Things to do in Guatemala

Climb the ancient wooden stairs of Temple IV before dawn and watch the sun rise above the jungle canopy, silhouetting the iconic pyramids of this sprawling Maya city.

Trek through cloud forest and highland pine to the summit of Acatenango, where you camp overnight with a front-row view of the adjacent Fuego volcano's constant, fiery eruptions.

Paddle the crystalline waters of a volcanic caldera lake ringed by towering peaks, arriving at the Tz'utujil village of San Juan La Laguna known for its indigenous art and natural dye textiles.

Wander through one of Central America's largest open-air markets, where Maya vendors sell colorful textiles, wooden masks, and fresh produce amid clouds of copal incense and fireworks.

Take an evening hike up the active Pacaya Volcano and toast marshmallows over glowing, volcanic heat vents while walking across fields of twisted black lava.

Stroll through a UNESCO World Heritage city framed by three volcanoes, exploring pastel-colored colonial facades, ruined churches, and lush inner courtyards.

Float in natural limestone terraces filled with brilliant blue-green water atop a limestone bridge, surrounded by dense tropical jungle near the Cahabón River.

Walk through shaded coffee groves at Finca Filadelfia and learn the entire bean-to-cup process, from hand-picking ripe cherries to a tasting session overlooking Volcán de Agua.

Sit with local Kaqchikel women on the shores of Lake Atitlán and learn backstrap loom techniques, selecting naturally dyed threads to create your own textile souvenir.

Explore the restored pyramids, ball courts, and ceremonial platforms of a pre-Columbian city, still used by Maya spiritual guides for rituals and offerings.

Admire the ornate yellow stucco and intricate white plasterwork of this 18th-century church in Antigua, featuring the largest fountain in Central America in its tranquil courtyard.

Grind your own cacao beans and experience a cup of spiced, ceremonial drinking chocolate prepared according to centuries-old Guatemalan recipes.

Glide through dense mangroves in a lancha, then on a black-sand beach help tiny sea turtle hatchlings make their first journey to the Pacific.

Float on inner tubes through a sacred Maya cave system by headlamp, navigating underground rivers and massive chambers adorned with stalactites.

Stand among thousands as massive wooden floats carried by purple-robed penitents sway through colonial streets on carpets of colored sawdust and flower petals.

Refresh yourself in the crystal-clear waters of a natural limestone cenote, surrounded by tropical vegetation and reached by a short jungle path from the shore of Lake Petén Itzá.

Join a community kitchen on the lakefront and pat out your own maize tortillas over an open wood fire while hearing stories of daily life in a lakeside Maya village.

Make a pre-dawn push to 4,220 meters on the continent's rooftop, rewarded with a sunrise panorama stretching from the Pacific Ocean to Mexico.

Embark on a multi-day jungle expedition to the massive preclassic Maya metropolis hidden deep in the Petén forest, climbing the immense La Danta pyramid.

Bite into a loaded shuco (Guatemalan hot dog) topped with guacamol, cabbage slaw, and chili at a busy street stall, a beloved after-dark ritual.

Examine one of the world's finest collections of Maya pottery, jade masks, and the rare colonial-era sacred books that recount the Maya creation myth.

Join a lively crowd of locals and expats at one of Guatemala City's premier Latin dance clubs, where live bands heat up the floor until late.

Escape the city bustle in the zoo's lush gardens, home to native quetzals, howler monkeys, and a well-designed network of paths through tropical greenery.

Cling to a bench in a brilliantly painted former U.S. school bus as it careens through mountain curves, with marimba music blasting and vendors squeezing aboard.

Roam the battlements of a Spanish colonial fort built to defend against pirates at the entrance to Lake Izabal, surrounded by mangroves and water thick with history.