An Epic One Week Guatemala Itinerary (Lake Atitlan, Acatenango & More)

If you’re planning a trip to Guatemala, you’re in the right place. Guatemala is a stunning country known for its active volcanoes, Mayan heritage, coffee and chocolate production, and natural beauty. It makes for an incredible vacation for anyone who loves a mix of adventure and relaxation.

This Guatemala itinerary includes tips for anyone visiting the country for the first time, a bucket-list worthy volcano trek, time spent exploring Lake Atitlán, and more. This guide is great if you want to see as much as you can in a limited amount of time.

Tips for Visiting Guatemala

• Spanish is the official language in Guatemala, and is widely spoken. While many people who interact with tourists speak English, it goes a long way to learn some Spanish before your trip.
• The currency in Guatemala is the quetzal and not everywhere takes credit cards, so you’ll need to take out cash. It’s helpful to have small bills when paying for things. We found that the ATMs we visited had a limit of about $100 worth of quetzals at a time, with fees around 7%.
• Guatemala uses the same power outlets as the US. However, 3-prong outlets are rare, so you may want to bring a converter if you need to charge something with 3 prongs.
• Tipping is not mandatory in Guatemala, but it’s common and nice to tip about 10% in restaurants and to give a small tip to tour guides, hotel porters and housekeepers.
• The tap water in Guatemala is generally considered not safe to drink. However, most hotels and restaurants provide clean, free drinking water.

Getting Around Guatemala

When it comes to transportation in Guatemala, you have a few options. Uber is available in the bigger cities, you can rent a car or you can ride the local ‘Chicken buses.’

For your first visit to Guatemala, I highly recommend booking tourist shuttles using GuateGo. I used their buses to get between Antigua and Lake Atitlán, and it was easy and affordable.

I also took an Uber from the Guatemala City Airport to Antigua, and it was quick and easy.

Where to Stay in Guatemala

This itinerary involves a lot of moving around and staying in various areas. Here are some places I recommend staying, separated between Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Guatemala City.

Where to Stay in Antigua

Antigua is full of some stunning boutique hotels and gorgeous home rentals. I stayed in two different boutique hotels that were quiet, charming and within easy walking distance of restaurants and activities in Antigua.

El Meson de Maria had a stunning courtyard and included a Guatemalan Desayuno Chapin (traditional Guatemalan breakfast). A Guatemalan breakfast typically includes plantains, eggs, beans and queso fresco, served in hot sauce and coffee.

I also spent a night in Hotel Posada San Pedro, which had some really nice views of the surrounding volcanoes.

More Ideas of Where to Stay in Antigua:

Budget: Posada Maya

Luxury: Porta Hotel Antigua

Where to Stay Around Lake Atitlán

Deciding where to stay around Lake Atitlán can be confusing, as there are several towns to choose from. No matter where you stay, it’s easy to get around the lake using the water taxis.

Here are some areas and hotels that I recommend staying around Lake Atitlán.

Panajachel

Panajachel (often referred to as “Pana”) is the town that you’ll arrive in before hopping on a water taxi to get around the lake. It’s one of the largest towns around the lake, and is considered the gateway to Lake Atitlán. There are several hotels in Pana and it’s a convenient place to stay, especially if you don’t have much time.

Budget: Hostal The Friends

Unique: Reserva Natural Atitlán

Luxury: Atitlan Hotel

San Pedro La Laguna

San Pedro is a town on the southwest shore of Lake Atitlán popular among backpackers and known for its nightlife, Spanish language schools and yoga.

I stayed in San Pedro for a couple nights and think it’s a great base for hiking Indian Nose, kayaking on the lake and exploring the nearby towns.

Budget: I stayed at Hotel Amigos, which has a mix of private and shared dorms, and is in a great location close to the ferry. The rooms were very basic and there was loud music at a bar next door, but it was alright for the affordable price.

Mid-range: Sababa Resort

Luxury: Casa Lobo

San Juan La Laguna

San Juan La Laguna is a town known for its colorful murals, main shopping street lined with hanging umbrellas and various cultural activities. It’s next to San Pedro, but tends to be a bit quieter and not as popular with tourists.

Budget: Hostal Sanjuanerita

Mid-Range: Posada Woochooch

Luxury: Eco Hotel Uxlabil

La Casa del Mundo

For a unique, luxurious and memorable stay, I highly recommend a stay at La Casa del Mundo! It’s located on its own right on Lake Atitlán, so you’ll need to take the ferry directly to the dock of the hotel.

This gorgeous hotel is built up on a cliff and each room has its own design. I will talk more about it on day three of this itinerary.

Where to Stay in Guatemala City

Guatemala City is not nearly as popular for tourists as Antigua or Lake Atitlán, and has some dangerous areas. It’s recommended to stay in zones 9 or 10, and to avoid zones 3, 5, 6, 12, and 21.

Due to an early flight, I stayed in Barceló Guatemala City (located in zone 9), which was well equipped for business travelers and tourists. The hotel felt like it catered to Americans (and therefore did not feel very local) with large rooms, multiple restaurants, a coffee machine in the room and other amenities.

I also used the Barceló’s free airport shuttle, which was very convenient.

Guatemala 7 Day Itinerary

A note about the order of this itinerary:

This Guatemala itinerary starts in Lake Atitlán, then goes to Antigua, then ends with the Acatenango volcano trek. I did the trip in order to have time to get used to the high altitude, as some experience altitude sickness with climbing Acatenango (the elevation of the Acatenango peak is 13,044 feet or 3976 meters). If you’re used to hiking in higher altitudes, it would be nicer to start with the volcano trek and then head to Lake Atitlán for relaxation after the hard trek.

Guatemala Itinerary - Day One

Travel from Guatemala City to Lake Atitlán

The majority of visitors to Guatemala will fly into La Aurora International Airport, located in Guatemala City. On your first day, fly into the country and make your way to Antigua or Lake Atitlán (depending on what time you land!).

While there are certainly a few great things to do in Guatemala City, most visitors don’t spend a lot of time there. There are concerns over safety, and it’s generally recommended to avoid certain zones of the city, especially zones 3, 5, 6, 12 and 21. The safest zones tend to be 9 and 10.

How to Get Between Guatemala City, Antigua and Lake Atitlán

There are a few different ways to get between the various cities and areas of Guatemala. One of the easiest and most stress-free ways to get around is by taking a tourist shuttle booked on GuateGo.

They offer a few different types of transportation, including private transportation, ferries and more. I utilized their shuttles and found it to be quite easy.

Travel Time Between Guatemala City and Antigua: 1 - 2 hours

Travel Time Between Antigua and Lake Atitlán: 3 - 4 hours

Travel Time Between Guatemala City and Lake Atitlán: 4 - 6 hours

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Two

Spend a day exploring the towns of San Pedro La Laguna and San Juan La Laguna!

San Pedro and San Juan are two of the best towns to explore on Lake Atitlán, and they’re located right next to each other. San Pedro is one of the top towns for backpackers and nightlife, while San Juan is known for its colorful murals and Mayan heritage.

Explore San Pedro La Laguna

In San Pedro, I recommend visiting Museo Tzunun' Ya', which tells a history of the Tz'utujil people and talks about the volcanic geology in the region. Plus, the staff will even provide you a ‘horoscope’ based on the Mayan Calendar. It’s a great little museum to learn about some of the history and culture.

Another one of the best things to do in San Pedro La Laguna is to visit the Los Termales, or thermal baths. You can soak with beautiful views, and receive spa treatments such as a massage.

San Pedro has several cute restaurants and cafes. I enjoyed Cafe Bakery and Restaurant Idea Connection, which has an airy patio space and a delicious selection of sandwiches, breakfast croissants, pastries and more.

I also enjoyed The Fifth Dimension, which is a plant-based restaurant. I had tempeh on pizza, which was unique and delicious.

Explore San Juan La Laguna

San Juan La Laguna is a great town to learn about some of the agriculture, textiles and other industries that the area is known for. I took a cultural tour of the town with the company Tornado's Excursions (booked through La Casa Del Mundo) and had a great time.

On my tour around the city, we learned about coffee, textiles, honey, chocolate and more. Our guide, Alex, was Mayan and could speak the Mayan language. We learned so much about the Mayan culture, the Mayan calendar and more.

We learned about coffee production at Cafe San Juan, which has coffee plants growing right next to their shop. We also visited Mayan Stingless Bees and learned about various types of honey production. We also saw a demonstration of weaving and natural dyes, and saw chocolate being made.

Whether you visit with a guide or on your own, it’s fascinating to stop by these artisan shops and learn about weaving, honey and more. Also in San Juan, it’s worth walking up and down La Calle de las Sombrillas, and admiring the various colorful murals around town.

You can also take in the views of the city at the colorful Mirador Kaqasiiwaan, which involves a short hike.

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Three

Explore more around Lake Atitlán.

Hike to Indian Nose at Sunrise

Enjoy an incredible sunrise view overlooking Lake Atitlán and volcanoes in the distance. The easiest way to do this hike is with a guide, and I booked a tour that included transportation. The road to reach the trailhead was windy and steep at times. You can also do this hike on your own, but bring cash to pay fees along the way.

The trail is rather steep and has several switchbacks and stairs. However, it’s relatively short and worth the climb.

There are a couple of rows of seating at the top to enjoy the rising sun. Plus, our guide provided bread and warm drinks that were being made at the top. It was an incredible way to start a day of exploring Lake Atitlán!

Book the Indian Nose Hike on Viator

Relax at La Casa del Mundo

La Casa del Mundo is truly a gem. I highly recommend staying here for at least a night if you can, but they can book up far in advance. If you don’t snag a reservation, you can still visit with a day pass.

The hotel is perched on a cliff and feels secluded away from any towns. Its paths are lined with cobblestones and the buildings feel intertwined with greenery and flowers. There are so many scenic vistas and it’s fun just to explore the property (just be prepared for lots of steps).

Activities on the property include hiking, swimming, kayaking and enjoying their hot tub. They also have a spa that offers massages and other treatments. And you can certainly enjoy a meal at their restaurant, which uses local, high-quality ingredients. I highly recommend a smoothie!

Tip: They do not take credit cards here. You’ll want to bring cash (can use US dollars) or you can pay using Venmo, cash app or PayPal.

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Four

Travel to Antigua and spend a day exploring.

Explore Antigua

Antigua is a radiant city characterized by its Colonial Spanish architecture and colorful facades. Large, active volcanoes surround the city. In fact, eruptions eventually caused the Spanish to move the capital to present-day Antigua. Antigua is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site based on its outstanding architecture.

Visit the Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala

One of the best things to do in Antigua is to visit the Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala, or MUNAG. It’s a free art museum that features art from various time periods, including colonial times, medieval times and modern day.

Plus, the museum has a striking central courtyard and an amazing view overlooking Parque Central. It’s a great place to spend an hour or two.

Fun Fact: There are 22 officially recognized Mayan languages and they have no direct format similarities with the Latin languages that we’re used to.

Take a Sunset ATV Tour

Explore beyond the city center with a sunset ATV tour! I went on this adventure with Simoon Tours (booked on Viator) and visited both Cerro de la Cruz (a large cross that overlooks the city) and Hobbitenango (a large park that includes a giant hand, restaurants, shops and more activities).

We drove the ATV’s a bit around the city and up to Cerro de la Cruz. It started with cobblestone roads with lots of traffic, and soon we were driving up steep mountainous roads.

To make it all the way to Hobbitenango, we were transported in the back of pick-up trucks, which was quite an adventure on steep, narrow roads.

Hobbitenango was quite impressive and has more to offer than I imagined. I knew I wanted a photo of the iconic stone hand, but wasn’t expecting the hobbit houses and variety of other adventures the park has to offer.

As we returned to Antigua, we had to drive the ATV’s down the mountain roads in the dark. Driving my own ATV was a bit out of my comfort zone at times, but the whole experience ended up being so much fun. This tour was a great way to see some popular sights near Antigua in a unique way.

Book the sunset ATV tour on Viator

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Five

Hike up Acatenango and watch Fuego erupt.

Hike Acatenango Volcano

If you’re anything like me, the Acatenango Volcano might be the main reason you’re traveling to Guatemala and the highlight of your trip!

An Overview of the Acatenango Volcano Hike:

• You must visit with a guide and I highly recommend Wicho & Charlie’s! Wicho & Charlie’s gives back to animal shelters, has amazing guides and provides plant-based food.
• Typically, the trek is two days, with one night sleeping up on the mountain.
• To reach camp, it’s about 5 miles and a little over 4,000 feet of elevation gain. It’s a STEEP and difficult journey.
• You have the option to add on hikes to the peak of Acatenango at sunrise, or to hike closer to Fuego at sunset (hiking to Fuego is an extra fee).

If you go with Wicho & Charlie’s, you’ll meet at their office first thing in the morning, where you’ll have breakfast and the option to rent gear. Soon, you’ll make your way to the trailhead to begin the hike.

The trail has a few different sections. First, you’ll be climbing up gravel paths alongside farmland. This part can be rough because there is no shade, and there are some narrow areas where you’re walking next to barbed wire.

Soon, you’ll enter the cloud forest, which is characterized by trees covered in moss. Parts of this section are extremely steep (hiking poles are a huge help on this trek). The last portion of the hike flattens out a little bit as you approach camp.

Tip: You’ll likely see a lot of stray dogs during the trek. One thing I love about Wicho & Charlie’s is that they give back to local animal shelters and provide food for the pups!

When you reach the campgrounds, you’ll have an incredible view looking over at Fuego Volcano, which is the most active volcano in Guatemala.

Prior to March 2025, Fuego tended to erupt several times an hour, making for epic views of spewing lava and towering clouds of ash all through the night. However, in March 2025, the activity of the volcano slowed a bit following some giant eruptions that caused them to temporarily evacuate the area. No one is sure what the future holds, so be sure to check the current status before your visit.

Even without Fuego having consistent large eruptions, I think this hike is worth the adventure.

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Six

Hike back down from Acatenango, explore Antigua.

On day two of your hike up Acatenango, you’ll have the option of a sunrise trek to the peak (which I highly recommend) followed by breakfast. Soon, you’ll be hiking back down the brutally steep trail.

In my opinion, hiking down was harder than hiking up (my knees were really feeling it) and the faster pace also made it rough. But with the help of trekking poles, I made it and felt so accomplished. My group hiked down in 3 hours, while it took about 5 hours to hike up.

You’ll likely finish in the early afternoon, leaving time to explore Antigua or head to your next destination in Guatemala.

More Things To Do in Antigua:

• Explore some of the great restaurants and outdoor patios around town. One spot I loved was El Local, which has delicious breakfast options and smoothies. I also loved the crepes at Luna de Miel.
• Take a free walking tour.
• Visit the Santa Catalina Arch.
• Visit the ruins of ruins of the old Cathedral San Jose
• Take a street food tour.

Guatemala Itinerary - Day Seven

Make your way back to Guatemala City (I recommend the shuttle buses booked on GuateGo) and fly home. Admire the volcanoes out the plane window and dream about planning your return trip!

If you have more time:

• Visit the Tikal Ruins.
• Do another volcano trek, such as Pacaya volcano, where you can eat pizza cooked over volcanic rocks.
• Visit the lush Semuc Champey nature preserve.

When to Visit Guatemala

Guatemala has a rainy season and a dry season. Rainy season is between May and October, and the dry season is between November and April. It’s recommended to visit during the dry season to enjoy the best weather.

I visited during January and had wonderful weather!

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide helps you get started in planning your trip to Guatemala! From volcano treks to colorful villages, this vibrant country has a lot to offer and is worth a spot on your bucket list.

For more bucket list cities and adventures around the world, check out these guides:

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Thanks for Reading!