guatemala
the local way
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7 days of ancient Mayan culture, stunning Lake Atitlan, and local experiences you can’t find anywhere else. Only 14 spots.
📍 Guatemala City · Antigua · Lake Atitlan
🎒 Most active trip
📅 7 days
💰 From $2,850
👥 Max 14 travelers
🌱 100% vegan
Guatemala isn’t like anywhere else
that’s the point
In Guatemala, plant-based food isn’t a trend, it’s a tradition. Ancient Mayan cuisine is built on corn, beans, vegetables, and, and the food here carries thousands of years of history in every dish. We work with local indigenous businesses to give you a real look into Guatemalan culture and cuisine.
This is also our most active trip. Higher altitude, more packed days, more ground to cover.
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A volcano, a lake, and a UNESCO city
Climb Pacaya Volcano, take a boat across Lake Atitlán to San Juan, and spend time in Antigua, you’ll maximize your time in Guatemala and truly see it all.
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Culture that goes deeper than the surface
We visit a Mayan art co-op, learn about ancient weaving traditions, and eat at Guatemala City’s first-ever vegetarian restaurant. This trip is about understanding Guatemalan culture, not just sightseeing.
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Your trip funds real change
Every Guatemala departure funds vocational training scholarship for indigenous students through Amigos de Santa Cruz, a grassroots education program in the Lake Atitlán community you’ll visit on your trip. You’ll see firsthand where your dollars go and they impact they have.
What you’ll actually do
This is a sample itinerary based on past trips. Exact timing may vary slightly due to vendor schedules, weather, or other circumstances — but the experiences below represent what a typical Vegan AF Guatemala trip looks like.
what it costs
and what you’ll get
double occupancy
$2,850 / person
Shared room with one other traveler (same gender)
single room upgrade
$3,600 / person
Your own private room
Book for only a $500 deposit and pay the rest in monthly installments with 0% interest or upcharge.
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Double occupancy means you’ll share a room with one other traveler of the same gender. Your beds are separate — think two twin beds or two double beds. This is the most common choice on our trips, and most travelers who book this way end up glad they did. You’ll likely be spending all your time exploring together anyway, and it’s a great way to instantly bond with a new friend.
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We’d be happy to put you together! At checkout, it will ask if you’re traveling with a friend or partner to please put their name so we can place you together!
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Prefer your own space? Add the single supplement ($750) and you’ll have a private room — same hotel, same itinerary, just your own place to decompress. Both options are available on every departure.
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Your $750 deposit holds your spot. After that, WeTravel automatically generates a 0% interest payment plan that divides the remaining balance into equal installments — completing 30 days before your departure. You’ll see your exact payment schedule before you confirm your booking. No surprises.
room type
trip price
✔️
What’s included
✓ All accommodation (boutique, locally owned hotels)
✓ Airport arrival pickup and departure transfer
✓ All meals listed on the itinerary (including welcome dinner, all guided tastings, boxed volcano lunch, and farewell dinner)
✓ All guided tours and activities listed on the itinerary
✓ A small group of max 14 travelers
✓ a vegan trip leader with you every step of the way
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What’s not included
✗ Flights to/from Guatemala
✗ Meals during free time (we’ll give you our best recs)
✗ Shopping, incidentals, and personal expenses
Coming solo? Most of us are.
The majority of people who book Vegan AF trips come alone. Not because they don’t have people to travel with — but because they haven’t found anyone who travels like this. People who actually care about what they eat, where their money goes, and who they spend their time with.
By day two, you won’t feel like you came alone. That’s not marketing copy — it’s what our travelers tell us, trip after trip.
… and we’re leaving with friends for life.
Book
your spot
Dates don’t work?
want to talk it through first?
Questions we get all the time
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The Pacaya Volcano hike is 2–3 hours of uphill terrain at altitude, and most days involve a good amount of walking on uneven surfaces (cobblestones in Antigua, boat transfers on the lake). You don’t need to be an athlete, but you should be in reasonable health and comfortable with sustained walking. If you have concerns about mobility or altitude, reach out before booking.
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Antigua sits at about 5,000 feet above sea level, and Lake Atitlán is around 5,100 feet. Some people feel mild altitude effects (fatigue, mild headaches) in the first day or two but staying well hydrated helps significantly. The volcano hike goes higher. If altitude is a concern for you medically, please consult your doctor before booking.
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We use vetted local guides and private transportation throughout the trip. All our hotel and restaurant partners are carefully chosen and you’ll have a local trip leader with you every step of the way. We’ve run multiple Guatemala trips and our travelers consistently describe feeling safe and well taken care of the entire time.
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We understand an additional cost can be frustrating. But our top priority is your safety. If an illness, emergency, fall, or disaster happens, we need to make sure we can act as quickly as possible for your health and safety. You can purchase it as an add on at checkout for convenience or get it from a third party site and upload it later. We recommend InsureMyTrip or Squaremouth for easy comparison.
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Nope! We actually get quite a few non vegans on the trip. Whether you don’t eat certain types of meat for religious reasons, are pescetarian, vegetarian, or just are down for the ride, you’re welcome here! The food served on the trip is vegan though so you do need to be comfortable eating vegan for a week.
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We cap every departure at 14 travelers. Small enough that everyone gets to know each other, big enough to have that real group energy.
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When you book your flights, arrival and departure should be at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City (GUA).
Our first activity on Day 1 is a welcome dinner in the evening at 7 pm so we recommend arriving early afternoon to allow yourself enough time to transfer and settle in beforehand.
For departure, you can depart any time of day.
For arrival on day 1 and departure on day 7, we will arrange your transfer to and from our hotel to the airport. If you’d like to extend your stay, we are happy to provide recommendations.
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All our trips are 100% vegan, but we know that’s not the only consideration. If you have any allergies, please reach out to us at hello@veganaftravel.com with the trip you’re interested in booking and your allergy.
Note: we unfortunately cannot accommodate gluten allergy on the Italy trip at this time.
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If you’d like to extend your trip before or after, we’d be happy to help you and give recommendations. We also can help you book a night early at the first hotel. Airport transfer is not included before the first day of the itinerary however Uber is functional in Italy and is a great option.
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Up to 90 days before your trip, you may transfer any payments made to another trip within one calendar year at no additional cost. Within 90 days of departure, we are unable to offer cancellations or changes, as payments to our vendors have already been finalized. We strongly recommend purchasing “Cancel for Any Reason” travel insurance for added flexibility and peace of mind.
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Yes, absolutely. We have a zero-tolerance policy for discrimination of any kind, which is outlined in the terms and conditions you agree to at checkout. Creating a safe, inclusive environment for all travelers is a top priority. We reserve the right to remove anyone from a trip who violates this policy.
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We pride ourselves on having a wide range of ages on our trips. Some of our best experiences come from bringing together people from all walks of life. While the average age typically falls between 25–40, we’ve welcomed travelers from 18 to 70+, and that diversity is something we truly value.
If you have any physical considerations or would like more details about activity levels, feel free to reach out to us at hello@veganaftravel.com. We’re happy to help you find the right fit.
what happens when you book?
What’s the weather like in Guatemala?
Guatemala has a tropical climate with two main seasons: the rainy season (May - November) and the dry season (December - April). In Guatemala City, Antigua, and Lake Atitlán, the 1,500 m altitude creates mild weather year-round, with temperatures in the low 60s to high 70s °F. The best time to visit is December through March.
We run our trips during this season for the most enjoyable experience. There's low humidity, little chance of rain, and perfect weather for both walking tours and a refreshing swim. We skip April, when Easter brings heavy crowds and higher prices.
Who this trip is for
✔️ Someone who likes to make the most out of their vacation. This isn’t a sit-by-the-pool trip. You’ll hike a volcano, explore a UNESCO World Heritage city, learn about ancient Mayan weaving traditions, visit a local coffee farm, and have meals with local families.
✔️ Someone curious about cultures that feel genuinely different from their own. Guatemala has one of the richest indigenous cultures in Latin America. This trip goes beyond the surface. You’ll see real Mayan heritage sites, traditions, and textiles. You’ll engage with the real history, art, food traditions, and people that make this place extraordinary.
✔️ Someone budget-conscious who doesn’t want to compromise on quality. At $2,850, Guatemala is our most accessible trip and it’s also one of our most full itineraries.
✔️ Someone who cares about the direct impact of their travel dollars. Every Guatemala trip funds vocational training scholarships through Amigos de Santa Cruz.
✔️ A solo traveler looking for an adventure without the risk of going alone. Guatemala is incredible, but navigating it solo requires a level of research and local knowledge that most travelers don’t have. We’ve done that work. You get the local experience without doing all the research on your own.
Who this trip isn’t for
❌ Travelers who prefer a leisurely pace. There’s a volcano to climb, 2 cities to see, exploring to do, and challenging landscape and terrain... If your ideal trip involves long afternoons with a glass of wine and nowhere to be, this might not be your vibe.
❌ Travelers with significant physical limitations. The Pacaya volcano hike is 2–3 hours of uphill terrain. It’s manageable for most people in reasonable health, but it’s not flat. If hiking isn’t your thing, you’ll want to consider one of our other destinations.
❌ Travelers not genuinely comfortable with rustic adventure. Guatemala is beautiful and safe within our itinerary, but it’s not . The infrastructure is different and the pace is different. That’s exactly what makes it special but it is worth knowing before you go.
This Might Not Be Your Trip — But One of These Might Be
Prefer world-class food and a slower pace?
Visit italy
Rome and Tuscany at a slower pace.
Want some beach time and boat days?
Visit Greece
Ancient ruins, dancing ‘til sunrise, and incredible vegan food. Similar European ease but on the Greek islands.
something deeper culturally and historically?
Visit Jordan
One of the oldest civilizations on earth, extraordinary hospitality, and a trip that’ll change how you see the world. More adventurous, more meaningful, and unforgettable.
meet your trip leader
Nina Gonzalez is a multidisciplinary artist born and raised in beautiful Guatemala. These days, she calls the vibrant town of Antigua Guatemala her home—right in the heart of creativity, culture, and cobblestone charm.
Art has always been her way of connecting with the world, and over time, that connection has expanded beyond the canvas. She has been vegan for over five years, and that lifestyle naturally led her to explore deeper relationships with food, the planet, and myself. Solo traveling became a big part of that journey—trying local dishes (plant-based, of course!), spending hours in museums, and having picnics wherever she could lay out a blanket. It’s the little moments that feed her soul.
One of her favorite things about living in Guatemala is how easy it is to escape into nature. Whether it’s a hidden river, a tranquil lake, or the Pacific coast, there’s always a place to swim, breathe, and just be. In Mayan culture, connecting with nature is at the core of everything—and she carries that wisdom with her in all that she does.
Thanks for being here. She is so happy to share this part of the journey with you.