If you came to this article; chances are you are planning to visit Guatemala soon and I just want to tell you… please do it!

Guatemala had a lot of baggage on my side, the expectations were very high. Erupting volcanoes, colonial cities, raw nature and a lot of culture. But without a doubt, it surpassed them all.

Summary data:

• How many days I need: At least 10; better 15 to 20.
• Estimated cost: Approximately 800 USD (10 days)
• Highlight of the trip: Kanba Cave (unexpected)
• Favorite coffee shop: Alegria (Antigua)

Here you’ll find all the information you need to plan a trip to Guatemala independently, based on first-hand experience and plenty of preparation. From updated 2026 prices and money-saving tips to the best ways to get around and practical travel advice, this guide will help you organise your trip with confidence.

In other words, valuable information.

Do I Need a Visa to Enter Guatemala? Entry Requirements

If you hold an Argentine, European (Spanish, Italian, etc.), British, Colombian, Australian or United States passport, you do not need a visa to enter Guatemala. However, your passport must be valid for at least six months upon entry. However, your passport must be valid for at least six months upon entry.

Countries such as the Dominican Republic, Venezuela or the Balkans (such as Serbia and Montenegro) DO require a visa, which is obtained at the Guatemalan consulate or embassy and costs 50 USD.

Please check for official updates before your trip.

Is It Safe to Travel in Guatemala? An Honest Review

Generally speaking, I would say yes. Although it depends a lot on where you go and the times you do it.

The city of Antigua, for example, is considered the safest city in Central America. Full of police and a lot of efforts to take care of the tourists. Regarding the interior; in the area of Semuc Champey we feel super safe and in Flores they have scared us a little more.

Of course; a lot has to do with common sense; do not walk alone at night, do not get intoxicated traveling alone, avoid areas that are not recommended.

Solo Female Travel in Guatemala: Is It Safe?

If this is the first time you read me; I want to tell you that I mostly travel alone around the world and I love to write here my experiences either to motivate or warn other“solo travelers” mainly women. You can even follow me in real time on Instagram.

Although I did not visit Guatemala alone; I share with you my perspective.

Guatemala is an incredible destination for solo travel. It is generally safe and offers a well-established travel route that makes it easy to get around and plan your journey. Filled with hostels and activities to meet like-minded people.

When is the Best Time to Visit Guatemala?

Dry season (November to April); Ideal weather for touring, hikes and enjoying the beach. The disadvantage is that in high season prices tend to rise and everything runs out soon.

Rainy season (May to October): you may experience a few rainy days, but nature is at its most vibrant and lush. We travelled during the last week of October and only had rain on two days, and just for a couple of hours each time. It’s true that there is often more fog during this period, which can make it a bit harder to see the volcanoes clearly.

In addition, in November the Festival of Flowers is celebrated in Antigua and it must be spectacular.

How Many Days Do You Need in Guatemala?

We toured Guate for 10 days, Micha (my partner) spent another two weeks in El Paredon, I will also add her experience.

I think it is important to keep in mind that although Guatemala is a small country and all distances seem short, there is too much traffic and it takes about 9/10 hours to cover distances of 200-300 km. Also, you always travel in the morning and you lose days on the road.

10 days were enough to visit the places we were most interested in; although we were doing things all the time and there were things left to do everywhere.

In other words; if you only have 10 or 15 days of vacation and you want to make the most of it… Guatemala is an excellent option.

However, if you have more time, 20 days would be perfect. Further down in this same article, you will find my travel itinerary and the corrections I would make to it (after having experienced it).

Getting to Guatemala: Best Routes and Airports

Guatemala City will be your first destination if you fly internationally. There are cheap flights from the United States. I always check them on SkyScanner with “open date” for months and that’s how I usually find them.

If, on the other hand, you travel by land… it will probably be from Mexico; through Chiapas – Lake Atitlan or Quintana Roo – Flores; the other popular route is Belize to Rio Dulce or Flores.

The tourist route through Guatemala is almost circular. So you can start your route wherever you want and plan the direction that suits you best, taking into account where you leave the country.

Micha and I arrived in Guatemala City and left through the dry border of Atitlan to San Cristobal de las Casas in Mexico. That is the route I will detail in a moment.

How to Get Around Guatemala: Transport & Shuttles

The most common means of transportation are the trafics that everybody calls bus; but in reality they are minivans that use their greater capacity in seats and hold all kinds of luggage on top of the roof with ropes and fabrics. These are usually private or small tour companies, depending on the area you are in. They can be booked online through GuateGo; but it is really more economical to buy them at the destination.

The air option in Guatelama is quite limited due to the lowfrequency of flights and the poor airport structure. Flores is the best connected, with two flights per day from Guatemala City. The price is similar to the buses (but not including luggage). I always look for them through SkyScanner.

The famous Chicken Bus; cheerful and colorful ex-school buses from the United States, which serve as local transportation in Guatemala, are quite an experience. And besides, they are usually the cheapest!

Useful for short distances; however, you can cross the country on them, making many combinations. Keep in mind that some of these “transition” points may not be so safe; I wouldn’t risk it if I have little time, a lot of luggage or don’t speak a word of Spanish.

If you want to live this experience, but without taking too much risk, the trip from Antigua to Lake Atitlan is relatively short and with a higher frequency of tourists on board.

Essential Guatemala Travel Tips (Before You Go)

• Payments are almost always made in cash, there is rarely the option of paying with cards and there are usually surcharges. It is convenient to have an “international card” such as Revolut for example, which allows you to withdraw money at any ATM or directly carry cash (USD or EUR) and change it in the city center.
• Backpack over suitcase to carry your luggage. Most places have dirt roads or cobblestone streets, and many areas are quite prone to flooding. Trust me, having a properly fitted backpack will save you a lot of trouble. My Osprey has been travelling with me for over a year now, and I still haven’t found a single flaw in it.
• Book accommodation in advance, the nicer and better priced hostels / hotels tend to sell out quickly. The hike to the Acatenango volcano (if you plan to do it on a specific date) I would also book in advance (at least 15 days). While there are many companies for the latter, prices and services vary greatly.
• On the contrary to the previous point; transportation and other types of tours; I would book them once in the destination. Checking the time, asking more than one operator. Prices are usually significantly cheaper and almost everything can be bargained for.
• Most of the routes are curved. If you get carsick sitting in the back of a curvy car, please consider taking medication and taking it before you get on the bus. This can change the entire travel experience.

Now, ladies and gentlemen;

Prices, tips and destinations in 10 nights/ 11 days (on a cheap trip to Guatemala).

my Guatemala Itinerary: A Step by Step and the thinking behind

1: Guatemala City – Flores

We arrived in Guatemala City and flew the same day to Flores. There are two options to make this trip; considering prices, times and schedule; it was convenient for us to fly.

Flights usually leave in the afternoon; they take 1 hour and cost around 55 USD (without luggage) and you can get them here. Both Flores and Guatemala airports are quite small, so don’t be desperate to arrive so far in advance. The price of the traffic is quite similar; maybe 5-10 USD less, but it takes 10 hours and leaves in the morning.

If you are one of those who need to travel with everything ready and bought; you can consult the routes and prices of the traffics in GuateGo; but they are usually much cheaper to buy it directly in the place. “To the place” I mean hostels, mini tourist stores.

We spent that night in Flores, more specifically in the San Miguel area, where we got a room with river views for 40 EUR for two nights for two people. I’ll leave it here for you. You can find something cheaper and possibly better located, but it’s worth booking in advance because we ran out of availability. We’ve also had good references for places like Hotel Cenobio.

2: Flores – Tikal – Flores

Tikal was the main reason for our visit to the Petén region. It is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Mayan civilisation, very well preserved and surrounded by nature.

In fact, we made a Youtube video about our visit to Flores and Tikal (in English) and I leave it here.

If you have read me before; I am a fan of doing everything on my own; the tours that take you, look for you and show you, I usually don’t like. I like to organize, discover on my own and tell them how to hack the system hahaha; in Tikal I lost out.

Tours offer different schedule options and cost the same as doing it on your own, while saving you from those dead hours spent waiting between transfers. The easiest way is to buy it at your own place or drop by other popular accommodations to check.

If you prefer to have everything booked in advance, you can check availability and make a reservation from here.

3: Flores – Lanquin – Semuc Champey

Full day trip; we made the trip Flores – Lanquín in 10 hours.

All shared shuttles (run by different operators) leave at the same time, usually at 8 am. There is a one hour lunch stop and a few additional breaks for bathroom stops along the way. It can be quite uncomfortable, but it’s often the only way to reach more remote or rural destinations. If you’re lucky enough to board early, try to choose a seat at the front, as it’s less prone to motion sickness and offers more legroom.

Once in Lanquín; you have the possibility to stay overnight in the same town (where most of the hostels are located); or make a short trip further and enjoy a more rural lodging; close to Semuc Champey.

We did exactly that and ended up at this beautiful, budget-friendly eco-cabin right by the river. The only downside is that there are no supermarkets in the area, so you’ll have to eat out at restaurants; however, they usually offer plenty of variety and reasonable prices. If you’re traveling solo, we met plenty of people who stayed at Hotel Greengos and absolutely loved it.

The extra ride to the Semuc Champey area cost us 30 QTZ, which is about 3.90 USD per person, and took around 20 minutes. It’s basically a pickup truck where you can either stand or sit in the back, right along with all your luggage. Reason number thousand to travel with backpack to Guatemala.

4: Semuc Champey

All the hassle makes complete sense the moment you see Semuc Champey from the viewpoint, or even more so when you jump into the pools. You can watch our entire experience in this YouTube video (and if you leave a comment over there saying you came from the blog, you’ll make my day!

5: Semuc Champey – Lanquin – Antigua

Another full day of travel. If you’re staying in the Semuc Champey area, it’s usually best to book your transport directly through your hotel reception (don’t forget to negotiate a little), as it often includes the transfer to Lanquín as well.

We left at 7.30 am and arrived at sunset!!!! The bus went through Guatemala City; the trip to Antigua can take between 1 to 5 HOURS, depending on traffic.

Once in Antigua, we settled into a very comfortable and affordable room with views of Volcán Agua; the sunrise was incredible. Antigua is one of the most visually stunning places I’ve been to and it’s full of beautiful accommodation options, although prices do tend to be higher here. Beyond the dream-like Posada del Ángel, I also heard great things about Ojalá. I would have loved to stay at Posada San Sebastián, and Socialtel (formerly Selina) is simply beautiful.

I’m leaving you the map with the “ideal area” so you can look for accommodation there—it’s definitely worth it.

6: Antigua

Antigua is beautiful; and this day was exclusively to get to know it.

We did a free walking tour, walked through colonial streets and were recommended to a lot of cafes and bars; we tried some of them. We visited the handicrafts market, the ruins of the old cathedral in the afternoon and at night we prepared for the next day. We can’t wait to go back!

I really wish I had taken a cooking class; I’ll leave it here in case you have the time. It seems quite affordable and definitely worth it.

Oh by the way; at the beginning of this article I mentioned the Alegria coffee shop as one of the most beautiful; here I made a little video.

7: Antigua – Acatenango Volcano

The alarm clock went off at 5 am to meet our group in a neighboring church and go to San Jose Calderas; starting point to visit the famous Acatenango. This is a volcano where you hike up a fairly intense hike to see the neighboring volcano (Fuego) erupt.

I have so much to say about this experience that I wrote a separate article, which you can read here. We also made a YouTube video that had a lot of engagement and is definitely worth watching.

We chose to do it with V-hike because of the confidence that the team and its owner transmitted to us. The seventh night of our trip through Guatemala; we spent it at 3600m in a trench with giant windows to the fog and from time to time, to Fuego and its long awaited smoke.

8: Acatenango – Antigua

The bravest woke up to the clapping of the guides at 3am despite the fog, fatigue and cold, to climb to the top of Acatenango and see the eruption of Fuego more clearly. At the time this was all an unknown because it was so cloudy that you could not distinguish which way was which. This was in October 2024.

I still don’t understand if it was laziness, altitude sickness or tiredness; but my day started at 6am; with interviews and coffee for all those who went up. And who were lucky for a couple of minutes!

After breakfast we had 4 hours of descent ahead of us; two bus rides back to Antigua. Our plan was to go directly to Lake Atitlan; but we had some problems with the laundry in Antigua and we had to go back to look for it. I remember that this day number 8 was Sunday and all I needed was a plate of something warm and a shower.

Casa Quatzalli, booked at the last minute, felt like glory.

9: Antigua – San Pedro La Laguna

Finally; the day of Lake Atitlan. This little misunderstanding with our laundry, took us out of a day of visiting the lake. The itinerary consisted of a 3 hour bus ride to Panajachel (the largest and most frequented town on the lake) and a boat ride of at least 1 hour to San Pedro (the party paradise they say).

But when one longs for a place; everything gets complicated and the bus broke down half way. We spent 2 hours waiting for a replacement and finished the trip in another “rescue” traffic. The 3 hour trip turned into 6 hours; leaving us less than 5 minutes to get to the last boat of the day.

Choosing San Pedro as our base was not an easy task. It seems that all the small towns along the lake have their own personality and we would have liked to visit all of them. Considering which was our next destination and the connectivity we needed, we ended up preferring it.

We chose Gran Colibri to stay; with a lot of doubts because it was full of free amenities (like free tuktuk or kayak) but thank goodness we booked it because they outweighed them all! It was the cheapest accommodation of our whole trip in Guatemala.

10: San Pedro La Laguna – Lake Atitlán

There was a lot to see in just one day so I chose to investigate the lake itself. And then I dived it!

Diving deep in fresh water and in one of the highest altitude lakes in the world? An experience in itself. The first dive was at 9 am, so I arrived early to Isla Perdida (a beautiful hostel) which was about an hour away by boat.

We spent the rest of the day kayaking and visiting the scenic corners of San Pedro. We had so many things left to see in Lake Atitlán; it will be the reason to come back in the future.

11: Farewell: San Pedro La Laguna – San Cristobal de las Casas (Mexico)

Our 10-day itinerary ends here. With the farewell of a beautiful sunrise seen from the last bus leaving the lake.

Crossing the border between Lake Atitlán and Chiapas is an experience in itself, and there’s a lot of information about it. At the moment, I’m working on sharing my own experience in a separate article. If you have any questions right now, feel free to send me a message by email or on Instagram.

---

Now that you know everything we did; I want to give you some tips on what to add if you have more time or what I would modify of this planning after having done it.

Changes to the original Guatemala itinerary

Honestly; I would follow a similar plan. I would make sure that on day 8, you can get to Lake Atitlan so that you can tour it for at least one more day.

It is also true that there are different styles of travelers as well as destinations in the world; and that you should be honest enough with yourself to know if these places are places that really interest you.

If you have been visiting Mayan monuments all the time, for example, and you are not so enthusiastic about traveling to see an archaeological site, it is valid. In that case I would give you three alternatives:

1- We saved a little more on transportation; we added 2 days to Lake Atitlán.

2- In Guatemala you missed the beach; then dedicate those days to El Paredón.

3- Culture and handicrafts is your thing; there are plenty of small towns you can visit in one day from Antigua or you can even dedicate those days to Quetzaltenango.

The Ultimate 20 Day Guatemala Backpacking Itinerary

1: Guatemala City – Río Dulce

2: Rio Dulce

Guatemalan Caribbean; where the river merges with the sea, accompanied by the jungle. From there you can reach Livingston, a small coastal town that is only accessible by boat.

Day 3: Río Dulce – Flores

4: Flores – Tikal

5: Flores – Lanquin – Semuc Champey

6: Semuc Champey

7: Semuc Champey – region

We were enchanted with this region in the department of Alta Verapaz. We discovered that there are other areas much further away from tourism that we would love to see such as Sachichaj, Grutas de Lanquín National Park and Eco center Yaliha.

Day 8: Semuc Champey – Antigua

9: Antigua

10: Antigua – Acatenango

11: Acatenango – Antigua

Day 12: Antigua

Although Antigua is quite small, it is full of museums and little corners to visit. If you are willing to move a little more; you can take a chicken bus to small towns like Santiago Sacatepéquez (for its famous market) or San Pedro Las Huertas.

13: Antigua – El Paredón

Day 14: El Paredón

El Paradón is a relaxed paradise where time takes on a different meaning. If I had to choose 3 words to describe it (according to Micha’s experiences) they would be sunsets, waves and turtles. Here you can participate in the release of turtles into the sea (and learn about it) for free.

Micha won’t let me publish her photos; without first recommending her little house in El Paredón; a hostel full of good vibes and very well located that I leave you here. I think is looking like Bali with beautiful hotels like Cocorí Lodge or Casa Zala.

15: El Paredón

Day 16: El Paredón – Lake Atitlán (San Pedro)

From San Pedro; I would enjoy the views; the panoramic cafeterias, its small center and the neighboring commune; San Juan de la Laguna with its Kaqasiiwaan viewpoint and even the hike at dawn to see the Nose of the Maya.

17: Lake Atitlán (San Pedro)

18: Lake Atitlán (San Marcos)

San Marcos is the hippie town on the lake; where there are millions of options for vegan food and yoga. Lots of art and a relaxed atmosphere. I would take advantage of the proximity to go see the house of the world and surrounding villages.

19: Lake Atitlan (San Marcos)

Day 20: Lake Atitlan – Guatemala City to fly home or bus to Mexico to continue the adventure.

This would be a super complete itinerary that would let you experience every corner and visualize the differences of Guatemala. Perhaps you could also take a day out of Antigua and dedicate it to Quetzaltenango; famous for its markets and latent culture.

I hope this article has helped you to better visualize and organize your trip to Guatemala. Also to tell you; that in August 2024; I started my long awaited backpacking trip through many of the Latin American countries. Leaving from home (Argentina) to Mexico. Paraaaaaaa; I skipped many. But you can read about Bolivia for example if you are interested; and I will update the web all the time.

Right now, I’m on an intense route through Asia, so you’ll soon be able to read a lot about Japan or China. Feel free to follow my day-to-day experiences on Instagram, and hey—have an amazing time in Guatemala! I’d love to hear about your experience. Take care!

Guadi !