Community Maya Encounter

Welcome to Guatemala, one of the most diverse countries in Central America! Once you land at the Guatemala City Airport one of our representatives will greet you and provide all the necessary information and recommendations to make the most of your travels. A private transfer will take you to the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala (approx. 1.5 hours). Free evening to relax after your flight, enjoy a leisurely dinner and explore the town. 

Optional Activities:  Guided walking tour of Antigua highlights or 3 course private welcome dinner and cacao tasting. 

Accommodation: Casa del Parque  (3 star hotel) or Hotel San Jorge (2 star hotel)

Wake up to a delicious cup of Guatemalan coffee and prepare to make your way through the Guatemalan highlands to majestic Lake Atitlán (approx. 2.5 hours). Once you arrive you will travel by boat to the town of Santiago, home of the t'zutujiles. Meet weavers and artisans that are working to preserve millenary heritage and traditions. The population of Santiago also carries the scars and wounds of the 36 year long civil war. You will come up close and personal to the tales of the war when you stop at the war memorial and catholic church to pay your respects. To finish the day you will visit the "Cofradía" of Maximón to learn about the religious syncretism between Maya cosmovision and Catholicism.  

Included activities: Full day guided visit in Santiago. 

Accommodation: Hotel Bambú (3 star hotel)  or Posada Santiago (3 star hotel)

All over the shores of Lake Atitlán you will find a tall grasslike plant native to freshwater bodies known as "Tul". This plant has worked as a natural barrier and filter in Lake Atitlán for a long time. In recent years the amount of tul plantations all over the lake has decreased due to high demand and the use of the plant for handmade crafts. You will have the opportunity to participate  hand in hand with tul farmers, learn its properties, the process to use inside the water and how it is used to create your own "petate" all while respecting artisan techniques in a sustainable manner. You will also learn the artisan fishing techniques and enjoy a  traditional dish for lunch called "Patín".  

Included activity: Tul farming and artisan fishing workshop. 

Optional activity: Bead work class with artisans. 

Accommodation: Hotel Bambú (3 star hotel)  or Posada Santiago (3 star hotel) 

Enjoy a free day in the gardens and pool of your hotel, or choose  one of our unique optional activities.  

Optional activities:  Birdwatching trek to a waterfall in Santiago or boat trip to San Juan la Laguna to learn about textiles and cacao or San Pedro la Laguna to visit a local museum and a shaman.  

Accommodation: Hotel Bambú (3 star hotel)  or Posada Santiago (3 star hotel)

After an early breakfast, you will take a boat and  ground transfer to the k'iche village of Chichicastenango to enjoy market day (approx 1.5 hours). Market days are Thursdays and Sundays and are bustling with artisans, farmers and travelers. Chichi market is the heart of Guatemalan trade and offers all sorts of crafts, textiles, local produce and living traditions. Take a guided visit to the colorful cemetery and Santo Tomás Church; in these sacred venues it's still possible to observe rituals and appreciate the Maya syncretism once again. Enjoy the traditional market day lunch and a performance of "La Danza de los Moros." You will spend the night in Chichicastenango at either a hotel or guest house.  

Included activity: Guided visit in Chichicastenango, market day traditional lunch and dance.

Optional activity: Traditional mask painting class.

Accommodation: Hotel Santo Tomás (4 star hotel) or Casa Diego Ignacio (Local family guest house)

Enjoy breakfast and get ready for a day of Maya spirituality and wellness. You will enjoy a temazcal session (sweat lodge) and traditional massage with a healer. This tradition has been around since the ancient Maya and is still practiced among local families. The session lasts for approximately 75 minutes. The temazcal you will visit has been in the family for 200 years and the healer and spiritual leader will perform a traditional cleanse to get rid of any energy blockages so you can leave Guatemala rejuvenated and full of positive energy. This will be a day of cultural and spiritual immersion and will require plenty of mental and physical energy.  

Included activity: Temazcal session, massage and cleanse with Maya healer. 

Accommodation: Hotel Santo Tomás (4 star hotel) or Casa Diego Ignacio (Local family guest house) 

Today you will learn how to prepare a ceremonial and regional dish at the foot of a ceremonial center and home to Maya stone deity-"Pascual Abaj", the stone god was a part of the Santo Tomás church and was taken to the "Turcaj" hill to protect it from the spaniards. Ceremonial meals are only prepared during special occasions so it will be a very unique experience to share with the women of a local family. Visit the market to source the ingredients, learn all about the importance of Maize for the Maya and eat the deliciously prepared food. In the afternoon you will head back to Antigua to enjoy your last evening in Guatemala.  

Included activity: Cooking class with local women. 

Optional activity: Afternoon guided visit of Iximché Cultural Monument. 

Accommodation: Casa del Parque  (3 star hotel) or Hotel San Jorge (2 star hotel) 

Indulge in one last cup of exceptional coffee and say goodbye to beautiful Guatemala before you transfer to the airport for your departure flight. We hope you had an amazing trip and come back to visit again soon!   

END OF SERVICES.

Accomodation

Lodging each night is included in your choice of hotels. Recommendations are included in the day-by-day itinerary.

Tours and activities

Unique experiences available daily. See the day-by-day itinerary for recommended tours and additional options available.

Local guides

English speaking local & specialized guides during activities.

Airport Transfers

Shuttles and taxis arranged to get you to/from the airport.

Ground Transportation

Private/shared shuttles will take you between destinations.

Food

Included meals are noted in the itinerary: BB=Boxed Breakfast, B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, BL= Boxed Lunch, D= Dinner

Boat transfers

Taxi boats within Lake Atitlán villages.

24/7 Assistance

In country assistance in English during the whole trip.

• Optional activities

• Alcoholic drinks

• Not specified meals

• Travel Insurance

• Tips and gratuities

• International flights

In order to cancel a package for which you have made a booking, please email us stating your order reference and “Cancellation” in the title of the email. You may telephone us to discuss your desire to cancel the package but cancellation will only be effective when we have received from the person who purchased the package a written confirmation of his or her decision to cancel the package. An email to us stating that you desire to cancel a package is an irrevocable notice and you cannot subsequently change your mind even if we have not yet acknowledged the cancellation in writing.

If you cancel your tour:

We will apply the airline’s cancellation policy to any flights in your package and reimburse your ground arrangements in accordance with the penalty timeline.

For cancellation of ground-only arrangements:

(a) 90 days or more prior to the stated departure date, we will retain an administrative fee of $100 per traveler and reimburse the remaining amount;

(b) Between 30 and 89 days prior to the stated departure date, we will retain 50% of the total booking cost and reimburse the remaining amount;

(c) Less than 30 days prior to departure, we will retain 100% of the price paid by you for the package.

If you leave a trip for any reason after it has started, we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.

We may cancel a package at any time prior to departure by giving you notice by email, letter or (if very close to departure) by telephoning you, if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable or safe for our local partner to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel a package prior to departure, in your sole and absolute discretion you may choose between (i) us applying the amounts paid towards an alternative trip, or (ii) receiving a full refund. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

AMENDMENTS TO BOOKED PACKAGES

If you wish to change the date of one trip there is a fee of

(a)         $100 per traveler if done at least 90 days prior to the scheduled date of departure, subject to availability; and

(b)         $300 per traveler if done between 30 and 89 days prior to the scheduled date of departure, subject to availability.

If you wish to change the name of one or several travelers of the trip, there is a fee of $100 per passenger if done at least 90 days prior to the scheduled date of departure. No name changes are permitted within 89 days prior to the scheduled date of departure.

No amendments are permitted to your booking within 29 days of departure.