This tour offers a comprehensive overview of Guatemala. You will enjoy a variety of wonders: from the volcanoes and lakes and ancient Native traditions, and fine colonial cities like Atitlan, Antigua and Chichicastenango, to the Caribbean eastern side of Livingston and Rio Dulce, surrounded by a luscious triumph of green; with the stunning Maya sites of Copan (Honduras) and QuiriguĂ ; and the colossal pyramids of Tikal.,
Characteristics
Group tour with local guides
depending on departure day, services might be shared with Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American travellers
bilingual (Italian / Spanish),
Itinerary
Day 1 — Guatemala City
American breakfast, welcome upon arrival and transfer to the hotel, free evening and night,
Car
Day 2 — Guatemala City → Antigua Guatemala
American breakfast, departure to Antigua Guatemala, accommodation, full day city tour, Antigua is one of the most charming colonial cities in America. Its many churches, convents and mansions speak for the key role of Antigua during the Spanish Conquest, and the surrounding landscape, with the volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenago, is not less beautiful. The highlights of the visit include the Plaza de Armas, the convent of Las Capucinas, and the church of La Merced., free evening and night,
Car
Day 3 — Antigua Guatemala → Atitlan
American breakfast, departure to Atitlan, accommodation, Afternoon boat tour on the lake and visit of one of the villages., Surrounded by volcanoes and steep hills, the lake is one of the most scenic in the world. The locals still take pride in their time-honoured Mayan tradition: examples of this can be found in the villages of San Antonio Palopó, Santiago Atitlán, and Sololá, where the men still wear the “traje” – a colourful, hand-woven folk costume. Maya dialects are still widely spoken in the area., return to the hotel; the rest of the night is free,
Car
Day 4 — Atitlan → Guatemala City
American breakfast, departure to, Less than 50 km from Chichicastenango there’s Atitlan. Leaving the Inter-American Highway behind at the crossing leading to Los Encuentros, the road bends down into a deep valley, then climbs up along a winding, steep path. It take more than one hour to cover the distance., visit the city (on foot), lunch at a restaurant, continue to Guatemala City, accommodation, free evening and night,
Car
Day 5 — Guatemala City → Copan
American breakfast, departure to Copan, Archaeologists estimate that the earliest settlements in the area of the Rio Copán (present-day Honduras) were established in 1,400 b.C. The building of the actual city, however, started only in 100 AD. Copán grew into one of the most important city-states of the Mayan world; its ruins, even if relatively smaller compared to the Mexican sites of Tikal or Chichen Itza, are astonishing. The local museum is also worth a visit. The modern town of Copán rises at a height of 600 m, amidst hills covered in pinewoods, pastures, and coffee and tobacco fields., accommodation, free evening and night,
Car
Day 6 — Copan → Livingston
American breakfast, departure to Livingston, En route visit to the archaeological site of, The small archaeological site of Quiriguá rises in an isolated rainforest pocket, surrounded by vast banana plantations. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set on the riverbank on the RĂo Motagua, Quiriguá was perfectly positioned to control the trade of uncut jade: thanks to this advantage, the city rose to great importance during the Mayan civilisation. Quiriguá boasts a remarkable number of stelae and stone calendars: those have been partially deciphered, proving to be key in understanding the political, economical and social life of the Mayan world. The animal- and human-shaped sculptures of this site are some of the most beautiful Pre-Columbian artefacts in the world. The climate in the area is downright tropical. Continue to Puerto Barrios and embark on the motor launch to Livingston, that can only be reached by water., Livingston rises at the mouth of the RĂo Dulce, on the Caribbean BahĂa de Amatique. Its houses perch on the steep hillside. The main street run across the town, from the pier to the top of the mountain and then down again to to other side: all the way down to the beach., accommodation, free evening and night,
Car
Day 7 — Livingston → Flores
American breakfast, A stop off in Livingston is well worth it, be it only to sail in the gorge of the RĂo Dulce. From Livingston, the river goes up for 30 km amidst craggy banks covered in tropical lush, and wooden houses overlooking the waters. The shrieks of the birds echo in the air. If you are lucky enough, you will have the chance to see herons, eagles, and parrots, as well as the rarer manatees., lunch at a restaurant, continue to Flores, late afternoon arrival, accommodation, free evening and night,
Flight
Day 8 — Flores → Guatemala City
American breakfast, visit the archaeological site of, From Flores, a narrow, tarred road runs for 70 km across the jungle, leading to the archaeological site. The UNESCO-listed ruins of Tikal are the most famous, and arguably the most spectacular, Mayan site in the world. The site encompasses five colossal pyramid-temples, overlooking the rainforest from a height of 60 m. Most of the ruins still lie buried beneath the vegetation. The outstanding number of pyramids and stelae suggests that Tikal was the most important Maya city of the 8th century. The view of the Peten jungle from the top of Temple V is beyond description., lunch during sightseeing, transfer to Cancun airport, flight to Guatemala City, arrival and transfer to the hotel, free evening and night,
Day 9 — Guatemala City
American breakfast, transfer to the airport, end of the tour,
Notes
ROOMS: rooms only have one or two beds. “Triple”, “quadruple”, “family” room refers to the number of the guests, who will sleep in the beds provided (max. 2). The possibility of adding a rollaway bed – even if requested at the time of reservation – is subject to availability, with a supplement to be paid on site. Likewise, special requests for double or separate beds; adjoining, high-floor, low-floor rooms etc. are always upon request and these services can never be considered as granted.
DISABLED PEOPLE: disabled travellers can take part to the tour as long as they are self-sufficient. This is because means of transport are not equipped with a wheelchair platform; in addiction, due to insurance and security reasons, neither the guide nor the driver are allowed to help passengers getting on board. Disabled passengers must thus travel with an assistant of their own, to provide them all the help they might need during the tour. All bookings are on request.
HOTEL / ITINERARY, CHANGES: The Organizing Body reserves the right to substitute the itinerary and/or the hotels to alternative of a similar or superior category in the event of unplanned circumstances, and if the safe and normal proceeding of the tour is threatened. Furthermore, when in the impossibility for all of the travellers to stay at the same hotel, the group will be split amidst several hotels of the same category..
Caribbean Guatemala with Tikal — NAAR
Starts from
9 days / 8 nights – from Guatemala City to Guatemala City,
Price includes
Accommodation at the scheduled hotel (or similar), daily American breakfast; lunch and dinner as per program, domestic flights (when specified), admissions, visits and excursions: as scheduled, airport and hotel porterage, 1 piece per person,
Price does not include
Meals that have not been specified; beverage; any extra, tips, tourist tax for every entry into Mexico, air travel and taxes, administration fees and “no-risk” coverage, trip cancellation, medical expense & baggage coverage,
