One Week Guatemala Itinerary: Antigua and Lake Atitlán
Planning a visit to Guatemala? Check out this one week itinerary for Antigua and Lake Atitlán, two of the most popular sites in Guatemala. Spend the week visiting historical landmarks, enjoying delicious Guatemalan coffee, learning about Mayan culture, shopping in the colorful markets, hiking volcanoes, and relaxing by one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.
Day 1: Arrival
Land in Guatemala City. Stay the night in Guatemala City if arriving on an evening flight, or make your way to the colonial city of Antigua. It’s about an hour drive to Antigua depending on traffic, and you can reach there by Uber or by booking a shuttle through your hotel.
Day 2: Explore Antigua
Explore the colorful streets of Antigua and familiarize yourself with the main sites such as the Santa Catalina Arch, Tanque de la Unión, Iglesia de la Merced, Parque Central and the ruins of Catedral de Santiago. Antigua is a great walking city as it’s not too large, so take your time to check out the major landmarks and learn about the city’s colonial history.
In the afternoon, hike or get a cab to Cerro de La Cruz for a great view of the city.
(Note: The viewpoint was under renovation when we went so make sure to check if it’s open before visiting)
Day 3: Antigua and Hobbitenango
Take an Uber or cab to one of the eco villages near Antigua. We chose to visit Hobbitenango, which is a eco-hotel / theme park with incredible views over the valley and nearby volcanoes. Spend the morning taking pictures with the troll hand, playing medieval themed games, and enjoying the various viewpoints. You can even stay the night in one of the hobbit-themed casitas.
Then, return to Antigua in the afternoon to explore some of the artisanal markets or take a chocolate making class at Chocolate Museo. They offer a two-hour workshop from bean to bar where you can learn about the history of cacoa cultivation, learn about the chocolate making process, and make your own chocolate bar.
After dinner, check out the nightlife by visiting one of Antigua’s speakeasies such as Ulew for a unique atmosphere and delicious cocktails.
Day 4: Volcano Hike
Guatemala is home to over 30 volcanoes, and a visit to the country wouldn’t be complete without checking out at least one of these awe-inspiring forces of nature. When visiting Antigua, you should definitely take the opportunity to hike one of the surrounding volcanos such as Pacaya or Acetenango. For Pacaya they offer morning hikes and a few sunset hike options as well. The hike can be steep at times, so for those who may need the extra support, they offer horses to help take you up the volcano. You can roast marshmallows on the hot volcanic rocks, explore a lava field, and check out amazing views of the surrounding volcanoes.
If you are up for more of an adventure, then you might want to consider doing the 2-day Acetenango hike. It’s a challenging hike but you get rewarded with incredible close-up views of Volcan Fuego erupting and enjoy sunrise views from your campsite.
Day 5: Arrive in Lake Atitlán
Lake Atitlán was by far, the highlight of our trip. It is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and is a must see during your visit to Guatemala. You can visit Lake Atitlán from Antigua by booking a GuateGo bus ticket to Panajachel or schedule a private transfer. The trip takes approximately three hours on the bus.
Popular towns to stay in Lake Atitlán are Panajachel, San Pedro, and San Marcos. Panajachel is where most people arrive and then may chose to take a boat – la lancha directly to their accommodation across the lake. Public boats stop running around 5:00PM and since we arrived in the late afternoon in Panajachel, we decided to stay nearby at Villa Santa Catarina Palopó. The hotel was simple but offered lovely views and had a restaurant on-site. Santa Catarina Palopó was a quiet village with colorful murals but limited activities for tourists.
The following morning we went back to Panajachel to catch a lancha to our next hotel, Casa del Mundo.
Tip: If you get seasick, I recommend sitting towards the back of the boats as the ride can be quite choppy depending on the time of day
Day 6: Relax in Lake Atitlán
Spend this day relaxing at your lakeside hotel, enjoy the volcano views, and swimming or kayaking on the lake. There are many beautiful properties along the lake, but we chose to stay at Casa del Mundo due to it’s affordability and ideal location on the water. It’s not located in one of the main towns, so it is a bit quit but perfect if you are looking for some downtime away from the hustle and bustle of things. The sunset colors on Lake Atitlán can be stunning, so make sure you take time to enjoy your evening view.
For more information on Casa del Mundo check out my videos on Instagram or TikTok
Day 7: Explore Mayan Villages
Spend the next day visiting the Mayan villages on Lake Atitlán, such as San Juan and San Pedro. Explore the colorful markets, check out the famous Calle de las Artes, and visit the Mirador Kiaq’ Aiswaan. If you have time, try to do the sunrise Indian Nose hike (La Nariz del Indio). We couldn’t fit this hike in our trip as it would have been difficult to get to from Casa del Mundo, but if you are staying in San Juan or San Pedro then it’s worth the early wake up call for the spectacular views.
Day 8: Departure
On your last day, spend the morning relaxing on the lake and then head to Guatemala City for your departing flight. Since our flight was late at night, we chose to book a coffee tour at Finca La Azotea near Antigua on our way to the airport.
Learn more about my experience in Guatemala on my Instagram or TikTok.
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