Overview
This itinerary begins with a few days in Antigua enjoying this stunning colonial town with magnificent backdrop of three volcanoes. Enjoy guided walking and bike tours of the town and surrounds, before climbing Acatenango Volcano on an overnight expedition where you will get incredible views of Antigua and the volcanoes surrounding it. If you are lucky and the sky is clear, you will witness Fuego Volcano erupting just a few miles away.
You then head to the scenic Lake Atitlan, famous for its backdrop of conical volcanoes and a chance to cross the lake to visit the charming Mayan Villages, their markets and learn more about their culture.
Head north to visit the remote and awe inspiring Semuc Champey Natural Monument, a natural limestone bridge with turquoise pools and caves where you can take a dip to cool off.
Travel further north to the town of Flores on the scenic lake to visit the Tikal Mayan Ruins which have been well excavated and take several hours to explore. The ruins lie deep in the jungle and are home to monkeys, toucans, coatimundis and jaguars. *Option to stay in the park itself and witness sunrise at Temple IV which is an unforgettable experience hearing the jungle come alive with the sound of the parrots and the howler monkeys, enquire for alternative cost.
You can then fly back to Guatemala City for your international flight, or extend your trip fora few nights and continue into the neighbouring Belize to either stay in a rainforest lodge across the border or fly out to the cayes and snorkel the barrier reef. This holiday is tailor-made to your requirements, enquire for tailored costs.
Price Guide
11 nights from £3,995 per person based
on Double occupancy
These prices are excluding international flights. Average flight prices vary depending on time of year and can be considerably more expensive at peak times (Christmas, Easter, Summer). Flight routes vary, please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings
and place of departure.
Call for specialist advice
Day to Day
Below is an example day by day itinerary
Day 1
Met on arrival and transferred to Antigua and to Meson de Maria, a small hotel in a central location, close to the restaurants and shops and has a small roof terrace with views of the volcanoes that surround Antigua (B).
Day 2
This morning take a guided walk around the town to see the La Merced church, the cathedral and the ruins of the San Francisco monastery that was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. After lunch at a local restaurant then take a guide bike tour and see the surrounding villages of Santiago Zamora and San Antonio Aguas Calientes, famous for their textiles and weavings. Overnight Meson de Maria (B)
Day 3
Option to abseil down a 138 feet waterfall located near a coffee farm on the slopes of Pacaya Volcano. Overnight Meson de Maria (B)
Day 4
Today you will have an adventurous steep hike to the top of of Acatenango volcano. The trailhead starts at 2,556 metres above sea level. You will reach the camp site after a steep challenging 7km (4.7mi) hike through different ecosystems. During the ascent, you will cross four different vegetation zones; agriculture land, cloud forest, pine forest and pre-Andean forest. Enjoy the view of nearby Fuego erupting while drinking a hot chocolate at sunset. Overnight Acatenango Overnight Camp (BLD).
Day 5
Today you will wake up early for the sunrise, before starting your descent. In the afternoon, you will transfer to Lake Atitlan. Hotel Atitlan (B)
Day 6
Take a scenic kayak tour to enjoy the three stunning volcanoes: Atitlan, San Pedro, and Toliman. In the afternoon, you will visit San Juan, famous for its art galleries, town murals and natural dyes textiles. Overnight Hotel Atitlan (BL).
Day 7
Today you will transfer to the town of Lanquin, gateway to the stunning Semuc Champey. Overnight Guayaha (B).
Day 8
Visit the natural spectacle of Semuc Champey a series of natural pools and waterfalls 300m long that are surrounded by subtropical forest. Hike to the lookout and swim in the pools. Overnight Guayaha (BL).
Day 9
Enjoy some white water rafting on grade II and III rapids and then in the evening see a nocturnal bat show in the Lanquin caves that are sacred to the local indigenous people. Overnight Guayaha (BL).
Day 10
Transfer to the town of Flores in northern Guatemala. On the way, you will stop at Sayaxche where you will take a scenic boat journey to the Blue Crater. Overnight Villa Maya (BL).
Day 11
Today you will visit the Tikal Mayan Ruins located within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, a conservation area of over two million hectares. You can climb the temples, learn about the architecture and the history of this site and spot monkeys, parrots, macaws, and toucans. Overnight Villa Maya (BL)
Day 12
Transfer to Flores Airport to take short flight back to Guatemala City or extend your itinerary into Belize for a few days to stay in either a rainforest lodge or fly to the cayes to snorkel or dive the barrier reef (B).