Travelogues Guatemala
Vacation in Guatemala : Highlights & Travel Tips
Guatemala is a compact but remarkably diverse destination where travelers can experience ancient Maya history, dramatic volcanic landscapes, colorful highland culture, and lush rainforests in one trip. What makes the country especially compelling is how much variety it offers over relatively short distances: you can wander the cobbled streets of Antigua beneath volcano views, cruise across the villages of Lake Atitlán, explore the great Maya ruins of Tikal, and browse vibrant Indigenous markets such as Chichicastenango. For travelers seeking authenticity, Guatemala stands out for its living Maya traditions, distinctive textiles, and rich local cuisine, from pepián to fresh tortillas and coffee grown on volcanic slopes.
Key experiences include climbing or viewing active volcanoes like Pacaya and Fuego, watching sunrise over Lake Atitlán’s volcano-ringed shores, and venturing into the Petén jungle to discover Tikal’s towering temples above the canopy. Antigua is ideal for architecture, food, and an easy cultural base, while the highlands offer village visits, weaving cooperatives, and market culture. Practical tips: Spanish is widely spoken, though many communities also speak Indigenous languages; shuttle networks make tourist routes manageable, but road travel can be slow, so build in extra time. Pack layers for cool highland mornings and warmer lowland afternoons, carry cash for markets and small towns, and use common-sense safety precautions, especially at night and in major transit areas.
Best time to travel Guatemala
Based on the popularity data, the best time to visit Guatemala is from February through March, with March being the strongest month and February close behind. These months likely offer the best balance of favorable travel conditions and traveler interest, while December is also a good option for a lively but slightly less busy trip.
Latest travel reports from Guatemala
Antigua de Guatemala
The relatively short onward journey from Santa Ana and the border crossing to Guatemala went rather smoothly (except for some shady character who tried to rip me off during the...
Day trip to Antigua
Today we took a day trip to Antigua which included a visit to a coffee plantation. We were lucky to be the only ones, so we had our guide Louis all to ourselves. He picked us up...
Four Days in Guatemala
Last night we flew from San Jose to Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala. Guatemala is the most populous country in Central America with 17.2 million inhabitants. Of these,...
Goodbye
The rising morning sun transforms the storm clouds and the sea into a golden hue. Pelicans flank our boat on either side as we watch the dolphins hunting. What sounds like my...
A bit of culture
From Flores I took the tour to Tikal. We set off early in the morning, about an hour into the middle of nowhere to see one of the largest Mayan ruins and overall it was pretty...
The hell
It's been a while, but I was honestly too tired to do anything :D My Saturday got off to an exciting start, I actually wanted to spend the day relaxing and wandering around the...
People need routines (at least I do)
I'm getting careless when it comes to my blog.😅 Actually, it's because I haven't done too much in the last few days. I was in San Pedro until today (03/04/24) and just enjoyed...
Volcanoes - need I say more?
There were two volcano climbs to choose from, one with an overnight stay at a base camp and the other in one day. So I scrambled towards Volcano 2 and it was incredibly tiring....
Hike, enjoy and even more hike
It's been a few days since I last wrote a post, which means I have a few days to catch up. I'll still try to keep this post short. Also on February 20, 2024 I went on a short...
That escalated quickly
Those were three very long days. My 'I'm flying to Guatemala tomorrow' quickly turned into a little trip around the world. It all started with a plane in which the air...
The first "big" city in Guatemala
First of all, Guatemala is great! I like it so much here, the people are nice, everything is relaxed and the food is super cheap. The Colectivos and Chickenbuses rides are fun...
Nature Pur
Somehow the post got very long...if you don't feel like reading the stuff, just look at the pictures😂 On February 11, 2024, after a delicious burrito and a drink we made...
From one lake to another
On 07.02.24 I just wanted to go for a short hike and I did. About a kilometer away from the hotel, a hiking trail starts up a mountain, through the jungle here in El Remate. It...
The first border crossing
I learned two things, the first thing is: Don't believe everything a crazy American says and second thing: Don't trust any taxi driver. There are two ways to get from Palenque...
Visiting Central America (Part 2) Semuc Champey and Tikal
After this adventure we continued inland to the Semuc Champey. Once again the bad roads cost us a lot of time. This time there was also a Christmas market, which brought almost...
Colorful mixed (Guatemala)
December in Guatemala was very eventful. We visited the cities of San Pedro and Santiago. San Pedro is located at the foot of the volcano with the same name and is known for its...
Acatenango & Fuego Vulkan (Guatemala)
We took the 'Chickenbus' (typical means of transportation in Guatemala) to Antigua. The bus ride itself was already an adventure. You simply hop on the nearest bus and hope you...
Unternehmungen am See Atitlan (Guatemala)
There are many Maya villages around Lake Atitlán, so you also have the opportunity to learn about their culture. We participated in a Maya Cacao & Fire Ceremony, where we...
San Marcos La Laguna (Guatemala)
The Airbnb and San Marcos
Goodbye to Germany
Mixed feelings gripped me on my departure day. Sadness of missing my loved ones, stress as I packed on the last day as always, repotted a plant, worked, glued shoes, oiled my...
There Plan
Less planning, more dreaming and just doing it! During a bullitour, Tino and I realized that we wanted to escape from the hamster wheel of German work society. To have some time...
Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey is located in the middle of the rainforest in Guatemala. It is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country, consisting of terraced water pools fed...
Flores / Tikal
Flores was my base to visit Tikal. Set on Lake Petén Itza, it is a peninsula with colonial buildings.I stayed at a hostel on the opposite side of the lake and enjoyed taking the...
Sweet River
A nice little one day break on my way to Flores, the Kangaroo hostel in Rio Dulce turned out to be one of those spots you can easily get stuck at. Nice people and good food. Set...
Livingston
Livingston turned out to be a nice little and relaxed coastal town. Also, I liked my hostel very much why I decided to stay three days and relax. Nearby is Playa Blanca, indeed...
Guatemala City
I only spent one and a half days in Guatemala City... and that's just about enough. It is an okay capital and was nice to walk around in. On the first day, we visited the...
First stop Guatemala: Antigua
Después de haber escuchado tantas cosas buenas sobre Guatemala, tuve que ir allí. Afortunadamente, también pude convencer a mi novia para que me 'visite' durante el primer fin...
Night hike, campfire, camping, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
We were promised a unique adventure for 40 euros, a two-day tour to an active volcano, including three meals. A bargain experience trip!! Other providers charged twice as much....
Antigua at night
There were hostels and hostels, despite thorough research and personal recommendations, each hostel had its surprises. The large popular accommodations were usually...
Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala, short form: Antigua, not to be confused with the Caribbean island Antigua, was undoubtedly one of the top tourist destinations in Guatemala. Like everywhere...