There are many essential places to visit in Guatemala, a small country, located in the heart of the Mayan world, perfect for any type of traveler, due to its great diversity, where you can enjoy from the adventure of climbing an active volcano to bathing in a natural pool in the middle of the jungle.
Although we must bear in mind that natural wonders are not the only attraction of this country, since these, next to the ancient Mayan ruins, the beautiful colonial cities, the lakes surrounded by volcanoes or the endless markets next to a rich gastronomy, They have become Guatemala in one of the fashion destinations in recent years.
During our trip to Guatemala and Honduras for free we visited many of its wonders and based on our experience, we have made a selection of those we believe, they are the 10 most essential places to see in Guatemala. We start!
1. Tikal
The Tikal National Park, declared a World Heritage Site, is one of the best archaeological sites in the world and one of the essential places to visit in Guatemala. Located in the middle of the jungle, it remained hidden by the jungle and abandoned by the Maya for more than 1000 years, until it was discovered in 1848 and just over an hour from Flores, this important city of the ancient Mayan civilization is formed by a multitude of temples, steles and pyramids, which we are sure, will captivate any traveler.
There are several prominent places to visit in Tikal such as the monumental Grand Plaza that is surrounded by tall pyramids and large buildings, the Acropolis, the 57-meter-high Temple V, the Jaguar Temple and Temple IV, the perfect place to See a magnificent sunset over the jungle.
Although you can visit it in several hours, we recommend arriving early in the afternoon to see the sunset in the park and sleep near the entrance, and then visit the site early the next day, with few people.
Our accommodation in the park was the Tikal Inn, located a few meters from the entrance of Tikal, a perfect location, both to watch the sunset and the next day, to make the visit.
To get to Tikal, the best option is to take a transport in Flores, there are numerous private minivans that you can book in the town and come to look for you at the hotel even if you only have one day or want to know better the history of Tikal with a Expert guide in the Mayan culture is highly recommended to book this excursion in advance from Flores.
Tikal
2. Antigua
The city of Antigua, a World Heritage Site, is one of our favorite cities in the world and another of the most beautiful places to see in Guatemala.
This ancient capital of Guatemala stands out for its stone streets, the beautiful pastel-colored facades of the colonial houses, the old churches and convents, and for being surrounded by three impressive volcanoes, which give it unique and unforgettable perspectives. In addition, the city has a very cozy backpacking and traveler atmosphere, in which charming coffee shops, craft shops, local markets and magnificent cuisine are mixed, perfect to satisfy the most demanding stomachs.
In addition to wandering around, something essential, some of the places you can not miss in La Antigua are the Central Square, the Cathedral of Santiago, the Convent of Santa Clara, the Convent of Santo Domingo, the Church of Carme, the Convent of the Capuchinas, the Church and Convent of la Merced, the Arco de Catalina and the Mirador del Cerro de la Cruz with stunning views of the city and its volcanoes.
A good option to learn more about the history of the city is to book this guided tour in Spanish for its most interesting places.
For the more adventurous and in good physical condition, you have the possibility to book this excursion to one of the active volcanoes of Guatemala, the Pacaya.
In Antigua we stayed at the beautiful Hotel Mesón del Valle, a highly recommended accommodation, both for its central location, as for its facilities, in addition to the friendly treatment of the staff.
Ancient
3. Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlán, located more than 1500 meters above sea level and surrounded by the volcanoes of Atitlán, Tolimán and San Pedro volcano, is another of the most impressive places to visit in Guatemala.
On the shore of the lake, located among the most beautiful in the world, you will find several villages that maintain the Mayan culture and tradition, which are also a highly recommended place to relax and rest thanks to its many meditation, yoga and massage centers. Another of the remarkable things in them is its good gastronomic offer, with several restaurants of healthy and vegetarian food, which will make the days you spend here, become unforgettable for you and your stomach.
One of the best things to do in this area is to visit the villages of Lake Atitlan, most of them with names of saints and among which Santiago Atitlán surprises, where if you know how to search, you will meet Maximón, also called el god smoker.
Other highlights of the lake are the backpacking town of San Pedro la Laguna, the quiet villages of San Marcos la Laguna and San Juan La Laguna, the Mayan villages of Santa Catarina de Palopó and San Antonio de Palopó, and the magnificent viewpoint before arriving at the tourist Panajachel, the gateway to the lake.
The most common way to get to Lake Atitlan is by shared van from Antigua to Panajachel, although if you have little time it is advisable to stay in this city, as we did when staying at the Regis Hotel Spa with an excellent location and take boat trips shared or private to different peoples.
If you only have one day you can also book this excursion from Antigua with a guide in Spanish that includes a boat trip on the lake and a visit to Santiago Atitlán, another of the places to visit in Guatemala.
Lake Atitlan
4. Semuc Champey, one of the places to visit in Guatemala
The natural park Semuc Champey, away from civilization and located among thick forests, is one of the most authentic places to see in Guatemala. Its most famous place is the natural pools of turquoise green water produced by the waterfalls of the river that crosses it and that have made Semuc Champey considered by many to be the most beautiful place in Guatemala. And we honestly have to say that they have no reason if we observe it from its spectacular viewpoint, from where before taking a relaxing bath in the pools, you can enjoy really incredible views.
In this area of the country it is highly recommended to reserve the accommodation in advance because there is not much hotel offer. We chose El Portal de Semuc Champey, where they have private cabins and a good restaurant, being a perfect accommodation to get to know this impressive place.
The best way to get to Semuc Champey is by shared van from Flores, on a journey of around 7 hours.
Semuc Champey, one of the places to visit in Guatemala
5. Chichicastenango Market
In Chichicastenango, every Thursday and Sunday, the most important indigenous market in Central America is celebrated and another of the places to see in Guatemala that you cannot miss. Located in front of the Church of Santo Tomás, the Chichicastenango market, expands throughout its main square to the surrounding alleyways forming rivers of tourists and locals that from early in the morning until sunset are mixed with all kinds of products that They range from beautiful crafts to souvenirs to vegetables, incense, fruits, seafood and even traditional fabrics that give color to the market.
We recommend you arrive early to not find too many people and especially go carefully with your belongings in the agglomerations, since although we did not have any mishaps, they did tell us that it is not uncommon for someone friend of other people's stuff, make your own in the market.
The most common way to visit the market is to make a stop on the route that will take you from Antigua to Lake Atitlan, although if you stay in Antigua you can book a shuttle, which leaves at 7 in the morning, or a private transport, which will take you in about 3 hours to the market.
If you have little time you can book this excursion with a guide in Spanish from Antigua, which includes the market and Lake Atitlan.
Chichicastenango Market
6. Yaxha
Yaxhá, located north of Petén, is one of the least known Mayan jewels and another of the essential places to visit in Guatemala. This archaeological site with large buildings and pyramids located in the middle of the jungle and on the banks of the Yaxhá lagoon, not having the fame of Tikal, allows you to enjoy its ruins almost alone, something we assure you, you will never forget.
Some of its most interesting places are the Ball Game, the Cazada de las Canteras, the Great Astronomical Complex or Plaza F, the spectacular North Acropolis square, and the most important structure of Yaxhá, the Temple of the Red Hands or structure 216, from which you have unique views of Yaxhá 360 degrees.
The ruins of Yaxhá are located in a detour halfway to Flores and Tikal, about two hours from Flores. The best option is to take a private transport that takes you to Tikal stopping before in Yaxhá or book this day trip back to Flores.
Yaxha
7. Livingston
When you arrive by boat to Livingston, the Caribbean of Guatemala and cradle of the Garifuna culture, shipwrecked African slave ships that ended up mixing with the natives of the area, especially gifted for music and dance, who settled in this area In the 18th century, it seems that you are no longer in Guatemala.
When you walk through the streets of Livingston you will feel a bit in Africa, where you can share its tradition, culture and gastronomy, which we recommend eating at Buba Mama, a restaurant that has been passed from generation to generation until today .
To get to Livingston, one of the places to see in Guatemala, the only option is to take a shared or private boat from Río Dulce or other nearby towns, since it is not accessible by road.
Livingston, one of the places to see in Guatemala
8. Quiriguá
Quiriguá, a Mayan archeological site, forms together with Antigua and Tikal, the three World Heritage Sites that Guatemala has, also being another of the best places to visit in Guatemala, especially for its incredible steles carved in stone full of inscriptions and ancient symbols. Most stelae that can reach 10 meters high are concentrated in the Grand Plaza, although it is also worth approaching the Acropolis to see several zoomorphic figures, representing different animals, both mythical and real, carved in stone blocks , with great precision.
Quiriguá is just over an hour's drive from Río Dulce and travelers usually stop at this site on the way to the Mayan ruins of Copan, located in Honduras, which you can meet with this day trip to Copan from Guatemala City or This one that leaves from Antigua.
Quiriguá
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9. Rio Dulce
Río Dulce, a protected area of Guatemala, linked Lake Izabal with the Caribbean Sea forming a large aquatic ecosystem, which has become another of the most essential places to visit in Guatemala. A boat route along the river will take you along a canyon with limestone rock walls of up to 150 meters and full of tropical vegetation, which will leave you speechless, in addition to trying your luck, since Río Dulce is also famous for being the place where the manatee lives, an endangered mammal, and crocodiles.
At the mouth of the Dulce River with Lake Izabal is the Castillo de San Felipe, a Spanish fortress that was built to protect itself from the plundering of buccaneers and pirates and that is another of the places you cannot miss in this area of Guatemala.
We arrived in Rio Dulce in a shared van from Semuc Champey and stayed at the Mar Marine Yacht Club, located on the jetty, which has very adequate facilities and a good restaurant.
San Felipe Castle in Río Dulce
10. Church of San Andrés Xecul
The picturesque church of San Andrés Xecul with a facade full of color, is the last recommendation of the list of places to visit in Guatemala. This church of Catholic origin is said to have been without parish priest for years and the locals finished the work based on their Mayan culture and tradition, making their predominant color of the facade, the mustard yellow that represents the color of corn and is the food most important of the Maya, he became the real protagonist.
In addition, its dome full of colors or the figures of angels with boots and socks, make the church unique and a great tourist attraction for this small town.
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You can buy your Holafly prepaid SIM card here with a 5% discount for being our reader.
If you feel like helping us complete the list of the 10 places to visit in Guatemala, add yours in the comments.
