Guatemala: A Journey from Volcanoes to Mayan Cities
Dates: January 16th- January 23 2025
Price: $2300
Join us on a unique adventure in the wonderful country of Guatemala.
Seven days of deep connection with the land, its people, and great nature. From volcanoes to ancient Mayan cities, to lakes, this is an adventure of a lifetime.
Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala City
Welcome to Guatemala! We will greet you at Guatemala City International Airport and transfer you to Antigua.
The ride is around 1 to 1.5 hours.
After you get settled, you’ll join the rest of the group for a welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Antigua or similar
Meals included: welcome dinner included.
Day 2: Antigua Historic Walking Tour
Today your adventure starts in the city of Antigua for a history-themed walking tour of Antigua to see its colonial streetscapes of pastel facades, and take in the grandeur of some of the restored churches and civic buildings, contrasted with the tumbledown charm of others. You will:
Visit the City Hall Palace.
Explore the Palace of the Captain’s General.
Tour the Antigua Guatemala Cathedral.
Learn about Mayan archaeology.
Visit the complex of Paseo de Los Museos, which features six museums and three art galleries.
In the afternoon, you will visit:
La Merced Church
Cerro de la Cruz for a panoramic view of the city.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Antigua or similar
Meals included: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Day 3: Acatenango Climbing Adventure
Hike up Volcan Acatenango for 2 days and camp overnight at our mountainside campsite. Witness fiery eruptions from nearby Volcan Fuego and enjoy stunning views. On day two, summit Acatenango for breathtaking panoramas before returning to Antigua by afternoon.
Today is the most exciting day. You will be climbing Acatenango to watch an incredible natural wonder “An active erupting volcano”
At 8 am, you will leave the hotel and take a one-hour drive to the slope of Acatenango Volcano and the village of La Soledad, where the trailhead is located.
The route up the volcano has four microclimates, each of which will take about an hour to hike.
First hour: Walk up a steep path through farmland, the same trail used by villagers to reach their crops. This serves as a great warm-up.
Second hour: Pass through an old-growth, high-alpine cloud forest, home to many exotic birds including the famous resplendent quetzal.
After emerging from the cloud forest around mid-day, enjoy fantastic views of the other highland volcanoes: Atitlán, Tolimán, San Pedro, Santa María, Santo Tomás, and Tajamulco.
You will then take a break and enjoy a picnic lunch with the scenery.
You will continue to camp where you’ll celebrate this amazing accomplishment.
Enjoy your time around the campfire and stargazing, with a view of the nearby active Fuego Volcano.
Accommodation: Camping in Acatenango
Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Day 4: Acatenango Sunrise Adventure
Weather permitting, you will rise nice and early to enjoy the sunrise over volcano peaks and embark on a 45-minute/1-hour trek up a gravel trail through a pine forest. This is the steepest trail yet, and it leads to the rocky, windy summit of Acatenango’s peak.
At the summit, you will rest and enjoy breathtaking 360-degree views of the Guatemalan highlands stretching all the way to Mexico.
After breakfast and breaking camp, you'll begin the three-hour descent back to La Soledad. This route follows a different trail so you can enjoy even more beautiful scenery as you descend through different microclimates.
you will then transfer from Acatenango to Lake Atitlan, check in to your hotel, and relax for the rest of the day.
Accommodation: Hotel San Buenaventura or similar
Meals: breakfast and dinner are included.
Day 5: Lake Atitlán Villages
Today you’ll start your adventure on the shore of Lake Atitlán. The lake has an area of 130 km², and the color of its waters varies from deep blue to green. Formed approximately 84,000 years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption and with depths up to 341 meters, making it the deepest lake in Central America.
Be sure to bring your camera and take in the views of the 3 volcanoes surrounding the lake - Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro.
You’ll take a private boat tour to visit the quaint Mayan villages that surround Lake Atitlán. Our private boat will take you across the lake, stopping at various villages where you'll meet locals and learn about life by the lake.
Enjoy several stops along the way and plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or snacks.
Accommodation: Hotel San Buenaventura or similar
Meals: breakfast and dinner are included.
Day 6: Lake Atitlán Kayaking & Hiking Adventure
Today you will wake up to views of the lake and its towering volcanoes before meeting your guide for today's expedition. You'll start in a kayak, paddling westward along the north shore of Lake Atitlán for roughly two hours. You'll pass by villages perched on lakeside cliffs, hop in the water for a swim, or even do some cliff jumping. Your destination is a spot near the village of San Marcos La Laguna, where you'll leave your kayak behind and lace up your hiking boots.
You will follow the lake trail between the villages, taking in views of the San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán volcanoes. Hike along the shoreline and through small villages for about 1.5 hours; eventually, the route will take you back to your lodge.
Later in the day, you will leave Atitlan for Antigua.
Accommodation: Hotel Casa Antigua or similar
Meals: breakfast and dinner included.
Day 7: Coffee farm tour
Today you will visit some of to the most important villages around Antigua. Our tour will stop at markets, plazas, and churches that make up part of the history of every small village. In the end, you will have the chance to try a facial treatment on a local tour inside of a Macadamia farm.
You will go through Santiago Zamora to visit the coop of Women with Filomena one of the leaders of the community that helps the children in a small school by collecting the funds from their cultural tours.
After this tour, you will return to Antigua and enjoy the Bean to Bar Chocolate workshop. Discover chocolate from the south of Guatemala and the process of creating delicious chocolate blends with other locally grown ingredients.
Accommodation: Hotel Barcelo Resort or similar
Meals: breakfast and lunch included.
Day 8: Goodbye Guatemala
All good things must come to an end. Today is the end of your adventure in Guatemala.
You will be transferred to the airport and bid farewell to your travel mates
Meals included: Breakfast.
Trip inclusions
Transportation in Guatemala
Pickup and drop off from Guatemala City International Airport.
Local guides at each stop
English-speaking trip leader
Mentioned meals and activities
Accommodation for all nights (double occupancy)
Camping equipment ( Sleeping bags and tents)
Trip exclusions
International flights
Food and alcohol (except as noted)
Visas and Travel Insurance
Tips for guides
Personal porters