North America
Guatemala
Volcano hikes, Mayan ruins and a lake ringed by villages.
Guatemala is Central America at its most vivid. The colonial streets of Antigua are the base for climbing Acatenango, where you can watch neighbouring Fuego erupt through the night.
Lake Atitlán is surrounded by volcanoes and small villages, each with its own character, and the ruins of Tikal rise out of the jungle in the north.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT-6
- Plugs
- Types A and B, 120V
- Emergency numbers
- 110 police, 122 ambulance, 1500 tourist assistance
- Tap water
- Drink bottled or filtered
- Traffic drives on the
- Right
- Tipping
- A 10% service charge is often added in restaurants; tip guides and shuttle drivers a little extra.
- SIM cards
- Tigo and Claro SIMs cost about 25 quetzales, and a month of data is around 100 quetzales.
When to go to Guatemala
Best months to go: November to April. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
September
The wettest month. Some roads to Semuc Champey get rough.
- Daytime high
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 230 mm
- Crowds
- Quiet
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 24°C | 5 mm | Busy | Yes |
| February | 25°C | 5 mm | Busy | Yes |
| March | 27°C | 10 mm | Peak season | Yes |
| April | 28°C | 30 mm | Busy | Yes |
| May | 27°C | 120 mm | Quiet | No |
| June | 25°C | 250 mm | Quiet | No |
| July | 25°C | 170 mm | Busy | No |
| August | 25°C | 180 mm | Busy | No |
| September | 24°C | 230 mm | Quiet | No |
| October | 24°C | 150 mm | Quiet | No |
| November | 24°C | 30 mm | Busy | Yes |
| December | 23°C | 8 mm | Peak season | Yes |
What Guatemala costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$420for 14 days, about $30 a day (Q 3,230 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $10 | $140 | |
| Food and drink | $8 | $112 | |
| Getting around | $5 | $70 | |
| Things to do | $5 | $70 | |
| Everything else | $2 | $28 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Set lunch at a comedorQ 35, about $4.55
- Three chuchitos from a street stallQ 15, about $1.95
- Bottle of Gallo beerQ 20, about $2.60
- Cup of Antigua coffeeQ 20, about $2.60
- Hostel dorm bedQ 90, about $12
- Lancha across Lake AtitlánQ 25, about $3.25
- Shuttle, Antigua to Lake AtitlánQ 150, about $19
- Guided overnight hike up AcatenangoQ 500, about $65
Routes through Guatemala
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 6 stops
The classic loop of volcanoes, the lake and the jungle, mostly by tourist shuttle.
Antigua
3 nights
Cobbled streets, rooftop bars and volcano views.
Acatenango
1 night
Camp near the summit and watch Fuego erupt all night.
San Pedro La Laguna
3 nights
Cheap Spanish classes, kayaks and a sunrise hike up Indian Nose.
San Marcos La Laguna
2 nights
Yoga, cliff jumping and a slower pace.
Lanquín
2 nights
Swim in the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey and tube the river.
Flores
3 nights
A tiny island town and the base for sunrise at Tikal.
Getting around
Minibus
$10–30 per trip
Tourist shuttles run door to door between every backpacker stop. Book through your hostel.
Bus
$1–4 per trip
Chicken buses are old US school buses, painted bright colours. Cheap and fun, but keep your bag close.
Boat
$2–4 per crossing
Lanchas link the villages around Lake Atitlán. Go in the morning, before the wind picks up.
Tuk-tuk
$1–2 a ride
The easy way to get around the lake villages and Flores, especially after dark.
Flight
$100–150 one way
A one-hour hop from Guatemala City to Flores saves a long overnight bus.
What to eat and drink
Pepián
The national dish: a thick, smoky stew of chicken or beef with roasted chillies and seeds.
Q 55, about $7.14
Kak’ik
A spicy red turkey soup from the Cobán area, with Mayan roots.
Q 55, about $7.14
Chuchitos
Small tamales of maize dough and meat in tomato sauce, wrapped in corn husk.
Q 5, about $0.65
Shuco
The Guatemalan hot dog, grilled with guacamole, cabbage and sausages.
Q 15, about $1.95
Rellenitos
Mashed plantain stuffed with sweet black beans and fried.
Q 5, about $0.65
Gallo
The national beer, sold everywhere with its rooster logo.
Q 20, about $2.60
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Good afternoon
Buenas tardes
Say it like: bweh-nass tar-dess
Thank you very much
Muchas gracias
Say it like: moo-chass grah-see-ass
How much is it?
¿Cuánto cuesta?
Say it like: kwan-toh kwess-tah
Where does this bus go?
¿A dónde va esta camioneta?
Say it like: ah don-deh vah ess-tah ka-myoh-neh-tah
OK, sounds good
Sale pues
Say it like: sah-leh pwess
That is cool
¡Qué chilero!
Say it like: keh chee-leh-roh
Hey, everyone
Muchá
Say it like: moo-chah
I have no money
No tengo pisto
Say it like: noh ten-goh peess-toh
Questions travellers ask
Is Guatemala safe?
The tourist trail is generally fine if you take normal care. Avoid walking alone at night in Guatemala City, and use shuttles rather than chicken buses on long routes with luggage.
How hard is Acatenango?
Tough. It is a steep five or six hour climb to base camp at around 3,600 metres, and it gets below freezing at night. Rent warm layers in Antigua and go with a guide.
Where should I learn Spanish?
Antigua has the most schools, San Pedro is the cheapest and Quetzaltenango is the most immersive. Expect around $200–300 a week with a homestay.
Which lake village should I stay in?
San Pedro for parties and cheap food, San Marcos for yoga and quiet, and Panajachel for transport links. Most people try two.
Are ATMs reliable?
Use ATMs inside banks or shopping centres, as card skimming happens at street machines. Carry cash for the lake villages and Lanquín, where ATMs are scarce.