9 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 colonial town of Antigua
Day 2
Stroll through cobblestone streets admiring the baroque and colorful architecture as you discover Antigua
Day 3
Travel to the Lakeshore of Lake Atitlan, Immerse yourself in the local culture during a gourmet cooking class
Day 4
Venture out on a kayak to explore the colonial villages of San Juan and Santiago
Day 5
Spend an entire day relaxing or enjoying activities on Lake Atitlan
Day 6
Fly to Flores/Peten in the Guatemalan jungle. Enjoy a sunset exploration of Yaxha and Topoxte ruins.
Day 7
Walk in the footsteps of the Mayans during an exploration of the ancient city of Tikal
Day 8
Take an exhilarating helicopter ride to explore the ruins of El Mirador
Day 9
Depart Guatemala
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.
En-route, immerse yourself in the local culture during a gourmet cooking class.
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 a kayak exploration on Lake Atitlan visiting the villages of San Juan and Santiago.
Paddle out on the lake to discover two of the most fascinating villages that overlook majestic Lake Atitlán, San Juan La Laguna and Santiago. In San Juan, you can experience indigenous weaving demonstrations and learn about traditional techniques being used to create their beautiful textiles. Visit the workshop of art naïf painters to see and learn about their craft.
Head back on the lake and enjoy beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding area as you travel to Santiago. Visit 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 gathered at Maximón’s candle-lit altar. Take a stroll through the village streets and learn about its vivid history and explore the local market to see some of the distinctive textiles and primitive art that have made the lake basin famous.
Spend an entire day at leisure relaxing or exploring the lake on your own.
There are a variety of water and nature activities that you can enjoy, including kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, mountain biking, horseback riding, zip-lining, scuba diving, and nature hikes around the surrounding area.
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 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 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, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise 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 (38m / 125ft.
Take an exhilarating helicopter ride to discover the Mayan ruins of El Mirador.
Worth the effort for adventurous travelers and history buffs, El Mirador is a truly ancient urban center that flourished almost a thousand years before Tikal had constructed its first pyramid. With an estimated population of close to 100,000 in 600 BC, it was one of the first megacities in the Americas.
Archaeologists who began excavating El Mirador (“The Viewpoint”) 30 years ago have basically rewritten early Mayan history based on their findings. The site is centered on three amazing temple pyramid sites, “El Tigre,” “Los Monos,” and “La Danta,” the last of which is one of the largest pyramids in the world.
Fly to Guatemala City.
Head to the airport for your departure flight from Guatemala.
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
