One Week Itinerary in Guatemala
If you have been dreaming of erupting volcanoes, cobblestone streets, stunning lakes, and delicious food Guatemala is the country for you.
This is a full one week itinerary assuming you don’t count travel days. We spent a total of 12 days and extended the trip because we were having the best time there.
Guatemala absolutely blew my mind and I look forward to the day I get to go back and explore even more of this beautiful country.
Best time to Visit
I would recommend visiting Guatemala during the dry season so you can fully enjoy the lake and hike Acatenango with no problems. The dry season is between November and May. We visited in late March and experienced clear skies and temperatures in the 80’s as the high and 50’s as the low.
Where to Stay
Selina Hostel
They have a location in Antigua and Lake Atitlan. They were booked out for our dates we needed, but we toured the property and they have great amenities and co-working spaces. They also have events and tours you can book straight from their reception.
Free Cerveza
This is my favorite hostel I’ve ever stayed at so far. The overall vibe and atmosphere made me want to take a couple months off work and volunteer here. They are right on the lake and have activities daily such as paddle boards, yoga, hikes, and beer pong tournaments. It is very affordable and I only paid 20 usd for a spot in a shared teepee like tent. It is $50 for a private casita so if you share it with someone it is more worth the privacy.
Earth Lodge
This was the perfect oasis to recover after the trek to Acatenango. They offer private tree house style cabins and I was surprised by the pricing being so affordable. They offer massages, saunas, ice baths, yoga, and really yummy healthy food. I came out feeling so refreshed and recharged.
Mr Mullet’s
I put this on the list because if you want one night to go out and have a more party oriented experience then I would stay here. I do have to warn you that it is a bit dingy and loud. We ended up sharing a room with the girls we hiked the volcano with so it was fun to run into them. I slept so bad, but it was cheap and in the heart of San Pedro.
Tropicana
Best if you’re hiking Acatenango with them and that way you don’t have to figure out traveling to the hostel. It isn’t super fancy or anything too special, but for the price it’s worth it to stay here!
La Iguana Perdida
We didn’t end up staying here because I had my heart set on Free Cervesa, but it’s right next door and also looked like a very fun vibe! You can’t go wrong choosing either one or even both if they’re not booked out.
How to Get Around
Shared shuttles
I booked shared shuttles through tropicana hostel for a ride from Guatemala City to Antigua and Antigua to Panajachel. Other hostels also have shuttles that are similar and so if you’re staying closer to a different hostel pop in and you can book straight from the reception desk.
Uber
Uber is pretty cheap around Guatemala, but they don’t offer longer rides to certain places. We tried to uber from Pana to Chichi market and we almost got stuck because there were no uber’s or shuttles happening.
Chicken Buses
This is the local way of traveling and the cheapest option for travel. It is an insane amount of people crammed into a school bus and not going to lie I was slightly motion sick. It was only 2 usd so the price was insane for a half hour drive.
Tuk Tuk’s
Try at least one tuk tuk ride while you’re in town. There are only 10-15 quetzales. We used them when we had over a 20 minute walk and had our backpacks with us. It was a fun experience and cheap so they are the best option in town. Uber’s were sometimes the same price so if you want an enclosed car.
Boat Rides
If you go to Lake Atitlan then you will for sure need to take some boat rides across the lake. They are around 25 quetzales and will take you to any place you need to go.
Private Shuttles
We didn’t use one because they are way more expensive than shared shuttles and ubers.
What to know before you go
You will need cash and some atms run out so be sure to get as much as possible when you can. Better to have a little too much than not enough!
Have some level or basis of Spanish - I always would order in Spanish and try my best to speak in Spanish as much as possible. I am nowhere near fluent, but there is appreciation when you try your best. Brush up with duolingo before your trip!
It is relatively safe and we had no problems while we were there. Be smart when being alone and I still wouldn’t recommend being alone at night and avoid flying in super late to get to the place you’re staying at. I never felt unsafe and have felt more unsafe in cities in the states
Same outlet as US so you won’t need a converter
Bring Wet wipes and Snacks for Acatenango
Don’t put tp in toilets - this was such a habit for me and I had to think about it every time. Not going to lie it did gross me out a bit
Sunscreen the UV index was 12 and we both got fried even with sunscreen on so reapply every half hour… you’ll than me later!
7 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Antigua
Start the day with coffee from Artista de Cafe they also offer delicious and healthy food that is vegetarian friendly. I had egg and avocado toast with an iced dirty chai. The overall vibe was incredible and made me want to move to Antigua just to become a regular here.
Explore the beautiful city of Antigua! We were here during Semana Santa and experienced the streets filled with processions and traditional celebrations! We got a little stuck for a few hours, but it was so worth it to experience what Holy Week is like.
Visit the Santa Catalina Arch, churches, and arched ruins in the city! You can simply get lost wandering the cobblestone streets and eating your way through the city.
Finish the night by eating a Ta’cool for decently priced mexican fare, margaritas, and yummy desserts!
Day 2: Acatenango
Wake up early to start your hike at Acatenango we booked through Colonial Tours which is the trip advisor tour. Tropicana tours is also very well known. The last tour I heard was also great is Wicho and Charlie. The hike is straight uphill all the way until basecamp so make sure you have proper gear, food, and water! You can rent gear from the company you book with so you don’t have to pack clothes you will only wear once on the trip.
I will write a separate blog post about everything you need to know before the hike!
Hike to the Fuego Summit just trust me even if you’re exhausted it’s so worth it!
Day 3: Finish Acatenango & Earth Lodge
Wake up at 4am to summit Acatenango! Only two of us completed both summits and I’m so glad I did both! The sunrise was unreal and was way easier than the summit to Fuego.
Eat a pancake and oatmeal breakfast with coffee before packing up and heading out from base camp. The hike down only takes a couple of hours and you’ll be back by noon!
Get a breakfast burrito and coffee at Alegria cafe! They offer shuttles from the cafe to Earth lodge or you can always uber if the times don’t work out!
Check into Earth Lodge after refueling and partake in their amenities to recover from the hike. Trust me you will need a full day to bounce back for Lake Atitlan. They offer massages, saunas, and ice baths.
The food is super tasty and healthy! They accept credit cards, but charge a fee so if you have cash it ends up being slightly cheaper.
Day 4: Earth Lodge and Panajachel
Enjoy the morning at Earth lodge with their yoga class offered in the morning. They’re breakfast is equally as delicious so have one last meal before checking out of this glorious eco friendly oasis.
We booked a noon shuttle to Panajachel through tropicana hostel. It was a $20 3 and a half hour ride to the lake. If you get motion sickness, bring dramamine because the traffic and curvy roads will get you.
We checked into our Eco hotel called Hotel Colibri which we booked through air b n b. After getting our bearings we explored the heart of Panajachel in the evening. We ate Pupusas at Cheros Bar Pupusería and then went to bed early to have a full day at the lake!
Day 5: Free Cerveza
We started the morning with coffee at Café Loco Coffee Roasters and then took a boat ride from the main port straight to free cerveza. We got there by noon and just hung out until the room was ready. We decided to partake in the community dinner and beer pong tournament. They offer beer and a dinner for about 10 usd. It was a fun way to meet people staying there.
I highly recommend staying here to experience a relaxing day at the lake and to get some work done. Even if it’s just editing photos of your trip. The communal lounge spaces are the perfect place to work and the restaurant and bar is steps away.
Day 6: Casa Del Mundo and San Marcos
We paddle boarded in the morning at Free Cervesa since the paddle boards are free with tour stay. I would check out Casa Del Mundo to experience the hotel even if you don’t stay here. They were fully booked out for the dates we needed.
You can pay 50 quetzales for day use of the property and order drinks and food as well. It felt like a scene out of the Momma Mia movie and we danced to Abba while we were there. (Yes, I was the one that made everyone dance)
After Casa Del Mundo head to San Marcos the hippy town of the lake. They have vendors selling earthy products and there’s restaurants in between the vendors. We got a sweet treat and chai at Circle’s bakery which is a great coffee shop for nomads!
Then we headed over to the rock cliff side to the right to see the view and people jumping off the tall platform into the lake. It costs money to jump if you want to experience a true adrenaline rush.
After San Marcos we went back to Free Cerveza and had dinner at Cafe Sabor, which is chef graduates serving incredible cuisine. It is a women owned restaurant where you can take cooking classes and buy local handmade pieces. Each piece has the name of the woman who made it. We just ate at the restaurant and it was so delicious.
We grabbed our belongings from Free Cerveza and left for San Pedro, where we were staying for the night. We stayed at Mr. Mullet’s which I would recommend if you want a party experience. We preferred to do an early morning hike and tried to go to bed early which was a mistake to try and sleep at a party hostel. It’s super loud at night so just be aware when booking.
I honestly thought it was better than I was expecting because we heard some crazy stories about the hostel beforehand. The staff was great and the bed was fine as well.
Day 7: San Pedro and Chichi Market
We woke up super early for the Indian Nose hike. We paid 150 quetzales for the tour. It includes the shuttle to the hike, a guide leading us the whole way, coffee or hot chocolate at the top, and the shuttle back to the hostel. It was very worth it in my opinion and a great view and sunrise spot. They were playing worship music at the top which made my cry a little bit.
After the hike we ate the free pancakes the hostel offered and then took a nap.
After the nap we got coffee at Sababa. They also had amazing cookies and pastries. The view literally looked like lake como as well. I ended up going three different times while we stayed in San Pedro.
Once you’ve finished your coffee take a boat to Panajachel. Then take a chicken bus and couple of shuttles to get to Chichi market. We had to ask a local to make sure we got on the right bus! You can book a tour or can go yourself with transit. It is way cheaper to go on your own, but the connivence factor of having a direct shuttle to and from the market could be worth it.
Other Activities and Places to Go:
Semuc Champey - it is a trek to get to semuc, but from all the pictures and people we met who visited it looked well worth it. Next time I’d love to make this a priority
Tikal - The mayan ruins look absolutely insane and the history in itself makes this place a must see. I wish we had an extra week to be able to visit.
El Paredon - A small beach town to surf and experience another side of Guatemala
Flores - Another getaway near the Mayan ruins! If you add the other three to your lisr you should for sure add this place as well!
