Lake Atitlán at sunset with volcanoes in silhouette

The winter trip decision

Guatemala is the one

We picked the highlands: Antigua for Christmas, Acatenango for the story, and Lake Atitlán for the slower finish before flying home on New Year’s Eve.

December 23 to 31, 2026 Booked flights Antigua, Acatenango, and Atitlán
Open the winning deck

The decks

Three good trips, one winner

Guatemala is the 2026 plan. The Dominican Republic and Taiwan decks stay here as future-trip inspiration, which is honestly a pretty nice backlog.

The Santa Catalina Arch in Antigua Guatemala with Volcán de Agua in the background Photo: Chad Davis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Winner 2026

Guatemala

Christmas in Antigua, one hard volcano night, and a four-night Lake Atitlán finish. Tikal waits for a future version.

OutboundUA 1523, IAD to GUA, Dec. 23, 5:42 pm to 9:25 pm

ReturnAvianca 1910, GUA to IAD, Dec. 31, 6:10 pm to 12:10 am, Jan. 1

Open deck
An empty white-sand beach at Bahía de las Águilas in the Dominican Republic Photo: Jordina Collell Cortacans, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Future trip

Dominican Republic

Still a strong beach-and-adventure idea: Santo Domingo, Samaná, Playa Encuentro, surf, caves, waterfalls, and warm water.

Open deck
Taipei 101 lit at night above the city skyline Photo: 4300streetcar, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Future trip

Taiwan

The long-haul dream: Taipei food, Taroko caveats, Indigenous east-coast culture, Donghe surf, and a much bigger plane ride.

Open deck