Living Culture and Traditions: from Lake Atitlán to Maya Temples

Welcome to Guatemala, one of the most diverse countries in Central America! Upon arrival at Guatemala City Airport one of our representatives will greet you and will 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 and explore the town.   

Optional Activity:  3 course private welcome dinner and cacao tasting. 

Accommodation:  Casa Encantada (4 star boutique hotel)__,  __Casa del Parque  (3 star hotel)  Hotel San Jorge (2 star hotel)  

Wake up to a delicious cup of Guatemalan coffee and enjoy a day of exploring the cobblestone streets of Antigua Guatemala. Your local guide will meet you at your hotel and  take you for a walk along the colorful streets and share the history of this UNESCO World Heritage site. You will visit markets, the most emblematic ruins and major highlights of the city along with the majestic views of surrounding volcanoes. In the afternoon, you will head out to the village of San Miguel Escobar and participate in a coffee tour where you will go into the fields with the coffee farmers and learn all about coffee production from bean to cup. End the tour with a delicious cup of coffee with the farmer and his family.  

Included activities: 3 hour guided walk with highlights of the city and coffee experience in San Miguel Escobar.

Optional activity: Instead of the coffee tour participate in an afternoon guided tour of the rural community of San Cristobal el Alto, finishing with a glass of wine or fresh juice overlooking the valley and volcanoes.  

Accommodation:  Casa Encantada (4 star boutique hotel)__,  __Casa del Parque  (3 star hotel)  Hotel San Jorge (2 star hotel) 

Enjoy a leisurely morning in Antigua. Indulge in a delicious breakfast and walk around town visiting local shops and churches.  In the afternoon you will transfer to Panajachel, a town on the shores of Lake Atitlán to continue your adventure in a new destination (approx. 2.5 hours). 

Optional morning activity:  Local cooking class in Jocotenango or Worry doll making class with artisans in San Antonio Aguas Calientes. 

Accommodation: Hotel Atitlán (5 star hotel), Hotel Jardines del Lago (3 star hotel) or Hotel Kaqchiquel (2 star hotel).  

Your local guide will pick you up at your hotel to take you to San Juan la Laguna. You will take a private boat transfer to get there from the dock of your hotel (approx. 30 mins). Surrounded by primitive art, beautiful textiles and majestic views, San Juan will give you a warm welcome and the opportunity to interact and learn the way of life and customs of its T’zutujil villagers. You will be taking a guided visit to local cooperatives and associations to learn the process of natural dyeing and textiles, the use of medicinal plants, cacao production and the background and evolution of naif art.  After the tour feel free to explore the town on your own before heading back to your hotel. Free evening. 

Included activity: Guided boat trip and visit to San Juan la Laguna, includes lunch and artisan demonstrations.

Optional activity: Medicinal plants workshop with healers or Art class with naif artists.

Accommodation: Hotel Atitlán (5 star hotel), Hotel Jardines del Lago (3 star hotel) or Hotel Kaqchiquel (2 star hotel). 

Walk the picturesque and colorful alleys of Santa Catarina Palopó, this village is the first to be included in an initiative of transforming communities through textile inspired art around the lake. You will also visit the ceramic factories of San Antonio Palopó, a village that has stopped in time and still embodies local life and living traditions. Both villages are located a short drive from Panajachel. Free evening.  

Included activities: Guided visit and artisan demonstrations in Santa Catarina and San Antonio Palopó.

Optional activities: Ceramic class in San Antonio Palopó.

Accommodation: Hotel Atitlán (5 star hotel), Hotel Jardines del Lago (3 star hotel) or Hotel Kaqchiquel (2 star hotel).  

Enjoy a relaxing day, go on a kayak adventure on your own, walk the street markets of Panajachel or choose an optional activity.

Optional activities: Zip lining and butterfly dome in Lake Atitlán Nature Reserve. 

Accommodation: Hotel Atitlán (5 star hotel), Hotel Jardines del Lago (3 star hotel) or Hotel Kaqchiquel (2 star hotel). 

After an early breakfast, you will 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 will allow you to appreciate the Maya syncretism once again. Enjoy the traditional market day lunch and a performance of "La Danza de los Moros". In the afternoon you will make your way to Guatemala City  (approx. 2 hours), so you can prepare for an early morning flight to Flores the next day.

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

Optional activity: Traditional mask painting class.

Accommodation: La Inmaculada Boutique Hotel (3 star hotel) or In & Out Bed & Breakfast (2 star hotel)  

Begin your day with an early transfer from your hotel to the Guatemala City airport. You will take a short flight (approx. 1 hour) to the Maya Biosphere Reserve and once you land you will continue your expedition from Flores Island.  You’ll transfer to the village of Sayaxché (approx. 2 hours ) where you will take a boat through the uncharted La Pasión River (approx. 35 kms and 1 hour) all the way to the Pucté creek where the colors of the water start to change. You will arrive at the "Crater Azul" a surreal subaquatic garden and pristine fresh blue water pools where you will spend your day swimming surrounded by nature. In the afternoon you will head back to your hotel to enjoy your evening.  

Included activity: Visit to Crater Azul.

Accommodation: Isla de Flores (4 star hotel) or Hotel Casona de la Isla (3 star hotel)  

Get ready to visit to the ancient Maya kingdom of Tikal. Prepare for an excursion (approx. 1 hour) to explore this amazing Maya city, recognized for both its cultural and natural significance as well as for being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will explore the vast jungle trails and climb some of the most emblematic temples in the heart of the lush Guatemalan jungle. Appreciate millenary architecture and be immersed  by the sounds of howler monkeys and Tikal´s history. After you finish the tour, you will head to Flores to enjoy your evening (approx. 1 hour). 

Included activity:  Guided visit of Tikal National Park.

Optional activity: Zip lining in the jungle canopy of Tikal.  

Accommodation: Isla de Flores (4 star hotel) or Hotel Casona de la Isla (3 star hotel)   

We couldn't think of a better way to finish your trip other than with a relaxing morning in a beautiful place. Enjoy lunch and in the afternoon you will make your way to Mundo Maya Airport so you can catch a short evening flight (approx. 1 hr)  to Guatemala City. Enjoy your last night in the city center.  

Optional morning activity: Guided visit of Yaxhá National Park. 

Optional evening activity:  3 course Guatemalan fusion farewell dinner.

Accommodation: La Inmaculada Boutique Hotel (3 star hotel) or In & Out Bed & Breakfast (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.

Accommodation

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.

Domestic flight

Roundtrip flight GUA-FRS.

Entrance fees

Entrance fees to sites of interest, museums and national parks.

Food

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

24/7 Assistance

English in country assistance 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.