Antiquity and nature are at the heart of Guatemala. This Central American destination may be small but offers so much. Mayan ruins, ancient colonial towns, sacred mountain lakes, active volcanoes, green tropical forests and colorful religious festivals. We recommend the Central Highlands for the majority of your stay in Guatemala, with its ancient capital city of Antigua and Lake Atitlan. Antigua Guatemala means “Old Guatemala”. It was the capital until 1777 when it was destroyed by earthquakes, but is now a popular base for tourists to the region. Lake Atitlan is welled in a massive volcanic crater. It’s a must-see location with volcanoes towering over the lake, many experiences to be enjoyed, traditional culture and intriguing villages.
Must Experiences in the Central Highlands
Lake Atitlan (3h30min from Guatemala City & 2h30 from Antigua)
- Hike part or all of San Pedro Volcano and end with a relaxing soak in the volcan0-fed thermal pools in San Pedro la Laguna.
- Kayak on Lake Atitlan with volcano views in the distance. We recommend kayaking in the morning when there is less wind. Finish with lunch at Sababa restaurant overlooking the lake.
- Visit the arty Mayan village of San Juan La Laguna with it’s unique art galleries and colorful street murals. Tour an organic coffee farm, participate in a painting workshop and visit the numerous women’s weaving cooperatives where you can watch them weaving and buy hammocks, textiles, blankets, skirts and more.
- Stay in Panajachel and go shopping at the roadside stalls in the buzzing Calle Santander Street, take a tour of the Iximche Mayan ruins, and visit San Antonio Palopo by boat – known for its green and blue ceramics and pottery.
- Bike along the shores of Lake Atitlan, visiting small villages and eating lunch with the locals.
- Recommended quality hotels in Lake Atitlan are Casa Palopo (15 rooms) and Laguna Lodge Eco-Resort (9 rooms) – both perfect for small incentive groups and group tours.
La Antigua Guatemala (1 hour from Guatemala City and 2h30min from Lake Atitlan)
- Take a walking tour on the cobbled streets of the city and visit San Francisco Church, take your picture at Santa Catalina Arch and enjoy an ice cream in Central Park.
- Watch the sunset at Cerro De La Cruz – “Hill of the Cross”. It’s a 30 minute hike to the top.
- Participate in a “bean to bar” chocolate workshop at Choco Museo.
- Visit the Chichicastenango Market on Thursdays and Sundays where traders sell local handicrafts, flowers, pottery, wooden boxes and you can taste local foods and delicacies.
- A unique experience is to take buggy cars and visit Altimira and Hobbitenango. This village was inspired by the Lord of the Rings TV series. Enjoy an eco-lunch with incredible views of the 3 volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatengo.
- The best hotels are Casa Santa Domingo which is a hotel-museum-spa wrapped in one and has 132 rooms, and Posada del Angel which is a boutique hotel with 7 unique suites.
Must eat: Chicken pepián (spicy stew) is the national dish. It also contains vegetables and fruit (usually pear, squash, carrot, potato and corn), a rich blend of spices and is served with rice and tortillas. Best enjoyed with a Gallo local beer.
Best time to visit: The winter high season (December-March) is best for dry weather and festivals. October and November can have storms and hurricanes.
Top Tips
- Time your visit during one of these colorful festivals: Holy Week (Semana Santa) held between 22 March 22-23 April, Day of The Dead 1-2 November and the Mayan New Year on 26 July.
- We also recommend adding a side tour to Tikal – an ancient Mayan citadel in the rainforests of northern Guatemala, which was the ceremonial centre of the ancient Maya civilization. Fly 1 hour from Guatemala City to Flores, and tour the iconic ruins of Tikal’s temples and palaces including the giant, ceremonial Lost World (Mundo Perdido) Pyramid and the Temple of the Grand Jaguar. Stay at Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel (19 rooms) or Bolontiku Boutique Hotel & Spa (15 rooms) – both located on beautiful Lake Petén Itzá.
Our recommended DMC: Rony Nolasco and his team at Maya Sky Incentives have 23 years of experience ensuring travelers experience the very best of Guatemala.