Stay : An almost complete tour of Guatemala
From the great classics to treks, ancient Mayan cities and villages sometimes neglected by tourists, this four-week itinerary is designed for the traveler who wants to discover Guatemala in its - almost - totality. If it is possible to shorten the itinerary by focusing on the "must-sees", the visitor who will have more time will add the surroundings of Huehuetenango to the tour.
Summary of the stay
Best time to go
28 days
€€€ - Luxury
Detail of the stay : An almost complete tour of Guatemala - 28 days
Day 1: Arrival and visit of Guatemala City
Steps: Guatemala Ciudad
Landing at Guatemala City airport, then drop off your luggage at your hotel or youth hostel. Visit to the Guatemalan Institute of Tourism, a valuable source of information for the rest of your trip. Visit the historical center of the capital, in zone 1. Dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in Zone 10, followed by drinks and a late night in Zone 4. Overnight stay.
Day 2: Discovering beautiful Antigua
Steps: Antigua
Breakfast in one of zone 4's fine cafés, followed by an hour's drive to Antigua, a charming Unesco World Heritage city. A stroll through its colorful streets, punctuated by lunch in a comedor, a break in a pretty patio and a visit to its churches and main buildings. View the sunset from a rooftop. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 3: Visit to the ruins and hike to Cerro de la Cruz
Steps: Antigua
As the day before, we got up without a fixed schedule and had breakfast in a good café. Hike to the Cerro de la Cruz, to have a beautiful view of Antigua and the volcanoes that surround it. Visit its most spectacular ruins, such as the Convento de Santa Clara. You can choose to relax in a patio or visit a nearby coffee finca. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Excursion to Acatenango and El Fuego volcanoes
Steps: Volcán Acatenango, Volcán De Fuego
Departure with an agency for a two-day trek on the Acatenango volcano. Estimated level of difficulty: 8/10. A full day's hike - the first two hours demanding - to reach camp, followed by a hike to the Fuego volcano to see its eruptions up close. An impressive spectacle and guaranteed thrills. Dinner around the campfire and overnight in your tent.
Day 5: End of the trek and arrival on the Pacific coast
Steps: Antigua, El Paredón
Wake up at dawn to watch the sun rise from the summit of Acatenango - 3,976 metres above sea level. Return to camp, breakfast, then descent of the volcano. Once in Antigua, shuttle at 2pm to El Paredón on the Pacific coast. Arrive around 4pm, drop off luggage and stroll along the beach. Enjoy the sunset with a cocktail or Gallo in hand. Overnight stay.
Day 6: Surfing and relaxation at El Paredón
Early risers can enjoy the sunrise. Breakfast, surfing session, then relaxation by the hotel or youth hostel pool. Enjoy a shrimp ceviche in the typical Rinconcito de Dina, which also serves as El Paredón's laundry. The afternoon mirrors the morning. In the evening, we head for the bar of one of the village's hostels . Overnight stay.
Day 7: Discovering the surroundings of El Paredón
Two options: replicate the previous day's activities or explore the surrounding area with the social enterprise La Choza Chula, which works closely with local communities. Choose from sea turtle observation, cooking classes with local families and a visit to the mangroves. Lunch at Yoli, a local restaurant serving delicious fish pasta. Overnight stay.
Day 8: Panajachel, Santa Catarina and San Antonio Palopó
Steps: Panajachel, Santa Catarina Palopó, San Antonio Palopó
Early morningshuttle to Lake Atitlan. Arrival in Panajachel, lunch and luggage drop off at the hotel or youth hostel. Tuk-tuk to Santa Catarina Palopó and visit of the village. Tuk-tuk to San Antonio Palopó and tour of its weaving and ceramic workshops. Return to Panajachel, then view the sunset from the Playa Publica or the terrace of a nearby bar. Overnight stay.
Day 9: Chichicastenango and overnight in Santa Cruz La Laguna
Steps: Panajachel, Santa Cruz La Laguna, Chichicastenango
Let's assume that it is a Thursday or a Sunday, market day in Chichicastenango, less than two hours from Panajachel. Morning in Chichicastenango, divided between a visit to the colorful cemetery, in the heights of the city, and a walk among the numerous stalls. Return to Panajachel in the early afternoon, then lancha to Santa Cruz La Laguna. End of the day peaceful and night on the spot.
Day 10: San Marcos La Laguna and San Pedro La Laguna
Steps: San Marcos La Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna
Breakfast in front of the lake, then departure by lancha for San Marcos La Laguna. A quiet walk in the village to soak up its hippie and relaxed atmosphere. Lunch and tour of the natural reserve. View the sunset from the pier or from a table on the terrace of a nearby bar. Lancha to the town of San Pedro La Laguna, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Nariz del Indio and visit to San Juan La Laguna
Steps: San Pedro La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna
Departure with an agency at 4 am to see the sun rising on the lake Atitlán, from the Nariz del Indio. Return at 8am, rest in your youth hostel or hotel, then tuk-tuk to San Juan La Laguna. Lunch in one of its charming small restaurants and quiet walk in the streets of the city. Return to San Pedro La Laguna, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 12: Arrival in Quetzaltenango
Steps: Quetzaltenango, Volcan Tajumulco
Last breakfast on the shores of Lake Atitlán, then shuttle to Quetzaltenango - also known as Xela - a two-hour drive away. Luggage drop-off and lunch at one of the many fine restaurants in the country's second-largest city. Book an excursion to climb the Tajumulco volcano - Central America's highest peak - the following day. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Around Xela and ascent of Tajumulco by night
Steps: Quetzaltenango, San Andrés Xecul, San Francisco El Alto
Breakfast. Departure with a private driver to discover the surrounding villages: San Andrés Xecul, San Francisco El Alto, San Cristóbal Totonicapán and Salcajá. Return to Quetzaltenango, dinner, then departure with an agency at 10:30 pm in the direction of Tajumulco. Start of the walk at 2:00 am and arrival at the top of the volcano at 5:45 am to see the sun rise on a sea of clouds. Spectacular.
Day 14: Relaxation in a thermal spring
Steps: Quetzaltenango, Las Fuentes Georginas
After the descent of the volcano and three hours of driving, we arrive in Quetzaltenango in the early afternoon. Two possibilities: take a nap - well deserved - in your accommodation or go to one of the thermal springs located a few kilometers from the city, like the famous Fuentes Georginas. Last dinner in Xela and night on the spot. Early night.
Day 15: Drive to the Ranchitos del Quetzal reserve
Steps: Biotopo Del Quetzal, Cobán
Morningshuttle to reach the Ranchitos del Quetzal reserve, located in the Baja Verapaz department, more than an hour southeast of Cobán. The trip is very tiring and we arrive at the end of the afternoon. Relaxation in one of the superb rooms of the site, in the middle of the luxuriant nature. Dinner in the restaurant of the establishment and night on the spot.
RANCHITOS DEL QUETZAL
Day 16: Lunch in Cobán and arrival in Lanquín
Steps: Lanquín
Rise at 5 am to hope to cross the path of a quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala. Breakfast and hike in the reserve. Camioneta to Cobán, lunch in one of its good restaurants, then bus to Lanquín, two-three hours away, depending on the conditions. Arrival in a nice hotel or a charming youth hostel in the heights of the city. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 17: K'anba caves and Semuc Champey waterfalls
Steps: Semuc Champey
Breakfast and departure in organized tour. First step: exploration of the caves of K'anba, in which you will evolve while being half immersed, by lighting you with the candle. Swing in the Cahabón river, lunch, then short hike to the beautiful natural pools of Semuc Champey. Swimming and return to Lanquín before sunset. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 18: Journey to Flores and discovery of the city
Steps: Flores
Early breakfast, then departure for a long - and trying - trip by shuttle to Flores, the capital of the extended department of Petén. Arrival at the end of the afternoon and deposit of the luggage. First glimpse of the city, installed on a small island connected to the mainland by a narrow road. Dinner in one of its good restaurants, along the Petén Itzá lake. Early night.
Day 19: Visit to the Mayan ruins of Tikal and Yaxha
Steps: Parque Nacional Yaxhá-Nakum-Naranjo, Flores, Tikal
Departure at 4:30 am in organized tour for Tikal. After a guided visit of the place and the discovery of the ruins of this superb Mayan city emblematic of the apogee of the civilization, return to Flores. Arrival on the spot around 10:30-11 am. According to your level of tiredness, direction of the archaeological site of Yaxhá, less attended, but also seizing. Dinner and night in Flores. Early night.
YAXHÁ
Day 20: First day of trek to the El Mirador site
Steps: Flores
Early departure for a five-day trek through the lush Petén jungle with the Carmelita cooperative, an agency based in the eponymous community. The trek begins at 9:15 a.m. from the village 85 km north of Flores. Lunch break at 1pm. Resumption of the hike at 2pm, arriving at camp at 4pm. Dinner at 6.30pm and overnight in tents. Early night.
Day 21: Visit to La Muerta and arrival at El Mirador
Steps: Parque Nacional El Mirador
After a breakfast at 6 am and a departure at 7 am, arrival at the archaeological site La Muerta at 2 pm. Quick visit, then resumption of the hike towards the highlight of the show: the Mayan ruins ofEl Mirador, established only a few kilometers from the Mexican border. Contemplation of the superb sunset from the pyramid of El Tigre. Dinner at 6:30 pm and early night.
Day 22: Sunrise and visit to El Mirador
Steps: Parque Nacional El Mirador
Possibility of waking up at dawn to watch the sunrise. Departure at 8 am to visit El Mirador, whose first excavations date back to 1962. Particularly remarkable, the pyramid La Danta is the biggest that was built by the Mayas. Lunch at the camp, then resumption of the walk at 2 pm. After the sunset, dinner and a well deserved night of rest.
Day 23: Visit to the El Tintal site
Steps: Parque Nacional El Mirador
Departure at 8 a.m. for the return journey. After a day's walking, arrival at camp at 3 pm. Time for a break, then, at 4:30 pm, visit toEl Tintal, a Mayan site of great importance both in terms of size and history. This ancient city had two apogees: one during the Late Preclassic - before the year 250 - and the other during the Late Classic. Dinner at 6.30pm.
Day 24: Lunch in Carmelita and return to Flores
Steps: Flores
Once is not usual: departure at 8 am. Arrival in the community of Carmelita at 11 am, lunch in a comedor, then drive to Flores. Arrival in the afternoon. Return to your youth hostel or hotel. Moment of relaxation more than necessary after such a trek, as trying as unforgettable. Dinner in a good restaurant of the city and night on the spot. Early night.
Day 25: Drive to Río Dulce and relax on the river
Steps: Río Dulce
Morningshuttle to Río Dulce. Transfer by lancha to a hotel or youth hostel on the banks of the river. Luggage drop-off and lunch on site. Your choice of well-deserved relaxation in a timeless setting or kayak rental to discover the Chocón Machacas biotope. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 26: Diving into the atmosphere of Livingston
Steps: Livingston
Quiet wake up, no fixed time. Breakfast and lancha to Livingston. Walk in the city, discover the atmosphere of the Caribbean and meet the Garifunas, a people who knew how to impregnate the coast with its so particular culture. Drink in front of the sunset, then taste a delicious tapado, the local specialty, at the table of a good restaurant. Night on the spot.
Day 27: Excursion to the Livingston area
Steps: Livingston
Visit of the surroundings of Livingston. There are two options: discover them on your own or use an agency. If the surrounding nature offers many possibilities, the most popular formula consists of a tour to the Siete Altares waterfalls followed by an afternoon at Playa Blanca, a beautiful stretch of fine sand. In any case, return to the city at the end of the day. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 28: Return to Guatemala City and end of trip
Steps: Guatemala Ciudad
MorningLancha to Puerto Barrios, then tuk-tuk or cab to the airport. Flight to Guatemala City. Depending on your flight time, visit the exciting Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología, next to the airport. If you have more time, a tour of points of interest that you wouldn't have been able to see on your arrival in the capital four weeks earlier. See you soon!
MUSEO NACIONAL DE ARQUEOLOGÍA Y ETNOLOGÍA
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