If you want to experience Central America at its most beautiful, then you should definitely visit Guatemala with kids. Of all the countries we visited in Central America, we found Guatemala to be the most authentic. With ancient Mayan culture, traditional costumes, friendly people and traditions still visible everywhere, Guatemala stole our hearts. It is also the cheapest country in Central America and easy to travel. As you travel around Guatemala, you will be immersed in the magnificent cultural heritage of mysterious temple ruins from the time of the Mayans and Aztecs. In this blog, we list the best destinations in Guatemala!
Best travel time Guatemala with kids
The best travel time to go to Guatemala with kids is from November through April. This does not mean that it is better not to go to Guatemala in the other months, on the contrary! In Guatemala you have warm days and lots of sunshine all year round. November to April is only the driest period. Temperatures in Guatemala are largely determined by the altitude of the place you are visiting.
Transportation in Guatemala
The best transportation in Guatemala is the bus. You can choose between long-distance buses that are more luxurious, the local “chicken bus,” and smaller vans that run between the more famous places and sights. Buses plenty and traveling this way is not expensive at all. The long-distance buses and night buses often include a meal and very luxurious recliners. So also good to do with kids.
Our trip began in Belize where we spent several days on Caye Caulker. Tickets to Belize at that time were a lot cheaper than to Guatemala. Always good to compare prices if the arrival and departure destination does not matter to your family.
You can compare ticket prices very easily on a website such as Skyscanner. After a few days, we traveled via San Pedro, on the local “chicken bus,” to San Ignacio, a village near the border crossing into Guatemala. The next morning we crossed the border and our adventure in Guatemala began! The border crossing went smoothly and we were in Guatemala in no time.
Children’s activities Guatemala
#1 Poptún
From the border, we boarded a minibus that took us to Poptún, the place where ecolodge Finca Ixobel sits. The idea was to visit Tikal, the largest Mayan complex in the country, from here. However, Poptún turned out to be another two hours away from Tikal. Still, we decided to stay here for two nights because it was a unique experience and perfect stopover towards Tikal.
The ecolodge was in the middle of the jungle in a beautiful place. The ecolodge has a delicious local restaurant and accommodations high on stilts with a mosquito net. At the back of the property they have a small bar that all the locals go to as well. Really incredibly cozy and fun to mix.
The next day we started the morning with 2 hours of horseback riding. We set out with a real Guatamalese Gaucho through the jungle. A wonderful ride organized by the ecolodge. A very fun and special experience! After a nice lunch, it was time for a hike to a stalactite cave.
After more than an hour of hiking, we arrived at the cave. It was a unique experience to walk through a stalactite cave alone with a guide and flashlight on our heads. Along the way we encountered many stalagmites, bats and even our first large spider! The next morning we caught the bus to the town of Florés to visit Tikal from there.
#2 Flores and Tikal
After a 2-hour drive, we arrived in Florés. A super fun and lively town full of restaurants and hostels on an island surrounded by a beautiful lake. For €11 we found a double room with private bathroom in a small hostel. That night we went to bed early, because the next morning the Sunrise tour to Tikal began as early as 4:30 a.m.
There are many tour operators that offer a tour to Tikal so you can book a tour locally in Flores. There is no need to do this in advance. You pay an average of about €20 per person for the tour including bus transportation there and back and a guided tour.
Tikal is one of the most famous Mayan temples in the world. Tikal is a magical place and super impressive. It is a gigantic complex with squares, temples and other impressive structures and, as the highlight, a towering, steep ruin more than 44 meters high. Only a few Mayan temples have been restored because there is not much money for restoration.
There are still lots of temples hidden under small hills with trees. Fun fact! Tikal is now in the middle of the jungle but when the Maya used to live there, there were no trees at all. In Guatemala, they also call Tikal the New York of the time. In the afternoon we took it easy and went to bed early to take the bus to Lanquin (Semuc Champey) at 08:00 the next day.
For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Flores, take a look here.
#3 Lanquin
After a 9-hour bus ride, we arrived in Lanquin, a village located 45 minutes from Semuc Champey. It is not easy to reach the nature reserve, but fortunately the long journey is already beautiful and worth all the effort. We slept at El Retiro Lodge. We really haven’t slept in such a cool place before and for less than €20 a night.
All huts and rooms on a hill right on a flowing river in the middle of the jungle with hammocks, swings everywhere, a big bar and restaurant (very cozy). Every night you can join us for a family style dinner and all sit at big long tables to eat, really nice. We met a lot of nice people this way.
The next morning we walked through the village and got some goodies at the bakery. In the afternoon, we wandered down the Cahabon River in a tube. From the village, we went down the river in a band with drinks in hand to come out again at El Retiro Lodge. Afterwards, the wood-fired sauna was ready to warm us up in. What a fantastic experience!
Unfortunately, kids are not allowed in the El Retiro Lodge. Still want to visit Lanquin with kids. For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Lanquin, take a look here.
#4 Semuc Champey
The next day we went to Semuc Champey. From the village you ride in the back of an open truck through the jungle in 45 minutes to Semuc Champey. The drive there alone was impressive and breathtakingly beautiful.
Semuc Champey is one of the most beautiful places in Guatemala and it should not be missed if you go to Guatemala with kids. It’s a hefty trip but really worth everything! Semuc Champey is a magnificent nature reserve hidden in the mountains. The Río Cahabón River flows here and over the years a tiered system has been created with some 55 pools that fill with azure water from the mountains.
We started with a hike to the viewpoint called “El Mirador” from where you can see the natural wonder from above. There is no way to describe how beautiful and special the view of this natural wonder is. There is something unreal about the bright blue water and the beautiful jungle surrounding it. After enjoying the view for 45 minutes, we descended to go swimming.
At Semuc Champey you can also visit the caves. The caves are partly under water so to visit them you have to go through the water up to your waist. With a candle in your hand, walk through the various corridors and caves with a guide. You shouldn’t be claustrophobic or afraid of bats but it’s really cool to do! You have to weigh whether you want to do this with kids.
#5 San Pedro La Laguna on Lake Atitlan
After 3 days in Lanquin, we caught a bus to San Pedro la Laguna at 06:00. This is located southwest of Lake Atitlán at the foot of Volcán San Pedro. We had to transfer in Antigua and Panajachel but after a 12-hour drive we arrived. We visited San Pedro la Laguna as a stopover to Quezaltenango where we took a week of Spanish lessons.
Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Surrounding the crystal clear lake are three giant volcanoes called San Pedro, Atitlán and Toliman. These volcanoes combined with the crystal clear lake make for the most amazing views. Around Lake Atitlan are several villages, all with their own character.
We decided to stay in San Pedro. This village has the most affordable accommodations (for a list of all family-friendly accommodations in San Pedro, check here), a laid-back bohemian atmosphere. The inhabitants of San Pedro la laguna are from the Tzultujil Maya. They still wear authentic costumes and are really small. Because of its low prices and laid-back lifestyle, many backpackers flock to San Pedro La Laguna. Still, it is much less touristy than Panajachel. You will find many language schools, restaurants and bars.
You can rent your own tuktuk and enjoy driving along the lake, climb the volcano on your own and walk among the coffee plantations. Unfortunately, we did not do any of these activities because Johan became ill and we could not stay longer. In fact, we were expected by our host family in Quezaltenango and the language school.
For more information about Lake Atitlan, read the blog Lake Atitlan with kids.
#6 Quezaltenango
Quezaltenango is called Xela (pronounced shel-la) by locals. Xela is a pleasant student town in southwestern Guatemala. The city is located in a valley at an altitude of 2333 meters above sea level and is surrounded by volcanoes. It is the second largest city in Guatemala, but still not very big and not touristy.
Xela is skipped by 90% of all travelers. It is mostly travelers who want to learn Spanish, volunteer, hike or to climb Guatemala’s highest volcano (Volcán Tajumulco) who come here. The Santiaguito volcano is also really impressive. This volcano is still fully active: white smoke still comes out of the cone-shaped mountain.
We came to Xela specifically because of the excellent language schools and the opportunity to stay with a host family for a week to be immersed in the Spanish language. What an incredibly special experience this has been. Our host family consisted of a 63-year-old couple, dog Laischa and several grandchildren.
They did not speak a word of English which was quite difficult at the beginning of the week but mostly very funny. We had a week of Spanish lessons for 5 hours a day at the language school around the corner. Fortunately, classes started early and there was also room for activities.
We went to the hot springs at Fuentes Georginas. We also visited a local Mayan museum, took Salsa lessons and went to the famous market of Xela. The market of Xela is very special and must be visited. The market is officially called Mercado la Democracia. The whole town is taken over by vendors. Really quite a happening!
#7 Antigua
Antigua is a former capital (until +/-1800), just above Guatemala City and is located between 3 volcanoes. The city itself is full of old churches, buildings and other colonial architecture. The place is a Unesco World Heritage Site and looks fantastic. It is also the first really tourist spot in Guatemala, so it does get a lot busier in many places.
The beauty of the city itself is the main attraction, especially the amount of colorful colonial buildings. The atmosphere is very relaxed with nice bars, stores, restaurants and markets. Besides visiting the Parque Central, the many markets and the beautiful colonial buildings, we visited the Cerro de la Cruz, also known as “The Hill of the Cross ‘. It is a hill on the outskirts of the city and offers stunning views of the city and surrounding volcanoes. The walk to it takes about 30 minutes and is good to do with kids.
We would have liked to stay a few more days in Antigua because there is an awful lot to see, do and the atmosphere is fantastic with all the travelers. But unfortunately, because we wanted to celebrate Christmas in El Salvador, we couldn’t stay longer. From Antigua, we said goodbye to beautiful Guatemala with a goodbye because we definitely want to visit the country again with our kids.
For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Antigua, take a look here.
For more information about the city of Antigua, read the blog Antigua with kids.
Family-friendly hotels Guatemala
Of course, there are plenty of family-friendly accommodations in the various destinations in Guatemala we have named above. One of these accommodations is Finca Ixobel in Poptún.
Finca Ixobel in Poptún: Finca Ixobel is an eco-friendly hotel and campsite located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains at an altitude of 600 meters. It is located in the northern region of Guatemala, less than 5 kilometers south of the city of Poptún, in a unique setting of pine forest and jungle. It is the perfect stopover to Tikal.
Finca Ixobel offers a variety of accommodations that are sure to please. There are rooms with private bathrooms, with shared bathrooms, dormitories, treehouses and a large campground. There is plenty to do at Finca Ixobel, including horseback riding, a hike to the pyramid or visiting the Ixobel cave. But there is also plenty to do in the surrounding area. Visit archaeological sites or one of the nearby rivers where you can swim. For more information about this accommodation, take a look here.
Look to stay in the various other destinations in Guatemala with kids below.
For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Flores, take a look here.
For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Lanquin, take a look here.
for a list of all family-friendly accommodations in San Pedro, take a look here
For a list of all family-friendly accommodations in Antigua, take a look here.
About the author: we are Jill and Johan. By now our family has expanded with Sam, Pip and Moos but we made this trip still without kids. We love adventure, culture, authentic places and discovering the world in an affordable way. By now we know that discovering and seeing the world through our kids’ eyes is even more fun. We are happy to share our experiences and tips for the best destinations and activities with kids. Also to show that (touring) travel can be affordable during school vacations. You can follow us on OpreismetJill on Instagram.
