Forget what I said about Roatan and just focus on Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Copan. Forget the scooter.
Take a shuttle to the lake, hike to your hearts content and take the boats around the lake, you will never be bored, trust me.
Take a shuttle back to Antigua and use a reliable shuttle to Copan (I used Adrenalina). Rainbow Travels is another good one.
And relax!!!!
I will be staying at Taanah Guest House, in Antigua, on Air bnB in January. $30 a night. Casa Cristina would fit in your range also. (Antigua)
I stayed at Hotel Utz Jay in Panajachel twice. Around $30 a night. Very nice.
San Pedro Sula didn't sound like a bad idea. Should I even bother with Rio Dulce/Livingston? It sounds like Lake Atitlan and Copan will keep me pretty busy.
In terms of the boat rides, is this reliable: http://growyourowncure.org/lake-atitlan-boat-schedule-price-and-times/
I can research each of those places the boats go to and see what I like the best.
Walk out the airport and turn right, grab a shuttle to Antigua for $10 bucks, easy. About an hour or so.
Reserve a hostel, look at google maps and the town square, get something close.
I also liked the Utz-Jay, nice place in Panajachel. Mario's Rooms is cheaper.
Your plan sounds so much better! I like Casa Cristina in Antigua, Mario's Rooms in Panajachel (if you decide to stay there), Sak'cari in San Pedro, and the Tikal Inn in the park at Tikal. In Copán Ruinas, La Posada de Bellsey is a good budget place but we really loved Comedor Mary y Hotel our last stay there.
Awesome, appreciate all the tips. I will have to check out the places you've all mentioned and see what I come up with.
You only have 12 days. If you choose Guatemala you give up on beaches but there is lots to see and lots of hiking possibilities. As you seem to want to climb volcanoes look at Acatenango overnight (Antigua).
Forget the scooter. Buses are cheap. Shuttles are available as well.
Make a list of budget hotels. Go down the list when you are there. You will also stumble on hotels that were not on your list. And often cheap hotels don't have an online presence.
I would start with Lake Atitlan for 3 days. Take a boat to Santiago (and don't miss Maximon). Take a boat to San Pedro and also visit San Juan. Take a boat to Santa Cruz and hike from Santa Cruz to Jaibalito and (with a guide) on to San Marcos. From Panajachel take a pick-up truck to Santa Catarina Palopo (or walk). Go to the nature reserve in Pana (hanging bridges, waterfalls, ziplining). Go to the Solola market on Tuesday or Friday (a short bus ride from Pana).
Then two days Antigua or three days if you are climbing Acatenango.
A shuttle to Lanquin and a day (or two) for Semuc Champey (scenic stepped pools, swimming, tubing, caves...).
A shuttle to Flores and stay overnight at Tikal (the hammocks are great). If you have time visit Yaxha as well.
Overnight bus back to GC (or fly).
Rio Dulce is nice for the scenic boat ride to Livingston and a few nights in a jungle hostel like El Hotelito Perdido. Lots of people like it there but it was not my favorite area.
Copan is nice for a day or two: ruins, scarlet macaws (but you can see lots of them at the ruins), hot springs.
Nicaragua would be great for 12 days as well. Granada for a day and active volcano Masaya (you will see lava) and Laguna de Apoyo for swimming and kayaking. Ometepe Island for the two volcanoes (both tough climbs), waterfall, nature reserve with nice beach and wildlife, natural spring pool, kayaking... Leon is a great colonial city with amazing volcanoes (Cerro Negro has great views, active crater and you can board or run down and Telica has a very impressive crater and you can stand right on the edge) and great beaches like Las Penitas and Jiquilillo.
So I'm mostly settled with the first part of my trip:
5 nights in Antigua/Lake Atitlan
2 nights in Copan
For the remaining 5 nights, I'm debating between Rio Dulce, Lanquin, and Tikal. I think I can do 2 of the 3 within 5 nights since they are kind of in the same path although Tikal seems most out of the way - I was considering doing Tikal in the future with a trip to Belize, but not sure when I would get to see Copan/Rio/etc. if I skip them this time. But the internet seems most interested in Tikal BUT I do have a preference for water, so the other options seem better...but really is it worth it?
They all seem pretty nice so indecision ensues.
I'd leave Lanquín off the list - it will take a full day of travel to get there and a full day away to have just 1 day at the site - 2 of your precious days spent sitting on shuttles and/or buses. I wouldn't make the trip to Copán unless you're planning to spend more than 2 nights. For the number of nights you have, Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Copán, and Tikal sounds like a lot to me, but you could fit them in. Or trade Copán (or Tikal) for either Rio Dulce/Livingston or Lanquín and just stick with Guatemala this trip. Naming 5 places for your number of nights is just way too much transitioning compared to time actually on the ground imho.
No one can tell you what will be 'worth it' to you. I don't really care for Rio Dulce/Livingston and have never made the trip to Lanquín in about 20 visits to Guatemala - connecting with people, cultural color, and Maya history are more interesting to me than looking at a beautiful water feature but my bar is set really high for views because I live in the Columbia River Gorge within an hour of dozens of gorgeous waterfalls and see the river and snow capped mountains from my house. I'll make it to Semuc Champey eventually but only when I feel like spending a week or so in the area for further exploration.
Tikal has the advantage of flights and night buses that the other options don't. If you feel sure about Tikal connected to Belize, then I'd leave it off when you decide on your 4 stops (and Antigua/Atitlán is 2 stops). ¡Buena suerte!
