20 Best Things To Do In Guatemala, Central America

Iglesia de la Merced Church stands tall in Antigua, Guatemala, and is among the most beautiful Catholic churches. The church features the famous Baroque architectural styles and rich frescoes, delicate stone carvings, and a bright yellow facade among many others.

People could view an impressive altar and visit the adjoining Mercedarian monastery. The church serves a much wider cultural and religious purpose in the area and is a quiet place for reflection. It is worth a visit by anyone interested in history, architecture, and local religious traditions while in Guatemala.

Antigua de Santa Catalina is a tourism haven, and tourists will visit this beautiful destination to discover more parts of the history of Antigua as well. This striking structural archway is made as a junction of a street where it spanned over the street itself during the 1600s when the convent, Santa Catalina, was built.

The colorful outside is chosen as a beautiful spot for photos. It is also known for its clock with its origin in the 1800s. That is simply regarded as one of the most significant symbols of Antigua.

However, people can just stroll around the area and enjoy everything including the ambiance of history combined with picturesque views of the volcanoes and colonial buildings.

Semuc Champey, a nature reservation in Guatemala is a tropical paradise of lush greenery perfect because of its beautiful views of the jungle, crystal-clear pools, and interesting caves. A limestone bridge allows the Cahabon River to flow under this natural wonder.

Moreover, nearby caves can be explored, hike to some panoramic viewpoints, where breathtaking vistas await, and relax in the soothing beauty of the surrounding jungle.

Be it swimming in the calm pools or exploring the tranquil caves, Semuc Champey offers a perfect combination of both serenity and adventure in Central America.

Xetulul is a famous theme park in Guatemala, with thrilling rides, cultural immersion, as well as roller coasters, and water rides with replicas of famous sites that are usually enjoyed in some parts of the world.

Architecturally, it is different from the rest, and it speaks of the rich histories and origins of Guatemala. Here, you will find replicas of famous structures where you can enjoy a variety of attractions in their modern thematic setting.

Xetulul is an ideal theme park for families and history fans; it has some entertaining yet educational experiences in a great mix of both international and local heritage set into a vibrant amusement park atmosphere.

Jardin Botanico de Guatemala is a peaceful garden in the city where you can escape to nature. This small botanical garden is home to a rich variety of Guatemalan plants and trees and they truly represent some of the strange flora found in the country, including marine species.

Their superior displays let the visitors discover native plants, from tropical jungle varieties to rare specimens. Visitors can enjoy peaceful walks, bird watching, and a greater appreciation of the Guatemalan natural heritage.

Therefore, it is one of the Guatemala attractions for all nature lovers and people sharing the local ecosystem.

Zoologico La Aurora ranks among the most extensive, and Guatemala tourist attractions. A popular zoological park like this can extend one's enjoyment to most or all animal habitats, including native and exotic species.

This place allows visitors to put themselves close to jaguars, monkeys, and flamingos, among other species. It also includes educational activities and demonstrations involving interaction with animals so that families and nature lovers may enjoy their visit.

These beautiful gardens and grounds create an unforgettable setting, making this place worth it for tourists in Guatemala, Central America.

Palacio Nacional de la Cultura is one of the significant landmarks you will find in Guatemala City. The ornamented structure was once known to be the presidential palace. Now it has been converted into a museum for exhibiting Guatemala's varied culture, history, and artwork.

The visitors will be able to see exquisite architectural features such as elaborately painted halls and grand high glass ceilings. Ornamented parts provide an excellent cultural experience around the country, which is about treasures for the guests and the temporary exhibitions.

So, it is a first destination when it comes to getting to know the vibrant history and culture of Guatemala City.

Parque Central de Antigua Guatemala is the central part of this monumental old street in Central America, and almost every building around it has some architectural features of the colonial period. It has large trees around, benches, and a central fountain concentrating on the Mermaids.

One could relax, enjoy people-watching, or indulge in the rhythm of the city here. Nearby, you'll find vendors selling handicrafts, souvenirs, and snacks, inviting eateries for a traditional meal or coffee.

The centrality of the park makes it a starting point while exploring Antigua's cobblestone streets, cultural landmarks, and mesmerizing views of surrounding volcanoes.

Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena is a museum whose core purpose is related to the presentation and conservation of the indigenistic history of Guatemala. The museum is named after Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility and weaving. It consists of striking colorful textiles, traditional dress, tools, and photographs.

Visitors can explore the excellent work and the meaning of Mayan weavings. Weaving has a different pattern by region; this is certainly historical. The museum also has temporary exhibitions, a library, and a shop selling real handmade textiles.

The major city landmark in Guatemala City is Torre del Reformador, which reaches a height of 75 meters in Zone 9. It is a steel framework tower that looks like a version of the Eiffel Tower, capable of providing a great view across the city up to the surrounding hills.

Here, visitors can enjoy its marvelous structure and get into the accompanying park area. This tower is symbolic of the country's development and modernization, and it is an excellent place for photography and sightseeing.

The Torre del Reformador is one of the most wonderful places to see Guatemala, whether you choose to visit during the day or night.

Guatemala has one of Central America's most renowned destinations for history and nature aficionados, Tikal National Park. It has many Mayan archaeological sites within it and it occupies a total area of 575 sq km, which includes a lot of jungle.

From here, extraordinary visitors would come to see the mighty towering temples, ceremonial ruins, and grand plazas surrounded by tropical forests, savannas, and wetlands.

This is probably one of the parks in the world where it combines archaeology with a rich natural environment, and wildlife that make an amazing area to hike, explore, and unravel this UNESCO World Heritage site.

If you like sweets, this is a destination you have to go to. This is actually a chocolate shop where visitors are exposed to a social history of chocolate from the ancient Mayans to modern society.

You can attend classes and sampling sessions that introduce you to the process of turning the cacao bean into a chocolate bar. Plus, you even have your chocolate experimental treats and will sample some wonderful flavors. The museum also explains the role of cacao in the local culture and its economics.

ChocoMuseo is the ideal paradise for a chocolate lover. You can enjoy everything from chocolate bars to truffles and hot chocolate. It's fun and educational for everyone!

Guatemala's Mapa en Relieve is an open-air museum showing a giant relief map of the country. It has been constructed in meticulous detail to provide realistic 3D imagery of the entire topography of Guatemala with vivid representations of its rivers, volcanoes, and roads, among other geographical elements.

The model has a dimension of almost 1,800 square meters, is built on a scale, and offers all visitors something veritably exciting. High viewing practices allow panoramic views and foster a greater appreciation of the country.

It's a remarkable educational experience for history buffs and geography enthusiasts as well as the curious traveler.

As one of the interesting historical structures within Guatemala, Castillo de San Felipe de Lara creates and elicits Guatemala's historical nostalgia. Built-in the 17th century at the entrance of Lake Izabal, it was intended to protect the region against pirate attacks.

Here, you can also walk past stone walls, towers, dungeons, and cannons, all of which give an overview of colonial Guatemala. Today, surrounding it are green lands for a view, then overlooking the lake as well as Rio Dulce.

By boat, it is accessible, besides being one of the Guatemala City things to do and a favorite of almost all those whose interests lie in history, nature, or photography.

Isn't it grand to think about admiring the views from Cerro de La Cruz? This elevated location once was easily accessed from town and currently has just the best panoramic views of the whole environment. An enormous cross from the 1930s at the top taped deeper history into such experience.

This location is highlighted by a clear view of the magnificent Volcan de Agua, an imposing towering volcano in the background. Just an excellent site for photography or a quiet moment in nature, Cerro de La Cruz enjoys an ideal retreat with great vistas of well-formed Antigua and its surrounding volcanoes.

The Guatemala Children's Museum provides an adventurous family space with many fun and interactive educational exhibits where the children can enjoy exciting activities such as making giant bubbles, bouncing on the moon, or pretending to have an earthquake.

Moreover, other attractive displays include puzzles, a make-believe grocery store, an ambulance, and x-ray stations educating kids about germs and health.

An indoor-outdoor space creates a museum adventure for a lifetime and most definitely educates the children, through doing, stimulating creative exploration of safety, and engaged environment activities.

IRTRA Mundo Petapa is an enthralling amusement park located in Guatemala City. Providing diverse family entertainment, this upbeat park has exciting rides and adventures for everyone. A good water slide, bumper car, rebounders, or just a variety of rides can give visitors all-day fun and activity.

Game stalls, stalls for food, and live shows are also additional entertainments offered here. The park is right at the center of Guatemala City so you can easily access places from there to experience a great time in Central America. Lastly, this is one of the Guatemala places of interest.

Museo de Arte Colonial is a charming but relatively compact art gallery that is home to colonial-era works of art from Latin America. This takes the viewer directly into the art history of the area and even features colonial paintings and sculptures, and beautiful furniture of old.

It is a museum in a beautifully restored colonial building, making it an even cozier place for the art-adoring audience to peruse. Highlights include intricate religious pieces of art, detailed furniture, and exquisite sculptures that represent the cultural mixes of the moment.

The Popol Vuh Museum is one of the most prestigious and important cultural institutions in Central America. It houses some of the richest collections of Maya art in the world, thus keeping a spectacular lineage of art and artifacts from Guatemala and from the ancient Mayans.

Visitors will be amazed to see a display of sculptures, painted ceramics, and textiles. More than thousands of impressions are made of the culture, religion, and daily life of the ancient Maya people.

If you are thinking of what to do in Guatemala then you should consider coming here since it can be an exciting site for historians, as well as anyone interested in Central American culture.

The premier shopping destination in Guatemala City, Guatemala, is Oakland Place, formerly Oakland Mall. The retail complex offers over 200 stores and includes a multiplex cinema with fine dining options.

With 400 commercial ideas swirling around fashion, entertainment, and gastronomy, it all oven toward a one-of-a-kind experience. The mall has top brands from around the world and is located in the city's main area for fun and relaxation.

Not only shopping, but guests can also enjoy some academies and many different types of restaurants and exciting events. Oakland Place has become the epitome of world-class space; therefore, it is among the best tourist places in Guatemala.