A country · 94 places · 16 regions
Guatemala, all of it.
94 curated places across 16 regions — photographed, mapped, and noted with the season each is best in.
The 4 biggest regions — Guatemala Department, Petén Department, Sololá Department and Sacatepéquez Department — read below as chapters, with 12 more waiting past them.
Chapter I · Guatemala Department · 16 places
Guatemala Department
A Postclassic hilltop citadel of the Chajoma Maya, dramatically sited on ridges above deep river canyons about an hour and a half from Guatemala City. Restored ball courts and temple platforms are usually shared with only a handful of other visitors.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter II · Petén Department · 16 places
Petén Department
A vast Preclassic Maya city buried deep in the Petén jungle, reachable only by a multi-day trek or helicopter. Its La Danta pyramid ranks among the largest structures ever raised in the ancient Americas, and the surrounding forest teems with howler monkeys and toucans.
✦ December to April, during the dry season when jungle trails are passable · $
Chapter III · Sololá Department · 8 places
Sololá Department
A Tz'utujil town on Lake Atitlán that has become the lake's backpacker hub, packed with Spanish schools, cheap hostels and lakefront cafes. Despite the traveler scene, the steep upper town keeps its market-day rhythms and traditional dress.
via Wikimedia CommonsChapter IV · Sacatepéquez Department · 7 places
Sacatepéquez Department
A symmetrical cone volcano that towers over the colonial city of Antigua. Its forested slopes are a strenuous day climb rewarded by highland views from the summit.
✦ November to March · $
Regions of Guatemala
- Guatemala Department16
- Petén Department16
- Sololá Department8
- Sacatepéquez Department7
- Izabal Department5
- Quetzaltenango Department4
- Quiché Department4
- Alta Verapaz Department3
- Escuintla Department3
- Chimaltenango Department2
- San Marcos Department2
- Totonicapán Department2
- Baja Verapaz Department1
- Chiquimula Department1
- Huehuetenango Department1
- Suchitepéquez Department1
Every place in Guatemala
94 places, one country.
El Mirador
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ December to April, during the dry season when jungle trails are passable · $
Yaxha
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April for dry trails and clear sunset views · $
Uaxactun
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ February to May, when the dirt road from Tikal is reliably driveable · $
Aguateca
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ December to April; boat access is easiest at higher water early in the dry season · $
Iximche
Chimaltenango Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April for dry weather; mornings are clearest in the highlands · $
Mixco Viejo
Guatemala Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April, in the dry season when access roads are in good shape · $
Zaculeu
Huehuetenango, Guatemala
✦ November to April for reliably dry highland weather · $
Volcán Tajumulco
San Marcos Department, Guatemala
✦ November to March for the clearest summit views; nights are below freezing · $
San Pedro Volcano
Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April; start before dawn to beat the midday clouds · $
San Pedro La Laguna
Sololá Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April for dry, sunny lake weather · $
San Marcos La Laguna
Sololá Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April, when lake mornings are calm and clear · $
Panajachel
Sololá Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April for the dry season; October brings lush post-rain greenery · $$
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April; pack layers as highland nights get cold · $
Laguna Chicabal
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
✦ November to April; arrive early before mist settles over the crater · $
Flores, El Petén
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April, in the Petén dry season · $
Ipala Volcano
Chiquimula, Guatemala
✦ November to April; weekdays are far quieter than weekends · $
Tikal
Petén Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $$
Río Dulce National Park
Izabal Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $
Momostenango
Totonicapán Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $
Nebaj
Quiché Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $
Todos Santos Cuchumatán
Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala
✦ October to March · $
Cobán
Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $
Sipacate
Escuintla Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $
Zunil
Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala
✦ November to April · $