Wow, Did We See Wildlife!
We were nervous about booking a Guatemala trip during its rainy season, but we did not regret it one bit. We were looking for adventure and nature from this vacation, and we definitely got it — in spades!
A delightful vacation to remember…
We started planning this trip with Claudia from Anywhere.com, and the communication was great. Although we were a bit nervous about the rainy season, we still filled our itinerary with outdoor activities. The hike to Pacaya Volcano was great. It's a pretty tough hike actually, but most of our group rode up on horses. We walked and loved the exercise. It was so cool that we got to see lava flowing out of the volcano. We also highly recommend the Circo Del Aire Canopy Tour. It was super fun and the staff kept us totally safe; I would love to do it again.
The gem of Guatemala — Tikal…
We *loved* the one day tour in Tikal. We was expecting just Mayan ruins, but we also saw plenty of wildlife! We saw coatimundis, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, hummingbirds, a red-breasted falcon, agouti (like a capybara), occellated turkeys, woodpeckers, Montezuma oropendola, and slaty-tailed trogon.
Despite the rainy season, we had fun…
Although it rained a bit during our Tikal tour, it didn't dampen our party. We also loved Antigua, and we would've stayed there for two days if we could do it again. We love using Anywhere — it was a great experience!
Places you'll stay
Guatemala City
Guatemala City is often a traveler’s first glimpse of Guatemala. As your plane descends over the capital, you witness the largest city in Central America unfold—a sprawling, colorful metropolis that spreads into a valley ringed by forested mountains and volcanoes. It’s a big and powerful place that is home to around four million people.
Escuintla
The bustling and sweltering city of Escuintla is located at the junction of the two main coastal roads from Guatemala City. It will interest travelers mainly as a place to eat or refuel while heading to or from the Pacific coast.
Antigua
The charming city of La Antigua is situated in a lush highland valley and surrounded by the cones of three volcanoes. As its name implies (Antigua means old in Spanish), this is a historic city. It was the former capital of Guatemala until an earthquake destroyed it in 1773. Following this disaster, the capital was moved to its current site at Guatemala City, but the ruins (and some of the people) of Antigua stayed put. These days, Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s foremost tourist destinations.
Tikal
Tikal, with its towering Mayan ruins and vast primary forests, is one of Guatemala’s most awe-inspiring sites. The ruins are undoubtedly the country’s best—huge temples and limestone pyramids dominate the landscape. The structures are a part of the Tikal National Park, a huge protected area that helps conserve some of Guatemala’s most pristine outdoor areas. Visiting Tikal is an absolute must while in Guatemala.
Moments to look forward to
Pacaya Volcano
The Pacaya Volcano is one of Guatemala’s most active volcanoes. Rising to a height of 8,373-feet (2,552-m), the Pacaya Volcano makes for a convenient day trip from Guatemala City or Antigua. The volcano was granted national park status in 2001.
Tikal National Park
Set within the northern reaches of Guatemala’s Petén department is the incredible Mayan site of Tikal. With its massive Mayan temples, steep limestone pyramids and thick green jungles, Tikal is undoubtedly one of the top attractions in Guatemala. The ruins and surrounding forest are located within the Tikal National Park.
Maya Biosphere Reserve
The Maya Biosphere Reserve is the largest protected tropical forest in North America. Spreading across 4.3 million acres (1.7 million hectares) in Guatemala’s Petén department, this reserve protects huge expanses of forests and the Mayan ruins that lie within them.
Pacaya Volcano Hike
Circo del Aire Canopy Antigua-CS
Tikal One Day
Incredible Stays
Hotel Recommendation #1
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Seamless Connections
Insider-led Guatemala Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
Get StartedPrivate drivers; English-speaking available.
Avoid the crowds in private day tours.
Better stays, better pacing, better reservations.
Insider-only experiences and exclusive local partners.
24/7 in-country support by phone, text, and WhatsApp.
Insider-led Guatemala Design & Concierge
Your insider team designs the trip around what you care about, then supports you in-country with private logistics, vetted partners, and concierge help when plans change.
Real Voices, Real Benefits
We believe travel is more than ticking destinations off a list – it's about discovering new places deeply, feeling connected wherever you go, and knowing you have a trusted team of local experts behind you every step of the way.
