Day 1: Transfer from Guatemala City to Antigua → Day 2: Explore Antigua’s colonial city → Day 3: Head to Lake Atitlán → Day 4: Visit lakeside villages → Day 5: Travel to Chichicastenango → Day 6: Fly to Flores → Day 7: Discover Tikal → Day 8: Departure. The middle section is based in Antigua and Lake Atitlán, while the final leg flies north to Petén.
Most international flights land in Guatemala City (GUA). You can make a brief stop in the city center, where Constitution Plaza, the National Palace, and the Metropolitan Cathedral are clustered. However, most travelers take a roughly one-hour drive to Antigua, a colonial city situated at an elevation of about 1,500 meters with a mild climate.
Explore on foot: visit Central Park, the ruins of the Cathedral, the Arco de Santa Catalina, and the remains of several Baroque churches, all set against the backdrop of Volcán de Agua. In the evening, climb Cerro de la Cruz for panoramic views of the city and volcano. Enjoy dinner in the cobblestone streets at night.
In the morning, you can join a half-day hike up Volcán Pacaya, walking on volcanic ash and seeing lava flows. In the afternoon, drive for about three hours to Lake Atitlán and arrive in the lakeside town of Panajachel in the evening. Admire the view of the lake surrounded by three volcanoes.
Take a boat tour across the lake to explore the textile and coffee cooperatives in San Juan La Laguna, the lakeside paths in San Pedro, and the Mayan life in Santiago Atitlán—experience the indigenous culture of the lakeside villages.
Head to the highland town of Chichicastenango, where grand Mayan markets are held every Thursday and Sunday. The markets are filled with vegetables, textiles, and handicrafts. The steps of the Church of Santo Tomás are often filled with incense smoke. The Popol Vuh, the sacred K’iche’ Maya text, was discovered here.
Return to Guatemala City and take a one-hour domestic flight to Flores in Petén. This small island town on a lake is known for its colorful houses and relaxed evening atmosphere. It serves as the gateway to Tikal.
Enter Tikal National Park early in the morning. Amid the sounds of birds and wildlife in the rainforest, climb temples such as the Temple of the Great Jaguar and gaze over the endless jungle and distant temples. Return to Flores in the afternoon and wrap up the day by the lake in the evening.
Depending on your flight schedule, fly back to Guatemala City from Flores or take an overland route to a neighboring country. If time allows, spend an extra half day in Guatemala City visiting markets to shop for coffee and handicrafts.