Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
🇬🇹 Guatemala Beyond the Guidebook: A Curated Guide to Experiencing Antigua, Guatemala City, and More
29
items I’m a meticulous trip planner who spent months researching Guatemala through local connections, travel forums, and insider recommendations. While I haven’t visited yet, I’ve vetted every recommendation through multiple sources and locals. This list r...
Map
Sections
6
Activities
Shopping 🛍️
Places to Visit 📍
Where to Eat 🍴
Bars 🍸
Cafes ☕️
Activities
From hiking active volcanoes to learning ancient weaving techniques, Guatemala’s activities connect you deeply to the land and culture. These experiences go beyond sightseeing—they’re about sunrise views that take your breath away, mastering traditio...
This women-led textile collective offers intimate weaving workshops where you learn traditional backstrap loom techniques directly from Maya artisans. Multiple travelers said this was their favorite cultural experience in Antigua—you spend 2-3 hours ...
TinteMaya
Their hands-on weaving workshops are run by Indigenous women who teach you traditional Maya backstrap weaving. 🪡🧵Unlike the touristy quick demos, this is a real 2-hour class where you create something beautiful while supporting local artisan cooper...
Kakaw Designs
This full-day adventure takes you from Antigua to Guatemala’s Pacific coast in tuk-tuks—think mangrove tours, black sand beaches, and rainforest exploration. Friends who did it said the guides are hilarious and know all the best local spots for fresh...
Tuk-Tuk Adventures Rainforest and Beach Hopping Tour
The colonial architecture here looks unreal in photos—colorful buildings with volcanoes in the background. A walking tour helps you understand the history behind the ruins and why Antigua looks the way it does. Guides share stories about earthquakes,...
Antigua Cultural Walking Tour
Guatemala produces some of the world’s finest cacao, and this hands-on workshop takes you through the entire bean-to-bar process. 🍫
You roast, grind, and make your own chocolate bars from scratch—the guides explain the history of Maya chocolate tra...
Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Workshop in ChocoMuseo Antigua 🍫 🫘
This village near Antigua is famous for its traditional backstrap weaving. The tour takes you into artisan homes where you see how natural dyes 🌈 are made from plants and how patterns are passed down through generations. It’s more authentic than tou...
San Antonio Aguascalientes Weaving Tour from Antigua 🧵🪡
For a deep dive into Maya weaving traditions, this private workshop gives you one-on-one instruction on the backstrap loom. You’ll understand why the textiles you see in markets cost what they do—every piece takes hours of intricate work. The private...
2-Hours Private Backstrap Weaving Workshop in Antigua 🪡
FREE salsa and bachata class every Thursday @ 7:00PM 💃🏽 This is where locals and travelers mix—the vibe is friendly and no experience needed. They also have great food and drinks, making it the perfect Thursday night hangout.
Maya Papaya - Antigua Guatemala
Experience a traditional Maya spiritual ceremony led by a local shaman in caves considered sacred for centuries. This isn’t a show for tourists—it’s a real ceremony involving fire, copal incense, and traditional blessings. Some find it deeply moving,...
Lake Atitlan: Mayan Ceremony at the Sacred Caves 🥣💨
PERFECT for solo travelers, this tour connects you with other travelers while exploring Lake Atitlán villages. You’ll boat between Panajachel and San Juan La Laguna, visiting textile cooperatives and art galleries while getting incredible volcano vie...
Lake Atitlan Solo Traveler's Fav: Panajachel +San Juan +Boat Ride
Antigua is one of the only places in the world you can find authentic jade, it is cherish my the ancient Mayans. Here you can take a class, tour, or just purchase custom jade pieces
Casa del Jade
Shopping 🛍️
Shopping in Guatemala means supporting Indigenous artisans who’ve preserved their crafts for generations. Every textile tells a story—patterns represent villages, techniques passed from grandmother to granddaughter. These aren’t souvenir shops; they’...
This shop features handmade products from local artisans—natural soaps, textiles, ceramics, and home goods all made in Guatemala. Everything is ethically sourced and the quality is outstanding. It’s the kind of place where you go in for one item and ...
Somos Tierra
Places to Visit 📍
Explore Guatemala’s most iconic destinations and lesser-known gems, from colonial towns and lakeside villages to ancient ruins and cloud forests. This list showcases the diversity of Guatemala’s regions, cultures, and natural beauty.
These turquoise natural pools in the jungle keep showing up in everyone’s ‘don’t miss’ lists. The hike to get there is supposed to be tough but so worth it. One friend said it was her favorite day in Guatemala.
Semuc Champey
These atmospheric ruins are one of Antigua’s most beautiful sites—a former convent destroyed by earthquakes in the 1700s. The crumbling archways, central fountain, and play of light through damaged walls make it incredibly photogenic. It’s quieter th...
Convento Santa Clara
Bird watching tour 🦜focusing on Altamira Orioles and other tropical 🏝️ species in the Antigua area. Guatemala has incredible biodiversity, and this tour takes you to spots where you can see colorful birds against the backdrop of volcanoes and coffe...
Altamira Oriole, Antigua Guatemala - Book Tickets & Tours
Guatemala produces some of the world’s finest coffee, and this tour takes you through the entire process on a working finca (plantation). You’ll see coffee growing in the volcanic soil that makes it so special, learn about harvesting and processing, ...
Coffee Tour Adventure Antigua Guatemala 🫘☕️
Everyone says this is THE hike in Guatemala - you camp overnight and wake up to watch Fuego volcano erupting. Supposed to be one of the most incredible sunrises you’ll ever see. I’m already buying extra layers because apparently it drops to freezing ...
Acatenango Volcano Overnight Tour
This adventure company runs a multi-activity tour that circumnavigates Agua volcano. Expect hiking, rappelling, ziplines, and stunning views of all three volcanoes surrounding Antigua. It’s physically challenging but reviews say the guides are excell...
Adventure Antigua - The Xtreme Circumnavigation Tour 🛥️
This lake is surrounded by volcanoes and Mayan villages - friends told me it’s unlike anywhere else they’ve been. Apparently you can kayak, hike between villages, and the sunsets are legendary. Definitely staying here for a few days.
Lake Atitlan Day Tour From Antigua
Where to Eat 🍴
Guatemalan food is more than just tacos—think pepián (a complex meat stew), jocon (green chicken stew), tamales wrapped in banana leaves, and the freshest tropical fruit you’ve ever tasted. These restaurants range from traditional comedores serving g...
Learn to make traditional dishes like pepián, tamales 🫔 , and tortillas from scratch. Reviews say this class uses family recipes and the instructor shares stories about Guatemalan food culture while you cook. You eat everything you make 😋, and appa...
Authentic Guatemalan Cooking Class in Antigua
This rooftop cooking class 🍳starts with a market tour where you pick out fresh ingredients with your instructor, then head back to cook traditional Guatemalan dishes with volcano views. The rooftop setting makes it feel special, and you learn about ...
Guatemalan Cooking Class & Market Tour 👩🏽🍳
Book their ‘dinner in a cave’ experience under the services menu! You literally dine inside a cave beneath the restaurant—it’s intimate, romantic, and totally unique. The food is upscale Guatemalan fusion with ingredients like local lake fish and hei...
Aqua Antigua - Dinner in a Cave Experience
Have lunch at their resturant which overlooks breathtaking views of Guatemala
Zoola Resort San Pedro La Laguna
Bars 🍸
Antigua’s bar scene mixes colonial charm with creative cocktails using local ingredients like Guatemalan rum, mezcal, and tropical fruits. From speakeasy-style cocktail bars to floating lakeside spots, these bars are where you’ll make friends, hear s...
This speakeasy-style bar uses local ingredients in their cocktails - think mezcal with Guatemalan honey and hibiscus. Friends said it’s the coolest bar in Antigua.
Ulew Cocktail Bar
Apparently they do craft cocktails with indigenous ingredients and the bartenders are super knowledgeable about Guatemalan spirits.
Wisdom Cocktail Bar
Cafes ☕️
Guatemala’s coffee culture ☕️ is serious—this is one of the world’s top coffee-producing countries, and cafes here serve beans you’d pay $20/bag for back home. These cafes aren’t just serving coffee; they’re showcasing single-origin beans from specif...
Bohemian vibe with excellent coffee and a garden courtyard that feels like a hidden oasis in Antigua. The baristas know their stuff—expect pour-overs, chemex brews, and espresso drinks made with Guatemalan beans roasted in-house. It’s popular with di...
CAFE BOHEME GUATEMALA, Antigua - Restaurant Reviews, Photos & Phone ...
This specialty coffee shop focuses on single-origin Guatemalan beans with detailed tasting notes. They do rotating beans from different regions so you can taste how volcanic soil and altitude affect flavor. The space is minimalist and modern, and the...
Alegría Café / Specialty Coffee Shop
Stunning modern architecture and design that stands out in colonial Antigua—all clean lines, natural light, and contemporary furniture. But it’s not just about looks; the coffee is exceptional with beans from Guatemalan fincas and expert-level barist...
ARTISTA DE CAFÉ, Antigua - Restaurant Reviews & Photos
Traditional Guatemalan cafe serving excellent coffee in a cozy, homey atmosphere. Less polished than the specialty coffee shops but with authentic charm and friendly service. They serve typical Guatemalan breakfast and snacks alongside their coffee, ...
Los Tres Tiempos