First time in Guatemala in Feb 2017

I agree that you should stick with visiting Tikal, but you should fly down directly from Guate at the very beginning of your trip and only dedicate two days to the site, with one night spent in the park.

Here's how I would edit your itinerary:

Day 1 (Sat, Feb 4): Arrival from Vancouver - in GC around 10:15 AM. Visit national museum near the airport, then fly to Flores on evening flight.
Day 2 (Sun): Morning in Flores, travel to Tikal in PM and buy ticket good for the next day after 3:30pm. Night in park.
Day 3 (Mon): Tikal, back to Flores in afternoon and evening flight back to Guate. Shuttle to Antigua and sleep there.
Day 4 (Tue): Antigua
Day 5 (Weds): Antigua or Lake Atitlan
Day 6 (Thu): Lake Atitlan
Day 7 (Fri): Lake Atitlan
Day 8 (Sat): Lake Atitlan
Day 9 (Sun): Chichicastenango market, return to Antigua in PM. Sleep in Antigua
Day 10 (Mo) Antigua all day. Afternoon shuttle to Guate. Stay in Guatemala city.
Day 11 (Tue Feb 14) Departure - flight back to Vancouver is at 11:15 AM

Something along these lines.

2 nights - Tikal - Fly RT from Guatemala City. Fly the evening you arrive and stay in the park.
2 N - Antigua
1 N Panachal - visit Solola market , much closer then ChiChi, which is interesting but you really need a couple days, IMO. If ChiChi is a must try for a Sat. night/evening. Watch them set up, stay at El Arco, very cool but basic place. I liked Pana.

5 N - Lake Atitlan
1 N Antigua - back to airport in the AM. Leave by 7am.

soniaberode, aslukas, hermosajoe - thank you guys, like BIG TIME thank you for taking time and rewriting my itinerary with some great suggestions and paces to stay. It makes so much more sense now. As I've spent only CDN 233 for my ticket to Guatemala from Canada, I'll have enough money to fund a return ticket from Guatemala City to Tikal and I am just gonna go there in the beginning as suggested!

Looks like Chichi is a very interesting market, albeit filled with tourists. I think I am gonna go with hermosajoe's suggestion and do Solola market instead. I am not into the market to buy stuff, more into experiencing the whole atmosphere and take photos instead.

My trip has not started yet but I already feel like I need to come back to this beautiful country again!

@komarick I am heading to Guatemala in two weeks and after doing so much research, I feel the same way as you do! It seems like such an amazing country and I am already planning my return in my head (and I haven't experienced it yet!)

Hope you have a great time!

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