Backpacking Guatemala Travel Guide

Are you thinking of backpacking Guatemala?

Here, I document the most interesting things to do in Guatemala!

As you may or may not know, Guatemala has a backpacking culture that can inspire you to travel and explore more of Central America.

There are many reasons why people travel to Guatemala, and not once did I ask myself if Guatemala was safe.

For me, it’s my second time visiting and as usual, I’m looking for the coolest places to visit in Guatemala.

So if you’re in the middle of planning a trip to Guatemala, this guide will work wonders for you.

Backpacking Guatemala

This is a living article updated during and after my travel to Guatemala.

Like many times when I travel, in hindsight, I wish I could have done more, seen more and packed fewer things in the trusty old backpack.

I was captivated by what I saw, which was very little. I barely left Antigua, for anyone that knows anything about Guatemala.

In this guide, I’ll look at some of the best things to do in Guatemala, including Antigua, which is one of the main locations tourists visit when traveling to Guatemala.

One highlight is the abundance of locally made fabrics and clothing, in particular, the vibrantly colored huipils or tunics that local women wear.

To be honest, it’s hard to find reasons not to visit Guatemala; for me – it’s the destination I recommend for all first-time backpackers.

Why travel to Guatemala

Other than to be able to show you how to travel, make the most out of your experience and locate the best places to go in Guatemala.

Here are three reasons why I travel to Guatemala:

1. To continue learning Spanish
2. Visit powerful Mayan ruins
3. To explore, learn and inspire

Average Duration: 1-2 months

I use a combination of homestays, Airbnb and hostels.

If you plan to learn Spanish while you’re in Guatemala, you should organize a homestay through the school.

Getting to the Mayan ruins of Tikal from Flores is a smooth experience for those interested in culture.

When I’m backpacking Guatemala, I will be attending Spanish Schools and learning about the Mayans and Cacao, aka the food of the gods.

Useful information about Guatemala

Three facts about Guatemala

Things to know when traveling to Guatemala that could save your life:

1. Guatemala gained independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.
2. Saying hello and good morning on the street is normal.
3. You can find some of the best avocados you’ve ever tried.

Ok, I admit, they probably won’t save your life but are still useful things to know and look out for.

So, you already know why you’re backpacking Guatemala and you have some idea on what to expect.

Let’s look below at some of the specifics such as how much you can expect to spend and some of the places in Guatemala to visit.

How to get to Guatemala

If you’re traveling from the United States, Europe of the rest of the world, the easiest way to get to Guatemala is by plane.

I flew into La Aurora International Airport based in Guatemala City, direct from Mexico City.

You can easily cross the Guatemalan border from Belize, if you’re already in Central America.

Visas

Providing your stay is fewer than 90 days; there are no visa requirements for both UK or U.S. citizens.

If you do overstay your visa in Guatemala, expect to pay a fine before leaving the country.

Central America Border Control Agreement

Guatemala is part of the Central America Border Control Agreement. Make sure you’re aware of the CA-4 which states:

British tourists can travel within any of the CA-4 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala) for a period of up to 90 days without completing entry and exit formalities at border immigration checkpoints.

If you’re questioning safety in Guatemala, you can find more info at www.gov.uk.

💡Smart Travel Tip
When traveling around Latin America with expensive gear like Laptops and Cameras, decent insurance cover is imperative.

Here’s some of my expenses for Guatemala:

Guatemala typical costs and budget

Daily cost Breakdown:

🇺🇸 1USD – 🇬🇹 7.74GTQ
My daily budget:
Up to 350GTQ per day
Suggested daily budget:
225-260 GTQ / $28-35
(with accommodation)

Have you already set your Guatemala backpacking budget?

I recommend this guide to using ATMs in Guatemala if you intend on carrying cash.

But is it possible to travel in Guatemala on a budget? The answer is yes! I like to travel smart wherever I can.

Getting the highest quality for less price, can be achieved by haggling.

I will highlight any Smart Travel tips and tricks throughout this article.

Try food from a traditional Guatemalan bakery. I recommend Pan Colonial – here you’ll find a good selection of pastries.

I loved the sweet bread they made with canella (cinnamon). It’s delicious!

So, now we’ve got a bit of planning out of the way, I guess you’d like to know the best time to travel Guatemala – let’s dive into this travel guide:

Backpacking Guatemala – Travel Guide

Make sure you map Guatemala by using Google. I usually use Google maps to mark the locations that I’d like to visit before arriving.

Below, I will list some of the places that I will visit whilst backpacking Guatemala.

Since I will be flying into Guatemala City airport, I usually work out what to do in Guatemala from there.

Travel Insurance for Guatemala

Did you look into the safety in Guatemala by any chance? Things are pretty smooth for backpackers.

I always recommend backpackers and travelers (no matter who you are) use World Nomads Insurance for fully comprehensive cover.

If you are due to travel soon, you can get a Get A Free Quote by clicking the link or the image above and filling out your details – that way you’ll get instant cover from the exact date that you choose.

On many occasions World Nomads has provided me with reliable insurance cover for travel in Latin America and the rest of the world.

Backpacking Guatemala – Travel Guide

Overall, it’s an all-around great place to start backpacking through Central America, and you’ll find it a great place to meet backpackers.

I hope you’ve found this Guatemala travel guide useful in some way and implement some of the tips into your own backpacking adventure.

See these books about Guatemala to learn more about the country.

Keep checking back as I’ll be adding more locations to this guide soon.

If you wondered where the beaches in Guatemala are; I’ll be writing about the best beach spots to visit.

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