Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Antigua
You'll land at La Aurora International Airport where someone meets you holding a nameplate with your name. The drive to Antigua takes about an hour, giving you time to settle into your hotel. If you're feeling up to it after travel, a walk around town helps you get oriented and shake off the flight.
Optional Activities
- Walk around the park of Antigua
Landmarks/POIs La Aurora International Airport Cafe Barreto - Day 2
Pacaya Volcano
Your driver picks you up from the hostel in Antigua early on. After paying the entrance fee, you'll hike Pacaya Volcano for around 2 hours to reach the summit. Once there, you see steam vents, dried lava formations, and views stretching out across the landscape. The descent takes another couple hours, then you head back to Antigua by minivan. Later that afternoon, shared transport takes you to Panajachel at Lake Atitlán.
Included Activities
- Pacaya Volcano Trip with guided hike to summit
- Shared transport to Lake Atitlán
Landmarks/POIs Pacaya Volcano San Vicente Pacaya - Day 3
Lake Atitlán Mayan Villages
At 9:00 am, you meet a local guide in Panajachel for the boat tour. First stop is San Juan La Laguna where you walk through the Mayan community and visit textile and paint workshops run by locals. From there, another boat ride takes you to San Pedro La Laguna, a laid-back backpacker hub with its own character. The final leg brings you to Santiago Atitlán where you walk through the village, see traditional clothing and wood carvings, and learn about Mayan spiritual practices including the Maximón tradition. By boat again, you return to Panajachel as the day winds down.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Home stay breakfast), Dinner (Home stay dinner)
Included Activities
- Lake Boat Trip on Lake Atitlán
- Visit San Juan La Laguna Mayan Community
- Textile and paint workshop experience
- Visit San Pedro La Laguna
- Visit Santiago Atitlán
- Mayan Spiritual Maximón experience
Landmarks/POIs Lake Atitlán San Juan La Laguna San Pedro La Laguna Santiago Atitlán - Day 4
Panajachel to Lanquin
A shared minivan carrying 15 passengers picks you up at your Panajachel hotel for the roughly 9-hour drive to Lanquin. The route winds through mountains and valleys with nice scenery throughout. You'll stop for breaks and meals along the way, arriving in Lanquin by late afternoon or evening.
- Day 5
Semuc Champey Natural Pools
Your driver calls to let you know pickup time for the trip to Semuc Champey. The natural pools there have crystal-clear water and you'll swim in the setting before heading back. A private local truck and bilingual guide (English or Spanish) handle the transport and commentary, making it a more personalized experience than bigger group tours.
Included Activities
- Semuc champey tour with Canva Cave
- Swimming at Semuc Champey natural pools
- Walking tour of the pools area
Landmarks/POIs Semuc Champey Canva Cave - Day 6
Lanquin to Flores
The shuttle meets you at the Exxon Gas Station entrance in Lanquin Village for the approximately 8-hour drive to Flores. You'll travel in a shared standard minivan with other travelers, passing through more rural areas and watching the landscape change. Arrival in Flores is usually by evening.
- Day 7
Tikal Ruins
A local driver meets you at YO AMO PETEN EL PLANCHON (the Flores island entrance) at either 4:30 am or 8:00 am for the hour-long ride to Tikal Park. During the drive, your guide talks through what you'll see and how to approach the site. Once there, you explore temples, pyramids, and palaces by walking natural trails while the guide explains Mayan history and the significance of different structures. A shared van brings you back to the island afterward.
Included Activities
- Tikal Ruins Tour
- Guided tour of temples, pyramids, and palaces
- Natural trail exploration of Tikal site
Landmarks/POIs Tikal - Day 8
Flores to Rio Dulce
The shuttle takes you from Flores Island to Rio Dulce on a first-class touristic bus that holds 40 passengers. The 4-hour journey is comfortable and you can relax and watch the landscape. Once you arrive, private transport brings you to your hotel in Rio Dulce.
Landmarks/POIs Rio Dulce - Day 9
Rio Dulce River and Livingston
You take a shared ferry tour by boat to Livingston, exploring Garifuna culture and African heritage along the way. The river itself is the main attraction with exotic birds and water lilies visible from the boat. After time in Livingston, the ferry returns you to Rio Dulce.
Included Activities
- Rio Dulce river boat tour
- Visit Livingston
- Garifuna Culture exploration
Landmarks/POIs Livingston - Day 10
Rio Dulce to Guatemala City and Departure
A touristic autobus meets you downtown in Rio Dulce for the 5-hour drive to Guatemala City bus station. The bus has amenities and scheduled stops break up the journey. Upon reaching the city, private transport takes you directly to the airport for your flight home.
Landmarks/POIs La Aurora International Airport
