Guatemala Tours | Landscapes & Ancient Cultures
Our Guatemala tours combine stunning natural beauty with a strong Maya and Colonial heritage. The beautiful city of Antigua, spectacular Lake Atitlán, the local market of Chichicastenango, and the otherworldly ruins of Tikal will be real tour highlights.
Note: This is just one example of the options on our Guatemala tours. All of the tours are fully flexible and we can custom-design the itinerary to suit you, whatever you want to include.
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Remember that this is only a sample itinerary and that we can modify and edit the destinations and visits, plus the length of time spent at each location to suit your particular wishes.
Day 1 | Arrive in Guatemala City
Our Guatemala tours begin with your arrival at the Guatemala City international airport, where you will be met and transferred to your comfortable, well-located hotel. There is a wide range of hotels available in this bustling capital city, and we have something for everyone’s pocket.
Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to explore the city, taking our advice on what and where is best to see with the time available, or simply wander, relax and go out to sample Guatemalan food.
Day 2 | Colorful Chichicastenango
Today we will make our way to one of the region’s most famous outdoor markets, Chichicastenango. Here, local vendors come from all around the nearby countryside to buy, sell and barter a huge range of goods, from fruit and grains to animals and handicrafts.
Whilst here, a visit to the Santo Tomas Church is a must, as the local Maya-Quiche pray here, following ancient Maya traditions. After a local lunch, we will head out to the lovely Lake Atitlán. Atitlán is one of the world’s most magnificent lakes.
After our visit, we will make our way to the town of Panajachel, and upon arrival, we will check in to our hotel. You can choose between superior hotel options, such as the Hotel Atitlan, or more economical options, such as the Villa Santa Catarina.
Day 3 | Atitlán to Antigua
After breakfast, we will make our way to Santiago Atitlán, one of the 12 traditional villages that surround Lake Atitlán. We will board a boat to cross the lake to the Maya-Tzutuhil village, which is renowned for its naïf paintings, textiles, and woodcarvings, as well as the character Maximon, who is worshipped by the Santiago villagers.
After the tour, we will return to Panajachel, and then continue on our way to the colonial gem of Antigua, where, depending on your tour budget, you could be staying at the Casa Santo Domingo (superior) or the Villa Colonial (mid-range), or any other quality hotel chosen from the large range on offer.
Day 4 | Historic, Beautiful Antigua
Antigua is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful Colonial cities in Central America, and the minute you set foot on its cobbled streets you will understand why UNESCO declared it a Cultural Heritage of Humankind site. The city is surrounded by three volcanoes (Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango), and the urban areas are dotted with bougainvillaea plants that sprout out of the crumbling buildings and terracotta tile roofs. There are also plenty of parks and plazas for you to sit in and unwind, enjoying the sun.
During the journey, we will stop off at the San Antonio Aguas Calientes village, where you will find plenty of locally-made handicrafts and textiles.
We will then head to the Centro Cultural La Azotea, where a guide will take you on a visit to a local coffee farm and you can enjoy some of Antigua’s finest coffee.
You will also visit the traditional Mayan music museum (Casa K’Ojom), and have a guided walking tour of Antigua´s historic centre. After this full day of activities, you will return to your hotel for a good night’s sleep.
Day 5 | Exploring Tikal
After an early breakfast, you will be transferred from your Antigua hotel to the airport, where you will board your flight to Flores, Peten. Here, your highlights of Guatemala reach a pinnacle.
This northern part of Guatemala is regarded as the birthplace of the Mayan Civilisation, and at its centre is the magnificent ancient city of Tikal. The city has long been regarded as one of the biggest and most important sites of the Mayan world, and in 1979 was declared a World Heritage Site.
You will be given a guided tour of the site’s palaces, temples, and complexes, as well as be able to take in the beauty of the natural surroundings, which hundreds of exotic birds and wildlife call home.
You will then return to the town of Flores, where you could stay at the Villa Maya (superior) or Maya International (standard), depending on your tour style.
Day 6 | Tikal & Guatemala City
Today, you will have the morning at your leisure. You can spend it either relaxing by the pool, wandering, shopping, bike-riding or kayaking. If you make an early start, you could even re-visit Tikal (all options should be open to you).
Then in the early afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport where you will board your flight back to Guatemala City. Your final night in Guatemala will be spent in the slightly crazy capital.
Remember: All of our Guatemala tours are custom-made, and if you feel you are moving too quickly with this itinerary and would like to add more days here and there, no problem!
Day 7 | Saying Farewell to Guatemala
Take advantage of your last morning in Guatemala City (flight schedule permitting), before being transferred to the airport, where you will catch your flight home, or join one of our other Central or South American tours, such as Costa Rica, for example?
