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If Guatemala is not on your family travel bucket list, it should be! Guatemala is a fantastic destination with its stunning landscapes, rich culture, and family-friendly activities. We had so much eating and exploring our way through Guatemala over 1 week. This itinerary focuses on two must-visit locations: Antigua and Lake Atitlán, perfect for families looking to explore, relax, and experience the beauty of Guatemala together.
Things you should know before going to Guatemala:
- Entry Requirements: Most travelers can enter Guatemala visa-free for up to 90 days, but always check the latest requirements based on your nationality. When you get in, you’ll see signs with a QR code on it- use that to fill out the declaration form.
- Currency: The official currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ). Use cash if you can. Hit up the ATM at the airport or in town and withdraw some cash. Many businesses add a 5% credit card transaction fee to their receipts. On Lake Atitlan, everyone takes cash only for the most part.
- Language: Spanish is the official language, but English is spoken in tourist areas. You’ll need to know a little Spanish. For the most part, understanding the basics of Spanish should help you get around. You can also use a translation app to help you communicate. We did end up relying on our Spanish a bit more than typical in Atitlan.
- Safety: While Guatemala is generally safe for tourists, it’s best to avoid traveling at night, be aware of your surroundings, and use reputable transportation services.
- Health Precautions: Tap water is not safe to drink—stick to bottled or filtered water. When it came to food, in Antigua and Lake Atitlan, we did not get sick as they use filtered water for ice, drinks, and cooking. It’s touristy enough that they only use filtered water.
- Best Time to Visit: The dry season (November to April) is the best time to travel; the rainy season can make many of the treks muddy.
- Transportation: Shuttle services and private drivers are the safest and most convenient way to get around, especially for families. We used Ubers and private shuttles, which we booked through Simoon Tours.
- Local Etiquette: Guatemalans are very warm and friendly! A polite “buenos días” or “hola” goes a long way in making connections. Tipping is not common, however appreciated.
Day 1-4: Exploring Antigua, Guatemala
We landed in Guatemala City and took an Uber to Antigua (~40-minute ride). Ubers were easy to find, and it cost us about 380Q (~$50). Antigua is a charming colonial city known for its cobblestone streets, vibrant markets, and historic ruins. It’s a fantastic introduction to Guatemala, especially for families. Although it’s relatively touristy, it still has a ton of cultural charm and authentic experiences. This city is super walkable and everything is within a 10-15 minute walk. However, you can easily find Ubers and tuk tuks within the city. If you have little ones, I would not bring a stroller here, as the streets are cobblestone, so bring a carrier instead.
Where to Stay in Antigua
- Porta Hotel Antigua – This charming hotel offers a blend of colonial elegance with modern comfort, with spacious rooms, a heated pool, and a kids’ play area and in house restaurant. I also appreciated that they had filtered water in every room. It’s also located in a great area of the city. You can pay for early check-in when booking. They can also exchange US dollars for you at the front desk and have an ATM at their entrance. However, we did find that 95% of all the businesses in Antigua took credit cards.
Things to Do in Antigua with Kids
Day 1: Walk around and explore Parque Central, MUNAG, and more
On your first day, hit up one of the many fantastic coffee shops in Antigua. We stopped at El Gran Cafe and loved it. The coffee is super smooth, and they have a good selection of pastries. Walk over to Parque Central with your coffee. It’s a great spot for kids to run around and expend some energy while parents soak in the beautiful surroundings. Colonial buildings surround the center, which has a central water fountain. Next, walk around MUNAG, or the Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala. The Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala, located along the Parque Central, showcases an extensive collection of Guatemalan art spanning colonial to contemporary periods. The building that now houses the Museo Nacional de Arte de Guatemala in Antigua was formerly the Royal Palace of the Captains General (Palacio de los Capitanes Generales). This historic building served as Central America’s administrative center of Spanish colonial rule. The museum is free and showcases a variety of art, including Mayan artifacts.
For lunch, head over to El Comalote . The restaurant specializes in traditional heritage corn-based foods like handmade tortillas, tamales, and pupusas, offering an authentic taste of Guatemala. When you walk in, you’ll see a few ladies forming and cooking tortillas of all different colors on a comal. They have a beautiful garden area where you can sit and enjoy your meal. For my vegetarians, make sure you let them know you are vegetarian, and they will let you know what you can order. There were quite a few options! We really enjoyed the vegetarian tortillas! Also, try their traditional drinks like chicha or chichiver, which are local fermented drinks. We tried the chicha, which reminded us of kombucha!
Afterward, we returned to the hotel to get some pool time (or nap time!). For dinner, I recommend La Familia Sourdough Pizzeria in or Masil (the chapchae is delicious!).
Day 2: Explore North Antigua and Sunset ATV
Have a lazy morning in and grab lunch at Brooklyn Pizza. This restaurant is inside a little courtyard that has multiple cafes and restaurants around it. We grabbed pupusas from the pupusa lady, and I grabbed a cardamom lemonade from Casa del Cardamomo. The pizza was SO GOOD! Rhut gave it s 9.5 our of 10. The crust was crispy and the cheese and sauce was delicious! The pupusas were also quite good, especially the spinach pupusa. I enjoyed my lemonade; however, it won’t be for you if you’re not a cardamom fan or hate biting down on a whole cardamom seed.
Next, grab a coffee at your choice of cafes along the way to Santa Catalina Arch (Arco de Santa Catalina), which is in the north part of the city. It was built in the 17th century to connect a convent to a school, allowing nuns to cross the street without being seen. Along the street, you’ll see some cute shops and boutiques that you can explore. Take your time and check out the church just past the arch as well. There is a small open space where kids can run around as well.
We then headed to Simoon Tours’ office, which is two blocks from the arch, to do a Sunset ATV tour. The sunset tour takes you up to El Cerro de la Cruz, a lookout point with a view of Agua Volcano and the entire city of Antigua. Afterward, you’ll ride up to the base of a mountain, where you’ll take a pick-up truck to Hobbitenango. This is a Lord of the Rings-themed Eco-Park where they have pretty views of the mountains, little restaurants, and snack stalls, as well as photo ops. It’s definitely a touristy spot, but kids will love it! We played games, took lots of photos, and enjoyed some ice cream and local snacks while we were there. They are famous for the Hand, which is a big hand that stretches over the edge of the mountain for a fun photo opp. They also have a rope swing that you can use, which is included in the entry ticket cost. Afterward, they can take you to a local Guatemalan restaurant, but our group decided to skip that in order to have more time in the park.
Grab some dinner at the fanciest Taco Bell in the world on your way back to the hotel!
Day 3: Hike Pacaya Volcano
This had to be one of the most unique experiences of my life! We booked our tour through Turisteando. We were picked up from our hotel and took a drive a little over an hour to Pacaya Volcano. Pacaya is an active volcano that last erupted in 2021. We chose to hike the volcano, BUT, if hiking is not for you or you have little ones, you can take a horse up and down! It costs a bit more but it’ll save you form beathing heavy and sweating too hard. I do not recommend this hike for people with bad knees and ankles. It’s quiet steep going up and down. There are other tours that take a shorter 90 minute route to different pizza spot.
Our hike was 3km long and took us about 3 hours to complete. We stopped at a viewpoint and then headed down to the lava beds, where we roasted marshmallows on the lava vents, and Elara helped make a pizza that was also cooked on the lava vents! Elara really loved this experience and it’s definitely one we won’t forget.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and swimming in the hotel pool.
Day 4: Caoba Farms for Breakfast and Travel to Panajachel
Caoba Farms is an organic farm and eco-friendly destination about a 15-minute walk from the hotel. It is known for its fresh produce, farm-to-table restaurant, and community-focused programs. Here, you can explore its lush gardens while the kids run around the play area. They have a relaxed atmosphere and have lots of delicious vegetarian options. We grabbed breakfast here and walked around the farm before heading back to the hotel and packing up to head out to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan.
We booked our travel from Antigua to Panajachel through Simoon as well. We got a private car with cost 650Q (~$84USD). We decided to go for private since Elara can get car sick and we wanted the ability to stop if we needed to. The ride was about 2.5 hours and they dropped us off at our hotel
If you have more time:
- Chocomuseo– take a chocolate making class
- Visit a coffee farm – you can find many tours on Viator or Simoon
Day 5-6: Discovering Lake Atitlán
Panajachel is located on the eastern edge of Lake Atitlán, one of the most breathtaking lakes in the world, surrounded by volcanoes and small villages.
Panajachel is the main entry point to Lake Atitlán and one of the bigger towns on the lake. The main street, Santander Street, is lined with artisan shops, restaurants, and cafes, making it a great place to explore. With stunning lake views and easy access to boat tours, Panajachel is a perfect base for exploring the surrounding villages! Also, as a heads up, make sure you carry enough cash on you as most businesses take cash only on Lake Atitlan.
Where to Stay at Lake Atitlán
Many people stay in Airbnbs while on Lake Atitlan. However, we decided to stay at a hotel because of its ease. We stayed at Porta Hotel Del Lago. Our room had a stunning view of the volcanoes and lake, and the port is just a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
Things to Do at Lake Atitlán with Kids
Day 5: Ziplines and San Marcos La Laguna –
In the morning, we took a tuktuk to Reserva Natural Atitlan to go ziplining! It requires a bit of hiking (~20 minutes total) uphill, but it’s well worth it! This was Elara’s first time ziplining, and she really enjoyed it. Along the way, we saw monkeys and coatis, along with beautiful views of a waterfall and the lake.
We then took an Uber to the docks and took a public boat to San Marcos La Laguna. There are two types of boats at the ramp—public, which costs 25Q per person, and private, which costs 10x more. San Marcos is known for its hippie vibes. They have a good number of vegan and vegetarian restaurants, as well as yoga studios and massage spas. We stopped at El Buho and grabbed pad thai, which was really flavorful and delicious. We walked around the tiny alleyways, and people watched before taking the boat back to Panajachel.
We had dinner on Santander Street and ate some street tostadas and pupusas! The entire street comes to life at night with dozens of street vendors and shops open. I highly recommend stopping at Posh Beads for some beautiful beaded jewelry.
Day 6: San Juan la Laguna and drive back to Guatemala City
In the morning, we grabbed breakfast at Crossroads Cafe, which is famous for its coffee. They grow and roast their coffee, and we ended up buying some bags of coffee beans for my sister here.
Then, we headed back to the boat ramp and hopped on a boat to San Juan La Laguna, which took 45 minutes. This area does have a steep inclined walk up into the town. It’s quite touristy, but there are some art shops where you can see artists at work and women’s weaving co-ops. We stopped at Asociación de Artesanas de San Juan where we learned about how the community naturally dyes their yard and weaves their fabric. Then we walked around and grabbed some ice cream before returning to Panajachel.
We booked a shuttle back to Guatemala City via Simoon as well. I highly recommend booking a private shuttle as the shared shuttles 1) are not that much cheaper 2) are not on time and 3) hard to manage if you have kids who get car sick. This is a 3-4 hours ride depending on traffic.
If you have more time:
- Take a Boat Tour – Visit lakeside villages like San Juan La Laguna, San Pedro, and Santiago Atitlán.
- Hike Indian Nose – A short but rewarding sunrise hike with panoramic lake views.
- Go Kayaking or Paddleboarding – Rent a kayak or paddleboard for a fun family adventure on the lake.
Day 7: Guatemala City
We stayed at the Westin in Guatemala City, which is close to the airport. We spent the day enjoying the pool and relaxing before heading out. But if you’re looking ot go out and enjoy GC for a day- check out Zona Viva or Museum Ixchel!
Final Thoughts
A trip to Guatemala with your family promises adventure, culture, and stunning natural beauty. Antigua’s colonial charm and Lake Atitlán’s breathtaking landscapes create the perfect blend of exploration and relaxation. Whether you’re hiking volcanoes, learning about chocolate, or simply soaking in the views, this Guatemala family itinerary ensures a trip filled with memories that will last a lifetime!
