Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel!
I pretty much fell in love with Guatemala right from the start. Though I’d heard Guatemala City was “scary,” I hired a shuttle at the airport upon arrival, & was immediately whisked away to Antigua with two cheerful Guatemalan guys. Nothing scary about it. And the rest of my Guatemala travel journey only got better. Guatemala is a place that I genuinely LOVE, & know I will return to. It’s filled with warm, friendly people, fantastic coffee, & gorgeous landscapes. And I think it’s a great place for female travel…so welcome to your “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel!”
Just two girls paddle-boarding on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala…
I didn’t meet very many Americans during my travels in Guatemala. I think they’re either scared off by reports of violence, or even more simply: it’s just not on their radar. Yet it’s a short flight from the States (about 4-5 hours) & FULL of amazing adventures ~ I feel compelled to reveal some of Guatemala’s secrets: because there is SO much to discover there.
Antigua, Guatemala.
Guatemala holds the colonial jewel of a city: Antigua. When I arrived & looked around my rooftop patio, I thought, “I could live here.” I even called my best friend from high school & told her, “I think I found the place for us to retire!” The food in Antigua is HEAVENLY, & the coffee is the BEST I’ve ever had. And it tastes better in Guatemala! As if that’s not enough, you’ve got the famous ancient ruins of Tikal in northern Guatemala ~ the #1 tourist attraction in the country. And my personal favorites: Lake Atitlan & Semuc Champey, two legendary destinations with views that will blow your mind.
Legendary sunset views in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.
But it’s the people that make Guatemala so special. I’ll never forget the women who taught me how to weave in the tiny village of San Juan la Laguna, on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Or all the dogs I met! All my Guatemalan hotel owners happened to have the sweetest dogs ~ & I even got to paddle-board with one of them: Bailey. It’s why I’m writing this “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel,” to help introduce people to a country they may not otherwise learn about.
Let’s Go to Guatemala!
If you’re a solo female traveler: I recommend going to Antigua ASAP. Instead of starting your trip in Guatemala City: I’d head right to Antigua, where there are so many charming hotels! Enter your travel dates in the map below to get pricing for Antigua hotels.
Guatemala Travel Overview!
- Safety = Take Precautions in Guatemala City (or avoid it); Antigua & other tourist spots quite safe 75%
- Cost = Like most of Latin America, CHEAP!! 30%
- Adventures = Abundant!!! 100%
- How Safe I Felt as a Female Traveler = Surprisingly Quite Safe 90%
- Favorite Mode of Transport = Colorful Chicken Buses! A MUST! 100%
Guatemala Travel Quick Facts!
- Guatemala in One Word = Volcanoes.
- Guatemala in One More Word = Tikal.
- Wi-Fi = Wi-Fi can be spotty, except in cities like Antigua & Guatemala City. I had great Wi-Fi in some Lake Atitlan accommodations; others, it was terrible. Your best bet is to buy a Claro stick that can be used throughout the country.
- Global Peace Ranking in 2017 = #117 out of 163 countries (U.S. is #114). Crime tends to be concentrated in Guatemala City, which is a drug trafficking zone, & area of violent crime. Take precautions there. Personally, I chose not to spend any time there on my trip.
- Hotels = For $30/night (& often less), you can get hotels with views that will take your breath away.
- Musts = Stroll the beautiful streets of Antigua. Visit a coffee farm, or “finca.” Paddle board & hike volcanoes at Lake Atitlan. Visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Tikal, near the Belize border. Swim in the amazing, cascading turquoise pools of Semuc Champey.
- Is Guatemala Good for Solo Travelers? = Yes & no. Guatemala isn’t my choice for first-time solo travelers. Visit Guatemala with a little more experience & confidence under your belt. Personally, I was there for over a month by myself in 2017 & LOVED it. But I’ve also got years of travel (& solo travel) under my belt.
- What to Expect as a Female Traveler = Machismo culture is prevalent throughout Latin America, but I personally didn’t find it excessive in Guatemala. Packs of young, teenage guys may make annoying comments once in awhile (or even packs of older guys!) ~ but overall, I didn’t find it overwhelming or persistent.
- Would I Go Back to Guatemala = Yes!!! Ohh…hell yes!
Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel
I think one of the best ways to help explain why I love Guatemala so much….is to show you. Hundreds of words could not explain what a few photos can. To that end, here are some of my favorite photos of Guatemala, to perhaps inspire some wanderlust, & help us to paint this picture for our “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel.”
Paddle-boarding on Lake Atitlan…
Sunrise volcano views in San Marcos la Laguna, in Lake Atitlan.
San Marcos la Laguna is a popular place for yoga retreats, & attracts a lot of spiritual seekers. And the views you get of Lake Atitlan’s incredible volcanoes are AMAZING! This is a great place to base yourself on the lake. Search for VRBO’s & hotels in San Marcos here.
Beautiful gardens abound all over Guatemala…like this one, in San Marcos la Laguna.
Adventures abound in Guatemala!
Living out my “Romancing the Stone” dreams in Guatemala!
Lake Atitlan is truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been…surrounded by volcanoes.
Turquoise pools of Semuc Champey.
Hostels are the way to go in Semuc Champey. Try Greengo’s for their incredibe outdoor pool, or Zephyr’s Lodge, which is one of the most popular places in town ~ & a great place to meet people.
Jumping off bridges during a thunder storm, in Semuc Champey.
The Tikal Ruins are one of Guatemala’s top tourist attractions.
Different angles at Tikal.
Because there aren’t many five-star hotels in Guatemala: I recommend splurging when you get to Tikal, which has some of the country’s finest hotels. Try Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel (high-end rainforest lodging) or Bolontiku Boutique Hotel (beautiful lakefront hotel with pool).
Goodbye, Guatemala….
Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel
Thanks for reading the “Ultimate Girl’s Guide to Guatemala Travel!” Charm is one of the first words that comes to mind when I think of this country…& I hope more Americans discover its charms for themselves. Just not too many! Have you traveled to Guatemala? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below!
Read Next: Guide to Semuc Champey in Guatemala!
Camera
Guide Book
Sarong
Pin It
Discover more from Girl Who Travels the World
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Love this Guatemala travel guide! I have traveled to many countries in Central America, but was a little afraid about traveling to Guatemala. Reading your guide has made it seem like a much more welcoming, friendly country than I thought! Thanks for writing.
You’re welcome, Maria! I think you’ll really enjoy it, especially if you’ve already enjoyed other Central America countries. Cheers!
Dear Noelia I see that you didn’t visit one of the most safest ountries on the world – and it is Slovenia. Don’t hasitate to visit and see its beauties, welcome.
Hi Tadej ~ you are right! I’ve heard Slovenia is absolutely lovely. I’ll let you know if/when I make it there! : )
So Lovely Lovely post. I really like it. And I want to visit Slovenia. Its my dream.
Ha! Thank you. And Slovenia is on both our lists now! ; )
Thank you! Glad you are enjoying! xoxo Noelia