Discovery Tour

From $1,999 per person

Includes all in-country transportation, hotel lodging in Antigua & Lake Atitlán, trekking, tours, and most meals.

Price is based on group size, see below.

9-Day Discovery Tour

We understand your time is important, as is good travel planning. When you head out there into the world, you want to know you’re experiencing the best of the best.

That’s why we’ve put together our “Discovery” Tour. We’ve combined our favorite hotels, tours and places to visit into an extraordinary nine-day experience that shows you the best of Guatemala, and takes some of the guess work out of travel planning.

From cozy boutique hotels in colonial Antigua to trekking through breath-taking landscapes to exploring Mayan pueblos that surround Lake Atitlán – the Discovery Tour delivers comfort, authenticity and adventure.

Download the 9-Day Discovery Tour Description

Detailed Itinerary (click each day below):

Day 1 Arrival Day 2 Antigua Day 3 Trek to Terra Camp Day 4 Trek to Fuego Camp Day 5 Trek to Agua Camp Day 6 Trek to Lake Atitlan Day 7 Lake Atitlan Day 8 Lake to Antigua Day 9 Departure

1 2 3 4 5

Day 1: Arrival

One of the strengths of Guatemala as a destination is its location. Less than a two-hour flight from Miami, Houston and other major US airports…it’s easy to leave home on the morning and be strolling along cobblestone streets by late afternoon.

Based on your arrival time, your first day in Guatemala is spent in Antigua where you can explore the city’s colonial architecture, artisan markets and countless restaurants. Your evening is spent at Hotel El Mesón de María or Hotel Eterna Primavera, two beautiful boutique hotels just blocks from Central Park.

Overnight:

Double occupancy at Hotel Meson de Maria, Hotel Eterna Primavera, or other boutique hotel in Antigua

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3 4

Day 2: Colonial Antigua

Following a delicious breakfast which includes Guatemala’s famous Arabica coffee, you’ll join famed local historian and author Elizabeth Bell on a two-hour cultural walking tour of Antigua…a cultural World Heritage Site.

Visit Parque Central, City Hall Palace, Palace of the Captain’s General, and the Cathedral with its majestic ruins. You’ll also learn about Maya archaeology through the spiritual stone of jade, and visit the best museums in town at Paseo de los Museos.

The afternoon is yours to explore Antigua’s nooks and crannies before meeting with your Trek Guatemala guide early evening to receive a trek “briefing” that prepares you for the next day.

Overnight:

Double occupancy at Hotel Meson de Maria, Hotel Eterna Primavera, or other boutique hotel in Antigua

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3

Day 3: Trek to Terra Camp

Leaving Antigua, the first day of the Sky Route Trek begins with a visit to the Mayan deity “San Simón”. Here, guests can witness locals as they pay their respects to the mysterious San Simon, and even light a candle to bless their travels.

From there, a short drive takes us to our trailhead where we begin our trek that ascends out of vegetable and fruit plantations into lush Guatemalan cloud forest, topping out at nearly 8,700 ft / 2,650 mt. Acatenango Volcano, the highest in the Antigua Valley, looms overhead as we begin to descend through thick cloud forest down to a beautiful, grassy saddle between two mountain peaks. From there, it’s a short climb into a forested protected area where we have lunch in a sunny and secluded clearing.

Following lunch, we descend through the protected area, trekking below towering trees covered in epiphytic plants such as orchids and bromeliads before we arrive at Terra Camp. After a hot shower and appetizers, guests warm up around a campfire before sitting down for a delicious dinner.

Overnight:

Terra Camp, which offers:

Spacious 10 ft x 14 ft waterproof canvas tents with queen mattresses & goose down comforters
“Trek truck” that features a hot water shower, toilet and sink

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3 4 5

Day 4: Trek to Fuego Camp

Day two of the trek begins with a long descent through forest and agricultural fields into the La Vega River valley, more than 1900 ft / 580 m below where we cross a hanging foot bridge over the river (allowing you to embrace your inner Indiana Jones!) before a challenging yet spectacular afternoon 2400 ft / 730 m climb up through coffee plantations to our lunch spot located near a quaint Mayan village. After lunch, we make a final push upwards to arrive at Fuego Camp by late-afternoon.

Upon arrival, our staff meets you with a welcome drink to quench your thirst. Time to pull up a chair, kick off your boots, and take in the panoramic view that includes a first-row seat to Fuego Volcano, one of the world’s most active volcanoes that’s been going regularly since the Spanish conquest. With luck, it will light up the night sky with plumes of molten lava.

Around the campfire, a local women’s group will show you how to make traditional Guatemala corn tortillas by hand (trust us, it’s harder than it looks) before we sit down for dinner and a good night’s rest.

Overnight:

Fuego Camp, which offers:

Spacious 10 ft x 14 ft waterproof canvas tents with queen mattresses & goose down comforters
“Trek truck” that features a hot water shower, toilet and sink

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3 4

Day 5: Trek to Agua Camp

Day 5 immerses guests in the finest natural scenery that Guatemala has to offer. A morning push takes guests to the highest point of the trek, just over 9,040 ft / 2,755 m. We follow a pristine ridgeline for the rest of the day with panoramic views of six volcanoes and cloud forest that reveals unique plants and birds, before arriving to Agua Camp.

After relaxing a bit, we venture into the local Mayan community of Chuinimachica to visit a women’s cooperative that specializes in traditional backstrap weaving, an ancient art practiced for centuries in Guatemala and still used to weave fabric for clothing and other household textiles.

Overnight:

Agua Camp, which offers:

Spacious 10 ft x 14 ft waterproof canvas tents with queen mattresses & goose down comforters
“Trek truck” that features a hot water shower, toilet and sink

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3 4 5

Day 6: Trek to Lake Atitlán

The final day of the trek descends into the La Madre Vieja River valley, where we visit a picturesque coffee finca to learn about the planting and harvesting of small-batch coffee.

After, we begin a short ascent that takes us up to the rim of Lake Atitlán and expansive views of the water below and three massive volcanoes that surround it. From there, a final descent takes us to the lakeside village of San Antonio Palopó to conclude the trek. Congratulations…you made it!

A short transfer takes us to the town of Panajachel, where we’ll board a private boat for the short trip to La Casa del Mundo, a beautiful hotel perched on the cliffs overlooking the lake. Relax that night in their wood-fired hot tub as you gaze at the stars!

Overnight:

La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito

What’s Included:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Day 7: Lake Atitlán

Enjoy a relaxing morning at La Casa del Mundo before hopping on a boat mid-morning for a visit to the quaint Mayan village of Santiago where you’ll be met by your guide for a walking tour of this mesmerizing village. The day includes a visit to the local markets and shrines, historical sites and a delicious lunch.

Following lunch in Santiago, you’ll return by boat to La Casa del Mundo where you can spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or just swinging in a hammock with a good book.

Overnight:

La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

1 2 3 4 5

Day 8: Lake Atitlán to Antigua

Following a relaxing morning at La Casa del Mundo, you’ll return to Panajachel by boat mid-day for a private shuttle transfer back to Antigua.

Arriving to Antigua mid-afternoon, you’ll have the rest of the day to do some shopping in one of the town’s many artisan markets, head out zip-lining or mountain biking, enjoy a spa treatment, or just relax.

Your evening is spent back in Antigua.

Overnight:

Double occupancy at Hotel Meson de Maria, Hotel Eterna Primavera, or other boutique hotel in Antigua

What’s Included:

Additional Tour Options:

Day 9: Departure

All good things must come to an end, unless you feel like re-locating to Guatemala (we did!).

Following breakfast you’ll depart Antigua by private shuttle for Guatemala City’s international airport and your return flight home…concluding your Trek Guatemala Discovery Tour.

What’s Included:

Breakfast
Ground transfer from Antigua to Guatemala City’s international airport

What’s Included

Transportation

Ground transfer from Guatemala City international airport to Antigua (Day 1)
Ground transfer from Antigua to trekking trailhead (Day 3)
Ground transfer from San Antonio Pálopo to Panajachel (Day 6)
RT boat transfer from Panajachel to La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito (Day 6)
RT boat transfer from La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito to San Juan la Laguna (Day 7)
Ground transfer from Panajachel to Antigua (Day 8)
Ground transfer from Antigua to Guatemala City international airport (Day 9)

Food

Lodging

Lodging (all based on double occupancy):

Hotel Meson de Maria, Hotel Eterna Primavera or similar boutique hotel option, Antigua (Nights 1,2 and 8)
La Casa del Mundo Hotel, Jaibalito (Nights 6 and 7)

Lodging – Trekking (Nights 3,4 and 5):

Spacious 10 ft x 14 ft waterproof canvas tents with queen mattresses & goose down comforters
“Trek Truck” that features a hot water shower, toilet and sink
All towels and bedding

Guides

What’s Not Included

Food:
- Some meals as indicated in the itinerary above
Equipment: Water bottles (2-3 quarts recommended per day) – purified water provided throughout trek

Still have questions? Contact us!

Pricing, Group Sizes & Additional Fees

Pricing

2 guest groups: USD $2,399 per person
3 guest groups: USD $2,199 per person
4-12 guest groups: USD $1,999 per person

Single Supplement Fee:

If you are single and would like your own hotel room (in Antigua & Lake Atitlán) as well as your own tent on the trek, or if you choose not to share a hotel room and tent with another same-sex single guest (each with their own bed), then a single supplement fee of $599 applies.

Private Tour Surcharge:

If you would like your tour to be private (no one else can join), an additional surcharge fee applies.

Group Sizes

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