Travel Tips Guatemala – Guatemala travel guide including a map of Guatemala, best Guatemala travel experiences, tips for traveling in Guatemala, and how to visit jungle-covered Mayan sites
The red lava tongues of Guatemala’s volcanoes contrast with the shadows of the caves in the southern Petan region and the dense green forests of the north – home to howler monkeys and rare crimson macaws.
Travel Tips Guatemala
Further south, the Caribbean beach near Livingston has blankets of white sand, while on the black-sand Pacific coast, turtles and stunning orange sunsets can be found in Montereyco.
Guatemala Travel Guide
A cultural side view to Antigua, Guatemala City, in the shadow of three volcanoes. Its cobbled streets are lined with pale-colored houses, toppled church arches, colonnaded courtyards, flowers and fountains galore.
On everyone’s must-see list in Guatemala is the majestic Mayan city of Tikal, buried deep in the jungle.
If you’re in Guatemala in November, head to Todos Santos Cuchumedan for three days of drinking, dancing and all-day horse racing.
If you arrive in Guatemala City by bus, get a cab to your hostel: this is a very dangerous area, especially at night.
Antigua, Guatemala: Our Favorite Things To Do — Laidback Trip
“Brush Tz’utujil. Many of the inhabitants of the scattered Mayan villages along the shores of Lake Atitlan do not speak Spanish, and this will make for some nasty peace!”
Guatemala’s climate varies with altitude, but the dry season is November-April. The beach is largely warm throughout the year. The hills have pleasant warm days and cool nights. During the months of December and January, there is frost early in the morning at higher elevations.
Tourist shuttle buses, taxis or private car and driver are the best ways to get around. A bus or taxi is available from Guatemala City Airport to Antigua (45 km).
As far as public transport goes, you have to rely on local or ‘chicken’ buses; They are cheap and run down but offer a chance to meet ordinary Guatemalans. Bad roads make car rental a challenge.
Guatemala 7 Day Itinerary: How To Spend The Perfect 1 Week In Guatemala
Guatemala has everything from luxury hotels to cozy B&Bs and bargain basement crash pads. Budget travelers will be happy: clean doubles and hostels are easy to find everywhere except Guatemala City. At the higher end, there are some great colonial hotels, especially in Antigua. There are no camps in Guatemala.
Guatemalan food is hearty and filling: corn tortillas are a staple and – served with refried beans, eggs, sour cream, plantains and strong coffee – make a traditional breakfast.
Although most visitors enjoy a trouble-free visit, crime is a serious problem in Guatemala. Take precautions: register with your embassy, don’t flash money or jewelry, take registered taxis at night, and stay away from known trouble spots (Guatemala City after dark and some routes around Lake Areitlan).
Risks include highway robbery and robbery on hiking trails. Do not display expensive items; distribute money etc. around your bags/person; Take only what you need and keep the rest locked in hotel safes. Stay up-to-date on important vaccines. Take malaria tablets. Avoid tap water. Guatemala is the heart of the Mayans of Central America. Home to ancient historical sites and incredible ruins, dense forests, colorful architecture, lively markets and towering volcanoes, Guatemala is a diverse and beautiful country ripe for budget travel.
Solo Female Travel Guide: A Solo Trip To Guatemala • Sojournies
Rugged mountains and forests offer adventure travelers the chance to get off the beaten path and explore beautiful landscapes for a fraction of what you’d pay elsewhere in the world. More ruins are understated and must-sees for history buffs, including the impressive Tikal, an ancient Mayan city and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
I love this country and have always had an incredible time here. (One of my favorite memories is camping in Tickle National Park)
In this travel guide to Guatemala, I’ll show you how to make the most of your trip to one of Central America’s most popular destinations, save money, and stay safe!
This spectacular lake is actually a large volcanic crater. The lake is located 1,500 meters (4,921 ft) above sea level and is one of the deepest lakes in Central America. No wonder this is one of the best places to watch the sunset in Guatemala. On the north shore of the lake is the tourist village of Panajachel, a good base for organizing lake and volcano tours (there are two volcanoes you can explore here, Toliman and San Pedro). The village offers incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes, and you can enjoy restaurants, bars and nightlife in a rustic lakeside setting.
Columbus Guatemala Travel (antigua)
This beautiful colonial town is nestled in a mountain valley between three volcanoes. It is full of colonial Spanish architecture, including cobblestone streets, the centuries-old San Francisco Church, houses and ruins. There is a vibrant market with colorful Guatemalan blankets and fabrics and plenty of handicrafts and souvenirs. Head to the Plaza Mayor to see the city’s magnificent garden, and don’t miss climbing Fuego Volcano (which is active). There are two routes to choose from: La Soledad and the super high, very steep Alotenango route. Alternatively, you can hike up the difficult (and still very popular) Acatenango Volcano, which offers well-earned views of Fuego Volcano, spewing fire and ash into the air. The dry season from late November to early April is the best time for these hikes.
Tikal is home to some of the most famous Mayan ruins in the country. Located in the northern province of Petan in Guatemala, this enormous national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers an area of nearly 600 square meters (6,500 square feet), covered in lush vegetation that traces centuries of Mayan history and archaeology. It is famous for rare animals like pumas, toucans, snakes, monkeys and many species of birds. Arrive early and stay late as the park empties out in the afternoon when the tour groups depart. I also recommend sleeping in the park to catch the sunrise. If you want to see the sunrise or sunset, you have to pay extra for a guided tour. Ticket prices vary if you buy day tickets, sunrise tickets or sunset tickets. 150 GTQ for a day hike before sunset. You can reach Tikal by shuttle bus from Flores or from neighboring Belize.
This natural attraction, outside the town of Lanquin near Coban, features 300-meter (984 ft) limestone bridges over the Cahaban River, which form natural lagoon-like pools. Take a candlelit tour through the Kamba Caves, walk through the Kahabon or swim in the turquoise pools on the bridge. Remember that the caves can only be visited with a guide. It can be reached by local transport, private jets or a day trip. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds. Visit during the dry season (December-April) to avoid rain or the risk of flooding the area. Day trips cost 250-300 GTQ.
Most visitors to Guatemala visit Chichicastenango, the largest domestic market in North America. Every Thursday and Sunday, thousands of Quiché Mayans come to town to buy and sell handicrafts, flowers, poetry, trinkets, pottery, and colorful textiles. There are plenty of places to eat delicious street food, buy local fruits and vegetables, try fresh juices or Guatemalan coffee, and buy delicious handmade tortillas. Don’t forget to bring small bills and haggle for the things you buy. Go early in the morning to beat the crowds.
Guatemala Itinerary 3 Weeks
Located in Guatemala City, the museum houses many artifacts found from Mayan archaeological sites throughout the country. Founded in 1898, the museum houses over 20,000 items and artifacts and is a great place to learn more about Mayan culture. Admission is 60 GTQ.
If Tikal is too touristy for you, consider the more secluded Yaksha Ruins. Like Tikal, Yaksha is a major Mesoamerican archaeological site. Located in the northeast, it was the third largest Mayan city in the region. Home to several large stone pyramids, the site was “discovered” in 1904 and dates back to 250-600 CE. Spend a few hours looking at ancient maps and intricately carved hieroglyphs. Admission is 80 GTQ.
The archeological site of Quirigua, located in the southeastern corner of the country near the border with Honduras, contains the largest stelae (covered in maps or carved in patterns) stone pillars ever found in the Mayan world. A central plaza is surrounded by nine stone pillars, flanked by altars carved in zoomorphic forms, dating to the 2nd-8th centuries AD. Although the tombs are not renovated, they are a wonderful sight; The largest of these is 25 feet tall! Admission is 80 GTQ.
This active volcano frequently erupts ash clouds over Antigua, however, which makes for a fun day hike (don’t worry, it’s safe). The trail is relatively easy (it’s not steep) and takes about two hours to climb, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the view before you have the chance to peer into the volcano’s cone. Pacaya is only accessible by an authorized guide, so you’ll need to book a tour. Be