2 Week Guatemala and Belize Itinerary + Map
TL;DR
Fast-paced, no-fluff 14-day itinerary that takes you from erupting volcanoes and ancient Mayan ruins to Caribbean beaches – Guatemala and Belize done right, without wasting a single day.
Trying to squeeze Guatemala and Belize into just two weeks can feel overwhelming – volcano hikes, jungle ruins, Caribbean beaches, border crossings, and long travel days all competing for your time. If your goal is to see a lot without burning out, this itinerary is built for you.
We designed our 14-day Guatemala and Belize itinerary to solve the biggest backpacker pain points: wasted transit days, overpacked schedules, and guessing what’s actually worth it. Every stop here earns its place – from summiting Acatenango and exploring Tikal to slowing down just enough in Hopkins and Lake Atitlán to catch your breath.
This route is fast-paced and efficient, but realistic. It’s based on our firsthand experience travelling overland through both countries, using shuttles, boats, and public transport where it makes sense – and tours where they genuinely add value.
Whether you’re a backpacker short on time, a first-timer to Central America, or just someone who wants a no-fluff, high-impact adventure, this guide walks you step by step through one of the most rewarding two-week trips you can take in the region. Let’s get into it.
14 Days Guatemala and Belize Itinerary
Guatemala and Belize Backpacking Itinerary Map
1 Day in Antigua, Guatemala
Day 1 – Explore Antigua
Antigua is a great first stop to arrive in Guatemala. It offers amazing food and drinks – from craft beer and artisanal coffee to traditional cuisine and street food. Wander the streets, if you have time take a (free) walking tour, settle in and relax after a potentially long travel day.
Here are some of our favourite food and drinks options:
- Best coffee: Fat Cat
- Best local food: The market
- Best bar: Antigua Brewing Company
We have written a complete Antigua travel guide:
How to Get from Guatemala Airport to Antigua
The closest airport to Antigua is La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. The easiest way to get from the airport to Antigua is by taking
- An Uber, ~1h, ~40$
- A shared shuttle, ~1.5h, ~15$
2 Days Hike Acatenango Volcano, Guatemala
Day 2 – Summit Acatenango Volcano (& Maybe Fuego)
This will be one of the highlights of your trip! The hike up takes around 6 hours (depending on your fitness) with an extra 5-hour hike to Fuego (only go there if you’re incredibly fit). It’s a 1500 m (1 mi) elevation gain on very gravelly, slippery ground. The reward of your struggles? An amazing view from Acatenango to Fuego, which normally erupts around every 15 minutes. At night, you can see lava flowing if you’re lucky.
How to get from Antigua to the Acatenango Volcano
Easy. Take a tour. We have written a comparison of the best Acatenango tours:
Day 3 – Descent Acatenango Volcano & Relax in Antigua
Depending on your tour, you may have the option to climb to the summit of Acatenango Volcano for sunrise. After breakfast, you hike back down and afterwards you make your way back to Antigua.
We were knackered at this point and craved nothing but a hot bath in our accommodation, a foot massage, and a lot of food.
1 Day in Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Day 4 – Way from Antigua to Rio Dulce
You first have to head to Rio Dulce to ultimately get to Belize. Rio Dulce is a great place to stay at a relaxing river lodge like Tortugal Boutique River Lodge or El Hotelito Perdido – a perfect activity after the strenuous Acatenango hike.
We have written a complete Rio Dulce travel guide:
Travel Guides
Quick Rio Dulce Guatemala Travel Guide (+ Map)
No fluff travel guide to Rio Dulce Guatemala.
Carina
How to Get from Antigua to Rio Dulce
Easy and straightforward: Take a shuttle 😉
- Shuttle Antigua to Rio Dulce, ~6h, ~45$
1 Day in Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Day 5 – Boat Tour from Rio Dulce to Livingston
Boats from Guatemala to Belize leave from Livingston at the Caribbean coast of Guatemala. Currently, the last boat from Livingston to Punta Gorda in Belize leaves at 2 pm, so we suggest to base yourself in Livingston for the night.
How to Get from Rio Dulce to Livingston
The nicest way to get from Rio Dulce to Livingston is by boat tour. You can see most quintessential sights in the area on this boat tour:
- Agua Caliente hot springs
- Lagoon Gardens
- Isla de Pájaros
- Castillo de San Felipe de Lara
- Livingston
2 Days in Hopkins, Belize
Day 6 – Way from Guatemala to Belize & Relax in Hopkins
Today, you cross the border from Livingston, Guatemala to Punta Gorda, Belize and travel on to Hopkins.
Hopkins is our favourite place in all of Belize. The beach is long, clean and beautiful. You can also experience Garifuna culture – how about a drum circle or a cooking class? For us, it’s the better alternative to just visiting Livingston in Guatemala. In our opinion, it’s also the better alternative to Caye Caulker as the beach is actually sandy and there are more things to do – how about an off-the-beaten-path bioluminescent lagoon or the world’s only jaguar reserve?
The food options here are delightful as well. From Garifuna dishes at Queen Bean to Western cuisine at Peer’s Place, there’s everything your stomach could desire – including coconuts on the beach.
Here’s our full Hopkins travel guide:
How to Get from Livingston, Guatemala to Hopkins, Belize
We suggest to take the earliest boat from Livingston to Punta Gorda (currently 9:30 am, plan some time for immigration). The ride takes around 1.5 hours.
To travel further to Hopkins, you can easily catch a northbound bus from Punta Gorda to Dangriga. The bus station is right next to the dock & immigration. Jump out at Hopkins section and take a shared taxi (10 BZD) into town. The bus ride should take around 2 hours, leaving you time to relax in the afternoon.
Day 7 – Day Trip to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's only Jaguar Preserve. You probably won’t find a Jaguar. What you will find is plenty of hiking trails. The tiger fern trail is probably the prettiest as it ends at a beautiful waterfall. Make sure to explore the second pool as it’s more secluded and nicer for a dip. The trail is around 6 km (3.7 mi) round trip and is mostly uphill on the way to the waterfall and mostly downhill on the way back. You can also go tubing.
How to Get to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
If you don’t have your own car, going by public transport is a bit complicated. Your best option is the 7:00 a.m. bus to Dangriga. Hop off at the Hopkins sections and wait for a southbound bus to Maya Centre. From here, you have to walk to the entrance. It’s an 8 km (5 mi) hike on uneven ground. If you’re lucky, you can hitchhike.
Of course, you can also book a tour.
2 Days in San Ignacio, Belize
Day 8 –Way from Hopkins to San Ignacio
San Ignacio is the adventure hub in western Belize. Here, you can visit waterfalls, Belize’s biggest Mayan ruin Caracol, and caves. If you ask us, the ATM Cave is a must on your Belize trip!
San Ignacio is also the town in Belize where we found the cheapest and most abundant street food. Don’t miss the market! Burns Avenue offers a lot of nice bars and restaurants – give Ko-Ox Han Nah a try.
If you still have more time and energy, you can also head to Macal River, visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project, or Cahal Pech Archaeological Reserve.
Here’s our full San Ignacio travel guide:
How to Get from Hopkins to San Ignacio
Hop back on the northbound bus to Dangriga and further to the capital Belmopan. Here, change to a westbound bus to San Ignacio. You might have to wait a bit if the next bus is already fully booked.
Day 9 – ATM Cave Day Trip
Our favourite thing to do in Belize was visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, one of the most sacred caves in the world. The cave is an important Mayan site, believed to be a portal to the underworld. Inside, you’ll see the skeleton of the Crystal Maiden and remains of other sacrifices, along with stunning calcified formations.
The tour is quite intense with up to 3 hours of walking, swimming, climbing, and squeezing through tight spaces.
How to Get from San Ignacio to the ATM Cave
You need a guide to enter the cave so it’s easiest to book a tour.
We have written an ATM Cave tour review. Spoiler: The experience is totally worth it.
2 Days in Flores, Guatemala
Day 10 – Way from Belize to Guatemala
Today, travel from San Ignacio, Belize, to Flores, Guatemala.
If you leave early in the morning, you’ll have half a day enjoying Flores. You can swim in Lake Peten, take a lancha out, or feast in one of the amazing restaurants.
We have written a complete Flores travel guide:
How to Get from San Ignacio to Flores
You can easily get a shuttle to Flores!
- Shuttle San Ignacio to Flores, 3h, 16$
Day 11 – Tikal Day Trip
The Tikal Mayan ruins are amazing. You can easily spend a whole day or even more there. The city covered an area greater than 16 square kilometres (6.2 sq mi) and included about 3,000 structures. Even if You’re not the biggest history buff, the Great Plaza with its two great pyramids as well as the North and Central Acropolis will impress you. Don’t miss the Star Wars Temple: Temple IV was featured in (you guessed it) Star Wars Episode IV. And the view is impressive even if you’re not a Star Wars nerd. Our second favourite viewpoint is the pyramid in the Mundo Perdido. This is also the second area we recommend you not to miss.
How to Get from Flores to Tikal
The easiest way is taking a shuttle or a tour.
We have written a blogpost about the best Tikal tours from Flores:
3 Days at Lake Atitlan
Day 12 – Way from Flores to Lake Atitlan
Even when you leave super early, you’ll lose a whole day in the shuttle. Most shuttles will drop you off in Panajachel which is easily nice enough to spend one night. The morning views of the lake are spectacular here.
How to Get from Flores to Lake Atitlan
We recommend a shuttle again. The trip takes at least 15 hours (also depending on where you want to go on the lake) so it will not be possible to do it in one go during the daylight hours.
- Shuttle Flores to Lake Atitlan, 13h, 67$
Day 13 – Relax at Lake Atitlan
You need at least two days to appreciate the beauty of Lake Atitlan.
We strongly recommend you to set up your base somewhere nice. We have explored several towns and can personally recommend:
- San Pedro for a backpacker scene, parties, and language schools.
- San Marcos for spirituality, yoga, vegan food, and rock climbing.
- Santa Cruz for great views, nice hostels, and scuba diving.
We have written a complete Lake Atitlan travel guide:
How to Move Around Lake Atitlan
Easy – you move around Laka Atitlan by boat or Lancha. Just go to the dock we marked on our map in Panajachel and hop on the next boat to the destination of your choice. They leave very frequently during the daylight hours.
14 – Choose Your Own Lake Atitlan Adventure
Depending on your base, these are the best things to do on Lake Atitlan:
- San Pedro: Hike to the Indian Nose.
- San Marcos: Take a yoga class at Eagle’s Nest and grab some lunch at the many cute (plant-based) cafes in town.
- Santa Cruz: Hike the Lower Mayan Trail to Jaibalito and Tzununa.
Here’s our full Lake Atitlan itinerary:
Itinerary
Lake Atitlan Itinerary + Map (1 – 7 Days)
Lake Atitlan Itineraries for 1 to 7 days at Lake Attilan.
Carina
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