Guatemala

Guatemala family holidays

Guatemala is one of Latin America’s best kept secrets. It’s got astonishing natural beauty, extraordinary Mayan ruins and a wonderful range of activities to keep the children entertained …whether on foot, by bike, kayak, zip-line, horse or boat. Family holidays in Guatemala will see you staying overnight in beautiful colonial hotels and atmospheric jungle lodges. You’ll be soaking up dramatic views of steaming volcanos and mist-covered highlands. And when you are done, you can pop over the border to Belize for some idyllic beach time.

Explore the phenomenal Mayan ruins at Tikal alongside the resident howler monkeys

This is a place where you can enjoy watching the morning mist lifting off the still waters of Lake Atitlan, fringed by perfect conical volcanoes. You can wander through local markets where villagers dressed in beautifully embroidered tunics haggle for goods. In Antigua, you can listen to the church bells toll over immaculately tended plazas, dripping with scented frangipani trees and purple bougainvillea. And further east, explore the teeming jungle, full of the otherworldly roar of howler monkeys as you discover the ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal.

Jumping into Lake Atitlan and then kayaking on Guatemala family holidays

Lake Atitlan is a favourite, whether exploring by kayak or SUP, cliff jumping or just taking in its spectacular setting

Why take the kids to Guatemala?

Whatever the ages of your children, there are masses of activities to enjoy on a Guatemala family holiday. Our top picks include:

Kayaking around the shores of Lake Atitlan
Haggling for souvenirs at Chichicastenango
Enjoying café culture in Antigua
Spotting howler monkeys in the jungle
Exploring Mayan ruins at Tikal
Climbing Pacaya Volcano for incredible views
Catching the surf on a Pacific beach
Diving into the crystalline waters of Sempuc Champey

The kids will love heading out onto Lake Atitlan by kayak and then stopping to climb up the rocks and ‘cliff jump’ in. Who wouldn’t enjoy hiking up Pacaya Volcano and then being rewarded with marshmallows freshly cooked over a steam vent followed by pizza? And, back in Antigua, teens will enjoy the backpacker vibe, with plentiful cafes, bars, and rooftop restaurants to pick from, where you can people-watch and soak up the volcano views.

There’s history, culture, adventure, and spectacular scenery, making this relatively little-visited country one of our favourites.

Cook pizza and tuck in on your Pacaya Volcano hike – you’ll have earned it!

Combining Guatemala with other countries

With its Mayan ruins, Pacific beaches, smouldering volcanoes and pastel-coloured colonial cities, there’s more than enough to see and do in Guatemala to warrant a ‘single-country’ trip. You can easily spend two or three weeks here and still have only scratched the surface. However, whilst Guatemala does have an extensive coastline, this primarily stretches along the Pacific and the black sand beaches are pummelled by impressive waves. This is perfect for surfing, but perhaps not so ideal for family-friendly beach relaxation.

This is where Belize comes into its own, the perfect add-on to a Guatemala family holiday, with it’s picture-perfect Caribbean white-sand beaches. Spend the first section of your holiday in Guatemala, soaking up the colour, culture and history, then pop across the border for some jungle activities and a sensational beach finish.

Teenager exploring the lively town of Antigua on family holiday to Guatemala

Families will enjoy exploring San Juan La Laguna, near Lake Atitlan, famous for its artists and murals

Family holiday itineraries to Guatemala

All of our Guatemala family holidays are bespoke which means that they are tailor-made for your own specific family, taking into account the ages of your children, your interests, your budget, and so on.

Head to our sample Guatemala itineraries to see the kind of thing that you could be doing with your family here: Best of Guatemala and Highlights of Guatemala & Belize. You can also check out our pages on When to Go to Guatemala and Places to Visit in Guatemala.

If you think you’d like to combine a trip to Guatemala with time on the beach in Belize, you can take a look at our Belize with Kids photo blog for more inspiration.