7 Days in Guatemala
If you’re looking for a destination with infinite, mind blowing views - Guatemala is the place to go! I found a flight on United via Google Flights for $250 roundtrip from Houston to Guatemala City. I called a friend who’s always down to travel and we booked our trip. Be sure to check out my cheap flight guide before you search for flights!
After doing extensive research, we decided to spend 4 days in Antigua and 2 days in Lake Atitlan. I’ll walk you through our itinerary, transportation info, and some tips. Hopefully this will help you plan your trip!
4 Days in Antigua
After landing in Guatemala City, I arranged for our driver Byron (details are in the Transportation section) to pick me up and take me to meet my friend at our Airbnb. We booked our accommodations super last minute (the day before) so we had to stay in 2 different Airbnbs in our 4 days there due to availability. It worked out because we were able to see different parts of Antigua.
Where to Stay in Antigua
Airbnb #1: Iris’ place was the perfect location. All the restaurants and bars we wanted to go to were within walking distance. It was spacious and had the most peaceful rooftop area. I would definitely stay here again.
Airbnb #2: Flowers’ House was a little outside of the main city area - closer to Hobbitenango. This made getting to and from locations a bit difficult. Even though it’s only a few miles from the main area of Antigua - it is on a large hill which made transportation tricky. The house itself is spacious but a bit outdated. However, the view was INCREDIBLE.
View from Airbnb #2
Things to Do in Antigua
Day 1: Travel Day
After checking into the Airbnb pretty late, we grabbed dinner at a Mexican spot called Restaurante Fridas. The food and drinks were great and the vibe was just right. This area is a bit touristy so these restaurants are pricier than you might imagine - however, still reasonable. We ate and then checked out El Barrio which has 6 bars in 1 area! There is a vibe for everyone.
Day 2: Cerro de la Cruz and Free Antigua Walking Tour
After grabbing an amazing breakfast at Cafe Cafe Guatemala, we hopped on a TukTuk and visited Cerro de la Cruz. This is a stone cross on a hill in north Antigua. From the top of the hill you’ll see breathtaking views of the city and Volcan Agua. If you visit Guatemala during the rainy season, take into account that clouds may affect your view. While the view from Cerro de la Cruz was beautiful, there isn’t anything else to do but take in the view and relax. There are locals selling crafts while you walk towards the view. This is a cool, inexpensive thing to add to your itinerary if you have the time.
We started down the large hill and opted to walk the way back to the main part of town. The second part of the day featured a Free Walking Tour! You can Google “Antigua Free Walking Tours” and take your pick - here is the one we went with. Personally, free walking tours are a MUST DO when visiting a different country. I love to do this in the beginning of my trips because the guides are usually locals and have so many recommendations on things to do and see. It was an informative 2 hour tour covering history, the education system, government, religion, economy, you name it. Simultaneously, you get a feel for what local life is like in Antigua. Be sure to give your tour guide a tip!
After walking up an appetite, we grabbed dinner at a Guatemalan restaurant called Los Tres Tiempos. Then we went to Las Vibras club which translates to “the vibes.” It was a good time.
Day 3: Hike Volcan de Pacaya
On day 3 we hiked an active volcano! We had Byron (our driver) pick us up from our AirBnb and drive us to Pacaya Volcano. It’s about an hour away from Antigua. When hiking Pacaya, you have to have a guide per group and you can hire one on site for Q200 which is about $26. The entrance is an additional Q50 ($6.50). The hike is pretty steep - over 1,000 ft elevation gain. There are horses at the beginning of the trail for an additional fee if you want help up the trail. The hike in total is a little over 3 miles. I’d rank it as intermediate only because of the elevation.
Once you get to the top, there are volcano views and you’re literally walking on lava rocks! There were different colors of lava rocks because of the oxidation of minerals and other chemical reactions. You could feel the heat under you while you’re walking! Also at the top, you get to roast marshmallows over lava and there’s a Guatemalan flag for a nice photo op. The whole hike took us around 2 hours.
Tip: Visit Pacaya outside of rainy season (November - April). If you do go during rainy season (May - October) it’s best to go anywhere with a view early in the morning. It was unfortunately super cloudy for us so we didn’t get a great view from the top. However, it was still a really cool experience.
After conquering Pacaya, Byron drove us back to the Antigua area where we checked in to AirBnb #2. We had dinner at El Tambor and called it a night.
Day 4: Hobbitenango, Cooking Class, and a Cocktail Bar
The first stop of the day was Hobbitenango. Our second AirBnb was kind of in the same area but we had to climb a large hill to get there. We attempted but eventually got a ride from strangers up the hill. There were no TukTuks or anything in that area so I highly recommend getting a driver to and from.
Hobbitenango is a hobbit themed, interactive park. It’s a great place for families or those who love Lord of the Rings/fantasy type of places. It’s located in the mountains overlooking Antigua. The views are unreal but personally - that was the main selling point. Have you seen the famous picture of the giant hand with the volcanoes in the background? That is at Hobbitenango. It’s touristy and there is usually a line to take this photo. The entrance fee is Q50 ($6.50) for adults.
Tip: Again, if you go during rainy season - go early! We didn’t get the best views for pictures.
We had Byron pick us up from Hobbitenango and take us to Antigua where we stopped to eat at Rincon Tipico. This is a local restaurant where they serve typical Guatemalan food. It’s a must! After grabbing a bite there, we went to stuff our faces even more at a cooking class with La Tortilla Cooking School. The chefs taught us how to make 2 local Guatemalan dishes, tortillas, and there was plenty of wine to go around. Outside of making delicious food, we made new friends with fellow travelers in the class. This was overall a great experience however, we found it a little pricey at $40 USD.
While I was researching Antigua, I heard about this cocktail bar that is a speakeasy. The bartenders are so talented! You can tell them what type of drinks and flavors you like and they’ll make you something that suits your taste. The bar is small and intimate and the bartenders make you feel like family for the night. I highly recommend Ulew Cocktail Bar… if you can find it :)
Where to Eat in Antigua
2 Days in Lake Atitlan
Where to Stay in Lake Atitlan
Airbnb: This Airbnb was spacious, in a great location, and had a very peaceful view. I’d stay here again!
Things to do in Lake Atitlan
Day 5: Travel to Lake Atitlan, Tzampoc Resort, Explore San Juan & San Marcos
Byron picked us up early in the morning to drive to Lake Atitlan. This journey takes about 2.5 - 3 hours and we paid $100 total. There are 11 towns surrounding the lake and tourists typically visit Panajachel, San Juan, San Marcos, Santa Cruz, or Jaibalito. We arrived a bit too early for check-in to our Airbnb so we decided to spend the morning at Tzampoc Resort in Santa Catarina Palopó. Heads up that the drive up the hill to the resort is very steep and narrow. You can get a day pass to this resort for $25 and chill at the pool, work remotely, and grab a bite/drink. Be sure to chat with the bartender Darwin - he’s the best. The view is definitely worth spending a morning here.
We had a bit of trouble getting from the resort in Santa Catarina Polopó to San Marcos (across the lake). Be sure you’re clear on which boat docks will take you to your destination. After checking into the AirBnb, we hopped on a TukTuk and went to San Pedro ($2 USD) to walk around. We visited San Juan’s Weaving Cooperative. Products are made by local Mayan women using traditional methods. You can sign up for weaving classes too. We got there kind of late so we didn’t get the full experience but the products throughout the store were beautiful. After exploring a bit more of the town we went back to San Marcos, ate, and called it a night.
Day 6: Kayaking, Massages, Panajachel
We heard good things about La Casa del Mundo and decided to check it out. This hotel is in El Jaibalito which cost about $2.50 to get to by boat. Once we got there, we chose to rent kayaks from the hotel and take them out on Lake Atitlan. It was a cool experience however, it was a tad unorganized. Once you sign a paper stating that you’re going, you basically do the rest yourself. There’s no one out there watching you/making sure you’re safe. It was a tad scary because the boat taxis would ride by and it would produce rather large waves while we were kayaking. While out on the water, we noticed a large amount of trash consumed the lake which was a sad realization. After researching, it seems that the health of the lake may be at risk.
After kayaking, we got massages at the hotel (which were okay) and then caught a boat to Panajachel to explore and walk around. Panajachel is the hub for all of the boat taxis and a popular town for tourists to stay. There wasn’t much to explore here but one thing we reflected on was the amount of stray dogs around Lake Atitlan! Apparently, there is an overpopulation that is at risk of disease and illness.
There were more things to do at the Lake but we opted for a rather calm 2 days to explore.
Day 7: Travel Day
Byron picked us up bright and early at Lake Atitlan to drive us to the airport to head home.
Transportation
Private Transportation: We hired a driver for most of our trip. One of my favorite Travel Bloggers - The Traveling Child - recommended a driver named Byron. He was AMAZING. He speaks both English and Spanish, is super sweet, and offered tips and recommendations throughout our trip. He even helped us translate with locals and took us to hidden gems. According to my research, his prices are fair and it was convenient to know we would have a reliable ride (especially to and from the airport). I always felt safe in Guatemala, but I felt extra safe with Byron. You can reach out to him on WhatsApp at +50247677372. Tell him hi and that Haley sent you :)
Tuk-Tuks: These 3 wheeled vehicles serve as a form of taxi in many countries - Guatemala included. For shorter trips (5 - 10 min drives) we often took tuk-tuks around town. Before you hop in, tell the driver where you’re headed and ask how much they will charge. Most rides were between 10 - 25Q (quetzales) which translates to about $1 - 3 USD.
Uber: Uber is also a great option for transportation. However, there were some areas where Uber drivers wouldn’t pick up from because it was too far for them. That’s when a driver can come in clutch.
Boats in Lake Atitlan: In Lake Atitlan, you have to take boats around the lake to reach the different villages. The main hub with the most boats is Panajachel. Rides vary in price but they should all be around $2 - 8 USD depending on timing. There is no written boat schedule… you really just have to ask around. They do stop running at a certain time. A good rule of thumb is - when it gets dark, they’ll probably stop. However, you can pay more to get a private boat if it’s outside of operating hours. Some of these boats can carry your luggage on top. I was extremely apprehensive when they threw my suitcase on top of this little boat and didn’t secure it… lol. But somehow it stayed up there and this is common practice.