Everything You Need to Know to Plan a Trip to Guatemala
Why should you trust me and take my advice?
I moved to Guatemala to be with my husband, and I’ve been lucky to call this country my new home. It’s been a life-changing experience!
We spend all our free time traveling all over this incredible country and it’s our goal to visit every department in Guatemala! We’ve traveled multiple times to the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala so my advice and travel tips are based off extensive experience.
If you have a long list of questions or if you need help creating a customized Guatemala itinerary then please click here to book a travel consultation with me.
Is it safe to travel to Guatemala?
Yes! I’ve traveled to 71 countries total, so I consider myself to have a good perspective on travel safety in Guatemala and many countries.
For the most part, I’ve felt very safe in Guatemala. The tourist destinations are safe to visit with normal precautions. I’ve spent a lot of time in Guatemala whether alone or with my husband and I have yet to have any major issues. In fact, most people have been very kind and nice to me.
There are some very dangerous neighborhoods in Guatemala City to avoid and a few other places in the country. However, the tourist areas are not included on this list and I think most people will have a safe trip to Guatemala just by taking normal precautions.
Where should I visit in Guatemala?
Below is a list and general overview of each of the most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala. For a more detailed guide for each destination, you can click the link provided to read my more in-depth posts for each destination. Keep in mind that I’m releasing new blog posts every week so I have more coming soon!
- Antigua: This is the most popular tourist destination in Guatemala and for good reason! It’s easy to get here from the international airport and it’s a beautiful and historical city with cobble stoned streets and surrounded by volcanoes. You can click here to read my full Antigua, Guatemala Travel Guide.
- Lake Atitlán: This the second most popular tourist destination in Guatemala with many Maya towns to visit surrounding a breathtaking volcanic lake. This is also probably the most complicated destination when it comes to planning. You can click here to read my full guide including information about visiting or staying in each town.
- Volcano Acatenango: This is a unique destination on this list in that it’s not necessarily a destination but a popular hiking experience to book. However, it needs to be mentioned in the list of destinations because if you plan to do this hike, you’ll need to set aside two days in your itinerary. Just note that it is a VERY DIFFICULT hike and not an experience for everyone to book. If you check out my Antigua travel guide, I’ve shared a bit more information about booking this hiking expereince. Soon I’ll publish a dedicated travel guide for the Acatenango overnight hiking experience. Stay tuned!
- Tikal + Flores: This is another very popular destination to visit but since it’s far from the other popular tourist destinations, many people skip this part of Guatemala. However, it is worth coming here to see some of the most incredible ancient Maya cities in the world. I don’t yet have a specific travel guide for this destination but the guide will be ready by early December 2026.
- Semuc Champey: This is one of the most breathtaking places I’ve ever been to in the world (and I’ve traveled to 71 countries). It’s absolutely amazing to visit the turquoise pools in the jungle in this part of Guatemala but it’s far from the other popular tourist places to visit. You can only get here by car and it takes a full day to drive here from anywhere in Guatemala. I don’t yet have a travel guide to share but it will be ready by the first week of December!
- El Paredón: This is the upcoming and coming tourist destination in Guatemala that everyone is talking about! It’s a laid-back black sand beach along the Pacific Coast and it’s popular amongst backpackers, party goers, and surfers. We recently went here for the first time and I’ll have a travel destination ready for El Paredón by the first week of December!
- Xela (Quetzaltenango): This is one the largest cities to visit in Guatemala but a much safer destination compared to Guatemala City. It’s of my favorite places to visit because the city offers an authentic cultural experience and incredible hiking experiences in this part of Guatemala. Check back here soon as I’ll release my full Xela Travel Guide by early December 2026!
- Río Dulce + Livingston: This is the Caribbean coast of Guatemala and such a unique part of the country to visit! The reason why more tourists don’t come here is because it’s out of the way from the most popular tourist destinations in the country. However, if you have the time then I 100% recommend coming here! Check back here soon as I’ll release my full travel guide for the Caribbean Coast by early December 2026!
- Guatemala City: This is the capital city and there is plenty to see and do here. However, more tourists fly into the city and leave right away. If you want to explore Guatemala City then I highly recommend doing so but by taking certain precautions. Much of the city is not safe although there are places to visit where tourists will feel relatively safe. If you want to learn more about visiting the capital city then you can check back soon as I’ll have my full Guatemala City Travel Guide ready by early December 2026.
- IRTRA Theme and Water Parks: if you didn’t know, Guatemala has theme parks! It’s a lot of fun to visit these parks and it is a different vibe compared to the rest of the country. If you love roller coasters and parks then you should add this destination to your Guatemala travel list! Check back here soon as I will have a full travel guide ready for this destination by early December 2026.
- Huehuetenango: This is one of the most incredible places to visit in Guatemala with beautiful lakes, waterfalls, and the highest mountain range in Central America. The temperatures can get so low here that they even have llama farms in Huehuetenango! It’s difficult to get here and there’s lots to explain about visiting this part of Guatemala. Check back soon as I’ll have my full Huehuetenango Travel Guide ready by early December 2026!
- Chiquimula: This is a more off the beaten path destination for most foreign tourists. However, the city of Esquipulas is a very popular tourist destination for people who live in Central America, Mexico, and Guatemalans living in the United States. The largest basilica in Central American can be found here as well as the Black Christ which draws many pilgrims to this city. I’ve been to Chiquimula two times and I’ll publish a travel guide soon!
What is the weather like in Guatemala?
Many people who have never been to, Guatemala think the country is full of a hut and humid jungle. However, this is not the typical weather in the country. It can get chilly or cold in some places while it is hot and humid in other parts.
In the highlands of Guatemala, it’s mostly springlike weather year round. For example, if you visit Guatemala City, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan then you should expect temperatures to be in the 70s during the day and in the low 60s or high 50s at night. Although, it can get into the low 80s during the hottest months (March, April, and May).
In the city of Xela (Quetzaltenango) it can get a bit chillier than Antigua or Lake Atitlán. Or if you stop to eat lunch in Tecpán (a city on the way to Lake Atitlan), then you’ll notice that it also gets chilly in this part of Guatemala. If you plan to hike Acatenango or one of the other tall volcanoes then you’ll need to pack a winter coat and boots. In the highest mountain range in Huehuetenango I’ve gone hiking during the day and I’ve needed to use a coat and boots as well.
There are several destinations in Guatemala where you can expect to have very hot and humid weather. These places include Flores (Tikal), the beaches along the Pacific Coast, Rio Dulce and Livingston along the Caribbean Coast, and Semuc Champey located in the jungle in Alta Verapaz. There are other very hot and humid places in Guatemala but these are the most popular tourist destinations where you can expect this weather.
When is the best time of year to visit Guatemala?
The overall best time to travel to Guatemala is during the dry season from November – April every year. However, this can vary depending on the location in the country.
For example, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Tikal are the three most popular tourist destinations in Guatemala. The dry season in these locations is from November – April, but along the Caribbean coast, the dry season is from March until June.
Something to note about the rainy season in Guatemala is that it usually only rains for a few hours in the afternoon. Also, there’s normally a short dry period during the rainy season that takes place in July and sometimes until August.
In my experience, the months with the most rain are June, September, and October.
How to communicate with the locals?
Most people in Guatemala are fluent in Spanish and many speak a local language (there are 25 recognized languages in Guatemala). The majority of people are not fluent in English but many in the most popular tourist destinations will speak a little English. Most tour guides and people working at luxury hotels will speak English.
If you don’t speak Spanish, my advice is to download a translator on your phone. I also recommend learning basic Spanish phrases and taking a few classes.
If you’re interested in Spanish lessons with a Guatemalan teacher, I can recommend Instituto IIA. I love their teachers and during my classes, I’ve learned many Guatemalan slang words and phrases!
To sign up, you can contact Luis on WhatsApp at +502-4647-5877 or reach out to the school on Instagram by clicking here. You can use my code KERRY to get a $50 discount off monthly classes and receive a free placement exam!
What if I have a medical emergency in Guatemala?
I highly recommend purchasing a health insurance policy for your trip. The reason is because Guatemala’s public healthcare system is not very good but there is very high-qualty private healthcare available in the country.
If you have an emergency in Guatemala but don’t have private insurance then you will need to pay thousands of dollars upfront at a private hospital. In order to avoid having this problem, it’s necessary to have a travel health plan.
The insurance plan I recommend is Safety Wing. They offer health and travel insurance for nomads including a simple claims process and great customer service! The insurance plans cover hospital stays, medications, surgery, travel delays, lost luggage, and more. You can click here to sign up for a plan.
What are the concerns about food and water in Guatemala?
Tourists should not drink the tap water in Guatemala and only bottled water or filtered water. At hotels and Airbnbs they will often have something called an Ecofiltro which is a natural filtration system that works well. You can also find plenty of bottled water in Guatemala or bring a water bottle with a filter in it such as the LifeStraw Water Filter Bottle.
Most of the restaurants serve filtered water. They will try to encourage you to drink bottled water but you can order “vaso con aqua” which is a glass of filtered water. At sit down restaurants this is safe to drink but at street food stalls or at the market I recommend buying a bottle of water.
In Guatemala, the street food does sometimes make tourists feel sick. So I advise taking precautions. Usually the market food is fine to eat and the food at restaurants as well. However, if you have any sensitive stomach issues then of course, take extra precautions with food.
What are the best transportation options in Guatemala?
It takes much longer to drive around Guatemala than most people think.
Most tourists hire a private driver or take a shared shuttle. The private driver company I recommend is GuateDriver. They have very professional drivers and some speak English. You can contact them in English or Spanish on WhatsApp at +502-3775-7831 or at info@guatedriver.com.
The tourist shuttles run between all of the most popular destinations in Guatemala. Just note that there is a set schedule for these shuttles, sometimes the drivers can arrive late, and if you struggle with car sickness, then bring dramamine!
You can use the Uber app in Guatemala City, Xela, and Antigua. Uber is generally more affordable to use than the tuk tuks you’ll see in Antigua and more comfortable! I’ve used Uber a lot in all three cities and without any problems. However, a few foreigners have complained that their Uber driver demanded more money for the drive in between Guatemala City and Antigua. This is probably rare but can happen and the Uber drivers aren’t vetted as much as a private driver with a company like GuateDriver.
I do not recommend renting a car in Guatemala and this is why.
Most people in Guatemala don’t have driver’s insurance and many don’t follow local driving laws. I’ve seen too many careless motorcycle drivers in Guatemala. Unfortunately, if a driver in a car injures or even worse kills a motorcyclist, then they are automatically at fault and will need to hire a lawyer. It can become a complicated situation.
It is possible to book a private bus or a flight between some destinations like from Guatemala City to Flores (Tikal). There are direct flights with TAG Airlines or Avianca and several different private bus companies.
I also don’t recommend taking the camionetas also known as chicken buses. Some tourists do take these buses and they are fine. However, it is a risk because there can be robberies on these buses (especially in Guatemala City and the surrounding areas). Moreover sometimes they drive these buses recklessly.
What tour companies do you recommend?
I have many day tours and activities listed in each travel guide I’ve created for specific destinations. For example, if you want to book a cooking class in Antigua then you can check out my Antigua Travel Guide by clicking here.
If you prefer to have a tour company book and plan your entire trip, then I can recommend two reputable companies.
The first is Due South Travels. I have booked tours a few times through this company and they helped all our wedding guests by organizing their transportation and tours. Everyone had a great experience! This tour company is very reliable and offers good prices. If you contact them, they can put together a tour package for Guatemala including hotel bookings, flights to Tikal, activities, etc. You can contact them at info@duesouth.com.
Another company I can recommend is La Herencia Mia. This is a specialized tour company in that they offer organized group trips a few times per year but they also can provide customized trips. However, they only offer trips for people with Guatemalan heritage and their family or friends. I love their mission and what they are doing to bring the Guatemalan diaspora back to the country to learn about their heritage! You can contact them at laherenciamia@gmail.com.
What are the best options for internet and cell phone connectivity?
Most hotels, hostels, Airbnbs, and restaurants will have free wi-fi. Although, sometimes it works well but sometimes it doesn’t!
If you need consistent data and wi-fi access then I suggest downloading an app with an eSim. Now that I live in Guatemala I use a local sim but when I was initially traveling here, I used Airalo eSim. This was easy to set up and I avoided going into the store in Guatemala to get a phsical sim. You can click here to download the app and set up service.
What about medical tourism in Guatemala?
Yes! Especially if you’re traveling from the United States. There are high-quality dentists, plastic surgeons, dermatologists, etc. and especially in Guatemala City.
If you come to Guatemala for dental work, you can pay one third to one half the price compared to the United States.
My trusted dentist in Guatemala City is called Guatemala Dental, and they have all the modern equipment that you would find at any of the best dental offices in the United States. I’ve received cleanings, whitening treatments, and I’ve had three teeth pulled with anesthesia.
You can find a list of their prices at www.guatemaladental.com. You can contact them (in English or Spanish) on WhatsApp at +502-5691-7429 to receive a quote for any services. If you tell them Kerry sent you they will give you 10% off!
What should I pack for my trip to Guatemala?
I live in Guatemala City and I’ve spent most of the past 2 years traveling all over this country. Based on this experience, I have specific recommendations for what you’ll need in general, but also what you’ll need to pack for specific destinations in Guatemala. Please find these recommendations below.
- Ear Plugs: Guatemala is one of the noisiest countries I’ve been to (and I’ve traveled to 71 countries total). There are often fireworks going off and at all hours of the day (even at midnight or 5 am). There are also many dogs barking or just people playing loud music. If you are sensitive to noise like me and if you can’t sleep unless it’s quiet then it’s A MUST that you bring ear plugs with you to Guatemala! The only ear plugs I’ve used that work well are the silicone ear plugs. You can click here to buy them.
- Noise cancelling headphones: Sometimes, the ear plugs are not enough for me in Guatemala. There are times when the celebrations are so loud that I need to use noise canceling headphones just to sleep. The inexpensive ones I recommend are Soundcore by Anker. You can click here to check these out.
- Motion sickness medication: If you suffer at all from motion sickness then you’ll want to bring medicine with you to Guatemala. This is because much of the driving to and from Lake Atitlan (and other places in the country) involve driving on curved roads. Sometimes, the drivers go so fast and crazy that I’ve gotten sick on the buses and the tourist shuttles. In order to avoid this problem, I recommend packing less-drowsy motion sickness medicine. You can click here to check out the dramamine I recommend.
- High altitude medication: If you plan to hike one of the tallest volcanoes including Acatenango, Santa Maria, or Tajumulco, then you should consider that many people suffer from altitude sickness at these heights. I’ve hiked Acatenango 4 times and twice I’ve gotten very sick at the top. I usually throw up then feel better but, when I have taken altitude sickness medicine, I was able to avoid this problem. I have not been able to find this medicine here in Guatemala which is why I recommend making an appointment with your doctor in the United States (or wherever you’re from) and asking them to prescribe this to you.
- Travel backpack without wheels: The reason I recommend traveling with a bag without wheels is because the sidewalks and many walkways in Guatemala in general can be very uneven. Many of the hotels do not have elevators and you’ll need to bring your bag upstairs with you. I think it’s much more convenient to travel with a bag without wheels, and you can click here to find my personal recommendation.
- Portable safe: I’ve traveled all over the world with a portable safe and the reason for this is because it keeps my valuables locked up whenever I’m swimming at a lake or the beach. It also keeps my valuables safe inside my hotel room. Oftentimes, hotels don’t have a safe or the safe inside the room doesn’t work. My favorite is the PacSafe which can be used to wrap around furniture in a hotel room or even a tree at the beach. Click here to check it out.
- Lifestraw waterbottle: In Guatemala, the water from the faucet is not safe to drink. To travel in a more eco-friendly way and in order to avoid buying lots and lots of plastic bottles of water during your trip, I recommend buying a reusable bottle with a built-in filter. I use the Life Straw bottle in Guatemala and it completely filters out any of the bad stuff and works well! You can buy this online by clicking here.
- Sunscreen: It can get very sunny in Guatemala and sunblock can be expensive here. Oftentimes it’s double the price so whenever I’m in the U.S., I’ll stock up and bring it back with me. I usually buy this sunscreen for my face and this for the rest of my body.
- Insect (mosquito) repellent: Unfortunately, there is a problem with dengue fever in Guatemala. You will absolutely need to bring insect repellent with you if you plan to visit Flores (Tikal), Rio Dulce, Semuc Champey Livingston, El Paredon, or anywhere else along the coast and in the lowlands. There are mosquitos in the highlands as well but not as much. I recommend bringing repellent with you because it is expensive to buy it in Guatemala. You can click here for my favorite repellent with DEET. Or, if you’re allergic to DEET then you can click here for the brand my husband uses which is the only one we’ve found that works well in Guatemala. Watershoes: If you are visiting Semuc Champey, Playa Blanca, 7 Altares (Livingston), Laguna Brava, or the water parks at IRTRA then you’re going to need to bring very sturdy (not cheap or flimsy) watershoes. The main reason you will need water shoes is because there are many sharp or slippery rocks in the water and at the water park, you’ll walk around a lot. I recommend buying high-quality shoes that will help keep your balance because you will be walking or hiking in these places and it can be very slippery. I prefer waterproof sandals and you can click here for the ones I use in Guatemala.
- Waterproof backpack: This is a must if you plan to take a boat tour in Guatemala or if you’re traveling during the rainy season. Sometimes, the boats can get water in them and my backpack ends up soaked! Also, during the rainy season it can pour down quickly and you’ll need a way to keep your camera, phone, etc. dry. The best backpack I can recommend is one that also will float on the water. I’ve been traveling the world for years with this trusted backpack and you can click here to check it out.
- Portable battery: This is a must in Guatemala if you plan to do one of the overnight volcano hikes, a full-day tour, or if you’re transferring all day from one location to the next. Having a portable battery is the best way to ensure that your phone will remain charged so you can take all the photos and videos that you’ll need! You can click here to see the portable battery I use on a regular basis here in Guatemala. You can also click here to check out the long-lasting portable battery I use to charge all our camera equipment on long-distance road trips and overnight volcano hikes.
What equipment do you recommend to capture and edit high-quality videos and photos from Guatemala?
Are you a travel content creator? Or do you want to become a travel content creator? If so, then it’s important to have the right equipment to capture high-quality content!
When I married my husband and decided to move to Guatemala, I started this content creation project to help others plan their trip to Guatemala. In order to do this, I knew I would need to invest in some high-quality equipment. In my opinion, it’s worth buying high-quality equipment because having a smart phone isn’t enough for our project. Our drone, GoPro, and other equipment has really taken our content creation to the next level!
If you’ve seen the videos we’ve published on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, then you can also publish high-quality content with these recommendations below.
- Drone: We have the DJI Mini 4 drone and in my opinion, this is our best camera. Almost every time I publish videos from our drone, we have a high number of views on our videos on all platforms. The mini 4 produces much better quality videos than the Mini 2 or 3 and it’s a better price than the larger drones. It’s much more convenient to travel with a smaller drone but the one drawback is that if the winds are high, we cannot fly it. We bought a drone package with a case, extra batteries, a special charger, storage cards, and extra propellers. It’s better to buy everything together at a cheaper price because I’ve learned the hard way (from previous drones) that it will eventually be necessary to buy these accessories anyway. The batteries only last approximately 40 minutes and we almost always use multiple batteries in one day. You can click here to check out the drone we have.
- iPhone 16 Pro Max: My husband and I have both of these phones and we capture almost all of our short form vertical videos using this. We also use our iPhones for long-form, horizontal videos to publish on our YouTube channel. Something to note is that it is much less expensive to buy the iPhone in the United States compared to Guatemala.
- iPhone gimbal: If you want to take content creation seriously then I 100% recommend buying a gimbal. This will help you add a more cinematic feel to your videos and keep your footage steady without blur. The gimbal I have is lightweight, easy to use, and I bring it with me everywhere. Click here to check it out.
- GoPro Hero 13: It is a must to have a GoPro if you want to capture videos or photos while swimming in places like Crater Azul, Semuc Champey, Punta de Manabique, etc. We also use our GoPro to capture steady videos while on an ATV, motorcycle, paragliding, etc. We love our GoPro so much that we now have two of them! Click here to check out the GoPro we recommend.
- Capcut: I constantly use this app to edit almost all my short-form vertical videos. If you want to start content creation then I 100% recommend to download this on your phone (or on your laptop as well). It’s easy to use and there are so many great features! You can click here to download it.
Do you offer group tours, customized itineraries, or trip planning services?
I do not offer group tours right now but it might be something I’ll offer in the future.
If you have a long list of questions about traveling to Guatemala, need help with a customized itinerary or personal trip planning, then you can book a travel consultation with me! Click here to review my calendar with availability and the cost for this service.
If you have just one question, you can email me at kerryinguatemala@gmail.com.
This website is new and therefore, I am continuing to add new travel guides and information every week! I hope to publish 1-2 new blog posts per week moving forward. So check back for more in the future!
Please note that some links on my site are affiliate links. This means that at no additional cost to you, I earn a small commission if you click through these links and make a booking or purchase. By using these links you’re supporting my blog so I can continue to publish content and travel recommendations for Guatemala. Something important to mention is that I only feature recommendations I believe in and use myself. Thank you!
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