What to See in Guatemala - VoyageForum

last edited Dec 11, 2019

Contributions version #1 created Dec 11, 2019 Latest contributions in this guide Contributors to this guide

Location

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Guatemala has 3 sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Antigua (1979):

Tikal (1979):

Quirigua (1981):

Cities and Cultural Heritage

Antigua :

Castillo de San Felipe :

Champerico :

Chichicastenango :

Cobán :

El Remate :

Esquipulas :

Flores :

Guatemala City :

Huehuetenango :

Livingston :

Monterrico :

Panajachel :

Puerto Barrios :

Quetzaltenango :

Sololá :

Pre-Columbian Sites

Aguateca :

Ceibal :

El Mirador :

Iximche :

La Blanca :

Nakum :

Quirigua :

Tikal :

Uaxactun :

Yaxha :

Zaculeu :

Natural Heritage

Quetzal Biotope :

Ixil :

Lake Atitlan :

Lake Güija :

Petén :

Rio Dulce :

Semuc Champey :

Pacaya Volcano :

Must-see & highly recommended

★★★★ Officially known as Antigua Guatemala. The country's former capital is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Latin America and is a…

★★★★ Alongside Tikal, this is the "big" tourist attraction of Guatemala. Boat and walking tours (as well as diving) are available to explore the…

★★★★ Undoubtedly one of the most impressive pre-Columbian ruins in all of Latin America and a must-see on any trip to Guatemala. It is also a…

Recommended

Chichicastenango

★★★ This small high-altitude tourist town is internationally renowned for its colorful market.

★★★ Also called the "Ixil Triangle". A stunning mountainous region in the west where you can hike. It’s home to several remote villages…

★★★ A stunning UNESCO-listed archaeological site. It lies on the road between the capital and Puerto Barrios.

★★★ The small river connects the Caribbean Sea to Lake Izabal. You can travel upstream on a stunning boat ride from Livingston.

★★★ A beautiful pre-Columbian site on the route between Tikal and Belize. It sits on the shore of Lake Yaxha, which also houses the ruins of…

Worth a look / Other

★★ A charming pre-Columbian site built near Lake Petexbatun, south of Flores.

Quetzal Biotope

★★ A nature reserve in the heart of the country dedicated to protecting the habitat of the quetzal, Guatemala's national bird.

Castillo de San Felipe

★★ A small Spanish fort built in the 17th century at the mouth of the Rio Dulce, on the Caribbean side.

★★ Maya ruins in Peten, about forty kilometres south of Flores.

★★ A large city on the route from Guatemala City to Tikal, set in a landscape of mountains, caves, waterfalls, and forests.

★★ A vast Mayan site, rarely visited due to its difficult access. It is located in the north of Peten, not far from the Mexican border.

Flores (Guatemala)

★★ Though it has a certain colonial charm, this lakeside town in Peten primarily serves as a base for visiting Tikal and other Mayan sites.

★★ Another beautiful volcanic lake straddling Guatemala and El Salvador.

★★ A small Garifuna town on the Caribbean coast. Beyond the local culture, which might make you feel like you're in Jamaica, you can discover…

★★ With its black sand beaches, this is Guatemala's only seaside resort—or nearly so—on the Pacific coast. You can surf here and…

★★ A small pre-Columbian site between Tikal and Yaxha.

★★ Main town on Lake Atitlán. It typically serves as a base for exploring the surrounding area.

★★ The largest department in Guatemala, located in the far north. Rich in pre-Columbian ruins and nature reserves, this jungle region is also…

★★ Also known as Xela, it is the second-largest city in the country. It has a historic centre featuring 19th to early 20th-century…

★★ Natural pools and waterfalls located in the heart of Guatemala, not far from Coban.

★★ Another Mayan site in Peten, about twenty kilometres north of Tikal.

★★ It is very close to the city of Antigua and can be easily climbed.

★★ A small pre-Columbian site near Huehuetenango, on the way to Mexico.

★ On the Pacific coast, not far from Mexico, this seaside town is visited for its beaches and surfing.

★ This village on Lake Petén Itzá, like Flores, is an alternative to the latter as a starting point for exploring the surrounding area…

★ A small town near the borders of Honduras and El Salvador, known for its basilica.

★ Touristically, the Guatemalan capital is mainly known for its museums and a few historical sites.

★ It's a large city, not necessarily one of the most touristy, on the route from Guatemala City to Mexico.

★ This Maya site is close to Lake Atitlan, which draws quite a few visitors even though it’s far from the most spectacular.

★ In the municipality of Melchor de Mencos, a Maya site on the border of Guatemala and Belize.

★ It’s the port on the Caribbean coast (and in the country) used to reach Livingston or Belize.

★ A town just above Panajachel with a beautiful view of Lake Atitlán and a weekly market.

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