Planning a trip to Guatemala? Even better, a solo trip to Guatemala? Here’s a 10 day itinerary that will take you to the colonial town of Antigua, to the top of an active volcano, and to a few of the charming towns around Lake Atitlan.
Solo Female Travel in Guatemala
You’re probably wondering, is Guatemala safe for solo female travelers? In my experience, yes, Guatemala is a safe and easy country to travel for solo females. I did this whole itinerary solo, and I didn’t have any problems with the places listed. I haven’t visited other places, like Guatemala City, which I heard can be unsafe at times. If you want a full guide to solo traveling in Guatemala, read my blog post about it here!
Guatemala Itinerary Overview
- Antigua: 3-4 nights
- Volcan Acatenango: 1 night
- Lake Atitlan: 5-6 nights
Arrival
Arrive in Guatemala at La Aurora Airport, in Guatemala City. From the airport take a shuttle directly to Antigua, which is a 1-2 hour drive (depending on traffic). Depending on what time you arrive, you can take a shared or private shuttle. I arrived at night, at around 10 pm, so my only option was to take a private shuttle, which I booked here on Viator. I was quite nervous about arriving in a new country at night and getting into a private shuttle with a stranger, but it was a great, safe experience! (If you want to read more about it, I talked about it in my Guatemala Solo Travel Guide!)
Antigua for 3 nights
Spend a few days exploring Antigua, an incredible colonial town with colorful architecture, breathtaking churches and cathedrals, cobblestone streets and views of volcanos wherever you look. It’s a small, walkable and safe town that’s easy to get around. You really only need about 2 full days to do everything there is to do, so 3 nights is more than enough.
My favorite thing to do in Antigua was just meander the beautiful streets. Make sure you walk through the famous Santa Catalina Arch, and go in the morning if you want to avoid the crowds trying to get pictures. While you’re in the area, walk one block to the prettiest Starbucks in the world. You don’t have to buy anything to go in and admire the beautiful interior and courtyard (support local Guatemalan cafes instead!).
For a full guide to Antigua, Guatemala, check out my post Top 10 Things to do in Antigua, Guatemala.
Where to stay:
- Casi Casa – one of the prettiest hostels I’ve ever stayed at!
- Maya Papaya – also beautiful, and with affordable private rooms available
Volcan Acatenango for 1 night
On your third morning, you’ll leave early on a 2 day/1 night tour of Volcan Acatenango, for a challenging but rewarding hike to the top. Acatenango is an inactive volcano that offers amazing views of Volcan Fuego, an active volcano that erupts about every 10-15 minutes. It’s an incredible sight to see, especially at night! If you are up for it, you can also hike to Volcan Fuego to see the lava up close.
The first day, you’ll drive to the starting point and hike about 6 hours up hill to the base camp. Once there, you’ll have the option continue your hike to the active Fuego, where you could see lava up close. I chose not to do this extra hike because I was EXHAUSTED. Once I got to base camp, I just wanted to relax and enjoy the incredible view!
The next morning, you once again have the option to do an extra hike, this time to the summit of Acatenango. The hike starts VERY early at 3:30 am, so you can see the sunrise once you reach the top. After that, you eat breakfast and hike back down the volcano, which only takes a couple hours.
I hiked with Wicho & Charlies, which I’d highly recommend because they offer comfortable cabins to sleep in and serve vegan food!
After Acatenango
You’ll arrive in back in Antigua from your hike around 1 pm, where you have the option to stay in Antigua for one more night, or continue on to Lake Atitlan. I decided to stay in Antigua for one more night because I wasn’t sure how I would feel after the long hike. I was happy to be able to head straight to my hostel and rest for the night. The next morning I took a shared shuttle to Lake Atitlan.
Lake Atitlan for 5 nights
For the next few days of your trip, you’ll be exploring the many beautiful towns around Lake Atitlan. 5 days may sound like a lot, but there’s so much to do and see around the Lake, and you can spread your time out between different towns if you’d like. Here’s an overview of the 4 towns I would recommend visiting, so you can see which one is best for you to stay in.
Tips for using the lanchas to get around
Lanchas are public boats that travel between the towns on Lake Atitlan. Here’s some tips to ensure you have a smooth experience using them:
- Lanchas operate from the morning to late afternoon, usually from 7 am to 5 pm. Make sure you plan your day trips accordingly and travel back to where you’re staying before the lanchas stop running. And although the boats technically have a “schedule”, it seemed to me like they just left when they were full. Therefore, allow extra time in case of delays.
- Fares will vary depending on where you’re going and whether you are a local or tourist. From Panajachel to San Pedro, it should cost around Q25 for a tourist. Confirm the fare before boarding, and if you are told an unusually high price, politely insist on what you know it should cost. Knowing a bit of Spanish is a big help here! Always carry smalls bills in Guatemala quetzales so you can pay exact change.
- It could be a bumpy & wet ride! Lake Atitlan is a big lake with sometimes rough waves, so it’s not always a smooth sailing. If you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d recommend taking medication beforehand, especially for the hour long trip from Panajachel to San Pedro.
Panajachel
Your shuttle from Antigua will most likely drop you off at Panajachel (aka Pana), which is the biggest town on the lake. A lot of people stay here because there’s easy access to transportation, such as boats, buses and shuttles, and there are plenty of restaurants and shops to enjoy.
That being said, Panajachel is not nearly as picturesque as the smaller villages, as it’s more commercialized. It also doesn’t have as many opportunities for those looking to enjoy nature and take advantage of the serene beauty of Lake Atitlan. However, taking a lancha to any of the other towns is very easy from Panajachel. Most of the towns are less than an hour away. So if you choose to stay in Panajachel, you can still explore the quaint villages by doing day trips each day.
On my trip, I took a shuttle to Panajachel that arrived in the afternoon. I decided to stay there one night before heading to my next destination, and I can confirm that the restaurants and shopping there are great! I had a delicious dinner at Humaya, a Mayan restaurant with vegetarian options, and then a traditional Guatemalan breakfast at The Little Spoon – both some of my favorite meals I had in Guatemala. I also did some shopping at thrift stores.
Where to stay:
- Dreamboat Hostel – social, party hostel with lots of events
- Nomades Hostel – social but laidback hostel
- Hostal Mario’s Rooms – affordable private rooms – I stayed here and loved it!
Things to do:
- shop on Calle Santander
- relax and hike at Atitlán Nature Reserve
San Pedro
San Pedro la Laguna is the second biggest town on the lake and where I would personally recommend staying, especially if you are traveling solo. San Pedro is very backpacker friendly, with affordable accommodations and a bit of nightlife, if you’re into that. There’s lots of activities you can do right from town, like kayaking, thermal baths, hiking, and Spanish schools. I liked that there was a balance between tourist infrastructure and local Guatemalan/Mayan culture. Similar to Panajachel, San Pedro is not the prettiest town on the lake, but it is known for its colorful murals that you can find on almost every street.
I stayed in San Pedro for 6 days while attending Lake Atitlan Spanish School and fell in love with the little town! I think it’s the perfect base to explore the other towns from. I would have stayed longer if I could! If you want to read more about my experience attending Spanish School in San Pedro, I have a whole blog post about it here.
Where to stay:
- Mr. Mullet’s – social hostel with boat parties and pub crawls every week
- Hotel Amigos – private rooms and dorms with great views of the lake
Things to do:
- attend Lake Atitlan Spanish School
- eat at Cafe Panorama & enjoy the panoramic views of the lake
- relax at Los Termales & get a massage
- rent a kayak or paddleboard
San Juan La Laguna
San Juan La Laguna is undoubtably the prettiest town on Lake Atitlan, due to its strong local Mayan culture and cooperative art galleries. As soon as you step off the lancha at the dock, you will be enchanted with the main street, which itself is a piece of art, from the paint covering the street to the colorful umbrellas hanging above. It’s a great place to buy locally made textiles, art, and food, such as honey, cacao and medicinal plants. Make sure you check out Casa Flor Ixcaco, a Women owned cooperative selling ethically made and priced textiles that will take your breath away.
San Juan is a great place to stay if you’re looking for a quiet and safe environment, but be aware that there are limited dining options compared to the other towns. There are also limited lanchas to San Juan. To get there from Panajachel, you will likely have to transfer at San Pedro.
Where to stay:
- 4 Elementos Hostel – sustainable hostel with private rooms and dorms
- Hogar Tzutujil, Chikuwa – a homestay you can book through AirBNB. I have a friend who stayed here and said it was an incredible experience!
Things to do:
- shop at Casa Flor Ixcaco for woman made textiles
- learn about & shop for medicinal plants at Plantas Medicinales Mayab
- enjoy the view at Mirador Kaqasiiwaan
- hike to Indian Nose Peak (book a tour here)
San Marcos La Laguna
San Marcos is known as the spiritual and wellness hub of the lake. If you like yoga, meditation and vegan food, this is where you should stay. It’s quiet and serene, with lots of spaces to relax, including lakefront spots. The biggest draw of San Marcos is the Reserva Natural Cerro Tzankujil, a natural reserve with a cliff jumping platform. It’s an incredible place to hike, swim and admire the beauty of the lake, on land and in the water.
This town can get a bad rap because it’s known for being cliquey and exclusive, as there is a niche community that lives there. I only visited for a few hours but I definitely felt this vibe. I also felt that it was very gentrified and lacked any local culture, with all the restaurants, cafes and shops catering to tourists. Not necessarily bad if that’s what you’re looking for, but I personally liked the other towns better for the mix of Guatemala culture and tourist amenities.
Where to stay:
- ATI Hostel & Beach Club – beautiful hostel on the shores of the lake
- Casa Madera – laidback hostel/hotel with views of the lake
Things to do:
- go cliff jumping at Reserva Natural Cerro Tzankujil
- attend a yoga class at one of the many studios in town
Departure
The journey from Lake Atitlan back to the airport in Guatemala City takes at least 4 hours, but with traffic it will likely take a lot longer. I would recommend leaving Lake Atitlan at least 8 hours before your flight. My journey took 6 hours because of the horrible traffic when we were entering the city. Depending on when you’re flight is, you may have to travel back to the airport from Lake Atitlan on the day before your flight to ensure you have enough time.
To get a direct shared shuttle from the lake to the airport, you must leave from Panajachel. Reserve at least 2 hours to get to Panajachel from wherever you are on the lake. Then from Panajachel, expect it to take 3-6 hours to get to the airport.
There are also shared shuttles from the smaller towns like San Pedro and San Juan, but they stop in Antigua, where you must transfer to another shuttle. I took a shuttle from San Pedro, and the stop in Antigua was about 1 hour, which was longer than I expected. Thankfully my flight was much later in the day so I had plenty of time. I booked my shuttle through RoadRunner Guatemala, a great company that will organize your journey and transfers. As always, you can also take private shuttles which will take you directly where you need to go, but at a higher price.
Want to know more about Guatemala?
Check out my other Guatemala blog posts here!
- Top 10 Things to do in Antigua Guatemala: A Must-See Guide
- A Solo Female Traveler’s Ultimate Guide to Guatemala
- Attending Spanish School in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
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I have stayed a couple of weeks in Panajachel and totally agree it is a great base to explore all the beautiful towns and Mayan sites around the lake. You have given a perfect description of the towns around the lake. I was traveling with my teenage daughter and thought it was a very safe area.
Guatemala has always been pretty high up on my bucket list. It sounds like a dream. Your photography is so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
I’ve never visited Guatemala and never realized how much I would want to until reading your 10 day Guatemala itinerary. Appreciate all of your tips and observations of the towns.
I loved this. I am considering heading to Guatemala and hearing about your journey confirmed this is my next solo trip. I like how this was laid out so that you can see some of the major sites.
This looks like such pretty vacation spot. Having been to a couple of Mayan sites in Mexico I never thought of Guatemala having Mayan sites as well. Thanks for the tips about boat times and where to stay.