Guatemala has it all! From colonial cities, to indigenous villages with colorful markets and people dressed in traditional costumes, as well as Maya cities hidden deep in the jungle. The country boasts stunning lakes and many active volcanoes, making it a place you could explore for weeks. But if you only have 3 weeks in Guatemala? In this guide I’m sharing my tips for a Guatemala itinerary 3 weeks, highlighting the must-see spots, useful travel tips, and transportation details. Plus, I’ve included a special section for those starting or continuing their journey to Honduras and Mexico.
I love traveling in Guatemala and had the chance to explore many corners of this beautiful country, including the route I’m sharing here. I hope my personal tips and recommendations help you make the most of your Guatemala itinerary 3 weeks. From must-see attractions to local gems, this guide is designed to ensure you experience the very best of what Guatemala has to offer. Happy exploring.
Start your 3 weeks journey in Antigua, the former capital of Guatemala and the most beautiful city in the country. It is a city where you can easily spend days and enjoy the pleasant atmosphere. Stroll through the colonial streets, visit the ruins of former churches and convents and have a look in the many colonial buildings, where a new world opens behind every door. You will also find plenty of nice boutique stores, fancy restaurants and lunchrooms, with amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes. You often see smoke coming out of the volcano and at times you even see the orange and red lava flowing. Pretty incredible. Also, the surrounding area is worth exploring, with coffee plantations, viewpoints and organic farms.
Curious about what to do in Antigua? Check out my ultimate city guide for Antigua and surroundings with many things to do, cultural activities, restaurants, fancy boutique stores and hotels.
As Antigua is your starting point for one of the most exciting volcano trips such as the Pacaya and the Acatenango volcano. Make sure you include one of these hikes in your Guatemala 3 week itinerary. Therefore, I would recommend to schedule at least three days in Antigua. One or two days, to explore the center, and one or two days, to go on a volcano hike, depending on your interest of hiking.
Want to know more about the Acatenango volcano hike, how to prepare and what to bring? Read everything you want to know about hiking the Acatenango volcano in the next article.
The Pacaya hike you can do in one morning or afternoon. The hike to the Acatenango takes two days, as you want to spend the night in a tent, listening and looking at the active Fuego Volcano, right in front of you. Yes, these hikes are challenging but so worth it! Just make sure you are used to the altitude before going on this hike.
Do you want to hike the Acatenango volcano and secure your spot? Check out prices and availability here. You can book a tour to the top to the Pacaya volcano here.
From Antigua, travel to the most beautiful lake in Guatemala. Lake Atitlán is a mighty lake is surrounded by three volcanoes and many little villages. Every village has its own vibe and characteristics. And in some of the villages, people still live according to ancient Mayan traditions and customs. The light and view of the lake and surrounding volcanoes are breathtaking, from just every single corner. Make sure you spend at least one day navigating the lake and exploring villages such as Santiago de Atitlán, San Marcos, and San Juan la Laguna. You will learn more about indigenous art and meet local hero Maximón. A wooden statue with a cigar, where people come to do offerings and make their wishes. You can also hike from the village of Santa Cruz to Jaibalito, overlooking the lake during the entire trail. And explore the Cerro Tzankujil, a natural reserve near San Marcos.
The second day you should go on a hike, to enjoy the most amazing views of the lake Atitlan. Climb your way up to the Indian Nose viewpoint (try to do a sunrise!) or hike to the top of the San Pedro Volcano.
As this is a guide for 3 weeks in Guatemala, I’m focusing on some of the highlights. But you could easily spend a week around Lake Atitlán and sleep in a different village every day. Do you want to know more about Lake Atitlán and all the different things to do? Have a look in my Lake Atitlán travel guide.
Panajachel is the main city and your starting point for all trips around the lake. You can choose to spend the night in this city, but it’s best to find a beautiful hotel around the lake or in one of the villages. Especially if you want to go on a hike to the Indian Nose or San Pedro volcano, as you need to start early morning.
Do you want to visit Lake Atitlán from Antigua? You can book your tour here.
Travel from Antigua to Panajachel, by uber or shuttle service. It will take about 3 hours. Make sure you schedule this journey on a Thursday or Sunday, so you can include colorful market of Chichicastenango in your 3 weeks in Guatemala itinerary. Not only a shopping paradise but also a great way to observe local life.
You can also easily visit Chichicastenango for the day from Antigua. You can book your tour here.
Quetzaltenango, aka Xela, is a city that is often skipped during a trip through Guatemala. A shame, because even though this city in Guatemala doesn’t have many spectacular things to do, it is a city to experience the real Guatemala. It is Guatemala’s second city and has a nice mix of students and business people. You can use one day to explore the city, one of the surrounding villages or relax in the hot springs of Fuentes Georginas. The second day make sure you go on another spectacular volcano hike, such as the active Santa Maria volcano (elevation of 3,772 meters) or Santiaguito (elevation of 2,790 meters). Both are day trips.
It will take you about 2 hours to get from Panajachel to Quetzaltenango. You can travel by shuttle service or private transportation. You can find an uber to get to Lake Atitlan but it will be harder to find an uber around Lake Atitlan bringing you somewehere else.
Lanquin area also offers some unique caves. You can visit an adventurous water cave, where you enter with your bathing suit on and a candle in your hands. This is not for everyone, as it is humid, dark and you only see the light of the burning candles. Or a cave where you are able to see rock formations and thousands of bats flying out during sunset. If you feel like doing something more relaxing, you can spend spend an afternoon tubing on the river.
Want to visit Semuc Champey and explore the caves? You can book your tour here.
Interested in visiting Lanquin? This is my travel guide with different things to do in Lanquin, including caving, tubing, canopy tours and tips for best traveling time, hotels and transportation.
From Quetzaltenango, there are shuttle services to Lanquin You will be traveling at least 9 hours and maybe even more. Just schedule the entire day for it and make sure you are mentally prepared. The last part of the journey is beautiful, as you will be driving through the mountains.
After Lanquin, it is time for Flores. Your starting point for the mysterious Maya ruins, such as Tikal and Yaxhá, located deep in the jungle. Without a doubt, a highlight during your Guatemala itinerary 3 weeks. I recommend that you travel straight to Tikal this evening, and spend the night in one of the three hotels, located inside the national park. This way you are able to wake up very early the next day and see the sunrise from temple number 4. After your visit, travel to the town of Flores and spend the night there.
Tikal is one of the most visited destinations in Guatemala. Because of its mysterious atmosphere, and location in the dense jungle, I think it is one of the most impressive archaeological Maya sites. You’ll be able to observe an ancient Maya city, with ruins of pyramids and palaces in a beautiful jungle environment, while being surrounded by countless monkeys, coatis, butterflies and birds. Tikal is best to be explored with a professional guide, making sure you get the maximum out of your trip.
Do you want to visit Tikal? You can book your tour here. Interested in reading more about a day tour to Tikal? Read the full article about Tikal Guatemala here.
If you feel like doing something more off the beaten track, it is worth to add Yaxhá to your 3 weeks in Guatemala travel itinerary as well. You could do this on the second day. Yaxhá is less visited than Tikal but also a beautiful archaeological Maya site, located at the Laguna Yaxhá, in the jungle. It is recommended to watch the sunset here from the 30 meterhigh temple (structure 216 or temple or the hands). In that case, you can spend the first night in Flores and the second night near the Yaxhá national park.
Do you want to visit Yaxha? You can book a nice sunset tour here. Interested in reading more about visiting Yaxhá? Read the full article about Yaxhá here.
Flores is a small town, located at the Petén Itzá lake, connected to the mainland by a bridge. There are so many colorful houses and doors, what makes it a picture heaven! Flores used to be an old maya city called Tayasal. It was one of the last independent cities during the Spanish conquest but was unfortunately destroyed completely afterwards. Nowadays you can discover the colonial town (built by the spanish on the former Maya city) and enjoy the boulevard with many rooftop restaurants and shops. The history makes your visit even more interesting.
There are public buses or shuttle services that can take you from the town of Lanquin to Coban and to Flores. Also consider private transportation, of course depending on your budget. Due to the bumpy road, it’s another full daytrip.
This day you will be traveling to the Caribbean side of Guatemala: Río Dulce. From this town, you can take one of the most beautiful boat trips in Central America. A trip of 1.5 to 2 hours brings you through a natural reserve with an incredible amount of birds, water lilies, mangroves, steep rock walls, to the Caribbean coast.
Here you can visit Livingston, a messy but nice town, only accessible by boat. This area will show you a completely different side during your three weeks in Guatemala itinerary, because of the unique mix of people living here. The Garifuna’s, (who are descended from the Caribbean Arawak Indians and African slaves) and the indigenous Maya people are living here together. You can explore the village, enjoy the many pelicans in the harbor and have a chat with the many welcoming Rastafarian characters.
Make sure you also try the local dish tapado. A delicious soup consisting of coconut milk, including lobster, shrimp, crab, shellfish and fresh white fish.
You can spend the night in Livingston or find a place around the Rio Dulce river and make a daytrip to Livingston.
Want to know more about this Caribbean area of Guatemala? In the next article, you’ll find tips and information for visiting Río Dulce and Livingston.
There are different shuttle services that take you from Flores to Río Dulce. It is also possible to travel by private transportation. The journey will take you approximately 4 hours.
It is nice to spend at least one day in Guatemala city to explore the colonial center and visit the Museo the Antropologia – Munae. Also make sure you visit, zona 4, the nicest neighborhood, with many cool restaurants and bars. If you are up for a gastronomic experience, make a reservation at restaurant Flor de Lis, by a former Noma alumni. A 6- or 8-course tasting menu takes you on a journey through Guatemala, with local ingredients and corresponding stories. It is not cheap but believe me, it’s so worth it and a great way to finish your 3 weeks in Guatemala.
Interested in taking a tour in Guatemala City? You can book a city tour here.
You can travel by public bus or shuttle service in about 6 to 8 hours to Guatemala City. If you are planning to travel by private transportation, make sure you add a stop in Quirigua, a few kilometers of the main road between Guatemala City and Río Dulce. Here you will find beautiful stelae. Stelae are Maya monuments with amazing sculptures and hieroglyphics. They are located in a green tropical valley, between banana plantations. In the following article I’m guiding you through the Quirigua archaeological national park.
From Río Dulce it is nice to travel to the south and make a quick stop in Honduras, by visiting the lovely mountain town Copán, close to the Guatemalan border. It is one of the most beautiful places in Honduras and your starting point for a visit to the former Copán Empire: Copan Ruinas. Copán town, is situated at an altitude of 670 meters and has a few thousand inhabitants. The little streets, colonial buildings and friendly people give the town its own characteristics and make it super atmospheric.
Because Copán has not yet been discovered by large tourist crowds, it is a great destination for one or two days. You can enjoy the town, visit the archaeological site of Copán and observe tropical birds in the Macaw Mountain bird Sanctuary.
If you are traveling from Mexico to Guatemala, it is best to start your Guatemala itinerary for 3 weeks in Flores and travel all the way down over land without using a plane.
It is also possible to travel from San Cristobal in Mexico and use the La Mesilla border to enter Guatemala. This way you can start your journey in Quetzaltenango.
If you are planning to continue your journey to Chiapas in Mexico after your three weeks in Guatemala itinerary. Then it is best to finish your Guatemala trip in Flores and use the border, Frontera Corozal. From Flores, it will take you 4 hours to reach the Guatemalan border town Bethel (it’s a bumpy road). Here you’ll cross the Usumacinta river by boat to Frontera Corozal in Mexico. Also your gateway to the archaeological site Yaxchilán. Read more about Yaxchilán and how to get there, in the next article.
Planning to travel to Yucatán in Mexico? Then it is also best to finish you Guatemala itinerary in Flores and travel through Belize to Chetumal. It will take you a full day, as you need to cross two borders.
I hope this guide has answered most of your questions about how to spend three weeks in Guatemala. I’ve done my best to highlight the best destinations, tours, and activities to include in your itinerary. By following this Guatemala 3 week itinerary, you’ll be sure to make the most of your time in the country, experiencing all its beauty and culture.
Did you enjoy reading this three weeks in Guatemala itinerary? Have a look at the other Guatemala travel itineraries such as:
Looking for tours to include in your 3 weeks in Guatemala itinerary? Have a look here.
Guatemala is a large country and distances are long. Moreover not all roads are accessible. For some distances during your 3 week Guatemala itinerary, it is best to take a plane. But other routes can be easily traveled by bus or shuttle service. Guatego is a reliable and affordable shuttle service offering services throughout the country. You can book your shutle service here.
Looking for flights within Guatemala? Use Skyscanner, when it comes to searching for cheap flights across Guatemala. An easy way to compare and book your flight ticket, as it searches websites and airlines around the world with one click.
Looking for a way to get around during your 3 week Guatemala itinerary, by bus or minivan? GuateGo is focusing on the transportation of travelers between important tourist destinations, providing customers different options to choose from. GuateGo is mainly working in Guatemala.
Need a rental car for your 3 weeks in Guatemala itinerary? Use Rental Cars to search and compare your car rental options. A quick and easy tool and no need to have up multiple tabs trying to figure out which company is the most affordable. They also have great discounts and cancellation policies. I only recommend this when you are familair with driving in Central America and only to get around Guatemala City, Antigua, Chichicastenango and Lake Atitlan.
Looking for a travel insurance? World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance, with coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Where to stay in Guatemala duirng your Guatemala itinerary 3 weeks? Like any other country, Guatemala has a large amount of beautiful hotels. For both work and personal trips, I visited Guatemala dozens of times. When I travel by myself, I always look out smaller scale hotels with beautiful interiors, a nice atmosphere and a convenient location. In addition, I like to support the locals and love a sustainable approach around a hotel. I always spend a lot of time researching, before I book my stay. In this article I will tell you more about my favorite places to stay in Guatemala : The best hotels, sorted by city and region in Guatemala.
Did you enjoy reading this article with tips for a 3 week Guatemala itinerary? Do you want to discover more? With Passport the World I am taking you on a journey to discover this beautiful country. Make sure to check out my other travel guides about Guatemala such as:
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As a travel reporter, producer and tour guide, I have been traveling around the world for the last 20 years, looking for the most scenic places and stories that are worth sharing. In Passport the World, I am guiding you along scenic and cultural places, cities, art, viewpoints, hiking trails and unique experiences. To help you get the most out of your travels or to just get to know a country and culture better!
