Overview
Exotic Guatemala lies at the heart of the Mayan world. It’s a country steeped in history, proud of its traditions and culture, with breath-taking scenery. There are vivacious markets and volcanic landscapes, mystical lakes, and tropical jungle embracing ruined pre-Conquest Mayan settlements.
The old Spanish capital of Antigua has shady plazas, and 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. From choice – not to please tourists - they still wear richly-woven costumes, 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 top holiday styles to Guatemala
Holidays Guatemala
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Private Journeys
Guatemala
Active Guatemala: Trekking in style
10 days from £2,036pp
Classic holidays
Group - Discovery
Panama / Costa Rica / Nicaragua / El Salvador / Honduras / Guatemala
Alcion: Central America Discovery
22 days from £3,144pp
Classic holidays
Private Journeys
Guatemala
Easter in Guatemala: Semana Santa
8 days from £2,400pp
Private Journeys
Guatemala / Belize
Family Guatemala and Belize: Ancient temples and Caribbean isles
14 days from £2,560pp
Places To Visit In Guatemala
Discover our guide to the most exciting, memorable and inspiring places to visit.
Antigua and the highlands
The pretty colonial city of Antigua bustles with boutiques, galleries, arty cafés and restaurants.
Caribbean coast: Rio Dulce and Livingston
Discover steamy tropical floodplains carpeted with banana plantations, the cool clear waters of lake Izabal, and the tropical river Rio Dulce flowing through dense rainforest.
Lake Atitlan and villages
In turn cobalt glassy-clear and silver misty, mirror-calm and wispy-waved, Atitlán is one of the most captivating lakes in the world.
Lanquin and Semuc Champey
The crinkly, temperate mountains of Verapaz are perfect for the cultivation of coffee, and are dotted with large traditional fincas.
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
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.
Papagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
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.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Lina Fuller - Travel Expert
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert
Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.
Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert
After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.
Millie Davies - Travel Expert
Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.
Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.
Ben Line - Travel Expert
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.
