Essential Guatemala
Guatemala is home to volcanoes, rainforests, and an abundance of historical sites. With such a huge variety of experiences to be had, this trip condenses a number of Guatemalan experiences into 5 days, to ensure you have an enjoyable, immersive holiday. With lakes, mountains, and wonderful villages throughout your stay, you are sure to get a taste of everything Guatemala has to offer.
- Guatemala City
- Antigua
- Lake Atitlan
- Santiago Atitlan
- Iximche
From kayaking to hiking, exploring Mayan ruins to enjoying beautiful gardens, this trip is packed full of variety. No matter why you wish to visit Guatemala, this trip will ensure you get a taste of everything the region has to offer within the 5 day journey.
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 La Aurora International Sirport and transfer you to your hotel in Antigua. After staying the night you will awake and spend the following day in Antigua. After breakfast, your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and show you around this beautiful colonial town. The main heritage buildings around Antigua such as The Cathedral, San Francisco and La Merced. After lunch you will be transferred to a coffee plantation where you will learn the history, cultivation and processing of coffee in the farm, with over 130 years of tradition. You will then stay another night in Antigua.
After breakfast you will be transfered to Lake Atitlan. En route visit to Iximche, a Pre Columbian-Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, it is not the major archaeological site, but was founded by the Kaqchikel Maya in 1470 after a prolonged conflict with the Kiche. It was the capital of the Late Pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524 with the Spaniards arrival.
After breakfast your guide will take you on a private boat to pick up the kayaks and gear. You will board the kayak and paddle for approximate 45 minutes along delightful peninsulas admiring the shore’s beautiful gardens.
After lunch, you will visit Santiago Atitlan, home to Maximon, a pagan saint who drinks moonshine and smoke cigars. Maximon is visited every day by locals, healers and tourists asking for favors. After the tour, the boat will take you back to Panajachel where you will take a private transfer to Antigua Guatemala.
After breakfast a transfer will take you to the airport for your departure flight. The day is left free for you to organise yourself before leaving.
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
- 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
