Guatemala Family Travel

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Planning your family trip to Guatemala

Discover the culturally-rich Central American country

10 Days in Guatemala - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

Guatemala's relatively small size means you can comfortably cover four to five destinations with the family in tow in 10 days. Get active with the kids and hike Pacaya volcano and kayak Lake Atitlán. Add El Paredon to the mix to release turtle hatchlings into the wild; or, fly to the island city of Flores to wander the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal National Park. Intrepid families might consider an expedition with the whole gang camping out on a still-active volcano or sticking to Flores and the Caribbean coast for plenty of fun in the sun and watersports.

Pass the binoculars to your young explorers as you trek through Guatemalan jungle seeking wildlife

1 Week in Guatemala - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With a week in Guatemala, you and your family can take a deep dive into the beauty and culture of Antigua and Lake Atitlán, opting for a highlights tour complete with an El Paredon beach day. For those with young ones eager to learn about Guatemala's history, let their imagination run wild on temples, pyramids, and a wildlife trip that includes two days in Tikal National Park. Or, if you'd like to spend plenty of time in nature, embark on a young explorer's tour and tick off visits to Semuc Champey, Lanquín, and Candelaria.

Take the family on a bike ride in Guatemala's Almolonga Valley

2 Weeks in Guatemala - 5 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

With two weeks in Guatemala, you can take the family to visit at least three destinations. First-timers can hit the highlights through cultural, outdoor, and culinary experiences in Antigua, Lake Atitlán, and Flores. El Paredon offers animal encounters, including horseback riding and a visit to a turtle conservation. Active, outdoorsy families can go camping in Acatenango, and those keen on a multicountry trip can experience the markets, hiking, and ruins in Guatemala and then go snorkeling and sunbathing in Belize.

Guatemala family-friendly itineraries

Kids will love colorful Guatemalan culture

Best of Guatemala with Kids: Antigua & Lake Atitlán - 7 Days

With one week in Guatemala, families can enjoy a range of cultural and natural attractions that will appeal to both older and younger members. This relaxed tour is split between Antigua and Lake Atitlán and takes easy trips from both places, so you and your kids won't feel rushed. Learn about Guatemala's fascinating history in the colonial-era city of Antigua and the Iximché ruins, be amazed by lake and volcano views, as well as local handicrafts at Lake Atitlán, and much more.

Capture memories with a family portrait in the Guatemalan jungle

Adventurous Family Trip to Guatemala & Belize - 14 Days

Perfect for active families and older children, this two-week Guatemalan adventure begins on Lake Atitlán's glittering shores. Zipline through forest canopies before taking a rugged 4WD tour of the immense Acatenango volcano and joining a tasty chocolate workshop in Antigua. Explore the ancient ruins of Tikal National Park in the company of howler monkeys, hop over the border to snorkel Belize's stunning Barrier Reef, and end your epic trip relaxing with the kids on the pristine, palm-lined sands of Placencia.

Active kids will love the rivers and beaches of Caribbean Guatemala

Caribbean Guatemala for Families: Rivers, Beaches & Ruins - 10 Days

Tour Guatemala's lesser-visited Caribbean side on this exhilarating 10-day family adventure. Start in Guatemala City, where you'll see the historical sights of Parque Central and turn cacao into sweet treats at a chocolate workshop. Then, it's off to Río Dulce for a boat tour of the river and kayaking or paddleboarding along the beaches of Livingston. End in the island town of Flores, taking a zipline along the canopies of Ixpanpajul Natural Reserve and hiking through the Maya ruins of Tikal National Park.

Kids will love exploring the charming the villages around Lake Atitlán

Family-Friendly Guatemala: Antigua, Lake Atitlán & El Paredón - 14 Days

This 14-day family tour of Guatemala starts in the colonial city of Antigua, where you'll make your own candies at a chocolate museum and learn the art of creating colorful holy week festival carpets. Then, it's off to Lake Atitlán for mystic Maya spiritual ceremonies and village tours before heading to the beaches of El Paredon. Go horseback riding on black-sand beaches, help baby sea turtles into the ocean, and see tropical birds and other wildlife on a mangrove forest cruise.

Take the kids on a zipline adventure through the forest canopy in Guatemala

Family Adventure in Guatemala: Temples, Pyramids & Wildlife - 7 Days

Discover lost cities, ancient ruins, and the world's most beautiful lake on this week-long, family-friendly tour of Guatemala. Immerse yourselves in culture and adventure as you craft chocolates with the kids in Antigua, then hop over to sparkling Lake Atitlán to tour Maya villages and zipline through the forest canopy. Continue the excitement as you fly north to spot spider monkeys and climb pyramids in the jungles of Tikal National Park.

Aspiring adventurers will summit the Payaca volcano on this two-week trip

Active Family Adventure in Guatemala: Hiking, Camping & Culture - 14 Days

Tailormade for active families and older children, this two-week Guatemalan adventure starts in the historic city of Antigua. Learn to cook Maya cuisine, hike the Pacaya volcano to roast marshmallows on petrified lava, and take an overnight camping trip to the summit of Acatenango. Then it's off to Lake Atitlán for kayaking, village hikes, and ziplining. Fly north to end the trip discovering the ruins of Tikal National Park, spelunking through Actun Kan Caves, and cruising around Flores Island.

Explore the treetops of Guatemala by zipline as a family

Active Family Adventure in Guatemala: Antigua & Lake Atitlán - 10 Days

Perfect for active families with older kids, this 10-day family adventure to Guatemala highlights two of the country's most celebrated locations, Antigua and Lake Atitlán. Roast marshmallows on top of a volcano, kayak the sparkling waters of the world's most beautiful lake, zipline across a forest canopy in the clouds, and hike the breathtaking Finca El Pilar Nature Reserve—uncovering ancient ruins and nurturing a lifelong thirst for adventure along the way!

Experience Guatemala in a week with a range of family-friendly activities

Guatemala Family Tour: Antigua & Lake Atitlán - 7 Days

This seven-day family tour starts in the colonial city of Antigua, where you'll experience the delicious flavors of Guatemalan cuisine with a traditional cooking class. See the historic Almolonga Valley and hike the peaks of Pacaya volcano, then head to the peaceful shores of Lake Atitlán. Visit Maya villages, kayak and hike along the lake, explore the lively Chichicastenango Market and learn about Guatemala's spiritual culture with a traditional Maya fire ceremony.

Discover jungle kingdoms and rare wildlife in northern Guatemala

Guatemala for Young Explorers: Temples, Jungles & Caves - 7 Days

Unleash your inner explorer on this week-long family trip that draws you and the kids into the heart of Guatemala's ancient history and natural wonders. Against a backdrop of Maya ruins, stunning scenery, and exotic wildlife, you'll venture into the jungles of the north, uncover mighty temples, and glide through underground rivers and caves by inner tube.

Introduce the family to local culture and cuisine with a week in Guatemala

Family-Friendly Guatemala: Lake Atitlán & Antigua - 7 Days

Unearth Guatemala's many treasures on this week-long family adventure that whisks you from elegant Antigua to the shores of Lake Atitlán. Become the adventurer in your own story as you explore ancient Maya ruins in Iximché, get hands-on with arts and crafts in Chichicastegnango and San Juan La Laguna, and spend a day relaxing on the black volcanic beaches of El Paredon.

The kids can learn the art of Guatemala's artisanal textiles

Guatemala Culture Tour for Families: Flores, Antigua & Lake Atitlán - 10 Days

Explore the cultural wonders of Guatemala on this immersive, 10-day family adventure. Starting in the enchanting island town of Flores, you'll walk the paths of the ancient Maya at Tikal National Park and the ruins of Yaxhá. Then, it's off to colonial Antigua for traditional Guatemalan cooking classes and a driving tour of the picturesque Almolonga Valley. Boat around the blue waters of Lake Atitlán, learn to make artisan textiles and ceramics and discover early Maya kingdoms at Iximché.

Meet the locals in the streets of Antigua

Guatemala Cuisine, Culture & Coast for Families - 10 Days

This 10-day family tour starts in the colonial city of Antigua, where you'll experience the delicious flavors of Guatemalan cuisine with a foodie tour, honey tasting, and a chocolate workshop. Then, it's off to the shores of Lake Atitlán for visits to Maya villages and a hike through Atitlán Nature Reserve. Finish up on the black-sand beaches of El Paredon, where kids can learn to surf, visit a turtle conservation site, and cruise the wildlife-filled mangrove forests of the Chiquimulilla Canal.

Guatemalan children celebrating All Saint's Day with ice cream

Classic Guatemala for Families: Culture, Cuisine & Nature - 14 Days

Work up an appetite on this exhilarating two-week family-friendly tour of Guatemala—chock-a-block with foodie and cultural discoveries as well as excursions to Maya ruins, lush jungles, and azure pools. Venture from elegant Antigua to the stunning shores of Lake Atitlán and the narrow cobbled streets of Flores as you create your own jade jewelry, learn the art of chocolate production, sample street food, and witness centuries-old traditions in colorful lakeside villages.

Set off on family hikes through the forests and countryside of Guatemala

Guatemala Family Expedition: Volcanoes, Villages & Lakes - 10 Days

If you're looking for an active adventure holiday to Guatemala with older kids, this 10-day trip based between Antigua and Lake Atitlán is for you! Tick off bucket list activities as you hike and camp overnight on the Pacaya volcano, kayak the world's most beautiful lake, cycle to Maya villages, explore coffee plantations, and trek through lush jungles and forests. Along the way, you'll nurture the kids' adventurous sides and unleash your own inner explorer.

Travel from lakes to jungles to Maya ruins on this two-week family adventure

Family Fun in Guatemala: Nature, Ruins & Culture - 14 Days

Immerse yourselves in Guatemala's vibrant culture on this two-week family adventure that whisks you from colonial Antigua to the shores of Lake Atitlán and the temples and pyramids at Tikal. Along the way, you'll sharpen your tastebuds with a traditional cookery class, bask in the Caribbean vibe of Río Dulce, and admire local folk art and handicrafts as you kayak, hike, and sail across the country's natural wonders.

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