8-Days of exploration
8 – DAY GUATEMALA EXPLORER
Meet Your Guatemala-X Guide and fly to Flores (Glamping Site)
Today you will be met outside the airport with your Guatemala-X guide who will be with you from start to finish. You will hop onto a 30 minute domestic flight to Flores. Here you will be transferred in your private bus to the gates of Tikal. Arrival time will be around 8pm but with special permission, we will be staying in the Tikal National Park which happens to be an UNESCO site. Believe us when we say this is not the average touristy way of seeing Tikal. (Meals: Dinner)
Travel to Tikal and Tour (Glamping Site)
Today you will tour Tikal and learn about all the magical history of the Mayan civilization. There are over 2,000 tourist that wait to enter Tikal daily and you will already be in the park having stayed in glamping tents. This is a true safari experience and one like close to nobody else will ever experience. After your tour of Tikal we will travel back to your glamping site where you will spend the afternoon seeing a few more ruins with a surprise dinner at night to top off your Mayan culture experience.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Lake Atitlan–Fly from Flores to Guatemala City (Hotel Atitlan)
Today you will fly from Flores and take the 30 minute flight to Guatemala city and then the 3 ½ hour private bus ride to Lake Atitlan. Here you will make some stops along the way and continue to learn from your guide about the flor and fauna along with the history of Guatemala. Once you arrive to Lake Atitlan you will hop in a boat that will take you to the nearby town of San Juan where you will be staying the next two nights learning about the lake and visiting surrounding towns around the lake.
(Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Lake Atitlan Landmarks and SUP or Kayaking (Hotel Atitlan)
Today you will spend the morning visiting the town of Santiago which is the lakes largest town and filled with Mayan culture. You will get a chance to see how what real life is on the lake and in the afternoon spend your time back in San Juan.
Between visiting towns we are going to cool you down and take you on a kayaking adventure from the area of Santa Cruz where you will cruise around on kayaks or stand up paddleboards.
In the afternoon it is back to San Juan for one of our favorite demonstrations of the Mayan textile industry run by a co-op womens group. (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner)
Travel to Antigua (Las Cruces or San Rafael)
Today we will take the boat back to the port town of Panajachel where we will take our private
transportation back to one of the highlights of the trip and this is the famous town of Antiqua which is another UNESCO site and cobblestone streets that will make you feel like you are living in the colonial era surrounded by active volcanoes in the distance.
In the afternoon we will visit a local cacao family business where they show us the process of making chocolate and the importance it has to the Mayan Culture.
Sun Rise hike to Pacayas Volcano (Las Cruces or San Rafael)
If you dont like getting up early then today is not your day. We will be getting up at 2:30am to watch the sunrise from the Pacayas Volcano and with special permission chances are we will be the only tourist at the summit. This truly is one of the most beautiful spots on Earth and you can literally see the volcanoes for miles including Volcano de Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. During the hike you can even see the lava flow from the Fuego Volcano in the distance.
In the afternoon we will head back to the hotel and you can take a quick nap but we will be making our way to a local school. We plan to present a presentation on the area you are coming from to teach the locals a little bit about what the weather and life is like in your area of the world.
Antigua (Las Cruces or San Rafael)
Today will be your walking tour of Antigua. With so much history and sites to see you will experience the culture, shops, and a trip to the famous look out point for your final foto opts of the trip. In the evening we will have a farewell party for you and send you on your way with a new love for Guatemala, it’s people, history, and so much more it has to offer.
Travel to the Airport and Fly Home!
Today depending on your flight time we are about an hour from the airport and will plan to arrive 3 hours before your international departure. The hardest part will be saying goodbye to your new home and see you next time to your guide who by this time is like part of the the family.
