area. Private rooms range from about 22USD a night.
Your other option would be to stay in one of the accommodations located closer to Semuc Champey. This means that you will be staying in the jungle, not in an actual town, and as such will have to depend entirely on your accommodation for meals. Hence, you might be limited in terms of options, and prices will be higher.
Utopia Eco Hotel – located 3,5km from Semuc Champey, offering gorgeous views of the jungle. Prices range from 30USD for a private room.
Hostal El Portal – ideally located next to Semuc Champey. This hostel is very affordable, offering dorms from just about 10USD. They even have a pool, which of course is surrounded by beautiful greenery.
I hope these 5 amazing places to visit in Guatemala have inspired you to visit this magical country. If you want some more Guatemala inspiration – I highly recommend a movie called “Guatemala” on Netflix!
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