VISITING: Antigua, La Democracia, El Baúl, Takalik Abaj, Xela, Chichicastenango, Panajachel (Lake Atitlan), Tikal, Guatemala City
This tour starts on: Tuesday
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 Guatemala - Antigua
Airport Pick up and transfer from Airport in Guatemala City to Antigua Guatemala, town known for its beauty and tranquility, declared in 1979 as a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Overnight in Antigua
Day 2 Antigua
After a nice breakfast at your hotel, we invite you to enjoy a walking tour around Antigua. This Spanish style town is famous for the unique architecture that was inherited from the colonial years. Government buildings, churches, convents and houses had stood the test of time, and give us their history narrated by one of our local guides. For over 232 years this town was the center of the Americas, having the first university founded on this side of the world.
Leisure time in the afternoon
Overnight in Antigua
Day 3 Antigua - La Democracia - El Baúl - Takalik Abaj
Two hours away from Antigua, we reach LA DEMOCRACIA, a Mayan site not often visited, nevertheless very important in the archeology world of the Mayan culture. A small museum displays a very unique collection of Stone carved heads, tailored by artists from the Monte Alto culture. After this, we head out towards EL BAUL, a very important city of the southern region of Guatemala during the Classic Period. Two stone figures stand out on this area, one of a Mayan warrior dated 37AD, and a 5 foot tall jaguar.
Later in the day, we reach TAKALIK ABAJ (stood up stone), another important city-
Upon arrival you can choose on several activities such as a small hike around the sub-tropical forest, take a coffee plantation tour, visiting a macadamia and rubber farms.
Overnight at Takalik Abaj lodge
DAY 4 Takalik Abaj - Quetzaltenango
Early in the morning enjoy the takalik abaj tour on horseback or wagon. On this site you will encounter around 80 important structures and more than a dozen plazas. Diggings have uncovered over 200 stelae sculptured on stone since the discovery of this Mayan site. The architecture of this site was strongly influenced by the Olmecas, making it the only place in Mesoamerica that has both cultures well documented. Later in the afternoon transfer to Quetzaltenango also known as Xela.
Overnight in Quetzaltenango
DAY 5 Quetzaltenango
This day we will visit surrounding indigenous towns of interest. But we will start with showing you how blown glass is made here in Quetzaltenango. We will begin our tour with a stop at the glass factory COPAVIC unique for their technique in making glass artifacts, the glass factory is famous for their unique designs in a light blue color. Our next stop, ZUNIL and ALMOLONGA, Zunil is famous for its regional fabrics and colorful costume. Almolonga is said to be the largest farmland in Guatemala. Two different towns but yet so close, and they are separated only by the river Samala. Later in the day a well deserved warm bath is awaiting for you at “FUENTES GEORGINAS”, famous for their thermal waters.
Overnight in Quetzaltenango
DAY 6 Quetzaltenango - Chichicastenango - Panajachel (Lake Atitlan)
Today get ready to experience one of the oldest market in Guatemala, and also known as the largest outdoor market in the Americas. Chichicastenango has been the meeting point for indigenous communities that look for a way to buy and sell items of first necessity. Through the years the market has evolved to what it is nowadays, but yet the dynamism still exists on every street of the market. Two churches surround the market, being a Mayan-catholic community you can also observe the mixture of these two religions, blending with the colorful market and beliefs.
In the afternoon we drive towards Panajachel, one of the main towns around LAKE ATITLAN.
Overnight in Panajachel
DAY 7 Lake Atitlan
This lake is often called “The most wonderful lake in the world”; The origins of this lake were caused by a massive explosion on the crater of an old volcano, and with time three volcanoes grew around the lake, TOLIMAN, ATITLAN AND SAN PEDRO, creating this magnificent view. The tour will be provided on boat, and you will visit 3 main towns: San Pedro La Laguna, Santiago Atitlan, which is the largest, famous for the paintings from local people and the controversial wooden god “MAXIMON”. On our way back to Panajachel we will visit San Antonio Palopo.
Overnight in Panajachel
DAY 8 Panajachel - Guatemala - Flores - Tikal
Today we drive back to Guatemala City, making a brief stop in Antigua. Later in the afternoon we arrive at the international airport to take your flight to Flores.
Upon arrival you will be transported to your hotel at Tikal.
Overnight in Tikal
DAY 9 Tikal
Tikal is also referred as the New York of the Mayan Civilization, it´s the largest and most important city of the Mayan Civilization. This protected area features such attractions as the Great Plaza, anchored by the Temple of the Jaguar and the Temple of the Masks, and Temple IV, Tikal's tallest temple. In 1979 UNESCO declared Tikal as Heritage of Humanity, by its unique value to gather itself, extraordinary and abundant natural and cultural assets. Leisure time in the afternoon
Overnight in Tikal
DAY 10 Tikal - Flores - Guatemala
Early in the morning our minibus will take you to Flores airport to take your flight back to Guatemala City. The flight leaves at 8:30 am arriving Guatemala at 9:20 am. Upon arrival our guide will be waiting to take you for a tour around Guatemala City. Our city was built in the late eighteenth century and still retains the urban-architectural features of the Spanish cities. However, it also has contemporary architecture reflected on its hotels, office buildings and shopping complexes, clustered in different areas. At the end of the tour, our driver will take you back to your hotel where you will have the rest of the afternoon for leisure.
Overnight in Guatemala City
DAY 11 Departure Guatemala
According to your flight schedule, our minivan will take you to the airport
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
INCLUDES:
- Taxes (VAT, Hotel taxes)
- Guided tours in Antigua, La Democracia, El Baúl, Takalik Abaj, Quetzaltenango Villages, Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan, Tikal and Guatemala City
- Boat Transportation at Lake Atitlan
- All land transportation on minibuses, sharing the transportation with other tourists
- Flight ticket Guatemala – Flores Round Trip
- Transfers to and from Airport
- Accommodation on 3, 4, or 5 star hotels upon request
- All breakfast in the hotels
- Entrance tickets where needed, excluding Tikal National Park for customers that chose 3 star hotels
NOT INCLUDED:
- International Airfare
- Airport tax for international and local flights
- Entrance fee to Tikal for those who chose 3* Hotel Option
- Personal Expenses
- Phone calls
- Entry Visa to Guatemala
- Personal Insurance
- Medical fees of similar
- Tips to guides, drivers, bellboys and maids
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Guatemala
Local Culture
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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