Guatemala Vacation Package
History, Art, & Nature Unite in the Maya Kingdom
Looking for the perfect Guatemala vacation package? Look no further. This itinerary will take you to some of the most exciting parts of Guatemala, where you can explore ruins, walk through busy streets and visit one of the most famous markets in Central America. Whether you’re interested in ancient history, nature, or just visiting a new culture, Guatemala has it all.
On this trip, you’ll travel by plane, car, and boat to get around the country. As you travel, you’ll visit tiny villages, bustling cities, and even Maya cities that have long since been abandoned. There’s a mix of everything on this itinerary, so you can really enjoy learning more about this amazing place.
Guatemala
Land of volcanoes and lakes
Yaxha
Peaceful and rewarding treasure
Tikal
Maya Kingdom
Rio Dulce
Where the jungle meets the sea
Highlights
Are you ready to embark on an adventure with this Guatemala vacation package? It’s the best way to travel, visiting all the top landmarks in Guatemala. You’ll visit Mayan ruins in Tikal, Yaxha, and Quirigua and see where ancient people once walked. You’ll have a chance to take in the Garifuna culture in Livingston, relax on a white sand beach, and taste the freshest coffee you’ve ever had.
Your stay on Lake Atitlan gives you the chance to visit multiple small towns, including San Juan La Laguna and San Antonio Palopo. You’ll spend time in colonial Antigua Guatemala, visit the ruins of Iximche, and spend time in the busy world of Guatemala City. With so much to see, the trip will fly by and you’ll be headed home before you know it, richer with knowledge and experiences.
Itinerary
Welcome to Guatemala, the Land of Eternal Spring! Our driver will collect you at the airport in Guatemala City and take you to your hotel in Antigua Guatemala. This colonial town is the perfect place to settle in for a couple of days as you learn more about this beautiful country.
- Two nights in Antigua Guatemala
Wake up to beautiful views in Antigua Guatemala and have a steaming hot cup of coffee. We’re off to nearby San Miguel Escobar where you’ll take a coffee tour. It’s a wonderful experience to walk through a coffee plantation and see exactly how the plants are cared for. You’ll learn how the coffee berries are picked, processed, and roasted as you walk through the entire coffee production process. Finally, it’s time to taste the results of all that hard work in an extremely fresh cup of coffee.
Next, we’ll return to Antigua and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site with a knowledgeable guide. This city was the third capital of Guatemala, abandoned after a massive earthquake rendered it nearly uninhabitable. Today, the picturesque cobblestone streets and ancient ruins of old monasteries, convents, and churches attract tourists from around the world.
You’ll walk around the city center, which is surprisingly small, and see the Santa Catalina Arch, a beautiful yellow archway that gives a great photo opportunity as it frames Agua Volcano to the south. You’ll see the Cathedral of Santiago, as well, which at one time was the largest church in Central America. From certain points in the city, you can also see Acatenango Volcano and Fuego Volcano, which is quite active and likely to send out a few puffs of ash while you’re watching.
Finally, you’ll head back to your hotel to rest up for tomorrow’s adventure.
Every Thursday and Sunday, the busy streets of Chichicastenango turn into a bustling market where you’ll find a little bit of everything. As the largest, most colorful traditional market in Central America, Chichicastenango’s market has continuously operated since pre-Columbian Maya times. You’ll have a chance to visit the vibrant place and purchase items to take home with you.
At the center of the market, you’ll find the Santo Tomas Church. Built in the 16th century, this church is an amazing blend of Mayan and Catholic rituals and masses, all mixed up together. If the church is open, you can take a peek inside, but the really fascinating part is out in the main market area.
As you stroll, you’ll see everything from locals buying fruits and vegetables to tourists picking up handwoven textiles and ceramic items. Incense, flowers, clothing, and more items are all available here. It’s the perfect place to look for a souvenir or two from your trip.
When we’ve finished checking out the market, we’ll head off to Lake Atitlan where you can enjoy some downtime.
- Two nights on Lake Atitlan
As the sun rises, you’ll get to see Lake Atitlan in all its glory. Early in the morning, fishermen head out in their little boats and commuters take larger speedboats across the lake. It’s a beautiful sight and one you won’t want to miss.
Today, we’ll take a boat to visit a handful of the many villages that pepper the lake’s shores. It was once a volcano that erupted magnificently and then filled with water, so the entire lake is surrounded by cliffs that make you wonder how people managed to settle here. The villages climb the mountainsides, ensuring every home, no matter how humble, has an incredible view. We’ll visit San Juan La Laguna first. The artisans here create some pretty incredible items, ranging from handwoven textiles to sculptures, pottery, and leatherwork. You’ll also find coffee farms surrounding the town, so you may want to sip a cup or take a couple bags of beans home.
Next up, we’ll take the boat back across the lake to Santa Catarina Palopo. The townspeople have transformed this village by painting more than 850 homes with Mayan designs. Nearly every wall is a piece of art and it’s all done by Pintando el Cambio, an association that works with people to ensure the town is kept clean and the children are sent to school.
Our final village is not far from Santa Catarina, San Antonio Palopo. It’s best known for its unique blue and white pottery, which can now be found around Guatemala. We’ll stop by the handcrafted pottery factory to check out the designs and to give you an opportunity to meet some of the artisans, before we return to the hotel in Panajachel.
After a light breakfast, it’s time to head away from the lake and toward the capital city. On the way, we’ll stop at the first capital of Guatemala, the Mayan city of Iximche. It’s a fun introduction to Mayan ruins, since the city isn’t too large and it’s quite easy to walk around. There are four plazas excavated, each with its temple and the remains of homes, ball courts, and more. While there’s not a lot left at the site, there’s enough to show you how the people here lived before the Spanish came sweeping through.
Iximche is a lovely place to spend some time and there’s a small museum next to the entrance where you can see some of the artifacts found here. Carvings, pottery, and even bones are displayed in the museum, along with a 3D map of the site.
We’ll head to Tecpan next, right next door to Iximche. The area is in the highlands of Guatemala and it’s a little cool here, so enjoy it while you can! Beautiful green fields, farms, and forests are common here, making it a great spot to hike. There are some great restaurants in the area, as well, including the Rincon Suizo, where you can enjoy a traditional meal.
Finally, we’ll head to Guatemala City and a short flight will take you to Flores Island in Peten this evening.
- One night in Flores Island
Your guide will greet you at your hotel and drive you to the Mayan ruins of Yaxha. Most people think of Tikal when they think of Mayan ruins in Guatemala, but Yaxha is just as stunning. With 500 structures that include 40 stelae and nine massive pyramids, this city is amazing in its own right.
Yaxha perches above a lake of the same name, giving it some great views. You’ll get to walk along the ancient causeways or sacbeob that are raised above the ground and covered in white stone to make them more visible in the moonlight. Walking in the footsteps of the Maya people is someone you can’t explain until you’ve done it.
From the towering Temple 216 that stands at around 100 feet to the Minor Astronomical Complex (Plaza C) where the pyramids and stelae were constructed to mark star movements, the city is amazing. Everywhere you look, there’s evidence of the unique knowledge the Maya had. Don’t forget to talk through the Plaza of the Seven Temples, where, you guessed it, seven huge pyramids surround the plaza.
Yaxha is a good way to start your exploration of northern Mayan cities. Head to the hotel in Tikal and rest up, because tomorrow we rise early.
- Overnight in Tikal.
We’re up before the sun today and off to Tikal to watch the sun rise over the jungle. There’s nothing like the feeling of a new day dawning as you sit atop a pyramid built thousands of years ago.
With the sun risen, you’ll enjoy a tasty breakfast and gain energy for the tour to come. We’ll head right back to the ruins to really explore the area. Tikal is a sprawling metropolis, but much lies hidden under the jungle still. As you walk through the Grand Plaza, with pyramids, palaces and acropolises on either side, you’ll quickly realize that the Maya people were far more advanced than you ever imagined.
While you can’t climb most of the pyramids to help preserve them, Temple II, the Temple of the Masks, has a wooden staircase that you can climb so you have a stunning view from the top. Imagine being a priest here and seeing this on a daily basis? You’ll have lots of opportunities to get some impressive photos.
If you want to see the oldest part of Tikal, head to the Lost World Complex. Here, you’ll find the Lost World Pyramid and several astronomical structures. These were used to track solar and astronomical events for rituals and celebrations. What’s amazing is that this city not only had observatory structures, but also canals and reservoirs for water management, as well as causeways that led throughout the city and even to other nearby towns.
After a thorough tour of the site, it’s time to head to Rio Dulce for the night.
- Two nights in Rio Dulce
We’re taking a break from ruins and heading to Livingston today. We’ll start by hopping aboard a small boat after breakfast and going on a trip down Rio Dulce (Sweet River). The river is a gorgeous green color, reflecting the jungle that fills both banks. Here and there, you’ll spot houses with docks that are boat access only, but there aren’t many people out here. As we move along the river, you’ll enjoy the many sights of nature. Looming limestone cliffs shine white through the bright green vines and trees and birds of all sorts fly overhead and dive into the water.
Our destination is Livingston, a truly unique part of Guatemala. Originally settled by Maya and Garifuna, the cultural mix here is quite interesting. You’ll find more of a Caribbean vibe here, laid back and comfortable. The food is also distinct, with a heavy focus on seafood and Garifuna flavors.
The beaches are arguably the biggest draw in Livingston. Crystal clear waters, bright white sand, and warm weather make this a tropical paradise. Since Livingston is boat-access only, it has built up its own culture and is a fascinating place to visit.
We’ll spend the day in Livingston, where you can taste new foods, do some shopping, or just chill on the beach. Then we’ll head back to the hotel in Rio Dulce.
For your final day in Guatemala, you have a choice of activities. You can visit Quirigua or you can enjoy a couple of hours at Finca Paraiso.
If you want to see more ruins, we’ll head to Quirigua. Best known for its incredible stone sculptures, Quirigua offers a number of the largest stelae in the Maya world. These stelae showcase historical events, daily life, and even political issues of the time. Stela E stands over 30 feet tall, the tallest stone monument erected in the New World, but there are plenty of other impressive sights here, too.
Take for example, the hieroglyphic staircases, all expertly engraved with important rulers and information. Thanks to the important role this city played in helping archeologists discover new things, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, despite being around since the 8th century CE. Originally, Quirigua was an important part of the political world, balancing things between Tikal and Copan.
Alternatively, we can go to Finca El Paraiso. While you can choose from several activities here, we highly recommend enjoying some time under the thermal waterfalls. These falls feature hot water that is heated by volcanic activity. It then pours over the rocks, giving you a pleasant shower experience, before hitting the cold river water. It’s basically a natural spa!
You may also opt to do some hiking (though you have to hike a bit to get to the falls) or swim in the river next to the waterfalls. The thermal pools and waterfalls are surrounded by beautiful, lush rainforest, where you can hike and explore. If you’re looking for one last day in a natural paradise, Finca El Paraiso is a good choice.
Once your adventure is over, we’ll drive back to Guatemala City for the night.
- Overnight in Guatemala City.
Your stay in Guatemala has come to an end. Our driver will get you to the airport in time to catch your flight home. We hope to see you again soon!
map, expenses & price
Guatemala Vacation Package
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Nine nights of hotel accommodations.
-Professional local guides.
-Tours and activities as listed.
-All park entrance fees.
-Breakfasts and two traditional lunches.
Extensions
ADD-ON
If you really want to experience the Caribbean side of life, this extension will take you to two of the most amazing places Livingston has to offer. First, we have Siete Altares. While you can hike there, we’ll take a boat to the entrance and walk in from there. You’ll hike through the lush rainforest, possibly spotting monkeys and birds along the way.
The Siete Altares waterfalls are best seen during the rainy seasons, but even in the dry season, they’re enjoyable. Cascading waterfalls fill natural pools before pouring down into the next pool. You can enjoy swimming and relaxing in the cool water and getting some incredible photos.
Next, we’ll take the boat to Playa Blanca or White Beach. Just like it says, this is your dream tropical beach. Coconut palms cast shade over stunning white sand and blue water stretches out as far as the eye can see. The beach is quite shallow, so you can walk out very far and swim around without worry. If you prefer, hop in one of the hammocks or relax in a beach chair with a fresh coconut in hand.
add-on
Head over the border to Copan in Honduras with this fun extension. You’ll stay in the town of Copan, while visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site and exploring the archeological wonders here. One of the most fascinating things is to visit the tunnels beneath the city. Archeologists found that the city was built atop another city and you can catch glimpses of it through carefully placed windows in the tunnels.
Copan was a capital city between 400-800 AD and is still considered a cultural treasure trove to this day. You’ll see the many stelae and animal-shaped altars, as well as the massive Hieroglyphic Staircase adorned with more than 2,000 glyphs on 63 steps.Some of the most complicated carvings in the Maya world were discovered in Copan, making it a hotspot for those exploring its history.
add-on
Craving some beach time? Let’s head to El Paradon, best known for being Guatemala’s surf town. The Guatemalan beaches on the Pacific side are made up of black volcanic sand and feature powerful waves and possible rip-tides, so be careful out there! You can spend your time sunbathing, enjoying the water, or swimming in the hotel pool. Of course, surfing is always an option, whether you’re a beginner or an old pro.
While you’re here, don’t miss the stunning sunsets on the beach. There’s nothing like them. Once the sun sets, the sand cools down and a stroll on the beach becomes quite refreshing. You can also rent ATVs and horses to enjoy the beach if you like, and there’s usually at least one volleyball game going on somewhere. It’s a great way to reset before the end of your vacation.
