Are you looking for an affordable vacation with remote, stunning beaches, rich culture, and the most lush and adventurous scenery? Guatemala may not be at the top of your list, but it should be. Just south of Mexico, Guatemala is a mountainous Central American country filled with Mayan culture and history, volcanoes, and a variety of different ecosystems. Providing just as much adventure as Costa Rica for a much lower cost, Guatemala should join your “to travel” list. We stayed for 10 nights, and I feel like we had the perfect itinerary if you want a mix of relaxation, culture, and adventure.
Getting There
We flew from Newark, NJ to Guatemala City via Spirit Airlines, and I have no real complaints. The seats were small, but we made it there via 2 flights, one 2.5 hour flight to Fort Lauderdale and another 2.5 hour flight to Guatemala. It was safe, there were no delays, and while the travel days were long, the actual time flying was pretty reasonable! There are a variety of public shuttle options and Ubers for getting around (I wouldn’t suggest renting a car there), but we worked through our hotels to book private transportation between destinations since there were 5 of us.
The Beach: Las Lisas (5 nights)
When one thinks Guatemala, beach isn’t the first place that comes to mind, but they actually are home to splendid Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. There’s some more popular Pacific surf towns, like El Paredón, but if you’re looking for a Gilligan’s Island, remote experience where you can get back in touch with nature and yourself, I recommend Las Lisas.
Las Lisas is an island peninsula that can only be accessed via boat. It seems to be a popular spot for day trips with the locals, but on an even more disconnected part of the island, Playa Quilombo Eco Lodge is nestled away. After landing in Guatemala City, it’s about a 3 hour mountainous drive through towards the coast. After making it to town, you’ll hop into a fishing style boat for a 15-20 minute boat ride to the eco lodge.
Once you step onto the dock, you’re transported into your own private haven. There’s no wifi (but cell service is decent), and the lodge is home to 6 cabins and some hotel/hostel rooms. The cabins include the essentials, nothing more and nothing less. That’s perfectly fine, since you’ll want to spend most of your time outside!
We decided to stay 5 nights here, mainly because everyone was run dry and really needed a good amount of time to rest and recover. That’s exactly what we did there, pretty much nothing. We read in hammocks, swam in the pool and frolicked in the waves, and took really long beach walks.
The chef was a local woman who made all our meals and cooked the most hearty, delicious food you can imagine. Homemade tortillas with every meal. Fresh caught fish. The most delectable plantains. The food here was the best of the trip! Everyone who worked at the hotel was kind, accommodating, and made you feel like family.
If you’re looking for rest, relaxation, and connection to nature, definitely add this “off the beaten path” spot to your itinerary.
Lake Atitlán: Panajachel (3 nights)
Lake Atitlán is one of the most well known destinations in Guatemala, and a must see. This volcanic lake is sometimes referred to as the Latin American Lake Como, and it’s a haven of beautiful scenery and Mayan culture.
We stayed at the Hotel San Buenaventura de Atitlán. It was the most luxe, and professional, stay of our trip. With opulent breakfast, a lake front beach, and spacious rooms, it is a must stay. The staff is so kind, and our 2 bed room and family suite was so clean, immaculate, and spacious! It also was the perfect location to not be in the center of town, but just steps away. They also give you the most comprehensive guide to the area, with contact information for tours, restaurants, and tuktuks.
I’d absolutely recommend chartering a private boat (about $110 for 5 people) to take you between the different towns on the lake. We went to San Juan la Laguna, an artisan town filled with Mayan culture. While there, you can tour Mayan honey bees, women’s weaving, and chocolate making. Also soak up the colorful streets and get a good cup of coffee. We then went to San Marcos, which has a lot of spiritual energy, health food shops, and good cafes.
Make sure to also go into Panajachel. Our hotel was a 5 minutes tuktuk ride to the center of town (10 quetzales per person). The main street is full of shopping where we spent most of the day exploring. A walk down to the docks to see the restaurants, public beach, and bustling energy of the town is also well worth it.
Antigua (2 nights)
We finished our stay in Antigua, the historic city of Guatemala that is the top of every tourist’s list. With 16th century architecture, cobblestone treats, and clearly an international presence, I think this is a must visit.
We stayed at the Hotel Eterna Primavera in Antigua. This hotel was a beautiful historic spanish style with plenty of plants, all on top of an archaeological site! It was within a couple minutes walk to town center, and there were plenty of restaurants and shops along the way.
We did plenty of eating and shopping. For food, I’d definitely suggest checking out Skal Viking Bar & Restaurant, as well as the pupusa place in this same food market area. If you’re hoping for some different fast food, you can find all the chains (and McDonalds is quite a fun visit). If you’re a craft beer drinker, you should also check out Antigua Brewing Company.
Some things I’d suggest you make time to visit (besides just meandering and exploring)…
- The Museo del Jade: This tour was so informative (and free) all about Guatemalan jade! I learned a lot, and enjoyed shopping at the end
- Santa Catalina Arch: This is the postcard arch, need I say more?
- Doña Maria Gordilla: The oldest candy shop in Antigua (since the 1800s) cooking up traditional, homemade sweets. The condensed milk based ones are out of this world!
- Pachamama Blends: This tea shop makes you custom blended, loose leaf tea and is so high quality!
Is there anywhere else you’d suggest visiting in Guatemala, I’d love to hear below! Let me know if you plan on checking out this itinerary, too!
All thoughts and opinions are my own.