Inner yard of nunnery Santa Clara ib Antigua Guatemala

Free day to enjoy the magical colonial village of La Antigua Guatemala and the venerable colonial Central America ruins which are mostly churches and convents.

Visit its monuments, museums, shop at the various Indian markets & stroll through the cobble stone streets. Or you may opt for one of our special mountain biking, hiking, volcano, fishing, golf, horse back or culture tours and prepare for your Central America ruins excursion.

For our recommended culture and adventure one day tours & activities from Antigua, such as City Tours, Mountain Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Horse Back Riding, etc… please click here.

Chichicastenango Market, Lake Atitlan and Highland region.

Today our private driver will pick you up at 8:00 a.m. and take you on a panoramic (~ 2 h) drive to visit the mystical city of Chichicastenango (Thursday & Sunday only, otherwise straight to Lake Atitlán)

Located at 2500 meters above sea level, this city is famous for its market on Thursdays & Sundays, where spats of traditionally dressed villagers in a kaleidoscope of colors, come to sell their very colorful textiles, fruits, vegetables and flowers. Also worth a visit is the peaceful yet colorful cemetery.

After lunch, depart for magical Lake Atitlán with direct transfer to your hotel so you can continue your journey to the greatest Central America ruins. Spend the afternoon visiting the lake side village of Panajachel, enjoy a breathtaking sunset followed by a romantic dinner, or simply relax in your deluxe lake side hotel.

GROUND TRANSPORT: 8:00 a.m. pick up from hotel in Antigua for private transfer in air conditioned minivan or SUV to Chichicastenango (~ 2 h drive) then to Lake Atitlán (~ 1 h drive)

LODGING: 2 nights –  Standard Double Room – Hotel Atitlán

Church in Santiago Atitlán

Take a private boat tour to the many lakeside villages around Lake Atitlán. Your “lanchero” (boat driver) will pick you at 9:00 a.m. from your hotel and take you by boat to three of the local villages along the shore of the lake. Your guide will share many insights on local customs and traditions with you.

Enjoy the spectacular scenery the lake has to offer and learn more about the villagers, whose traditional costumes still vary from one village to the other, as well as their history.

We recommend having lunch in Santiago Atitlán at Posada de Santiago, at Restaurante El Pescador, or at a local restaurant in Panajachel. Please ask your guide for recommendations. For an idea of what this amazing lake has to offer, please click here.

TIP: In 1996 Roberto Samayoa Asmus found the ruins submerged in the lake and call SAMABAJ, the only one of the Central America ruins to be under the water. Ask your guide about it.

VILLAGES BOAT TOUR: Your “lanchero” (boat driver) will pick you up from your hotel at 9:00 a.m. and take you by boat to three of the local villages along the shore of the lake.
*Includes private boat, private guide, driver & fuel

Ancient Mayan pyramid in Tikal Guatemala.

Spend a free morning enjoying one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Be picked up at 11:30 am at the hotel for your private driver to Guatemala City Airport. A quick stop for lunch or coffee at the lovely café Katuk is always a lovely option we are sure you will enjoy.

Arrive at Guatemala City airport around 3:30 pm for your 5:15 pm TAG flight to Flores. You will arrive in Flores at 6:15 pm where the hotel transporters will be there to meet you and take you to your deluxe eco lodge nestled deep in the Peten jungle where you will soon explore the famous Central America ruins: Tikal.

TIP: Peten is the second important city, where the biggest temple in Central America ruins is located.  It is called “El Gran Jaguar”.

GROUND TRANSPORT: 11:30 am pick up from hotel for private transfer in deluxe air conditioned mini van or SUV to Guatemala City Airport (~ 3.5 hour drive)

AIR TRANSPORT: 5:15 pm departure from Guatemala City on TAG flight with arrival in Flores at 6:15 pm

GROUND TRANSPORT: Transfer from Flores Airport at 6:15 pm to hotel by private transporters – Please look for driver with “Tropical Discovery” Sign

LODGING: 2 nights – Rainforest Casita – La Lancha Resort
*Includes continental breakfast

Tikal Temple V is the name given by archaeologists to one of the major pyramids at Tikal.

After breakfast, your private guide and transport will pick you up at your hotel in the morning and take you to explore Tikal one of the largest and most magnificent Mayan archeological cities of all the Central America ruins, which in its heyday (c. 700 AD,) was the capital of a vast Mayan empire.

Your expert guide will share many insights on this Mayan city and provide a feel for the mysteries of this ancient culture. Have lunch in the midst of Mayan ruins and breathtaking flora and fauna; return in the late afternoon and spend the evening relaxing lake side, or opt for a visit & possibly dinner in the lovely town of Flores, the capital of the Petén region.

TIKAL TOUR: Morning departure from your hotel for Tikal for an all day guided tour.
*Includes lunch (without beverages), entrance fees and transportation.

Castillo de San Felipe, is a Spanish colonial fort at the entrance to Lake Izabal in eastern Guatemala.

Ready to change environment on this interesting Central America ruins tour? Well, the driver will pick you up at 10:00 a.m. from hotel and departure in a private air conditioned minivan for breathtaking Rio Dulce on the Caribbean coast of Guatemala (picturesque ~ 3 h drive.)

Make a quick stop for lunch or a snack and arrive in Rio Dulce in the early afternoon; be transported directly to your lakeside hotel. Spend the late afternoon relaxing, sun bathing, kayaking, swimming, and much more.

For more on what to do in the breathtaking Caribbean coast of Rio Dulce, please click here and visit our Travel Guide Page – Day Tours tab.

GROUND TRANSPORT: Pick up from your hotel at 10 a.m.for private transfer in deluxe air conditioned minivan or SUV to Rio Dulce (~3 h drive)

LODGING: 3 nights –  Cabin Plus – Hotel Hacienda Tijax

Agua Caliente Fall at Finca el Paraíso Izabal Guatemala

Pick up at 9:00 a.m. by our “lanchero” (boat driver) who will take you to visit incredible Lake Izabal (the largest lake in Guatemala), the famous Castillo de San Felipe, which was built by the Spanish in 1652 to ward off the mainly British pirates, and the magical volcanic hot springs, caves & waterfalls at Finca Paraíso.

A tractor will take you through a private farm for (~ 15 min), until you arrive at a river crossing. From there you will walk (~ 5 min) through tropical flora until you arrive at a natural volcanic waterfall that falls onto a cool crystalline river causing a steam bath effect.

You may also opt for a horseback riding tour of the farm. Let us know to pre arrange it for you.

FINCA PARAÍSO TOUR: 9:00 a.m. pick up from hotel for a one-hour cruise of Lake Izabal to Finca Paraíso (tour time ~ 6 h)
* Includes private boat with driver, entrance fees, fuel and tractor ride

Boat anchored off tropical beach in late afternoon light, Livingston, Guatemala

After a hearty breakfast, our “lanchero” (boat driver) will pick you up at 9:00 a.m. to take you on a cruise through the Rio Dulce canals and lagoons for a closer view or this region’s impressive water flora and fauna.

Closer to the Caribbean coast, you will go through the amazing Rio Dulce canyon, a truly awe inspiring experience. Later, arrive at the Caribbean coast of Guatemala and its celebrated town of Livingston, a lively Afro-Caribbean town populated by mostly Garífuna people who came from the Bay Islands in Honduras.

This town feels more like Jamaica than any town in Guatemala, where brightly colored houses are common and reggae melodies mixed with Latin sounds are heard throughout. Plan an excursion on this charming town, have lunch at the Tucán Dugú restaurant or any of the many other side walk cafés and restaurants.

Return in the late afternoon to enjoy an evening dinner, have some fun and relax under the Caribbean stars. (Tour time ~ 6 h.)

CARIBBEAN TOUR: Pick up from hotel at 9:00 a.m. for private tour to Rio Dulce canals and lagoons and Livingston
*Includes private boat with driver and fuel.

LBall Court of Mayan Ruins – Copan Archaeological Site, Honduras.

8:00 a.m. Pick up at your hotel for transport to Honduras border and the lovely colonial town of Copán where you will soon discover the second biggest Central America ruins.  Stop in rout to visit the famous Quiriguá Ruins (optional), where you will see the largest stela in the Mayan World – a true marvel and a must visit.

Arrive at your beautiful hotel Marina Copán, overlooking the Central Plaza of this charming town. Spend the afternoon and evening relaxing in your deluxe hotel or take a walk on the streets of this charming town; visit it’s many shops and lovely restaurants and side walk cafes.

Rest up and get ready for an awe inspiring day of archaeology. For more on what to do and see in this beautiful region, please click here to visit our travel guide to this region and don’t forget to check the Day Tours tab!

GROUND TRANSPORT: 8:00 a.m. Pick up from hotel in Rio Dulce for private transfer in deluxe air conditioned minivan or SUV to Copán Honduras
(~ 4hr drive).

LODGING: 2 nights –  Standard Double Room – Hotel Marina Copán.

Pyramid and Stella in the ancient Mayan city of Copan in Honduras

Free day to tour the magical ruins of Copán in Honduras. Some historians believe that Copan is a continuation of Tikal which are the two greatest Central America ruins.

A taxi will take you from the hotel to the ruins for approximately $5 US. There you can hire a very trained and qualified local bilingual guide to tour this great Mayan site, which even in ruins, appeared as a masterpiece of antiquity to explorer John Lloyd Stephens in 1839.

Today, its rich stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs make Copán one of the most extraordinary of Mayan sites in existence.
Please also visit our Travel Guide Day Tours Tab for details on a prearranged visit to the ruins as well as further options in this region.

Guatemala City.

Enjoy breakfast overlooking the hotel pool or use the morning to visit some of Copán’s sights like the Enchanted Wings Butterfly Farm, the Macaw Mountain Bird Park, the Luna Jaguar Spa or the lovely view from Hacienda San Lucas.

Be picked up at your hotel at 9:00 a.m. for your private transfer to Guatemala City. Arrive into Guatemala City in the late afternoon and be transferred directly to your deluxe hotel. Located in the center of “La Zona Viva”, the hotel is within minutes of the best shopping centers, fashion boutiques, cafes, restaurants, bars and night clubs.

GROUND TRANSPORT: 9:00 a.m. Pick up from hotel in Copán for private transfer in deluxe air conditioned minivan or SUV to Guatemala City (~ 5h drive)

LODGING: 1 night –  Standard Double Room – Westin Camino Real

Be picked up from your hotel at (Time TBC) by your private driver for your transfer to Guatemala Intl. Airport, for departure flight home.

GROUND TRANSPORT: Pick up from Hotel at (Time TBC), for private transfer in air-conditioned vehicle to Guatemala Intl. Airport (~20 min drive)