Guatemala Encompassed

Bienvenido a Guatemala! On arrival into Guatemala City (La Aurora International Airport GUA), you’ll be met and transferred to our central group hotel. After check-in, the remainder of the day is free for you to rest or explore a little of the capital’s surrounding neighborhoods. You may wish to stretch your legs with a short walk, visit a local café, or simply relax at the hotel after your flight. Your guide will give you some recommendations and connect with you to confirm the plan and ensure everything is set for the start of your journey.

Overnight: Barcelo Hotel or similar.

Approx. drive time: 1 hr

You’ll start the day early with a panoramic tour of Guatemala City, taking in the capital’s key landmarks including the National Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Civic Centre complex. You’ll also drive through some of the residential neighbourhoods, offering a window into daily urban life. Leaving the city, travel west into the highlands to visit Iximché, the former capital of the Kaqchikel Maya from the 15th century. Surrounded by pine forest, this important archaeological site features ceremonial plazas, pyramid-temples, palaces, and two ancient Mesoamerican ball courts. Declared a national monument in the 1960s, Iximché is still used for contemporary Maya rituals. You’ll also find a small but fascinating museum displaying carved stone sculptures and ceramics unearthed here.

After time to explore and reflect, continue by road to Chichicastenango, a town famous for its colourful highland markets and spiritual atmosphere. Check in to your heritage-style accommodation and enjoy a relaxed evening ahead of tomorrow’s market visit.

Overnight: Mayan Inn, or similar

Approx. drive time: 3 hrs total

Please note: Modest attire is required today — shorts and swimwear are not permitted during visits to sacred sites. Out of respect for local customs, photography is also not allowed inside the church.

This morning, experience one of the most iconic cultural events in Guatemala — market day in Chichicastenango. Each week, hundreds of local Maya people from surrounding villages gather here to trade textiles, handicrafts, produce and traditional medicines in a kaleidoscope of colour, language and tradition. It’s a great opportunity to observe local life and, if you wish, to test your haggling skills. You’ll also visit the 400-year-old Church of Santo Tomás, where Catholic and Maya spiritual practices blend in unique and powerful ways. The church steps are used for incense rituals and offerings, and the interior remains an active ceremonial site. Later in the day, travel west to Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela), the second largest city in Guatemala. Nestled in a wide valley surrounded by volcanoes, the city blends colonial architecture, vibrant markets and a strong Indigenous identity. Time permitting, your guide may point out landmarks such as Centroamérica Park, the Espíritu Santo Cathedral, and the Casa de la Cultura, home to pre-Hispanic relics and local history.

Overnight: Hotel Pension Bonifaz or similar

Approx. drive time: 2.5 hrs

Please note: Modest attire is required today — shorts and swimwear are not permitted during visits to sacred sites. Out of respect for local customs, photography is also not allowed inside the church.

After breakfast, depart Quetzaltenango and explore a region rich in cultural and spiritual traditions. Your first stop is the small town of San Andrés Xecul, famous for its bright yellow church façade adorned with saints, angels and Mayan motifs. This unique blend of Catholic and Indigenous symbolism is a perfect example of the cultural syncretism found throughout the Guatemalan highlands.

Continue to San Francisco El Alto, known for its large and authentic local market. Although less visited by tourists, this bustling market draws vendors from across the region, selling everything from livestock to textiles. It’s a chance to witness highland trade in full swing and connect with the rhythms of daily life.

Later in the day, descend toward the picturesque Lake Atitlán (Panajachel), surrounded by towering volcanoes and traditional Maya villages. On arrival, check in to your lakeside accommodation and enjoy the peaceful views or stroll along the waterfront.

Overnight: Porta Hotel del Lago or similar

Approx. drive time: 3.5 hrs

This morning, take an early motorboat across the tranquil waters of Lake Atitlán to visit one of its most picturesque villages — San Juan La Laguna. Known for its Indigenous Tz’utujil Maya population, San Juan is celebrated for its murals, cooperatives, and traditional weaving techniques. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a women’s textile cooperative, meet local artisans, and learn about the natural dyes and weaving methods passed down through generations. Later, return across the lake and travel by road to Antigua, the former colonial capital and one of Guatemala’s most charming cities. Founded by the Spanish in 1543, Antigua today is a beautifully preserved blend of ruined and restored colonial buildings, with cobbled streets and colourful facades set against a volcanic backdrop. Declared a “Monument of the Americas” in 1965, the city offers an atmospheric base to wind down after a day of cultural discovery.

Overnight: Porta Hotel Antigua or similar

Approx. drive time: 3 hrs (plus boat transfer)

Spend the day discovering the charm and history of Antigua, Guatemala’s most beloved colonial city. Surrounded by three volcanoes, Antigua is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with cobbled streets, pastel facades, and a blend of restored and partially-ruined architecture that reflects its storied past. This morning, enjoy a guided walk through the city’s historic centre, visiting landmarks such as La Merced Church, the Central Plaza, and the Antigua Cathedral. Along the way, you’ll learn about the city’s rise and fall as the Spanish colonial capital, and how it has remained a cultural hub to this day. Later, visit a working coffee plantation to gain insight into Guatemala’s world-renowned coffee production. You’ll learn about the process from bean to cup, including cultivation, harvesting, roasting and tasting and understand how coffee has shaped the economy and identity of the region. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Take time to explore Antigua’s artisan markets, rooftop cafés, galleries or museums, or simply relax in one of the city’s leafy plazas and soak up the atmosphere.

Overnight: Porta Hotel Antigua or similar

After a final relaxed morning on the lake or in the town, you'll travel by road back to Guatemala City. Depending on timing, there may be an opportunity to stop for lunch along the way and enjoy the final views of the Guatemalan highlands before descending into the capital. Once checked in to your hotel, the remainder of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. You might choose to rest, enjoy the hotel amenities, or explore the surrounding area depending on your energy and interest.

Your guide will confirm tomorrow’s early departure and internal flight to the Petén region.

Overnight: Barceló Hotel or similar

Approx. drive time: 3.5 – 4 hrs

We have a long and exciting day ahead. You'll be picked up around 4:00 a.m. for your early morning transfer to Guatemala City airport, where you’ll board a short domestic flight to Flores Petén, the gateway to Guatemala’s northern lowlands and Maya heartland. But today’s not just a travel day — on arrival, you'll head straight to Sayaxché, where a scenic boat ride awaits across the La Pasión River to reach the impressive ruins of Ceibal. Hidden deep in jungle, Ceibal is one of the most atmospheric and best-preserved Maya cities in the region, describe as a "Maya Art Gallery" with origins dating back as early as 900 BCE. Explore remarkable sites including La Pirámide Circular, El Altar Zoomorfo, the Juego de Pelota (ball court), and the twin Calzadas (ceremonial causeways), and enjoy a BBQ lunch, all while surrounded by tropical forest and the sounds of nature. After a full day of travel and exploration, continue to Santa Elena, where you’ll settle into your jungle lodge near the shores of Lake Petén Itzá — your base for the next two nights.

Overnight: Hotel Camino Real Tikal, or similar

Flight time: Approx. 1 hr

Drive time: Approx. 2 hrs total (plus boat transfer)

Luggage limits: Checked baggage max 22 kg (50 lbs); hand luggage max 4.5kg (10 lbs). Excess may incur surcharges

Today we continue the adventure in the Petén region with a journey to Yaxhá, the third-largest Maya city in Guatemala and one of the few to retain its original name — meaning “Green Water” (Yax-Ha). Set between two scenic lagoons and surrounded by rainforest, Yaxhá was once a thriving city of over 1,000 structures, built as early as 600 BCE. Walk ancient causeways through the jungle as you pass pyramid temples still cloaked in forest, ceremonial plazas, a ball court, and an astronomical observatory. A highlight is Temple 216, the tallest structure in the complex (over 27m / 90ft), which offers panoramic 360-degree views over the Yaxhá and Sacnab lagoons, with jungle stretching to the horizon. After exploring Yaxhá, cross the Yaxhá Lagoon by boat to reach the remote archaeological site of Topoxté, located on an island in the lake. Once a strategic trade centre between the Matan highlands and the Yucatán Peninsula, Topoxté contains temples and plazas primarily from the Postclassic era, though archaeological evidence points to two distinct periods of occupation. As you explore the ruins, keep an eye out for howler monkeys, sunbathing crocodiles, and turtles along the shoreline. The site offers a serene blend of wildlife and archaeology. After a full day of discovery, return to your jungle lodge for a relaxing evening.

Overnight: Hotel Camino Real Tikal, or similar

Approx. transfer time: 1.5 hrs (each way, plus boat transfers)

Today, you’ll step back more than 2,000 years as you explore the extraordinary ruins of Tikal National Park, one of the most iconic and powerful cities of the ancient Maya world. Tikal sits deep in the Petén jungle and was continuously occupied from the 6th century BCE to the 10th century CE. Begin with a visit to the museum where a full model of the site offers a sense of its massive scale — the inner city alone spans more than 400 hectares, much of it still hidden beneath the jungle. Then venture into the forest, where winding, mossy trails open up into a surreal world of towering pyramids and ancient plazas. The sounds of the jungle accompany your journey — howler monkeys call from the canopy, frogs croak from the undergrowth, and tropical birds flash between trees. Explore the awe-inspiring Great Plaza, flanked by the Temple of the Grand Jaguar and the North Acropolis, the city’s ceremonial and burial complex. From here, stone causeways stretch into the rainforest, connecting temples, palaces, and ball courts. At Temple IV, one of the tallest structures ever built by the Maya (44 m / 144 ft), you can climb to the top for sweeping views across the jungle canopy. Tikal was one of the greatest centres of Maya culture and innovation, reaching its peak under rulers such as Great Jaguar Paw and Moon Double Comb, before entering a mysterious decline by around 900 CE. You’ll learn about its art, architecture, astronomy and the breakthroughs in deciphering its glyphs, considered one of the most sophisticated writing systems in the ancient world. After a full day of exploration, return to Flores Airport for your short flight back to Guatemala City, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel for your final night.

Overnight: Barceló Hotel, or similar

Flight time: Approx. 1 hr

Approx. drive time: 1 hr to Tikal

Luggage limits: Checked baggage max 22 kg (50 lbs); hand luggage max 4.5kg (10 lbs). Excess may incur surcharges

After breakfast, you'll be transferred to La Aurora International Airport (GUA) for your onward flight. Your guide or driver will confirm the timing and ensure a smooth departure from the hotel, generally 3 hrs before your departure. As your adventure through Guatemala comes to a close, take a moment to reflect on the incredible sites, stories, and landscapes you’ve experienced, from ancient Maya cities and colonial streets to colourful markets and highland cultures.

Approx. drive time: 1 hr

Please note: If you plan to extend your stay in Guatemala, your transfer can be adjusted. Speak with us about adding available options.