7 Day Guatemala Itinerary: The Best of this Central American Gem
Planning a trip to Guatemala? Look no further! In this article, we have curated the perfect 7 day itinerary that will take you through the highlights of this beautiful Central American country.
In this comprehensive 7 day Guatemala itinerary, I will guide you through the must-see destinations and hidden gems.
From indulging in delicious local cuisine to swimming in lakes to hiking active volcanoes and exploring an UNESCO World Heritage site. Get yourself ready for an EPIC week!
So grab your backpack and let’s embark on a journey through the captivating landscapes and rich history of Guatemala.
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Planning your trip? Use my favorite resources!
Accommodation – Booking.com to find the best deals on hotels.
Flights – Skyscanner to look for the best prices and deals on flights.
Rental cars – DiscoverCars to shop around at multiple car rental agencies.
Travel insurance – Safety Wing; keep your trips insured to protect yourself while traveling.
Tours/experiences – Viator or Get Your Guide are excellent sources for tours.
📝 Sample 7 Day Guatemala Itinerary At a Glance
- Day One: Arrive in Guatemala City in the afternoon, transportation to Lake Atitlan.
- Day Two: Lake Atitlan. Explore San Pedro & Go to Casa Del Mundo.
- Day Three: Lake Atitlan. Explore San Marcos and Santa Cruz la Laguna.
- Day Four: Indian Nose Hike for sunrise. Transportation to Antigua. Relax at Ojala Hotel.
- Day Five: Acatenango Hike with Wicho and Charlie’s.
- Day Six: Arrive back from hike around 1pm. Relax & explore Antigua.
- Day Seven: Explore Antigua.
- Day Eight: Leave Guatemala City in the morning.
🧭 Guatemala Quick Travel Tips
- Location: Central America.
- National Language: Spanish.
- Currency: Quetzales. 100 Quetzales = 12.72 USD.
- Climate: Warm and tropical. Rainy season May – October. March – April are the hottest months.
- Electrical Plug: 110 volt, 60 cycle electricity, same as the US.
7 Day Guatemala Itinerary FAQs
Is 7 days enough for Guatemala?
Yes 7 days is enough for your trip to Guatemala! With 7 days you have enough time to see the highlights of Guatemala: explore the old city and ruins of Antigua, do the famous Acatenango hike, and relax in Lake Atitlan.
🧳 Have more time in Guatemala? With one more day, I would take the tour to Pacaya volcano from Antigua. With even more time you could make the journey to Tikal National Park for Mayan ruins, Semuc Champey for turquoise waters, or head to the coast.
How safe is Guatemala for travel?
I felt very safe while traveling in the parts of Guatemala I went to. I was with one other female but would have felt comfortable being alone.
Guatemala City should be treated with an extra layer of caution as there is more violent crime there. But Antigua and Lake Atitlan felt very safe. We woke up in Antigua for sunrise one day to take photos around the city with our cameras out and didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
Use your street smarts, don’t flash expensive jewelry or electronics, keep your belongings close to you and bags zipped, especially on public transport when you may be most likely to be pickpocketed.
Other safety tips include: use ATMs and cross borders in the daylight hours and always take extra care after dark.
How expensive is Guatemala?
Guatemala is very affordable to travel in, especially as someone coming from the U.S.
One night at a nice hotel with free breakfast in Antigua can run you about $40 USD. And if you’re traveling with another person that’s just 20$ per person!
If you’re on a stricter budget, you can find a bed in a hostel for as low as 10-15$ a night.
On average you can expect to spend 15-30$ a day on food. This is totally dependent on if you want to do a sit down, take out, etc but in general the food is quite cheap (and good!).
I found the food a lot cheaper around the smaller towns of Lake Atitlan and a bit pricier in Antigua, though still very affordable.
How do people travel around Guatemala?
For Guatemalans, the main form of transportation are public buses. Or what they call the ‘chicken buses‘!
The rides are cheap but the rides are crowded with people standing in the aisle.
Tourists can also take these buses, but if you’ve got the extra cash to spare I’d recommend using a private driver or shuttle. The ride will be more comfortable especially for longer journeys. Plus there is a higher crime and pickpocketing risk on public transportation.
In Lake Atitlan, boats are the most common form of transportation between towns. Most of these towns are pretty small and walkable, or they have small Tuk Tuks to take you around for cheap.
Where to Stay in Guatemala?
Best Hotels in Lake Atitlan
If you’re only staying a few nights in Lake Atitlan, choose one town to base yourself out of. I don’t really think there’s a best town to stay in since all of the towns have frequent affordable boats available. So choose the town that you feel might fit your vibe!
One factor to consider is if you plan to hike Indian Nose- the easiest town to base yourself would be San Pedro La Laguna.
📍Amigos hotel – This hotel is located in San Pedro La Laguna and where I personally stayed. There are hostel dorm options here as well as private rooms. I stayed in a private room and had a great experience here, though the bars on the street opposite are loud and stay open until the middle of the night. So bring your ear plugs! The hotel provided breakfast and was very affordable.
📍Lush Atitlan – This highly rated hotel is located in San Marcos La Laguna, the hippy town on the lake. This was personally my least favorite town but others love it here. Although the town has one of the best views of the lake! Lush Atitlan has amazing, panoramic views.
📍Hotel & Restaurante Arca de Noe – This hotel is in the town of Santa Cruz, one of my favorite spots on the lake. The Arca de Noe has a great location right on the shore of the lake making it easy for arrival and exploring the other towns.
📍La Casa del Mundo – Of course I’ve got to add in this hotel in to the list. If I go back to Lake Atitlan I will definitely stay here! The view, the decor, everything about this place is magical. And its surprisingly affordable! The only drawback to staying here is that you are a little isolated and your only option for food is the hotel. Just something to keep in mind if you’re someone who prefers a lot of options!
Best Hotels in Antigua
I could honestly spend weeks in Antigua staying at a different beautiful hotel each night. You really can’t go wrong here with all of the affordable options with terraces and gardens.
📍Ojala Hotel – This hotel is seriously a dream. If I go back to Antigua I’d definitely stay here again! There are beautiful gardens and a rooftop terrace with a perfect view of the volcanoes. Breakfast is also included.
📍Posada El Antano – Another great option in Antigua. I stayed here for two nights and enjoyed my time. The building had an authentic feel and build, and a great free breakfast.
📍El Convento Boutique Hotel – This highly rated hotel is absolutely beautiful and features a pool and free breakfast. There are also massages provided upon reservation to loosen up those muscles after all of your exploring!
Day One: Arrive in Guatemala City. Transfer to Lake Atitlan
You’ll arrive in Guatemala’s capital of Guatemala City at the La Aurora International Airport. You can either do what we did and jet off to Lake Atitlan right away, a 3-4 hour drive, or head one hour into the historical center of Antigua.
We decided to go to Lake Atitlan first for the sole purpose of trying to acclimate to the higher elevation before embarking on the journey up Acatenango.
We had a friend that did Antigua first, spent 1 day exploring, and then did the Acatenango hike and had a rough time with the altitude.
🚙 We booked a private transportation shuttle from the airport to San Pedro on Get Your Guide and it worked out great! The driver was there earlier than expected and ready to go when we were off the plane. It may sounds expensive at $75 per person but it was a solid 4 1/2 hour journey.
By the time we got to the hotel and ate dinner it was about 10pm so we called it a night to to get some rest for exploring the next day.
Day Two: Lake Atitlan. San Pedro & Casa Del Mundo
On your first full day in Lake Atitlan, explore a town or two around the lake. Each of the small villages has its own ‘vibe’. The best way to get around the lake is by boat.
A one-way boat trip will cost 10-25 quetzales per person. The whole process is very informal: there are no tickets or official schedules and they seem to make up prices on the spot.
But in general they depart every 20-30 minutes and run between 6:30am and 7pm. There may be private lanchas available for off time rides.
What villages to see at Lake Atitlan?
I’ll explain the unique differences between some of the main towns on the lake. You can easily visit 2 towns in one day, such as San Marcos and San Pedro or Santa Cruz.
Panajachel is the largest and most accessible town from the rest of Guatemala. It’s a bit crowded and touristy, but there is an old town further from the center of town that is more authentic.
San Pedro is the backpacker town on the lake. There are lots of places to chill out, hostels, bars, and late-night spots.
San Marcos is the hippy capital of the lake with yoga and meditation retreats galore. A lot of foreigners have set up roots here too, which I personally didn’t care for. Someone I know had been there and said it gave off an ‘L.A. vibe’ which I think is pretty spot on.
Santa Cruz this is a smaller town next to San Marcos that has less visitors due to the fact it can only be reached by boat. It is very lad back and low key, with lots of places to rent a kayak or SUP.
Santa Catarina Palopo is right near the main hub of Panajachel. This vibrant town is known for its traditional clothing and colorful houses. You can see women weaving rich textiles, or soak in the local hot springs.
San Antonio Palopo is known for its pottery and ceramics. The town also has a great view of the surrounding volcanoes and lake and there is a swimming spot nearby.
San Juan La Laguna is just a five minute drive from San Pedro and is the town where the Indian Nose hike starts. There are also art galleries here and coffee tours.
On our first day at the lake we explored around the town of San Pedro, meandering around and seeing locals go about their day to day life. After a few hours, we headed to Casa del Mundo to enjoy lunch with some friends.
If you’re not staying at the hotel, you do have to pay a day use fee to enjoy the grounds for the day. But since we were there visiting someone that was, they kindly waived it for us.
Casa del Mundo is a nice place to have a meal and enjoy the scenery and grounds, even if you’re not spending the night!
Day Three: Lake Atitlan. San Marcos and Santa Cruz La Laguna.
On our second day at the lake, we went to San Marcos, the hippie ‘New Age’ village of Lake Atitlan.
We spent a few hours at the Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve, soaking up the sun, swimming in Lake Atitlan, and enjoying the views of the lake. I highly recommend going to San Marcos just for this nature reserve!
The reserve is a quick walk from the public dock of San Marcos and costs under $5 USD.
You can swim in the lake here, and there is a cliff jumping spot if you’re feeling adventurous!
After the nature preserve, we explored San Marcos and ate lunch at a place called El Rincon del Sabor. They had more traditional Guatemalan dishes, freshly made tortillas, and affordable prices in a town that can get a little pricier.
Next we took a quick boat to Santa Cruz la Laguna. To be completely honest, we didn’t do too much here. There’s a lovely waterfront area right off the dock with chairs and loungers, so we just relaxed there for a few hours and enjoyed the sunset.
There are some restaurants close by where you can have a drink or snack while enjoying the view.
If these activities don’t seem up your alley- check my list above to check out which town may suit you better to visit!
Day Four: Hike Indian Nose for Sunrise. Transfer to Antigua.
On our last day in Lake Atitlan we hiked the Indian Nose for sunrise.
We booked the hike while in San Pedro and it costed 100 quetzales per person. The fee included transportation, the guided hike, and coffee at the top.
The hike is steep and is considered challenging in difficulty. It is just under 3 miles round trip with 1,600 feet of elevation gain.
You can also do this hike without a guide, but it is much easier to have one, especially if you want to do it for sunrise.
The tour will start very early, around 4 a.m. But you get back to your hotel by around 8 so you have the rest of your day to explore or relax!
We got up there 45 minutes before sunrise and also saw Volcan de Fuego erupting in the distance. It was the perfect way to end our time in Lake Atitlan.
After the Indian Nose hike in Lake Atitlan, we got a boat to Panajachel where we got a private bus shuttle to Antigua. We didn’t prebook this transport but were able to find an affordable ride with a local that was offering a shuttle service when we got to the dock.
After the long, hot, and windy drive to Antigua, we checked into Ojala hotel. This hotel was SO beautiful and peaceful. I 100% recommend a stay there while in Antigua. There are gardens all around the common area and a balcony with perfect views of the volcanoes Aqua, Acatenango, and Fuego.
We got dinner and brought it back to the hotel, watched the sunset from the rooftop, and called it an early night in preparation for our big day that was coming next!
Day Five: Hike to Acatenango Base Camp.
Now was the moment I had been waiting for; the whole reason I came to Guatemala. The hike up Acatenango!
- Hike stats: 10 miles round trip & 5,085 feet from the trailhead to base camp.
- Tour company used: Wicho and Charlie’s. I highly recommend them for your hike!
- Included: Transportation to & from the trailhead. Gear such as heavy coats, gloves, pants, large backpacks, etc. Breakfast before you depart on your hike and at camp. Lunch and dinner on day one.
- Sleeping arrangements: Choose from a 6 or 12 person shared cabin or a private cabin. Sleeping bags and blankets are provided. A pit toilet is available for use at base camp, pack toilet paper.
- Add-ons: Climb to Volcan de Fuego soon after arriving at base camp to see the volcano erupting right in front of you. You’ll typically leave around 3 p.m. and won’t get back until 8-9 p.m. Or the next morning you can summit Acatenango. It’s a steep but quicker climb taking about 1 hour to see the sunrise.
This was truly an experience of a lifetime. The hike is very challenging, but doable if you’re in moderately good physical health and able to hike for many hours.
The hardest things for me were the altitude and steep grade of the trail at times. I had a massive headache from the altitude!
I did opt to hire a porter, as did about half of the group going up. At first, I had conflicting views on getting one. Part of me felt like I was paying to be lazy- haha.
On the other hand, you are providing a local with a job for the day. And I had a more enjoyable hike up. Be sure to tip them well for their incredible hard work and service!
Volcan de Fuego stole the show that night, erupting every 15-20 minutes and spewing lava into the sky. I opted not to do the Fuego hike and stayed at base camp for the evening. I got to see an incredible sunset while roasting marshmallows on the campfire!
Day Six: Hike down Acatenango & Explore Antigua.
Since I didn’t end up doing the Fuego hike add-on, I told myself I absolutely had to summit Acatenango the next morning for sunrise!
It was an early wake-up call after not being able to sleep all night due to the freezing temps, but the sunrise was unbelievably worth it. I actually cried because of how beautiful it was!
After summitting, we headed back to base camp to eat breakfast before doing the hike back to the trailhead.
We got back to Antigua and checked in to Posada el Antono hotel in Antigua. I had one of the best showers of my life after the long and dusty hike! We got lunch and then sat at a rooftop cafe for a while enjoying coffee and soaking in the views.
We ended the day by walking up to the Cerro de la Cruz to get a beautiful sunset view of the city.
Day Seven: Full Day in Antigua.
The next day was all for exploring Antigua. We woke up for sunrise to go to the Santa Catalina Arch to take photos while no one else was there.
The old city of Antigua is not very big- You could walk around the whole city probably in an hour or two. But every cobblestone street, cafe, rooftop, and hotel is so beautiful and oh-so charming!
The ruins scattered around the city just add to this old charm and beauty. I could easily have spent weeks there just enjoying the city’s flow, writing and drinking coffee in a new cafe each day.
As far as ruins go, we went to Museo del Hermano Pedro and Convento Capuchinas.
I definitely recommend Museo del Hermano Pedro, there is a beautiful ruin site next to it that is large and can take you an hour or two to explore if you like taking your time and taking photos.
Convento Capuchinas was beautiful but parts of it were restored so it took away from the ‘ruin’ aspect for me.
We also stumbled upon the Santa Rosa ruins, but the area was under construction so we couldn’t go in, just admire some of the church from outside. In between exploring the ruins, we went for lunch at one of the city’s many rooftop restaurants.
For dinner, we ate at Frida’s and went to a hidden speakeasy! I’ve never been to one of these, so this was a lot of fun.
You can find this bar by going to Antigua Brewing Company and going into the red telephone booth as you enter on the left. You tell them what alcohol you want and what you like in a drink and they take it from there. It was the perfect way to end a fantastic week in Guatemala!
Best Places to Eat in Antigua, Guatemala
- Artista de cafe for coffee
- Cafe Estudio for coffee and rooftop terrace
- Cafe Sky for rooftop terrace and all meals
- Luna de Miel for affordable and huge crepes and smoothies
- Saberico for more Guatemalan staples
- Frida’s for great Mexican food
Day Eight: Depart from Guatemala City.
On my eighth and final day in Guatemala, I got a private ride to the airport and sadly made my way home!
It was an incredible week in a country that quickly exceeded my expectations and left me with memories to last a lifetime!
The Wrap Up: 7 Day Guatemala Itinerary
And there you have it! A sample 7 day Guatemala itinerary. I had such a good time in Guatemala, and I’d love to go back one day.
In just one week you can explore an UNESCO World Heritage city, climb onto an active volcano, and relax on a scenic lake surrounding by mountains. It was truly a trip to remember!
I hope you have the best trip in this gorgeous country filled with impressive landscapes, unique experiences, fantastic food and coffee, and the nicest people!
