Highlights of Guatemala

Welcome to the capital of Guatemala! Your tour guide will await you at the airport and be ready to transfer you to your hotel. After hotel check-in, enjoy the remaining time at leisure.

Wake up early in the morning to Guatemala City airport for a flight to Flores (6:30 am - 7:30 am). Your tour guide here will escort you to visit Tikal Archaeological Park, one of the largest archaeological sites of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization deeply hidden by the lush rainforest. There are hundreds of important ancient buildings at Tikal and only a small fraction of it has been excavated. The greatest masterpieces of this site should be the six steep pyramids looming in the jungle. Explore its arenas, monuments, and major temples in the company of a wide variety of wildlife of the rainforest. The tour will end at the Sylvanus Morley Museum, which has on display a large collection of pieces found during excavations. After that, enjoy a picnic lunch and then proceed to the hotel to relax.

Depart towards the town of Rio Dulce in the early morning. Upon arrival, take a boat to Livingston. During the journey, you will have a panoramic view of the wonderful scenery around the lake and Castillo de San Felipe de Lara situated at the narrowest point on the river. Livingston is an intriguing town that is completely different from all the other village towns in Guatemala. Most of the residents here are Garifunas, who are known for their music and dancing. Enjoy a brief tour around this area to feel its characteristic charm.

After breakfast, sail across the Amatique Bay to reach Puerto Barrios and then transfer into a car towards the archaeological site of Quirigua. Located on the banks of the Motagua River, this small site comprises a complex of carved stelae, giant monoliths carved in volcanic stone. Its exquisite carvings will draw us into the primitive and wonderful art world of the Mayans. After the visit, continue towards Guatemala City for the night.

Chichicastenango is a K'iche' Maya cultural center located in a mountainous region. On market days (every Thursday and Sunday), the inhabitants of the region gather to buy and sell fruit, vegetables, flowers, seeds, animals, textiles, and handicrafts. It would a great chance to get an insider's view of their daily life. The white Church of Santo Tomas next to the market is the shrine of K'iche' people. Before leaving for Lake Atitlan, make a stopover at this church and witness how the natives celebrate their traditional rites.

Surrounded by cliffs and three volcanoes, Lake Atitlan has been praised as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. This morning you will admire its beauty on a boat. As the boat sailing to the village of Santiago Atitlan, you can admire the three volcanoes that surround the lake. On arrival, take a walking tour around this charming village and visit the place of worship of Saint Maximon. Learn something about this Mayan deity who is a mixture of pagan rituals with the Catholic religion. In the afternoon, transfer to Panajachel and continue towards Antigua.

Built in the 16^th century, Antigua is celebrated for its well-preserved Spanish colonial buildings mostly in Baroque architecture. Surrounded by mountains and three volcanoes, it is also a great place to enjoy spectacular volcanic landscapes. The walking tour will start from Central Park and include the major monuments of the city. Stroll along the cobblestone streets, enjoy colorful walls with characteristics balconies, and far away is the marvelous volcano spectacle. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

In the afternoon, you will visit the villages of San Juan del Obispo and Santa Maria de Jesús. The former is famous for holding one of the first Catholic churches in Guatemala and the latter is located under the slopes of Volcán de Agua.

Your journey of Guatemala comes to an end. Your tour guide will escort you to the airport in Guatemala City for your homebound flight.