Itineraries

Guatemala complete - 22 days

If you want to enjoy more of Guatemala´s beauty, this itinerary is your best bet! This 3-week itinerary brings you to all the highlights, and also shows you some hidden gems that Guatemala has under its sleeve, such as the highland areas of Quetzaltenango and Nebaj, and you even cross the border to visit the ruins in Copan, Honduras. Request your trip now!

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Day 1
Arrival at the international airport La Aurora (Guatemala City). Right after arrival you travel in a private vehicle to the colonial town of Antigua. You spend 3 nights at a comfortable colonial hotel near the main square of Antigua.

Day 2

Today is a free day. Antigua is a small town, and easy to navigate and do a self-guided tour along the many churches, convents and ruins. You could also visit a local coffee farm, jade museums, art galleries, the chocolate museum, or do souvenir shopping.

 

Day 3

Early morning you depart for a volcano hike to the active volcano Pacaya. It takes a 1-hour drive in bus, and then a hike of about 2,5 hours to the surroundings of the crater, through the forest. As this volcano is still active, you can´t get to the crater, but you will have a good view on it. You walk on the lava fields, and you´ll see and feel that there is still hot lava under the surface!

Day 4

In the morning you travel to Chichicastenango. This indigenous town is known for its largest handicrafts and artisans’ market in the whole region; a colorful picture! This is the perfect combination of a traditional indigenous town, and purchasing souvenirs from local vendors. After a couple of hours, you continue the trip to Panajachel on Lake Atitlan.

Day 5
Time to explore the lake! Today you make a boat tour, the ultimate way to enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the lake. The boat with bilingual guide will take you along several indigenous villages around Lake Atitlan; visiting San Juan la Laguna, Santiago Atitlan and San Marcos la Laguna.

 

Day 6

From the dock in Panajachel, you travel by boat to San Juan la Laguna. In San Juan, the coordinator of our partner project waits for you at the dock, and you will start a very interesting cultural day. This day consists of a complete program; you start with a tour through the village, where you can admire the many murals with a spiritual significance in the Mayan culture. After that you participate in one of the workshops that are described below. Lunch is included, at the house of a local family. At the end of the afternoon you take the boat back to Panajachel.

Day 7


Today you´re traveling to the heart of the Guatemalan highlands; you´re visiting Quetzaltenango, the second biggest city of the country, with a high number of indigenous inhabitants. Here you have the option to stay either at a very welcoming local host family, or in a nice hotel near the main square.

Day 8


Quetzaltenango is located in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands with a very rich indigenous culture. This morning you´ll make a tour through 3 different indigenous villages in the area, visiting a local market, a weaving cooperative and glass-blow cooperative where they use recycled glass. After this, you will visit the famous hot springs Fuentes Georginas, located in a volcanic cloud forest.

Day 9


A private vehicle picks you up and brings you to the inlands of Guatemala, to the little village of Nebaj (4-hour drive). Nebaj is a small and very traditional village in the Ixil triangle, an area with a beautiful natural setting, surrounded by mountain chains.

Day 10


The next day you make a hike to the traditional village of Cocop. The walk there is very pretty, passing viewpoint, streams and small lagoons. Cocop is a very traditional indigenous village that suffered heavily during the civil war. On the return trip, you also pass the hamlet Rio Azul, with natural ponds. The walk takes about 6 hours, both ways.

Day 11


Today you travel from Nebaj to Lanquin. A private vehicle picks you up at the hotel and brings you to Lanquin, a beautiful area of lush cloud forests and green hills and mountains.
Here you spend two nights at a great eco lodge, located on the side of the Cahabon river.

Day 12


Today the tour that you came here for; from the lodge you depart for National Park Semuc Champey. This is formed by what is known as a natural land bridge 500 meters long which forms the backbone of a series of descending turquoise pools and small waterfalls that make up Semuc Champey. We take you on a full-day tour, starting with a visit to the Kan-Ba caves. This cave complex is flooded by water, and with a guide you will swim, climb and slide through the caves, with only candle in your hand (can be optional). After that you visit Semuc Champey itself, where you can hike to the lookout point, and take a swim in the stunning turquoise pools. Finally, you tube down the river to relax from this day. Lots of fun and adventure!

Day 13


Today you travel to Flores, the colorful peninsula in the Peten Itzá lake. The ride takes about 8 hours. In Flores you stay at a comfortable hotel on the boulevard, with great lake views.

Day 14


You have a free day in Flores. It´s a nice place to walk along the boulevard, do some souvenir shopping, and enjoy a lovely meal or some drinks. There is also a nearby nature park with hanging jungle bridges (Ixpanpajul), and there is a zoo / animal shelter on a little island in the lake (Petencito).

Day 15


Get ready to visit one of the highlights of Guatemala! Tikal National Park is on the program for today. You receive a guided tour through this immense park of Mayan ruins. The bilingual guide will walk you along the many ruins, temples and complexes from the ancient Mayan culture, and tell you everything about the impressive history.

Day 16


After breakfast you travel to Rio Dulce, which is both the name of the village and the river, leading to the Caribbean Sea. You spend 2 nights at a unique eco-lodge, situated on the banks of the river in the mangroves. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the hotel, the pool and the leisure activities the hotel offers.

Day 17


Rio Dulce is known for its wildlife and canyons, so today you take a boat ride along the Rio Dulce, until reaching Livingston on the Caribbean coast. During the tour you see a bird island, the San Felipe Castle, hot springs, local fishermen and many birds such as pelicans. In Livingston, the only Garifuna village in Guatemala, you can have lunch and then the boat returns you to the hotel in Rio Dulce in the afternoon.

Day 18


You have an extra free day to spend in Rio Dulce, to enjoy more of the nice weather and the nature. The hotel offers different activities (some for an extra fee), like horseback riding, hiking on the nature trails through the mangroves to the lookout point, rent a jet ski or kayak, or just relax and take a swim in the river or the pool.

Day 19


Today you are going to cross borders; the destination for today is Copan in Honduras. A private vehicle picks you up in Rio Dulce, and drives you in about 5 hours to the town of Copan. It´s possible to make an optional stop at the ruins of Quiriguá on the way. Copan is a peaceful town in a setting of green hills around.

Day 20


This day is available for you to spend time in Copan, and visit the local Mayan ruins. The complex is located on a nice walk 3kms outside of town, or you can take a tuk tuk or taxi. Copan is especially known for its artistic characteristics, and the details you can admire in the stelae and monuments. And of course, visit the parrots that are numerous here! There is also a nice museum that´s worth a visit.

Day 21


After this final great day, it´s time to return to Guatemala City. You are picked up at the hotel in Copan, for the drive back to Guatemala City. This takes about 6-7 hours. Here you spend a final night at the hotel of your choice.

Day 22
The hotel takes care of your transportation back to the airport

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Guatemala Highlights - 12 days

Guatemala is a beautiful, varied, yet small country. So it´s perfect for a 12-day visit! During this trip, you will visit the main highlights, such as Lake Atitlan, Antigua, Semuc Champey, Tikal National Park and Rio Dulce. We will design a full-service travel plan including hotel accommodations, transportation and of course guided excursions to enjoy the beauty of each destination.

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Day 1

Arrival at the international airport La Aurora (Guatemala City). Right after arrival you travel in a private vehicle to Panajachel, the main village on the shores of the beautiful Lake Atitlan, where you will spend 2 nights at a nice hotel in your budget plan. The rest of the day is free to explore Panajachel.

 

Day 2

Time to explore the lake! Today you make a boat tour, the ultimate way to enjoy the stunning panoramic view of the lake. The boat with bilingual guide will take you along several indigenous villages around Lake Atitlan; visiting San Juan la Laguna, Santiago Atitlan and San Marcos la Laguna.


Day 3

Today you travel from Panajachel to Antigua. Antigua is the famous colonial town of Guatemala. Antigua is a small town, and easy to navigate and do a self-guided tour along the many churches, convents and ruins. You could also visit a local coffee farm, jade museums, art galleries, the chocolate museum, or do souvenir shopping.

Day 4

Early morning you depart for a volcano hike to the active volcano Pacaya. It takes a 1-hour drive in bus, and then a hike of about 2,5 hours to the surroundings of the crater, through the forest. As this volcano is still active, you can´t get to the crater, but you will have a good view on it. You walk on the lava fields, and you´ll see and feel that there is still hot lava under the surface!

Day 5

Today you travel from Antigua to Lanquin. This trip takes about 8 hours, and leads you to the very interior of Guatemala, in the area of lush cloud forests and green hills and mountains.

Here you spend two nights at a great eco lodge, located on the side of the Cahabon river.

Day 6

Today the tour that you came here for; from the lodge you depart for National Park Semuc Champey. We take you on a full-day tour, starting with a visit to the Kan-Ba caves, where you will swim, climb and slide through the caves, with only candle in your hand! After that you visit Semuc Champey itself, where you can hike to the lookout point, and take a swim in the stunning turquoise pools. Finally, you tube down the river to relax from this day. Lots of fun and adventure!

Day 7

Today you travel to Flores, the colorful peninsula in the Peten Itzá lake. In Flores you stay at a comfortable hotel on the boulevard, with great lake views.

 

Day 8

Get ready to visit one of the highlights of Guatemala! Tikal National Park is on the program for today. You receive a guided tour through this immense park of Mayan ruins. The bilingual guide will walk you along the many ruins, temples and complexes from the ancient Mayan culture, and tell you everything about the impressive history.

Day 9

After breakfast you travel to Rio Dulce, which is both the name of the village and the river, leading to the Caribbean Sea. You spend 2 nights at a unique eco-lodge, situated on the banks of the river in the mangroves. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the hotel, the pool and the leisure activities the hotel offers.

 

Day 10

Rio Dulce is known for its wildlife and canyons, so today you take a boat ride along the Rio Dulce, until reaching Livingston on the Caribbean coast. During the tour you see a bird island, the San Felipe Castle, hot springs, local fishermen and many birds such as pelicans.  In Livingston, the only Garifuna village in Guatemala, you can have lunch and then the boat returns you to the hotel in Rio Dulce in the afternoon.

Day 11

The trip is coming to an end. From Rio Dulce you travel back to Guatemala City Here you spend the last night in a safe hotel near the airport or in the business district.

Day 12

The hotel will take care of your courtesy transfer to the airport, for your flight back home. Hasta pronto Guatemala!

Price plan A

Accommodation in 4-5* hotels, all land transfers in private transportation, and private tours

Price plan B

Accommodation in 3* hotels, a mix of private and collective transfers, and a mix of collective and private tours (according to your budget)

Price plan C

Accommodation in 2-3* hotels, all collective transfers and first class bus, and collective  tours

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