Guatemala is a country that has a rich history, a unique biodiversity to its natural landscape, and beautiful culture. This is definitely an underrated South American country relative to its more frequently-visited counterparts of Mexico and Costa Rica. However, there is a lot to do and explore within this country. And, since flights are relatively cheap for the area, food and accommodation is also cheaper than many other destinations, and as of writing this in 2024, it is safe and stable to travel to, this country is a must visit in Central America.
Here is my complete 10-day itinerary for a trip to Guatemala, which also includes Belize!
The first 8 days are spent in Guatemala since that was the main, and originally the only, destination. However, I decided to include a few days in Belize as well since I had planned the trip to Guatemala to end in Flores, which is an almost full-day shuttle back to Guatemala City, while it is only a 4-6 hour shuttle to Belize City. So, the option of adding another country so easily just made sense to me.
This is a trip I recently took, so it will include information from first-hand experience as well as lots of personal recommendations and things I would do differently if I were to do it again.
However, this is based off of one trip to Guatemala, so use it as a means of getting a general idea for how 10 days in Guatemala and Belice might look like, not necessarily how your trip should look. If you’ve done previous research into a trip to Guatemala, you might notice that I did not visit populat destinations such as Lake Atitlan, El Paredón, and El Río Dulce. I would have loved to visit this places and hope to do so in the future, but time and logistics made it so that they didn’t make the cut for this trip. I’d advise you to take my itinerary and combine it with other research along with your own exploration when you get there to make your trip unique!
Day 1: Getting to Antigua
The capital of Guatemala until an earthquake destroyed it in {year}, this city has all the charm of historic Guatemala. You will likely fly into Guatemala City, and getting to Antigua is simple. The quickest and easiest option is by taxi or Uber; no worries as Ubers are generally safe and reliable – this is what we did and the driver was very kind. You can order the Uber from the airport when you land as there will be plenty of drivers in the area – ours was there in minutes even though it was 2am! Expect to pay around 25 to 50 usd. If you’re on a tighter budget, there are multiples options for public buses that leave from the airport and arrive to Antigua about 3 hours later. They run through the afternoon and you only need to go to the bus station and hop on. There are cost around <amount>. We chose Uber because we got into the city late and wanted to get right to Antigua to start the day there.
Day 1 (cont.): Antigua
With its charm, nearby activities, and a lively culture, you could really spend a lot of time in this city. Since qe had a very late night, getting into our hostel at 3 am (shoutout to Amura hostel for staying up to let us in so late!), we got a late start on the next day. Assuming you got in last night, you will want to spend the morning of your first day finding all the things you need – a Guatemalan SIM card (Claro sells 8GB 15 Days for 100 Quetzales (Q) or 14 USD), as well as anything forgotten at home like sunglasses, sunscreen, or bug spray (all of which are highly recommended, the mosquitoes are no joke here).
However, do not miss the opportunity to take a morning coffee and breakfast. Almost all the cafes will serve local Guatemalan coffee, which is a treat you should indulge in every morning while in the country. Also, don’t do too much research into finding a cafe, instead take the opportunity to wander the city by foot until you find something that looks good. We found a spot for coffee and breakfast which included traditional fried plantains which was the perfect way to start our trip.
There are plenty of options for things to do during the day, but one I would absolutely recommend is a tour of a local coffee farm, especially for you coffee lovers. We booked one that included transit to and from Antigua via shared shuttle, stopping at the home of Eduardo, a coffee farmer, and his family. From there we left on a walking tour through the mountains where we saw and learned about the coffee plants and their processing from seed to bean, and later helped roast beans to make coffee for ourselves, with the help of Eduardo and his wife of course. We were even treated to homemade champurradas, a Guatemalan cookie that tastes fantastic when dipped in coffee. Although there are many options for coffee farm tours around Antigua, I would highly recommend the tour company we used, De La Gente (translates to ‘of’ or ‘from the people’), which is a not-for-profit that partners with coffee farmers across Central America to help them get their coffee to the world while still retaining the majority of the profit.
Spend the late afternoon taking it easy – find a bite to eat at the Mercado Central or any other small restaurants around and spend more time exploring the streets by foot. At night, find a local spot to take a drink with travelers and locals alike in one of the bars, breweries, clubs, or restaurants. There are places to fit any mood you are feeling, but some of the highlights are Cafe No Se for a more laid back, conversational atmosphere and La Sala for an upbeat night of music and dancing!
Day 2: Hike a Volcano (Camp Overnight)
The hike up el volcán Acatenango is far and away one of the top things to do in Guatemala, and one of the most unique experiences of my life. The overview is this: you hike up a dormant volcano (Acatenango) where you camp in a cabin and watch the active volcano that is right next to it (Fuego) erupt every 15 minutes throughout the night and morning. Awesome, right?! There are many tour providers for this hike (you NEED a guide, do not attempt this alone, especially at night). I went with Tropicana Hostel and had an amazing experience both with the service of the hostel and the spirits of the local guides. Other options include OX Expeditions which offers more amenities and Soy which is slightly cheaper. We met at our hostel in the morning and were provided a full breakfast, 4 liters of water per person, and the ability to rent any hiking equipment as well as bag storage for the night.
Whichever tour you choose, you’ll start your journey at the foot of Volcán Acatenango. The hike to basecamp takes anywhere from 6 to 8 hours across a fairly intense terrain, but once there you’ll be rewarded with your first views of Volcán Fuego. Now, you’ll have some time to catch your breath, eat a snack, and admire the view before the guides ask if you want to continue hiking to Volcán Fuego itself. For a fee of 200Q (~20usd), the guides will take you from the base camp, down the valley between the volcanos (a beautiful view at sunset), and up Fuego as high as safety allows up where you can sit and watch the lava erupt out of the volcano under the night sky. It’s another tough 4hr hike across probably even worse terrain, but the view is truly spectacular. However, the views from basecamp are clear enough that you can see the same thing, just from a farther distance, so I’d leave this hike as a gametime decision seeing how you feel after getting up Acatenango. After hiking back, you’ll be provided dinner and a steamy cup of Guatemalan hot chocolate, you can admire the volcanic eruptions for as long as your eyes last until going to sleep before the early day tomorrow. Disclaimer here: the cabin you will be sleeping in is crammed with beds and has no insulation. It’s better than a tent, but make no mistake it will be a rough night so don’t expect much good sleep.
Some details about the hike:
Total distance without Fuego Hike(est.): 20km (12.5mi)
Total distance with Fuego Hike (est.): 27km (16.75mi)
Total elevation change (est.): 4,000 meters (13,000 ft).
Notes: Beware of possible altitude sickness, a lot were taking medicine to combat this. The heat from spring-fall would make it even harder, so plan accordingly if you go during this time. The terrain is very rocky and slippery at parts, hiking sticks are helpful and can be rented at the start of the hike.
Day 3: Finish the Hike and Experience Antigua Nightlife
Day 3 starts bright and early, as you will leave basecamp at 4:20am to continue your hike up to the summit of Acatenango for a sunrise view of Fuego. It is only 1km (0.62 miles) uphill to the summit, but feels difficult since you’ve already hiked a lot, didn’t get much sleep, and during winter in Guatemala (dry season), it will be very cold. However, once you reach the top and see the view of the volcano rising above the clouds, slowly getting brighter and still spewing lava, it’s worth every step. After enjoying the sunrise, you’ll hike back down to base camp for breakfast and coffee, then finish the hike down the volcano.
You’ll arrive back in Antigua from the hike around midday, dead tired. You’ll most likely need to spend the afternoon taking a long semi-hot shower, maybe a nap, and definitely finding a bite to eat. For food, I would recommend El Rincón Antigüeño, a long-standing local restaurant that serves Guatemalan cuisine for affordable prices, and only open for lunch until 4pm (don’t miss it like we did!). Another option, La Barriga Llena is a cool spot that serves a mix of cuisines but does them all well – Las Chapinas are a great choice for something Guatemalan. Plus, if you sit at the bar you can watch your food cooked in front of you and meet the people who work there as well as any other locals or travelers sitting to eat.
After your belly is full and you are sufficiently rested, it’s time to go out and enjoy the city as night falls. If it’s still early, walk the streets (as much as your legs allow for) and take in the normal hustle of Guatemalan life. Stroll through El Mercado Central or go find and smell the delicious street food being cooked on the sidewalks all throughout the city. You can find street food anywhere, but the most sure spots are on the street Alameda de Santa Lucía next to the mercado or 1st Calle Poniente in front of the church Iglesia de La Merced.
Then, the nightlife! With some of the richest nightlife in Guatemala, Antigua has a lot of options for whatever vibe you are looking for. If you like to dance, there are plenty of places that offer salsa classes or simply have salsa nights, one of the most popular being the bar Las Palmas. We had seen a sign for a free salsa lesson at Tropicana Hostel, so we showed up, met the instructor Martín who was from Antigua, and learned the basics of salsa and bachata with a fun group of travelers. But as I said, you can really find anything; our favorites were Café No Sé for a chill place to talk and meet others and La Sala for a more club-like bar for upbeat music (hope you like reggaetón!) and a fun, energetic crowd.
Also, remember to book your shuttle to Lanquín today. There are no public bus routes from Antigua to Lanquín, but there are plenty of companies that offer shared shuttles for this route and your hotel or hostel will be able to help you book them or give you a recommendation the day before – no need to book ahead.
Day 4: Travel to Lanquin and Relax
Knowing that all the shuttles and public transit are on Guatemala time, which is to say laid back and not usually on time, we set aside this whole day to travel to Lanquin. The shuttle says it takes 6 hours, but again, Guatemala time means more like 6 to 8 hours. Once in Lanquin, you can spend the rest of the day unwinding at your accommodation or wandering the town. We stayed at Vista Verde Hostel (16usd for a private double room, 10usd for a dorm bed), loved the hostel, the people we met there, and the workers. It’s a small town, so there are not many bars or clubs in the town. This means a lot of young locals and travelers like to take drinks in the hostels themselves, most of which have full bars and a lively atmosphere.
Also note that you will need to book your tour to Semuc Champey today (this is why we’re here) if you are going via tour. I’d recommend a tour, but it isn’t completely necessary as I’ll explain more in the next section. Don’t stress though as your accommodation will be able to help you with this and there are a lot of options to choose from.
Day 5: Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey Natural Park is one of the natural gems of Guatemala. It is a series of naturally formed limestone pools, caves, and waterfalls along the river <name>. Due to its popularity, it is easy to get to and see, either through an arranged tour or without one – I’ll get to both.
With an arranged tour:
This is the option I’d recommend because it won’t cost that much more than going without one and you are guaranteed roundtrip transit, entrance to the caves (which you CANNOT do without), a guided tour from a local, and other activities that may be included (tubing down the river for example). Also, paying for a tour helps the locals who rely on tourism for a living. To book a tour, you can look online beforehand or your accommodation will likely offer their own or help you find one. Expect to pay from 175Q (25usd) to <price>Q (<price>usd) for a 4-8 hour day. We went with Hakuna Tours Lanquín (contact via WhatsApp) as they were the cheapest option I found and were personally recommended by a friend. Our guide, Davíd was great and the tour was even better. Continue reading the next section if you want more information, otherwise just trust your guide and enjoy the day!
Without an arranged tour:
Read the section with an arranged tour BEFORE this! Okay so now that you are here, here’s how I’d recommend going about Semuc Champey without a tour. The morning you want to go, walk outside your accommodation or into the town center and look for the drivers shouting “Semuc! Semuc!” Ask around until you find a price you like – I heard prices from 15Q (2usd) to 30Q (4usd) for the way there (you will do the same thing on the way back). The driver will take you to the Semuc Champey visitor center which has restrooms and the map of the park. There is an entrance fee of <price> for non-Guatemalans to enter the park. From here it’s about a 45min-1hr hike to the pools, including a stop at the famous mirador (lookout point). Then you’ll arrive at the pools. My advice is to give yourself plenty of time to explore as much as possible. You wouldn’t believe the number of little hidden spots there are, including natural rock slides and carved out hideouts. Be careful though as the rocks can be very slippery and limestone is not soft against a head, especially since the nearest hospital is 3hrs away.
Tip: Rent/Buy a phone protecting waterproof bag or bring your own – the pictures will be 1000% worth it.
Later, if you haven’t already, walk down from the visitor center going away from the park, cross the bridge over the river, and turn left to follow the trail until you see a waterfall.
With or without a tour:
Caution – climbing the rocks and jumping in is good fun, but only provided that you take proper caution. Swim down and check the water you are jumping into for shallow rocks. If jumping in is going to be a close call, don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk.
Another tip before leaving, take the opportunity to look around for families selling food. It’s cheap, supports their local businesses, and is a great way to eat authentic Guatemalan food as well as get to know the locals. If you see delicious-looking meat or soups cooking on a wood fire grill, I’d bet a lot of money that you’re about to have a great meal. I got a plate of grilled pork, beans, rice, guacamole, coleslaw, fresh corn tortillas, and some of the best pica (hot sauce) I’d ever had for just 35Q (5usd).
Later that day, after you get back from Semuc Champey, take it easy. The vibes of Lanquin are chill travelers and nice locals. Take the evening to wander the streets (never had or heard of any safety concerns here), find something in the market, try a small, local restaurant (La Restaurante Martínez has delicious food and homely service), and grab a drink at a hostel (yes, you are welcome to the bar even if you do not stay there!)
Also remember to book your shuttle to Flores tonight. You can book online or liekly through your accommodation (ask about it) as you will leave in the morning.
Day 6: Travel from Lanquin to Flores
Time to continue, this time to the town, and island, of Flores. Most shuttles will leave between 8-9am. Depending on traffic, you should get into Flores around 5 or 6 and will probably want to check into your hotel/hostel and wind down a bit. When we arrived, there was an annual festival taking place on the island, so we went to check it out for the night and ended up getting some good food and seeing traditional dancing. However, if you visit outside of the first week of January, it seems like a small town with nice people and a few good restaurants around.
Tonight just make sure you book a shuttle (and optional tour) to Tikal. Again, that’s why we’re here. You can book them online the day before through different companies. Most will have an option for roundtrip transit with an extra fee for a guided tour (I’ll elaborate more in the next section).
Day 7: Tikal
Continuing with Tikal, to get the most out of the visit I’d recommend buying the tour as the guides provide a lot of helpful and interesting information about the history of the city, the landscape, and Mayan culture. Tikal has a fascinating history as an independent Mayan kingdom that was hidden within the jungle and whose people numbered in the millions and who created some of the grandest structures in all of Latin America during their time period. If you’re on a budget, you can still enjoy the experience without a guided tour as long as you read up as much as you can beforehand. You can generally book 3 different times to go – sunrise, during the day, or sunset. Both sunrise and sunset cost an additional 100Q (14usd) and for sunrise a guided tour is required. Sunrise is popular due to less people and more animal activity, although seeing a beautiful sunrise over the jungle is fairly rare since most mornings are foggy and cloudy. Sunset is the better choice to me because there are still less people than the daytime, the animals are more active, and odds are you will have clearer conditions for a good sunset. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong as the whole experience is surreal. Tikal is one of the only places in the world designated as a site of both a cultural and natural significance.*fact check
Remember to book your transit to San Ignacio tonight. There are shuttles that will take you the whole way for around 25usd, which is the easiest way to go. Otherwise, there’s a trickier but cheaper route that involves taking a bus or taxi to the border (~8usd), crossing by foot, taking a taxi to the <something> bus stop (2-5usd), and taking the public bus to San Ignacio (1-2usd). So if you have the time and want to save the money, go for it. But otherwise just go ahead and book the shuttle.
Day 8: Travel from Flores to San Ignacio, Belize + Outdoors Day Activity
Sadly, this is your last day in Guatemala (for this trip ;), but now it’s on to Belize!
This day is tricky to plan for efficiency’s sake, but here’s how I would recommend you do it. Since the trip to San Ignacio only takes about 2½ hours, if you did Tikal earlier in the day and are pressed for time, I’d try to get to San Ignacio on the same day. Otherwise, you’ll likely leave Flores in the morning and get to San Ignacio in the late morning/early afternoon. On that same day, you could visit another Mayan ruin, Xunantunich, which is very close to the city; you could kayak or canoe through a historical cave at <name> creek seeing Mayan artifacts and natural stalactites; or, you could canoe along the Macaw river for a few hours taking in the natural beauty and local wildlife (lots of iguanas, birds, and if you’re lucky monkeys). Whatever you do, just remember plenty of water, sunscreen, and bug spray since it gets very hot here (including winter, I don’t even want to know about summer).
If you allow yourself a full day in San Ignacio, one of the best things I’d heard to do, and wanted to do, was a tour of the <> (ATM) cave. This cave is a natural wonder in its own right with miles of underground and partially underwater tunnels located within the forest. However, there is also a deep cultural significance to this cave, as the Mayans believed it was an entrance to the underworld. Ancient Mayans revered the cave and used it to perform ritual human sacrifices to please the gods. A tour of the cave involves hiking <distance> through the jungle, walking/wading through the dark tunnels, spotting Mayan artifacts, and ending at the crystallized remains of a skeleton that was believed to have been a sacrificial victim.
Day 9: Travel from San Ignacio to Caye Caulker
Since we were really just stopping through San Ignacio, it’s now on to our final destination, the beach! This journey is straightforward and nothing needs to be booked ahead. You’ll first take a public bus from San Ignacio to Belize City and then a water taxi from Belize City to Caye Caulker. For that first leg, all you need to do is go to the bus stop in the center of San Ignacio (if you can’t find it, just ask a local to point you in the right direction), wait for a bus to come with a sign labeled “Belize” (short for Belize City), and hop on. Be prepared to pay 10 bzd (Belizean dollars) or 5 usd in cash on the bus.
Note: Belizean dollars are tied to Usd at a fixed rate of 2:1, and usd should be accepted everywhere in Belize.
You’ll arrive in Belize City 2-3hrs later, and then you need to get to the Belize Water Taxi terminal which is about a 15min walk or a 5min, 15bzd taxi away. If you don’t want to get stuck waiting, make sure to watch your time as the water taxis run every 1.5hrs (you can find the schedule online). From here, you’ll need to purchase a roundtrip ticket to Caye Caulker, returning whenever you’d like which will cost 40usd per person (make sure to save the return ticket!).
Then, 1hr later, you’ll be at the magical Caye Caulker! I say magical because the island and surrounding nature is beautiful, the sun shines a bit brighter, and they say life moves a bit slower. It’s the perfect ending to your long adventure up until now. Bueno anyways, just check into your accommodation and start exploring to find out for youself. There are so many things to do, see, and eat, (check out this article for more ideas <insertar>), but for your first introduction to island life I’d suggest
1. get to the water and 2. find a local grill to buy some fresh seafood or jerk chicken (there are some good spots if you walk by the beach on the north/east side of the island). Oh and 3. grab a drink, you’re living the island life now.
Also, to do today – if you haven’t booked a snorkeling tour in advance, walk around the island and ask around for prices on different tour options for snorkeling tomorrow (there are tons). I’ll get more into what this will entail in the next section.
Day 10: Snorkeling, Swimming, and More Island Living
Okay so this snorkeling tour I was talking about – Belize’s coast is home to the 2nd largest (and 1st largest living) coral reef in the world, the Belizean Barrier Reef. Along this reef, you’ll find fantastic natural coral formations and exotic wildlife. You’re going to want to book a tour with a local tour provider to be able to see as much as you can. Look for one that stops at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark and Ray Alley, Tarpon Bay, and the Sunken Shipwreck. Also look for one that is eco-friendly; if a tour says they will let you feed and touch the marine life, please don’t do it. The natural wildlife here is some of the richest in the world, and tours like this harm the wildlife, animals, and ecosystem.
Not so fun facts: Manatees have no natural predators, their main cause of death is boating accidents.
Coral decay is an ongoing problem and one of the main causes is human tampering.
Okay enough with that, just find a tour that is eco-friendly and sustainable 🙂 I would highly recommend Salt Life Eco Tours; they offer an extensive tour with great guides for a reasonable price, and they even include GoPro cameras which are invaluable to be able to save those memories. <GetYourGuide link> No matter what you choose though, you’re going to have a great time exploring this natural wonder.
Since these tours will take anywhere from 4-8hrs, you will have the rest of the evening to enjoy life on the island. Again, check this article for more ideas <caye caulker article link>, but I’d recommend not missing the stingray cove and sea horse habitat which you can find right behind Iguana Reef Hotel on the north side of the island. At night, you can find some more local food for dinner and if you’re up for some music and dancing, check out I&I Reggae Bar for those good island reggae tunes.
Then, if you fell in love with the island and want to stay a few more days, I don’t blame you, go for it. Otherwise, make sure you’re all ready to go for tomorrow as you’ll need to catch a water taxi back to Belize City (find that return ticket you saved) and make your way to the airport (about a 50bzd/25usd, 30min taxi ride) for your flight home.
