Guatemala Adventure Journey
This holiday offers the premium experience of Guatemala. This 11 day trip will allow you to experience everything Guatemala has to offer and will provide you with tours of the surroundings. Volcanoes, biking, markets kayaking, and ancient history are all things you can look forward to enjoying on this Guatemala Adventure Journey.
- Antigua
- Pacaya Volcano
- Santiago Zamora
- Chichicastenango Market
- Iximche
- Tikal National Park
- Guatemala City
Over 11 days, you will get the chance to experience Guatemala in all its glory. Through towns such as Antigua and Gautemala City, you will experience the modern life of Guatemala and become immersed in authentic experiences. This will then be contrasted with looking at the nation’s past through visits to sites such as the Tikal National Park. You will even explore the water, through boat tours and kayaking. Anything you could hope to experience in Guatemala, you will be sure to find it on this adventure.
Guatemala is the northern most country in Central America and is mostly famous for its indigenous culture, which covers over 60% of the country’s population and the fascinating history of Mayan civilisation. As a country, Guatemala is strategically located in the middle of two oceans, the Yucatan Peninsula, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras, and has a variety of biological and cultural attractions of its own, which make it a magical place where you can have a close encounter with nature, the living Mayan Culture and the colonial heritage architecture. Discovering Guatemala means exploring marvellous colonial cities declared on UNESCOs World heritage list, visiting fascinating archaeological temples, lakes, rivers, sail shing and also hidden boutique hotels, romantic restaurants, unique volcano rich Golf courses and obviously, it’s “fantastic people”.
You will be met at the airport and will be transferred to your hotel in Antigua for the next 4 nights where you will stay for the night. The next day, following breakfast, your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to transfer you to Pacaya Volcano. A 2.5 hours hike is required to reach the top. Enjoy a delicious lunch picnic style at the top surrounded by a magnificent view. After the picnic, you will start hiking back to the vehicle for your transfer to Antigua, where you will stay the night again.
You will stay in Antigua for two more days.
On day 3 you will spend half the day on a walking tour. Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to start your walking tour around Antigua. You will visit the Central Plaza, where you can find the main buildings, San Francisco and beautiful facade of La Merced. Afterwards, you will experience zip lining. Dinner is your own to enjoy.
The next day, escape Antigua for the day and tour the countryside by mountain bike. During the tour you will see ruins one earthquake away from extinction. Visit an experimental macadamia farm at a sustainable agriculture project. Explore the villages of Santiago Zamora and San Antonio Aguas Calientes, famous for their textiles and weavings.
You will be transfered to Chichicastenango. Walk around the market and visit Santo Tomas church. In this 400 year old church, you will witness syncretism, a term which means a mix of two religions. After the tour, you will hike to Pascual Abaj, a moderate hike to get to this Mayan Shrine where worshipers gathered regularly to perform ceremonies. Transfer to Lake Atitlan where you will stay the night and the following days.
After breakfast your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for your boat transfer to the kayak starting point. Paddle for approximate 45 minutes along delightful peninsulas admiring the shore’s beautiful gardens. Once at Cerro de Oro’s base you will hike passing through the local village. A one-hour climb will get to the top, where you will enjoy spectacular views over the area. After hiking, your guide will transfer you back to your hotel.
The following day, the guide will take you on a private boat to visit the villages around the lake such as San Juan la Laguna and Santiago Atitlan, two very special and different towns. Santiago is home to Maximon, a venerated pagan saint who smokes tobacco and drinks moonshine. He resides in a different house each year. San Juan la Laguna is a bit quieter town, less visited and is home to several textile coops and art galleries.
In the morning, a transfer to Guatemala City will take you to a flight to Flores, Peten. En route, visit Iximche, a Pre Columbian Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. It was the capital of the Late Pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524 with the Spaniards arrival. The area of Petén is the largest department of Guatemala; it occupies about a third of the country but only contains over three percent of its population. This area produces wood, chewing gum, oil, pepper and other agricultural products. Its main income comes from the worldwide known cradle of the Mayan civilization.
After staying the night, an early transfer will take you to the airport for your flight to Petén. On arrival a representative will pick you at Mundo Maya airport and transfer you to Ixpanpajul Park for zip lining, afterwards transfer to hotel for check in. At 14:00, a guide will transfer you to Yaxhá Archaeological Site for a beautiful sunset tour. After the sunset your guide will transfer you back to the hotel.
After breakfast you will be transfer to Tikal archeological site. The tour covers the most important temples such as Complex Q, Temple IV, Lost World, Central Plaza, surrounded temples as well as North and South Acropolis. Lunch is held in a restaurant in the middle of the jungle. Afterwards, you will be transferred to the airport for your local flight. You will be met at the airport and transfered to your hotel in Guatemala City.
This day is free to allow for your return journey. After breakfast a transfer will take you to the airport for your departure flight.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
- Land transfers, as mentioned
- English – speaking tour guide during tours
- Accommodation in double occupancy, in mentioned hotels or similar
- Daily breakfast
- Additional meals, as mentioned on each day
- Tours and entrance fees, as mentioned
- Flight Flores to Guatemala City
- Extras at hotels (telephone calls, room service, porterage, laundry, alcoholic drinks, etc.)
- Meals or drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Any additional/extra tours or park fees
- Personal and/or medical expenses
- Any incidentals out of pocket or medical expenses. Please ensure you carry appropriate insurance, which covers all the activities in this itinerary, inherited risks, luggage protection and holiday cancellation.
- Late check-out or early check-in
- International flights
- Departure taxes or immigration fees (to be paid at some airports or land borders)
- Costs associated with changes to your itinerary for reasons beyond our control
- Any other service not mentioned in the “included” list or the itinerary
Honduras
