I celebrated my 31st birthday in Guatemala, splitting between Antigua and Lake Atitlán, and it was the best decision! The goal for this trip was to relax, enjoy beautiful views, and eat delicious food, all of which Guatemala provided. Below, I’m sharing where to eat, play & stay in Guatemala if you’re considering visiting.
If you’re new here, first off welcome 👋🏾, secondly, I’ve made it a tradition to travel for my birthday. In fact, I traveled to Kenya, Panama, Belize, and more for previous birthdays.
$10.00
Guatemala itinerary
Grab my 5-day Guatemala itinerary, which includes:
• The original itinerary I created for my trip
• Additional information (e.g. how to get around, what currency to bring)
Antigua
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua is a colonial city with incredible views of the Agua, Acatenango, and Fuego volcanoes.
Where to stay
El Convento Boutique Hotel
El Convento Boutique is a 4-star hotel located in the heart of Antigua. It is such a beautiful luxury hotel. I loved many things about my stay, from the decor and staff to the delicious food and central location.
El Convento provides a pool, restaurant, tours, boutique store, and even in-room massages. I loved that drinking water was provided in the room and different locations around the property in glass dispensers. For the shower, the water was hot and the pressure was strong, something I haven’t experienced in many hotels!
You can communicate with the staff via WhatsApp, and they respond quickly. There’s also a separate number for their restaurant if you want to make a reservation. I loved that every evening, a woman from the staff came to our room with yummy sweet treats.
Where to eat
La Cuevita de Los Urquizú
Close to the city center, this restaurant offers traditional Guatemalan food and is frequented by locals and tourists alike. Since our driver recommended La Cuevita de Los Urquizú, we figured we’d try it. The food was good, however, I specifically loved their horchata.
The process for ordering food is simple, at the entrance you’ll pick what you want on your plate. The waiter takes your plate to an empty table to eat, then you pay for your meal afterward.
Where to play
Arco de Santa Catalina
This is an obligatory landmark to visit while in Antigua. It was originally a pathway for nuns to cross the street unseen but now occupied by vendors and tourists alike. If you want to take photos without the crowds, go early in the morning. In this area, you can grab souvenirs from street vendors or stores, or eat at restaurants or street vendors.
Lake Atitlán
Stunning lake surrounded by active and dormant volcanoes and Mayan villages. I think visiting during your time in Guatemala is an absolute must.
Where to stay
Casa Palopó
A truly unique boutique hotel, providing incredible views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes. My stay was very peaceful and serene, I’d highly recommend it if you want to slow down, relax, and unwind.
Casa Palopó provides a restaurant, tours, and a boutique store. The property has two pools, although the infinity pool is only available if no guests occupy the villa.
The highlights of my stay here included the complimentary daily hot water and lemon service in the morning. Also the tea service at night (although they didn’t come every night for us). We also booked two amazing activities:
- Guatemalan tea time: We tried different teas and an assortment of delicious pastries
- Mayan shaman blessing: A ceremony guided by a Mayan shaman for healing, protection, and centering your energy. It was a truly transformational spiritual experience, especially to ring in my new year
