Ruins, Rituals and Mystical Landscapes in Guatemala
Ollie is here to help give you the inside track.
Guatemala is home to immeasurable cultural and natural treasures, which can be appreciated while staying in extremely stylish properties. This nine-day itinerary takes you behind the scenes to Guatemala's culturally rich communities, crumbling ruins and mesmerising landscapes. Explore the mystical jungle and vast azure lakes in a country that's home to Latin America's largest indigenous population.
Itinerary at a Glance:
- Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua Guatemala with a private guide
- Visit a textile workshop in Lake Atitlan
- Enjoy sunset drinks from a lookout tower and glamping in the Uaxactun jungle
- Explore off the beaten track at Mayan gem Tikal
Why Book with Original Travel?
When To Travel
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
Day 1: Fly to Guatemala
On arrival into Guatemala City airport, your private chauffeur will transfer you to the city of Antigua Guatemala, nestled in between three giant volcanoes and jungle-clad mountains. The journey takes around an hour and once there we can recommend some characterful bars for a taste of the local nightlife.
Day 2: Antigua Streets and Eats
Wake up bright and early and hopefully hungry - it's time to discover Antigua's traditional street food. After a (light) breakfast, your private guide will meet you at your hotel and accompany you through this charming city's cobblestone streets lined with brightly painted colonial buildings.
Then it's onto the popular comedores (eateries) to feast on local delicacies. Adventurous eaters will be in heaven, sampling chuchitos (tamales, Guatemala-style), pupusas (corn tortillas oozing with cheese) and rellenitos (plantain stuffed with black beans). When in Antigua, you have to try pigs' feet - they're surprisingly delicious.
Then spend the afternoon exploring Antigua's green plazas, whitewashed churches, art galleries and museums at your own pace. We'll also recommend a few of our favourite local restaurants serving international cuisine alongside art and historical architecture.
Day 3: Coffee Highs
This morning your guide will take you on a short journey to the small town of San Miguel Escobar. Here you'll meet the resident coffee farmers whose plots stretch up the slopes the Volcán Agua.
A local guide from an independent producer will give you an insight into the famous region while you learn how to pick, pulp, and grade the coffee (depending on the season). You'll be able to roast the grains on an open fire and grind it by hand before sampling the freshest brew you may ever taste.
After your caffeine fix, return to Antigua for lunch and enjoy a leisurely afternoon.
Additional Activities
- Volcano hiking
- Mountain biking
- Historical tours
- Visits to mountain villages
Day 4: Culture Fix
After breakfast, your guide will meet you for your journey to San Juan Comalapa, sometimes referred to as the 'Florence of the Americas.' The town is best known for its traditional folk and naïf paintings, an example of which you can see at the cemetery with its brightly coloured mural depicting major events in Guatemala's history. You'll also be able to meet a couple of local artists who will present their heritage artwork.
Head towards the lesser-known archaeological site of Iximché, a sacred place for Mayan ceremonies. A local shaman will even invite you to join an authentic ritual spoken in the native Kaqchiquel language.
Then it's onwards to Lake Atitlán on a two hour or so scenic route. You'll arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon in time to watch the sun set over this famously beautiful lake.
Day 5: Lake Atitlan
Wake up in your hillside villa overlooking the shimmering blue waters of the lake and a trio of looming volcanoes beyond. The lake was formed more than 80,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption, though today it's a picture of serenity and breathtaking natural beauty.
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel for a hike through the lush highlands. Atitlan's lakeside culture is one of the country's biggest draw thanks to the 'authentic' communities dotted along the water's edge where locals work in the fields and fish from hand-carved cayucos (traditional wooden boats).
After lunch, your guide will take you to a textile workshop in San Juan La Laguna where you can witness a collective of women weaving beautiful fabric with a traditional backstrap loom.
Head back to your hotel in the late afternoon to relax by the pool or take a dip in the lake.
Additional Activities
- Go kayaking or canoeing
- Visits artists' workshops
- Boat tours
- Mountain biking
- Market visits
Day 6: Chichi to Petén
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet you for your private transfer to Guatemala City. En route you'll visit the renowned Chichicastenango (Chichi for short), an open-air craft market bursting with fruit and vegetables picked from the highlands as well as ceramics, craftwork and textiles. Make sure there's space on your camera's memory stick! For a change of pace, you may like to hike up a nearby hill to the Pascual Abaj, a Mayan shrine where local shamans often perform rituals.
Descend for lunch before your onward journey to the capital city and your hour flight to Petén. On arrival, you will be met for your transfer deep into the jungle where your campsite awaits among the temples. Rest your head to the sounds of owls and monkeys and gaze up at the twinkling blanket of stars above.
Day 7: Glamping the Uaxactun
In the morning, enjoy breakfast in the wild and embark on a guided tour of the 2,000-year-old Uaxactun ruins. Explore crumbling temples that align perfectly with the sun on key dates of the Maya calendar. Learn about the natural gum, allspice and xate (a type of palm) grown in the untrammeled surroundings.
Lunch will be prepared traditionally with locally sourced ingredients. Then spend the afternoon resting or exploring at your leisure.
When dusk encroaches, climb a lookout tower where you can sip on drinks while watching the sun set over the ancient pyramids and endless vegetation. Dinner can be enjoyed under the soft flicker of candlelight while overlooking the ruins before your last night in the jungle.
Day 8: Tikal
Your final full day starts with a 30-minute drive to Guatemala's most famous archaeological site, Tikal, with over 3,000 ancient structures encroached by jungle. Its 147ft steep-sided towers rise out of the thick jungle canopy. Follow the footsteps of Mayan royalty, wandering the wide causeways and well-kept plazas.
While the national park sees an influx of visitors, your guide will take you off the beaten track dipping in and out of the vegetation where you might encounter monkey species and an array of exotic birdlife.
Don't forget to pop into the park's museum before heading to Guatemala City where you will spend your last night.
Day 9: Homeward Bound
After breakfast at your hotel, you will be met for your private chauffeur transfer to Guatemala City Airport in good time for your international flight home.
All of the holidays we create are completely tailor-made to you
A Rough Idea of Price
This Itinerary
If you would like to book the exact itinerary mentioned above, during mid-season and staying in our preferred room category at our preferred hotels. Ask us if you would also like us to arrange your international flights.
From
$3,445pp
Bare Necessities
If you would like to pare back the above itinerary by travelling at non-peak times, staying in a standard room and removing some or all of the guided activities.
From
$2,925pp
Bells & Whistles
If you are looking for something extra special and would like to stay in top room categories at some of the most luxurious hotels we work with, and add more activities and guiding.
From
$4,130pp
Ollie is our expert for this itinerary and, as a seasoned traveller, has the inside track on the most memorable adventures.