Guatemala Things to Do

 
by euzkadi
 
  •   Things to Do
    by euzkadi
  •   Things to Do
    by euzkadi
  •   Things to Do
    by euzkadi
  • The Great Pyramid of the Jaguar or Temple I
      The Great Pyramid of the Jaguar or...
    by Twan
  • Monkey Tour
      Monkey Tour
    by Twan
 

Most Viewed Things to Do in Guatemala

101.

Pacaya Volcano   Antigua Guatemala

Pacaya Volcano, Antigua Guatemala

 27 Reviews  I found a great trip regarding a volcano hike and a thermal waters and spa bath, this was amazing and I truly recommend it for everyone!.. it was excellent. I found it on a website called... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

102.

Antigua Ruins   Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Ruins, Antigua Guatemala

 40 Reviews  A collection of small museums housed in the 5-star hotel Casa Santo Domingo. The hotel, which is very upmarket, is built on and incorporates the ruins of the old Dominican church complex. Of the... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

103.

Churches   Antigua Guatemala

Churches, Antigua Guatemala

 37 Reviews  Yes, I am lazy period end of report. Use your guide book/internet if you want the facts on them. I came here to take some pics....not a very religious person except when I travel as these seem to be... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

104.

Parque Central   Antigua Guatemala

Parque Central, Antigua Guatemala

 16 Reviews  Central Park is a great place to get a quick feel for Antigua or if you get lost head here as it is a great reference point for to reorient yourself. Come here to relax, buy an ice cream off a local... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

105.

Colonial Architecture   Antigua Guatemala

Colonial Architecture, Antigua Guatemala

 22 Reviews   This is perhaps the defining symbol of Antigua. It is a remnant of the once-enormous Convent of St. Catherine. This convent was founded in 1613 with only four nuns, but by 1693 its numbers had... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

106.

Markets   Antigua Guatemala

Markets, Antigua Guatemala

 8 Reviews   Antigua might strike you at first, as it did me, as something of a museum piece, but you only have to walk a few blocks from the centre to discover that “real” life happens here too. The market on... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

107.

Nuestra Señora de la Merced   Antigua Guatemala

Nuestra Señora de la Merced, Antigua Guatemala

 10 Reviews   The “Iglesia y Convento de Nuestra Señora de la Merced”, to give it its full name, is one of the loveliest in Antigua, and unlike many has been fully restored. On a sunny day its vibrant yellow paint... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

108.

Language Schools   Antigua Guatemala

Language Schools, Antigua Guatemala

 12 Reviews  I chose this school on the advice of a friend and it is working out very well. It is relaxed with 1-on-1 tuition and happens at tables under awnings or in the garden. The individual tuition allows one... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

109.

Walking through the city   Antigua Guatemala

Walking through the city, Antigua Guatemala

 12 Reviews   While Parque Central is the undisputed hub of the city, Parque Union, lying a few blocks to the south-east, is also worth a visit. This is much more of a locals’ hang out than tourists’, although... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

110.

Chichicastenango   Antigua Guatemala

Chichicastenango, Antigua Guatemala

 5 Reviews  We drove 3 and a half hours from Antigua to "Chichi" on Thursday, although I heard that it is best to visit on Sundays. It seems as if time has stopped here. This village is very different than... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

111.

Lago Atitlan   Antigua Guatemala

Lago Atitlan, Antigua Guatemala

 5 Reviews  WOW, I had read that Lago ("Lake" in Spanish) Atitlan is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and boy was my research correct. On Friday, our last day in Antigua, we traveled 2 and a half hours... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

112.

Tikal   Antigua Guatemala

Tikal, Antigua Guatemala

 3 Reviews  Tikal is a definite must see. From Antigua or elsewhere. We took a weekend trip including flights and hotel, although you can do it by bus. Our hotel, Tikal Inn, was right next to the ruins and the... 

 See All 263 Things to Do in Antigua Guatemala

Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices

Sponsored Links

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Antiqua During Easter Week (Semana Santa)

by jreppler

In the city of Antiqua, the Easter Week holds a special celebration that should not be missed. In celebration of Easter, the churches hold several processions through the streets with purple robed parisheners carrying hugh floats with all of the holy vestiges from the churchs. Roman soldiers and bands patrol the streets starting on Good Friday and throughout the day on Saturday marking the events of the crucifiction.On Saturday night, you should not waste your time sleeping as the locals build beautiful fombras (rugs) in the cobble stone streets with colored sawdust, leaves and flower petals. There seems to be a competition between neighborhoods for artistic honor. Each is unique and beautiful.As the sun comes up, take photos quickly moving around the city. Eventually, the processions will travel the streets walking over these works of art, trampling them into dust as the travel the...

Pacaya Volcanoe

by Mateosh

This is one of the most accessible active volcanoes in the world. The hike to the crater takes a few hours. I first visited this volcanoe in 2000 and I have since visited it again in October of 2007. The volcanoe has changed a lot during this time. Lava is now flowing from the side of the volcanoe and it is possible to walk right up to the lava. I did this at night and the glowing red of the lava can not be beat.

Study Spanish with local family in Quetzaltenango

by urilee

Last summer I traveled beautiful Guatemala, and I’d like to recommend anyone who has some time to take a short Spanish course with a local family like I did.The best place for it I think is a town named Shela (short for Quetzaltenango) an authentic Guatemalan city, surrounded by amazing natural attractions, with great atmosphere and many students from all over the world.We stayed with a wonderful family named MEYER, where grandma Mimy took care of all our meals (Guatemalan food you are unlikely to forget), mother Paula treated us like her own children and helped out with our every wish, and little Stephanie loved to chat with us in Spanish we didn't begin to understand.Recently Paula, a single mother, opened up her own intimate Spanish school. The programming consists of 5 hours of private teaching (all with university graduate teachers) for 5 weekdays, staying with the family for a...

Tip Photo
Explore some of the other ruins in Guatemala

by HasTowelWillTravel

While Tikal gets a lot of the press, and duly so, there are plenty of other ruins in the Peten region that are worth your time. Yaxha is one of these spots. Located on a beautiful azure lake, it is a beautiful site to visit. From the top of the main astronomical temple you can see far into the jungle, and get a beautiful panorama of the lake below. The site is fairly well preserved, and since it is not Tikal, has a great deal less tourists mobbing around. Absolutely fabulous place to visit.

Tip Photo
Livingston, town of the Garifuna

by sachara

Livingston is the town of the Garifuna people. This black people live in Caribbean Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Belize. Coming by boat from Puerto Barrios it was like coming into another very Caribbean world. The people speak not only Spanish, but also the Garifuna language, being a mixture of Caribbean and African languages.The small town with its wooden colourful houses has a very laidback Caribbean atmosphere. Along the mainstreet the so-called Calle Principal are many of the bars, restaurants, shops and internetcafés. Duirng my walk I saw many buildings in town which look rather shabby. Staying in Livingston it's nice to go to a place with life Garifuna music in the evening. The drumming music is made at some large drums and a turtle shell.

Tip Photo
Quirigua, giant Mayan stelae

by sachara

The archaeological site of Quirigua is famous because of its giant Mayan stelae. To protect the stelae they are covered by thatched roofs. Some of the stelae have the image of the ruler Cauac Sky. The largest stela is 8M above the ground, but there is also a part of about 3M under the earth. Its weight is about 60.000 KG.Besides the stelae at the Gran Plaza there are also some zoomorphs. These are carved stone blocks depicting several mythic creatures like tortoises, frogs, serpents and jaguars. These zoomorphs are situated at the far end of the plaza at the base of the Acropolis. The archaelogical site looks like a park. Partly you can walk in the shade of the trees, but to visit the stelae at the plaza you have to walk in the sun. During the day this can be very hot. Opening hours from 7.30am till 5pm.

Tip Photo
Yaxchilan Ruins on the Usumacinta River

by atufft

Some of the smaller ruins are under-rated by the tour books. Yaxchilan is one of those. Although it is actually in Mexico, it can be easily reached from Bethel, Guatemala or Frontera Corozal on the Mexican side of the Usumacinta River. I had as much fun climbing around this river side ruins complex as I had when visiting Pelenque. The roar of howler monkeys was ever present, the tourists comparatively few, and the shroud of rainforest canopy much greater than at either Pelenque or Tikal. The river launch ride was also very pleasant. We viewed these ruins as an excursion during a transfer from Pelenque to Flores. We left Pelenque on the combi early in the morning and arrived to bargin for a boat at the border (bring cash in pesos as hotel provides pricey exchange). By four o'clock we had seats on a bus at Bethel, destine for Flores. See my Ruinas de Yaxchilan and Palenque for more details...

Tip Photo
Guatemala City, Plaza Mayor

by sachara

The Plaza Mayor or Parque Central is in zona one, the centre of the city. This is the place for ceremonies, but also the place where local people stroll at their free time. At our second stay in Guatemala City we had a hotel at the Plaza Mayor with view at the Catedral Metropolitana, situated at the east side of the Plaza Mayor. (picture 2), at the northside the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura (picture 1). This palace is built by president Jorge Ubico (1931-1944). After its restoration it houses the Guatemalan History Museum.

Tip Photo
Antigua, church of La Merced

by sachara

Walking from the hotel the first church in Antigua I saw was the Iglesia Y Convento de Nuestra Senora de la Merced or shortly ´La Merced´. I was impressed by the impressive facade, being the most intricate one of the whole city. The church has beautifully restored, brightly painted in yellow and white colours.In front of the church is a lifely plaza. The church is still in use. So we visited the church at Christmas Eve. After the procession reached the church there was a lot of loud fireworks before the service started.

Tip Photo
Antigua, Arco de Santa Catalina

by sachara

Walking in the citycentre of Antigua the Arco de Santa Catalina was one of the first landmarks to find my way. The arch is situated in one of the mainstreets connecting the Parque Central and the Plaza of La Merced church more north.The Arco de Santa Catalina as part of the orginal convent founded in 1609 was first built in 1694 to enable nuns to cross the street without being seen from the street. Nowadays the arch with its clocktower is the only part of the monastery which is left. In the 19th century the arch is restored.

Tip Photo
Fun things to do in Guatemala

Top 3 Hotels in Guatemala

Palacio de Dona Leonor  Antigua Guatemala

 6 Reviews and 43 Opinions  On a business trip we stayed at the Palace Hotel Dona Leonor. I really liked the decoration of the... 

 Hotels in Antigua Guatemala

Jungle Lodge  Parque Nacional Tikal

 4 Reviews and 154 Opinions  We stayed two nights here, choosing it because of its nearness to the ruins. The plan was to be able... 

 Hotels in Parque Nacional Tikal

Barcelo Premium Guatemala City  Guatemala City

 1 Review and 198 Opinions  Nice hotel in a comfortable safe neighborhood in Zone 9. An easy walk to the Los Procures Mall and... 

 Hotels in Guatemala City

166 Hotels in Guatemala
 
Explore the World
Travel Destinations
Travel Highlights

The Place

Reviews and photos of Guatemala attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Guatemala sightseeing.

Experience Guatemala
Things to Do: Cities in Guatemala
  1. Antigua Guatemala Things to Do
  2. Guatemala City Things to Do
  3. Parque Nacional Tikal Things to Do
  4. Panajachel Things to Do
  5. Lago de Atitlán Things to Do
  6. Flores Things to Do
  7. Chichicastenango Things to Do
  8. San Pedro La Laguna Things to Do
  9. Quetzaltenango Things to Do
  10. Cobán Things to Do
  11. Puerto Barrios Things to Do
  12. Santiago Atitlán Things to Do
  13. El Remate Things to Do
  14. Río Dulce Things to Do
  15. Tecpán Guatemala Things to Do
  16. Monterrico Things to Do
  17. Tikal Things to Do
  18. San Antonio Aguas Calientes Things to Do
  19. Lanquín Things to Do
  20. Sayaxché Things to Do
  21. San Marcos La Laguna Things to Do
  22. Esquipulas Things to Do
  23. Comalapa Things to Do
  24. Todos Santos Cuchumatán Things to Do
  25. Lago de Amatitlán Things to Do
  26. Santa Cruz del Quiché Things to Do
  27. Quiriguá Things to Do
  28. Sierra los Cuchumatanes Things to Do
  29. San Antonio Palopó Things to Do
  30. Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla Things to Do
  31. Sumpango Things to Do
  32. Zunil Things to Do
  33. San Vicente Pacaya Things to Do
  34. Santiago Sacatepéquez Things to Do
  35. Chajul Things to Do
  36. Uspantán Things to Do
  37. San Andrés Xecul Things to Do
  38. Iximché Things to Do
  39. San Francisco El Alto Things to Do
  40. La Democracia Things to Do
  41. Totonicapán Things to Do
  42. Ciudad Vieja Things to Do
  43. Lago de Izabal Things to Do
  44. San Miguel Dueñas Things to Do
  45. Jocotenango Things to Do
  46. Abaj Takalik Things to Do

More Cities in Guatemala

 

Popular Regions in Guatemala

Departamento de Sacatepéquez Things to Do  Departamento de Guatemala Things to Do  Departamento del Petén Things to Do  Departamento de Sololá Things to Do  Departamento del Quiché Things to Do  Departamento de Izabal Things to Do  Departamento de Quetzaltenango Things to Do  Departamento de Alta Verapaz Things to Do  Departamento de Huehuetenango Things to Do  Departamento de Chimaltenango Things to Do  Departamento de Escuintla Things to Do 

More Regions in Guatemala

Questions and Answers

escapetolife profile photo

Q:  My husband and I want to go to Guatemala for 5 weeks starting the last week of March 2012. We had planned to travel all over and... 

Agraichen profile photo

A: I have two good friends that travel to Guatemala frequently. One supports an orphanage, the other does general social work with kids in the area. Both find the... 

Read 6 Replies

postQuestion_button

Click here for best deals for Guatemala

Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835
Save money, Book now !
Booking.com Excellent choice, Low rates
Save up to 50% off Hotels Everyday
Expedia.com Photos, Reviews and the Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Great Prices, Great Rooms
hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-914-6835

Sponsored Links