GUATEMALA TRAVEL GUIDE
WELCOME TO PARADISE
Active volcanoes, Maya ruins, tropical parks, and a close location to Belize. We show you what to do in Guatemala so that you can see the most important things in this beautiful country.
OUR GUATEMALA HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT TO FIND HERE
OUR GUATEMALA TRAVEL GUIDE
WHY TO TRAVEL TO GUATEMALA
The first time we visited Central America was in 2021, during Malte’s semester abroad in Costa Rica. When we were in Guatemala, many things reminded us of Costa Rica. It is very green, humid, but significantly cheaper. After our time in Peru (our Peru travel guide), we decided to travel to Guatemala.
Home to over 17 million people, Guatemala is the largest country in Central America. You read this Guatemala Travel Guide because you are wondering where to go in Guatemala and what to do in Guatemala. You have probably heard about the Acatenango volcano and plan to hike it, just like we did. Besides this incredible tour, there are many other things to do, and we want to introduce them to you here. To help you navigate more easily, we have created a travel map showing where and how we traveled. Despite visiting during the rainy season, we had a great time and experienced many different activities.
WHERE TO GO IN GUATEMALA
At first glance, Guatemala seems like a relatively small country with short distances, but as we quickly discovered upon landing, the traffic can be quite challenging. It took us 2.5 hours to travel just 40 km from Guatemala Airport to our first stop in Antigua! Overall, Guatemala offers a fascinating mix of nature and culture, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
From Guatemala City, we hiked the Acatenango volcano and visited two smaller towns and a nature reserve at Lake Atitlán. Next, we took an overnight bus from San Pedro at Lake Atitlán to Semuc Champey, where you can find crystal-clear water and waterfalls—unless, like us, you visit during the rainy season. Our last stop was in Flores, from where we visited Tikal, an ancient Maya city that once housed 500,000 Mayans. Our time in Guatemala ended there, and we continued our journey by bus to Belize.
GOOD TO KNOW
We flew from Lima to Guatemala City via Panama and Nicaragua. Entry was seamless, and as of 2024, citizens of 83 countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico, and most European countries, can enter Guatemala without needing a visa. Ensure that your passport is valid for at least six more months, you have a return or onward ticket, at least one night of accommodation booked, and that your passport has a blank page. You can check it on this website.
Entering Guatemala by bus from Belize is also straightforward.
During our Tikal tour, we learned from our guide that there are 25 languages spoken in Guatemala. Spanish is the official and most widely spoken language. In addition, there are 22 different Mayan languages, as well as two other Indigenous languages—Garífuna and Xinca.
In South and Central America, it is always helpful to speak some Spanish. A large portion of the population does not speak English!
The dry season is from November to April and is the best time to visit. We were in Guatemala in July, and the weather was unpredictable. Mornings were usually fine, but it often rained in the afternoons. During our volcano hike, we got very wet, and Semuc Champey had muddy water. We do not recommend traveling to Guatemala during the rainy season.
In Guatemala, there are two types of plugs you might encounter: types A and B. Plug type A has two flat parallel pins, while plug type B has two flat parallel pins and an additional grounding pin. The country uses a 120V supply voltage and operates at 60Hz. It’s a good idea to bring a universal travel adapter to accommodate your electronic devices. If your devices are not compatible with 220V, you may also need a voltage converter.
In Guatemala it is not safe to drink water directly. It’s recommended to drink bottled water, which is widely available and affordable. 1,5 l costs roundabout 1.00 USD. Make sure the seal is intact when purchasing bottled water to ensure its safety. Alternatively, you can boil the water for at least one minute, using water purification tablets, or using a portable water filter. Be cautious with ice in drinks and consider brushing your teeth with bottled or purified water to avoid any health issues.
We had no problems in Guatemala and never felt unsafe. We carried our camera and phones openly and also had our drone with us. Additionally, we used a night shuttle. The people are very friendly and willing to help. We only heard that Guatemala City might not be as safe, but we cannot comment on that from personal experience.
