A week in Guatemala

Bienvenidos a Guatemala !

Upon arrival at Guatemala City international airport, our friendly english speaking driver is waiting for you at the airport with a welcome sign. After a quick briefing, he takes you to your hotel in the lovely town of La Antigua Guatemala (1:30).

Feliz noche !

This morning, you will wake up in the most beautiful town of Central America. One of our english speaking staff member will meet your at the reception of your hotel to have a short talk about your trip. Afterwards your guide will take you for a 1/2 day walking tour on cobblestone streets & give you a great introduction to Guatemala and Antigua.

Tours options for your afternoon

• Villages around Antigua tour, Mountain Bike tour, ATV or UTV tours, Coffee tour, Canopy tour
• Pacaya active volcano tour
• Other tours depending your special interests (bird, food, workshops….)

Early departure for Chichicastenango (02:45) to discover & enjoy one of the most colorful & lively market of Guatemala.

On the stairs of Santo Tomas church, next to the market, shaman are performing traditional Quiche Maya ceremonies using bonfires and censers with smoldering incense and copal resin.

In the afternoon, your driver will take you to Panajachel on the shores of lake Atitlan (01:30), a huge crater lake surrounded by mountains and three volcanoes, are dominated by traditional Mayan families. the lake is also the home of Antoine de Saint Exupéry’s Little Prince:  as the author took away much inspiration and symbolism from the lake.

Today, your guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel & will take you by boat to the village of San Juan la Laguna. On your way enjoy the views of villages located on the northern shore of lake Atitlan : Santa Cruz, Jaibalito, Tzununa, San Marcos, and San Pablo.

In San Juan, your guide will introduce you to Maya traditions visiting art galleries, woman’s weaving cooperatives, a medicinal and curative plant garden & local artists. 

Your second stop is Santiago Atitlan, your guide will take you to Maximon house to introduce you to local beliefs : his effigy is typically depicted with a cigarette in his mouth and given offerings of money and Quetzalteca, a liquor made of fermented cane sugar. Mayan visit Maximon to ask for healthy crops, to help cure illness, to find love, or to cast a spell on a neighbor.

In the afternoon, return boat to Panajachel or wherever you are staying at.

Other amazing tours options

Hiking : Indian Nose sunrise tour or Volcan San Pedro

Hiking & Visiting : Santa Cruz to San Marcos Hike & cultural tour of San Juan la Laguna

Multi-activity tour Kayak, Hike & cultural tour of Santa Cruz la Laguna & San Juan

Off the beaten bath cultural tour San Lucas Toliman, Cerro de oro & Santiago Atitlan

Biking : Many trails (easy, moderate, difficult)

Workshops

Set on a natural balcony overlooking Lake Atitlan, Solola’s Tuesday and Friday market is an authentic indigenous market where you experience the local daily life. People come here to buy goods such as food, clothes, shoes, tools… Here people proudly wear their traditional clothes.

Afterwards you driver will take you to Iximche (01h15) a lovely archaeological site which was the capital of the Caqchikel Maya kingdom. When the Spanish conquistadores arrived in the region, they used Iximché as their first base of operations.

In the afternoon, your driver will drop you off at Guatemala City airport (01h30) to take a short flight (01h00) to Flores in the Peten region a remote wild area which holds some of the greatest archeological wonders in the world.

Today, be ready for a unforgettable day !

Your driver & your english speaking guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel & will drive to you to Tikal.

The magnificent Tikal is the largest Maya archeological site found in Central America. You will be signing up for some great hiking in the lus tropical forest. The tour includes 4 of the largest temples with wooden stairs that offer spectacular views of the dense tropical jungles and wildlife in the Petén region.

There is amazing fauna diversity here including howler & spider monkeys, coatimundis, occelated turkeys, spiders, agoutis, and various birds. tinamous, parrots, motmots, aracaris, jacamars, puffbirds, leaftossers, antthrushes, and the odd Northern Royal Flycatcher.

In the afternoon, you will head back to Flores to wander around the streets of Flores.

Optional tours (in the afternoon)

Tikal sunrise tour

Boat tour on lake Peten Itza

Canopy tour

Sky way jungle bridges

Short transfer to Flores airport to take your flight back to Guatemala City. End of your trip. Hasta luego !

Post tours extensions 

Belize beach

Belize snorkeling or diving

Belize nature & cultural