5 Things to Do in Guatemala in 2027

Discover a More Sustainable Way to Travel

Looking for a different way to experience Guatemala in 2027? Beyond the well-known tourist attractions, the country offers opportunities to connect with local communities, discover ancestral knowledge and explore its extraordinary landscapes at a more thoughtful pace. For travellers seeking an alternative to mass tourism, community-based tourism provides a meaningful way to experience Guatemala whilst contributing to local livelihoods and sustainable development.

Here are five experiences to consider for your next journey.

• Learn Spanish as a Second Language in Quetzaltenango

Known locally as Xela, Quetzaltenango offers an excellent setting for Spanish immersion away from the busiest tourist centres. Studying with local teachers allows you to develop your language skills whilst discovering everyday Guatemalan life, traditions and customs.

By choosing a locally established Spanish school and accommodation with a host family, you can support the local economy whilst building genuine connections with the people who call this highland city home. Learning Spanish here is not simply about mastering a language; it is an opportunity to understand Guatemala from within.

You can also start or continue your Spanish practice online following the next link https://thguatemala.com/spanish-immersion/#online-lessons

• Hike the Volcanic Landscapes of the Guatemalan Highlands

Guatemala’s western highlands are home to spectacular volcanic landscapes, mountain trails and breathtaking views. Exploring these environments with local guides offers a more personal alternative to conventional sightseeing.

Choose our community-based guiding organisations that value environmental conservation, local knowledge and responsible visitor management. Your participation can help create income opportunities for local guides whilst supporting the protection of the natural environments that make these experiences so remarkable.

• Discover K’iche’ Communities and Their Ancestral Approach to Wellbeing

Guatemala’s K’iche’ Maya communities preserve rich traditions connected to nature, food, spirituality and collective wellbeing. Through carefully organised community experiences, visitors can learn about these perspectives directly from local knowledge holders and community guides.

Wellness tour is an experience with activities that include guided walks through the forest, breathing exercises, encounters with traditional practices and conversations about the relationship between people, nature and ancestral knowledge. Approached with respect and cultural sensitivity, these encounters offer a deeper understanding of wellbeing beyond conventional wellness tourism.

Book experiences developed and delivered in partnership with local communities, where cultural knowledge is respected and the benefits of tourism are shared locally, book a Wellness Tour in the next link https://thguatemala.com/wellness-tour/

• Discover the Art of Traditional Guatemalan Cooking

Food provides a wonderful introduction to a country’s history and cultural identity. In Guatemala, traditional cooking reflects Indigenous heritage, regional ingredients and knowledge passed down through generations.

Join a locally organised cooking experience to learn about traditional ingredients, prepare regional dishes and discover the stories behind the food. Buying ingredients locally and participating in experiences led by community members can help sustain culinary traditions whilst creating additional income for local households.

Rather than simply eating a traditional meal, you will have the opportunity to understand the cultural significance of what is on your plate.

• Walk from Quetzaltenango towards Lake Atitlán

For travellers who enjoy slow travel, a multi-day journey from Quetzaltenango towards Lake Atitlán offers an opportunity to discover the Guatemalan highlands on foot. Depending on the route and itinerary, the journey can reveal mountain scenery, rural landscapes and communities whose daily lives remain closely connected to their surroundings.

Travelling with experienced local guides and choosing community-based services along the way can help distribute tourism income beyond the country’s busiest destinations. Accommodation, meals and guiding services become opportunities to support local livelihoods whilst experiencing the region at a more human pace.

This journey requires appropriate planning, route assessment and local guidance, but it can offer a rewarding alternative to travelling directly between major tourist centres.

Travel Differently in Guatemala in 2027

Choosing where and how to travel matters. Mass tourism can concentrate visitors and economic benefits in a limited number of destinations, whilst many rural communities have valuable cultural and natural resources that remain less visible to international travellers.

Community-based sustainable tourism offers another approach: one that places local people, their knowledge and their participation at the heart of the visitor experience. When travellers choose responsible local organisations, they can help create employment, support small businesses and encourage the conservation of cultural and natural heritage.

At THGuatemala, we believe that discovering Guatemala should be about more than visiting beautiful places. It should also be about understanding the country, connecting with its people and making thoughtful travel choices.

In 2027, consider exploring beyond the familiar routes. Travel with curiosity, respect local traditions and choose experiences that create meaningful benefits for the communities you visit.

Discover Guatemala differently. Travel responsibly. Make your journey matter.