Antigua Guatemala Travel Forum

How much should we expect to pay for airfare from Guatemela City to Tikal? What will the weather be like in late June? We hope to spend time in Antigua, Lake Atitilan (Santiago sounds interesting), & Tikal. Any other suggestions? We are a family of 4 and will have 10 days. How does the country compare to Costa Rica?

I don't have any advice on flying from Guatemala City to Tikal, but I can give you some advice on other parts of Guatemala. You're doing the right thing by going to Antigua and Atitlan. When staying in Antigua and/or Guatemala City (which I wouldn't really recomend), make sure to hike up Volcan Pacaya. When you go to Atitlan, I highly recommend staying at Lomas de Tzununa. Its a fantastic place to stay at the lake and one of my favorite hotels I've ever stayed in (you can see more info on my Lago de Atitlan page).

In general, I'd say Guatemala is more third world than C.R. However, Costa Rica doesn't have anything that compares culturually/historically to Antigua and Tikal. The Rio Dulce is an interesting place, and I can recomend an extremely interesting place to stay, however, depending on your timing and budget, it may not make sense.

Feel free to email me with questions. I'd be happy to give you some more specific advice.

The airfare from Guatemala City to Tikal is not too expensive, but not terribly cheap either... when I was in the country last year the price was around $75 a person. I didn't take these flights, so I didn't explore it very thoroughly.

The weather in June depends on where you are. The whole country is in the rainy season, so definitely be prepared for wet weather. An umbrella is invaluable, or a good light-weight rain jacket. Besides that, the places you mention are very different in terms of climate. Antigua and Lake Atitlan are in the highlands, so they are cooler and more temperate. A sweatshirt of long sleeved shirt would not be amiss, even in June. However, Tikal is smack in the middle of the jungle, near sea level, and very typical jungle weather. Hot, humid.

I spent time at all 3 locations, and they each have their own special cheer. Antigua is a must-see, due to its colonial heart and prominence in the UNESCO World Heritage Program. There is a lot of architecture to explore in the old city, and great restaurants and places to stay. Antigua also gives a good jumping off point for day trips to the market towns like ChiChi or Xela, or to explore the volcanoes that ring the city. Pacaya is a common one, and there were families on the trail as well, so it doesn't seem overly difficult for younger explorers.

The lake is more relaxed. I stayed in San Pedro de la Laguna, but that town features a younger and more backpacker crowd. If you're not looking for that, then I'd try Santiago. There is a lot of hiking in the area, seeing the cloud forests, some extinct volcanoes, and other areas of interest. But the trails are steeper, and harder. Just to forewarn you. There is also some good kayaking on the lake. It is a very pretty lake, great to take a paddle out and just bum around the area for a day.

Tikal is, well, Tikal. One of the most famous Mayan sights ever, it holds a lot of potential for things to do. I would highly recommend the morning hike to Temple 4. You are awoken very early in the morning (around 3 if you're stying in Flores, closer to 5 if you are staying at the park) and you hike up to the top of Temple 4. From this vantage point you are able to see the sunrise over the jungle complexes. It is amazing. You should definitely do it. Then there are numerous tours around the main sites, explaining the architecture, layout and design, and history of the Maya. Very interesting. If you wish you can take day trips to other, more remote sites (Yaxha I found really beautiful).

I have not been to Costa Rica, so I cannot comment. I wish you the best, it is a very beautiful country whether you have 10 days or 10 weeks to spend there, and there is no doubt you can find things that will captivate all of the family. If you need anything, don't hesitate to email me.

with TACA around $200/person round trip Guatemala to Flores. there are other airlines too.

if you want a really amazing Atitlan experience and can afford it, i'd check out Casa del Mundo in Jaibalito near Santa Cruz. that is the best hotel in the country