Guatemala is one of the most underrated countries that I have been to! From volcanoes to deep lakes to ancient Mayan ruins, Guatemala really packs a punch. Whether you are looking to relax or seek adventure, this 8 days in Guatemala itinerary will have you covered from all angles but also give you a glimpse into this beautiful country in central America.
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Table of Contents
Notes on this 8 Days in Guatemala Itinerary
- You can spend your 8 days in Guatemala in any order. First figure out your flights and then you can use this itinerary to give you an indication of how long to spend at each place.
- If you have more than 8 days in Guatemala, then I recommend adding 1 more night to Flores and another night in Lake Atitlan.
- If you have even more time, consider adding Semuc Champey to your itinerary. This is ideal if you have about 12 days in Guatemala.
- I have detailed posts for each of these places that I have linked below. These posts are so much more detailed and I recommend you read them prior to your trip.
Day 1 – 2 Lake Atitlan
Arrive early in Lake Atitlan and visit 2-3 of the villages on day 1 and another 2-3 on day 2. Try and start your day early each day so you can see and enjoy the villages. To get from one village to another, you can take a lancha which is essentially a boat. These are ideal to get to villages across the lake from each other. For some close-by villages tuk-tuk (3-wheelers) actually work better and is a faster option. Public lanchas start early morning and stop around 5 PM. There are also private lanchas that you can hire for the day or for a single trip. These are more expensive but may be worth it if you have limited time.
Here is a sample itinerary for your 2 days in Lake Atitlan:
Day 1
- San Juan la Laguna
- San Pedro la Laguna
- Santiago
There is a lot to see and do in San Juan so you will probably spend most of your time here. Don’t miss out on learning about textiles, chocolate and bees in San Juan.
Day 2
- Panajachel
- Santa Catarina Palopo
- San Marco
How to Get to Lake Atitlan
- Private shuttle
- Shared shuttle
- Self-drive – see HER
Where to Stay
- Porta Hotel del Lago – see HERE.
- Socialtel Atitlan – book HERE.
- Atitlan Sunset Lodge – see HERE.
- Kula Maya – check it out HERE.
- La Casa del Mundo – book HERE
I wrote an extremely comprehensive guide on how to spend 2 days in Lake Atitlan and what to see and do in each of the villages. Check it out HERE
Day 3 – Antigua
Antigua Guatemala or Old Antigua used to be Guatemala’s capital until an earthquake in 1773 destroyed the city. Today, you can still see remnants of the beautiful colonial buildings the earthquake left behind. There is a lot to see and do In Antigua beyond the ruins too. You can also go on a day to half day trip to a place called Hobbitenango which has epic views of the volcanoes.
On this 8 days in Guatemala itinerary, day 3 and half of day 5 and full day of day 6 is for Antigua. I think 2.5 days is plenty of time to explore Antigua and also take the half day trip to Hobbitenango.
- Explore the ruins
- Learn about chocolate
- Relax at a cafe or coffee shop
- Go shopping
- Visit a church or two
- Learn about Guatemalan history and art
- Eat your way through Antigua
- Walk around
- Take a cooking class
- Go on a day trip
See HERE for more details on all the things to see and do in Antigua.
Day 4 – 5 – Acatenango Hike
You can hike to Acatenango volcano from Antigua. This hike maybe one of the best things you do during your 8 days in Guatemala! To do this hike, you must book the hike with a tour company and they will arrange the tour for you. Most tours start early morning from Antigua. This is an overnight hike and takes 1.5 days.
What is the Hike Like?
The hike is tough from the start and will take you through farmland and various forests before bringing you to the base camp of Acatenango between 11,000-12,000 feet. This part of the hike takes about 5-7 hours. You then have the option of hiking to the Fuego Volcano, which is an active volcano. This is a very difficult but rewarding hike.
After the Fuego hike, you will have dinner at base camp and then go to sleep in little huts or tents. Early the next morning, you have the option of hiking to the summit of the Acatenango volcano. After this hike, you will have breakfast and decent down. Once down, you will be transported back to Antigua. You should be back in Antigua by noon on day 5.
Wondering which company to go with? what to pack? what sleeping conditions are like? and what the terrain is like? Read my detailed post HERE.
Day 5 – 6 – Antigua
You will have half a day of day 5 and a full day on day 6 of this 8 days in Guatemala itinerary to explore more of Antigua. Spend your 1.5 days visiting some of the places you didn’t get to see on day 3. You may want to book a massage on day 5 for after the hike.
Day 7 – Flores
Flores is the gateway to Tikal National Park but is definitely worth exploring for its own charm. To get to Flores, catch a morning flight from Guatemala City. You can either spend night 6 in Guatemala City or in Antigua. If you spend the night in Antigua, don’t forget to factor in the drive time to Guatemala City from Antigua.
With just one day is Flores, you definitely want to get to Flores at least by 10 AM so that you can enjoy your one day in the town.
Things to Do in Flores
- Walk around the island
- Mirador de Canek
- Playa Chechenal
- Jorges Ropes Swing
- Catch the sunset across the lake
Getting Around Flores
Flores is very walkable as it’s a tiny island. It takes less than 30 minutes to walk the whole perimeter. However, to get to the sites on the other side of the island, you can either pay for a ride on a lancha (boat) or rent a kayak or paddleboard. More on this in my detailed post about Flores.
Where to Stay in Flores
There are lots of places to stay in Flores for different price points.
Budget
Mid-Range
High-End
Read all about how to spend one day in Flores HERE. I have included a lot of details about how to catch a lancha, where to hire a kayak and where to eat along with more important details.
Day 8 – Tikal National Park
Visit Tikal National Park on your last day of this 8 days in Guatemala itinerary. Tikal National Park is home to some of the most significant Mayan ruins in the world.
You can either stay overnight in Flores after your visit to Tikal (in other words spend night 8 in Flores) OR you can opt to stay in Tikal. I stayed my last night in Guatemala in Tikal and highly recommend doing the same.
How to Get to Tikal
There are many different ways that you can get to Tikal from Flores.
Staying the Night in Flores
- Join a tour group with pick-up and drop off in Flores
- Take a shuttle from Flores with a return trip
Staying the Night in Tikal
- Take a one-way shuttle from Flores
- Ask your accommodation provider for options
How to Visit Tikal National Park
There are 3 ways that you can visit Tikal and each of these needs their own ticket.
- Sunrise tour – 4 AM to 6 AM.
- General Admission – 6 AM to 6 PM
- Sunset tour – 6 PM to 8 PM
If you are trying to combine say a sunrise tour with a sunset tour, then you will need 2 separate tickets
Here is a general plan you can follow IF you are staying at Tikal for a night. Arrive in Tikal around 10 AM and get to the park by at least noon so that you can visit the Mayan sites prior to a sunset tour. You will need to get tickets for a general admission as well as a sunset tour separately. You can buy tickets HERE.
Given Tikal’s rich history and vast size, I definitely suggest doing a guided tour for Tikal. If you have time on Day 9, consider also visiting Tikal for sunrise prior to catching your flight back home. To do this, you have to spend the night in Tikal.
I highly recommend the tours below!
Where to Stay in Tikal
I highly recommend staying at one of the hotels within the park itself. Especially if you are thinking about doing a sunrise or sunset tour. Travel time between Flores and Tikal is around 1.5 hours. You will have to wake up at 2 AM or return very late at night if you opt to stay in Flores vs. Tikal with a sunrise or sunset tour.
Another reason is that you get to have a nice jungle experience staying within the park. You will hear howler monkeys and all sorts of birds. Below are your options:
- Jaguar Inn – Very close to the entrance of the park. Has a decent restaurant
- Hotel Tikal Inn – Also close to the entrance. they have a bungalow style accommodation with thatched roofs, a restaurant and swimming pool
- Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal – Located just next to the park entrance. They have a nice pool, an on-site restaurant and a bar. Bungalow style rooms in a jungle like setting
- Jungle Lodge Tikal Hostel – Same location as the hotel of the same name
I stayed at Hotel Jungle Lodge Tikal and loved it! To get to Tikal, I hopped on their shuttle from Flores at their sister hotel in Flores called Hotel Isla de Flores and it brought me straight to Hotel Jungle Lodge.
I have covered Tikal in great length in this POST. It’s very comprehensive and covers everything you need to know about visiting Tikal National Park.
After Guatemala
Going to Belize from Guatemala? Flores and Tikal are very close to the Belizian border. If you have more time, consider crossing over to Belize and spending a few days in San Pedro. Check out more on San Pedro HERE!
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1 comment
Nice photos