Guatemala Tours

Guatemala Tours introduce visitors to the largest country in Central America, where Maya ruins rise from the jungle canopy and colonial towns sit at the foot of active volcanoes. The country's highlands hold indigenous markets and Spanish colonial architecture side by side, while the northern Petén region contains some of the most extensive Maya archaeological sites still standing.

Guatemala often appears on wider regional itineraries alongside neighboring countries, and is grouped here within South America Tours for travelers planning a longer multi-country route. Tours typically combine Antigua's colonial streets with a natural or archaeological excursion further afield.

Historic and Natural Sites on Guatemala Tours

Antigua Guatemala

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua Guatemala was the colonial capital until earthquakes prompted the government to relocate to present-day Guatemala City in 1776. Its grid of cobblestone streets, Baroque church ruins and volcano backdrop, including Volcán de Agua, remain largely intact.

Lake Atitlán

Surrounded by three volcanoes, Lake Atitlán is ringed by Maya villages including Santiago Atitlán and San Pedro La Laguna, each with distinct textile traditions and market days. Aldous Huxley once described it as the most beautiful lake he had seen.

Tikal

Deep in the Petén rainforest, Tikal was one of the largest cities of the ancient Maya civilization, with temple pyramids that once rose above the jungle canopy to serve as astronomical and ceremonial structures. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national park protecting the surrounding forest.

Guatemala Tour Packages

Guatemala Tour Packages generally combine Antigua and Lake Atitlán with an extension to Tikal, since the archaeological site sits a considerable distance north and is usually reached by a short domestic flight to Flores. Group itineraries such as an 18-day adventure route cover the country's highlands, ruins and natural areas in a single trip.

Markets and Local Culture

Chichicastenango's twice-weekly market, held Thursdays and Sundays, draws vendors from surrounding highland villages selling textiles, pottery and produce in front of the whitewashed Santo Tomás church. Guatemala's indigenous population, among the largest proportion of any Central American country, maintains Maya languages and dress that vary distinctly from town to town.

Semuc Champey and the East

Semuc Champey, in the eastern Alta Verapaz region, is known for a series of turquoise limestone pools stacked in tiers above a canyon carved by the Cahabón River. Reaching it typically requires an unpaved mountain road from Guatemala City or Antigua, which keeps visitor numbers lower than at the country's more accessible sites.

When to Visit Guatemala

The dry season runs from November to April and offers the clearest conditions for hiking around Lake Atitlán and exploring open archaeological sites. The rainy season, from May to October, brings afternoon showers but keeps the highlands green.