Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Guatemala City to Antigua
Your flight gets in to Guatemala City this evening. Someone will pick you up at the airport and drive you to Antigua, a colonial town where you'll stay the night.
- Day 2
Antigua to Lake Atitlan
Start with a guided walk through Antigua's colonial streets, checking out the cathedral, the famous archway, and various squares. After that you'll head to a coffee finca to see how coffee gets produced before making the drive to Lake Atitlan. The lake sits surrounded by three high volcanoes and it's quite a sight.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Antigua colonial streets
- Visit cathedral and archway
- Coffee finca visit and education on coffee production
- Boat trip to Lake Atitlan
Landmarks Lake Atitlan 
- Day 3
Lake Atitlan Villages
You'll take a boat tour on Lake Atitlan, stopping at Santiago Atitlan, San Juan, and San Marcos. Along the way you can learn about traditional Maya weaving cooperatives and get a feel for the region's colorful culture. By evening the light is great for photos with the volcanoes in the background.
Included Activities
- Boat tour on Lake Atitlan
- Visit Santiago Atitlan village
- Visit San Juan village with painting, medicinal plant, and weaving cooperatives
- Visit San Marcos village
Landmarks Santiago Atitlan San Juan San Marcos - Day 4
Chichicastenango and Quetzaltenango
Head up into the highlands to see the largest and most colorful market in Latin America at Chichicastenango on market day. You'll experience Mayan traditions, visit Santo Tomas church, and take part in a shaman ceremony. Later you'll continue on to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala's second largest city.
Included Activities
- Visit Chichicastenango market
- Visit Santo Tomas church
- Witness Mayan sacrificial rites and flower/copal resin offerings
- Participate in shaman ceremony
Landmarks Chichicastenango Market Santo Tomas Church - Day 5
Almolonga, Zunil, and Acatenango Volcano
Start early at the traditional highland market in Almolonga, then move on to Zunil to see the house of Maximon. From there you'll switch to four-wheel drive for climbing Acatenango volcano up to 3500m. You'll hike to base camp for views of active Fuego volcano eruptions at sunset, then sleep in a simple mountain hut.
Included Activities
- Visit Almolonga market
- Visit Zunil and house of Maximon
- Acatenango volcano drive and hiking tour
Landmarks Acatenango Volcano Fuego Volcano - Day 6
Fuego Volcano and Cooking Class in Antigua
Wake before sunrise to watch Fuego's lava eruptions from your hut with coffee in hand. If you're interested, there's an optional climb to the Acatenango summit for wider views. You'll descend for breakfast, then return near Antigua for a Guatemalan cooking class where you'll prepare pepian with a local family.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Fuego volcano viewing with coffee before sunrise
- Guatemalan cooking class - traditional pepian preparation
- Visit with Guatemalan family
Optional Activities
- Acatenango summit climb at dawn with views of Lake Atitlan
Landmarks Fuego Volcano - Day 7
Purulha Cloud Forest
Head north into the mountain cloud forest around Puruhla. The landscape shifts dramatically with high humidity and fresh mountain air all around. In the afternoon you'll hike through the cloud forest to a waterfall on the Ecolodge Ram Tzul grounds, and there's a good chance you'll spot the quetzal, the sacred Mayan bird of the gods.
Included Activities
- Cloud forest hike to waterfall on Ecolodge Ram Tzul grounds
Landmarks Puruhlá Cloud Forest - Day 8
Quetzal Reserve and Copan Archaeological Site
Early morning takes you to Ranchitos del Quetzal biotope, a private conservation area set up to protect the sacred Mayan bird. After that comes a long drive to Copan in Honduras to explore the former capital of a great Mayan empire. The famous hieroglyphic staircase here has over 2500 symbols carved into it, and you might catch sight of bright red macaws.
Included Activities
- Visit Ranchitos del Quetzal biotope
- Guided tour of Copan archaeological site
- View hieroglyphic staircase
Landmarks Ranchitos del Quetzal Copan 
- Day 9
Quirigua and Livingston
You'll check out the archaeological site of Quirigua, which is known for its remarkable meter-high stone sculptures of rulers. Then you'll switch to a boat at Rio Dulce for a scenic journey to Livingston, a small Garifuna village with Caribbean charm.
Included Activities
- Visit Quirigua archaeological site
- Boat trip on Rio Dulce to Livingston
Landmarks Quirigua Rio Dulce 
- Day 10
Rio Dulce and Flores
Take a 2.5-hour boat journey on Rio Dulce through dense jungle and past simple wooden huts. You'll visit bird island to see water birds, then continue on to Flores to relax with a cool drink and watch the sunset over Lake Peten Itza.
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Rio Dulce
- Bird island visit
Landmarks Rio Dulce Lake Peten Itza - Day 11
Tikal and Yaxha Archaeological Sites
Visit Tikal, one of the largest Mayan archaeological sites, where you can climb steep temple steps for great views of the entire complex. Later you'll continue to Yaxha, another important Mayan site from the Classic period. Return to Flores with plenty to think about from the day.
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Tikal archaeological site
- Temple climbing at Tikal
- Visit Yaxha archaeological site
Landmarks Tikal Yaxha 
- Day 12
Lake Peten Itza and Return to Guatemala City
Morning brings a boat trip on Lake Peten Itza with chances to spot iguanas and water birds. You'll then stroll through Flores with its cobbled streets and waterside cafes. After that you'll transfer to the airport for a domestic flight to Guatemala City and then on to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Boat trip on Lake Peten Itza
- Exploration of Flores village
Optional Activities
- Transfer to island accommodation in Belize instead of returning to Guatemala City (available at extra cost)
Landmarks Lake Peten Itza Flores - Day 13
Guatemala City Departure
Spend the morning in Guatemala City with the option to visit one of the museums if you want. In the afternoon you'll transfer to the international airport for your flight home, carrying plenty of exciting memories from Guatemala.
Optional Activities
- Visit museum in Guatemala City
- Day 14
Arrival in Germany
You land back home with a suitcase full of memories and all the exciting impressions from your time in Guatemala.
