Things To Do
Lake Atitlán
It’s wonderful to visit! Make an overnight trip of it to really soak up the experience, stay at one of the all-included resorts for drinks & party vibes. Rent out a boat to take you to eat section. Eat lunch by the water and shop from local vendors.
Hobbitenango
All the Hobbit whimsy you’ve been looking for! Located just above Antigua, in the mountains, you’ll be able to overlook the entire area. Truly a special experience. Tons of photo ops, little eateries, places to explore & all themed after the Lord of the Rings - definitely don’t want to skip this one!
Tikal National Park
If you’re coming all the way to Guatemala, I definitely suggest taking a little time before you leave to visit Tikal! Truly a sight to behold. A connection to the past and a big part of the history of this beautiful country. Unforgettable and iconic! It’s a drive, so we suggest either saving it for the end before you leave or giving yourself enough time to spend the night.
Sitio Arqueológico Iximche
This is the old (original) Mayan capital of Guatemala, before the colonial invasion. They had a fortress built up on the cliffs to protect against enemies, where you can still visit the temples and original archaeological site of their city. There is small museum that features their history as well as tablets that you can read as you walk through the city. You can even see where they still hold traditional ceremonies to this day. If you listen carefully, you might even get to hear them speak in the traditional language.
Museo Popol Vuh
Located in the city at the University is a wonderful, detailed museum of the history of the Mayan people and surrounding civilizations that used to inhabit this area - all the way from the ancient times to modern times. Really cool, deep dive into the history of Guatemala and definitely worth the afternoon perusal if you have the time.
Rio Dulce
Casa Caribe - the specific name of the resort we stayed at on the lake - A wonderful little treehouse resort we stayed at on our way to Tikal. This is right around the halfway mark (5 hours) from Guatemala City and it was wonderful to relax and unwind at before making the second part of the trip. They have Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner there and you get there by boat.
Semuc Champey
Little waterfall, swimming opportunities, nature. Expect like a days drive. We did not get to visit last time because of Reina but it’s on our list!