Spanning a mountainous slice of Central America immediately south of Mexico, the best places to visit in Guatemala are loaded with incredible natural, historical, and cultural appeal. As the birthplace and heartland of the ancient Maya, the country is in many ways defined by the legacy of this early civilization. Their rainforest cities were abandoned centuries ago, but Maya people continue to thrive in the Guatemalan highlands, where traditions and religious rituals, mingled with Catholic practices, endure to form the richest and most distinctive indigenous identity in the hemisphere.
Best places to visit in Guatemala
19 places to visit in Guatemala
CobánNorthern Alta VerapazLago de IzabalLívingstonThe Río Dulce gorgeEscuintla and aroundMonterrico and aroundFloresThe Reserva de la Biósfera MayaTikalAround QuetzaltenangoLago de AtitlánAntigua Travel Guide
Cobán and the Verapaces Travel Guide
Guatemala City and around Travel Guide
The Oriente and Izabal Travel Guide
The Pacific coast Travel Guide
Petén Travel Guide
The western highlands Travel GuideQuestions about the best places to see in Guatemala
What is the best place to visit in Guatemala?−
One of the most popular places to visit in Guatemala is Antigua – a cobbled colonial city backed by volcanoes, filled with ruins, rooftop cafés, and Spanish schools. But the best place to visit depends on what you’re looking for.
Lake Atitlán is a close second – ringed by Indigenous villages and volcanoes, it’s great for hiking or doing nothing at all. For ruins, nothing tops Tikal, hidden deep in the northern jungle. And if you’re after raw, less-touristy Guatemala, the highlands around Quetzaltenango or the markets of Chichicastenango are the real deal.
