Why This Underrated Latin American Country Is Breaking Tourism Records

A seriously-underrated country in Central America, just south of Mexico, Guatemala is smashing tourism records right now with over 1.6 million international visitors registered so far in 2025, according to INGUAT, the Guatemalan Tourism Institute.

It may not seem like a lot, but this is a small country roughly the size of Tennessee, with a population of around 18 million.

The fact that it’s seen a noticeable 8% increase in tourism year-after-year, amid growing regional competitivity, is nothing short of astounding—but what’s drawing tourists to Guatemala, and why would Americans go there in the first place?

Guatemala Ticks All The Boxes

We all love Mexico for its ancient culture and unspoiled nature reserves, the Dominican Republic for the paradisaical resort towns straddling crystal-clear seas, and Colombia for the vibrant atmosphere and cheaper prices, but what if you could have all of this in one place?

With coastlines on both the Caribbean and the Pacific—though the coastal stretch is much shorter on the former—beautiful dense jungles dotted with waterfalls and the ruins of bygone civilizations, and a host of historic colonial towns to its name, Guatemala is all the rage right now.

As evidenced in the strengthed air connectivity, demand for Guatemalan getaways are at an all-time high, especially now that Americans are seeking off-the-beaten-path alternatives to their usual vacation spots, and chasing after more meaningful experiences.

Improved Connectivity

Back in April, JetBlue launched a daily flight from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Guatemala City (GUA), the country’s capital and main transportation hub, complementing its already-existing New York (JFK) route. Soon enough, in October, Air Canada will also launch flights there from Montreal (YUL).

As stated by Harris Whitbeck, the Minister of Tourism and Director General of INGUAT, Guatemala is experiencing a ‘great moment’ at the minute, and we’d go as far as saying it’s undergoing a Tourism Renaissance, much like Mexico did a few years ago.

Other than the addition of direct flights between North America and Guatemala and the ‘exotic’ appeal—how many people have you come across that have been to Guatemala?—we believe there are a number of other reasons for the sudden spike in interest.

We mean, have you seen all that Guatemala has to offer?

Colonial Towns, Mayan Ruins, Fascinating Nature… You Name It

The crown jewel of Guatemala, and one of its leading destinations, Antigua Guatemala is a picture-perfect colonial town criss-crossed by cobbled lanes, best known for its yellow-washed Church and Convent of La Merced, and iconic Santa Catalina Arch.

A wonder of nature, Lake Atitlán is a highland body of water ringed by towering volcanos and indigenous settlements, and nestled deep in the jungle, Semuc Champey is a series of natural, stepped limestone bridges filled with turquoise waters.

If you love Mexico for its mystical Mayan ruins, then you can’t miss out on Guatemala’s Tikal, one of the largest, and most important pre-Columbian cities, dominated by a soaring temple, and the overgrown El Mirador, whose pyramid top is visible from afar above the tree canopy.

For white-sand Caribbean beaches hugged by teal-colored seas, look no further than Livingston. If you’re into surfing and watersports, on the other hand, make sure you add El Paredón on the Pacific side to your list.

Guatemala Is Affordable

Affordability plays an equally-big role as Guatemala’s diverse tourist offer when it comes to the country’s newfound fame in traveling circles:

Accommodation (Hotels & Hostels)

• Budget Travel: Beds in shared dorm roomws average only $11–$12 a night in cities like Antigua, Flores, and Guatemala City
• Double Room: the average overnight rate is about $33 a night, as reported by Budget Your Trip
• Mid-range to Luxury: more expensive accommodation arrangements range from $65 a night in Guatemala City, up to $121 in ‘glamping’-style stays in Flores

Food Costs*

• Breakfast: $4–$7
• Lunch: $3–$12
• Dinner: $8–$19
• Coffee: $2
• Street food: $4

*The daily food budget (per traveler) is roughly $23 per person, according to Budget Your Trip.

Transportation

• Local Transport (taxis, buses, etc): approximately $9-a-day per person
• Public Bus (‘Chicken Bus’): $5 per ride
• Guatemala City Metro-bus (Transmetro): around $0.13 each way

Activities & Tours*

• Tikal Sunrise Archaeological Tour (from Flores): $48 per person
• Pacaya Volcano Tour (from Antigua): $23 per person
• Lake Atitlán Boat Trip with Maya Villages Tour (from Antigua): $90 per person
• 2-Day Acatenango Volcano Hiking Adventurer (from Antigua): $65 per person

Tours can be booked via platforms like GetYourGuide and Viator. The prices shown here are merely an estimate, and can vary depending on availability and seat.

How Safe Is Guatemala?

Staying safe is a priority for Americans traveling abroad, particularly in Latin America, where crime rates can vary drastically between countries, and there are different cultural practices in place.

Oftentimes, finding the most accurate, up-to-date information pertaining to your destination can be tough, especially if it’s somewhere like Guatemala, where a majority of the data on safety levels available is published in Spanish.

That’s why we launched TOP U.S. Travel Advisory Checker:

This free-to-use online tool allows you to verify safety regulations in over 190 destinations worldwide in just under a minute, based on official guidance issued by the U.S. Department of State.

All it takes is typing in Guatemala into the search bar. Try it for yourself here.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.