Essential Guatemala 8-Day Itinerary

E
Etnica
  • Email address verified
37 reviews
Duration: 8 days
Group size: 1 - 8
Essential Guatemala 8-Day Itinerary
Guatemala

Etnica
  • Email address verified
37 reviews

$NaN
Duration: 8 days
Group size: 1 - 8

About this trip

Main Highlights of this Adventure

Accommodation

Transportation

Expert Guides

Meals

Packing List

Booking & Cancellation Policy

What’s included

  • Accommodation
    Single / double room depending on package booked. Some hotels may include breakfast in the room rate.
  • Tours and activities
    Unique experiences available daily. See the day-by-day itinerary for recommended tours and additional options available.
  • Local guides
    Local specialized guides will accompany you during activities. Please note that some guides may not speak English, and an additional cost will apply if an English-speaking translator is required.
  • Airport transfers
    Shuttles and taxis arranged to get you to/from the airport.
  • Ground transportation
    Private/shared shuttles will take you between destinations.
  • Entrance fees
    Entrance fee for Pacaya and Tikal.
  • Domestic flight
    Roundtrip GUA-FRS. Includes one 10lb personal item and one 10lb piece of checked luggage.
  • Specified Meals
    Included meals are noted in the itinerary: B= Breakfast, BB=Box Breakfast, L= Lunch, BL= Boxed Lunch, D= Dinner
  • Interactive itinerary
    Real time itinerary available on an app. Includes recommendations for every destination, maps and direct chat with our team.
  • 24/7 Assistance
    In country assistance in English during the whole trip.

What’s not included

  • International flights
    Book your flights to/from La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City.
  • Travel Insurance
    Prepare in case of any medical emergency, international flight issues or situation where you may require coverage and assistance.
  • Optional activities
    Tell us if you wish to include any of the suggested optional activities.
  • Drinks
    Drinks are not included during meals on day trips and tours.
  • Boat transfers
    We'll give you the pointers for moving like a local in the Lake Atitlan public boats. If you want a private boat let us know in advance.
  • Tips and gratuities
    Ask about our tipping guidelines so you can consider this in your travel budget.
  • Not specified meals
  • Personal expenses

Available Packages

Solo traveler
Available until 30 days before departure
$2,600
Price per person (couples and teens)
$1,675
Price per child (up to 11 years old)
Available until 30 days before departure
$885


Itinerary

Day 1
Bienvenidos! Welcome to the land of eternal spring (-/-/-)

Your Organizer


E
Etnica
37 reviews
At Etnica we invite you to discover culture by experiencing it and encourage you to interact with local communities and learn about the traditions and cultural heritage that make them unique while you discover Guatemala and southern Mexico. We design tailor-made experiences, tours and workshops with local operators and families in their beautiful surroundings. If you are a hands-on travel enthusiast; we welcome you to learn from the best and participate in real and authentic cultural encounters.

Reviews

Our three-day trek through Guatemala was an exceptional experience made so by two outstanding guides: Uriel, our hiking guide, and Carlos, our driver and campgrounds guide. Uriel was attentive, professionally knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with throughout the journey. He seamlessly integrated the history, culture, and traditions of Guatemala into each day on the trail, offering context and insight that enriched every mile. Beyond his expertise, Uriel created a genuine sense of camaraderie among our group. He led with warmth and confidence, making us feel safe and welcome in his country every step of the way. Each evening, Carlos brought a calm, lighthearted presence to camp that was both refreshing and reassuring. He ensured our campsite was fully stocked and well-organized, so we could rest and prepare properly for the following day. His easygoing nature kept morale high, and his reliability gave us complete confidence throughout the trip. Both Uriel and Carlos demonstrated professionalism, care, and dedication that far exceeded our expectations. We left Guatemala with a deep appreciation for the country and its people due in no small part to these two gentlemen. We recommend them without reservation.
By Sartajdeep K for 3 Day Trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan on Mar 05, 2026
We had a great time. Very nice guides. The food was good, the places we stayed overnight were special and a good experience, only the sleeping pads could have been a little newer/ thicker. Lots of Monkeys and reaching Tikal “from behind” is special too. The miradores are all very worthwhile but strenuous……and the bats…….incredible. All in all a very good trip.
By Anja S for 3 Day Trek from El Zotz to Tikal on Mar 04, 2026
An amazing trip. Made easy by the brilliant planning and management by Sofia and her team. Picked up from our hotel in Guatemala City, we started our trip in Antigua - a lovely little town deserving of its UNESCO title. The Hotel Los Pasos was great with a very good breakfast. But one night was enough for us - coming from London we love to get away to nature as much as possible. The transfer to The Hotel Regis in Panajachel and Lake Atitlan was efficient and easy, as all the transfers were. The hotel is quite basic but they made us breakfast for our birding trip. We felt Santiago was a nicer town than Panajachel and our guide - David - took us to a lovely restaurant there for lunch. Back to Guatemala City for one night in La Inmaculada Hotel - a really lovely boutique hotel. Then an early flight to Flores. Picked up by Cornelio and onto the Estación Biologica in Las Guacamayas. This was the highlight of our trip. Cornelio was an amazing guide, the staff were lovely and the food was good. Incredible location in the midst of the national park and surrounded by wildlife. As the only guests there - there’s a maximum of 6 even when full - it felt magical. We loved it. Then back to Flores. The Hotel Isla de Flores was pretty, but the staff were a bit less helpful than in the other places we stayed. To be honest, we didn’t like Flores that much. The buildings are pretty but it feels very much a tourist town. That said, it was our choice to stay there rather than in the park at Tikal. But the tour of Tikal was good, the Mayan ruins were amazing and Tito was a very knowledgeable guide. All the transfers were effortless and on time. The last driver in Guatemala helped us through immigration and even checked with our Belize driver that we were through ok! So thank you to Sofia and her team for helping plan this trip with us and for making everything effortless and efficient. The feed of places to go and eat that popped up on the Trip app for each destination was really helpful and we always felt that if there was a problem there was someone we could rely on to help.
By Mark G for Guatemala's Highlands and Tropical Escapes - BEATA & MARK GOODWIN on Feb 18, 2026
Good follow up of our trip. A few hick-ups, which were dealt with very fast via the chat of the app.
By Vincent L for Epic Guatemala Adventure - Vincent & Wendy Laneau - De Vries on Jan 19, 2026
We loved the walk and the spectacular scenery through the local farm areas - lush with coffee, vegetables and bush. The 2nd day gave us wonderful views of multiple volcanos and we loved interacting with the local Guatemalan people. Hoses was a knowledge guide who was also our cook - great food. A shout out to Miguel our driver who also looked after and transported one of our group who became unwell. It’s a tough walk but well worth it. Phil and Liz
By Phil B for 3 Day Trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan on Jan 02, 2026
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References

I had a truly incredible experience in Guatemala - and I have Pablo and the Etnica team to thank for it! Pablo worked closely with me to design a custom trip for my friend and me, taking into consideration our logistical preferences, interests, time window, and budget. As the primary planner for my friend's and my trip, I was in frequent communication with Pablo, and I was impressed by his expertise, professionalism, warmth, and dedication. It is clear that he is passionate about what he does, and wants his travelers to experience the best of what Guatemala has to offer! During our trip itself, everything was smooth, efficient, and executed perfectly, from airport transfers / transportation, food and cultural recommendations, and comfortable, conveniently-located accommodations. All of our guides were incredibly friendly, treating us like friends rather than "tourists"; in fact, I felt that my interactions with the locals were perhaps the best part of this whole experience. At the end of the trip, I remained in Guatemala solo, while my friend returned to the states. During this time, I continued to take tours and explore Guatemala per Pablo's recommendations, and I felt safe, met incredible people, and gained a huge appreciation for the culture and people. I will recommend Etnica to my friends and family with great enthusiasm, and I can't wait to return! Thank you for everything, Pablo! -Kim from NYC
By Kim T on 21 Apr, 2023
I traveled as a teacher with students and can say with full sincerity that our tour guide, Pablo, exceeded every expectation I had for the trip! Not only did my students see beautiful tourist attractions and learn about the history of those places, but the best was them having multiple opportunities to meet and spend time getting to know people and their different ways of life all across the country. Having chaperoned educational tours with various companies, I can easily say that this one facilitated the best cultural learning and human connections for myself and my students. Many thanks, Etnica, for the experience and the memories!
By Emily H on 31 Aug, 2022