Explore Guatemala on a 12-day cultural and archaeological tour that connects you with the living Maya world and its past. Begin in Guatemala City before traveling to the South Plains to visit Finca El Barretal and El Baul Museum. Discover Tak’alik Ab’aj, where sculpture and jadeite mark the shift from Olmec to early Maya culture. Head into the highlands to meet the Maya K’iche’ community in Zunil and see Cantel’s site of Chojolom. Admire San Andrés Xecul’s colorful church and its legends. Cross Lake Atitlan to San Juan La Laguna for a guided archaeological walk and local cultural visit. Stop at Mixco Viejo on the way to Antigua, then learn to prepare traditional Pepián and explore colonial streets. Fly north to Flores to discover Tayasal and visit Tikal’s pyramids and jungle wildlife before returning to Guatemala City.
Highlights
Explore Guatemala City and see ancient relics at Miraflores Museum
Visit Tak'alik Ab'aj to uncover Olmec roots and Guatemala’s Maya heritage
Discover Maya traditions in Zunil through a meaningful community ceremony
Cook with a local host and learn to make Guatemala’s traditional Pepián dish
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
Arrive at La Aurora International Airport and meet your local guide holding a personalized sign. Receive a warm welcome and assistance with your luggage before transferring to your hotel in Guatemala City. Settle in and rest after your flight, preparing for the cultural discoveries ahead.
Meet your specialist guide and set off south into one of Guatemala’s most productive agricultural regions. Arrive at Finca El Barretal and spend about 1.5 hours exploring the landscape while learning how farming shapes daily life in this fertile area. Your guide also explains the region’s history as the former territory of the Olmecs, an early civilization known for building pyramids, developing road systems, and observing the stars.
Afterward, drive about one hour to the El Baúl Museum to see artifacts that reveal the ingenuity and cultural legacy of the people who once thrived here. Then travel approximately 2.5 hours to your hotel in the South Plains and settle in for the evening.
Begin the day with a visit to Tak’alik Ab’aj National Park, whose name means “standing stone” in the K’iche’ language. Walk among ancient stelae and carvings that mark the transition between Olmec and early Maya civilizations. Discover the site’s remarkable collection of sculptures and jadeite artifacts that reveal the artistry and influence of its early rulers. Return to your hotel afterward to relax.
Day 4: Zunil & Cantel | Transfer to Quetzaltenango
Travel through Guatemala’s vibrant highlands toward Quetzaltenango, a region known for its patchwork of plantations and rich Maya heritage. Stop in Zunil, a Maya K’iche’ town named after an extinct volcano, where locals still follow the traditional Maya Calendar. Take part in a welcome ceremony and learn how ancient wisdom guides the community’s view of the universe. Continue to Cantel, home to Guatemala’s only glassblowing workshops, and visit the small archaeological site of Chojolom, once believed to be a ceremonial center. Arrive in Quetzaltenango and settle in for the evening.
Enjoy breakfast before setting out through the highlands toward Lake Atitlán. Visit San Andrés Xecul, a Maya town celebrated for its striking yellow church, richly decorated with over 200 colorful reliefs of angels, animals, and plants. Hear the legend of the mysterious builder who completed the church overnight before vanishing. Continue to Panajachel and take in your first views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes.
Begin the morning with breakfast overlooking the lake, then board a passenger ferry bound for San Juan La Laguna. Explore a nearby archaeological site with a local guide and learn about the area’s ancient heritage. Savor a traditional Guatemalan lunch featuring local flavors before visiting the house of San Simón (Maximón), a unique shrine blending Maya and Catholic beliefs. Return to Panajachel in the afternoon and enjoy free time by the lakeshore.
Day 7: Mixco Viejo Site Visit | Transfer to Guatemala
Begin your day with free time to enjoy the surroundings before departing for Antigua Guatemala. Travel for approximately three hours to reach Mixco Viejo, an ancient fortress city perched above steep ravines. Explore the Post-Classic Maya structures and uncover how this elevated stronghold once protected its population and monitored the valleys below. After your visit, continue onward to Antigua, arriving with time to settle in and take in the city’s historic charm.
Wake up in Antigua, where the streets are framed by the towering Volcán de Agua and the city’s grand colonial architecture hints at its former role as the capital of Central America. After breakfast, take a short 20-minute drive to the village of San Miguel Escobar and step into a local home for a hands-on cooking experience. Learn how to prepare Pepián, one of Guatemala’s most traditional dishes with deep Maya roots, then share the meal with your host family.
In the afternoon, return to Antigua for a guided walking tour. Explore the city’s impressive churches, historic plazas, and restored facades that reflect both its storied past and vibrant present.
Day 9: Visit Miraflores Museum | Transfer to Flores
Enjoy free time in Antigua before traveling back to Guatemala City. Stop at the Miraflores Museum, dedicated to the ancient city of Kaminaljuyú, “Hill of the Dead.” Explore artifacts and exhibits that reveal the significance of this once-powerful pre-Hispanic center. Later, transfer to the airport for your evening flight to the tropical lowlands of Petén, gateway to the ancient Maya world. Arrive in Flores and transfer to your hotel for the night.
After an early breakfast, meet your specialist guide and travel by private transfer to the dock. Board a boat across Lake Petén Itzá and head toward Tayasal, once known as Taitzá or Noj Petén. Throughout the journey, learn about the region’s natural history, geology, archaeology, and local wildlife.
Upon arrival, explore the remains of the last independent Maya kingdom to resist Spanish rule. Discover where white temples, ceremonial groups, residential areas, and the lookout of King Kan Ek once stood, and gain insight into the legacy of the Itza people.
Return to Flores for the afternoon with the option to explore more of the island or relax.
Note: Bring a hat, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, and insect repellent.
Meet your specialist guide this morning and transfer to Tikal National Park, one of the most influential Maya cities ever uncovered. Walk beneath the rainforest canopy as towering pyramids rise above the treetops, and learn how Tikal served as a major religious, scientific, and political hub for more than 1,500 years.
As you explore, listen for howler monkeys echoing through the jungle and keep an eye out for wildlife such as spider monkeys, coatimundis, white-lipped peccary, vibrant parrots, toucans, scarlet macaws, even the elusive jaguar.
Enjoy lunch before returning to Flores for your flight back to Guatemala City. On arrival, transfer to your hotel and settle in for the evening.
Note: Pack a hat, sunglasses, comfortable walking shoes, and insect repellent.
Day 12: Depart Guatemala
1 Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast before transferring to the airport for your flight home. Consider extending your stay to explore more of Guatemala’s vibrant culture and historic treasures.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400 plus the cost of internal airfare, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Beyond expectations! Then again we weren't sure what to expect. Lovely stay at the lodge, met other like-minded travelers (many had their trips planned by Adventure Life) and the owner was a gracious hostess. It felt like you were one happy family, visiting with a favorite aunt.
