Guatemala travel tips
Shopping advice
Vicky Rodford from our partner, Intrepid Travel:
“Head to Chichicastenango market and haggle hard! There are some great local handicrafts on offer and it’s a perfect chance to immerse yourself in local life for a few hours.”
“Head to Chichicastenango market and haggle hard! There are some great local handicrafts on offer and it’s a perfect chance to immerse yourself in local life for a few hours.”
Best time to go
Vicky Rodford has thoughts on spring travel: “Arriving over Easter (Semana Santa) has pros and cons. The cons are that everywhere is really busy as many Guatemalans have this as a holiday period; the pros are without a doubt the festivities over the Easter weekend, particularly in Antigua.”
Best way to travel
Maren Rojas, also from Intrepid Travel, extolls the benefits of an open mind: “Come with a different mindset and with respect for the destination, and prepare to be immersed. Sometimes we want things quickly – this isn’t always possible. People might see life in a different way – not in a bad way – but in a different way here.”
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Guatemala travel advice
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Guatemala travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Guatemala travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday – and the space inside your suitcase.
The morning spent at Tikal in Guatemala was excellent. This activity is definitely best done in the early morning light.![]()
– Diana Urbina
“Practice walking uphill before embarking on the volcano hike! Take a Spanish phrasebook for Guatemala if your Spanish is as bad as ours. Lots of bug repellent. Many memory cards for photos, I think my son took 950 photos. Take a waterproof, the rains when they come are phenomenal. Wifi is around but don't rely on it -use the phone as a camera, leave your email behind. Have faith in your guides, they are brilliant and know their stuff.” – Alex Holmes
“The morning spent at Tikal in Guatemala was excellent. This activity is definitely best done in the early morning light as it gets very warm and less pleasant to walk in the jungle after 10am.” – Diana Urbina
“Be prepared that some hotels do not seem to have hot water – weather was warm – not a big issue.” – Fran McQuail on a Belize & Guatemala adventure holiday
“The morning spent at Tikal in Guatemala was excellent. This activity is definitely best done in the early morning light as it gets very warm and less pleasant to walk in the jungle after 10am.” – Diana Urbina
“Be prepared that some hotels do not seem to have hot water – weather was warm – not a big issue.” – Fran McQuail on a Belize & Guatemala adventure holiday
Practice walking uphill before embarking on the volcano hike!...![]()
– Alex Holmes
More Guatemala articles
The best time to visit Guatemala is during the dry season, in November to April.
Learn about Central America’s most diverse nation, exploring sacred lakes, vast ruins and Maya culture.
The country has had to cope with poverty, inequality, a civil war and lingering violence.
Guatemala and Mexico can be easily combined when you travel as part of a small group tour.
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