How To Escape The Crowds During Holy Week In Guatemala

Holy Week is a major celebration in Guatemala, and those who can get the time off go on holiday. If you visit the major tourist sites, you’ll find them overrun. Here is how to avoid the crowds.

Semana Santa parades in Antigua Guatemala

Get away from Antigua

First of all, stay well away from Antigua. The colonial city is the premier Holy Week destination thanks to the parades that take place over a month, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors. You should also avoid Puerto San Jose and Monterrico, where many wealthy Guatemalans have holiday homes, and Semuc Champey.

One of the best ways to avoid the crowds is to head off into the highlands. Book a hiking tour from Quetzaltenango to Lake Atitlan, or through the Cuchumatanes Mountains. One of the best outfitters is Quetzaltrekkers, which uses profits to help street kids in Guatemala’s second-largest cities. Make sure you book well in advance to get a spot, and you’ll be out enjoying the fresh air while others are fighting the crowds in Antigua.

Surf it out

Another good place to get away from the crowds is on a hike to El Mirador, the Maya ruins in the jungle near the border with Mexico. Head to Flores to book a 5-day tour with one of the operators. If you want some beach time, head to the surf camps at El Paredon on the Pacific coast. Surf in the day and relax at night.

While no one would argue that Guatemala City is ever quiet, Holy Week can actually be a good time to visit. Many residents head off on holiday, leaving the city slightly less crowded. You might not think it at first, but Holy Week can be a good time to see the Guatemalan capital.

Be organized

Wherever you decide to go during the holidays, make sure you book ahead. With so many people on the move and thousands of visitors from outside the country, accommodation and tours get booked up fast.

Plan ahead to make the most of the time.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.