Adventurous Guatemala: Culture, Nature & Volcanoes - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Guatemala City, Transfer to Antigua

Welcome to Guatemala, "The Land of Eternal Spring," where the climate stays pleasant year-round and flowers never stop blooming. Few countries in Central America boast such a diversity of unspoiled ecosystems and ancient Indigenous and colonial cultures.

Upon arrival at the airport in Guatemala City, a driver will pick you up and transfer you about an hour west to the colonial city of Antigua. Once the capital of Guatemala, Antigua is known for its Spanish colonial Old Town around the main plaza, Parque Central. It's also backed by three volcanoes, a spectacular contrast to the UNESCO-protected city's colorful architecture.
 
After checking in to your hotel, spend the remainder of the day walking Antigua's cobbled streets and treating yourself to local street food like tostadas and empanadas (called dobladas in Guatemala). Be sure to stop by historic landmarks, like the Santa Catalina Arch and the ruins of the 16th-century Antigua Guatemala Cathedral.

Day 2: Coffee Plantation Bike Tour, Traditional Cooking Class

Your guide will pick you up early for today's combined mountain bike excursion/coffee tour. Set off from Antigua, into the suburbs, and on to the verdant  De la Gente coffee cooperative. On this half-day tour, you'll visit DLG's large-scale production farm. The site is part of a community on the flank of the Agua volcano, where farmers work together to grow, pick, and process coffee. DLG works with these farmers to help brand their coffee and export it to global markets.

You'll take a break from cycling to visit the roasting house and see how they toast the beans one small batch at a time. A real treat is when you sit down to lunch with one of the local families, sample their coffee, and learn a bit about life on a working coffee farm. After the meal, you'll transfer back to Antigua.

Later on, you'll don your aprons and take part in a three-hour cooking class. A local chef, belonging to the Sacatepéquez community, will teach you the secrets of Guatemalan cuisine. You'll discover an exotic mix of colonial Spanish and Indigenous flavors, with dishes that are both delicious and fun to make. Besides the main meals, you'll also prepare handmade tortillas and a dessert. At the end of the class, you'll sit down with your fellow chefs and feast on your creations.

Day 3: Double Header Adventure: Hike Acatenango & Fuego Volcanoes 

It's time for an unforgettable adventure—a three-day/two-night double volcano ascent of Acatenango and neighboring Fuego. On a small group tour, you'll spend both nights at a private campsite on the slope of Acatenango. After meeting your guide in the lobby, you'll stop for supplies at the tour operator Old Town Outfitters. A one-hour drive delivers you to the trailhead, in the sleepy mountain village of La Soledad, on the Pacific slope of Acatenango.

The route up the volcano has several microclimates, each of which will take you about an hour to hike. Agricultural land gives way to cloud forest, where you can spot splendid birds such as the resplendent quetzal. After emerging from the cloud forest around midday, you'll be treated to fantastic views of the other highland volcanoes: Atitlán, Toliman, San Pedro, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, and Tajamulco. You'll have plenty of time to admire the scenery as you take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Temperate and tropical forests characterize the third part of your ascent, leading to the volcano's storm-beaten tree line. Your campsite is just below this tree line and offers sweeping views of the Antigua Valley and the adjacent peak of Fuego. After setting up camp, take some time to stretch out and relax while your guide prepares dinner at 12,300 feet (3,750 m). Enjoy your meal while marveling at the awe-inspiring spectacle of Fuego's eruptions.

Day 4: Hike Fuego Volcano

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and an incredible sunrise above the clouds, before preparing for your next exciting challenge. Your half-day excursion takes you to the slopes of one of Central America's most active volcanoes, the mighty Fuego. It starts with a one-hour descent to the pass between Acatenango and Fuego—then, after a short rest, you'll make the 90-minute push to the ridge of Fuego. At a distance from the active summit, this is a safe spot to witness the power of this fiery mountain and hear the rumbles echoing down the slope.

After a quick snack, you'll head back to camp, where your guide will prepare a well-earned lunch. In the afternoon, you'll be given time to relax and take in the views of the Fuego and Agua volcanoes, before spending a second night under the stars in this otherworldly landscape.

Day 5: Sunrise on Acatenango & Descend

Depending on weather conditions, your group will rise early, enjoy the sunrise over volcanoes, and set off for the peak of Acatenango. This 45-minute/one-hour hike on a gravel trail is the steepest yet, leading through a pine forest and eventually to the rocky, windy summit of Acatenango. You made it! At the top, you'll have a chance to rest and enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the Guatemalan highlands, stretching to Mexico.

 

After breakfast and breaking camp, you'll begin the three-hour descent back down. This route follows a different trail, so you'll see the diversity of contrasting microclimates. After a break in the Finca La Soledad café, you'll transfer by shuttle back to Antigua, where you'll have the rest of the afternoon free to relax and enjoy the city.

Day 6: Antigua Street Food Tour

After three days of trekking, treat yourself to a feast as you discover Guatemala's rich culture through its street food. On this three-hour walking tour around Antigua's cobbled streets, you'll taste culinary creations with influences dating back thousands of years. You'll stop at eight traditional restaurants and vendors, each serving savory and sweet local treats. Besides the delicious food, you'll learn about Antigua's history as you go, and visit the 16th-century ruins. 

At the end, you'll receive a list of some of the best restaurants and bars to visit during your trip. Antigua's culinary scene is diverse, with traditional Guatemalan joints, European cuisine, and a booming café scene to choose from. Try Caoba Farms, a farm-to-table experience on the outskirts of the city. Or, go upscale at Hector's Bistro—run by a Parisian chef, the food is refined (and as a bonus, there's a microbrewery attached).

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Atitlán, Las Trampas to Panajachel Bike Ride

Today brings a change of scenery, as you'll transfer to Lake Atitlán, around a 2.5-hour drive from Antigua. Welcome to one of Latin America's most photogenic landscapes: a vast turquoise crater lake that provides an oasis in the Sierra Madre mountain range. It's long been considered sacred by the Maya, and the lakeshore is dotted with Indigenous villages.

Upon arrival in the village of Las Trampas, your guide will unload bicycles from the vehicle, and you'll set off to explore on two wheels. Traversing the highlands above the lake, this thrilling ride involves a drop in altitude of 2,000 feet (610 m). You'll pass several small villages before rounding a final ridgeline and joining the road up from the Pacific coast, bound for Panajachel. From there, you'll be taken to your hotel and have the rest of the afternoon free to relax and take in the beautiful views.

Day 8: San Pedro Volcano Hike

Lace up your hiking boots—today, you'll discover an authentic part of the lakeshore, on an ancient Maya single-track path. After a drive to the town of San Pedro La Laguna, you'll ride in a tuk-tuk or truck for around 15 minutes to the visitor's center. Here, you can learn about the geology of the San Pedro volcano and the birth of Lake Atitlán, and how seismic activity shaped the landscape of Guatemala.

Your hike up San Pedro begins in a community coffee plantation, your first chance today to pause and take in views of the lake. The trail rises above the settlements of farmland and into the cloud forest. It takes around four to five hours to reach the top and two to three hours to get down, but a choice of rest points means you can tailor this hike to suit. Wherever you stop, you'll be treated to an epic view of the volcanic range. After, you'll take a break at the visitor's center and be driven back to town. 

Day 9: Kayaking & Hiking at Lake Atitlán, Transfer to Antigua

Wake up to views of the lake and its towering volcanoes before meeting your guide for today's expedition. You'll start by kayaking, paddling westward along the north shore of the lake for roughly two hours. You'll pass by villages perched on lakeside cliffs, and spots where you can dock the kayak and hop in the water for a swim. Near the village of San Marcos La Laguna, you'll leave your kayak behind and lace up your hiking boots.

Your guide will lead you along a trail that passes through small villages and traces the shoreline, delivering awesome views of the San Pedro, Toliman, and Atitlán volcanoes. After around 1.5 hours, the route will return you to your lodge. You'll then have the remainder of the afternoon free before transferring back to Antigua for the evening. 

Day 10: El Paredón Beach Day Trip

In the morning, your driver will pick you up for the three-hour ride south to the Pacific coast and the beach town of El Paredón, one of Guatemala's premier surf destinations. Here, you'll check in to your hotel and have the morning and early afternoon to enjoy beach time. Perhaps grab a board and ride the 3 to 12-foot (1-4 m) barrels that break on the sand. Or, if you don't have much experience, you can always book a surfing lesson. 
 
Later, you'll visit the sleepy beach community of Monterrico. Depending on the time of year, you could take part in a turtle release experience, as Monterrico is a popular nesting site for Olive Ridley, leatherback, and green sea turtles. Those eggs are collected to help give the creatures the best chance of survival, with the release programs taking place between September to February. Gently tip your hatchling onto the sand and watch as it scuttles toward the ocean. Go tiny turtles, go!

Day 11: Antigua Walking Tour, Hike Pacaya Volcano

This morning starts in the city, with a guided walking tour. A local expert historian will lead the time and take you to Antigua's top landmarks, such as the City Hall Palace, the Palace of the Captain's General, and the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral. You'll also learn about the Spanish conquest and the region's rich history, including the Indigenous Maya way of life.

End your trip on a high, literally, by hiking to 8,370-foot (2,552 m) up the Pacaya volcano. These volcanic slopes are some of the most impressive in Central America. Set in its own national park, Pacaya cuts an imposing figure with a continuous plume of smoke drifting from its summit and the massive dried lava field at the base of its caldera.

The trip up and down takes about six hours. You'll eat a picnic lunch at the high point, as you enjoy the panoramic views—and maybe even roast marshmallows over the volcano's natural heat. The hike down traverses dried lava fields, before descending through tropical forests and farmland on your way back to Antigua. 

Day 12: Transfer to Guatemala City & Depart

Say your goodbyes to Guatemala (for now, anyway). In the morning, your driver will pick you up and take you to Guatemala City Airport, where you'll catch your flight home. Safe travels!

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Guatemala? Check out these other Guatemala itineraries, discover other ways to spend 12 days in Guatemala, or learn about the best time to visit Guatemala.