Guatemala holidays
Guatemala holidays at a glance
Our Guatemala holidays take in the highlights of the Maya world in a country you can cross in a matter of hours.
The old Spanish capital of Antigua sits in a valley between three volcanoes, its cobbled streets lined with pastel facades, baroque church ruins and courtyards spilling with bougainvillea.
A few hours up into the highlands lies Lake Atitlán, a vast volcanic lake ringed by forest-cloaked volcanoes and traditional villages, each with its own weave and character.
Concealed in the jungle of the far north, reached through the island town of Flores, are the ruins of Tikal, a great abandoned Maya city where temple pyramids pierce the treetops and howler monkeys roar at dawn.
Many highland families still live much as they did in pre-Columbian times, wearing richly woven dress whose colours and patterns change from village to village, and filling the markets with textiles, flowers and the drift of incense.
To the east, the Río Dulce winds through a jungle gorge before opening onto the Caribbean, where the Garifuna town of Livingston has a culture, cuisine and rhythm of its own, reached only by boat.
Spanish is the official language, but more than 20 Maya languages are spoken across the highlands. The fincas, meanwhile, grow some of the world’s finest coffee.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Guatemala
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Give Antigua at least two nights and build in time to sit by the water at Atitlán. Tikal at dawn is unforgettable. In the highlands you really feel the country’s culture.
When to visit Guatemala
Guatemala is a year-round destination. The dry season runs from November to April, but even in the wetter months the rain usually falls for only a couple of hours in the afternoon. Lying at the heart of the Maya world, the country is easy to explore in almost any month.
This is the dry season in Guatemala and is characterised by blue skies and warm sunshine particularly around Antigua and Lake Atitlan. The highlands enjoy warm sunny days but the evenings can be chilly year-round due to the higher altitude. The lowland area around Tikal is hot and humid all year and you can expect short showers. From mid-December to mid-January and around Easter are peak holiday seasons and demand for rooms means that early booking is crucial.
From May to October is Guatemala’s rainy season and you can often expect sunny mornings with showers in the afternoon usually lasting no longer than a couple of hours. Temperatures remain warm, but around Tikal and along the Caribbean Coast there is increased humidity and temperatures can be over 30°C. It is also worth noting that around this time of year heavy rainfall may increase journey times around Tikal as well as crossing the border into Belize.
Places to visit in Guatemala
Guatemala is compact enough to combine colonial cities, highland lakes, ancient ruins and the Caribbean coast in a single trip. Most holidays start in Antigua, work through the highlands and fly north to Tikal. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Antigua and the highlands
Once one of Spanish America’s greatest cities, Antigua is now a beautifully preserved colonial gem of cobbled streets, shady plazas and pastel-coloured façades. Surrounded by three volcanoes and within easy reach of the Highlands’ vibrant markets and traditional villages, Antigua Guatemala holidays offer one of Central America’s most captivating introductions to the country.
Two of Guatemala’s most extraordinary regions meet here: tropical rivers, Garifuna culture and remote rainforest along the Caribbean coast, and the ancient Maya city of Tikal rising out of the Petén jungle further north. From the banana-planted Motagua Valley to temple pyramids, this is one of Central America’s most diverse travel experiences.
Lake Atitlan and villages
Lake Atitlán holidays showcase one of the world’s most captivating lakes, where volcanic peaks rise above shimmering waters and traditional Maya communities preserve centuries-old customs and distinctive dress. Combining spectacular scenery, indigenous culture and a relaxed pace of life, it offers one of Guatemala’s most memorable travel experiences.
Top Things to do in Guatemala
From climbing a volcano and exploring ancient ruins to browsing highland markets and crossing a lake by boat, Guatemala offers hands-on, colour-filled experiences.
Explore the most impressive of all Mayan sites with a knowledgeable guide to bring the ruins to life.
Visit isolated traditional market at Todos Santos Cuchumatán in the western highlands of Guatemala.
Take part in timeless scenes of rural life at an authentic Mayan market.
Accommodation in Guatemala
Guatemala’s accommodation runs from colonial boutique hotels to lakeside lodges and jungle retreats. In Antigua, character hotels fill restored colonial buildings around the plazas.
On the shores of Lake Atitlán, small lodges look out across the water to the volcanoes, while up near Tikal, jungle lodges put you within reach of the ruins at dawn, and the secluded Villa Maya sits on the shores of Lake Petén Itzá.
Restored 17th-century monastery combining outstanding quality with centuries of history. Many of the stylish, spacious rooms retain original features, and the candlelit passageways ooze romance.
La Inmaculada is a contemporary boutique-style hotel in Guatemala City’s vibrant Zona Rosa district.
Meson de Maria is a cosy property in Antigua evoking the colonial era with antiques and pretty foliage-filled courtyards.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Guatemala
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays to Guatemala. Use the options below to filter by region, holiday style and duration.
Group Guatemala Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Alción: Central America Discovery
Places visited: Panama City · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Caribbean coast · Monteverde and the cloud forest · Ometepe Island · Granada · Leon · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Suchitoto · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
22 days from £4,174
Kinkajou: Best of Guatemala and Belize
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages · Maya mountains and jungle
12 days from £3,217
Quetzal: The Best of Mexico and Guatemala
Places visited: Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan · Lake Atitlan and villages · Antigua and the highlands
from £3,999
Tailor-Made Guatemala Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Active Guatemala: Trekking in style
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages
10 days from £2,625
Easter in Guatemala: Semana Santa
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Lake Atitlan and villages
8 days from £2,150
Luxury Guatemala and Belize: Tikal and the Caribbean
Places visited: Antigua and the highlands · Maya mountains and jungle · Caribbean cayes and coast
15 days from £5,400
FAQs about visiting Guatemala
Guatemala is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Guatemala?
The best weather conditions in the upland areas are during the dry season Dec – May. It can be cold in the highlands in winter, while the jungle areas are hot and humid all year round. Culture lovers may opt to spend Easter in Antigua.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What is the official language of Guatemala?
The official language spoken in Guatemala is Spanish and indigenous indian languages mainly derived from Maya.
- What is the official currency of Guatemala?
The official currency in Guatemala is Quetzal. Notes can be withdrawn using a UK credit or debit card from the many ATMs. There’s at least one in most main towns. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK and each transaction is limited to about £100.
- What is the time difference between the UK and Guatemala?
The time difference between the UK and Guatemala is GMT-6 hours.
- Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application. - What vaccinations do I need for Guatemala?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- Which other countries combine well with Guatemala?
A visit to neighbouring Belize, where there are luxury eco-lodges, superb diving and snorkelling all embraced in British Caribbean cultural heritage; Copán, the ruined Mayan City of northern Honduras with its intricate carvings, accessible from Guatemala by road.
- What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Guatemala?
Semana Santa, Easter. Celebrations throughout the country; especially impressive in Antigua.
Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, 1-2 Nov. Celebrated throughout the country.
Traditional fiestas: There are many festivals in Guatemala from giant kite flying near Antigua to wild horse racing in remote Todo Los Santos.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.
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