6 Days in Guatemala - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Authentic Guatemala: Antigua & Guatemala City

Travelers wanting a genuine experience will enjoy this Antigua and Guatemala City tour. You'll delve deeper into the local culture and heritage by exploring colorful markets in a Maya town, trekking up the active volcano of Pacaya, transferring to local villages by "chicken bus," joining a Guatemalan cooking class, discovering Lake Atitlán by boat, and soaking in the hot springs of Santa Teresita. 

On Day 1, get to know Antigua with a stroll down cobblestone streets and ancestral Maya chocolate before visiting historic landmarks, including San Francisco Church, Santo Domingo, La Merced Church, Arco de Santa Catalina, and colonial-style buildings around the Main Square. Traverse the Pan-American Highway with views of the Sierra Madre mountain range and browse Chichicastenango's handicrafts market before meeting locals from Lake Atitlán's Maya villages on Day 2. The following day, hike up the active Pacaya volcano with epic views of the Guatemalan highlands.

Cultural experiences abound on Day 4. Visit several picturesque villages around Antigua, such as the Spanish-colonial town of San Pedro Las Huerta, by riding the "chicken bus" as the locals do. Next, tour a macadamia nut farm, see Ciudad Vieja, attend a chocolate workshop, and learn to cook Guatemalan cuisine in a class hosted by local chefs. On Day 5, soak up more culture in Guatemala City by visiting its market selling food and traditional textiles, the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology, and the Ixchel Museum & Archaeology Museum, or bathing in the natural hot springs of Santa Teresita. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Active Trip to Guatemala: Kayak, Hike & Cycle

Discover Guatemala on this active trip, best suited for active travelers. Outdoor adventurers will experience excursions, including cycling the villages and countryside around Antigua, hiking the Pacaya volcano, cycling and trekking in the hills around Lake Atitlán, and paddling across Lake Atitlán by kayak. 

On Day 1, explore Antigua, known for its Spanish colonial Old Town, around its main plaza and Central Park. You'll see historic landmarks like the Santa Catalina Arch and the ruins of the 16th-century Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and 18th-century Convento Santa Clara. The following day, hit the mountain biking trails base of Volcán de Agua, where you'll ride around the villages, farms, and ruins of the Almolonga Valley. Climb the slopes of the active Pacaya volcano on Day 3, enjoying the unique landscapes of dried lava fields and tropical forests on the descent.

On Day 4, take in the scenery around Lake Atitlán and cycle through the highlands to Panajachel before catching a boat to the village of Jaibalito. Paddle your kayak around Lake Atitlán, passing by villages perched on lakeside cliffs, hop in the water for a swim, or even have fun with a little cliff jumping. Next, begin your shoreline hike between the villages of Tzununá and San Marcos La Laguna, taking in views of the San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán volcanoes. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Cuisine & Culture of Guatemala

Foodies will appreciate this relaxed cuisine and culture itinerary, offering insight into Guatemala's culture through its food and nearby popular destinations. Stroll the cobbled streets of Spanish-colonial Antigua, visit a cacao farm and learn about the chocolate-making process, take a cooking class with local chefs, tour ancient ruins, and wander through the villages around Lake Atitlán.

Upon arrival to Guatemala City, you'll be transferred to Antigua with time to wander its colonial streets, a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by three volcanoes. Treat yourself to street food like tostadas and empanadas and stop by historic landmarks like the Santa Catalina Arch. The next day, you'll learn how cacao is processed at an organic cacao farm before a cooking class taught by local chefs belonging to the Sacatepéquez community. Day 3 brings tranquil experiences at Lake Atitlán, an enormous crater lake surrounded by three towering volcanoes, and a forest yoga retreat amid mountain scenery in the waterfront town of San Marcos La Laguna.

The next day, take a closer look into the culture and traditions of the Maya people with a visit to a local women's weaving co-op to witness the art of handmade textiles and see a shrine to a Maya saint. Then, enjoy Panajachel's nature trails and hanging bridges, followed by discovering the Iximché archaeological site. Sitting in the western highlands of Guatemala, the ruins include pyramid temples, palaces, and two Mesoamerican ball courts. Finish with a food tour around Antigua focusing on traditional and contemporary mestizo. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Guatemala Lakes & Volcanoes: Atitlán & Acatenango

This itinerary highlighting Guatemala's lakes and volcanoes is for those travelers who enjoy discovering exciting landscapes through physical activity and camping. You'll tour Antigua's historic streets, hike up Volcán Pacaya, kayak and hike around famous Lake Atitlán, and camp overnight at the volcanic summit of Acatenango.

On Day 1, explore Antigua's colonial-style buildings around the Main Square and historic landmarks, including the Santa Catalina Arch and the ruins of the 16th-century Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and 18th-century Convento Santa Clara. The following day, hike to the summit of Pacaya volcano, with a massive lava field at the base of its caldera. Hit the trail with mountain bikes on a steep country road that winds through the highlands overlooking Lake Atitlán before reaching the lakeside town of Panajachel on Day 3.

On Day 4, kayak around Lake Atitlán, hop in the water for a swim, or have fun splashing into the lake with a little cliff jumping. Next, begin your shoreline hike between the villages of Tzununá and San Marcos La Laguna, taking in views of the San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán volcanoes. Starting at the village of La Soledad, walk through farmland and a high-alpine cloud forest, and enjoy the views of several highland volcanoes as you reach your campsite with sweeping views of the Antigua Valley and the adjacent Fuego volcano on Day 5. On Day 6, you'll enjoy the sunrise over volcano peaks and trek to summit Acatenango. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Outdoor Adventure in Guatemala

Outdoor enthusiasts who like hiking, cycling, kayaking, and ziplining will enjoy this outdoor adventure in Guatemala's central highlands. You'll sightsee around Antigua, hike up nearby volcanoes, rest tired muscles with a spa treatment, cycle around the highlands, tour coffee fields, soar over the treetops on a zipline, explore the Iximché ruins, and kayak on Lake Atitlán.

On Day 1, explore Antigua's Spanish colonial Old Town and around its main plaza, Central Park. You'll see historic landmarks like the Santa Catalina Arch and the 16th-century Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and the 18th-century Convento Santa Clara ruins. The following day, hike to the summit of Pacaya volcano, with a massive lava field at the base of its caldera, before taking a dip in a spa's thermal pools whose natural springs are heated by the volcano. With rested legs, pedal a mountain bike to the De la Gente coffee cooperative outside of Antigua to learn about the farm's coffee production on Day 3.

Enjoy an exciting zipline ride over a canyon on Day 4. Next, try cooking homemade tortillas in a class taught by local chefs from the Sacatepéquez Indigenous community. On Day 5, discover the Maya ruins of Iximché, an archaeological site and Guatemalan National Monument. Paddle your kayak around Lake Atitlán on Day 6, passing villages perched on lakeside cliffs, hop in the water for a swim, or even have fun cliff jumping. Next, begin your shoreline hike between the villages of Tzununá and San Marcos La Laguna, taking in views of the San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán volcanoes. Learn more

More Great 6-Day Guatemala Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Guatemala? Check out these other six-day Guatemala itineraries, with active adventures, cultural trips, and tours to hit the historical highlights.