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.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
One of the strengths of Guatemala as a destination is its location. Less than a two-hour flight from Miami, Houston, LA, Atlanta, NYC 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 one of the beautiful Antigua boutique hotels just blocks from Central Park.
Overnigth
- Private airport shuttle to Antigua
- Double occupancy at Antigua boutique hotel
What’s Included
- Private airport shuttle to Antigua
- Double occupancy at Antigua boutique hotel
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.
Overnigth
- Private airport shuttle to Antigua
- Double occupancy at Antigua boutique hotel
What’s Included
- Private airport shuttle to Antigua
- Double occupancy at Antigua boutique hotel
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.
Overnigth
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
- Day 1 of trekking
- Ground transfer from Antigua to trailhead
- Breakfast, lunch, appetizers & dinner
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) trekking guide with certified first-aid training. French, German & Italian guides available upon request.
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.
Overnigth
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
- Day 2 of trekking
- Breakfast, lunch, appetizers & dinner
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) trekking guide with certified first-aid training. French, German & Italian guides available upon request
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.
Overnigth
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
- Day 3 of trekking
- Breakfast, lunch, appetizers & dinner
- English-speaking trip leader
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 your lakeside hotel.
Overnigth
Lake Atitlán lakeside hotel
What’s Included
- Day 4 of trekking
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) trekking guide with certified first-aid training. French, German & Italian guides available upon request
- Ground transfer from San Antonio Pálopo to Panajachel
- Boat transportation from Panajachel to lakeside hotel
- Double occupancy at lakeside hotel
Day 7: Lake Atitlán
Enjoy a relaxing morning at your lakeside hotel 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 your hotel where you can spend the afternoon swimming, kayaking, or just swinging in a hammock with a good book.
Overnigth
Lake Atitlan lakeside hotel
What’s Included
- Breakfast, lunch & dinner
- English-speaking trip leader
- RT boat transportation from lakeside hotel to Santiago
- Santiago tour
- Sea kayaking on Lake Atitlán (optional)
- Double occupancy at lakeside hotel
Day 8: Lake Atitlán to Antigua
Following a relaxing morning at your lakeside hotel, you’ll return to Panajachel by boat mid-day for a private shuttle transfer back to Antigua.
Arriving in 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, mountain biking enjoy a spa treatment, or just relax.
Your evening is spent back in Antigua.
Overnigth
Double occupancy at boutique hotel in Antigua
What’s Included
- Breakfast
- English-speaking trip leader
- Boat transportation from lakeside hotel to Panajachel
- Ground transportation from Panajachel to Antigua
- Double occupancy at boutique hotel in Antigua
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
Pricing
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
2 guest minimum
Groups up to 12 guests
What’s Included
Transportation
- Ground transfer from Guatemala City international airport to Antigua (Day 1)
- Ground transfer from Antigua to trailhead (Day 3)
- RT boat transfer to/from lakeside hotel, Lake Atitlán (Days 6/8)
- RT boat transfer from lakeside hotel, Lake Atitlán to Santiago for tour (Day 7)
- Ground transfer from Panajachel to Antigua (Day 8)
- Ground transfer from Antigua to Guatemala City international airport (Day 9)
Food
- All meals indicated in the detailed itinerary above
- Beer & wine while at trek camps
lodging
Lodging (all based on double occupancy):
- Boutique hotel option, Antigua (Nights 1,2 and 8)
- Lakeside hotel option, Lake Atitlán (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
- English-speaking Trip Leader along 4-day trek
- English-speaking guides for Antigua and Santiago tours
- Local Mayan guides along 4-day trek
- French and Italian-speaking Trip Leaders available upon request
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
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