Guatemala's most important archaeological site.

Central America

Guatemala

Tikal

A 1 hour drive from Antigua, the Pacaya volcano is still active. It takes 2 hours to climb it.

Payaca

The village may look similar to all the others in the region, but the San Francisco el Alto weekly market certainly helps it to stand out. It's one of a kind!

San Francisco El Alto

Todos Santos Cuchumatán is one of these villages in the Guatemalan plateau which have decided to preserve all their traditions and still have a fascinating cultural richness today.

Todos Santos Cuchumatán

A stronghold of the Mayan community resistance and a very beautiful region unknown to tourists.

Departamento de Totonicapán

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The "Toto" region (as it's commonly known in Guatemala) might not be one of the preferred destinations among travellers to Guatemala. However the village of San Andrés Xecul is perhaps an exception due to its yellow saffron church and syncretic front, possibly the most beautiful and best known in the country (it features on the front page of Lonely Planet and is therefore something of a Guatemalan symbol). It's true that you cannot compare Totonicapán's tourism potential to that of Antigua or Lake Atitlán - and it's perhaps no worse. One of the aspects of Toto which fascinates me the most is the powerful community organisation of the 48 townships. They proudly claim the heritage of indigenous leader Atanasio Tzul who had gone to the King of Spain's court to reclaim the land that had been stolen by the conquistadores. This organisation is an example of great social mobilisation and control. Having maintained its prehispanic heritage, the organisation has proved exemplary in terms of community cohesion, territorial defence, direct democracy in the community ( authorities change every 1st of January and cannot last more than one term), and the supply of various public services that the State, at the service of the powerful (domestic or foreign), no longer provides. My advice to any travellers would be that the superficiality of tourism is not enough. You should contact the locals on couchsurfing websites and try to understand the community's history and the organisation in order to be fully satisfied. Visiting Toto's community forest, which lies not far from the city and is impeccably maintained (something all too rare in Guatemala, where waste is littered everywhere) by the citizens themselves, helps you understand it all.

Local travel agencies in Guatemala that specialize in family vacations with kids

Family tour ideas in Guatemala

Guatemala has long been hailed as one of Central America’s best destinations for a<a href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/family-vacations/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.net/where-to-go/family-vacations/">&nbsp;getaway with the family</a><a href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/where-to-go/family-adventure-holidays/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/where-to-go/family-adventure-holidays/"></a>. Its many colonial cities make excellent day-trip destinations, where families will be able to meander the cobbled streets, discovering tasty food and hidden gems along the way, as well as visiting interesting museums and galleries.&nbsp;Add a horse-riding trip through the jungle&nbsp;on one of our&nbsp;<a data-destination-id="81" data-internal-link="destination" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/">tailor-made Guatemala tours</a>, or hike up to a&nbsp;volcano, where, once you reach the top, you’ll be able to toast marshmallows on the hot lava rocks (which definitely beats any campfire!).&nbsp;<h3>Best things&nbsp;to see and do in&nbsp;Guatemala with kids</h3>This gem, nestled right in the center of Central America contains so much to interest family travelers. Begin your adventure by learning about the history and culture here, which is a history so fascinating that it will captivate kids too. Visit ancient Mayan villages, such as&nbsp;<a data-place-id="1256" data-internal-link="place" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1256-1256/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1256-1256/">San Juan La Laguna</a>, and learn all about the warriors, priests and every day people who were all part of the great civilization that ruled here. Continue on to see some local markets before visiting the Santo Tomas Church and a traditional mask factory. All of these activities can be specially adapted to make them more interesting and interactive for younger travelers, so no matter your kids’ ages they will enjoy their cultural experience. Now that you’ve had your dose of culture you can explore&nbsp;<a data-place-id="1198" data-internal-link="place" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1198-1198/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1198-1198/">Guatemala City</a>&nbsp;to enjoy the bustling squares and marketplaces, as well as try some truly delicious local food. Animal-loving families won’t be disappointed by the variety of native animals in Guatemala. To get a closer look, visit the jungle to see howler and spider monkeys as they swing from the trees above you. Here, you’ll also find ancient temples hidden in the vines and undergrowth, as well as larger structures. Take an early morning walk as a family and climb to the top to watch the sunrise over the jungle canopy and make a memory of your trip together that you will never forget. Discover ancient civilizations at&nbsp;<a data-place-id="1195" data-internal-link="place" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1195-1195/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/places/1195-1195/">Tikal</a>&nbsp;as you and your kids play Indiana Jones for the day, scrambling over twisted roots and Mayan ruins which remain in tact today.&nbsp;Here, you can also learn how chocolate was first made and enjoyed by the Mayans, thousands of years ago. If you’re lucky, you may even get to do a chocolate tasting&nbsp;session; something which any child is bound to love.&nbsp;Take an artisan&nbsp;class as a family and learn how to make local food, or even baskets and bags. For some down time at the end of your trip, spend some time at the beautiful Lake Atitlan, where you can kayak or take a boat ride through the glistening waters. Guatemala is definitely a destination for the whole family!<h3>Best time to visit&nbsp;Gutemala as a family</h3>Often referred to as the land of eternal spring, Guatemala’s climate is famously fantastic and makes it a great destination for families, with warm days to be enjoyed almost all year round. The rainy season falls between May and October, with September and October getting the worst of it. Even during these two months, however, the rain usually only lasts an hour or two and usually falls during the afternoon, meaning it is easy to plan around and rarely disrupts day trips or family adventures. When planning&nbsp;<a data-document-id="5181" data-internal-link="article" href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/when-to-go/" data-mce-href="https://www.evaneos.co.uk/guatemala/holidays/when-to-go/">when to go</a>, the temperature depends heavily on altitude and so will vary a lot depending on where you choose to visit, with higher altitude becoming colder at night but rarely experiencing humidity. In fact, the freshness in these location means that they are often family favourites since very hot weather could be straining on young children. Areas which are at lower altitudes can become muggy. If you plan to visit a lot of locations, travelling around the country, then we recommend packing a variety of clothing to make sure that you and your family are prepared no matter where you decide to go. <h3>Family&nbsp;vacation tips for traveling to&nbsp;Guatemala</h3>With a little research and knowledge you can ensure that you are as prepared as possible for your family trip to Guatemala, here a few tips and tricks to ensure that everything runs smoothly on your holiday. <ul><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Guatemala has so much to see and do that its important not to fall into the trap of trying to do too much in too little time. Make sure you allow adequate time to enjoy yourselves and to take things at a pace that will suit everyone and not leave you exhausted at the end of your trip.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Check in with your GP before leaving to see what vaccinations and medications you will need before and during your trip. Make sure you pack mosquito repellent to avoid the annoyance of itchy bites later on in your trip.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">Learn a few key phrases. Learning some choice words and phrases can be extremely handy should you find yourself in a situation where no one speaks English. Learning a new language can also be a great new challenger for your children. If nothing else, it always goes down well to greet locals in their own language.</li><li style="font-weight: 400;" data-mce-style="font-weight: 400;">As when visiting any foreign country, it is important to be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas and tourist traps where pickpockets and robberies can be common. There are some areas which you will need a guide to visit, who will help to keep this kind of thing from happening to you.</li></ul>

Start planning your family vacation in Guatemala

The best {nb_iti} Guatemala tours for families with children, created by a local travel agency. Plan and book tailor-made vacations at local prices.

Departamento de Totonicapán Vacations

Departamento de Totonicapán: How to get there?

Departamento de Totonicapán: When to go?

Departamento de Totonicapán: For how long?

Departamento de Totonicapán: What to see in the surroundings?