Please immerse yourself in the beauty of the photographs and read about our trip to Guatemala - truly a wonderful travel destination. In our short time there we had wonderful experiences seeing the primary sights and learning that there is even more to experience in this varied and culturally rich country.
Hotel Aurora courtyard in Antigua (Gerry Errante)For the last several years, my partner D and I have arranged end-of-year trips, in part with the idea of celebrating New Year's Day in an exotic locale. Some previous trips have been to New Zealand, the Galapagos, and Cuba. This year, we selected Adventure Life and a trip to Guatemala. While Guatemala has not been a ''bucket list'' destination, it has been at the back of my mind for some time. Perhaps this is due in part to a wonderful piece of art that I see daily hanging in my study. My parents brought this collage-like stylized parrot from a trip to Guatemala when I was a child (all too many years ago). So this year we celebrated Christmas day with a flight to Guatemala City. Our first flight from our home city, Las Vegas, was fine. However, the connecting flight in Houston was delayed by considerably over an hour, putting us in Guatemala City well after 11:00 PM. We were a bit concerned about missing the person from ViaVenture who was to meet us and drive us to Antigua. We needn't have worried as a most friendly driver met us at the airport with our names prominently displayed. During the hour-long drive we engaged in an animated and informative conversation about Antigua and the country as a whole. Arriving in Antigua well after midnight was eerily exotic as the small colorful streets were totally deserted. Our driver knocked on the locked door of the Hotel Aurora, and soon we were in a stunningly beautiful courtyard. We were immediately ushered to our room where we quickly unpacked and gratefully headed to bed.
We had the most incredible trip to Antarctica! Plus, we got a fantastic deal (especially considering how expensive expeditions are) and a free cabin upgrade. Prior to our trip, Michelle and Erin took great care of us and made sure we were good to go. Every element of the trip went smoothly with no surprises. Our ship, Ocean Albatross, was beautiful. The cabin was spacious and had everything we needed. The laundry service was cheap and fast (so there was no need to overpack). The food was great. The atmosphere was comfortable and casual (our style). And best of all, the staff and crew were so kind, accommodating and friendly. The guides and expedition leader were all amazing. We did so many shore landings and zodiac cruises, each one unique. There was no shortage of wildlife! We traveled with our 10 year-old son who had the time of his life. There were several other tweens/teens onboard. The guests were mostly a combination of families and solo travelers, mostly from the US. Overall, our trip was spectacular, a truly unforgettable trip of a lifetime!
Chrissy Howard
5 days ago
Tilly has been quickly responsive to my texts and emails.
Paula Thompson
6 days ago
I love working with the travel coordinators as they are helpful, friendly, and provide the information with the committed timeframe.
