Grand Tour of Guatemala

This imaginatively crafted, in-depth tour encompasses the best of Guatemala's spectacular highlights. Guatemala is loaded with incredibly diverse natural and cultural appeal. From forested, volcanic highlands to the inspiringly beautiful colonial city of Antigua, to deeply rooted indigenous Mayan villages, and the lush jungles of the north where a once lost ancient Mayan city rises from the jungle canopy, you will experience a deep immersion into the culture and nature of this wonderful country. Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world is a stunning spectacle of natural beauty. Surrounded by three volcanoes, contrasting with the impossibly blue waters of its depths, you will never forget your first impressions here. A visit to some of the thirteen Mayan villages that encircle the lake will give you a fascinating insight into local cultural traditions, culminating with shopping trips to Guatemala's finest Mayan markets where technicolor textiles and handicrafts abound and you will have an opportunity to test your haggling skills. To conclude, an exploration of the jungles of northern Guatemala and the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, rising out of the jungle canopy is an experience you will never forget.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Guatemala (-)

Upon arrival at Guatemala City airport you will be met by one of our representatives and escorted to your stylish boutique hotel in Antigua for a three-night stay.

Day 2 - City Tour, Afternoon at Leisure (B)

Antigua is undoubtedly the most impressive colonial city in Central America and boasts a huge variety of architectural riches. Following a leisurely breakfast in your hotel, you will be given a private walking tour through this delightful city, visiting its finest attractions including the Church and ex-convent of Las Capuchinas, the lovely, shaded main plaza, the Arco de Santa Catalina, a beautiful 17th century arch perfectly framing Volcán Agua, one of the three volcanoes encircling the town. This afternoon, take time at your leisure to enjoy this beautiful city of brightly painted houses, cobblestone streets and delight at some of the country’s best shopping and dining found here.

Day 3 - Pacaya Volcano or Cacao Tour (B)

The Guatemala highlands are one of the few places in the world where you can have the amazing experience of climbing an active volcano with relative ease. An early start is required for this half-day guided trip. You will drive to the town of San Francisco de Salas, from where a well-maintained trail leads to the summit and the most spectacular view you’ve ever seen after 2-3 hours. No technical climbing is involved and although you don’t have to be super fit to make the summit you must be in good health and have an adventurous spirit. Alternatively, if volcano climbing isn’t quite your thing, you will enjoy a day tour to the Choco Museo farm, where you will discover the rich ecosystem of a cacao plantation, while farmers will teach you everything they know about organic farming of cacao. You will also get to experience making different kinds of chocolate for yourself using the methods taught by the farmers. Enjoy your final evening in Antigua at your leisure.

Day 4 - Drive to Lake Atitlán, Visit Panajachel, Reserva Natural Atitlán (B)

This morning you are in for a real treat. Following a leisurely breakfast in your hotel you will be driven through the lush volcanic scenery of the western highlands through an area of spectacular natural beauty, home to over thirty volcanoes on your way to Lake Atitlán. This 12-mile long, 6-mile wide stunning crater lake surrounded by three conical volcanoes, is widely believed to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. After a visit to the lakeside town of Panajachel where you can experience one of Guatemala’s most extensive handicrafts markets, you will visit the nearby Reserva Natural Atitlán Park where you can enjoy an enchanting walk along forested butterfly trails to a lovely waterfall and for the more adventurous, thrilling zip line rides ranging from 300 ft. to 1000 ft. long passing waterfalls, canyons, the valley and the coffee grove forest with the majestic backdrop of Lake Atitlán. You will then check in to your lakeside hotel, home for the next three nights.

Day 5 - Visit Indigenous Lake Villages (B)

After enjoying a delicious Guatemalan breakfast overlooking the idyllic shores of this impossibly blue lake, you will begin a private boat tour around some of the thirteen indigenous villages that encircle Atitlán. From the boat you will gain a wonderful perspective of the three conical Tolimán, San Pedro and Atitlán volcanoes that encircle this lake, called ‘the closest thing to Eden on Earth’ by Lonely Planet guidebooks. Mayan villagers, many of whom still dress in a riot of technicolored traditional clothing, populate the friendly and welcoming indigenous villages around the lake. You will hear the Mayan languages of Tz’utujil and Kaqchikel spoken here more than you will hear Spanish. Each village has its own feel and the local markets are great places to shop for the colorful textiles and handicrafts produced locally. This afternoon, you will have a guided tour of a local coffee plantation before returning to your hotel.

Day 6 - Sololá, Afternoon at Leisure (B)

Today you will visit the non-touristy nearby town of Sololá to experience the authentic, colorful market here. This is a local, as opposed to a tourist market and a wonderful insight into the lives of the modern day Mayan villagers of the region. The plaza next to the cathedral becomes ablaze with colorful costumes of people from a dozen or so local villages who bring their goods here to sell. You will have the afternoon free to enjoy the comforts of your hotel overlooking the enchanting lake scenery. Alternatively we can arrange kayaking, mountain biking, hiking, horse riding or even scuba diving trips for the more adventurous.

Day 7 - Chichicastenango Market, Fly to Flores (B)

Following breakfast in your hotel overlooking the stunning lake scenery, you will drive approximately 90 minutes to the delightfully named Maya K’iche town of Chichicastenango. This is a magical town of cobbled streets and red tiled rooftops, with traditional spiritual and shamanistic tones, set in a valley and surrounded by mountains frequently enveloped in highland mists. Here you will experience Guatemala’s finest highland market, where traders from a dozen surrounding outlying Mayan villages come to sell their goods. The result is one of the most colorful, vibrant and most enchanting outdoor market experiences anywhere in the world. The market sprawls over the whole town center and is a delight to experience as your senses are bombarded with colors, smells and the sound of indigenous languages in a scene that has been going on for hundreds of years. This afternoon you will drive approximately three hours to Guatemala City airport for your evening flight to the town of Flores in the northern jungle region of Petén where you will check into your hotel for a two night stay.

Day 8 - Lake Tour, Ixpanpajul National Park (B)

The Petén region of Guatemala contains one of the largest remaining continuous tracts of tropical forest in the Americas. You will be taken on a private boat tour of Lake Petén Itzá, surrounded by deep green jungles and characterized by its turquoise-blue waters where you will visit the very friendly and laidback lakeside villages of San Andrés and San José. Following time for lunch in the island town of Flores, your tour will continue to the fascinating Ixpanpajul National Park - a wonderland of tropical rainforest from where you can experience a bird’s eye view of the forest via a series of six suspension bridges constructed through the canopy. As you walk across the bridges, you will have the opportunity to view nature close-up, concluding at the top of Miramás hill, where you can gaze at the splendor of the forest and the beauty of lake Petén Itzá in the distance. Forest nature trails, horseback riding and bird watching trails are also found in this fascinating eco-tourism destination.

Day 9 - Tikal, Fly to Guatemala City (B)

Following a leisurely breakfast in your lakeside hotel, you will be given a private guided tour of Tikal. This is one of the most impressive ancient ruins in the world. It was the Mayan civilization’s greatest city and is located in a spectacular, remote jungle setting with pyramids rising above the forest canopy. Settled around 800 BC and occupied continuously until records ended in AD 869, it once covered an area of 12 square miles and had a population of at least 100,000 people. The jungle reclaimed Tikal after it was abandoned and the city remained unknown to the western world until its rediscovery in the 17th century. Tikal boasts an amazing variety of flora and fauna, with abundant wildlife viewable early and late in the day. Over 400 bird species have been recorded here. The pyramids here are some of the few in the Americas that you can climb from where you can marvel in the beautiful scenery and spectacular views from over 200 feet above the floor of the jungle. This evening you will fly approximately one hour to Guatemala City for a one-night stay.

Day 10 - Farewell to Guatemala (B)

This morning you will be escorted by private car to Guatemala City’s international airport for your flight home.

Antigua - Luxury - Camino Real

The Camino Real is a beautiful hotel located within Antigua’s historic center. Recently updated and refurbished, the hotel features 97 luxurious rooms and suites designed around five colonial-style courtyards. Each room has two queen size beds, presented with fine linens and a menu of pillows. The hotel’s restaurant serves a delicious selection of Guatemalan and International gourmet cuisine and the gardens are lush and tropical. This is a highly recommended luxury hotel that we’re sure you’ll enjoy.

Antigua - Deluxe - El Convento

Awarded the ‘Most Excellent Hotel in Mexico and Central America’ award by Conde Nast Johansens in 2013, El Convento welcomes visitors to an oasis of stunning elegance and unparalleled comfort. The hotel is the perfect base from which to discover La Antigua, with its intriguing architecture and countless cultural landmarks. Many suites feature fireplaces, and some offer romantic outdoor terraces and Jacuzzis. Rejuvenate your mind, body and spirit with a spa service, or sample delicious food at the hotel’s Elu Restaurant with its imaginative cuisine, impressive wine list, and awe-inspiring outdoor terrace.

Lake Atitlán - Luxury - Hotel Atitlan

This stylish, historic hotel graces the shores of Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. High quality local fabrics are used for bed covers, curtains and cushions, made specifically to echo the ambience of the lake, while modern amenities such as high quality sheets, pillows, blankets, and hypoallergenic down comforters make your stay as pleasant as possible. Bathrooms at Hotel Atitlan feature high quality cotton towels as well as fine soaps, shampoo and conditioners. The hotel’s beautiful Botanical Gardens, filled with hundreds of varieties of plants as well as countless colorful tropical birds are a delight to stroll through before enjoying a delicious Guatemalan meal at the lake view restaurant.

Lake Atitlán - Deluxe - Casa Palopo

Perched above spectacular Lake Atitlan with a view of three volcanoes and located in the Guatemalan Highlands, Casa Palopó offers two distinct brands of romantic relaxation for the sophisticated traveler. All suites offer unbroken views of the scenic volcanoes and lake as well as first-rate amenities such as Italian luxury bed linens and L'Occitane products. This beautiful hotel is undoubtedly the finest accommodations in the Lake Atitlan region.

Flores - Luxury - Camino Real (Standard Room)

Flores - Deluxe - Camino Real (Superior Room)

The Camino Real is located between two indigenous villages and the national reserve of Cerro Cahuí on the shores of Lake Peten Itza. It offers private access to the second largest lake in Guatemala and the nature that surrounds it.The hotel is a tropical retreat located in the heart of the Petén jungle, with excellent facilities and comfort that will ensure an unforgettable experience. Air-conditioning, cable tv, internet and fine linens are standard amenities for all rooms, while the Nakún restaurant serves a delicious selection of Guatemalan and International cuisine.

Guatemala City - Luxury - Princess Hotel

The Princess Hotel boasts an excellent location in the heart of Guatemala City’s affluent Zona Viva, where there are many excellent bars, shopping and dining options. This fine hotel has been recently updated and features 104 luxurious rooms, each designed with modern European decor with one king-size or two queen-size beds, air-conditioning and flat-screen tv. The Garden Court restaurant features a different style of cuisine every night from Guatemalan, to Caribbean to International, while Clancy’s English Pub offers a warm and unique atmosphere.

Guatemala City - Deluxe - Intercontinental Hotel

This luxury hotel is the perfect accommodation for business, entertainment and relaxation. Enjoy the recently renovated restaurants and leisure areas. Indulge yourself with more than 260 menu options from four creative restaurants - The Market, Picasso, Tanoshii, Saint Honoré and the vibrant Maya Lounge. Unwind in your spacious suite, rejuvenate in the new spa and fitness center. You will love staying at this hotel, our favorite in the city, renowned for its service and unparalleled location in the affluent Zona Viva. Rooms are stylish and modern featuring comfortable beds, Agraria toiletries and all luxuries one would expect from this world-renowned hotel chain.

Pricing

From $2305 per person (Luxury Hotels) or $2900 per person (Deluxe Hotels), for a private tour based on two people traveling in low season sharing a room.

Hotels listed on the Hotels Tab are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used. 

Price Includes:

All hotels as described in the itinerary
Services of Blue World Journeys’s representatives while in Guatemala
All transportation as described in the itinerary in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver / guide
Private sightseeing and entrance fees
Meals as described in the itinerary
Bottled water in the vehicle during all transfers 

Price Excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Meals other than those listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Sightseeing other than described in the itinerary
Additional room charges of a personal nature in hotels (eg: room service, laundry, phone calls, etc.).