{"id":7746,"date":"2018-10-26T15:21:43","date_gmt":"2018-10-26T13:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/?p=7746"},"modified":"2026-10-28T18:22:47","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T18:22:47","slug":"backpacking-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"Guatemala Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guatemala is one of the most popular destinations in Central America, probably second only to Mexico (technically part of North America) and Costa Rica, which have been well-trodden destinations for years now.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It&#8217;s a country rich in culture, colonial architecture, volcanoes, lakes, dense forests and some of the most impressive Mayan sites in the region, Tikal above all. It can easily be visited in a single trip or even combined with neighboring Mexico and Belize.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a month backpacking around the country, and in this guide you&#8217;ll find lots of useful tips and information to help you plan your trip as best you can.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"quick-menu\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Quick menu<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<ul style=\"text-align: left;\">\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#when\">When to visit Guatemala<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#doc\">Documents and vaccinations to enter Guatemala<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#what\">What to do and see in Guatemala<\/a>\r\n    <details>\r\n      <summary>Destinations<\/summary>\r\n      <ul>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#guatemala-city\">Guatemala City<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#antigua\">Antigua<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#lake-atitlan\">Lake Atitlan<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#quetzaltenango\">Quetzaltenango<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#chichicastenango\">Chichicastenango<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#lanquin-semuc-champey\">Lanquin and Semuc Champey<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#rio-dulce\">Rio Dulce<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#livingston\">Livingston<\/a><\/li>\r\n        <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#flores\">Flores<\/a><\/li>\r\n      <\/ul>\r\n    <\/details>\r\n  <\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#iti\">Suggested itineraries in Guatemala<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#how\">How to get around Guatemala<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#cost\">Backpacking Guatemala: costs<\/a><\/li>\r\n  <li><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#safe\">Backpacking Guatemala: safety<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/#quick-menu\" style=\"position: fixed; right: 18px; bottom: 18px; z-index: 9999; padding: 8px 12px; border: 1px solid #999; border-radius: 6px; background: #fff; text-decoration: none; font-size: 14px;\">\u2191 Menu<\/a>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tempio_giaguaro_tikal.jpg\" alt=\"The Temple of the Jaguar in Tikal\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Temple of the Jaguar in Tikal.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"when\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>When to visit Guatemala<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the most part, Guatemala has an excellent climate. In fact, it&#8217;s often referred to as &#8220;the country of eternal spring.&#8221; Much of the central and eastern regions enjoy pleasant daytime temperatures and cool nights, mainly due to altitudes between 1,300 and 1,600 meters in many cities and regions, including Guatemala City, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The northern and northeastern parts of the country, however, are hot and humid virtually all year round.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regarding precipitation, there are two distinct seasons:<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The rainy season,<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> which runs from May to October, when the rain is, more often than not, concentrated in just a few hours in the afternoon anyway.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>The dry season,<\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from November to April, is instead characterized by sunny days and blue skies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, I visited the country at the turn of August and September, so close to the peak of the rainy season (September-October), and I have to say that despite a few afternoon downpours, the situation was always extremely manageable.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/semuc_champey.jpg\" alt=\"Semuc Champey seen from above\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Semuc Champey seen from above.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"doc\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Documents and vaccinations to enter Guatemala<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With an Italian passport, you get a 90-day tourist visa when you enter the country (the rules change depending on your nationality, so check yours).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Guatemala, together with Nicaragua, Honduras and El Salvador, is part of the CA-4, an agreement between these four countries that allows a maximum stay of 90 days. So if, for example, you spend 40 days in Nicaragua, then go to Honduras for another 20 days and to El Salvador for another 20 before entering Guatemala, you&#8217;ll only be given a 10-day visa when you enter Guatemala.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can renew your visa for another 90 days for the entire region simply by crossing the border overland into Mexico or Belize to the north and Costa Rica to the south, or by flying to any other country, even just for the day, doing the so-called &#8220;visa run.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, you can renew your visa for another 90 days at an immigration office in one of the four countries. This process can be done only once, and the cost varies by country.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guatemala officially requires vaccination against yellow fever if you have recently been in an at-risk country (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwnc.cdc.gov\/travel\/yellowbook\/2018\/infectious-diseases-related-to-travel\/yellow-fever\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">much of South America and Central Africa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) within the last 11 days. This check seems to be discretionary, but if you&#8217;re coming from one of these countries, getting the vaccination is advisable to avoid any problems. Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccinations are always recommended.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For up-to-date information on visas and everything else, I recommend checking your own government&#8217;s official travel advice (for example, the UK&#8217;s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/foreign-travel-advice\/guatemala\">Foreign travel advice<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/eruzione_vulcano_acatenango.jpg\" alt=\"Eruption of the Fuego volcano seen from Acatenango\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Fuego volcano seen from the slopes of the Acatenango volcano.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"what\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Guatemala<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you can see on the map, the main tourist destinations are all grouped together in the south, which means journeys are never too long, except for Flores in the north.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, prices are expressed in the local currency. The official currency of Guatemala is the &#8220;Quetzal guatemalteco,&#8221; abbreviated as &#8220;GTQ&#8221; or simply &#8220;Q.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The exchange rate is about 1\u20ac = 8.6 GTQ. For the current exchange rate, I suggest <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.xe.com\/currencyconverter\/convert\/?Amount=1&amp;From=EUR&amp;To=GTQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">checking this page<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/mappa_turistica_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"What to see in Guatemala\" width=\"650\" height=\"770\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: Several times throughout the guide, you&#8217;ll find links to<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/\"> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. If you want to use offline navigation directly from the AllTrails app, you have to upgrade to the pro version. However, you can get around this by downloading the coordinates from the desktop version of the site in &#8220;Google Earth KML&#8221; format and then uploading them to<\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/organicmaps.app\/\"> <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organic Maps<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, which is by far one of my <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/app-travelling\/\"><i>favorite travel apps<\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"guatemala-city\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Guatemala City<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Guatemala City became the country&#8217;s capital after nearby Antigua was almost completely destroyed in the 1773 earthquake. With a population of about three million, it&#8217;s now the largest city in Central America.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city has no particular points of interest, so much so that many travelers, once they land, hop on the first bus to nearby Antigua. I had to spend a couple of days there to try to sort out a problem with my debit card, and I have to say that the city really isn&#8217;t particularly interesting.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Still, if you have half a day to spare, take a walk around the center. Plaza de la constituci\u00f3n (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/XLFwX8EYaBizuQgg6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) with the national palace of culture (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/P26UhvAN9w1ji4aH9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), the catedral metropolitana (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/D7DSiDqF8kAKzbH86\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) and the nearby mercado central (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/n2J166JEKN4zg6CA6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) aren&#8217;t bad at all, and neither is the lively pedestrian street &#8220;La Sexta&#8221; (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/EHDdNLYVorpVShRQ9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). In any case, I think one day is more than enough.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Guatemala City?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/amaya-hostel-ciudad-de-guatemala.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hostal Amaya<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a great hostel just a short walk from the center, clean, with extremely friendly staff. There are also a couple of private rooms.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/cattedrale_guatemala_city.jpg\" alt=\"The Metropolitan Cathedral of Guatemala City\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Metropolitan Cathedral of Guatemala City.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"antigua\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Antigua<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The city of Antigua Guatemala, now known simply as Antigua \u2013 which literally means <em>ancient<\/em> \u2013 takes this name because it&#8217;s the country&#8217;s former capital. The city is undoubtedly Guatemala&#8217;s main tourist destination and one of the best-preserved colonial cities in all of Central America.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Antigua<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Obviously you should spend at least a day wandering the streets of this beautiful city. The historic center is really compact and you can easily get around on foot, and to complete the day I recommend climbing Cerro de la Cruz (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/K7FW38rYBoQLYVtK9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is only two kilometers from the center: at the end of a short climb you have a beautiful view of the city with the volcano in the background.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I also recommend visiting the local market (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/qsCPL5DeYkRmSgCX9\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is also not far from the center. Now let&#8217;s look at some activities to do in the surrounding area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Acatenango Volcano<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Acatenango volcano is basically the ideal spot to watch the frequent eruptions of the nearby Fuego volcano. Particularly popular is the two-day hike that lets you watch the eruptions at night comfortably seated at base camp, positioned just a few kilometers away as the crow flies. A show like no other in the world and without a doubt one of my favorite experiences during my trip to Central America.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The tour, offered by several companies, is standard and starts in the morning with transport from Antigua to the trailhead, where the climb to base camp begins. The trail isn&#8217;t exactly a walk in the park, as there are almost 1,500 meters of elevation gain, but anyone in decent shape shouldn&#8217;t have any problems (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/guatemala\/chimaltenango\/volcan-acatenango?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/trekking_vulcano_Acatenango.jpg\" alt=\"The trail leading to the summit of the Acatenango volcano\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The first part of the climb.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You spend the night at base camp just below the summit of Acatenango, admiring the frequent small eruptions and lapilli that create a unique spectacle once the sun goes down. The volcano has been particularly active for years, although there may be periods of less activity. Personally, I witnessed dozens of eruptions during the night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The next morning, you wake up early and climb to the top of the volcano to watch the sunrise before descending back to the valley. The cost ranges from 200 to 300Q, all-inclusive. Some companies have the equipment ready at base camp (tents and sleeping bags), while others require you to carry them in your backpack. The quality of the food also varies a lot. I went with the tour offered by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/SR7GrTfxTgRfTHfp8?g_st=ic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this agency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: great food and tents already set up at base camp. All in all, I recommend it.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: If you have your own camping gear, you could do the hike on your own. Getting to the trailhead by bus isn&#8217;t difficult, and you&#8217;ll only need to pay 50Q to enter the park. There&#8217;s also a recently built shelter at the top of the volcano.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/alba_vulcano_acatenango.jpg\" alt=\"Sunrise on the summit of the Acatenango volcano\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Sunrise on the summit of the Acatenango volcano, with a view of the Agua volcano.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Pacaya Volcano<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a less demanding hike and for this reason a very popular one, and it can easily be done as a day trip from Antigua. The tour usually lasts half a day, with the climb to the base of the crater (it&#8217;s no longer possible to go all the way to the top) taking 1-2 hours, depending on your pace.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Practically all the agencies in Antigua offer the tour, which is cheaper than doing it on your own, because you can&#8217;t go up without a guide, which costs 200Q, plus 50Q at the entrance. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/guatemala\/guatemala\/volcan-pacaya-via-cerro-chino?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Antigua it&#8217;s also possible to visit some coffee plantations nearby, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.filadelfiaresort.com\/tours-en.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finca Filadelfia<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is particularly popular (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/WAuuKVbWVcoNNsPw7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are also tons of Spanish and cooking schools.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Antigua?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competition is really fierce and there are quite a few hostels and hotels at great prices. <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of these, even if it&#8217;s a bit outside the center<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/central-hostel.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Hostel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Antigua?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Guatemala City airport, there are direct shuttle buses that leave frequently until 20:00 and cost 100Q; by bus it&#8217;s only 15Q, but the bus terminal isn&#8217;t exactly close. <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alongdustyroads.com\/posts\/how-to-get-from-guatemala-city-airport-to-antigua\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find a really detailed guide here<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. From Lake Atitlan, I think there&#8217;s the odd direct connection, but if you go via Chimaltenango, connections are frequent.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/vulcano_antigua_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"On the streets of Antigua, Guatemala\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>On the streets of Antigua.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"lake-atitlan\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Lake Atitlan<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lake Atitlan is a beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and as many as three volcanoes. There are many villages along its shores, each with its own atmosphere and different activities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I spent a couple of days in San Pedro, the most popular destination for backpackers, but in any case all the villages can easily be reached by the many boats that go back and forth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In San Pedro, most of the hostels are along the lakeshore, where there&#8217;s also a decent nightlife, while further north, where the town center and market are, the atmosphere is more authentic, with fewer tourists walking around the streets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In general, in and around the lake you can go trekking, climb volcanoes (San Pedro, Atitlan and Toliman), rent a kayak and do lots of other outdoor activities. I basically spent my days at Lake Atitlan just chilling, so I can&#8217;t really say much about things to do.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get a feel for the place, I recommend you check out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.indietraveller.co\/lake-atitlan-travel-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this guide to Lake Atitlan and its 7 villages<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/lago_atitlan.jpg\" alt=\"San Pedro seen from above with Lake Atitlan in the background\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>San Pedro seen from above.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Lake Atitlan?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From Panajachel, the most touristy and developed village along the shores of the lake, direct buses leave for Guatemala City about every hour. There&#8217;s also a daily bus to Antigua. From Panajachel, boats travel to all the other villages, making it the best way to reach the villages on the east shore.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;re headed toward San Pedro or San Marcos on the western part of the lake, starting from Antigua, follow this route: take a bus from Antigua to Chimaltenango, then get off and take any bus heading toward Quetzaltenango. Get off at kilometer 148 (the junction toward San Pedro), and from there, frequent buses run to the town. From Quetzaltenango, there are a couple of direct buses daily to San Pedro.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: These are tips for getting around by public transportation. However, there are also tourist shuttles that cover these routes and can be booked from any agency or accommodation. These shuttles are, of course, much more expensive.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"quetzaltenango\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Quetzaltenango<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quetzaltenango, also known as &#8220;Xela,&#8221; is the second-largest city in Guatemala and a destination that&#8217;s still off the beaten track, but one I&#8217;d definitely recommend. It&#8217;s a great base for exploring the Guatemalan highlands, some volcanoes, hot springs and much more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Quetzaltenango<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The old town is nice but not spectacular; it&#8217;s still worth taking a walk around the main square, especially in the evening when it comes alive with stalls selling all kinds of food. Another thing I recommend visiting in town is the cemetery (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/wHpWXB9CYWVh1oaM7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which is unusually colorful and, more generally, a really interesting place, well worth seeing.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/cimitero_qutzaltenango.jpg\" alt=\"The colorful cemetery of Quetzaltenango\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Quetzaltenango <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cemetery<\/span>.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>The Santa Maria Volcano<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Maria Volcano is the volcano that dominates the city and can be seen clearly in the distance on a clear day. Reaching the summit will not only give you excellent views of the city and its surroundings but will also allow you to admire its younger brother &#8220;Santiaguito,&#8221; an extremely active volcano that lies at the foot of Santa Maria Volcano on the opposite slope from the city.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, it&#8217;s possible to reach the top on a tour, but I preferred to do it on my own: the hike cost less than 1\u20ac! I recommend leaving early in the morning. The later you get to the summit, the more likely it is to be shrouded in clouds.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That&#8217;s why it&#8217;s best to take the 6:00 bus in front of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/XiT6icK3VfR2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Iglesia El Calvario<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> bound for <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Llano de Pinal, journey time about 45 minutes, cost 2Q. Once you get there, follow the road through the village to the end of the village itself, toward the volcano: this is where the trail begins. The first part can be hard to follow as there are lots of side trails. Download <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/organicmaps.app\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organic Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or ask some locals in the fields for help and you shouldn&#8217;t have any problems. The trail is also mapped on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/guatemala\/quetzaltenango\/volcan-santa-maria?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Count on two to three hours to go up and an hour and a half to two hours to come down.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/vulcano_santa_ana-1.jpg\" alt=\"The trail leading to the summit of the Santa Maria volcano.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The trail leading to the summit of the Santa Maria volcano.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Las Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These hot springs not far from the city (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/wPfTvsxrN3AEcL4b6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), set in the forest with an almost constant light mist, are a great way to recover from a hike up the Santa Maria volcano or, more generally, to spend a relaxing day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here too tours are offered, but as always I preferred to go on my own. Getting to the hot springs from the center of Quetzaltenango is really easy: take the bus to Zunil at the intersection of Avenida 9 and Calle 10; they run about every 10 minutes and cost 5Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get off the bus, there&#8217;ll probably already be taxis and tuk tuks ready to offer you a ride to cover the 10 km uphill to the hot springs. A tuk tuk should cost 40-50Q, while a shared taxi is 15Q. Hitchhiking is relatively easy as there&#8217;s only one road and the hot springs are quite popular \u2013 that&#8217;s the option I chose on the way back, and it was really easy.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anyway, once you get to the hot springs you&#8217;ll have to pay the entrance fee, which for foreigners is 60Q. I recommend bringing your own food because the on-site restaurant is expensive. Try to avoid the weekend, and personally I recommend the pool just after the entrance on the left, much less crowded than the main one.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/terme_fuentes_georginas.jpg\" alt=\"The Fuentes Georginas hot springs near Quetzaltenango\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The main pool at the Fuentes Georginas hot springs.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Tajumulco Volcano<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We&#8217;re talking about the highest peak in Central America: 4,202 meters high. You can climb it in a day from Quetzaltenango (the trail starts at 3,000 meters, so it&#8217;s &#8220;only&#8221; 1,200 meters of elevation gain), but even if you take the first bus from Quetzaltenango, there&#8217;s still the risk of reaching the summit when the clouds have already covered the view, especially during the rainy season. You can find the trail on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/guatemala\/san-marcos\/volcan-tajumulco?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ideally, you&#8217;d do a two-day hike where you sleep at a base camp just below the summit and go up to see the sunrise the next morning. You could also do it on your own if you have a tent (the trailhead is easily reached by bus) or you can go with a local agency: from 800Q (updated October 2026) for transportation, food, equipment and guide. Here&#8217;s a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.quetzaltrekkers.com\/xela\/tajumulco\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">well-known nonprofit agency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I wanted to do it as a day trip, but during the rainy season it didn&#8217;t make sense because it would definitely have been cloudy by late morning, and since I didn&#8217;t want to join a tour, I gave up.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chicabal Volcano<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The last volcano on the list, this time with a lake inside the crater. It&#8217;s a short hike, but it&#8217;s best to start early in the morning since, as always, the clouds roll in by late morning.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The microbuses leave from the corner of Avenida 15 and Calle 7 and run regularly from 6:00. Ask to get off at Laguna Chicabal (6Q; the microbus says &#8220;Chile Verde&#8221;). Once you get off at the intersection in San Martin, the trailhead isn&#8217;t far; it&#8217;s mapped on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/organicmaps.app\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Organic Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.alltrails.com\/trail\/guatemala\/quetzaltenango\/volcan-chicabal-y-lago-de-chicabal?u=m&amp;sh=mxqbmj\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All Trails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Entry to the lagoon costs 25Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/parata_quetzaltenango.jpg\" alt=\"A parade through the streets of Quetzaltenango\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A parade through the streets of Quetzaltenango.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Quetzaltenango?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/prf.hn\/click\/camref:1100l3LP6\/destination:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hostelworld.com%2Fhosteldetails.php%2FCasa-Seibel%2FQuetzaltenango%2F86027\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Casa Seibel<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a beautiful hostel just a short walk from the center in a beautiful colonial house, with a relaxed atmosphere. The nearby <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/kasa-kiwi-hostel-amp-travel-agency.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kasa Kiwi<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is also really nice, with a livelier atmosphere.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Quetzaltenango?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Quetzaltenango has direct connections to many of the other possible destinations in the south: Panajachel, San Marcos, Antigua, Guatemala City. If instead, like me, you&#8217;re arriving from or want to continue to Semuc Champey by public transport, take a look at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tripadvisor.com\/ShowTopic-g292013-i11321-k9906102-Xela_to_Coban_Lanquin_by_local_bus_travel_report-Quetzaltenango_Quetzaltenango_Department_.html\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this post<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. I followed the instructions and there were no problems. It&#8217;s a long journey, maybe doable in one day; I left too late and had to spend the night in Uspantan.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you use public transport, be aware that the Quetzaltenango terminal is quite far from the center: by taxi it&#8217;s 40Q, but if you cut through the market, which is right next to it, you come out onto a road with minibuses to the center for 1-2Q.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Note: As always, there are shuttles to all the main tourist destinations, much more expensive than the &#8220;chicken buses.&#8221;<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Planning your trip? If you still need travel insurance, you can find my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">guide to the best travel insurance<\/a> here. Purchasing through the links in the guide supports this site at no additional cost to you.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<div id=\"chichicastenango\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Chichicastenango<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chichicastenango is famous for having the largest market in all of Central America. The main market is held on Thursdays and Sundays, but part of it is always there anyway.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many people visit it as a day trip from Antigua or Lake Atitlan. Personally, I didn&#8217;t go (I&#8217;d already seen enough markets!), but if you&#8217;re interested, I think it can be a nice experience.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Chichicastenango?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By bus from Antigua via Chimaltenango it&#8217;s really easy; from Lake Atitlan you go through Los Encuentros.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Chichicastenango_mercato.jpg\" alt=\"The Chichicastenango market\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The Chichicastenango market.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"lanquin-semuc-champey\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Lanquin and Semuc Champey<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lanquin is nothing more than the gateway for exploring the nearby pools of Semuc Champey (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/bdtM5KkwkmWWeyTH7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a true natural wonder.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two ways to visit the pools: with a tour costing 130-150Q, which includes transport, a guide and entrance to Semuc Champey and the nearby caves, or, as I did, by taking the pickups that leave regularly from the main square \u2013 25Q for foreigners, but the actual price is 15Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just so you know, the ride is on a stretch of dirt road, and the cheap tours and the pickups from the square also take people standing in the back; there are bars all around, and it&#8217;s less dangerous than it looks. In about half an hour, you reach the park entrance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you go on your own, I recommend starting with the climb to the mirador (about 20 minutes), which offers a breathtaking view (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/85Q7jF9yfy7U9niZ6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Then, descend to the pools where you can spend the rest of the day. The entrance fee is 50Q. It&#8217;s an extraordinary place that shouldn&#8217;t be missed!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/semuc_champey_piscine.jpg\" alt=\"The natural pools of Semuc Champey\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The natural pools of Semuc Champey.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Lanquin?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I slept at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/hostal-vista-verde-lanquin.en.html?aid=1680713&amp;no_rooms=1&amp;group_adults=2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vista Verde<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and I recommend it: it&#8217;s on top of a hill with a fantastic view, and there&#8217;s even a pool. On the opposite hill is <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/zephyrlodgelanquin.com\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zephyr Lodge<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an extremely popular option with a livelier atmosphere.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both places have an on-site restaurant that isn&#8217;t exactly cheap; the town center is a 15-minute walk away.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Lanquin?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only frequent connection is with nearby Coban. From Coban there are minibuses to Flores (via <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sayaxche<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), Rio Dulce and Guatemala City. As always, there are also tourist shuttles to all destinations, but obviously they&#8217;re much more expensive.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"rio-dulce\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Rio Dulce<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rio Dulce is a great place to break up the journey to nearby Livingston, but also to Flores in the north. The small town is nothing special, but there are a couple of interesting places in the surrounding area.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Rio Dulce<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Castillo De San Felipe<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I recommend a quick visit to the fort &#8220;Castillo De San Felipe&#8221; (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/e4SujCSTz3gyipNs8\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), a fort built by the Spanish to defend themselves against pirates: nothing exceptional, but it&#8217;s well restored and set inside a well-kept park.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Minibuses leave from the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/FzHzVXiC66D2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">area near the market<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about every half hour, ask for the &#8220;castillo,&#8221; otherwise you could walk, it&#8217;s about 3km from the center. The entrance fee is 20Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/castillo_san_felipe_rio_dulce.jpg\" alt=\"The San Felipe fort in Rio Dulce.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The San Felipe fort.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Finca Paraiso<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finca Paraiso, where the &#8220;Cascada con agua caliente&#8221; is (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/1Zsy9fga95DFc7S97\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), is a truly incredible place. It&#8217;s in the middle of the jungle at the end of a short trail, and here the hot springs rise at the top of a waterfall, so the waterfall itself is hot, while the water in the stream below is cold.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The mix of temperatures is fantastic, and you can even climb up the waterfall to the water source nearby. It&#8217;s full of &#8220;clay mud&#8221; that some people put on to clean their skin, and one local even showed me small caves under the waterfall itself, really cool!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The entrance fee is 20Q. These minibuses also depart frequently <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/FzHzVXiC66D2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">from the same point<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, costing 15Q, about 45 minutes. Ask to get off at Finca Paraiso.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I visited the fort and the waterfall on the same day. If you decide to do the same, after visiting the fort you can simply wait for the minibus <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/7xgAmBVEnmu\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without going back to Rio Dulce. While I was waiting for it, a kind truck driver offered me a ride without me even hitchhiking; of course I accepted, and then I went back by minibus.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/finca_paraiso_rio_dulce.jpg\" alt=\"The hot-water waterfall of Finca Paraiso in Rio Dulce.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The cascada con agua caliente.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Quirigua Ruins<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I personally haven&#8217;t been there (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/5AZoziRf6JLQFHxo6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), as by all accounts, the most interesting and impressive Mayan sites are elsewhere. However, if you&#8217;re an archaeology buff, you can&#8217;t miss it!<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To get there, simply take any southbound bus along CA9; the entrance to the ruins is located along the road. The ruins are open every day from 7:30 to 17:00, and admission costs 80Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Boat to Livingston and Rio Dulce National Park<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the &#8220;tour&#8221; that everyone tries to sell you in town, but rather than a tour of the park, it&#8217;s a boat trip down the river to Livingston.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some describe it as one of the best experiences you can have in Guatemala, others simply as a boat trip with jungle views. I didn&#8217;t do it because Livingston didn&#8217;t appeal to me, but if you&#8217;re planning to visit the town, this is the only way to get there.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The trip costs 125Q one way.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Rio Dulce?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I arrived late and spent the night at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/MviTNRydzMo\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Posada del Rio<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 60Q each for a double room. However, there are a couple of hostels, lodges and hotels along the river and deep in the jungle that are really nice, can only be reached by boat and normally have kayaks to explore nearby areas. I spent one night at <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/casa-perico.en.html?aid=1680713\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hotel Casa Perico<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and I recommend it, even though the food there isn&#8217;t exactly cheap.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Rio Dulce?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I said above, from Livingston it&#8217;s 125Q by boat. Buses to and from Flores cost 65Q, about 4 hours. To and from Semuc Champey the fastest method is to take a minibus to Coban and then get off <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/6dDNNJweWrC2\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">at the intersection of the road leading to Lanquin<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"livingston\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Livingston<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Livingston is a rather unusual town. In fact, it&#8217;s the town with the highest concentration of Garifuna, an ethnic group descended from African slaves, found mainly along the coasts of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I haven&#8217;t been there personally, mainly because of the cost of the boat and the little time I had, so I preferred to go straight to Flores from Rio Dulce. Livingston has been described to me by many as an interesting place with good nightlife; however, don&#8217;t expect spectacular beaches. Other than the atmosphere, the only real attraction around is the Siete Altares Falls (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/maps.app.goo.gl\/fegmQUcP8Jk6h4Cb7\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), which you can reach from town even on foot.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You should also know that many people pass through Livingston because there are several boats that shuttle to the Caye Caulker islands in Belize, exploring some deserted islands along the way. The route is relatively well known, so I think there are fairly frequent departures, although I recommend asking locally.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/livingstone_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"Livingston, Guatemala\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>On the streets of Livingston.<\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Livingston?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides the boats I just mentioned \u2013 the ones arriving from the Caye Caulker islands and the two daily departures from Rio Dulce, 9:00 and 14:00, 125Q \u2013 there&#8217;s a third option: a boat leaves Punta Gorda in Belize every day at 13:00, plus one at 10:30 on Tuesdays and Fridays only, and in the opposite direction at 7:00 and 15:00, 30$.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"flores\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Flores<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many, the only reason to visit this town is its proximity to the ruins of Tikal, but the town itself is also really pretty: the tourist area is in fact built on a small island in the middle of Lake Pet\u00e9n Itz\u00e1, really picturesque, with lots of colonial buildings and cobblestone streets.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>What to do and see in Flores<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Besides the famous ruins I&#8217;ll talk about shortly, I recommend spending at least a couple of hours wandering around the small island and its streets, which are especially pleasant in the evening when the sun goes down.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the evening, I recommend eating street food from the stalls that gather along the lakeshore on the north side of the island: a wide choice and rock-bottom prices.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, if you have a free half day you could take a boat to the other side of the lake and go up to mirador del rey (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/DGZigx86N7q\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) or Jorge&#8217;s Rope Swing (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/83CX4bNRALn\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google Maps<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). The latter is especially popular with younger people: there are platforms to jump from and a rope swing, and a really relaxed atmosphere, 5 minutes by boat from Flores (15Q), while entry costs 10Q. Some people arrive by kayak.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/lago_flores.jpg\" alt=\"Jorge's Rope Swing on the lake at Flores.\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The &#8220;taxi&#8221; arriving at Jorge&#8217;s Rope Swing.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Tikal<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Mayan ruins of Tikal (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tikalnationalpark.org\/Tikal-Tickets-and-opening-hours.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">official website<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are undoubtedly the most impressive in the country and perhaps in the entire region. The site is very large and if you want to visit all the temples you need at least a couple of hours. Although admission is expensive by local standards, if I had to recommend just one Mayan site out of all the ones I&#8217;ve seen in Central America, I&#8217;d probably pick Tikal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, there are a couple of different options for visiting the ruins on a day trip from Flores. The site can be reached by public transportation, but I recommend relying on the tourist shuttles, which are much faster and only slightly more expensive.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Entrance to the site costs 150Q, the round-trip shuttle price without a guide is 60Q, with a guide 100Q. Particularly popular is the tour to see the sunrise inside the park, in which case you have to pay another 100Q surcharge for entering before 6:00.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I went for transport only. The only thing I&#8217;d recommend is visiting the site in the morning as early as possible, because it&#8217;s less crowded and also less hot. I took the first one (after the sunrise tour shuttles) at 4:30, arriving at the entrance around 6:00. Anyway, there are several departures, and to get back, if I remember correctly, there were at least 3 or 4 options in the afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rovine_tikal.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of Tikal in Guatemala\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ruins of Tikal.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>El Mirador<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I was really torn about whether to visit this site or not. In fact, to visit these Mayan ruins, which by the way are home to the largest temples discovered so far (El Tigre and La Danta), you have to complete a jungle trek lasting 5 days in total.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any agency in Flores can arrange this excursion. Prices vary widely depending on group size, but expect to pay at least $150-200. The starting point is the small village of Carmelita. If you have a relatively large group, you could go directly there and rely on a local guide without using an agency in Flores.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have to walk a lot and it&#8217;s really hot, but the site must truly be something incredible, still far from mass tourism. Partly because of the cost, and partly because it&#8217;s not recommended during the rainy season, since you could be walking through mud for hours, I decided to skip it, but I&#8217;ve promised myself I&#8217;ll do it if I ever go back to Guatemala.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.passporttheworld.com\/el-mirador-guatemala-trek-tour\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can find a detailed guide here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>Where to sleep in Flores?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The whole island is plastered with hostels and hotels; I slept in the cheapest one I could find: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.booking.com\/hotel\/gt\/mirador-del-lago.en.html?aid=1680713\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hotel Mirador del Lago<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (it&#8217;s more of a hostel than a hotel); anyway, it&#8217;s not bad, it has a nice terrace overlooking the lake, and you can use the kayaks for free.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b><i>How to get to Flores?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To Coban (Semuc Champey) there are minibuses (via <\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sayaxche<\/span><\/i><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), while to Rio Dulce there are direct buses (4 hours, 65Q). The bus station is about a 15-minute walk from the island; a tuk tuk shouldn&#8217;t cost more than 5-10Q.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, as in almost all of Central America, there are also tourist shuttles that go back and forth between the various most popular destinations, and excellent night buses to Guatemala City.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/rovine_el_mirador_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"The ruins of El Mirador seen from above\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>The ruins of El Mirador seen from above.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Crossing the Guatemala-Belize border<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are direct connections from Flores to Belize City with several companies, 5-6 hours, about 180Q. The cheapest alternative is to take the bus to the border town (Melchor De Mencos), 2 hours, 30Q, walk across the border and then take a direct bus to Belize City, 3 and a half hours, 9B. From Belize City, you can then reach the Caye Caulker islands by ferry; the whole trip can be done in a day as long as you leave early.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some decide to spend the night in San Ignacio near the border to break the journey and visit the nearby caves.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Crossing the Guatemala-Mexico border<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Flores -&gt; Palenque<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bus from Flores to La Tecnica, about 4 hours. The bus stops at immigration before continuing to the pier where there are boats crossing the river for 15Q.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you get to the other side, you&#8217;re officially in Mexico, in Frontera Corozal to be precise. Walk to the immigration office nearby and get your passport stamped! If you arrive early enough, you can find minibuses going straight to Palenque; otherwise, take a taxi to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/goo.gl\/maps\/w7RhARdaKCR2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this intersection<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where there are frequent minibuses coming from the south and going to Palenque.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Quetzaltenango -&gt; San Crist\u00f3bal de las Casas<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I didn&#8217;t do this route, but you can find it described in detail <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.acrosslandsea.com\/travel\/crossing-the-border-guatemala-to-mexico\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are by far the most common border crossings. If you&#8217;re interested in crossing the border to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/honduras-en\/backpacking-honduras\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Honduras<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/el-salvador-en\/backpacking-el-salvador\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">El Salvador<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, check out the respective guides.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div id=\"iti\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Suggested itineraries in Guatemala<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below I list possible 2, 3 and 4-week itineraries; obviously, take what follows as inspiration and adapt the itinerary to your interests\/budget!<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Two-week itinerary in Guatemala<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two weeks isn&#8217;t a lot, but it&#8217;s more than enough to see the highlights of Guatemala.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/itinerario_tre_settimane_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"Map of a two-week itinerary in Guatemala\" width=\"650\" height=\"770\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Antigua (4 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 1:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you arrive in Guatemala City and it&#8217;s not late, I recommend going to Antigua right away.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 2:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Explore the city, go up to Cerro de la Cruz.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 3-4:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I strongly recommend the hike to Acatenango Volcano, but if it&#8217;s not for you, consider some other activity, such as Pacaya Volcano.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Lake Atitlan (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 5:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to one of the villages on Lake Atitlan, afternoon to relax.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 6:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enjoy the lake and its many villages.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Quetzaltenango <\/b><b>(3 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 7:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Quetzaltenango. Visit the cemetery in the afternoon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 8:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Santa Maria Volcano.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 9:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Las Fuentes Georginas Hot Springs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Semuc Champey (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 10:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Semuc Champey.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 11:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tour to Semuc Champey.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Flores (2 nights)<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 12:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Transfer to Flores.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 13:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Visit Tikal.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Day 14:<\/b><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Return to Guatemala City.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h3 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Three-week itinerary in Guatemala<\/b><\/h3>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With three weeks available, I&#8217;d still recommend following the itinerary I&#8217;ve just described, maybe adding Rio Dulce\/Livingston between Semuc Champey and Flores, or some other activity along the various stops, such as a day trip to the Chichicastenango market from Antigua or Lake Atitlan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/itinerario_due_settimane_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"Map of a three-week itinerary in Guatemala\" width=\"650\" height=\"770\" \/>\r\n<div id=\"how\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>How to get around Guatemala<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Buses in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned several times in this guide, there are numerous tourist shuttles that cover all of the country&#8217;s most visited major destinations, but by far the cheapest and most fun option is the so-called &#8220;chicken buses.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are former school buses that can sometimes be extremely crowded and not exactly comfortable, but in most cases they&#8217;re not bad at all and, above all, they&#8217;re extremely cheap.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually, in addition to the driver, there&#8217;s an &#8220;ayudante&#8221; who collects the money and puts bulky luggage on the roof of the bus. I recommend them, but for certain routes, especially if you&#8217;re short on time, it may be better to take a shuttle.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Chicken_Bus_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"Chicken Bus Guatemala\" width=\"1110\" height=\"624\" \/><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Chicken bus.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Taxis in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the city, some taxis use meters, but they&#8217;re not that common, so make sure you agree on the fare before getting in to avoid problems, maybe by asking your hotel\/hostel what the right price is for a particular route. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uber.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Uber<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> definitely works in Guatemala City.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Domestic flights in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only regular domestic flights worth considering are those from Guatemala City to Flores and back, operated by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.avianca.com\/gt\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Avianca<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Obviously, buses are cheaper.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Hitchhiking in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hitchhiking is considered safe and is quite common, especially in rural areas. I hitchhiked three times during my trip in Guatemala, and twice it wasn&#8217;t even intentional, as I was waiting for the bus and people simply offered me a ride. In general, you shouldn&#8217;t have any problems, but as always, use common sense.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<div id=\"cost\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Guatemala: costs<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How much does a trip to Guatemala cost? Very little. If you travel by public transport, sleep in hostels (or cheap hotels), eat where the locals eat and don&#8217;t rely too often on organized tours, you can easily get around on a budget of 25-30\u20ac a day.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many people, the biggest expense is probably the flight from Europe, so I suggest you read <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/transport\/find-cheap-flights\/\">my guide on how to find cheap flights<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of accommodation in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most hostels offer dorms from 60Q per night and never more than 100Q, so 7-12\u20ac per night. For private rooms in hostels, expect to pay from 150Q up. Cheap family-run hotels are often a great compromise, with decent rooms from 250Q per night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of food in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Great meals for 10-15Q can be found at the market, in some &#8220;comedor&#8221; or simply on the street. In tourist or more upscale restaurants expect to pay at least 50Q.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/tostadas_guatemala.jpg\" alt=\"A plate of tostadas\" width=\"1066\" height=\"600\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>A plate of tostadas.<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Cost of transport in Guatemala<\/b><\/h4>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The &#8220;chicken buses,&#8221; called &#8220;camionetas&#8221; by locals, are extremely cheap and generally cost 5-10Q per hour of travel; sometimes they can cost even less. On the other hand, tourist shuttles are much more expensive and can cost up to 10 times more.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">To reduce exchange and withdrawal fees, see my <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/best-travel-cards\/\">guide to the best travel cards<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n<div id=\"safe\" style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><b>Backpacking Guatemala: safety<\/b><\/h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is Guatemala safe? Generally speaking, yes, although, as in pretty much all Latin American countries, there are still safety issues, especially in some areas of the big cities, such as Guatemala City.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I always got around by public transport and very often walked around the cities without any kind of problem. Use common sense, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/backpacking-safety\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">take a look at my tips<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and you&#8217;ll see that your trip will go as smooth as silk.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Are you planning a trip to Guatemala? Check out these posts:<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/planning\/40-tips-for-backpackers\/\">Tips for planning a budget trip<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/packing-list\/\">What to bring on your trip<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/gear\/travel-backpack\/\">Which travel backpack to choose<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Do you have any questions? Updated information? Feel free to leave a comment or message me on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/ilbackpacker\/\">Instagram<\/a>!<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Since I no longer run ads, if you found this article helpful, please consider purchasing your <a href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/start-here\/safety\/travel-insurance\/\">travel insurance<\/a> through one of the links on this site. Doing so supports my work at no additional cost to you. For EU and UK residents, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.truetraveller.com\/?tag=4486\">True Traveller<\/a>. For everyone else, I recommend <a href=\"https:\/\/heymondo.com\/?utm_medium=Afiliado&amp;utm_source=ILBACKPACKER&amp;utm_campaign=PRINCIPAL&amp;cod_descuento=ILBACKPACKER&amp;ag_campaign=INPUT&amp;agencia=3e3e0e90cc3ad100e738962ea2e0b0be8d69\">HeyMondo<\/a>, which offers a 5% discount. Thank you for your support!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.paypal.com\/donate\/?hosted_button_id=QTBBEQQCE37GA\">For donations\/pizzas and virtual beers<\/a> \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h5 style=\"text-align: center;\">Did you like the post? Pin it!<\/h5>\r\n<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-7579\" src=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_guatemala.png\" alt=\"Guatemala travel guide\" width=\"330\" height=\"495\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_guatemala.png 330w, https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/backpacking_guatemala-200x300.png 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s a country rich in culture, colonial architecture, volcanoes, lakes, dense forests and some of the most impressive Mayan sites in the region, Tikal above all. It can easily be visited in a single trip or even combined with neighboring Mexico and Belize.","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5865,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guatemala-en"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.4 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Where to go, what to see, itineraries, costs, useful tips and more to plan your trip to Guatamala.\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"max-image-preview:large\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tr1nCa92\"\/>\n\t<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ilbackpacker.it\/en\/destinations-en\/guatemala-en\/backpacking-guatemala\/\" \/>\n\t\t<meta name=\"generator\" content=\"All in One SEO (AIOSEO) 5.0.4\" 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