Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Guatemala in Focus Mayan Ruins, Colonial Cities & Mystical Landscapes
Guatemala – Antigua – Atitlan – Livingston – Flores
Kickstart your adventure in Antigua. Here, acquaint yourself with Guatemala’s urban charms before delving into the villages and archaeological sites around Lake Atitlan. Prepare to load up that camera roll with bright colours and photo wall-worthy landscapes.
Next up: Chichicastenango and Guatemala City, both of which will plunge you into the beating heart of local life. Having perused bananas, avocados, tomatoes and pumpkins in the local markets, it’s on to Rio Dulce, the gateway to Livingston. Cue refreshing dips in natural pools and sandy strolls along beautiful beaches.
Round out your sun-soaked sojourn with a couple of days in and around Flores. Close to the Tikal National Park – Mayan ruin central – Flores is ideal for eking out as much enjoyment as possible from this gorgeous country. You’re also duty-bound to sample as many fresh fruit juices and eat as much street food as you can before you leave. Need we say more?
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Bags packed and out-of-offices set – Guatemala awaits. Head to the airport, breeze through security and slip away to the lounge for some peace and quiet before take-off. Flights to Guatemala City connect through North America and take around 16 hours, so lean back, crack open a book and... relax.
Thanks to the time difference, you’ll land the same day, ready to grab your bags and hop in a car for your private transfer to Antigua. Check in for three nights in a hotel in the centre of the city, then divvy up the sides of the bed and freshen up.
This afternoon is free for you to do as you please. If you’re raring to go, step out on a preliminary stroll to work up an appetite for dinner; if you’re tired from your travels, simply kick back and enjoy the facilities at your hotel.
The name of the game in Antigua: sun-drenched sightseeing. Cosied up against three volcanoes (the Agua, the Fuego and the Acatenango), this old charmer is a UNESCO-listed gem, and you have two full days to explore it.
A Spanish colonial city, Antigua is brimming with Renaissance and Baroque buildings. The big hitters include the Parque Central de Antigua Guatemala, San Jose Cathedral, the Royal Palace of the Captains General, the Municipality of Guatemala and the Convento Capuchinas. Plenty of long names and rich history.
When you’re not angling your cameras at these architectural gems, whet your appetite for dinner by sampling a local staple: pig’s feet. They’re surprisingly delicious…
Perch up in front of a delicious breakfast this morning before meeting your private driver for the two-and-a-half-hour journey to Lake Atitlan. Don’t hesitate to request some road trip tunes along the way.
Once you arrive, wield your tickets to the ruins of Iximche, the former capital of the Kaqchikel (Mayan people of the midwestern highlands of Guatemala). Spread out over a 7,000ft-high plateau, the site is still a complete urban structure, offering jaw-dropping panoramas over the ravines and pine-forested hills below. Lucky you.
Having oohed and aahed your way around the site, hop back in the car for an hour to head to your hotel in Santa Catarina Palopo, on the edge of Lake Atitlan. Check in for a two-night stay here, then drop your bags and settle in. This calls for some Quetzalteca (a traditional Guatemalan liquor).
Another day, another ancient archaeological site. After breakfast, pack your day bags and meet your private driver to explore some of the Mayan villages set on Lake Atitlan’s shores.
Flanked by three volcanoes, Lake Atitlan embodies one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Americas. Many Mayan villages are settled here, all of which can be reached by water taxi and each boasting its own distinct character. For example: San Antonio flaunts terraced crops, San Juan houses weavers and San Pedro boasts coffee trees.
Having spent half a day discovering these remote gems, the afternoon is yours to spend as you please. If you’re keen to keep exploring, ask your driver to head to Panajachel. Here, you’ll find the Casa Cakchiquel cultural centre and the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi. Worth the detour, indeed.
Bid the lake goodbye this morning as you check out and meet your driver to journey to Guatemala City. An hour-and-a-half into the journey, stop at Chichicastenango for a private tour of this long-named locale.
Nestled in the highlands, this vibrant town is famed for its open-air market, the largest of its kind in Central America. Stroll between the fruit-packed stalls before settling down for a tasting of local dishes in a local’s home. Let’s dig in.
Later, bundle back into the car for the remaining two-hour-and-50-minute journey to Guatemala City, where you’ll spend the night. Then, check in, drop your bags and venture back out in search of a delicious dinner tonight.
Even more archaeological wonders await today, so leap out of bed to kickstart the next leg of your adventure this morning. Accompanied by a new private driver, set off towards Livingston, via Quirigua.
A major vestige of Mayan civilisation, the Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quirigua is home to a multitude of eighth-century monuments and bas-reliefs. At the centre of the site, you’ll find the Great Plaza, the largest known public space in the entire. Cue a journey back in time.
Having strolled around this storied site, its back on the road to Rio Dulce, a 27-mile-long lake that separates Livingston from the mainland. Once you reach the bank, board a motorboat to push off towards Livingston.
Dock and depart before jumping in a car for the final stretch to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to kick back and soak up the lakeside views.
Swap ruins for natural pools this morning as you head north out of Livingston with your private guide. Don’t forget to pack your swimming costumes and SPF…
The site of these natural pools is Los Siete Altares (meaning the Seven Altars). Set under a dense forest canopy, this series of freshwater pockets and falls are the ideal way to cool off after a morning in the sun – so what are you waiting for?
If you fancy doubling down by wading into the ocean this afternoon, White Beach is the place to be. Just a short walk from Los Siete Altares, it’s said to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Guatemala. High praise, indeed.
Bid Livingston a fond farewell this morning before grabbing your bags, checking out and climbing back into a boat bound for Flores. On your way, detour to the Castle of San Felipe de Lara – yes, it’s as awe-worthy as its name suggests.
Perched at the mouth of Lake Izabal, this 17th-century Spanish fort-cum-castle was built to defend the old kingdom of Guatemala from English pirates and buccaneers. Armed with tickets to the site and bucketloads of curiosity, embark on an independent tour of the site today. Bonus points if you snap a few regal shots.
Then, buckle up for the final stretch to Flores this afternoon. After settling in, reach out to our local Concierge for some stellar restaurant recommendations. You’ve spent the day poking into the rooms of bygone blue-bloods, so what better night to feast like a king?
Luxuriate in a leisurely breakfast this morning to fuel up for a day of discovery in Tikal. An hour north of Flores, this ancient Mayan citadel is tucked away in the rainforest, harbouring a treasure trove of cultural curiosities.
Accompanied by your private guide, start the day exploring the ruins in the UNESCO-listed Tikal National Park. Here, you’ll find a large square, two temples and two acropolises. Remains of Mayan housing are also scattered throughout the site, so there’s no shortage of wonders to uncover.
Continue your immersion in ancient culture this afternoon with a visit to the Museo Sylvanus G Morley. Home to a number of objects unearthed during the first excavation of the royal tombs, it features everything from ceramics and incense burners to vases and figurines. Cameras at the ready...
Sadly, it’s time to say adios to Guatemala. After indulging in a bountiful breakfast this morning, grab your bags and check out before meeting your private driver to transfer to the airport and catch a 45-minute flight to Guatemala City.
From here, board a flight back to the UK, which once again connects through North America. The journey takes around 16 hours, so you’ll spend the night on board and arrive the following afternoon. We hope you picked up a Guatemalan tipple to sweeten the post-holiday blues over dinner tonight...
Suggestions
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
ANTIGUA & GUATEMALAN GASTRONOMY
Add a little more context to your time in Antigua by buddying up with a local guide for a private tour of the city. Start by strolling through the main monuments scattered around the city centre, then visit a local’s home for a cookery class. After learning the basics of Guatemalan cuisine, you’ll be able to sit down for a tasting. Yum.
Why visit Guatemala with Original Travel ?
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
Enquire nowA few of the benefits of travelling with us to Guatemala
- The Original Travel app
- Destination Dossier
- 24-hour helpline
- Expert guides
- 100% carbon absorption
