Ah, Guatemala. Boasting endless volcanos, rainforests, Mayan ruins, and coffee, Guatemala has recently seen a substantial uptick in tourism. Even before the pandemic, travelers increasingly started flocking to this wonderful, enchanting country.
This means that Guatemala really stands out. It’s a travel nomad’s dream: quaint colonial towns, abundant history, rich culture, fantastic food, and endless adventure.
And for 2023, Guatemala has been enjoying healthy return of tourism. Writing this from Antigua Guatemala, I can already see the tourists trickling in from around the world.
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Tourist Attractions in Guatemala: Are They Open?
![Tikal, an ancient Mayan city, is one not to miss. Check out that incredible architecture for yourself! [Photo CC3.0: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen]](https://i0.wp.com/thepilotwhoexplores.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/pyramid-g6ff5b76a9_1920.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
As Guatemala witnesses a resurgence of visitors, many tourist attractions that were closed previously are now re-opened. Previously, Guatemala (like most other countries in the world) saw a massive depression in international visitors. However, they fared better in other ways.
With so much to offer, Guatemala saw surge of locals taking advantage of the empty sites and vacant hotels in 2020. As a result, most sites were able to stay open throughout much of the pandemic – great news for anyone looking to visit now.
Here’s a (totally not comprehensive) list of attractions open in Guatemala in 2023:
- Tikal: Open M-F 6AM-6PM
- Semuc Champey: Tu-Su 8AM-4PM
- Volcan de Acatenango: open for tours
- Lake Atitlán: open (include La Fortuna)
- Antigua Guatemala: almost everything (hotels, restaurants, museums) is fully open and functional
- Guatemala City: almost everything (hotels, restaurants, museums) is fully open and functional
- Public Transportation: running at 50%
- Alcohol Sales: prohibited 9PM-6AM
- No curfew!
Our favorite activity was hiking the Acatenango Volcano, as pictured above, for the reason pictured above. Seriously, how cool is it to watch an active volcano from your tent? The hike was pretty intense (5-6 hours up, steep), but worth it. We 100% recommend Wicho and Charlie’s and have no doubts that they are the BEST tour provider to hike this volcano.
Best Local Sim Cards
In Guatemala, the two primary providers are Claro and Tigo. The benefit to Claro is that they have service all over Latin America. That being said, Tigo is the clear winner in terms of speed and reliability in Guatemala.
We simply walked into a (surprisingly beautiful) store in Antigua Guatemala and purchased 10GB of high speed data, including free calling, for only 150 quetzales (about USD$20).
Where to Stay in Guatemala
Every new place we stay at in Guatemala seems to become our new favorite. This is just another way of saying: there’s a lot of fine choice of accommodation here.
Antigua Guatemala
Previously the capital of Central America, this quaint, cute, colonial town is probably the main attraction in Guatemala. Its gorgeous, colorful streets are lined with art and history, and filled with charming hotels and restaurants. There’s a nice blend of Spanish and Latin architecture, and nearly every block has a wonderful outdoor courtyard with lovely landscaping and outdoor seating. It’s like having a park at the middle of each building.
Our favorite place to stay in Antigua is Porta Hotel. We found the value to exceed anything else we could find. There are two outdoor pools, a playground for kids, balcony rooms with views on the lush gardens and nearby volcanos, and a restaurant onsite.
Related: The 7 Best Hotels in Antigua Guatemala
Lago De Atitlán
You’ve probably seen pictures of this spectacular lake all over social media. It’s large, beautiful, and surrounded by volcanos.
Our favorite place to stay is La Fortuna de Atitlán. Because of its remote location, you actually have to take a boat across the lake to get to it. What better way to disconnect and unwind than to embed yourself deep in the Guatemalan countryside?
Guatemala City
Guatemala’s capital is pretty big. With a population nearing a million, there’s a lot to do and plenty of choice of where to stay.
Located in one of the city’s safest zones, AC Hotel by Marriott Guatemala City boasts excellent views, great food, and nice rooms. That makes it our choice for a downtown hotel.
Flores/Tikal
Tikal is the largest and most impressive Mayan site in all of Guatemala, and it’s open!
Here, you can decide if you prefer staying close to Tikal (not as much to do, less food, but closer to the main attraction) or down in Flores (bigger city, on a beautiful lake, lots of food).
In Flores, our favorite hotel is the Bolontiku Botique Hotel. This 5-start hotel integrates naturally into the jungle, providing a quiet stay on the shore of a mystical Lake of the Itzá.
For Tikal, there isn’t much choice. That being said, you won’t go wrong with the Jungle Lodge Hotel and Hostel. It’s pretty basic – but it still has everything you need.
Return Covid Testing
All the info you need about Covid testing centers in Guatemala is listed here. As per the website:
Testing is available at private clinics and hospitals in Guatemala City and in many departments outside of the capital. Antigen testing typically costs between Q300 and Q500. PCR testing costs between Q645 and Q2,500 depending on the turnaround time. You will receive results within 5 to 48 hours. Here is a list of authorized Covid testing centers in Guatemala.
Thank you so so much for writing and putting together this article. My partner and I are hoping to travel central america end of this year but after a bit of research became disheartened by what sounded like strict regulations and the closure of most things. Reading this gives us a bit of hope it may still be worth it. Thank you!
My pleasure, Clare. I’m happy to hear that this will motivate you to move forward with your plans. 🙂