Guatemala might not be the first destination that comes to mind when planning a solo trip, but from peaceful lakeside mornings to volcano-view rooftops, this country has something magical. If you only have just over a week and want to experience Guatemala’s best bits without rushing, this Guatemala itinerary focusing on Lake Atitlán and Antigua is ideal.
I followed a similar route myself when I travelled Guatemala and Belize two years ago, and had an amazing time in this beautiful country! Apart from an unexpected illness (more on that later!). This one week Guatemala itinerary combines culture, nature, adventure, and downtime. Let’s get into it!
Some things that might be interesting to know ✨
📱Looking for mobile data? I’d suggest this Guatemalan E-SIM! With this ESIM, you can have data the minute you land in Guatemala. Starting from just $4.5!
🚌 Sorting out your transportation within Guatemala and Belize? I used Guatego to book all my transportation during this trip, and it all went super smoothly!
Day 0: Arrive in Guatemala City (Evening)
First make your way to Guatemala, and you will most likely start off in Guatemala City if you are arriving by plane. Guatemala City doesn’t have the best reputation for safety, especially at night, so most people will continue their travels to either Antigua or Lake Atitlán as soon as possible.
If you arrive throughout the day, you can directly continue your trip to the next destination. However, if you arrive in Guatemala City late in the evening, I would recommend to first stay a night in Guatemala City and continue your trip in the morning. That is what I did as well!
I first spent one night at Hostal Villa Toscana, which was just a five-minute Uber away from the airport. That way, I didn’t really need to stress about navigating Guatemala City in the dark and still had a bit of rest after a very long travel day.
Travelling to Guatemala solo? Check out my guide to solo female travel in Guatemala!
Day 1: Travel to Antigua
In the morning, travel to Antigua! You can book a shuttle that will take you directly from Guatemala City to Antigua. I’ve pretty much booked all my transportation within Guatemala via Guatego. The shuttle I booked, picked me up directly from Hostal Villa Toscana where I was staying, so the trip felt very safe, and I didn’t have to go anywhere within Guatemala City. I would highly recommend the same.
The trip will take around 2 hours. And depending on if you want to take the 6am or 9am shuttle, you will arrive in Antigua in the morning or a an hour before noon. Antigua is bursting with charm: cobbled streets, colonial buildings, and dramatic volcano backdrops. Spend your day wandering the historic centre. Don’t forget to visit Santa Catalina Arch, Antigua Cathedral and the Central Park.
However, make sure you have a somewhat early night, as the next day will be quite demanding.
Where to stay in Antigua?
I stayed at Hostal Maya Papaya which was one of the nicest hostels I have ever stayed in. It was very clean, very central, and I would 100% stay here again. It’s quite popular though, so make sure to book your stay at Maya Papaya Hostel at least a couple of days in advance.
Day 2: Acatenango Volcano Overnight Hike
Today is a big day and this will most likely be your highlight during your Guatemala trip, a hike to the top of a volcano. Most tours to Volcán Acatenango start very early in the morning. The hike is tough—you’ll climb to nearly 4,000 metres—but incredibly rewarding. But make sure you have a decent fitness level!
You’ll camp overnight at base camp, where you can watch nearby Volcán Fuego erupt (yes, actual lava!). If you’re up for it, there’s an optional sunrise summit hike the next morning. Make sure to bring warm clothes, as it can get very cold at night. As for the rest of your luggage, just leave that in the hostel and I would just still have the night booked, so you don’t need to worry about checking in and out of your accomodation. Otherwise, they should also offer storage options.
Check out all the tours to Acatenango, to find out which one is the best for you!
Note: I had to skip this hike due to being unwell, but every traveller I spoke to called it the highlight of their trip. So if you’re feeling fit, don’t miss it! And that is also why I would suggest to do the hike early on during your trip. I actually went to Lake Atitlán first and then to Antigua, but by the time I got to Antigua I was super sick. So I wished I would have just done the hike right away.
Day 3: Return from Volcano & Rest in Antigua
In the morning you will wake up on top of a volcano, with some of the most breathtaking views. Now the first part of the day will be spent making your way down from the volcano again. You’ll return to Antigua around midday after the hike and probably all you would want at that moment will be a long shower, food, and lots of rest.
So I wouldn’t make too many plans for the rest of the day, and just take it as it comes. If you have some energy left you can spend the afternoon shopping for souvenirs, sipping coffee in a courtyard café, or visiting a museum like Casa Santo Domingo. This rest day is well-earned and gives your body time to recover before moving on to your next destination the following day.
Day 4: Travel to Lake Atitlán (Panajachel)
After some exiting but also exhausting time in Antigua it is time to travel to one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala: Lake Atitlán. You can spend the rest of your one week Guatemala itinerary relaxing by the lake and discovering the surrounding areas..
Travelling from Antigua to Lake Atitlán is pretty straightforward. The lake is about 80km away but due to the roads, the trip will take around 3 hours. You can again just sort out our shuttle online, there are multiple departure times throughout the day. The shuttle will drop you off in Panajachel. You can stay here or decide to take a boat right away to one of the other towns nearby and stay there instead.
Spend the rest of the day discovering Panajachel, which is the biggest town around the lake. You can shop for some souvenirs, enjoy some food at the market or just wonder around the colourful streets, which is what I usually like to do.
Where to stay at Lake Atitlán?
In Panajachel I stayed at Dreamboat Hostel! After that I moved to Santa Cruz de La Laguna where I stayed at the Free Cerveza Hostel. Free Cerveza is super popular so if you do want to stay here make sure to book it in advance!
I would suggest to do the same so you have a bit of variatey. Stay one night in Panajchel and then two more night in Santa Cruz de La Laguna.
Day 5: Nature Reserve in Panajachel and move to Santa Cruz La Laguna
Check out of Dreamboat Hostel, and put your belongings into one of the lockers they have at the reception. Then take a tuk-tuk to the Nature Reserve in Panajachel. It’s not far away but the road goes up on a hill and there isn’t really a path for pedestrians, so that is why I’d recommend the Tuk Tuk. The nature reserve in Panajachel is a beautiful place and here you can find hanging bridges, waterfalls, butterflies, monkeys, and adorable coatis. The trails are easy to navigate, and the views of the lake are stunning. I spent a few hours here and still didn’t want to leave.
This is a great spot for photography, and the peaceful trails offer a nice break from the bustle of town.
After head back to the hostel to pick up your stuff, and take the water taxi to Santa Cruz La Laguna and check in to the Free Cerveza Hostel (make sure to book this in advance). This lakeside hostel is great for solo travellers, offering kayaking, SUP, and communal dinners that make it easy to meet people.
Santa Cruz is quieter than other towns, which makes it ideal for relaxing. Just spend the rest of the day louging in a hammock or going for a swim.
Day 6: Village Hopping Around Lake Atitlán
During your last full day during your week in Guatemala it’s time to explore some of the other villages along Lake Atitlán. There are so many villages and they all have their own charm and are very unique. Luckily, it’s very easy to travel from one village to another by taxi boat. The boats go pretty regularly all day and often just leave whenever they have enought people.
Some of the other villages you could visit are San Juan La Laguna, San Pedro La Laguna, and San Marcos La Laguna.
Day 7: Last day at Lake Atitlán, head back to Guatemala City
Now it depends a bit on what your next travel plans are and where you go after. If your flight back home is the following day, then I would just spend the first part of the day hanging out by the lake. You can then take a shuttle back to Guatemala City in the afternoon or evening. That would make sense if you have a flight late at night or early in the morning the following day.
For morning flights, I’d recommend staying another night in Guatemala City then instead and just Uber to the airport in the morning. I stayed at Euro Hostal, and they gave me a ride to the airport at like 5am, so I didn’t have to worry about sorting out my own transportation.
Maybe one week in Guatemala is not enough and you want to extend your trip in? Then I would recommend travelling to Flores next, so that you can visit the archaeological site of Tikal. For that, head back to Guatemala City and then take the night bus all the way up to Flores. I booked this shuttle online, so that I had the shuttle and night bus sorted all at once, and the shuttle dropped me off directly at the bus station in Guatemala City from where I could get into the nightbus.
Final Thoughts after one week in Guatemala
This one-week Guatemala itinerary is a condensed version of my full Guatemala and Belize itinerary, focusing on the best Guatemala has to offer. With a perfect mix of chill and challenge, this route is ideal for travellers looking to combine cultural discovery, nature, and unforgettable adventure. However, having a little bit more time than just one week in Guatemala also doesn’t hurt!
Enjoy your trip!
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