Your Central America Adventure Starts Here!
From exploring quaint villages surrounding magnificent Lake Atitlán to a mystical overnight among jungle-shrouded Mayan Ruins, inspiring adventures await you throughout Central America.
Each Alluring Americas Experience features a unique touch, making your travels especially enjoyable and truly unforgettable. Crafted from over 15 years of leadership and innovation in Central America tourism, Alluring Americas Experiences set a new standard for travel.
Antigua Streets and Eats Tour
This feast for the senses combines the robust flavors of Antigua’s street food with this colonial city’s colorful traditions, culture, and history.
Shoes and appetite ready, you will begin the walking tour along charming cobblestone streets lined with brightly painted Spanish colonial architecture, stopping to learn about the history of some of Antigua’s most picturesque sights. Then it’s on to some of the comedores (eateries) most loved by locals.
If you like you may sample delicious, authentic Guatemalan cuisine such as chuchitos (Guatemala-style tamales), pupusas (cheese-filled corn tortillas), rellenitos (plantain dough filled with beans and then fried), and even pigs’ feet (if you dare!).
You will learn about the cultural background of these everyday delicacies as your guide leads you through Antigua’s bustling community market to see, smell, touch, and taste the fresh ingredients used in their preparation. One of the best in Guatemala, the thriving market showcases rows of tasty and exotic fruits, vegetables, seeds, beans, grains, spices, meats, and fish. (Please note: This tour is for more adventurous eaters!)
This enjoyable outing provides a wonderful taste of authentic Antigua cuisine whilst you learn about the city’s fascinating colonial history.
Yaxhá and Topoxte Sunset Tour
One of the largest Mayan complexes in Guatemala, Yaxhá contains more than 500 structures, including nine temples and one of the few twin pyramid complexes outside of Tikal.
Your adventure features a climb up Temple 216 (37 meters / 121 feet), providing a 360-degree panorama of the rainforest canopy, nearby pyramids, and two shimmering lakes. You will also explore the less visited area of the site before hopping aboard a boat to visit the small island ruins at Topoxte.
As the sun sets behind this post-classic site, the densely shrouded temples and structures lure your imagination back into a bygone era. Enjoy onboard drinks and savor the setting as you cruise Lake Yaxhá upon returning.
This tour spotlights Yaxhá’s spectacular temples with the added mystique of a sunset boat tour of unique island ruins.
Uaxactún & Tikal Adventure with Picnic Lunch (1N/2D)
One of the longest-occupied Mayan cities, Uaxactún amazes by day with its incredible ruins and enchants by night with its nocturnal creatures. After your morning arrival in Flores, a day of exploring lies ahead among the temples.
You’ll visit a cluster of celestially oriented ruins that, to this day, accurately pinpoint the sun when the seasons change. In the village, you’ll learn about the natural gum, allspice, and xate (exported globally for floral arrangements) that locals collect. At dusk, you’ll climb a lookout tower for sunset drinks, followed by nighttime jungle exploration.
Keep an eye out for watchful owls, spooky insects such as tarantulas, and the coatimundi (long-tailed cousin of the raccoon). Afterward, enjoy a delicious, locally made dinner before camping overnight amid the ruins.
The next day starts with breakfast and a last look around Uaxactún. A 45-minute ride through the deep jungle will take you to Tikal National Park, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. You will enter Tikal through the forest, an area most visitors never get to see.
Not only will you enjoy a fascinating tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you’ll also experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys. Following in the footsteps of Maya royalty and commoners, you will visit the majestic Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar (44 meters / 144 feet), Temple of the Masks (38m / 125ft), the Acropolis, and much more. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and will have time afterwards, if you wish, to continue exploring this intriguing site before departing for your next destination.
The Uaxactún camping getaway uniquely combines jungle, cultural, and archaeological encounters.
Uaxactún & Tikal Adventure with Picnic Lunch (2N/3D)
It’s one thing to visit Guatemala’s stunning ruins, but wait until you spend the night at one — in particular, Uaxactún, one the longest-occupied Mayan cities. After your nighttime arrival at Uaxactún from Flores, you’ll drop your belongings in your tent at the campsite near the jungle-shrouded temples. But don’t even think about settling into your bed yet! First, you’ll set out along jungle trails in search of nocturnal wildlife, such as owls, opossums, and spooky-looking insects.
Uaxactún’s many structures include an elaborate, thoroughly accurate astronomical cluster, where you’ll gaze up at a twinkling blanket of stars and luxuriate in the jungle mystique.
In the morning, you’ll embark on a guided tour of the Uaxactún ruins, stopping at partially restored temples that align perfectly with the sun on key dates of the calendar. In the village, you’ll learn about the natural gum, allspice, and xate (exported globally for floral arrangements) that locals collect. For lunch, you’ll savor a traditional dish prepared with locally sourced ingredients. You can rest or explore at your leisure in the afternoon. At dusk, you’ll climb a lookout tower for sunset drinks, followed by a delicious, locally made dinner before another overnight in the jungle camp.
The next day starts with breakfast and a last look around this fascinating place. A 45-minute ride through the deep jungle will take you to Tikal National Park, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. You will enter Tikal through the forest, an area most visitors never get to see.
Not only will you enjoy a fascinating tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you’ll also experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys. Following in the footsteps of Maya royalty and commoners, you will visit the majestic Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar (44 meters / 144 feet), Temple of the Masks (38m / 125ft), the Acropolis, and much more. You will enjoy a picnic lunch and will have time afterward, if you wish, to continue exploring this intriguing site before departing for your next destination.
The Uaxactún camping getaway uniquely combines jungle, cultural, and archaeological encounters.
Las Cuevas Nature Expedition and Caracol Ruins
Day 1 – This overnight jungle adventure takes you to Las Cuevas Research Station, a nature reserve dedicated to environmental research and conservation located in the heart of the Chiquibul Forest
Reserve, deep in the Maya Mountains. Enjoy breathtaking views as you traverse the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest and stop for a refreshing dip on one of the crystal clear pools. Once at the reserve, you can relax, explore the nearby dry cave, or head out on a 2km/1.24 mile “Nature Walk and Sunset Tour” where you may see jungle wildlife and an abundance of birds. The trail leads to a bird tower with a 30-minute ascent to a lookout above the canopy with vast sunset views that extend as far as Guatemala. Enjoy an outdoor dinner serenaded by evening birdsong in a spot where scarlet macaws often fly over and perch in nearby trees. Then it’s time for the evening “Creatures of the Night Hike,” where you may see lizards, frogs, beetles, owls, snakes, and armadillos. Very rarely, a tapir or elusive black or speckled jaguar may even be spotted. After the day’s adventures, it’s time for a well-deserved rest in the research station’s rustic-but-comfortable private cabins, each with four beds.
Day 2 – An early morning breakfast on a tower overlooking the jungle canopy starts the day, with views of tropical birds in search of their morning meal. Then you will depart for the ancient Mayan ruins of Caracol (1200 BCE to 900 AD) to arrive in the temperate morning hours and before the crowds turn up. Climb the pyramids and view the stone carvings at this spectacular site, which covered more than 200 SQ. km/124 SQ. miles – larger than the modern-day Belize City – and is believed to have had nearly double Belize City’s current population. Afterward, enjoy a picnic lunch and swim beside the beautiful, cascading waterfalls of Río On natural pools, then return to the lowlands in time to make connecting flights or relax at your hotel.
Enjoy a true jungle experience and support the research and conservation projects in one of the largest remaining blocks of tropical forest in Central America.
Explore Mystical, Majestic Lake Atitlán
Experience the splendor of majestic Lake Atitlán by kayaking across its sparkling surface. Your adventure guide will meet you at your hotel for a short ride to the dock and a one- to two-hour (depending on your wishes) kayaking journey.
As you kayak you may encounter local fishermen who are usually happy to share a glimpse of their daily life. After landing at the intriguing Cerro de Oro (Hill of Gold), a 1.5 hours hike will take you through the village with the same name, known for its creativity in turning plastic waste into recycled art. The trek culminates at the summit (1,636 meters / 5,368 feet), where you’ll be rewarded with impressive views of the lake and its volcanic backdrop.
Once back at the dock, hitch a ride in the back of a pickup and rumble off to Santiago for lunch and a visit with Guatemala’s favorite indigenous saint, Maximón. Afterward, hop aboard a boat and cruise to San Juan, where you’ll visit weaving co-ops, medicinal herb gardens, and art naïf painters.
Go on foot or squeeze into a tuc-tuc and ride like the locals. You will be back at your hotel just in time for a sunset drink or a relaxing dip in the pool.
This lively tour combines kayaking, hiking, and boating to reveal majestic and mystical destinations within the Lake Atitlán basin.
Guided Tour and Dinner with Renowned Copán Archaeologist
Located in western Honduras, Copán ranks as one of the finest archaeological sites in the Mayan world. What better way to see it than with the expert who spent years unearthing its secrets? Your Copán immersion experience will be led by David Sedat, renowned archaeologist and the former Copán field director for the University of Pennsylvania’s archaeology museum.
In the morning, David escorts you from your hotel to the ruins for a private tour of this remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its intricately carved stelae and incredible hieroglyphic stairway exemplify why Copán is considered one of the most lavish cultural centers of the Mayan world. Your itinerary includes stops at the sculpture museum and two ancient tunnels that provide insight into Copán’s early stages.
In the evening, join David at his home for cocktails, appetizers and a one-hour presentation on Copán’s fascinating royal tombs, which he helped excavate. He also covers some of the site’s amazing, lesser-known discoveries. During the dinner that follows, David will gladly answer your questions. Half the cost of the presentation goes directly to David’s and the University of Pennsylvania’s ongoing work at Copán.
This experience offers a private and intimate look at one of the most fascinating Mayan archaeological sites in the region.
Pacaya Volcano Hike with Luxury Picnic
A grumbling, smoke-belching spectacle, Pacaya Volcano (2,552 meters / 8,371 feet) beckons adventure-seekers with its breathtaking display of nature’s raw power.
Your morning transfer delivers you to Pacaya’s foothills for a steep hike through a lush pine forest. A widening panorama unfolds on the way up, offering views of northern volcanoes, the Pacific lowlands and all the way to El Salvador.
At the base of the peak itself, a barren moonscape of loose rock and pebbles greets you, adding tricky footing to the adventure. Steam rises from numerous vents, which sometimes yield a view of bright orange magma deep inside. After selfies near the crater, you’ll feast on a sumptuous picnic lunch and savor final views of the summit. This full-day expedition wraps up with a brisk walk down to the park base for your return ride to Antigua.
This Experience rewards enthusiastic climbers with spectacular panoramic views and a delicious gourmet picnic lunch.