Places · Guatemala

Natural Wonders of Guatemala: The 4 Most Beautiful Places to Visit

4 places in the atlas

Guatemala sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, and volcanoes define it. A chain of cones runs across the southern highlands, several still active, like Pacaya, while an ancient caldera cradles the deep blue of Lake Atitlán beneath three perfect volcanoes. To the north, limestone karst country hides jungle wonders such as the turquoise pools of Semuc Champey and vast cave systems. Cloud forest, rainforest, and highland lakes support a rich wildlife and a deep-rooted Maya culture. Below are the 4 natural wonders of Guatemala in the atlas — the most beautiful places to build a trip around, each with what makes it remarkable, when to go, and how to reach it. Best overall time: The dry season, roughly November to April, is best for the highlands, volcanoes, and jungle roads; the rains come from about May to October.

Volcán de Fuego erupting at dawn, seen from Acatenango, Guatemala

Acatenango

Sacatepéquez and Chimaltenango Departments, near Antigua, Guatemala

A 3,976-metre stratovolcano climbed almost entirely for the view of a different volcano — from its upper slopes you camp level with Fuego, one of the most active vents in Central America, and watch it erupt through the night.

Volcano Latin America
Lake Atitlán, Sololá, southwestern Guatemala highlands

Lake Atitlán

Sololá, southwestern Guatemala highlands

A deep blue volcanic lake cradled in a highland caldera and ringed by three perfect volcanic cones and Maya villages — long called one of the most beautiful lakes on Earth.

Lake Latin America
Pacaya, Escuintla, near Antigua, southern Guatemala

Pacaya

Escuintla, near Antigua, southern Guatemala

One of Central America's most active volcanoes, an accessible cone near Antigua where hikers walk over old lava fields toward the glow of a restless summit.

Volcano Latin America
Semuc Champey, Alta Verapaz, central Guatemala

Semuc Champey

Alta Verapaz, central Guatemala

A 300-metre natural limestone bridge deep in the Guatemalan jungle, carrying a staircase of turquoise pools on its surface while a whole river thunders through the rock beneath.

River Latin America

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