9 days in Guatemala and Belize
Nature & the Mayan World
If the natural beauty and rich history of Central America fascinate you, spending 9 days in Guatemala and Belize is the perfect vacation. You’ll experience the wonders of the Mayan world firsthand as you walk their streets and climb the ancient temples. Float through one of the ancient caves and see where Mayan rituals were once carried out, at the mouth of the Underworld.
That’s not all Belize and Guatemala have to offer, though. You’ll also hike through forest and tropical jungles, gaze out over stunning views, and walk across lava flows as you hike an active volcano. Snorkel over the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere and relax on white sand beaches on pristine islands. It’s the experience of a lifetime.
Antigua Guatemala
A museum of colonial architecture
Lake Atitlan
World’s most breathtaking lake
Tikal
A marvel of archaeology
Belize Barrier Reef Reserve
Snorkeling tours
Highlights
During your 9 days in Guatemala and Belize, you’ll visit both Guatemala and Belize and experience what both countries have to offer. From the colonial streets of Antigua Guatemala to the laid-back beaches of the Belize Cayes, you’ll see some of the most incredible places. We’ll hike Volcano Pacaya, kayak on Lake Atitlan, and stand atop the temple in Tikal. Zip-line through the tropical forest, snorkel the Belize Barrier Reef and ride a tube through Barton Creek Cave.
You can pack a lot into nine days. This trip is designed to be filled with fun and adventure. You’ll see the best of both Belize and Guatemala with an expert guide who knows the ins and outs of each location. Whether you’re hiking in the Atitlan Nature Reserve or visiting Caulker Caye, your guides will show you all the hotspots and fun details that you’d miss on your own.
Itinerary
You’ll arrive at the international airport, La Aurora, in Guatemala City, where your driver will pick you up and take you directly to Antigua Guatemala. There, you’ll settle into your room at a boutique hotel in the colonial city before exploring.
Take some time to enjoy the cobblestone streets of Antigua and take in the incredible views of the three surrounding volcanoes.
- Overnight in Antigua, Guatemala.
This morning, after your delightfully fresh breakfast, your guide will take you on a walking tour around Antigua Guatemala. This UNESCO World Heritage Site has a fascinating history as the third capital of Guatemala. The city boasts several historical landmarks, including the Santa Catalina Arch, a beautiful yellow archway that connects the Santa Catalina convent to the school across the street. It’s the perfect spot for a photo, with Volcano Agua behind it. You’ll visit the Catedral de Santiago, a beautiful church built in the late 1500s and partially restored after multiple earthquakes damaged it and many other structures here.
Stroll through Antigua’s central park, where locals and expats enjoy the spring-like weather around the Fountain of the Sirens. The city is home to more than 30 churches, though most of them are in ruins. As you walk through the city, you’ll see the remains of these beautiful buildings, some of which are being restored. You’ll also find plenty of local artisans offering their work on the streets and in the artisan markets.
After you’ve thoroughly explored Antigua, we’ll drive to your hotel at our next destination, Lake Atitlan.
- Two nights at Lake Atitlan.
The villages surrounding Lake Atitlan each have their unique culture, so we’ll visit a few today on a fun boat tour. You’ll get a feel for their differences and see what makes each place special.
San Juan la Laguna: San Juan is best known for its murals and artisanal weaving. Here, you’ll find women creating incredibly detailed textiles using backstrap looms. We’ll visit a local cooperative where you can see how the women dye with natural colors and see the weaving up close. You’ll learn about how the indigenous people use medicinal plants, as well as how chocolate is produced from cacao.
Santa Catarina Palopo: After a traditional lunch, your boat will take you to Santa Catarina Palopo. This quaint village, perched on the steep hills along the lake is unique for its stunning painted homes. The art here is all part of an initiative to help beautify the town and improve life for everyone. Traditional Mayan textile designs are painted on participating homes in exchange for the homeowners sending their children to school and maintaining the area around their house.
San Antonio Palopo: Next, we’ll travel to San Antonio Palopo, a town well known for its impressive pottery and unique, hand-painted designs. The views here are truly stunning and you’ll want to visit the colonial church at its center before returning to your hotel in Panajachel.
Now that you’ve had a chance to enjoy the communities of the lake, it’s time to get closer to nature. Guatemala has stunning natural landscapes and today you’ll spend the morning kayaking on the lake. If you prefer, we can offer stand-up paddle boarding instead of kayaking. Either way, you’ll get a good look at the calm waters and stunning cliffs around the lake and see the fisherman out on the water, looking for the day’s catch.
Next, we’re headed to Atitlan Nature Reserve. This coffee plantation turned tourist attraction is well worth a visit. Multiple hiking trails take you through the forest where you’re quite likely to spot spider monkeys, tropical birds, pisotes, and coatis. You may even see an armadillo or kinkajous, though these are more nocturnal animals. Enjoy the waterfalls and suspension bridges as you hike and don’t forget to stop by the butterfly garden where dozens of species are enclosed safely in a giant dome. If you’d like, you may add on riding the longest zipline in Central America at the top of this reserve.
On our way back to Antigua Guatemala, we’ll stop to visit the first capital city in Guatemala, the Mayan site of Iximche. Four royal plazas make up this city, with each plaza featuring massive homes, and temples. Surrounded by nature, this is a calm place to visit and learn more about the tumultuous past while you stroll through the city. Mayan people still used the site for their rituals and ceremonies, which made it all the more special.
- Two nights in Antigua, Guatemala.
Antigua is surrounded by four volcanoes, two of which are active, Fuego and Pacaya. Today, we’ll head out early to climb Volcano Pacaya and enjoy its lava fields. Your route takes you through farmland, tropical forests, and across long-hardened lava fields. At the top, you can enjoy impressive views and roast a marshmallow over a volcanic vent before hiking back down. If you wish, there are horses you can ride up the mountain.
After stretching your muscles all morning, it’s time for a relaxing thermal bath at Santa Teresita and Kawilal. The natural hot springs vary from hot to cold and you can relax in whichever pool feels best. It’s the perfect finish to a long day!
Guatemala has so much to offer, so today, you’ll travel by vehicle to Guatemala City and then take a short flight to Flores Island in Peten. From there, we’ll head to the ancient city of Tikal, arguably some of the most famous Mayan ruins.
Nestled in the heart of Tikal National Park, the historical site has been excavated over many years, revealing around 3,000 structures that were once hidden by the jungle. The buildings cover around 10 square miles and many more structures are still hidden. You will have the opportunity to climb one of the temples to see the view of the city and the jungle from its peak, just as the ancient Maya once did. Standing at 70 meters high, Temple IV gives a panoramic vista.
Tikal was once a thriving city and an important center for the Mayan people. Today, it has given archeologists a whole new understanding of history, thanks to more than 100,000 artifacts found within its walls.
- Overnight on Flores Island.
Belize is our next stop. More specifically, we’ll visit Barton Creek Cave, an important place for Mayan rituals. To date, 6,400 meters of cave passages have been discovered and explored. Within these passages, they’ve found human remains, as well as artifacts and ceremonial items consistent with Maya rituals. We’ll float through the cave on canoes, which are perfect for giving you a view of the stalactites and stalagmites found in the depths of the earth.
Even the hike to the cave is incredible, as you traverse the jungle. With so many birds and animals in the area, you’re bound to spot some of the many creatures that make this area their home.
Finally, we’ll head to Belize City for a short flight to the Cayes. You have a choice of where you want to stay:
Ambergris Caye: With a lively nightlife, this Caye is one of the two most popular places in Belize. San Pedro town offers plenty of cafes and bars where you can refresh yourself before heading out to sunbathe or swim. Snorkeling is amazing just off the shore, as well.
Caye Caulker: This island is a little quieter than Ambergris, but just as stunning in natural beauty. The more rustic vibe here will appeal to those who just want to swim and snorkel along the Belize Barrier Reef.
- Two nights in Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye.
Today, you’ll get to explore the Belize Barrier Reef System. This is the second-largest barrier reef in the world and is home to everything from dolphins and rays to tropical fish and a variety of coral species. Marine life abounds on the reef and you’ll see it up close today as we’re going on a snorkeling adventure. Slip into the water from a boat that will take us to the optimal viewing areas and check out what’s just beneath the waves.
The Belize Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its biodiversity and ecological value. Running 180 miles along the Caribbean coast of Belize, the reef habitat covers around 370 square miles. It’s actually a double-barrier reef and the largest of its kind. It’s also home to over 500 species of fix and 70 hard coral species. Many endangered species can also be found on the reef, making it invaluable in helping these creatures recover their numbers.
Can’t get enough of the Cayes? You can easily add some extra days at this point and we’ll arrange for you to have some extra time relaxing in the sun. Whether you want to explore more of the reef, swim with the sharks, or just nap on the beach, let us know.
You’ll take a short domestic flight from the Cayes to Belize City International Airport. From there, you can board your flight home.
map, expenses & price
9 days in Guatemala and Belize
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Eight nights of hotel accommodations.
-Domestic flights.
-Professional local guides.
-Tours and activities as listed.
-All park entrance fees.
-Daily breakfast (except in Caye Caulker).
Extensions
ADD-ON
Placencia is a small town built on a peninsula with 16 miles of beautiful sandy beaches. The majority of the buildings here are atop stilts to account for the sea rising during storms, but the locals are surprisingly laid back. While you’re here, you have the opportunity to visit Silk Caye for a snorkeling adventure where you’ll see endangered coral and marine animals, as well as plenty of tropical fish.
You may prefer a boat ride out to Laughing Bird Caye, one of the best snorkeling spots around this area. Everything from lobsters and conch to shrimp, rays, and even sea turtles make the reef their home. You can chill on the island for a bit and explore the national park, before snorkeling in the pristine waters.
Another fun option is traveling to Monkey River to see the manatees. You’ll take a boat from the Caribbean through the mangroves to Monkey River Village to enjoy a traditional Creole lunch. After that, you’ll hop on the boat again and watch for wildlife, including howler monkeys, iguanas, and crocodiles. Finally, you’ll pause near the mangroves to watch the manatees that like to hang out there.
add-on
You’ll find the Great Blue Hole at the center of the Lighthouse Reef atoll. It’s a giant circular hole in the reef where the stunning blue water turns dark, making it visible from above. You’ll have a great opportunity to get some photos as we fly over the hole several times in a small plane that’s perfect for fly-overs. If you keep an eye out, you may even catch a glimpse of some manatees or sharks swimming through the turquoise water around the atoll.
On the flight, you’ll also get the true scope of the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest double-barrier reef in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ll fly over multiple Cayes and atolls, so you’ll have a chance to see what it all looks like from the air, the crystal clear waters dotted with tiny islands.
add-on
Together with its sister city, Santa Elena, on the other side of the Macal River, San Ignacio forms the most populated area of the Cayo District. The town is a good base for many of the nearby attractions. It’s known as the adventure capital of Belize, with fun activities on offer, including zip-lining, hiking, and cave tubing.
From San Ignacio, you can easily visit the Mayan ruins of Caracol, a city with over 37 miles of sacbeob, the raised stone roads built by its residents. The ruins are also home to the tallest man-made structure in the country, Sky Place. This huge pyramid stands 140 feet tall and allows for views of the jungle around it.
You can also hike to the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave where you’ll find Mayan ceremonial spaces, or go zip-lining through the forest. The ATM cave is recognized as one of the most sacred sites in the world. Within, you can still see many of the artifacts left here by the Maya, including the famous Crystal Maiden, the skeleton of a young sacrificial victim whose bones are covered in stunning crystals.
add-on
Visiting Hopkins is a wonderful experience if the local culture interests you. The quiet fishing village stretches out along the shoreline, where you’re never far from the beach. It’s a rich Garifuna community where the Afro-Caribbean vibe is strong. It’s also the gateway to the Belize Barrier Reef perfect for visiting Glover’s Reef, where you can snorkel. Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve is a stunning oval atoll that covers over 200 square miles and is full of coral patch reefs and pinnacles. It’s also shallow enough for some truly impressive snorkeling.
The nearby Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is a good spot for hiking. A network of hiking trails makes it easy to travel through the jungle, pausing to enjoy a waterfall or take a dip in a tropical pool. The Cockscomb Basin was the first jaguar reserve in the world and the sanctuary is home to more than 300 species of birds, as well as many other animals like tapirs, deer, howler monkeys, and, of course, jaguars. Hiking through this territory is an amazing experience and you’re bound to see many of the creatures it’s known for.
