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Guatemala Encompassed
14 Days
Guatemala City to Guatemala City
Tour Code: TMGE
14 Days
Guatemala City to Guatemala City
Tour Code: TMGE
From US$ 4,339
Reviews
Tour Overview
Fall in love with Guatemala on this cultural, comprehensive two-week journey, including the country's best highlights from Antigua to Tikal. Take a whirlwind trip to Honduras to explore the ruins of Copán.
Please note: This is a sample itinerary and can be tailored to suit your own personal needs and budget. Click here for more information on our Tailor-made Tours.
Included Activities
- Arrival Transfer
- Coffee Farm tour
- Visit villages surrounding Lake Atitlan
- Chichicastenango Market
- Ixil Triangle tour
- Guided tour of Copán
- Guided tour of Quiriguá
- Boat ride down the Rio Dulce to Livingston
- Guided tour of Tikal National Park
- Departure Transfer
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Guatemala City
Guatemala was at the heart of the Mayan world and is immersed in history with proud traditions and culture. Many villagers live a traditional life as little changed since pre-Columbian times and they still wear richly-woven costumes, the colours and designs varying from place to place. The scenery is breath-taking - volcanic landscapes, beautiful lakes surrounded by forest-cloaked volcanoes and tropical rainforest, much of which hides vast complexes from ancient civilisations. The Spanish also left their mark, most notably in Antigua with its shady plazas and colonial houses and courtyards.
On arrival at Guatemala City Airport you will be transferred to Antigua
Included Excursions
Arrival Transfer
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels 
Day 2 - Antigua & Coffee Farm Tour
Today you will be collected from your hotel for a guided tour of Antigua, taking in the main highlights. You will visit the Arco de San Catalina which was built to keep nuns from sight when their convent expanded to the building across the street. You will see the San Francisco Church, built in 1542. It is the oldest functioning church in the city. On a sunny day, the vibrant yellow paint and intricate white carvings of La Merced Church are stunning. The attached monastery houses a huge fountain in the shape of a water lily, a symbol from the Maya indicating that the ancient religions were incorporated into Catholicism.
When you have had your fill of history, you will head out to the local market on the fringes of the old town. You can find almost anything you may need here and a few things you may never have thought of as well. You will also visit the Chocolate Museum where you will be able to see the process of taking the cacao bean to the chocolate bar. Finally, you will travel to the La Azote Coffee Farm and the Mayan Musical instruments Museum. The evening is at your leisure.
Included Excursions
Coffee Farm tour
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 3 - Lake Atitlan
Transfer to Lake Atitlan, described by some as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Flanked by small towns the region is a tranquil relaxed area of Guatemala and offers a picturesque place to stay. Once you have checked in to your hotel in the town of Panajachel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
The next day, you will enjoy a private scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan (approximately 30 minutes), to the village of San Juan La Laguna. Here you will visit the women’s textile cooperative and see hand weaving and the natural dye process. You will also visit the studios/homes of the celebrated naïf painters and learn about their fascinating work. You will then continue to the village of Santiago where there will be time to have lunch in Hotel Posada Santiago (not included). You will then continue with the tour and learn about the Maya God Maximon, local textiles, spiritualism and the beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. Once back at your hotel in Panajachel, the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Included Excursions
Visit villages surrounding Lake Atitlan
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels
Meals
2 Breakfast(s)
Day 5 - Chichicastenango Market & Quetzaltenango
This morning you will travel towards the heart of the Guatemalan highland, driving through incredibly colourful landscapes. You will see indigenous people wearing their typical clothing, hillsides planted with vegetables and flowers, and towns that have been captured in the paintings and crafts made by local artists. In Chichicastenango you will visit the multi-coloured market and learn about its traditions. This experience is a sensory visit, where you can learn about the ancient, indigenous culture and the local vendors- from the sweet smelling incense sellers to the brightly coloured textile makers. Later you will take a short journey to Quetzaltenango.
Included Excursions
Chichicastenango Market
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 6 - Nebaj
Travel to the small town of Nebaj stopping off various points along the way. You will first visit the Almolonga Market, one of the best vegetable markets in Central America. This is a fantastic place to watch the world go by! Next you will stop at San Andres Xecul, a village famous for its colourful church. Finally stop at the small market town of Zunil, set in a valley surrounded by mountains before continuing to Nebaj. Here you will stay in a remote dairy farm set in the most tranquil of surroundings.
The next day you will explore three towns known collectively as the Ixil Triangle. First you will stroll among the markets of Nebjaj where you can sip a coffee in the Central Plaza. Next you will discover the town of Chajul with its ornate church, Iglesia de San Gaspar Los Reyes. Your last town is San Juan Cotzal, home to some of Guatemala's finest weaving products. In the afternoon you have the chance to hike through cornfields to Santa Abelina Waterfall where you can take a swim! Return to Nebaj at the end of the day.
Included Excursions
,Ixil Triangle tour
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels
Meals
2 Breakfast(s)
Day 8 - Antigua
Transfer to Antigua where the afternoon is free for you to enjoy.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 9 - Copán
Today you will cross the border into Honduras, where you will first head to your hotel for check in. This afternoon you can enjoy a tour of Copán ruins, accompanied by an expert guide. They will take you through the ceremonial centre, the ball court, the hieroglyphic stairway and the acropolis, home to the Rosalila Temple.
Included Excursions
Guided tour of Copán
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 10 - Quiriguá & Rio Dulce
After your quick adventure in Honduras, you will return to Guatemala travelling to the region of Izabel. You will stop in the Maya city of Quiriguá, famous for its fantastic stone sculptures. Enjoy a tour before heading to Rio Dulce where you will stay on the banks of the river.
Cruise down Rio Dulce to the Garifuna village of Livingston. Enjoy the Caribbean atmosphere that is very different to the rest of Guatemala. As you journey down the river, you will spot a number of beautiful birds, so make sure you bring your camera! After exploring Livingston, return to Rio Dulce village where you take a bus to Tikal.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal covers more than 200 square miles and was the most important city in the Mayan world. The city flourished between about 200 and 900 AD and has became overgrown by the encroaching rainforest and was lost to the world. In the seventeenth century its existence began to draw global attention and from 1956, the site has begun to be excavated and archaeologists continue to uncover more of the site, increasing the understanding of the history of the civilisations that made Tikal their home. You will have a guided tour of the site with lunch included.
Included Excursions
Guided tour of Quiriguá
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 11 - Livingston & Tikal National Park
Included Excursions
Boat ride down the Rio Dulce to Livingston,Guided tour of Tikal National Park
Accommodation
2 night(s) in hotels
Meals
2 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)
Day 13 - Yaxhá & Guatemala City
Drive to Yaxhá National Park, a Mesoamerican archaeological site located on the banks of Yaxhá Lake in the Petén Basin region of Guatemala. The temples here are situated within a tropical forest, home to howler monkeys. After exploring these ruins you will be transferred to the nearby airport in Flores where you will return to Guatemala City. The next day your adventure in Guatemala will come to an end.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 14 - Depart Guatemala City
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
Included Excursions
Departure Transfer
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Essential Information
What's Not Included
- Visas and travel insurance
- International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes
- Spending money – budget for meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras
Enquiry
Prefer to speak to a specialist?
0800 804 8435
Tailor-made Operations Manager
Melita
Why I love this trip
The striking natural beauty and fascinating history of Guatemala gives it an undiscovered feel that cannot be said for most other countries these days. Contact us to help you discover the best that this nation has to offer.
