Maya Route: Belize and Guatemala Adventure

Arrive in Guatemala City and meet your guide outside the terminal after clearing customs. Look for a sign with your name, then transfer to the colonial town of Antigua and check into your hotel. Settle in to rest or explore on your own, stroll cobblestone streets, visit local cafés, or take in views of surrounding volcanoes.

Set out on a guided walking tour of Antigua, once the capital of Guatemala and Central America. Visit ornate churches, colonial plazas, and iconic ruins that tell the story of the city’s storied past. Enjoy sweeping views of the ever-present Fuego Volcano and stop by Cerro de la Cruz for a panoramic look over the cobblestone streets.

In the afternoon, choose how to spend your time. Rent a mountain bike to visit nearby villages, tour a local coffee farm or macadamia plantation, or relax in the central plaza and watch the rhythm of daily life unfold.

This morning, depart from Antigua and travel to the highland town of San Juan Comalapa, known for its colorful murals, strong artistic traditions, and bustling market. Walk through vibrant stalls offering produce, textiles, and crafts. Visit local artist workshops and see the large town mural that tells the story of Guatemala’s civil war. Stop at one of Comalapa’s traditional panaderías (bakeries) to sample freshly baked bread.

Visit the Maya site of Iximché, a pre-Columbian archaeological site abandoned in 1524. Walk among pyramid temples, palaces, and two ceremonial ballcourts. Observe painted murals still visible on some structures, and explore the small on-site museum displaying carved sculptures and ceramics.

Arrive in Panajachel and check into your hotel on the shores of Lake Atitlán.

Today, board a private boat and cross Lake Atitlán’s shimmering waters to reach the village of San Juan La Laguna. Visit a women’s textile cooperative to see traditional weaving and natural dyeing techniques. Meet local artists in their studios or join a hands-on painting class. Unwind with a traditional Maya sauna experience if time allows.

Travel by boat to Santiago Atitlán, a culturally rich Tz'utujil Maya town. Walk through the local market, browse artisan workshops, and visit the revered shrine of Maximón, where residents leave offerings in a blend of Catholic and Maya spiritual practice.

Return to Panajachel in the afternoon with time to relax.

Rise early and travel to Chichicastenango, a highland town surrounded by valleys and mountains. Explore its vibrant open-air market, where villagers from across the region gather to sell colorful textiles, produce, flowers, and handmade crafts. Walk through lively stalls and observe local traditions that blend Maya and Catholic customs.

Return to Guatemala City in the early afternoon and head to the airport for your early evening flight to the northern lowlands of Petén. Upon arrival at Mundo Maya Airport, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel near the island town of Flores.

Meet your guide in the morning and travel to Tikal, one of the most iconic and influential Maya cities. Walk through the expansive archaeological site where ancient temples and towering pyramids rise above the rainforest canopy. Learn how Tikal served as a major religious, scientific, and political center for over 1,500 years.

Watch and listen for wildlife along the trails, including howler and spider monkeys, toucans, parrots, coatimundis, and white-lipped peccaries. With luck, you may even spot an ocelot or a jaguar.

Enjoy lunch near the park, then return to Flores and spend the evening at your leisure.

This morning, depart Flores for a 3-hour land transfer across the border into Belize. Arrive at your jungle lodge, located near the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve and the Roaring River. Nestled in the lush forest at the edge of the Maya Mountains, the lodge offers immediate access to nature trails, hidden caves, and tropical wildlife. Settle in and prepare for days filled with forest hikes, river adventures, and exploration of Belize’s wild interior.

Spend the day relaxing and settling into your jungle lodge. The day is yours to explore the many trails and rivers that flow through your jungle lodge property. Take a guided hike in an old-growth forest, float down a jungle river, or just relax and listen to the wildlife that surrounds you.

Today, continue your exploration of the ancient Maya with a visit to the ruins of Caracol. Surrounded by the breathtaking Belizean jungle, the site features massive structures, haunting tombs, and intricate carvings that tell the story of the people who once lived and ruled in this remarkable city. Much remains to be uncovered at Caracol, and archaeologists actively dig and preserve the site. Afterward, stop at the Rio On Pools for a refreshing dip. The smooth granite rocks create natural slides and shallow basins—perfect for cooling off after a day of hiking under the warm Belizean sun. Watch your step, as the rocks can be slippery. Even if you prefer to stay dry, the scenery makes this a worthwhile stop. Just beyond the pools, visit the Rio Frio Cave, the largest cave in Belize. Approaching its massive entrance is a powerful, almost otherworldly experience. Once used by the Maya for ceremonial purposes, the cave no longer holds artifacts, but its mystique remains fully intact.
 

Alternative: Barton Creek Cave
Rise early for an unforgettable adventure into the Maya underworld. Begin at your lodge, cross creeks, and travel deep into the Belizean jungle to reach the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal—the Cave of the Stone Tomb. At the entrance, gear up with helmets and waterproof headlamps, then wade into the emerald waters flowing from the cave’s gaping mouth. Follow the river through wet and dry chambers lined with hanging stalactites and towering stalagmites. Reach the Primary Chamber, where ancient kings and priests once performed blood sacrifices to the Mayan gods. Your lights reveal skeletal remains and ceramic shards left behind in these sacred rituals. As Tunichil remains an active archaeological site, take care not to disturb its resting history. Alternative excursions are available for those who prefer to stay above ground.

After breakfast, transfer to Belize City for your international flight home.