Guatemala Holidays

  • Lake Atitlan
  • Antigua
  • ShutterStock ©
  • ShutterStock ©
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Guatemala is a highlight of Central America with volcanoes, lakes and ancient ruins swathed in jungle. This exotic country lies at the heart of the Mayan world, steeped in history, proud of its traditions, and with breathtaking scenery. There are vivacious markets and volcanic landscapes, mystical lakes and tropical rainforest embracing ruined pre-colonial settlements. Book a Guatemala holiday with award-winning experts Journey Latin America.

Overview

Guatemala's old Spanish capital of Antigua has shady plazas, colonial houses and courtyards bursting with bougainvillea. A few hours’ drive up into the highlands is exquisite Lake Atitlán, surrounded by forest-cloaked volcanoes. Concealed in the jungle of the far north are the Mayan ruins of Tikal – a magnificent abandoned city where temples tower high above the forest canopy, rich in wildlife.

Many villagers live a traditional life little changed since those pre-Columbian times. They still proudly wear richly-woven attire, the vivid hues and intricate designs varying from place to place. The authentic markets in highland villages are a hive of activity and a kaleidoscope of colour, while the gentle tones of marimba music are all-pervasive in the flowery courtyards. The frequent indigenous festivals are characterised by Catholic and evangelical motifs, intertwined with the mysticism of the old beliefs.

Our Guatemala Tours

Discover our range of Guatemala holidays such as Signature Guatemala, which includes Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Tikal, or combine the best of Guatemala and Belize on our Kinkajou Group Tour.

You can contact our Guatemala Travel Experts if you feel inspired to book a holiday to Guatemala. We have over 40 years of experience in organising award-winning trips to Central and South America, so you can trust us to book an exciting trip for you.

Our top holiday styles to Guatemala

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Holidays Guatemala

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

Tents set up on a grassy hill on a trek

Private Journeys

Guatemala

Active Guatemala: Trekking in style

10 days from £2,600pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

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Private Journeys

Guatemala

Easter in Guatemala: Semana Santa

8 days from £2,050pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Group paddling on a river in a canoe

Private Journeys

Guatemala / Belize

Family Guatemala and Belize: Ancient temples and Caribbean isles

14 days from £4,050pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

Where to go when - our guide to Guatemala

Lake Atitlan

The weather in Guatemala is wide and varied

Perfect for combining with a holiday to Mexico or Belize, Guatemala is a compact and safe destination to visit and is steeped in history, tradition and culture. Lying at the heart of the Mayan world you can expect to find vivacious markets and volcanic landscapes, mystical lakes, and tropical jungle embracing ruined Mayan settlements. The climate here is pleasant meaning it’s perfect for year-round visits. The dry season runs from November to April, but even in the wet season the rainfall is generally only for a couple of hours a day. The highlands are known for their beautiful warm days but cool nights, whilst the lowlands around Tikal are hot all year round, with humidity increasing from May onwards.
If you love a good fiesta then head to Antigua for Easter for Semana Santa where religious processions pass through the streets which are paved with colourful flowers. Day of the Dead is celebrated with gusto on 1-2 November throughout the country and the festival of Santo Santo Tomás in Chichicastenango from 13 -22 Dec with processions, traditional dancing and marimba music. There is also a giant kite festival near Antigua as well as wild horse-racing in remote Todos Los Santos that are both worth a visit if you happen to be in the area.

View our Guatemala weather guide

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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert

    Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

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