Useful Guatemala travel guide

Guatemala was the center of the Maya civilization, so you can find the most beautiful Maya complexes in Guatemala. Because of the Mayan history, Guatemala is characterized as a country where you can admire an indigenous culture. Adding to that the colonial influences and untouched nature makes Guatemala a beautiful country to travel through.

Guatemala is a typical backpacker’s destination where you can do many great things. It is not touristy at all and different from what you are probably used to from your previous trips. Guatemala is adventurous, whether you want to soak up the culture in Antigua or see the sunrise on the volcano Acatenango or rather discover Maya temples in the jungle in Tikal, it is all possible in Guatemala.

To help you plan your trip, you can use this Guatemala travel guide.

Important information about Guatemala

Guatemala at a glance: Guatemala is famous for its beautiful nature. Did you know that only 2% of it is built on, in other words, there is a lot of nature to see in Guatemala. The volcanoes, beautiful mountains, breathtaking lakes, and wild jungles make it a top destination. Also, it has nice colonial cities and unique Mayan complexes that make Guatemala one of the nicest backpacking destinations in the world.

Most popular destinations in Guatemala: below you see the best places in Guatemala to visit. There are of course more places to visit but to make this list not too long, this is a good starting point.

• Antigua: This is the former capital of Guatemala. You will probably arrive by plane in Guatemala City, we recommend traveling directly to Antigua. Antigua is the nicest colonial city you can discover in Guatemala.
• Acatenango: there are a couple of volcanoes close to Antigua which you can climb. The volcano Acatenango is the most suitable for this. From the top you have a view of the active volcano Fuego.
• Lake Atitlan: The environment in which the lake is located is beautiful, as it is surrounded by large mountains. The many villages around the lake, each with its own character, make it a nice place to discover.
• Chichicastenango: near Lake Atitlan is the Chichicastenango, here you can find a special market in Guatemala. At ths market old rituals are still performed by shamans.
• Semuc Champey: Semuc Champey is located in the middle of Guatemala. If you are a nature lover you should visit this place.
• Flores: Flores is located in the north of Guatemala. Flores is an island that is the perfect base to visit Tikal.
• Tikal: For many travelers, Tikal is the number 1 reason to travel to Guatemala. Tikal is one of the most beautiful Mayan complexes in the world.

Currency in Guatemala: Guatemalan Quetzal | 2022 exchange rate: 100 GTQ = €11,70 / $12.96.

Tipping in Guatemala: Tipping in Guatemala is not mandatory. So whether you want to give a tip is completely personal. In a restaurant, tour or taxi you can give a tip if you liked the service. Decide on the spot whether you want to do this. No one will look at you strangely if you don’t do this.

Religion and culture: The nice thing about traveling through Guatemala is that you can still see the religion of the Maya. In the Guatemala culture, you see a mix between the old Mayan customs and the Spanish traditions. The native Maya religion is the largest in Guatemala. Also, Roman Catholicism is strongly represented in Guatemala.

Transport in Guatemala: Traveling in Guatemala is mainly done by bus. You can easily buy bus tickets for your next destination from local travel agencies or your accommodation. You will use the plane, taxi, chicken bus, car and taxi less. Also, keep in mind that traveling in Guatemala takes a lot of time. The roads are very bad. For this reason, we do not recommend renting a car and doing a road trip through Guatemala.

The best time to visit Guatemala

Guatemala has a very pleasant climate, the temperature is really pleasant all year round. Guatemala has two seasons, namely the dry season (November to April) and the rainy season (May to October). During the rainy season, you should only expect a few hours of rain per day.

We were in Guatemala in July, so during the rainy season and we didn’t experience any disadvantages of the rainy season. Guatemala’s best time to visit doesn’t exist because you can visit it all year round without any problems.

High season in Guatemala: this is between November and April (dry season). During this period, prices are slightly higher compared to the rainy season. You do not have to avoid the high season, because tourism in Guatemala isn’t that big. This makes it such a nice backpacking destination.

Is Guatemala safe to travel?

Guatemala is safe to travel to, however, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind. Because Guatemala is less developed, you can experience a bigger risk of an unpleasant situation than, for example, Japan.

You can visit tourist places without any problems. You shouldn’t walk alone in strange streets in the evening. You should also watch out for pickpockets in busy places such as markets, stations, or airports. So be well prepared and use your common sense to avoid unpleasant situations. Again, Guatemala is safe. We never felt unsafe during our trip.

Travel insurance

World Nomads travel insurance policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities. Get a quote, make a claim, or buy or extend your policy while on the road.

Best things to do in Guatemala

Maya complex Tikal

The number 1 reason for many people to travel to Guatemala is to visit Tikal. It is a beautiful complex to visit because it is located in the middle of the jungle. The highlight of your visit is Gran Plaza, on this square, you will find the most beautiful and largest temples. It’s breathtaking when you consider that this was built 16 centuries ago.

Natural spectacle Semuc Champey

In Semuc Champey you will not find luxury but pure wilderness. In the middle of the jungle, you can swim in the limestone pools filled with turquoise-colored water. Many call this the natural wonder in Guatemala. We agree!

Stroll through the colonial city of Antigua

Antigua is surrounded by enormous volcanoes which is very impressive to see. Antigua is the most beautiful colonial city you will find in Guatemala. Many travelers visit Antigua to learn Spanish. The best thing about Antigua is the many buildings built during the Spanish occupation. It is therefore recommended to walk through the streets and enjoy the many squares and bars.

Climb Acatenango Volcano

If you like a challenge, you can climb the volcano Acatenango. You can stay one night on the volcano and see the sunrise the day after. This is breathtaking. If you are lucky you can even see a small volcano eruption at the volcano Fuego.

Sunrise in Lake Atitlan

The special thing about Lake Atitlan is that the temperature is always the same, about 23 degrees, making it very pleasant. Lake Atitlan is surrounded by volcanoes and villages that are each very different. For example, you have villages that are characterized as party villages, the other as a hippie place, and the other as an activity villages. There is a lot to do in Lake Atitlan, from kayaking on the lake to making beautiful hikes in the area.

Best travel itinerary for Guatemala

If you are going to travel through Guatemala you need an itinerary that you can use to follow. Most travelers have 3 weeks to discover Guatemala. Guatemala is a big country, so it is impossible to see everything. It is recommended to determine in advance which areas you want to visit. Also, keep in mind that traveling in Guatemala takes a lot of time. For this reason, we recommend that you follow an itinerary that minimizes travel time.

We have created a Guatemala itinerary, which we have followed ourselves, which has a good mix between nice destinations and acceptable travel times. You read about the best places to visit in Guatemala. If you want more information about a specific destination, you can open its article and read all the detailed information.

Best food in Guatemala

If you want to form an idea about the food in Guatemala, you probably won’t succeed because this is unknown. We found the food delicious because they always use fresh ingredients. We recommend that you at least try: Chiles Rellenos, Chicken Pepian, and guacamole.

Chiles Rellenos are stuffed chili peppers with rice, cheese, meat, and vegetables. They are served with tortillas and tomato sauce. Chicken Pepian is chicken in a spicy pumpkin and sesame sauce. You have to try this dish because it is the national dish of Guatemala. Finally, you have guacamole, which is mainly served with tortillas or as a topping with other dishes.

How much budget do you need for for Guatemala

Guatemala is one of the cheapest countries to travel through in Central America. This is because Guatemala hasn’t yet been discovered by mass tourism, which means that prices are significantly lower than, for example, neighboring country Mexico. Depending on what type of traveler you are, you should take into account:

• Budget Traveler: If you are on a tight budget and you pay close attention to what you spend, $24 – $36 a day may be sufficient.
• Mid-range traveler: If you want something more luxurious, for example doing a few more expensive activities or staying in better accommodations, a budget of $36 – $97 per day should be okay.

Do you want to know more about much it costs to travel through Guatemala and how much it costs in particular when you follow our Guatemala itinerary you should open this article: Guatemala trip cost. For each cost category, you read in detail what the costs consist of and how you can save on each cost category. You can also read how much our trip cost.

Where to stay in Guatemala

In Guatemala, you have luxury accommodations where you can stay, but the majority is basic but clean. There are a lot of great hostels and hotels where you can stay.

Searching for the right accommodation is time-consuming. To help you, we wrote an article on basis of our Guatemala itinerary where we give accommodation recommendations for each destination. If you want to save yourself a lot of time, we recommend reading our article about the best places to stay in Guatemala and booking the desired accommodation directly. This way you assure yourself of a place to stay. An advantage is that you still retain your flexibility because if you book via our links you can adjust your reservation free of charge up to two days before check-in.

Guatemala packing list

Guatemala is a country where you will be active and do a lot of adventures. It’s not a typical beach vacation. Because of this you also have to pack your bag differently than some other destinations. The most important tip that we can share with you is to pack as little as possible. We recommend the packing list below for Guatemala:

Guatemala travel guide: other tips

• Make sure you have the right vaccinations. Contact your own doctor for more information.
• Before traveling to Guatemala, try to learn a few words of Spanish. We heard from travelers that they had difficulty communicating with the locals because they didn’t speak English.
• Try to arrange everything yourself and don’t do an organized trip. This saves you a lot of money and you keep your flexibility during the trip. There is nothing more fun than going on an adventure yourself.
• Pay as much as possible with cash (withdraw money at the banks). Also, bring a credit card should something happen to your normal bank card.
• Enjoy your holiday and let yourself be surprised! Guatemala is a real backpacking country where you can experience many adventures.
• If you travel to Guatemala by plane and you are looking for a car to rent, you can rent it through Rentalcars. We use Rentalcars when we want to travel by car to discover new destinations. They’re easy to use and book with.

What do you think of our Guatemala travel guide? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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