From £1500 pp excl flights
11 Days
Enquire Online

This 11 day itinerary is a celebration of all the things that make Guatemala such an exciting country to visit; ancient and modern Mayan culture, colonial architecture, stunning scenery, beautiful textiles, indigenous markets and wonderfully hospitable people, amongst many others.

This is a true Guatemala highlights holiday, where we’ll take you from the old cobbled streets of Antigua, sailing across the achingly beautiful Lake Atitlan to visit traditional artisans, to discover the wildlife, nature and waterfalls of Coban and Semuc Champey – finally, you'll see the world-famous ruins at Yaxha and Tikal. There’s absolutely no doubt the diversity of Guatemala will blow you away!

Day to Day Itinerary

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

11 Days: Antigua – Lake Atitlan - Chichicastenango – Coban – Semuc Champey – Flores - Yaxha - Tikal

Activities: colonial architecture and history, boat trips, local culture, indigenous market, birding, wild swimming, caves and tubing, Mayan ruins, jungle walks

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 1: You will be met on arrival into La Aurora Airport by your guide, who will drive with you into Antigua city to check in at your hotel.

Day 2: A walking tour of Antigua with your knowledgeable local guide will take you on a journey through history. It's a picturesque and atmospheric New World city, dominated by the Volcan de Agua on the skyline, where reminders of colonial times are etched along cobbled streets and every church, market and museum has its own story to tell. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 3: After a relaxed breakfast your guide will drive you through the highlands to the iconic Lake Atitlan. Your home for the next couple of days is a small ecohotel perched on a peninsula with fantastic views of the lake and surrounded by more volcanoes. (B)

Day 4: An incredibly scenic boat ride takes you to the village of San Juan La Laguna, where you will experience the different ways this community keep their traditions alive. Visit a women’s textile cooperative to see hand-weaving and natural dyeing processes, the studio homes of celebrated naïf painters and the shrine of the Mayan God Maximon, where you will learn about the beliefs of the Tz'utujil Maya. The day finishes with a boat trip back across the lake and time to relax. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 5: Chichicastenango is home to one of the most important indigenous markets in Latin America - a real feast for the senses, full of colour, sounds and smells, where every Thursday and Sunday the Kʼicheʼ Maya people celebrate their ancient culture. The market has a significance beyond mere commerce as a meeting place for Mayan peoples, while Christian and Mayan devotees at Santo Tomas church fill the air with a mixture of flower scents and incense that turns the experience into a magical moment. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 6: Today it's your chance to encounter Guatemala's stunning array of tropical birds on your way to the Coban region. You will stop at Biotope El Quetzal Reserve, home to Guatemala’s national bird, the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal, as well as many other species. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 7: Semuc Champey is an unforgettable place, with its cascade of natural swimming pools surrounded by the rainforest and filled with crystal-clear mountain spring water. If you are feeling energetic you can hike up through the jungle for some great views, or simply relax immersed in the beautiful turquoise waters.

Afterwards, head to Lanquin caves where you can explore inside on foot, or just wait at the entrance for the main event as thousands of bats fly out at dusk to feed. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 8: Journey north into the Ancient Mayan world, heading to the island town of Flores on the edge of Peten Itza Lake. En route, stop off at Candelaria Caves, a huge 80km underground system that K'iche' Mayans considered an entrance to the underworld and is still used for some ceremonies today. It's also a great place to enjoy a cave tubing tour (optional). (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 9: Today is your introduction to the amazing ancient Mayan sites that cover this area. Head off to Yaxha National Park, where you will walk along ancient Maya causeways (Sac be, in Maya Language) under a dense rainforest canopy that is home to fantastic flora and fauna including lots of monkeys. You will have the chance to climb temples that offer wonderful views of the surrounding jungle, ending the day at the top of temple 216, the highest structure in Yaxha, where you will enjoy a truly unforgettable sunset. (B)

Guatemala Highlights Holiday Beyond Tourism

Day 10: Experience the wonders of Tikal, a magical archaeological site inside the Mayan biosphere which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Destination in 1979. Here you will find a place where nature and archaeology live side by side, with abundant wildlife and forest surrounding every corner of Tikal and its temples, silent witnesses of the birth, splendor and collapse of one of the most important civilisations on the planet. After the tour you will drive back to Flores' Mundo Maya Airport, to catch a flight to Guatemala City.

Day 11: Sadly today it's time to say goodbye to this magical country as you are transferred to the airport in time for your flight home. (B)

Prices from: £1500 per person
Services included: hotels on shared room basis, meals, transfers and activities as mentioned, internal flight, entry fees, English speaking guide, 24 hour assistance
Services not included: international flights, drinks, tips and personal expenses
Note: stops can be extended, added or cut - just ask us!

Best Time To Travel

Best time to visit: November - April
The Highlands: Nov - Apr sunny and dry with cooler nights. May - Oct can rain but only some showers each day.
The Lowlands: The lowlands around Tikal are usually hot all year round, with humidity increasing from May -Nov

Add a Mini Experience

These unique short trips and one day tours could make your holiday even better! They can be added into any itinerary and are designed to help you further explore the cultural, natural and social diversity of Guatemala