Guatemala was one of the most rewarding countries we visited in Central America. It was beautiful, captivating and simply put: unforgettable! You can get lost in the ancient mayan city of Tikal, discover the colonial architecture of Antigua, climb a volcano and see lava or simply forget about time as you take in the natural beauty of Semuc Champey or Lake Atitlán.
The mountainous roads make it one of the most exciting countries to explore by motorbike. Guatemala’s striking features from stunning lakes, active volcanoes and ancient mayan pyramids coupled with its strong indigenous culture make it a number one destination if you like culture and natural beauty!
In this blogpost we are excited to share our most precious travel memories and places you simply can’t miss when visiting Guatemala. Oh and if you are still undecided if Guatemala is a place you want to visit, then we hope we can inspire you to make up your mind and go! Below is our YouTube video of Guatemala if you prefer a visual journey of our recommended highlights!
1. Discover Guatemala’s Mayan treasures in
TIKAL NATIONAL PARK
You cannot come to Guatemala without visiting Tikal. It is an ancient mayan city surrounded by lush jungle and inhabited by howler monkeys. Some temples and pyramids rise as much as 44 meters into the air, providing stunning views of the surrounding dense rainforest.
How do I get here?
Most people base themselves in Flores or El Remate and visit on day trips. We chose to stay in El Remate and absolutely loved this quiet little town right by the lake. Most restaurants face the lake and the sunset views are absolutely gorgeous!
If you can afford to splash out, then consider staying in one of the hotels inside Tikal. This will allow you to catch the sunrise and enjoy Tikal at quieter times! The hotels are basic but nice 3 star hotels but definitely on the pricey side. A stay here will set you back 100 USD per room in peak season but you can snap it up cheaper if you book in advance!
TOP 3 HOTELS INSIDE TIKAL
– Jungle lodge hotel
– Hotel jaguar inn
– Tikal inn
When to go?
Sunrise and late afternoon are usually the quietest times as most people arrive late morning from day trips. The entrance fee for sunrise is more expensive and only really makes sense if the weather is in your favour!
When we visited it was quite cloudy and a little rainy in the morning so we skipped sunrise. Our friend Tracy tried her luck on that same day though as she was staying at the Jungle Lodge Hotel. She loved her stay but didn’t manage to see the sunrise so it wasn’t quite worth the extra money. Nonetheless she appreciated that there were fewer people first thing in the morning!
2. SEMUC CHAMPEY:
Guatemala’s most beautiful natural site
The road to Semuc Champey is a pretty rough one. You’ll want some good off-road tyres and suspension for this long, bumpy and slow road. The 11km from Lanquín to Semuc Champey are particularly rough.
But once you make it, you’ll be awarded with so much natural beauty, that you won’t question for a second if the journey was worth it. In fact, you’ll be grateful that many tourists on a tight schedule tend to skip it. Because you’ll want to share this magnificent place with as few people as possible!
The most striking feature of Semuc Champey is the 300 meter long natural limestone bridge with a stepped series of pools. The flowing river running through it provides a perfect opportunity to cool off in the emerald-green waters and take in the stunning setting.
But my personal highlight was the short 30 min. hike through the jungle that will provide you with stunning panoramic views of the area. You are almost certain to encounter howler monkeys on this hike, adding to the ultimate jungle feel! The dense rainforest provides plenty of shade. But of course the best time to visit is early morning when temperatures tend to be lower!
NO DRONES ALLOWED !!!
But trust me, the panoramic views from the top are so stunning, you really won’t need your drone to capture the beauty of Semuc Champey.
How do I get here?
After visiting Tikal we wanted to ride from El Remate to San Agustín Lanquín, which is the perfect base to explore Semuc Champey. However, the journey is long and some parts of it are pretty rough, so it’s best to break up the 7 hour journey by spending a night in Cobán.
From Coban it’s an easy 1.5 hours ride on Highway 5 and then you turn off onto a pretty rough gravel road with a lot of turns. You should be able to cover the distance to Lanquín in about half an hour if you power through. But if you get stuck in traffic and want to take it slow, then it can easily take an hour.
The 11km from Lanquín to Semuc Champey are much harder and challenging. So if you aren’t a confident off-road rider it may make sense to stay in Lanquín and hop onto local transport. If you want to go all the way though, I would still recommend staying in Lanquín and visiting Semuc Champey as a day trip. Trust me, it will be much nicer if your motorbike isn’t fully loaded for the last part!
A WORD OF WARNING!
in dry weather anyone should be able to make it to Lanquín.
But if it rains the road can get really muddy and much more challenging!
When to visit?
The best time is to visit Semuc Champey is from mid December to mid April outside of rain season when the Cahabon River is at its clearest!
The gates to Semuc Champey open from 8am to 4pm daily and the best way to avoid the crowds is to visit first thing in the morning!
Where to stay?
Lanquín is a pretty small town and the main street has a good choice of hotels. If you are on a budget, then check out El Hostal Lanquin. If you can stretch a little further though, we strongly recommended El Muro Pub & Hostel next door for its breathtaking views of the mountains from the main terrace.
We checked in for just one night but the view from the hammock was so breathtaking that we extended our stay for 3 nights just to relax here for a bit! We paid about 20 USD/night for our room here.
Don’t miss the Lanquin Bat Cave
Where? Just a 30 min. walk from Lanquin
What? It’s a 10 mile long cave which you can explore by yourself
Entrance Fee? 5 USD
just before sunset (6PM) you can witness hundreds of bats flying out of the cave !!!
3. ANTIGUA: The former spanish colonial capital of Central America
Antigua will charm you with its beautifully restored colonial buildings and pastel facades. The backdrop of the surrounding volcanoes is simply stunning and on a clear day you might even be able to see spewing lava from one of the rooftops.
You are bound to fall in love with Antigua as you wander its cobbled streets, passing its many churches, plazas, markets and take in its vibrant atmosphere. If you want to explore life outside of the city, you will be greeted by Mayan communities, coffee plantations and volcanoes.
Do we need to say any more, or have you already marked Antigua on your list of places to go? You certainly won’t regret it! And what’s more, it’s the perfect base for one of the ultimate things anyone coming to Guatemala should explore: hiking volcano Acatenango!
How do I get here?
There are many direct flights straight into Guatemala’s largest airport ‘La Aurora International Airport‘ which is only 25 miles from Antigua.
If you are overlanding and coming from Tikal / Semuc Champey then Cobán usually makes for a good stop to break up the journey. From Cobán it’s a solid 5 hours ride into Antigua.
When to visit?
Antigua tends to have pleasant weather all year round. If you want to avoid the chance of rain, aim for Guatemala’s dry season which runs from November to April. But bear in mind that this is also the busiest time of the year. So if you want to avoid crowds you may prefer visiting in May for example.
There is no shortage of accommodation to suit any budget from boutique hotels right in the centre, to significantly cheaper AirBnB options within walking distance to it. We opted to stay in an AirBnB and walk into town. In the evenings it was always easy and cheap to pay for transport back home as well if we didn’t want to walk.
4. Hiking Acatenango Volcano: Guatemala’s most spectacular volcano experience
When meeting other travelers in Guatemala, there would always be the same questions that would come up. “Are you hiking Acatenango” or “Have you hiked Acatenango volcano yet”? I’ll be honest with you, Fiona and I aren’t the most passionate hikers out there and the five hours steep climb up was more than unappealing to us. But there was something magical about how everyone who did it spoke about it. Every single person would tell us that we couldn’t miss out on it and how it’s a once in a lifetime kind of thing. And it really was!
Hiking Acatenango was not just a huge highlight of our travels through Guatemala but it’s probably up there with one of my all time travel highlights. The sweat and hard work is really worth it. The views are nothing short of amazing! And how often can you look straight onto an active volcano that erupts every 5-10 min. spitting lava? Experiencing the noise of the eruption, seeing the stones thrown up in the air followed by gushing lava was honestly unreal! It was one of those unforgettable moments that I will forever cherish.
Best Tour Operator to Hike Acatenango
WE had a brilliant experience with Soy Tours and appreciate that they are the only tour operator which contributes directly back into the local community!
How do I get here?
You have to book a guided tour to hike up Acatenango and all of them tend to leave from Antigua. Pick up is usually arranged from your hotel or close to your AirBnB and leaves around 7am.
When to go?
It can get pretty cloudy and foggy when you hike up Acatenango and the visibility you get will probably impact your experience. We were super lucky and the weather couldn’t have been clearer. Hiking during Guatemala’s dry season (Nov – April) will improve your chances of good visibility!
5. Town-hopping around Guatemala’s LAKE ATITLAN
Lake Atilán was formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic eruption. Today it is the deepest lake in Central America with a depth of 340 meters. The surrounding dormant volcanoes provide a stunning backdrop, making it one of the most beautiful lakes to visit in Central America. There are several towns dotted along the 18km long and 8km wide lake, each with their own unique vibe!
Looking for a yoga retreat? Head to the hippie town of San Marco. Want to party? San Pedro is your best bet. If you are after a more cultural experience, then you’ll enjoy exploring Santiago Atitlán with its strong indigenous vibe. Looking for something quieter? Then try Santa Cruz La Laguna, San Juan or Jaibalito.
DON’T MISS
Visit central america’s largest open air market.
CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET !
It is also guatemala’s most colourful & Traditional market!
No matter if you are looking for some quiet downtime, a homestay to learn Spanish or joining a yoga & meditation retreat, Lake Atitlán is a magical place to do it! And you can easily town hop with frequent shuttles between the towns. In fact, it’s one of the best things to do on the lake! We loved exploring all the little villages.
BEST HIKE IN LAKE ATITLAN
Hike to the summit of indian nose for sunrise and stunning panoramic views of the lake! Tours can be arranged from any village and the hike is short and not TOO CHALLENGING.
How do I get here?
From Antigua it took us about 2.5 hours by motorbike to reach Panajachel. It was a pretty easy ride. At some point the road ended though and we had to take a dirt road instead with a river crossing. It was actually quite fun and after about 5 miles the dirt road joined the main tarmac road again. I believe there is a way to avoid the river crossing but it would have meant taking a big detour and missing the fun river crossing!
Our friend Tracy based herself at the quiet and super cute town of San Juan La Laguna instead. Her experience of getting there by motorbike was very different with a long ride through the mountains and many hairpin turns along the way!
If you are relying on public transport, don’t worry. Lake Atitlán is a popular tourist destination and there are shuttles from Antigua and other main cities!
Getting around
There are frequent and cheap connections by boat from morning to early evening.
Town hopping boat prices
Panajachel to Santa Cruz: Q10(ABOUT $1.30 USD)
Panajachel to San Marcos: Q25
San Pedro TO Panajachel: Q25
We actually rented a boat with a couple of travellers we met in Panajachel for the day to get around. This worked out more expensive of course but we only started late morning and this option allowed us to get around quicker!
Where to stay?
We chose to ride to Panajachel as it’s an easy base from where you can explore all the other towns. This worked very well for us! We liked the town of San Marco but also felt that accommodation could be quite pricey over there. As for San Pedro, it wasn’t our cup of tea and very busy compared to the other towns! It’s good if you want to meet other people in hostels and party, but for a more relaxing time try San Juan, San Marco or even Panajachel.
Are you ready to explore Guatemala?
I hope we have been able to give you a glimpse of just how amazing and rewarding travelling through Guatemala can be! It certainly has left a big impression on us and is one of my favourite countries I had the pleasure of exploring. And as far as safety is concerned, we felt very safe throughout our travels and have experienced so much kindness from the locals we met!
Looking for even more travel inspiation in Guatemala ?
Visit Guatemala’s Chateau Defay – the only vineyard in Central America!
Questions? Feedback? Or simply want to share your thoughts? We are always happy to hear from you, so please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below 🙂
