Last updated on April 23rd, 2025
Want to experience 2 weeks in Guatemala? We’re sharing the perfect 2 week Guatemala itinerary for first-timers to the country!
Guatemala is easily one of the most underrated countries in the world. With 37 volcanoes (3 of which are active!), one of the world’s most beautiful lakes, colorful cities, vibrant blue pools, mountainous jungle scenery, and caves, it offers an incredible mix of scenery, outdoor adventure, and cultural experiences.
And the best part? You can experience so much of what Guatemala has to offer in just 2 weeks! In this Guatemala itinerary we’re sharing exactly how we spent the perfect 2 weeks in Guatemala. Including the destinations we personally visited, what we did in each, and how to get between them. It is crafted specifically for first-timers to Guatemala who want to experience some of the country’s highlights in just 14 days!
About this 2 weeks in Guatemala itinerary
In this 2 week Guatemala itinerary, we’re focusing solely on the areas we personally visited and think are great choices if it’s your first time in Guatemala. This includes Lake Atitlán, Antigua, Acatenango, and Semuc Champey.
Compared to some of our itineraries, this trip was a bit more relaxed for us. We had days where we were out exploring all day (or hiking up a volcano!), while other days were spent relaxing while overlooking a gorgeous lake. You may also notice that there are quite a few travel days on this Guatemala itinerary. And this is because it takes a good amount of time to get around the country. So you will definitely want to allow yourself plenty of time to do so!
What about Tikal?
As you may have noticed, we did not include Flores or Tikal in this 2 week Guatemala itinerary. While we would love to explore them someday, we have visited many ruins in Mexico and Peru. So we wanted to focus more on outdoor activities while in Guatemala.
But if you want to add on Flores and Tikal, we’d suggest doing so before or after Semuc Champey. You can fly from Guatemala City to Flores and then take a shuttle to Semuc Champey, plus a shuttle back to Guatemala City. Or you can take a shuttle to Semuc Champey, another shuttle to Flores, and then fly back to Guatemala City. You would need a total of 3-4 days to add this. Or you could do this instead of Semuc Champey.
2 weeks in Guatemala itinerary at a glance
Click any of the days below to skip ahead to that part of the itinerary!
Day 1: Fly to Guatemala
Day 2: Travel to Lake Atitlán
Days 3-5: Lake Atitlán
Day 6: Travel back to Antigua
Day 7: Explore Antigua
Days 8-9: Hike Acatenango
Day 10: Travel to Semuc Champey
Days 11-12: Explore Semuc Champey
Day 13: Travel to Guatemala City
Day 14: Fly home
Day 1: Fly to Guatemala
For the first day of your Guatemala itinerary, the goal is just to get there! Depending on where you’re coming from, traveling to Guatemala can be a short adventure to a much longer journey. We flew from Austin, Texas and arrived in Guatemala by 11 AM.
The major airport in Guatemala is Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA). It is located about 39 km (24 miles) from Antigua and 114 km (71 miles) from Panajachel on Lake Atitlán.
We have heard mixed things about Guatemala City. Some say it’s not safe, while others have a positive experience. For us, this trip was not about exploring a big city, so we opted to skip it. So after arriving at the airport, we immediately hopped on a shuttle and left the city.
Our first big destination in Guatemala was Lake Atitlán. We chose to start here so that we could begin the trip out in nature and in a more relaxing way. But since the journey from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán can be very long, we opted to stay the night in Antigua our first night. This gave us the chance to rest up after flying, grab groceries for our Airbnb in Lake Atitlán, and get adjusted to Guatemala. We were super happy with our decision to do this, but you could head straight to Lake Atitlán if you’d like!
How to get a shuttle from the airport
To get from the airport to Antigua (or Lake Atitlán), you will want to grab a shared shuttle from the airport’s shuttle stand. This stand is easy to spot, as it’s right before you exit out of the airport. It cost us $20 USD (they accepted US dollars) per person for a ride to Antigua. We paid upfront, which meant there was no chance to get scammed later, which could happen with shuttles located outside the airport. And we were quickly on our way!
The ride was pretty quick (it can be long depending on traffic) and safe. We’d highly recommend using this option to get to Antigua, but you can also book an Uber if you want a private ride.
Once arriving in Antigua, we spent the rest of the day checking into our hostel, grabbing a quick lunch at Rincón Antigüeño, grocery shopping for Lake Atitlán at this very nice supermarket, and resting up after an early morning of travel.
Where to stay in Antigua
During our time in Antigua, we stayed at Maya Papaya, which has been rated one of the best hostels in the Americas. The property has a beautiful design, multiple hang out areas, a kitchen, small gym, and free, delicious breakfast and coffee. We had a private room, but a shared bathroom (a few rooms with private bathrooms are available, but get booked fast!).
Some other good hostels are Casi Casa and Ojalá, which have the same owners as Maya Papaya. If you prefer a hotel over a hostel, check out Hotel Las Marías, Hotel la Galería, Meson de Maria, or Camino Real Antigua.
Day 2: Travel to Lake Atitlán
For the second day of your Guatemala itinerary, head to Lake Atitlán! The best way to get from Antigua to Lake Atitlán is to take a shared shuttle. You can book these all over the city, but we personally booked ours through Due South Travels. They offer shared shuttles to Panajachel, the main tourist town, as well as to San Marcos, San Pedro, and San Juan.
While Lake Atitlán is technically not far from Antigua, due to the mountainous nature and lack of roads around the lake, it can take quite a bit of time to get to. Most shuttles will take anywhere from 2.5 hours to 4 hours, depending on traffic and if the shuttle is making other stops. And then you may have to take a lancha (boat) or tuk tuk the rest of the way to your lodging. So we suggest giving yourself a full day for travel, just in case of delays.
Once arriving at your lodging in Lake Atitlán, check in and if you’re up for it, go explore the town you’re staying near. We kept this day very low key and just enjoyed lunch at our accommodation’s restaurant and soaked up the views from our room.
Where to stay in Lake Atitlán
Figuring out where to stay in Lake Atitlán is one of the toughest decisions we had to make when planning our Guatemala itinerary. We ended up staying at Alas Del Angel near San Marcos and LOVED it! But to see our top suggestions of towns to stay in, plus pros and cons for each, check out our guide to where to stay in Lake Atitlán.
Days 3-5: Lake Atitlán
For the next three days, explore Lake Atitlán! This lake was formed by the collapse of a super volcano called Los Chocoyos around 84,000 years ago. And it is now the deepest lake in all of Central America, with a maximum depth of about 340 meters (1,120 feet)!
But not only that, it’s said to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. And with dramatic volcanoes surrounding, plus a shoreline dotted with colorful, small Mayan villages, we can totally see why!
How you decide to spend your time here will depend on where you stay and your interests. For ideas, check out our guide with 21 fun things to do in Lake Atitlán. But below is a sample itinerary of how you can spend three days on the lake, based on our experience.
First Day (San Marcos La Laguna)
- Have breakfast and coffee at your lodging, if offered (or if you have a kitchen to cook, like we did).
- If you’re staying at a place with kayak rentals, hit the water first thing in the morning! It’s calmest at this time and a nice way to start the day.
- Grab lunch at The Hidden Garden in San Marcos.
- Wander around the town, which is very hippie and gentrified and not totally our vibe. But it’s worth seeing.
- Visit Reserva Natural Cerro Tzankujil, which has nice trails to walk and viewpoints of the lake. And if you’re feeling crazy, you can jump off a 12 meter (39 feet) platform into the lake! 😱
- Have dinner at Konojel, a restaurant run by local, indigenous women. All of their proceeds go back into the community!
Second Day (San Juan and San Pedro)
- Kick off the morning bright and early with a sunrise hike up Indian Nose. Trust us, it’s worth the early wake up call!
- Spend the rest of the morning exploring San Juan, our favorite town on the lake. Grab coffee at one of the local cafes, see the colorful murals around town, visit La Calle de los Sombreros and La Calle de las Sombrillas, tour a Maya bee farm, and have lunch at Deleite Ancestral Experiencia Gastronomica Tz’utujil (make a reservation via WhatsApp).
- Take a tuk tuk over to San Pedro and soak in Los Termales.
- Have dinner at Pita Sabij, right on the water!
Third Day (Panajachel)
- Head to Panajachel, the main tourist town on the lake!
- Grab coffee at Café Loco Coffee Roasters, a small cafe with a delicious flat white.
- Spend the morning and early afternoon at Reserva Natural Atitlán. Here you can hike trails, walk across swinging bridges, see a waterfall and wildlife (like coatis and monkeys!), ride a zipline (extra fee), visit a private beach, and walk through a butterfly geodome. It was one of our favorite places on the lake!
- Have lunch at Dao Thai in town.
- Go on an ATV tour, which will take you to San Antonio Palopo and Santa Catarina Palopo, where you’ll learn about ceramics, weaving, and visit a local chocolate factory.
Day 6: Travel back to Antigua
Today, head back to Antigua. Depending on your shuttle time, you may get back to the city in the early afternoon or a bit later in the day. Once arriving, grab lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, wander the streets a bit, and prepare for a big day of exploring Antigua tomorrow!
Where to stay in Antigua
We shared our top suggestions for places to stay in Antigua under day 1 of this Guatemala itinerary. But you can see even more Antigua lodging options here!
Day 7: Explore Antigua
Antigua is said to be the most beautiful city in Guatemala. And while we don’t have much to compare it to, we can’t imagine many places being able to beat it! Here you’ll have views of multiple volcanoes, including one towering right over town, plus cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and interesting ruins, as a result of many earthquakes over the years, including in 1773, where much of the city was destroyed.
It’s a city loaded with character, delicious food, beautiful scenery, and history around every corner!
There are lots of things to do in Antigua, but here is how we’d suggest spending a full day in the city.
- Enjoy delicious coffee at one of the city’s best cafes. There are many great ones to choose from!
- Eat a traditional Guatemalan breakfast at El Comalote. Get the Chapin Galán, which comes with a gooey, cheese filled tortilla!
- Wander the streets! Some of our favorite sights are Arco de Santa Catalina, Parque Central, Catedral San José, Real Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, Palacio del Ayuntamiento, and Tanque La Unión. Or you can join a free walking tour to see the city with a guide!
- Visit one of the city’s ruins. We loved Convento Santa Clara!
- Have lunch at Caoba Farms Restaurant, an organic farm with a nursery, murals, a market with produce and local items, and a restaurant! It’s a lot of fun to walk around and their food is extremely fresh and delicious.
- Stroll the city’s markets, like Mercado Central Antigua Guatemala, the Artisan Market, and the stands outside Iglesia de la Merced.
- Head up to Cerro de la Cruz to see the city from above!
- If you have time and don’t mind spending a bit extra, go on a sunset ATV tour to Hobbitenango.
- Try Guatemalan stews, like Pepián and Jocón at La Casa de Las Sopas.
- Have ice cream at Glacy Cream. Make sure to get the torched marshmallow topping!
- Hang out at Antigua Cerveza El Bosque, a brewery tucked into a lush park, with string lights, fire pits, restaurants, and tons of areas to hang out. They have both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy.
Days 8-9: Hike Acatenango
One of the most epic things to do in Guatemala is to hike up Acatenango! This is a dormant volcano that last erupted in 1972, which overlooks Fuego, one of the most active volcanoes in Central America.
This is a multi-day hiking experience and is NOT for everyone. The trail is very steep, with loose dirt terrain (which makes the hike down pretty brutal). But if you have a good level of physical fitness, it’s a must!
There are tons of tour providers in town, but we went with V-Hiking and would definitely recommend them. But to learn of other tour companies, plus what to expect along the tour, check out our detailed guide to hiking Acatenango.
After the tour you’ll be dropped back off in Antigua and we suggest staying at the same place you stayed before the hike so they’ll store your luggage for you!
Note: As of writing this guide in April 2025, Fuego is still in a quiet state (which it has mostly been in since mid January). This means that the usual eruptions every 15-20 minutes are NOT happening. During our hike we got to see Fuego degassing, which was still very special, but no actual eruptions.
Day 10: Travel to Semuc Champey
For the last major destination of your Guatemala itinerary you’ll be heading to Semuc Champey! This paradise is known for its turquoise pools, small waterfalls, jungle scenery, and exhilarating caves. It’s a magical place to swim and hike. And was the perfect final stop during our 2 weeks in Guatemala!
However, getting here takes quite a bit of time. Depending on where you’re coming from, you’re looking at a 7.5-10 hour (one way!) shuttle ride to Lanquín. Plus additional travel to Semuc Champey, via camioneta (truck) or tuk tuk.
But don’t let that scare you off! We personally didn’t find the shuttle ride to be that bad, with gorgeous scenery, multiple food stops, and a chance to read, listen to podcasts, and watch movies. And the camioneta ride was a lot of fun!
You can book your shuttle through Due South Travels (what we did) or GuateGo. To learn more about the ride and what to expect along the way, we cover all of the details in our guide to visiting Semuc Champey.
Where to stay in Semuc Champey
There are two main areas to stay in Semuc Champey: Lanquín (the nearest town) or in Semuc Champey itself. Lanquín has more amenities and restaurants, but is about 35 minutes from the main attractions and is a lot busier.
Since we wanted a more quiet, nature-filled experience, we chose to stay in Semuc Champey at B’antiox Guesthouse in their observatory treehouse and were SO happy with that choice. Not only were we walking distance to the pools, river, and cave, but the food was delicious, the scenery was amazing, and the hosts were very friendly!
Some other options in Semuc Champey include Greengo’s and Utopia Eco Hotel, while Zephyr River Lodge and El Retiro Lodge are popular in Lanquín.
Days 11-12: Explore Semuc Champey
There isn’t that much to do in Semuc Champey, so many people only spend one full day there. But we’d highly recommend spending two full days! Not only does this make the long shuttle ride more worth it, but it gives you the chance to visit the pools multiple times, plus relax and rest up before the long journey back.
To learn more about visiting Semuc Champey, make sure to check out our detailed guide. There is a LOT to know before you go, including hours, costs, and important tips. But here’s a quick rundown of how we spent each day there!
First Day
On your first day in Semuc Champey, explore the area’s iconic natural sites!
- Enjoy breakfast and coffee at your lodging. There are limited dining options in the area, so this will be your best bet!
- Head to Semuc Champey Natural Monument to hike up El Mirador. This is an overlook that has breathtaking views of the pools from above. It’s a steep climb up, with lots of steps. So we suggest doing this first thing to beat the heat (and crowds).
- Hike back down and swim in Semuc Champey’s pools! There are many pools to choose from, including large ones and more hidden small ones. Go explore and visit as many as you can!
- While by the pools, go see El Sumidero, which is where the Cahabón River vanishes under Semuc Champey’s limestone bridge.
- Head out of the park for lunch. There are a handful of stands selling a plate lunch with grilled meat for Q35 (~$4.50 USD). We ate at these stands both days!
- Go on a tour of K’anba Cave, where you’ll swim in a cave (holding onto a rope at times) with only a candle as your lightsource. It’s a pretty exhilarating adventure, with ladders and optional extra activities.
- After the cave, go tubing on the Cahabón River. It’s a nice relaxing activity after the thrilling cave!
- Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your lodging and eating dinner there.
Do you need a tour to visit Semuc Champey?
Yes and no. You do NOT need a tour to visit El Mirador and the pools (located within the Natural Monument). But you do need a guide for the caves and tubing. Many visitors opt to do a tour for all of it, typically booked through their hostel (or in advance). But we’d suggest exploring the reserve on your own and then getting a guide just for the cave and tubing. You can find a local guide on the street, but we’d recommend asking your lodging if they have any trusted guides.
Second Day
Our second day in Semuc Champey was mostly about relaxing and revisiting the pools. We had breakfast and coffee at our lodging, headed to the pools to swim for a few hours, enjoyed lunch at the stands, and then hung out on our Airbnb’s patio and read.
In the late afternoon, we got to visit a local’s home for a chocolate tour, organized by our Airbnb. This included roasting the cacao over the fire, peeling it by hand, and grinding it (plus sugar and our flavor choice) on a metate.
We’d highly recommend doing this in the area, as it directly supports the local Maya Q’eqchi’ community. Since our Airbnb host set this up for us, using his personal relationships with the locals, we don’t have a way to share our exact tour. But you can book a tour with Tuqtuquilal in Lanquín.
Day 13: Travel to Guatemala City
After two fun days at Semuc Champey, it’s time to make the long shuttle journey back. Since we were flying home the next day, we opted to take a shuttle to Guatemala City and stay the night at a hotel. This made our early morning flight a lot easier!
Just like our ride to Semuc Champey, we booked our shuttle through Due South Travels. And since Guatemala City is slightly closer to Semuc Champey, it was a slightly shorter ride. Although, this time we were on a packed bus and had to keep our bags on our laps the whole time, which made it quite a bit less comfortable.
Where to stay in Guatemala City
We opted to stay at Barceló Guatemala City because it was pretty close to the airport and affordable, but still safe. And it was a nice spot to catch some zzz’s before our 6 AM flight!
The hotel has some restaurants, so you don’t even need to leave for dinner, but we walked next door to Takito Pérez for tacos. It was delicious!
Day 14: Fly home
And after 2 weeks in Guatemala, it’s time to head home…or wherever your adventures take you next!
We scheduled an Uber ride the night before to get to the airport, which we’d recommend if your flight is early. Customs was a quick and easy experience, although it was very early, so it could be longer mid-day.
We ended up having a lot of extra time, but thankfully La Aurora International Airport has a pretty amazing Priority Pass lounge, with a full hot meal included. So we happily killed time there with coffee and food!
Unsure how to get access to this lounge? Check out our favorite travel credit cards to see how we get free food and drinks at airports!
Looking for more tips to plan your 2 week Guatemala itinerary?
Now that you have a general rundown of how to spend 2 weeks in Guatemala, here are all of our other resources for the country to help you plan your trip!
- Our Top 22 Guatemala Travel Tips & Things to Know
- The Ultimate Guatemala Packing List (with downloadable list!)
- 21 Fun Things to Do in Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
- Where to stay in Lake Atitlán: The BEST towns & lodging options
- Guatemala’s Indian Nose Hike: Lake Atitlán’s Ultimate Sunrise
- The 23 Best Things to Do in Antigua, Guatemala
- 20+ Best Restaurants in Antigua, Guatemala
- Guatemala’s EPIC Acatenango Volcano Hike: Everything to know in 2025
- The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Semuc Champey in Guatemala
- Watch our Guatemala YouTube series
Save this 2 week Guatemala itinerary!
