Itinerary

Day 1 Guatemala City
Guatemala’s capital city is the most modern and cosmopolitan city in Central America. Fast paced and vibrant, Guatemala City (or Guate as it’s referred to locally) is a wonderful blend of old and new and possesses a distinct Latin charm. Today, Guatemala City has four million inhabitants. Its location, facilities and the International Airport “La Aurora” make it the starting point for visits to the rest of Guatemala. Uop;n arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure to begin your exploration of the capital.

Day 2 Guatemala City -Antigua
After breakfast your guide and driver will meet you at the lobby of your hotel. A 5 minute transfer to the Popol vuh and Muxeo Ixcel located at a private university campus near by. Popol Vuh, named for the most famous Maya holy text, this museum houses an impressive collection of pre-Columbian art, spread through some six or seven small rooms. The collection includes stone sculpture, multicolored pottery, incense holders, and even funeral pyres. The Museo Ixchel, a collection of textiles from approximately 120 indigenous communities is on display here, providing a good introduction to and history of the crafts travelers are likely to see on their journey across the country. After the visit to these both museums enjoy lunch at a Guatemalan fine cuisine restaurant. After lunch visit the National Ethnology and Archaeology Museum which has the best archaeology collection in the country. The museum traces indigenous history over the centuries and through the present day, using several hundred Maya artifacts to tell the story. The highlight of the collection is the jade exhibit, with earrings, bracelets, masks, and an impressive scale model of Tikal. After the museum you will be transferred to Antigua (about 1 hour) to enjoy a relaxed afternoon.

Day 3 Antigua
After breakfast your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and show you the secrets and architecture of this beautiful colonial town. Your guide will explain in detail some of the main heritage buildings around Antigua such as The Cathedral, San Francisco and La Merced, lunch included. After the tour enjoy time at leisure to explore town.

Day 4 Antigua-Iximche-Antigua
After breakfast pick up from your hotel for your drive to Iximche (1.5 hours approx.). A Post Classic period site with a great value for Mayan History. Iximche, a Pre Columbian Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala was founded by the Kaqchikel Maya in 1470 after a prolonged conflict with the Kiche. It was the capital of the Late Pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524 with the Spaniards arrival. After the activity your guide will take you to one of the nearby restaurants for lunch and back to your hotel in Antigua for overnight.

Day 5 Antigua-Copan
After breakfast your diver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to Copan (approx.5 hour drive). Lunch will be enjoyed on the way. Upon arrival you will have a free afternoon to rest after this long transfer. This little charming town with cobblestone streets, white adobe buildings and red tile roofs is a relaxed and peaceful place that will surprise you. A town which includes one of the most beautiful and important cities of the Mayan Civilization. Local people are very friendly.

Day 6 Copan
After breakfast your guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for the tour of Copan Site. A half day tour through the site and museums (entrance to tunnels are not included). Copan is one of the best-restored, interesting and elaborate Mayan cities known. Occupied between 400 and 800 AD, Copan covers over 50 acres of temples, altars, stelea, ball courts, several plazas and the Hieroglyphic Stairway. Located through the beautiful lush and mountainous valley, it features some of the Mayas most impressive accomplishments in architecture, astronomy and art. Among the magnificent finds are the well preserved Rosalila Temple and the tombs of several of Copan’s rulers. After the tour enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in town. Enjoy of a free afternoon for shopping or simply relax.

Day 7 Copan-Rio Dulce & Quirigua archaeological Site
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to Rio Dulce and stop at Quirigua archaeological site for a tour. Quirigua recognized for having the largest and best-preserved stelae of the Maya World, it also shelters a great diversity of species, native to the tropical rain forest north of the Motagua River. Because of its great cultural and natural significance, Quirigua was declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage Site in 1981. Initially, the city shared its power with Copan, but during the Classic period (250-900 AD), after defeating and sacrificing the ruler of Copan, 18 Conejo or Uaxac Laun Ubac Cauil, Quirigua became one of the most important cities. It was then when the ruler Kawak Cielo or K’ak’-Tiliw Chan Yopaat, started the project of sculpting zoomorphic monoliths and stelae. Upon arrival to Rio Dulce enjoy lunch at Nana Juana’s restaurant with a beautiful view towards the River and the Marina. Free afternoon.

Day 8 Rio Dulce
Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to Livingstone. Rio Dulce is a navigable river which starts at Lake Izabal and ends in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though the river is only 42 km long (26 miles)its abundant tropical vegetation and hundreds of species of fascinating wildlife make the river a unique destination to visit. Mayans used this as a route of commerce to take merchandise out of the main land to the north east Stop at some interesting sites along the way such as: The Lagoon Gardens with beautiful aquatic flowers, the island of the birds, Ak-tenamit Association and Rio Tatin. Lunch will be enjoyed along the river or in Livingstone. After lunch the boat will transfer you back to your hotel.

Day 9 Rio Dulce-Peten
Enjoy of a late breakfast and a free morning. After lunch you will be picked up up at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to Peten (approx. 3 hours). The area of Peten is the largest department of Guatemala, it occupies about a third of the country but contains over three percent of its population. This area produces wood, chewing gum, oil, pepper and other agricultural products. Its main income comes from the worldwide known cradle of the Mayan civilization.

Day 10 Peten-Ceibal-Peten
After breakfast your driver and guide will transfer you to Ceibal. Although this majestic city was occupied nearly 700 years earlier, it flourished during the Late Pre-classic Period (350 BC-250 AD). It then debilitated during the Early Classic Period (735 AD), after the imprisonment of one of its rulers by the neighboring city of Dos Pilas, and it wasn’t until almost 65 years later, with the destruction of Dos Pilas that Ceibal recovered. Today, Ceibal is considered an important site in Maya spirituality. Religious ceremonies take place daily in the site’s “Piramide de las Puertas” (Pyramid of the Doors) and in the ceremonial temple. To get to Ceibal, you will embark on a boat through La Pasion River, peacefully admiring the tranquility and majesty of the Peten rainforest. After the Ceibal tour, enjoy your lunch box and embark back to the roadside for your transfer back to your hotel.

Day 11 Peten-Yaxha-Peten
Enjoy of late breakfast and a free morning at the hotel. Have lunch and be ready at 2pm for your transfer to the Yaxha Site. Yaxha is one of the largest Maya cities in Peten, and together with the other cities located in this park, played an important role in the social and political organization of the Central Maya Lowlands. This city was inhabited from the Middle Preclassic (1000-350 BC) to the Postclassic (900-1200 AD) and reached its highest development during the Early Classic, maintaining an important role in the Maya World for over 1,500 years. Much of its political history is known from carved monuments found at the site. Enjoy a magnificent sunset over the main pyramid of this wonderful site. Receiving fewer visitors, Yaxha remains peaceful and there are wonderful wildlife opportunities. After sunset your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel for overnight.

Day 12 Peten-Tikal-Guatemala City
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to the Tikal National Park (45min). Tikal is the first National Park in Central America. It’s the biggest archeological site in the Americas with 576 km2 of jungle around the ceremonial center. Tikal was an independent city that bloomed during the late Mayan Classic Period being the wealthiest and populated city. Its massive constructions, symbol of political and administrative power, as well as its astronomical complex, makes Tikal a magical place that takes you more than a 1000 years back in history. Your guide will show you the layout of the temples, architecture, history, some theories of why they disappeared and if you are lucky a few monkeys, parrots, macaws and toucans will be on site. After lunch on site your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Guatemala City Upon arrival you will be met and taken to your hotel for overnight.

Day 13 Guatemala City-End of Tour
After breakfast a transfer will take you to the airport for your departure flight. You can extend your stay in Guatemala or continue to Belize, Nicaragua or El Salvador.

Additional nights available

Hotels:

Tourist Class: Antigua: Hotel Aurora, Atitlan: Cacique Inn or Jardines del Lago Tikal Area: Maya Internacional or Posada del Cerro, Guatemala City: Biltmore Express or similar, Rio Dulce: El Tortugal, Copan: Plaza Copan or similar.

First Class: Antigua: Meson de Maria, Atitlan: Hotel Atitlan or Isla Verde, Tikal Area: Camino Real Tikal or Peten Esplendido, Guatemala City: Barcelo or similar, Rio Dulce: Nana Juana, Copan: Marina Copan or similar.

Superior First and Deluxe Hotels: Antigua: Casa Santo Domingo, Panza Verde or Posada del Angel, Atitlan: Casa Palopo or Balam – Ya Tikal Area: La Lancha or Nitun Guatemala City: Westin Camino Real or Vista Real or similar, Rio Dulce: Nana Juana, Copan: Hacienda San Lucas or similar.