11 Days
Welcome to Guatemala! You will be amazed and truly astounded by the beauty, culture and diversity of wildlife and geographical locations during this once in a lifetime trip!
Let's go on an adventure!
Day 1
Arrival into Guatemala City, Guatemala. Head to the charming town of Antigua
Day 2
Enjoy a cultural walking tour of Antigua, head to a local coffee plantation for a delicious coffee sampling
Day 3
Visit Chichicastenango market and then head to the Lakeshore of Lake Atitlan and immerse yourself in the regions beautiful landscape
Day 4
Venture out to explore the colonial villages of San Juan and Santiago
Day 5
Immerse yourself in the local culture during a cooking class and weaving demonstration
Day 6
Fly to Flores/Peten in the Guatemalan jungle. Explore Yaxha and Topoxte ruins and watch the sunset from the top of a temple
Day 7
Walk in the footsteps of the Mayans during an exploration of the ancient city of Tikal
Day 8
Travel across the border to Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize
Day 9
Discover the extensive Maya site of Caracol, visit Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools
Day 10
Experience the natural beauty of your surroundings with a variety of optional activities
Day 11
Depart Belize
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
CONTACT US ABOUT THIS TRIPWelcome to Guatemala!
Travel to the charming town of Antigua and begin your Guatemalan Romance Journey.
Stroll through the city’s avenidas, plazas and cobblestone streets admiring the beautiful ornately decorated churches and artisan workshops that align Antigua’s sidewalks. Walk along to visit the city’s top landmarks like the Ayuntamiento (City Hall Palace), Palace of the Captain’s General, the main cathedral, and Santo Domingo, a well-known hotel and cultural center. Head to Hill of the Cross for an impressive panoramic view of the area.
Travel just outside the city to explore the Guatemalan countryside and enjoy a sampling of delicious coffee. This session is ideal for those passionate about coffee and anyone that wants to deepen their knowledge about aromatic coffee cupping. Gain insight on the process of growing and cultivating coffee from start to when the coffee is served. Sit and let your senses take over as you sample the different varieties of coffee that Guatemala is famous for. Learn about the characteristics such a fragrance, aroma, flavor, acidity, and aftertaste.
Visit Chichicastenango market and then continue to the Lakeshore of Lake Atitlan.
To fully experience the way of life at Chichicastenango market, you must understand the market’s culture. Families arrive from outlying villages aboard trucks and carts loaded with products from their farms and workshops. They stock their stalls with a dizzying assortment of merchandise while the family leader strikes deals with the vendors who will sell their goods. Explore the nearby streets to witness the daily routines of Chichi residents, wearing the traditional clothing worn by many of the local adults and children.
Although more than a dozen fascinating towns and villages overlook majestic Lake Atitlán, Santiago and San Juan La Laguna top the must-see list.
In San Juan, watch indigenous weavers mix natural dyes from locally grown plants and flowers, and then see the women use a back-strap loom to create intricate textiles, threaded with colorful thread. From there, peruse a workshop of art naïf painters before boarding the boat for the cruise to Santiago.
After a delicious lunch, head out with your guide to find the house of Maximón, the Mayan folk saint who moves annually with the selection of his new caretaker. A shaman may be performing a ritual for a local follower or two who are gathered at Maximón’s candle-lit altar. Afterward you can visit the church, learn about the town’s vivid history, and explore the thriving market to see some of the distinctive textiles and primitive art that are both famous from the lake basin.
Spend a day immersing yourself in the local cuisine and learning traditional weaving techniques during a cultural workshop.
Join a local chef at the market to buy ingredients and to meet local vendors. Learn about the different variety of produce that are native to this region. Head to the kitchen where you will learn how to prepare local favorites. There is an incredible list of recipes that you can choose from, including vegetarian dishes. Spend the next couple of hours learning how to prepare three authentic Guatemalan dishes, and after enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Enjoy an interactive weaving demonstration during your visit to a local woman’s cooperative, where you will gain a deeper understanding into the Mayan culture.
Fly to Flores/Peten, to begin your adventure in the Guatemalan jungle.
Venture out to explore the archaeological sites of Yaxha and Topoxte. 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 metres / 121 feet), providing a 360-degree panoramic view of the rainforest canopy, nearby pyramids, and two shimmering lakes. You will also explore the less visited areas 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 a drink and savor the sunset.
Tikal National Park features some 3,000 ancient structures rising from the rainforest floor. Enjoy a fascinating tour of the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys, that live in the jungle canopy. Once home to an estimated 50,000 residents or more, Tikal flourished from 800 BC to 900 AD. Follow in the footsteps of Mayan royalty and commoners as you admire the majestic Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar (44 meters / 144 feet), and Temple of the Masks (38 meters / 125 feet).
Travel across the border to Mountain Pine Ridge, Belize.
Discover the extensive Maya site of Caracol and visit Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools.
Situated high on the Vaca Plateau deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the most extensive Mayan site in Belize and was only re-discovered as recently as 1936. The site of Caracol covers over 80 square miles with 30,000 structures and at its peak supported a population in excess of 150,000.
At the heart of the site lies the massive pyramid of Caana (Sky Palace) which is now almost fully restored and reaches a height of over 135 feet. From the top you can enjoy breath taking panoramic views over the forest clad mountains.
The sprawling site contains huge ceiba, mahogany and sapodilla trees and is superb for birding (the rare Keel-billed Motmot is a resident of the site). Wildlife such as howler and spider monkeys, Oscillated Turkey, coatimundi, gibnut and grey fox are often sighted while quietly wandering along the site’s causeways or along trails connecting the plaza groups.
After lunch, drive back towards the Lodge, stopping at the Rio Frio Cave, and finishing our tour at the Rio On Pools, just as you are ready for a wonderful dip in its cooling pools.
A variety of complimentary experiences such as guided birding, hiking trails, use of bikes and river tubes are available to you. You may also arrange for optional adventures such as ziplining, horseback riding and more.
Head to Belize City for your departure flight from Belize.
With the help of our travel specialists, create a perfect trip planned around your specific interests, tastes and preferences. We will provide helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
CONTACT US ABOUT THIS TRIP
