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Antigua & Lake Atitlán — a 4-Day Plan You Can Actually Drive
The 4-day version for February: every day fits real transit, opening hours and daylight. Prefer more or fewer days? 4-day plan · 5-day plan · best time to go.
4
days
234 km
distance
5.8 h
driving
23
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Dry season: volcano hikes run clear and Atitlán's lake boats keep schedule.
Day 1 Guatemala City → Antigua
🌡 8.6–33.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.5h light
09:00
Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Textiles and Clothinglocal & traditionalhistory & sagasmuseums & heritage
Appreciate traditional costumes and learn about weaving and dyeing techniques.
50 min · Guatemala City · Q45 adults, Q25 students
open: M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-13:00
09:50
Popol Vuh Museumhistory & sagasmuseums & heritage
Explore a nice collection of pre-Hispanic Mayan and Colonial archaeological items.
50 min · Guatemala City · Q35 adults, Q15 students
open: M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-13:00
10:40
Miraflores Museumhistory & sagasmuseums & heritage
Delve into the history of the ancient city of Kaminaljuyú.
50 min · Guatemala City
open: Tu W Su 09:00-19:00, Th F Sa 09:00-20:00
12:20
Banco Industrial Numismatic Museumhistory & sagasmuseums & heritage
You will see a curated display of Guatemalan currency history.
50 min · Antigua · Free
open: M-F 09:00-19:00, Sa Su 09:00-17:00
13:10
ChocoMuseo Antiguahistory & sagascraft beer & pubs
You will see the process of crafting rich chocolate from bean to bar.
50 min · Antigua · Free
open: Daily 10:00-19:00
14:00
Museo Casa del Tejido Antiguomuseums & heritagecraft beer & pubs
You will see ancient Mayan weaving techniques preserved and showcased.
50 min · Antigua · Q15 for guided tour of museum portion; f
open: M-F 09:00-17:00, Sa 09:00-16:00
14:50
Bistrot Cinqlocal & traditionalcraft beer & pubs
Experience authentic French cuisine in an open-kitchen bistro with a great bar.
60 min · Antigua · Q100-300
open: Daily 12:00-22:30
18:30
Café No Sélocal & traditionalcoffee & bakescraft beer & pubs
Sipper trendy, hipster drinks in a mysterious, dimly lit bar with global patrons.
75 min · Antigua
Overnight: Antigua
e.g. El Palacio de Doña Beatriz · El Viejo Danés
Day 2 Around Antigua
🌡 8.6–33.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.5h light
09:00
Museo Santiago de los Caballeroshistory & sagasmuseums & heritage
You will see a historic palace housing ancient and colonial artifacts.
50 min · Antigua
open: Th F 09:00-16:00, Sa Su 10:00-16:00, but the palace and grounds are op
09:50
Coffee Farm Tourlocal & traditionalcoffee & bakes
Pick fresh coffee beans and learn traditional farming methods.
90 min · Antigua
open: Three-hour tours begin at 09:00 and 13:00
11:20
El Hatocoffee & bakeshiking
You will see mountain forests and coffee plantations with city views.
50 min · Antigua
12:10
Volcán Acatenangohiking
Trek steep trails for breathtaking mountain and valley vistas.
50 min · Antigua · US$40–100
13:00
Iglesia de San Francisco el Grandehistory & sagas
You will see the grand ruins housing Guatemala's first native saint.
50 min · Antigua · Q8
open: Daily 06:00-18:00
13:50
Convent Sor Juana de Maldonadohistory & sagas
You will see exhibits on convent life and Holy Week traditions.
50 min · Antigua · Q40, students Q20
open: M-F 09:00-17:00, Closed weekends
14:40
Doña Luisa Xicotencatlhistory & sagas
Savor Guatemalan twists on breakfast and Tex-Mex in a leafy historic courtyard.
60 min · Antigua · Q50-80
open: Daily 07:00-21:30
Overnight: Antigua
e.g. El Palacio de Doña Beatriz · El Viejo Danés
Day 3 Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
🌡 11.9–33.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.5h light
10:26
Nature Reservecoffee & bakeshiking
Spot monkeys and birds while walking on hanging bridges through a lush sanctuary.
90 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
11:56
Xocomil Tourscoffee & bakes
Enjoy thrilling bike rentals and diverse tours around the scenic lake.
90 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
13:26
Säq B'ey Tour Operator
Discover remote lake areas by private boat, perfect for birdwatching and swimming.
90 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
14:56
Casa Cakchiquel
Visit a restored historic house with a fair trade store and rich legacy.
50 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán) · free
15:46
ATI Divers
Feel the thrill of high-altitude freshwater diving with hidden hot spots below.
90 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
18:30
Cafe-Bar above Tierra Maya Tourshistory & sagascoffee & bakescraft beer & pubs
Connect with wi-fi and enjoy 2-for-1 Cuba Libres and Black Russians.
75 min · Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
Overnight: Panajachel (Lake Atitlán)
e.g. Hotel El Sol · Hotel San Buenaventura de Atitlan
Day 4 Chichicastenango → back to start
🌡 3.4–25.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.5h light
09:48
Chichi Marketlocal & traditional
50 min · Chichicastenango
open: Thursday and Sunday. Morning to late afternoon.
10:38
Iglesia Santo Tomas
50 min · Chichicastenango