Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Guatemala – Belize – Antigua – Atitlan – Coban – Flores – Placencia
100% customisable for you
Head to the airport, whizz through security and settle into the lounge for some pre-flight downtime: your Central American getaway begins today. With a speedy stopover, flights to Guatemala City take around 15 and a half hours, touching down later the same day.
When you land, you’ll be met and privately transferred one hour to Antigua, a pretty city in Guatemala’s central highlands. It’ll be evening by the time you arrive, so check into your centrally located hotel, grab a quick bite to eat and head up to bed for a good night’s sleep – the real adventure begins tomorrow.
We’ve left the next two days free for you to explore Antigua (also known as Antigua Guatemala) at your own pace. Encircled by a series of volcanoes – Agua, Fuego and Acatenango – this historic city was once Guatemala’s colonial capital, until a 1773 earthquake largely destroyed it. It has now been restored into an architectural hub, perfect for exploring on foot.
Spend your days wandering along narrow streets, marvelling at the array of colonial buildings, which vary from Renaissance to Baroque. Be sure to stop by Parque Central, a lively plaza home to the grand San Jose Cathedral, the Royal Palace of the Captains General and the 17th-century City Hall. For a touch more spirituality, wander a little further to the nearby Capuchin convent, once home to a community of nuns and now open to tourists.
Fancy diving further into the city’s history and culture? We can also arrange a private tour of Antigua with a local guide, followed by a Guatemalan cooking class and chocolate workshop (yes, really).
This morning, wave goodbye to Antigua as you meet your friendly driver-guide and set off on the two-hour journey to Solola. Here, you’ll have a chance to visit the twice-weekly Solola Market, where residents from some of the region’s most remote communities congregate to buy and sell locally produced goods such as fruit, vegetables and traditional clothing.
As you wander, you’ll be able to recognise each sect by their distinctive clothing, made by their village’s designated tailor. Be sure to sample some of the food on offer here too, such as fresh corn tortillas and black beans.
Later, hop back in the car for the half-hour drive to Lake Atitlan, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights. Spend the rest of the day relaxing – perhaps with a stroll in the garden or dip in the pool – before heading to the restaurant for a tasty dinner, washed down with a perfectly shaken cocktail.
Nature lovers, you’re in luck. Considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, Lake Atitlan also boasts majestic surrounding volcanoes, making for a postcard-perfect landscape ideal for exploring.?
This morning, meet your private guide for a tour of the lake’s Mayan villages. Zipping between them aboard small water taxis, learn about the traditions of these cultural hubs, from the buzzing markets of Santiago Atitlan and the weaving workshops of San Juan la Laguna to the terraced crops of San Antonio Palopo and the coffee fields of San Pedro La Laguna.
The rest of the day is yours for the taking. If you’re tired after your jam-packed morning, simply sit back and relax at your hotel; if not, head out on a solo visit to Panajachel, home to buzzy bars, a photography museum within a historic hotel and the 16th-century church of St. Francis of Assisi.
It’s back in the car this morning for the private transfer back to Guatemala City, stopping en route in Chichicastenango, a pretty town known for its bustling craft market. Here, meet a local guide for an introduction to Guatemalan food, sampling traditional dishes crafted from corn, fruit and vegetables and learning about how recipes have been handed down from generation to generation.
Later, arrive in Guatemala City, where you’ll be staying for the night. After a lazy afternoon, head out for dinner at a local spot – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to offer some stellar recommendations.
After a fuelling breakfast, meet another private driver for the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Coban. When you arrive, check into your centrally located hotel for two nights and spend a few hours settling in.
This afternoon, we’ve secured you tickets to Orquigonia, a beautiful botanical park set around 5,000ft above sea level. Showcasing Guatemala’s native orchids alongside an array of tropical flora, this serene park is perfect for a scenic stroll (and a few holiday album shots).
If you didn’t quite get your fill of flowers at Orquigonia yesterday, don’t worry – this morning, you’re heading to Semuc Champey, a picturesque natural park complete with crashing waterfalls, sparkling limestone pools and dense forest.
Set off on a hike through the park, keeping your eyes peeled for the orchids and birdlife that call this area home. Stop for a refreshing swim along the way before making the slightly steep half-mile walk (it’s worth it, we promise) to El Mirador del Bosque, a viewpoint offering panoramic views over the dense jungle and sparkling falls.
The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore Coban’s postcard-perfect surroundings, which boast a wealth of flora and fauna thanks to the protection of the nearby Las Victorias, San Jose la Colonia and Laguna Lachua national parks. Cameras at the ready…
This morning, meet your private driver and set the sat nav for the Candelaria Caves, around two and a half hours north of Coban. Set along the Candelaria River, this network of karst caves was believed to be the entrance to ‘Xibalba’, the Mayan kingdom of the dead. Meet an expert guide for a boat tour along the river, learning about the history of these mystical caves as you sail past dramatic stalactites illuminated by eerie light flooding through stone skylights.
Later, check into a jungle lodge, where you’ll be staying for the night. Spend the rest of the afternoon soaking in your surroundings to the soundtrack of tropical birds and rustling leaves before heading down to the restaurant for a traditional Guatemalan feast.
It’s back in the car this morning as you’re privately transferred to Flores, around a four-hour drive away.
When you arrive, check in for two nights on the edge of the Laguna Petenchel, a sprawling lake surrounded by verdant jungle. The rest of the day is yours for the taking, so relax with a dip in the pool, a scenic stroll or a perfectly sweet sundowner – you are on holiday, after all.
Lace up your walking boots and put on your history hats: today, you’re off on a guided visit to Tikal, an ancient Mayan citadel set within a rainforest.
Alongside a private guide, explore this UNESCO-listed archaeological site, which was constructed in 400 BC and remained a thriving hub until the tenth century. Incredibly well-preserved, Tikal boasts a sprawling ceremonial square at its centre, complete with temples, acropolises and palaces.
After a tasty lunch at Tikal’s restaurant, continue to the Morley Museum, set at the entrance to the park. Here, delve further into the past as you wander through exhibits displaying ancient objects unearthed during the first excavation of the royal tombs.
Later, head back to your hotel for your final taste of Guatemalan cuisine – our clued-up Concierge is on hand to recommend a local spot.
Today, swap Guatemala for Belize as you’re privately transferred to Melchor de Mencos, a municipality perched on the border. Along the way, stop at the Mayan archaeological site of Yaxha, once home to the nobles of Tikal. Many of the structures here are hidden under the forest as they await excavation, but you’ll still have the chance to marvel at some of the ruins, including a series of incredibly well-preserved pyramids.
When you reach Melchor de Mencos, you’ll be assisted across the border and then driven to Placencia, a three-and-a-half-hour drive away. Here, check in for three nights overlooking Maya Beach and settle in with a cocktail as the sun sets – it doesn’t come much better than this.
The next two days are entirely dedicated to beachfront bliss, so slap on some suncream, grab your sunglasses and head down to the sand for some true R&R.
If your time in Guatemala has taken it out of you, spend your stay soaking up the sun on the sand, diving into your holiday read and dipping your toes into the sea.
Still raring to go? The Belize Barrier Reef is one of the most impressive around, so mask up and dive down to see this thriving underwater ecosystem in action. Alongside some incredibly healthy corals, keep your eyes peeled for everything from teeny macro life to green turtles and hammerhead sharks. We can also arrange a snorkelling trip to Laughing Bird Caye, known for its wealth of marine life (and noisy seagulls).
End each evening with a sundowner on the beach and some ultra-fresh seafood, toasting to the memories of a fantastic trip as the sun sets over the sand.
It’s sadly time for your Central American sojourn to come to an end. This morning, you’ll be privately transferred to Placencia airport for the 35-minute air taxi to Belize City.
When you arrive, stock up on snacks and souvenirs before boarding your overnight flight home. With a speedy stopover along the way, the journey will take around 13 and a half hours, and you’ll touch down the next day, ready to regale your friends and family with tales of your incredible trip.
Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included
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 now
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 now
Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from checking you in for your flights to our network of local Concierges
