Looking for adventure in Guatemala then you have come to the right spot. Sometimes adventures are more so in how you do them and less so in what the adventure actually is. You are probably wondering what I mean by this and I will use Tikal as an example. When you go to Tikal as an average tourist you arrive when it opens and there are roughly 2,000 more tourist a day. Almost one million tourist visiting in a year.
When I take my family to Tikal we arrive to the UNESCO site around 10pm at night after the park has closed but with a special permission that allows us to drive another 1 and a half hours into the deep protected jungle of this ancient Mayan forest. Here we spend the next two nights with our expert guide in glamping tents. This is what I call adventure.
This is just one of many ways we try to make an adventure more than an adventure but an experience. With that here are 5 different adventures you can experience in Guatemala and if you are with the right company they will turn them into unforgettable experiences.
- 4×4 and hike to the peak of Volcano Acatenango
This is probably our favorite adventure at the moment in Guatemala. Its the perfect mixture of hiking, sightseeing, and awe-inspiring views. One of the view places you can get a birds eye view of a a volcano erupting in all its glory. As beautiful as the pictures are they do no justice to what you see once you make it to the summit of Volcano Acatenango.
This hike is not for everyone but taking a 4×4 to more than the halfway point makes for a much easier hike. This is one of those moments that if you pick the right company they can add a special touch and make this not just an adventure but an experience. One of the best parts about this is that you are just an hour or less from Antigua. We usually wake up in our hotel around 2:30am if you want to catch the sunrise and if it is the dry season then we head out early afternoon to catch the sunset.
- Kayak or SUP Lake Atitlan
Lake Atitlan is arguably one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and if you find one more beautiful be sure to let me know because I want to visit it. Surrounded by volcanoes, cliffs, and protected areas this lake from the center gives you a view of even the Fuego Volcano erupting and the Volcano Acatenengo. Keep in mind its about a 3 hour drive from Antigua to the lake so the topography of Guatemala and the views you catch from certain areas (like the center of a lake) are never ending. The lake is thought to be a former mega-volcano crater and its depth is deep. We have heard 900ft which makes for one pretty long snorkel.
One of the most common adventures on Lake Atitlan is kayaking or SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding) in and around the mega lake. San Juan is the most common area and their are some great reputable outfitters that do wonderful jobs in getting you set up for the adventure and a day on the water.
- Whitewater Raft River Cahabón
Probably one of the least common adventures you will read about when hearing about so many volcanos, visiting markets, mountain biking, and kayaking is the whitewater adventure of the River Cahabón which is a 12 mile run that makes for some of the best rafting in Guatemala that has been discovered. Here you will find yourself between Tikal and Guatemala City in the area of Lanquin. From here you will be transported to a 12 mile rafting stretch that will keep you paddling forward from start to finish.
After you are done paddling you will take the short drive to the famous Semuc Champey where you will have the chance to swim in the waters and enjoy a relaxing afternoon after a morning of adventure. This will be the same river the only thing is that it goes underground until it comes out in the section of Semuc Champey. This is unique in rivers and even though its the same river as River Cahabón it is collapsed rock that caused the lower section to fill and make pools.
- Surf El Paredón
Your season here is going to be from October to April and not many people think of Guatemala and surf having El Salvador and Costa Rica in the region but those that are looking for some good waves, not crowdy beaches, and beautiful sunshine then you might have found your little surf town with El Paredón.
This is an area where you if you have no experience no problem, its not far from Antigua, and you can sign up for classes from a few different surf spots in town. This is a beach break and runs pretty consistent with good conditions. Just like anything from the volcano, rivers, to oceans you are always governed by the weather when doing outside activities but chances are you will have pretty good luck.
- Semuc Champey
We talked about this as an add-on to our rafting expedition but for those not looking for the whitewater adventure then visiting Semuc Champey on its own its still worth it. The only complaint you will hear is that it is remote and was hard to get to. Sometimes thats also the best compliment of places on Earth is that they are remote and hard to get to. This special place is worth it 100%.
The river runs under what is a 300mt limestone bridge and this is where you find the turquoise pools of limestone. One of the most iconic ways to visit Semuc Champey is from the Mirador which is about a 45 minute hike which is nothing compared to some of the volcanos you will be hiking although this hike might be a little more humid and hot.
- Cliff Jumping at Lake Atitlan
One of our favorite activities that involves the least amount of skill, endurance, and equipment is cliff jumping. You think of cliff jumping and it sounds dangerous and yes there have been plenty of bad cliff jumps around the world that we have all seen on tik tok or instagram but this is a cliff jump that is about as safe as it gets.
The jump is at Lake Atitlan and their is a platform built for it. You can expect a small crowd of people taking multiple jumps and locals showing off their skills or those that are just trying to sum up the courage to take one jump and said they did it. This is a 10 meter jump so probably about 35 – 40 feet so you are up there. But the landing is clear as can be and safe as you need any cliff jump.
The jump is made from the town of San Marcus and as mentioned before the platform was made specifically for the cliff jumping. The name of the reserve you enter is Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve where you will pay a few Quetzal to enter. Then its up to you to make the jump and believe us when we say it is most certainly worth it!
- Rock Climbing Lake Atitlan
Probably not the sport you were thinking was going to make the list in a Guatemala adventure to do list but rock climbing has become one of the activities to do in the area around lake Atitlan and not just for experts but for those of all levels.
The idea of taking a morning climb and mixing it with some Mayan culture that the local guides know about or nearby caves makes for quite an adventure. The popular spots for commercial climbing at Lake Atitlan are San Juan, San Pedro, and Santa Cruz.
If you never tried climbing this might be a good spot to try and there are some reputable outfitters in the area that will be happy to take you climbing on one of the mega-volcanos of planet Earth, El Lake Atitlan.
- Mountain Biking Guatemala
This small little blog post is too small to get into the smallest detail of what MTB Mountain biking is like in Guatemala. We will list it here as a must do if you are into Mountain Biking and something to definitely consider if you are a first timer because there is something for everyone.
Between Volcanos, mountains, agricultural, and small rural towns there is a mountain bike adventure for experts to novice going from downhill single track to a tour around a small town. The options are endless, scenery is epic, and even the adventures are tailored to make it an experience like we started with this blog. Biking and camping on a Volcano is just a taste of what we can make happen here at Guatemala-X.
