Temple I at Tikal, Guatemala
← All destinations Central America

Guatemala

Maya cities and highland markets

Photo: Tikal temple jaguar.jpg by Unknown, CC BY-SA 2.0. All photo credits

The strongest concentration of Maya archaeology in the region, alongside colonial towns and highland villages where weaving and market traditions are still part of daily life.

What it's known for

  • Tikal Temples rising out of the Petén rainforest; a UNESCO site and the country's headline sight
  • Antigua A colonial city of cobbled streets and ruined churches, ringed by volcanoes
  • Lake Atitlán A crater lake edged by villages, reached from Antigua in a few hours
  • Chichicastenango A highland market town, busiest on Thursdays and Sundays

When to go

November to April is the dry season and the most comfortable time in the highlands. Tikal is hot and humid year-round.

Getting there

Flights into Guatemala City, usually via Houston, Dallas, Miami or Los Angeles. Often combined with Belize.

This page is a starting point, not a packaged trip. Larry builds each itinerary around what you want and quotes it once he has confirmed availability and current pricing.