Guatemala Discovery Journey

We begin in Antigua, a pastel colonial city watched over by three volcanoes – Agua, Acatenango and Fuego. Around 6pm we meet the tour leader and fellow travellers to get to know one another and hear about the adventures ahead. If you’d like more time in Antigua, you can arrange extra nights before the tour with your sales representative.

This morning we join our tour leader for a walking tour of Antigua, following cobbled streets to churches, ruins and museums. Over a relaxed half day we take in key landmarks – La Merced Church, Central Park, the Santa Catalina Martir and more – and sample exotic native fruits. The rest of the day is free for you to explore, and your leader will be happy to point out favourite local spots. Later we come together for a welcome dinner to share stories and look ahead to the journey.

We set out for Pacaya, one of Guatemala’s three active volcanoes and the most straightforward to summit, rewarded with sweeping views of the volcanic chain. After a transfer of about one hour to the foothills, we tackle a return hike of around 3 hours 30 minutes (6km/4 miles with 540m/1,770ft of ascent), following trails through pine forest and volcanic ash to the cone. From the top we gaze towards northern volcanoes, the Pacific lowlands and El Salvador, and we enjoy a boxed lunch. If you prefer not to hike, your tour leader can suggest alternatives – for example, the museum complex at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo to explore Guatemala’s cultural heritage and archaeology. We then return to Antigua and you have the afternoon free to explore.

We experience a Guatemalan institution – the market at Chichicastenango. After a transfer of about 2 hours 30 minutes we arrive at this bustling hub where rows of vendors sell everything from everyday essentials to vibrant textiles – perfect for an authentic keepsake. We mingle with people from surrounding regions and witness a blend of Spanish colonial influences and deep Maya roots, and we visit Las Morerias, the workshops where outfits and masks for folkloric dancers are crafted. We then transfer for around two hours to Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela or Xelajú – Guatemala’s second largest city – set at 2,333m with cool air, mountain views and a rich mix of Indigenous traditions and colonial heritage. On arrival our guide leads an orientation walk.

Today we experience rural life in the valleys around Quetzaltenango, visiting Almolonga and Zunil. Thanks to fertile volcanic soils, ideal altitude and a temperate climate, this area grows some of Guatemala’s finest produce – Almolonga is nicknamed the Vegetable Garden of the Americas. With our tour leader we wander Almolonga’s lively markets where vegetables arrive in wooden carts. Riverside Zunil, wrapped by green hills and thermal springs, is known for traditional weaving and deep Indigenous traditions and is home to the revered folk saint San Simón (Maximón). We continue to the hot spring retreat of Fuentes Georginas, where steaming waterfalls and mineral rich pools invite a restorative soak, the waters heated by Zunil volcano and famed for soothing properties. We return to the hotel in the afternoon with time to relax.

This morning we explore Quetzaltenango’s historic centre, where finely preserved 16th century and neoclassical architecture frames Parque Centro América. Highlights include elegant Pasaje Enríquez, the grand Municipal Palace, the historic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, stately Banco de Occidente and the iconic Teatro Municipal, one of Guatemala’s foremost cultural venues. After hotel checkout we travel for about two hours to Lake Atitlán, stopping at San Andrés Xecul to admire its baroque style church – a vivid canvas of yellow, red and blue with carvings of saints, angels and Maya symbols that reflect the town’s blend of Catholic and Maya spirituality.

We board a boat across Lake Atitlán to San Juan La Laguna, now renowned for cooperatives of hand weavers who use natural dyes – an important source of income for local women’s associations. We meet artisans to learn how dyes are extracted and used to create beautiful textiles on waist and standing looms. We then hop in a tuk tuk to the Ancestral Delight Project for a hands on culinary experience that explores the flavours at the heart of Maya gastronomy – from the maize that anchors the diet to the herbs and spices that season each dish, every ingredient tells a story of resilience, community and connection to the land. In the afternoon we tour Santiago Atitlán, one of the few places where Maya people still venerate Maximón and the largest of the lakeside villages, home to the Tz'utujil speaking Maya.

This morning we transfer for about three hours to the airport, pausing en route at Iximche in Tecpán – a Maya Cakchiquel city founded in 1463. Among pine forests we see the remains of four ceremonial plazas with their temples and a ball court. We then fly to Mundo Maya airport and continue to Isla de Flores, a picturesque human made island on Lake Petén.

We rise very early for a 3am transfer of about one hour to Tikal National Park, a World Heritage site and one of the most important places in the Maya world. We hike to Temple IV for sunrise – an unforgettable moment – then set off on a guided tour through the ancient city where history, nature and archaeology meet. As we walk the forested paths, we keep watch for wildlife including spider and howler monkeys, white nosed coati, keel billed toucans and more. In the afternoon we return to Isla de Flores with time to freshen up before a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our journey concludes today and we make our way home. If you would like to extend your stay on Isla de Flores, speak with your sales representative.