Guatemala Itinerary Advice
 

Hi,
I'd appreciate any help, advice or comments you can provide on our general itinerary. My 18yo son and I travel frequently, really move around, and try to cover as much as we can. So here goes. . .
Day 1-2 Arrive, Head to Antigua, hike to Volcan Pacaya
Day 3 Drive to Lake Atitlan (any thoughts on which village to base), possibly Santa Cruz to San Marcos hike, explore few villages (suggestions?)
Day 4-5 Drive to Quetzaltenago, hit Las Fuentes Georginas, then onto Huehuetenango (anything else to do in area/) Day 6-7 Drive to Coban - Limited Time/Lots of Possibilities (in no particular order) : Candelaria Caves, Semuc Champey, Whitewater rafting (middle Cahabón), Caves of K‘an ba, Lanquin National Park ,Biotopo del Quetzal, Santa Margarita Coffee Tour, Vivero Verapaz, La Grutas Rey Marcos
Day 8-9 Drive to Lake Izabel - Possibilities: Las Siete Altares, Castillo San Felipe, Finca El Paraiso, Aguas Caliente, Manatee Reserve, Boqueron Canyon Day 10 Fly to Flores (anything to do in Flores?) Day 11 Tikal Day 12 Return to Guate, General Site, late afternoon flight to US

Yikes! Can't pass up the opportunity to say that's way too much moving around. It takes 2 nights to = 1 day to explore, which you won't have with the current itinerary in more than a place or 2. Many of your "drive to" sections will be 8 or 10 hours on the road (if you don't run into road blocks, flat tires, or land slides) and the sun sets around 6 pm (after which you shouldn't be on the road) so that will be about it for those days. I can't really offer many recommendations, even after 5 or 6 visits to Guatemala, because you don't have time to fit them in. If you decide to leave the Xela/Huehue part out and choose between Semuc Champey/Coban and Izabel, you would be fine. You'd maybe have time for a trip to Livingston and back from Rio Dulce town (if you head that way), some adventure at the Ixpanpajul park near Flores, and some time with Roxy Ortiz, a truly genius guide at Tikal. Check out the 2007 and 2009 photo collections with blog/travelogue links on the main page of each - all my recommendations are there; add'l Tikal photos in 2003. Good luck! I'm thinking you'll need it with that itinerary!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

I'm interpreting your post that these are possibilities from which to choose, and that you're looking for guidance. I hope that's the case because this could not all fit into two weeks.

I think there are "first Guatemala trip" places: Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, and Tikal; and then "second or more Guatemala trip" places: the others. Nothing says you have to do it that way, but there are reasons those "first trip" places are so popular. They would fill up two weeks at a nice, relaxing place. :)

I agree with hopefulist--your itinerary is too ambitious to allow you time to see much other than the road. the driving in Guatemala is slow and difficult (see my trip report). I would cut way back on the number of destinations.

Thanks all for your advice. My final itinerary is: Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Coban/Languin area, Tikal/Flore, Lake Izabel/Rio Dulce. Something had to give so we'll have to miss Highlands area.Will report back when I return.

Question for Hopefulist...is Roxy Oriz a private guide and how do I find/contact her$ We will be in Tikal March 25-27 and I gather hiring a guide is very worthwhile...the hotel guides get mixed reviews.

Roxy's brothers manage the Tikal Inn, so you can contact her there; that's my favorite place to stay anyway. When we were there last summer she wasn't on a dig at the time because of the economic downturn. I'm usually not a person who likes to follow along with a guide but our morning with Roxy was amazing. It was my 3rd time to Tikal and I saw and learned new things I'll never forget. Hope it works out for you to have that experience!

http://tikalinn.com/