A guide to our 10-day family-friendly Guatemala itinerary with Kids
- dimple verma
- Jun 19
- 8 min read
I had been waiting to visit Guatemala to experience the most active volcano in Central America- Volcán Fuego. Little did I know, this colorful, culture-rich country would surprise us in the best ways.
Guatemala met all our travel needs—there is history, nature, beauty, adventure, and amazing food! I wish I could have seen everything, but sometimes it's better to leave a few things for the next time. The biggest one I left out was Tikal, but that only gives me another reason to return!
This guide covers our full 10-day family itinerary, including a hike to Acatenango and Lake Atitlán, Antigua. We visited the last week of November (the perfect time for the hike) and found the weather warm during the day and slightly chilly in the evenings, so layering was key.
Hi, I am Dimple, mom of two small girls (4 yr and 6 yr at this time), and I write all things related to travel with kids- guides, itineraries, tips, and hacks so you don’t have to. This post is dedicated to our 10-day family guide to Guatemala, including a hike to Acatenango.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you use these links to purchase something. Thanks
Day # | Activities | Additional comments |
Day 1 | Travel day | Fly to Guatemala City. 3 hours drive to Lake Atitlan (Panajachel area) |
Day 2 | Panajachel-->San Juan/San Pedro | Mirador de San Juan la laguna, San Pedro village, Bufanda class |
Day 3 | San Marcos or a day trip to Chichicastenango | If on Thursday or Sunday, do Chicicastenango |
Day 4 | Explore Panajachel | Atitlan Nature Reserve, Hotel Atitlan |
Day 5 | Travel day from Atitlan-->Antigua | Check in hotel, Choco Museo |
Day 6 | Day trip to Hobbitenango | Hobbitennago, Altamira, Earth lodge, Antigua Boreal |
Day 7 | Volcano hike to Acatenanogo | Night stay at Acatenango camp |
Day 8 | Back to Antigua from Acatenango | Rest, massage, Santo Domingo |
Day 9 | Explore Antigua | Santa Catarina Arch, Ruins of La Recoleccion , McDonalds, Nim pot |
Day 10 | Fly back |
So, here is our guide to a 10-day family-friendly itinerary to Guatemala, including a hike to Acatenango:
Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala City & Transfer to Lake Atitlán
Fly into Guatemala City (GUA): Small airport, quick customs, and free airport WiFi.
Transfer to Panajachel: We took a 3-hour private taxi. - I highly recommend our driver, Miguel, whom I found on the Guatemala Facebook group. You can DM me for his contact details
The roads are very windy, so pack motion sickness medicine for the kids. (You'll need it.)
If you're not staying in Panajachel (we did, and highly recommend it), you’ll need to take a lancha (boat) to your lake town. Pana has a mix of tourist convenience (good restaurants, shops, pharmacies) and small-town Guatemalan charm.
It is a scenic drive to Lake Atitlán, which is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Surrounded by volcanoes, the breathtaking views left us in awe.
Arrive by evening, settle in, grab dinner, and rest.
We stayed at Porta Hotel Del Lago
Travel Tip: I would recommend other hotels such as
Day 2: Lake Atitlan towns - San Juan/San Pedro
Morning after breakfast: Take a lancha to San Juan La Laguna
Optional hike to Mirador de San Juan: Easy 30-minute uphill trail with amazing views of the lake and volcanoes.
It’s a really easy hike with a great view of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding volcanoes. When you arrive at the entrance to Mirador de San Juan La Laguna, you will see a bunch of tuk-tuks lined up outside. Follow the dirt path until you see a booth with people sitting in it.
The price for me was 30 Quetzales per person. They will give you a ticket, and you will be on your way.
Follow the steps for around 30 minutes. It is an easy path to follow with some similar spectacular views to your left.
Afternoon: Tuk-tuk or lancha to San Pedro La Laguna
This village is a wonderful place to experience the local culture and buy handcrafted fabric, paintings, and other local souvenirs.
Explore local cafes, street vendors, and shops.
Visit Museo Tz'unun 'Ya for the history and geology of the lake.
Join a weaving or bufanda (scarf) class
I would highly recommend Rosa Bufanda's class
She was the sweetest person I met during our trip. They work very hard to make one single bufanda that could take them a week. Support a local when you are visiting
Find her work at Lema Guatemala or email her at lemaguatemala@gmail.com
Dont miss a Bufanda class in San Pedro/San Juan area
Travel Tip: Boat service runs between 6:30 am and around 6 or 7 pm. Two lanchas depart Panajachel every 30ish minutes. One will be a direct boat, and the other will stop in each village along the North shore between the two villages (Santa Cruz/San Marcos/San Pedro/Jaibalito/Tzununa).
The lancha captains wait until they’ve nearly hit capacity before departing. So, you may end up sitting in a lancha for up to 25 minutes before the boat departs.
Day 3: Day trip - Chichicastenango
If you’re here on a Thursday or Sunday, you can also visit Chichicastenango.
Chichicastenango is one of the most vibrant markets you will ever visit. It has been named the most colorful market in Central America! Around two hours from Lake Atitlan, you can get a shuttle from the lake to the market. But the market only happens on Thursdays and Sundays.
Day 4: Exploring Panajachel
Mid-Morning: Atitlan Nature Reserve
Nature Reserve in Panajachel: https://en.atitlanreserva.com/
This was one of the best experiences for the kiddos. My older daughter (6 years) went for the ziplining experience, meanwhile my younger daughter (3 years) and I walked on the hanging bridges and strolled on the trails to find any coatis
There is a butterfly conservatory right before you start your trail, and it's beautiful to see the butterflies around. Your kids will love it just like mine did.
Shop along Calle Satender if you need any souvenirs.
Highly recommend having lunch/dinner at this hotel. The views from the hotels is just breathtaking.
Bring in your swimming suits, and you can take a dip in their pool for a fee.
the views and water is insane on the Hotel Atitlan
Day 5: Lake Atitlán to Antigua
This was a travel-heavy day, but the 3-hour ride to Antigua was smooth. We checked into our hotel and made our way straight to ChocoMuseo, where we took part in a chocolate-making workshop.
It was highly interactive, kids learnt about the chocolate history and some Mayan ceremonies.
What's even better, the kids took back the chocolates they made. Definitely recommended experience.
Travel Tip: While walking around the streets of Antigua, I would highly urge you to see McDonald's and Starbucks. Not only do they have beautiful courtyards, I can bet they are the most beautiful around the world!!
Day 6: Day trip from Antigua- Hobbitenango
Day three was all about soaking in everything Antigua has to offer. Antigua is ridiculously photogenic, all cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, and volcano views.
In the afternoon, we booked a full-day private taxi (again by our friend Miguel) to go to Hobbitenango, Altamira, the Boreal slides, and Earth Lodge.
Hobbitennango- You don't have to go to New Zealand to see the hobbit holes.
From the point of dropoff, there are numerous open 4WD that run up to the hobbitennago. The ride is def scary for weak hearts. Hold on to your kids when going up!
The main highlights are the rope swing and the famous hand sculpture.
Aside from that, there are several paths you can walk, and given you’ll be here for 3-3.5 hours
Travel Tip #1: Visiting Hobbitenango is free during the week, but you pay for activities, while there is an entrance fee for visitors on the weekend. This includes unlimited use of the facilities. On Saturday and Sunday, the entrance fee is Q50 (US$7) for adults and Q30 (US$4) for children.
Travel Tip #2: The best and easiest option is to take the shuttle departing from the Hobbitenango office in Antigua. The shuttle bus departs every two hours (from 8 am to 4 pm) and takes you right to the entrance. However, we took a full-day private car.
Antigua Boreal - an eco-park located in the hills of El Hato above Antigua, where you can enjoy fresh air, flower greenhouses, outdoor activities, and a giant rainbow slide. Both my kids still rave about the experience.
Antigua Boreal rainbow slide for kids Earth Lodge Avocado Farm:
Imagine hiking down in the middle of the mountains and beautiful avocado trees, just to be greeted with freshly made vegan food with volcanoes in the view. Every dish is prepared fresh, from scratch, and made with love by women from the local village of El Hato.
Travel Tip: The hike down isn't what most would call smooth. Ensure you have some water with you. We played "Are we there yet?" games with the kiddos. I assure you, the food and the views are definitely worth it.
Do the famous Volcan Acatanengo Hike with Wicho and Charlie’s or CA travellers, or getawayadventures502.
Book them in advance as per your travel dates.
Most of them are very responsive on WhatsApp. They do require to be paid in full on WhatsApp.
The Acatenango hike is a two-day tour that starts at 7:00 am from any tour agency and returns between 11:00 am-12:30 pm, depending on the pace of the group and summit times.
The trek is a 4-5 hour climb to base camp and an extra 1.5 hours to the summit. It is a challenging and demanding hike, but it’s doable with the right preparation.
We chose the 4X4 option with kids, so our pickup from the hotel was at 11 am
To read more on the packing guide for the hike, especially with kids, check out my blog post.
The eruptions at night at Volcán Fuego, Guatemala 
Our hike to Acatenango basecamp with kids
Day 8: Back to Antigua after Hike
Hike down Acatanengo and return to Antigua around noon.
We used this afternoon to sleep while my husband went for a nice massage to soothe his sore muscles. There are lots of cheap spas around the city.
Afterwards, we just walked around the city and kept it light
We walked around the grounds of Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (beautiful casa)
The hotel has some beautiful ruins and candlelit corners.
There is an entrance fee for museums, but you could see a lot of ruins while walking around.
Day 9: Antigua
We explored the town at a slow pace this day due to the previous day soreness.
Santa Catarina Arch (free)
The famous yellow arch is an iconic symbol of Antigua.
La Merced & Convent Ruins (free/Q35)
Ornate Baroque-style church, ruins, and adjacent park.
Parque Central
Central Park with fountain surrounded by shops and restaurants, and the beautiful City Hall Palace.
San Francisco Church and ruins (fee for ruins)
From here, you can either explore more of Antigua’s historic center and visit more church ruins, or head west or east to visit:
Ruins of La Recoleccion (Q40)
Incredible church ruins you can explore and walk on!
Nim pot - mayaan artisan market. We got a lot of souvenirs from here
Mercado de Artesanias
Day 10: Fly back from Antigua
We enjoyed one last delicious meal in a local restaurant before heading to the airport. As we boarded our flight home, we talked about everything we learned and experienced, truly feeling grateful for our family adventure.
Will I visit it again?
Guatemala was one of our most memorable trips. It surprised us with its warmth, both from the people and the place. If you're thinking of taking your kids somewhere a little different but still incredibly rewarding, put Guatemala on your list. And give this guide to visit Guatemala with your family a try.
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