No trip to Guatemala is complete without a visit to Lake Atitlan, described by Lonely Planet as “the closest thing to Eden on Earth”. Situated in the Sierra Madre mountains, the lake is big (130 square km), deep (an unnerving 340 metres), and surrounded by fern-covered valleys and towering volcanoes. With seven Mayan towns around the lake and countless things to do, you could spend weeks here without wanting to leave.
If an overnight hike sounds like a bit much you can still experience one of Guatemala's most active volcanos. Elevation gain of around 1500 feet and takes 2 hours. And if hiking isn't your thing you can rent a horse to bring you to the top for around 300Q ($40). Once at the top, you can even toast marshmellows over hot rocks. But don't expect red, flowing lava here - you'll have to venture to Volcan Fuego to see that.
Learn about the history of cacao, the cacao tree and cacao in Guatemala. ChocoMuseo has its own artisanal chocolate factory which makes chocolate from organic Guatemalan cacao beans. ChocoMuseo also offers chocolate workshops to make your own chocolate.