Things to do in Guatemala

25 things to do in Guatemala

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Watch sunrise from Temple IV at Tikal

  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.

  Tikal National Park, Petén

• Hike Volcán Acatenango and watch Volcán de Fuego erupt

  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.

  Near Antigua

• Kayak across Lake Atitlán to San Juan La Laguna

  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.

  Lake Atitlán, Sololá

• Browse the vibrant Chichicastenango Market

  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.

  Chichicastenango, Quiché

• Roast marshmallows over lava at Pacaya Volcano

  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.

  Near Antigua

• Wander the cobblestone streets of Antigua Guatemala

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

  Antigua Guatemala, Sacatepéquez

• Swim in the stepped turquoise pools of Semuc Champey

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

  Lanquín, Alta Verapaz

• Tour a coffee plantation in the Antigua highlands

  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.

  Antigua

• Attend a traditional Mayan weaving workshop in San Antonio Palopó

  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.

  San Antonio Palopó, Sololá

• Visit the ruins of Iximché, ancient Kaqchikel capital

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

  Tecpán, Chimaltenango

• Marvel at the baroque façade of La Merced Church

  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.

  Antigua Guatemala

• Sip traditional Mayan hot chocolate at ChocoMuseo

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

  Antigua

• Boat through the mangrove canals of Monterrico and release baby turtles

  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.

  Monterrico, Santa Rosa

• Explore the underground caves of Candelaria

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

  Near Cobán, Alta Verapaz

• Witness Semana Santa processions in Antigua

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

  Antigua Guatemala

• Swim in the brilliant blue Cráter Azul sinkhole

  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.

  Near Flores, Petén

• Make tortillas with local women in Santa Catarina Palopó

  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.

  Santa Catarina Palopó, Sololá

• Climb Volcán Tajumulco, the highest peak in Central America

  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.

  San Marcos Department

• Trek to the lost city of El Mirador

  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.

  Northern Petén

• Sample Guatemalan street food in Guatemala City

  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.

  Guatemala City

• Visit the Museo Popol Vuh for pre-Columbian art

  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.

  Guatemala City

• Dance salsa at La Sala in Zona 10

  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.

  Guatemala City

• Stroll the botanical gardens of La Aurora Zoo

  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.

  Guatemala City

• Ride a chicken bus from Panajachel to Sololá

  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.

  Panajachel, Sololá

• Explore the fortress of Castillo de San Felipe de Lara

  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.

  Río Dulce, Izabal