Things To Do
Antigua
Antigua is the tourist hub in Guatemala, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All visitors to Guatemala should spend a few days exploring this cultural town, and with the wedding venue being here, you will naturally have some time to explore Antigua around the Wedding events. There are plenty of affordable Airbnb's and hotels in Antigua, all within walking distance to amazing restaurants, coffee shops, wine bars, shopping, you name it! Antigua is the hub for so many activities, including walking tours, dying and weaving workshops, coffee and chocolate farm tours, hikes etc. - This is where you depart for any Volcan Acatenango or Volcan Pacaya hiking tours. More on Antigua here! https://lunazorro.substack.com/p/life-in-antigua-guatemala?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
Lake Atitlán
After Antigua, Lake Atitlán is the most popular destination in Guatemala. This large crater lake is only a 2hr drive from Antigua. The small town of Panajachel is the hub of Lake Atitlán, and is where you must go to catch a wooden boat ride to any other places on the lake. The car-free villages of Santa Cruz, San Juan, San Marcos and San Pedro are incredible places to explore. The lake is filled with amazing airbnb's, small hotels, hostels and even wellness retreats. We loved staying at La Iguana Perdida Hostel/Bar in Santa Cruz, and spent a few days exploring the other villages via the many boat taxis. To get to the main hub of Lake Atitlan, shared shuttles ($20USD/person one way) or private drivers can be found through tour companies like this one: www.xocomiltours.com/p/shared-shuttle-bus-in-guatemala.html
Hike Volcán de Acatenango
One of the coolest experiences of our lives. Trips are based out of Antigua with various guiding companies (We used Ox Expeditions). Best done as an overnight hike & camp. Day 1 you do a big hike (5hrs) from 2500m above sea level to you camp at 3800m, with a view of Volcán de Fuego which erupts like every 5 minutes. It's insane. You get fed, sit around a campfire and as it night falls, you witness the red spewing lava coming out of Volcán de Fuego. Depending on the company you book with, you will sleep in tents or small cabins. We tented it and it was great. The next morning you wake up early and hike the last section of Acatenango to summit at 4100m elevation to witness the insane sunrise, before hiking back down the mountain that day. Expect 5-6hrs of steep hiking at elevation. Anything over 3000m can start to give you altitude sickness, so shortness of breath, headaches, etc... but it is totally worth it, and we recommend brining altitude sickness pills from Canada. It really helps!
El Paredon
"The closest thing I've found to actual paradise" -Kaio Dirt road surf town, endless black sand beaches, beautiful cabana accommodations, lively hostel, surf rentals, sea turtles, mangroves, hammocks, etc... El Paredon is a small town only 2 hrs drive from Guatemala City, and is the perfect blend of rustic authenticity and luxurious accommodations. It has good surf, beautiful sunsets, and is still a bit of a "secret paradise". The Surf House at El Paredon is where we stayed last time and had private sea-breeze cabanas, a pool with a beach view, delicious family-style dinners, surf rentals, and a help-yourself beer fridge. (!!!!) We recommend 2-4 nights here. A shared shuttle costs $17USD per person one way or you can hire a private driver for your group. See this tour company: www.xocomiltours.com/p/shared-shuttle-bus-in-guatemala.html
Tikal Ruins
Tikal National Park is one of the most significant archeological sites of the ancient Mayan Civilization, with its huge pyramids in the Northern Guatemalan jungle. Tikal is to Guatemala what the Great Pyramids are to Egypt, a national symbol and a source of pride in the past. Enormous trees still shroud Tikal’s buildings, which cluster in groups reached by wide causeways meandering through the tropical forest, home to toucans, parrots, wild turkeys, howler monkeys and countless other creatures. Book your own way or you can ask Patty - patty@brideandgroomgt.com about taking a domestic flight (approx. $200USD return) from Guatemala City Airport (GUA) to Flores, which is very close to Tikal. Taking a bus up north to Tikal is unreasonably long. Don't do it. Why don't you consider flying north to Flores to see Tikal after the wedding, then bussing over the border to Belize for some time on the Caribbean beaches, before flying home from Belize?
Volcán Pacaya
Compared to some of the other Volcano Tours, the Pacaya Tours are relatively easy. After a 1.5 hour climb, you’ll find yourself traversing unique volcanic rock, exploring lava flows, and even roasting marshmallows over geothermal hot spots found on the cooled lava formations. If you're looking for more of a challenge, consider Acatenango Volcano. Volcán de Pacaya, is an active complex volcano located in Pacaya National Park about an hour south of Antigua. Pacaya is the quintessential storybook volcano with a continuous plume of smoke drifting from its summit and a massive dried lava field forming the valley at the base of its caldera. While it may not be Guatemala’s highest peak, its slopes and unique landscapes are certainly some of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in all of Central America. There is a day trip option but also an overnight which is highly recommended if Pacaya is particularly active, as there is nothing like seeing active lava flows glow against the night sky.
Belize
Crystal clear Caribbean water, white sand beaches, snorkelling, diving, fishing... Why not get a one way flight to Guatemala city, go to the wedding in Antigua, explore Guatemala, head north to Tikal, hop over the border to Belize, and fly home from there? Just a travel adventure idea! *There are cheap domestic flights through TAG Airlines from Guatemala City to Flores (Near Tikal) for $90USD one way, which is the recommended route to visit Tikal. It would be a very long and uncomfortable bus ride otherwise. *There are flights from Guatemala City to Belize City for $260USD one-way, for example through TAG Airlines.