Guatemala Tours & Travel

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-- Belize Explorer --

Parul Mehta (Belize Explorer, Mar 2007)
I loved, loved, loved Pook's Hill. I could have not asked for a better place to stay. The rooms were large, clean, and comfortable. The guides at Pook's were phenomenal and very knowledgeable. They added some extra tours/walks once they found out what are interests are. George took us on a night hike through Pook's and Ben took us birding three times at Tikal. They were truly exceptional guides who really went out of their way to make sure our vacation was fun and memorable. I will never forget the guides from Pooks. They really enjoy what they do and they love interacting with others. Please send down a special thanks to George and Ben at Pooks!

This vacation was everything I expected and so much more. You did a fabulous job with matching a roommate. Kathy has been the best travel companion I have ever had. She was actually better to travel with then some of my best friends. Everyone in the group was exceptional.

Ursula and Howard Booth (Belize Explorer, Mar 2007)
We loved the relaxed atmosphere of the smaller hotels and the family-run enterprises. The tour provided plenty of variety. We really enjoyed Pook's Hill and could have easily spent another day there to hike, etc. The cave tour is one of a kind. Nice group, we bonded well with the younger folks.

Gerald Voras (Belize Explorer + Placencia, Mar 2006)
We both loved the tour. The food was spectacular at Pook's Hill and equally good at Rum Point Inn!

Tiffany Treece (Belize Explorer, Feb 2006)
Our guides were very welcoming and knowledgeable. The local guides were phenomenal - they were the best part of the trip. The tour was very interesting and informational and provided a good breadth of insight into the culture and history of the places that we visited.

Martha Curtiss (Belize Explorer + Monkey River, Feb 2006)
We had a wonderful trip! Thank you for listening to what we wanted. We especially enjoyed Pook's Hill and our other accommodations on the tour.

Bonnie and Joseph Lamphere (Rainforest and Ruins, May 2005)
We did things, went places, and saw things we never would have otherwise. This was not the "same old vacation" - and we had fun! I don't think that we've ever dealt with a travel company that took so much care with its customers. Usually, once the money is paid for a vacation, you're pretty much on your own. But we never felt that way at all with Adventure Life. There was always a resource person available and we really appreciated that. Thanks, we had a great time!

Stephanie & Craig Smith (Rainforest & Ruins Reversed, Apr 2004)
From their travel log: After we finished eating, Ben drove us to Pook's Hill Lodge. It was less than an hour ride down the main east-west highway before we finally turned off the main road. Suddenly we were on a small dirt road that wound through small houses with many children playing outide and along the street. Apparently this section was named "Phoenix" by the locals as the residents were moved away from areas along the river and forced to settle where there was no running water. Since the farmland along the rivers was owned by others, they had no choice but to move where available land was provided to them. After another 10 minutes of somewhat bumpy roads we arrived at the lodge. The lodge consists of eight thatched-roof cabanas and a separate building which houses an open-air bar, sitting area, and a screened-in dining room downstairs. It was a beautiful setting and a nice place to settle in after our rather jolting ride. We met Wim and Chantal Decoster, a Belgian couple who work at the lodge. We also met Vicki and Ray Snaddon, the owners. The layout of the grounds was very interesting as the cabanas were neatly placed around the onsite Mayan ruins.

Andrea Cambria and Richard Ricci (Rainforest & Ruins, Nov 2004)
Our guide Benjamin Cruz was amazing. Very knowledgeable, dedicated, educated. Work history in archeology and forest ranger - wide scope of knowledge. Everyone went out of their way to accommodate what wee wanted to do or see. Everyone pleasant and helpful. Vicki and Ray treated us like family. Overall tour was excellent. The sights and the attitude of the people made up for any inconvenience with the bugs. Our guide took us to the butterfly farm in Belize and on a canopy tour in Guatemala. Both were fantastic. Ben was the best guide we've ever had.

Tammy & Charles Converse (Rainforest & Ruins, Feb 2003)
Pooks Hill and the owners were great. Our guides were knowledgeable, educated - they interacted great with the group. These guys were great and very, very patient!! We went with no expectations and found a grand adventure! Not only will we book another trip next year, but we will recommend Adventure Life to our friends and associates.

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-- Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye --

Katherine and John Dean (Belize Explorer-Ambergris, Mar 2007)
The Pook's Hill Lodge and Jungle Lodge were beautiful. The transfers worked well and were comfortable. Being met and accompanied by Viona was special. Our guides all seemed interested in imparting a respectful attitude toward their country, culture, and historic artifacts. This tour was very good and even pleased our thirteen-year-old daughter.

Throughout this tour we did something enjoyable and challenging each day and had a lot of first time opportunities. We were comfortable with the schedule and could not imagine adding or taking anything out. Your selection of activities, indigenous guides, and places to stay made for a great learning experience for first-time travelers. The cave experience was phenomenal.

Jennifer Lynn Owen (Belize Explorer-Ambergris, Jan 2007)
Ben Cruz-our guide for the first six days was one of the best parts of the trip. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and respectful of sites, etc. You could tell he loved Belize and his excitement was infectious. This tour was one of those life-changing experiences during which I found out a lot about the world and myself. Adventure Life's arrangements helped me feel safe, secure, and well cared for letting me get the most possible out of my trip.

Barbara Holtzapfel (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2006)
This trip was one of the best I've ever been on! There was not one problem during the entire week. Every activity - from canoeing and caving to the ruins and snorkeling - was super! We got a very good introduction to Belize and all the beauty of every area.

Michael Brennan and Deborah Larkin (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, May 2006)
We had a great time on our honeymoon! The tour guides were awesome! They were very knowledgeable in every area - including wildlife, plant life, modern and historic culture and archaeology.

George and Mary Better McClain (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, May 2006)
Our local guides were excellent!! They went out of their way to spend extra time with us to teach us about the animals, birds and Mayan culture.

Vicki Berchou (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye + Placencia, Mar 2006)
Guatemala was such an experience that we wish we'd taken extra days to see more of it! Our favorite experiences - aside from the great food - was the opportunity to spend a morning sharing breakfast with the Garcia Sisters. The Mayan immersion was terrific.

Lynette and Tom Thompson (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Feb 2006)
We were in awe for most of the time! The ruins at Tikal were awesome, and I really enjoyed breakfast at the Garcia Sisters. The setting for breakfast was very serene with birds all around us as we waited for our food to be brought by foot across the fields. It was a truly unique experience and gave great insight into the Mayan culture of today.

Thank you to all for making this a very memorable 30th wedding anniversary for us!

Christine Carbone (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Jan 2006)
This was one of the best vacations I've ever taken! There was a lot of diversity packed into 8 days, which made it very interesting but not too strenuous. The guides were wonderful and the lodges were perfect. Thanks for a great vacation!

Pam and Brian Layzell (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Feb 2006)
We not only enjoyed the activities and sites that we visited but also the way that the tour was conducted with respect to supporting the local economy. This allowed us to become more intimate with the people, their culture and their way of life. This could not have happened on a typical vacation, or if we would have planned the trip ourselves.

In particular, we enjoyed the Garcia Sisters breatfast. This was one of the most memorable highlights of our trip. The Mayan breakfast was excellent and it was a joy to witness their culture more closely and to hear the history of their artwork.

**Click on the link above to read more about the Garcia Sisters!**

James Phillips (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2005)
Our trip to Belize was magnificent! Everyone had a good time, all accommodations were as advertised, the tours and guides were exceptional, everything was on time, and the local beer was yummy!

This is our second trip with Adventure Life, and the easy-going nature of the trip and the out of the way places we went to were the frosting on the cake. Thanks again for your efforts and efficiency.

Michael Goc (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2005)
We enjoyed every minute of our tour. The guides were excellent. They were pleasant and informative, and had excellent knowledge to share. They were always helpful and accommodating.

June Como (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2005)
The trip was fabulous and the attention to detail was obvious. It was a wonderful tour - we will be back!!

Richard, Kathleen, Elizabeth, and Christopher Hend (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2005)
The best part of this trip is its diversity - with the rainforest, Mayan ruins, and scuba and snorkeling activities. The contrast between Belize and Guatemala was very interesting. Our accommodations, as always, were in keeping with Adventure Life's goal of providing lodging that captures the flavor of the surrounding culture.

Karen and Aaron McWilliams (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2005)
We had a wonderful time! Actun Tunichil Muknal cave and Tikal were both awesome! We also loved the snorkeling. Really, the entire trip was wonderful!

William and Betty Reed (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2005)
Visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal cave was an amazing experience. We couldn't believe that we actually did that! We felt like it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and he helped us through any difficult parts.

Karin Dydell and Hamid Moazed (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Jan 2005)
We had a great time. There was a good mix and variety of activities.

Christopher & Ryan Wells (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Apr 2004)
Very impressive. Trip was a lovely mix of nature, archeaology and beach . Very highly recommended.

Flora and Michael Strollo (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Apr 2004)
We had a wonderful time. Our group was seven and with the guide, Ben Cruz, eight. We really felt so comfortable with each other and really shared in each others experience. It gave us all a real sense of the Mayan culture and an affection for the Mayan people. Ever since we've gotten home - my wife and I still smile and laugh about the adventure we enjoyed. It has been our most memorable vacation. Thank you!

Tim and Geri Marshall (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Apr 2004)
The tour overall was very good - just the right amount of activity and rest.

Bryan Rubin (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, May 2004)
The tour was spectacular. It completely exceeded any expectations that I had. I was initially a bit apprehensive about going as an independent traveler, but Christine assured me that it was quite normal, and I didn't feel uncomfortable for one minute. I felt the itinerary was perfect: enough action, down time, traveling and adventure to keep us busy, but not too much to feel rushed...Again, just to reiterate, I am beyond happy with how the trip went. It truly was a special 8 days; from meeting terrific people, to exciting adventures (the cave exploring was amazing, watching the sunset from the top of Tikal was sublime), the trip was phenomenal. Now the only problem is finding the vacation time to go on another one!

Robin Rasamny (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2004)
Pook's Hill was fabulous. Everybody was extremely friendly and knowledgable. The tour was wonderful and exceeded our expectations!

Karin Baumgartner (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2004)
This was my first tour ever, so I was apprehensive at first about the level of structure during the trip. However, since we were a small group, the tour guides accommodated our every wish and desire. I felt that this tour was a fantastic and safe way to get to know Central America. It gave me the confidence and knowledge to go back by myself! All of our local guides were incredibly knowledgeable and environmentally conscious. They could explain the country's idiosyncrasies and traditions and relate them to our own experiences. I think what I loved best of all was the sense of being seen as a person and not just a tourist. I felt more like a personal guest at every stop than a paying tourist.

Jim & Marjie Jobes (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Jan 2003)
Accommodations were wonderful! The beginning at the Tropical Education Center is a great start and introduction to the country. There are not enough words to describe how terrific the food and accommodations at Pooks Hill are. Ray and Vicki are gracious host and hostess. They make you feel welcome, teach the visitors about their country and are flexible in their accommodations. They're terrific and along with our guide, Benjamin, made a great trip... As a former ranger, Ben is a great naturalist, and such a booster that he was even willing to get up early to help identify birds as well as all the flora and fauna of Belize. And that's a lot. He is knowledgable about all aspects of what makes a good trip. He made us feel as if we were special insiders to Belize; and with Ben as our guide, we were.... Overall, the trip was more and better than we had expected. The country, its variety and the staff that Adventure Life has assembled made it a grand experience.

Connie Stone & Kenneth Graham (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Feb 2003)
Pooks Hill and the Tides Beach Resort were excellent. Lenney Gentle is an excellent tour leader. He is friendly, helpful, patient and knowledgable. His love of Belize enhanced our appreciation of the country. We had a great time and enjoyed all phases of the tour. Excellent adventures and activities. Belize is a fantastic place, and your tour offered a good sample of its cultural and environmental diversity. The cave tour at Actun Tunichil Muknal was a highlight of the trip for most of our group.

Donald Williams (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2003)
Vicki and Ray were great hosts and Ben Cruz is a very good guide. The Tides on Ambergris was very good with friendly and helpful staff. We enjoyed this trip so much we are planning on doing it next year with friends.

Gregg Wilkins (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2003)
Excellent - our guide Ben Cruz was the best - we can't say enough about his excellence. The food at Pooks Hill was fantastic.

Patricia & Richard Holloway (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Mar 2003)
Pooks Hill was excellent. Ben Cruz kept us on schedule for everything and was very accommodating to individual wishes - he made the trip for us. He was knowledgable, thoughtful, dedicated and careful to attend to all needs. Even after 4 months we are still enjoying telling people how much fun we had! It was exciting, educational and yet restful and relaxed.

Greg & Kim Mock (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Apr 2003)
This was the best vacation we have ever had - so many activities in different locations. Pooks Hill was wonderful & the end on the Caye was perfect. Our hosts and guide were like family by the end of the trip.

Jim and Donna Downum (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, May 2003)
Wow! I was so impressed. There were actually some surprises that were way beyond our expectations. I am not all that knowledgeable about tropical wildlife or how to spot it, so I was absolutely amazed by the display of birds and animals. A rare bird chirped right outside our window in the mornings. Toucans just flew right up close enough to take a picture with a point and shoot camera! On the canoeing trip we saw a great blue heron feasting in the river and then took flight right before our eyes! In Tikal the howler monkeys put on a "concert" for us both evening and morning. In the morning we realized they were right outside our door and we could actually see them! Spider monkey families were also playing in the trees just above our heads. Coatis, agoutis, iguanas, and many more creatures also graced us with their appearances. I had never snorkeled before so I was completely amazed by what I saw when I put my mask in the water. We were able to see a moray, an octopus, beautiful blue tangs, sharks, and so much more. The best surprise was the people Adventure Life arranged to help us. The Pook's Hill owners, Ray and Vicki, all of their staff, and particularly our guide, Lenney, were so knowledgeable, kind, interesting, and energetic. They were also committed to the balance of resources and economics. We would love to go back and stay with the very same people ... Read All

Doug Nelson and Shila Fisher (Belize Explorer - Ambergris Caye, Dec 2002)
Ben Cruz (guide) was awesome! He knew everything about everything Belize. The entire trip was like a study abroad class - extremely educational and informative. He was also funny, professional, and paid attention to every detail. We learned more, saw more, and experienced more than we expected. No other tour company I have traveled with even comes close.

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-- Guatemala Classico --

Alvin Kellogg & Elsa Vivera (Guatemala Classico, Jul 2006)
The accommodations were above average quality. All the tour stops and gos were well organized, thanks in large part to our tour leader and vehicle driver. Sr. Lemus was outstanding throughout. Congenial, truly organized, extremely knowledgeable, sense of humor, took time with all parties of our mixed tour group. His knowledge of the country's history gave us some real insights into the local culture.

The tour was excellent overall--makes one want to see more!

Janet, Michael, Benjamin and Emma Krause (Guatemala Classico, Jul 2006)
The tour was excellent. Our tour guide was superb - very enthusiastic about having us know about the country. We traveled with children and he talked and showed things he though our children would find interesting. We felt safe and felt comfortable that if we needed anything or if we had questions, the tour guide could accommodate us.

Janis Blanton (Guatemala Classico + Peten Extension, Jan 2006)
Guatemala is a real treasure. The lodge at Lake Atitlan was superb - exceeding expectations!

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-- Guatemala Easter Festivals --

Keith, Joanne, Levi, and Kyle Zahn (Guatemala Easter Festivals 12 Day, Mar 2005)
We had a wonderful trip. The Holy Week in Antigua was spectacular. I couldn't get enough of the carpets - they were so beautiful! I was so pleased to see that it was a solemn event and not a wild party. It truly was an experience that none of us will forget. Even our teenage sons enjoyed the entire trip! In addition to the Holy Week festivities, we climbed a volcano (much fun, especially for the boys), and visited Tikal. Tikal was so interesting that it can't even be explained! You just have to see it yourself to understand the complexity and immensity of it. We loved Guatemala and the people - it is all so unique and beautiful.

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-- Guatemala Easter Festivals --

Paul Rifkin and Ellen Mycock (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2006)
We appreciated how friendly and cooperative your staff was in the months before we left. Once we got to Guatemala, both hotels were wonderful, and all the transportation was on time. We were more than pleased with the tour guides, and the food was great, especially in Santiago Atitlan. We'll be happy to do business with you many more times!

Byron and Nancy Jeffries (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2006)
The accomodations were great--very comfortable and centrally located. The transportation was consistently on time and organized. Our tour leaders were friendly and enthusiastic--Luis was excellent and knowledgeable--and the local crew and staff were always accomodating. This was a great trip! We'd been to Guatemala numerous times, but never during Easter week, so we really appreciated the tips on carpet viewing and processions. All in all, we enjoyed it immensely.

Gerry & Judy Tait (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2004)
The cultural experience was one we will not soon forget. Visiting the Highlands and getting a first hand exposure to Mayan daily life was a unique opportunity.

Barbara Ann Perry (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2004)
Our transportation between locations was comfortable and wonderful. We had a great schedule that kept us moving and right in the middle of beautiful processions and so many unique happenings. We saw the people of Santiago cleaning the church which was a great and gleeful thing for the women and girls to sweep the bubble and soapy water out the doors and down the stairs. We saw the processions with Maximon and markets of the locals -- large and small. We saw a nutty Macadamia Nut farm. We hiked to see rituals. Saw monkeys. We got hot and sweaty, we swam, we rode in boats, on horses, saw chicken buses and met fun people in our group and around town. It was a great trip. Andre really made the trip spectacular. He added so much depth, culturally, politcally and spritually to the trip. Thank you.

Marsha Siegel (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2004)
The boat trip on Lake Atitlan was a heavenly voyage over water through misted sky and volcano - a world of mists, with our earth sky in tints of blue gray. I had a real sense of peace sitting outside my Hotel Bambu room and gazing at the lake and volcano at dawn and dusk. I loved seeing bamboo with mustard-gold trunks. I loved seeing in the mornings women in huipiles and with their cortes rolled up washing clothes at the edge of the lake. I treasure our 1/2 mile walk to Santiago along the foot path from the hotel - walking through the farms and having glimpses of people working those farms.

Craig & Stephanie Smith (Guatemala Easter Festival, Apr 2004)
From their travel log: There was a gorgeous, intricate sawdust carpet in the center aisle. There were also lots of floats which would be used in a procession later today. We donated a quetzal to light a candle. There were lots of gorgeous paintings adorning the walls and stained glass windows beautifully capturing the daylight. There was a metal track on the floor at the entrance of the church because the floats are too tall so they are placed on the rails and slid through the doorway. There were paintings on the ceiling of Catholic saints and their Mayan counterparts (animals). We found this to be particularly interesting and really indicative of the way the churches needed to embrace both the Catholic and Mayan faiths.

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-- Guatemala Explorer --

Sandra Zita (Guatemala Explorer, Mar 2007)
The pre-departure support from Marissa was wonderful. Not only friendly, but informative and all encompassing. Great job! I loved the guides and found Yugo just perfect for us four “older” ladies. We also enjoyed Dave from the Tikal area who was very knowledgeable of the birds, trees, Maya architecture, history, and politics. He was really wonderfully smart, funny, and considerate. Thanks.

Eva Shinagel (Guatemala Explorer, Dec 2006)
Marissa and Monica were both very helpful and creative in seeing how I could finally do this trip-great work by both. The transfers were on time and well organized, which was a great benefit of going through Adventure Life. This is the first time I have ever had someone else organize my vacation and with limited travel and planning time I would definitely recommend it again.

Gerald and Judith Porter (Guatemala Explorer, Jun 2006)
The guides made the trip! They were all knowledgeable, friendly and in every way helpful. It was a relief to have guides who not only knew the local culture in each area from personal experience, but who also spoke excellent English.

We have done extensive adventure travel prior to this trip, and we would rate this as the best-organized trip we have taken. We'd be happy to highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this type of travel.

Margaret Walker (Guatemala Explorer, Mar 2006)
The tour was amazing! For 9 days I felt like I was indeed living an "Adventurous Life"! In particular, our guide was absolutely fabulous. Our guide in the highlands made the trip for me. I felt like I learned so much about the history, culture, and wildlife from him - and that was the main reason I went to Guatemala in the first place.

Cliff Hansen and family (Guatemala Explorer, Feb 2006)
The pre-departure support for our trip was excellent! The Adventure Life staff was very responsive to my queries and gave me detailed answers to questions. We had a lot of help in customizing the trip to meet our needs.

We enjoyed the tour immensely - especially the country and its people. I especially like the jungle portions of the trip. I felt like we were really "roughing it". We would definitely recommend the tour to our friends.

Barbara Vassallo (Guatemala Explorer, Feb 2006)
The trip was great! We were treated so special by all of the places that we stayed at.

George Szollar (Guatemala Explorer, Jan 2006)
The guide was knowledgeable and very friendly. The tour was well organized and very pleasant.

Brenda Simmons (Guatemala Explorer, Dec 2005)
I've never had such a well-executed tour anywhere, anytime! Traveling in a third world country is generally a crapshoot, at best. Adventure Life made it an amazing adventure! The guides were wonderful and Chimino's Island was unforgettable. Staying at Posada de Santiago was a truly beautiful experience. The entire trip was way more than we ever hoped for!

Sandy Schaffer (Guatemala Explorer, Aug 2005)
Excellent! The small size of the tour allows you to get to know other tour members, and to stay in smaller, yet beautiful and culturally relevant hostels. I was impressed by the variety, yet comfort and cultural appropriateness of accommodations. From the Chiminos Island Lodge in the jungle, to the Biltmore, it was possible to get a feel about the diversity of life styles in Guatemala. This is my second Adventure Life Tour (last year was Machu Picchu by Train). Both have ranked among the best tours I've ever taken.

This will rank as one of my favorite trips! Guatemala is such a magnificent country. The tour itself took me from the colonial beauty of Antigua, to the colorful market of Chichicastenago, to the unique jungle lodge of Chiminos, to the historic ruins of Tikal, to the Biltmore in Guatemala City -- in all a vast expanse of diverse culture in a short period of time. As a single traveler I felt comfortable with the quiet, secure accommodations and the timeliness of the guides during all phases of the trip.

Larry, Phyllis, Hannah & Joshua Friedman (Guatemala Explorer, Jun 2005)
The trip was everything we expected and more! Better than expected! Accommodations were superior. Beautiful places -- all the accommodations were clean, hot water, very nice people. Our guides were amazing, knowledgable, personable, warm and friendly. We learned a lot.

James Kuhn (Guatemala Explorer, Aug 2005)
Great. Could not have been better. Not much to say -- it was a wonderful, educational vacation and a great adventure!

Barbara & Stephen Tomasovic (Guatemala Explorer, Apr 2004)
This was the third trip we have taken with Adventure Life and I can truly say the Guatemala Explorer Tour is an undiscovered gem. We were the only ones on the tour and were absolutely thrilled with the enthusiastic attention and service we received everywhere we went. Guatemala is an extraordinarily beautiful and diverse country. What made this tour so appealing for us was the opportunity to experience a broad range of environments, cultural activities and indigenous people. There were so many trip highlights...thanks again to everyone for making this such a memorable experience.

Marianne Udow (Guatemala Explorer, Oct 2004)
Wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip - it was very well planned and interesting. Great staff and good lodgings - comfortable, but not flashy.

Greg and Elizabeth Brown (Guatemala Explorer, Nov 2003)
Overall, I would give the tour an "A". Hotel Aurora, Chiminos and Posada de Santiago were perfect, as were the transfers. The itinerary was also perfect. This was our second Adventure Life tour and I'll sure we'll do one again!

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-- Highland Discovery --

Pam McPeek and Bill Halligan (Highland Discovery, Dec 2005)
Our guide was just the best. We can't say enough good things about him. He became our friend. We were lucky enough to have him to ourselves, and he MADE the trip. His genuineness, his knowledge of history, current affairs, places, and people; his enthusiasm, warmth, kindness, skill in getting around, competence and excellent judgment as a driver and his attention to our needs and wants and to all of the details made it so we could simply relax and revel in the experience of exploring and learning about Guatemala. He said that he sees his job as selling his country, and I can't imagine a better agent. His love and deep caring for his country and its people shine through. We all miss him a lot.

I loved being "close to the earth" and close to the people. I applaud heartily your environmental and cultural sensitivity. The Guatemalans were, to a person, enchantingly warm, charming, and friendly. The intimacy and person nature of this trip is simply unmatched by anything I have ever experienced before. And, to make it all even better, Guatemala is a scenically beautiful country and the weather was superb!

In terms of my family now, this was a first for us. We are usually independent travelers. We were unsure about traveling through Guatemala on our own, so this was the perfect compromise for us - a "non-tour" tour - giving us the happiest ... Read All

Jodie and Theodore Wollnik (Highland Discovery, Jun 2005)
The trip was excellent - just the cultural experience that we were looking for! The flexibility of the tour guide and his ability to customize our trip was great. We have already recommended this trip to some people we met at the airport!

Ellie Antonio (Highland Discovery, Mar 2004)
Very enjoyable. The small group size allowed for easy flexibility.

Nancy Darling (Highland Discovery, Mar 2004)
Your trip somehow captured the feeling of relaxation of independent travel with the security of a planned trip. Loved the country of Guatemala.

David Robb (Highland Discovery, Mar 2004)
I came back thoroughly satisfied - it was a memorable experience! ...Hugo was excellent, knowledgeable, accommodative and Andre was punctual, helpful and answered questions well.

Karen and Marc Rivo (Highland Discovery, Jul 2004)
It was absolutely an incredible experience - all that we wanted and more!

Jennifer Boeberitz (Highland Discovery, Jul 2004)
The tour was awesome. I enjoyed the small size of the group, the homestay, and the hotel in Santiago.

Wood Family (Highland Discovery, Jul 2004)
The guide was wonderful and knowledgeable. We stayed extra days at the lake and he was helpful and flexible in planning for those extra days.

Tom & Martha Svatek (Highland Discovery, Jul 2003)
Antigua was awesome and our guides were excellent. The trip was more than we could have imagined - a deep cultural immersion in Guatemala life which was very educational. The homestay was excellent, Dolores in Santiago was great, Elmer was a perfect match for us, everyone was so friendly and helpful.

Karen Sondak and Joel Floyd (Highland Discovery, Dec 2003)
This was a very well organized tour. I'd recommend it to anyone. Our guide Hugo took us places we couldn't have gone to on our own. We had a great time and I'll definitely consider using Adventure Life on the next Central or South American tour.

Helen Walker and Anthony Esler (Highland Discovery, Dec 2003)
The tour was excellent! Our local guide, Hugo, was great. The Hotel Bambu was beautiful with wonderful grounds. We had fabulous rooms at Posada de Don Rodrigo and also in Casa Capuchinas. Everyone was friendly and helpful.

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-- Jungle Journey --

Michael and Romelle Kemp (Jungle Journey, Jan 2007)
The information packet from Adventure Life was very helpful. The tour leader was wonderful. Carlos is worth his weight in gold! This trip was more than we expected.

Atkeson Family (Jungle Journey, Dec 2006)
Our tour worked out very well. The food at Chiminos was great, Bill in Flores was very friendly and enthusiastic, and was very good with our entire family.

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-- Mayan Multisport --

David Benner (Mayan Multisport, Jul 2004)
The guides were excellent, and the food good. A great experience!

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-- Mundo Maya --

Susan Ramsey (Mundo Maya, Feb 2006)
We were so impressed with all of our guides. The tour was fantastic! We would highly recommend it.

Adriana Schoenberg (Mundo Maya, Dec 2005)
The tour was everything we expected and more! Our guides all clearly loved what they were doing. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. Our home stay hosts were also wonderful. Though they lived a meager life, they were willing to share all. The tour was fabulous - the best we have experienced!

Robin Sowton (Mundo Maya, Jul 2005)
The trip was great! I especially liked the homestay in Totonicapan. Our hosts, Eva and her family, were so nice, and they made us feel very welcome. Evan took us for a walk up a hill on the road behind their house and we got to see a great view of Totonicapan. I think we were the only visitors in that town and so it seemed like a very positive authentic experience. At one point, the next day, we took a 'chicken bus' to get to one of our destinations. It had only 13 seats, but somehow we got 26 people in there! It was so funny! I recall looking out over this sea of smiling faces...everyone was dressed in their wonderful local clothing...and they were just laughing as more and more people kept getting on this bus. Now, whenever I think back to that morning, it will always make me smile.

The trip was wonderful. I felt that I got to see more than I thought I would, and I will have some fond memories to look back on. Visiting the families in Totonicapan and meeting some of the weavers in their homes really gabe me a feeling for daily life, and I appreciated the warmth and hospitality that we found so often on this trip. There were also many special moments like seeing kids play soccer in front of the church in Xecul, watching the fog roll up mysteriously out of Lake Atitlan near Panajachel, seeing puffs of smoke rise from Volcan de Fuego, and ... Read All

Ed and Lyle Klostermeyer (Mundo Maya, Nov 2004)
Our Mundo Maya trip to Guatemala was great and everything we expected. It was a bit strenuous for my 85 year old body. My son had a pedometer that registered 5 miles or more of walking each day. I kept up but it was tiring at the higher altitudes. I took Wednesday off at the hotel in Lake Atitlan to rest up. The high point of the trip was the home stay with a Mayan family of weavers. The husband had built the house of adobe. It was 65 steps (without a railing) up from the road. I don't know how his pregnant wife will manage those steps. He spoke some English and we had a few words of Spanish so with a dictionary we were able to communicate. He worked 10-12 hours a day weaving on a 4 treadle loom, making tablecloths and other items that he sold at the Saturday market. I bought a tablecloth for $25 (probably under-priced). The weather was great! There was a little rain in Tikal in the morning, but otherwise clear, so we saw a lot of butterflies at Tikal. It was a good trip, interesting colorful country, congenial fellow travelers, good guides. I'm glad that I found you on the internet and made the trip.

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