Guatemala tours & holidays
Get ready for good vibes and grande adventures
This coffee-growing, lava-flowing, jungle-clad landscape doesn’t hold back when it comes to colour – think retro chicken buses cruising down the highway, pastel-painted buildings lining the cobbled streets of Antigua and vibrant wares on sale at market stalls in Chichicastenango. And whether you’re wandering down the Rio Dulce to Garifuna-influenced Livingston, strolling around the quaint island of Flores in Lago Peten Itza, or trekking to the Maya ruins of Tikal, your Guatemalan adventure will unlock all but one of its highland secrets – how this Central American beauty is still largely undiscovered will continue to remain a mystery.
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Explore tailor-made tripsGet to know Guatemala
Just a quick (epic) adventure
You don’t need a lot of time to get a lot done – like summiting Guatemala’s Acatenango Volcano on a short four-day trip.
Take a hikeGuatemala at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Guatemala City (population 3 million)
POPULATION
18 million
CURRENCY
GTQ
LANGUAGE
Spanish
TIME ZONE
(GMT-06:00) Central America
CALLING CODE
+502
ELECTRICITY
Type A (North American/Japanese 2-pin) Type B (American 3-pin)
Learn more about Guatemala
Best time to visit
Just like much of Central America, Guatemala has a wet and dry season, with a pretty consistent temperature throughout the year. July to August and December to January are the peak seasons for travelling, which coincide with US and European summer holidays and winter breaks. However, visiting outside these times may mean that you not only escape the crowds but you'll also be able to fit in a couple of popular Guatemalan festivals.
The dry season is from November to March, which is generally considered the best time to visit as the weather is warm and sunny. However, this is also the busiest tourist time so expect more people about, especially around Christmas and Easter and in the main cities.
Read more about the best time to visit Guatemala
What is the weather like in Guatemala?
Temperatures across Guatemala sit on average, at a comfortable 22°C nearly year-round, and don’t differ too much in terms of season, but vary with the altitude.
In the wetter season, running from April until around September, rainfall is much more abundant; however, it would only disrupt your outdoor plans in the afternoon. The central region has mostly clear skies during the day, with a downpour in the mid to late afternoon.
In the shoulder season (September–October), rains begin to ease up, but October is peak hurricane season. Mild temperatures and clear days make this a good time to travel and hike in the highlands.
The dry season from November through to April sees average temperatures drop slightly in the hilly central region – Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Coban and surrounds – to around 18°C.
History and culture
Before the Spanish colonised this part of the world, hunter-gatherers lived on the land for thousands of years. Olmecs were in the region from 1500 BC, and in the following centuries, Maya civilisations came to dominate, and sites like Peten, Tikal, Cival and El Mirador were established.
Today, Guatemalan culture is a vibrant mix of Spanish, European and Maya customs and languages. Although most of the population is Catholic, many indigenous communities still have links to ancient Maya rituals and practice these alongside their Christian faith. This is especially prevalent in villages where you commonly see people dressed in colourful traditional clothing, celebrating various age-old festivals and producing local handicrafts to sell at village markets.
Some of Guatemala’s most popular festivals and events include Semana Santa, The Festival Folklorico de Coban, Dia de los Muertos and The Fiesta de Santo Tomas.
Geography and environment
Guatemala shares borders with Belize, Mexico, Honduras and El Salvador and is predominately mountainous terrain except for pockets of land on the south coast and northern lowlands. With large areas of rainforest, cloud forest, woodlands and mangroves providing a habitat for a huge range of birds, mammals, reptiles and insects, Guatemala is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world.
The varied environments and climates provide the perfect conditions for an array of wildlife, especially of the flying kind. Be sure to keep a keen eye out for some of Guatemala's famed birdlife on your travels.
Eating and drinking
Touted as the birthplace of chocolate, Guatemala obviously knows a thing or two about flavour. The food here is among the best in Central America, so hit the markets for some street snacks or a restaurant for a more formal and wholesome meal.
Must-try dishes and drinks in Guatemala
1.Elotes
A barbecued ear of corn with cheese, lime, butter and chilli and served on a stick, it's simplicity of this dish is what wins travellers over.
2. Chiles rellenos
A popular street food snack of peppers stuffed with pork and vegetables, then lightly battered and fried.
3. Tamales
Tamales are a corn-dough-based dish, boiled or steamed and served wrapped in a plantain leaf. Typical fillings include chicken, pork, cheese and vegetables, as well as sweet dessert fillings like fruit or almonds.
4. Pepian
Probably the most representative Guatemalan dish, pepian is a spiced and slightly bitter stew, with pumpkin seeds, tomatoes and guisquil, a type of squash. Try a chicken, pork or beef one, or mix and match your meats!
5. Kak’ik
What’s a cuisine without a signature soup? Kak’ik is a sweet and sour broth made with turkey and often served when christening a new home in Guatemala.
6. Spiced mango
Most cities and markets in Guatemala will have street carts selling mango spiced with chilli and lime. The blend of sweet and bitter flavours with a hint of spice is a perfect pick-me-up during your day of exploring.
7. Limonada con soda
You think you’ve tried lemonade? Well, the Guatemalans take it next level. This zesty soft drink is made with real lemons and is the perfect refreshment on a hot and humid day.
Money matters
The official currency of Guatemala is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ).
Credit cards can be used at most large restaurants, shops and other tourist hotspots. Expect to pay cash when dealing with smaller vendors, family-run restaurants and market stalls. Make sure you have smaller denominations of currency with you when you’re purchasing at local vendors to make transactions simpler and easier.
Internationally compatible ATMs can be found in most of Guatemala’s major cities. ATMs are far less common in rural areas and small villages, so make sure you have cash on hand to cover purchases when travelling away from the larger cities.
Guatemala travel FAQs
Travellers from most nationalities need a visa to enter Guatemala. For more information, please visit the Government of Guatemala’s website or the Essential Trip Information.
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information.
You can check the entry requirements for your nationality on your government's foreign travel advisories, consular websites or on our visa and entry requirements page.
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. It's important to understand that each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements, and some destinations mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality.
We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation, but minimum coverage may differ from trip to trip, so make sure you check the Travel Insurance section in your Essential Trip Information. You will not be permitted to join the group until your leader has sighted your insurance policy number and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number, and these details will be recorded on the first day of your trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is an essential part of every journey.
For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and travellers from these regions who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form, recognising personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.
It's customary to add an extra 10% to restaurant bills – if this hasn’t already been included. Tipping elsewhere is optional, but leaving spare change or rounding up your bill at small cafes is always a good idea, as most Guatemalans live on a very limited income.
Guatemala is country with a tropical climate, so pack for hot and humid weather with the chance of rain.
For days spent outdoors, e.g., jungle walks, lightweight, quick-dry fabric is best to keep you cool in the humidity. Make sure you have good-quality closed-toe shoes for walking, too.
The sun can be intense in Guatemala, so bring a hat - wide-brimmed is usually best. Also bring plenty of reef-safe sunscreen and a good pair of sunglasses.
Because this is a tropical country, it’s a good idea to have some rain gear. A lightweight rain jacket is the best for this climate.
Other essentials include a swimsuit and a reusable water bottle.
Drinking tap water isn't recommended in Guatemala. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water – be sure to ask your group leader where filtered water can be found. It's also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.
Wi-fi is becoming more and more prevalent in Guatemala’s cities, although the connection may be slower than you’re used to. Remote areas will have little to no internet access, so be aware if you’re travelling outside the main tourist hotspots that you may have trouble getting online.
Using your mobile phone while in the cities of Guatemala shouldn’t be a problem. Coverage may be less reliable in remote and mountainous areas.
Note that global roaming is especially pricey in Guatemala, so if you want to stay connected on the go, it’s probably best to get a local SIM card.
Many tourist sites and restaurants have flushable toilets, although some remote areas may have compostable or drop toilets. It’s a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand soap or hand sanitiser, as these aren’t always provided.
While homosexuality is legal in Guatemala, attitudes are still conservative. It is advised to be mindful of public displays of affection, especially in rural areas.
If you are travelling solo on an Intrepid group trip, you will share accommodation with a passenger of the same gender as per your passport information. If you don’t identify with the gender assigned on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we’ll arrange the rooming configuration accordingly. A single supplement is available on some tours for travellers who do not wish to share a room.
We take the health and safety of our travellers seriously and take every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and inclusive for everyone. When you travel with us, you have access to our global support network and local on‑ground leadership, and you can rest easy knowing we have a zero-tolerance policy on discrimination.
We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure. The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.
Travelling from Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
Yes, all Intrepid trips support the Intrepid Foundation. Trips to this country directly support our global Intrepid Foundation partners Eden Reforestation Projects and World Bicycle Relief. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
World Bicycle Relief
World Bicycle Relief provides people in low-income communities with bicycles to mobilise school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas – giving them access to vital education, healthcare, and income. Donations help provide Buffalo Bicycles – specifically designed to withstand the rugged terrain and harsh environment of rural regions – to those who need them most.
Find out more or make a donation
We believe travel should be accessible to everyone. Although some destinations and itineraries may be more accessible than others, we'll do our best to accommodate your needs, make reasonable adjustments where possible or guide you toward the most suitable trips. Get in touch with our friendly adventure consultants to chat about your options.
Our Tailor-Made team can also help you plan a customised trip just for you.
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Heart of Guatemala