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Guatemala Journey
8 days, Guatemala City to Flores
Itinerary
Day 1Guatemala City/Antigua Guatemala
Arrive at the Guatemala City airport and transfer to hotel in Antigua.
Arrive at the Guatemala City airport and transfer to your hotel in Antigua. There are no planned activities during the day, so check into the hotel and enjoy this charming city.
It is a short 45km (28 mi) from Guatemala City on a lovely winding road. The natural scenery is some of the most beautiful anywhere with high mountain peaks surrounding deep valleys, and nearly every inch of land covered with lush growth.
Antigua's nearest airport is Guatemala City, Guatemala. Don't get caught flying into the Caribbean island nation of Antigua; it's nowhere near the start of this tour!
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Antigua Guatemala
Explore Antigua on a guided cultural walking tour with a historian, including City Hall, the convent, and the museums at Paseo de los Museos. Opt to take a volcano trek or excursion to a macadamia nut plantation or coffee farm.
Walk through quiet cobblestone streets, past restored Spanish colonial stucco homes with heavy, beautifully carved wooden entrances. Explore the museums and churches, then have an ice cream and people-watch in the central park.
Antigua offers three specialties that make shopping here very worthwhile. Textiles sold here and in the nearby towns are of the highest quality, beautifully designed and woven on foot looms or the traditional back strap loom. Jade, in carved statues and jewelry, is sold in several factories and shops in town and silver jewelry is also sold in the better shops and a nearby silver factory in San Felipe de Jesus. The city offers good buys in ceramics and antiques as well.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Antigua Historical Walk
Meet our historian guide at the fountain in the Central Plaza and take a leisurely walk along the cobblestone streets of this city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Our historian explains Antigua's history, culture and restoration efforts (a bylaw, for example, stipulates buildings must only be painted certain colours in order to maintain the Spanish colonial character of the exteriors). Visit the City Hall Palace, Palace of the Captain's General, the cathedral, and Sor Juana de Maldonado’s Convent/Museum, and then complete the tour at the best museum in town at Paseo de los Museos.
Free Time
Free time to explore the museums, the colonial buildings and other sites in this delightful town.
Optional Activities - Day 2 HideShow
Finca Valhalla Visit
5-10USD per personTake a tour of the macadamia nut plantation at Finca Valhalla led by the workers. Learn about this sustainable crop for the experts and discover the health benefits of the nut. Pamper yourself with a free facial and purchase some of the treats made from the macadamia nut like oils, nuts, and chocolate. This tour is offered for free in the hopes that you’ll show your gratitude by stopping by and picking up some tasty treats from the gift shop or café.
Salsa Lesson
10USD per personKick up your heels and learn this typical Latin dance. Dancers of all skill levels are welcome. Get lost in the rhythm of the music and let your body take you to a new place -- one-two-three, one-two-three, hip roll, arm up, partner under, shimmy, shake, salsa! Vamos a bailar! (Let's dance!)
Finca Filidelfia Coffee Tour
25USD per personTravel a short 10-minute ride outside of Antigua to the Finca Filadelfia coffee plantation. Walk through the plant nursery, explore the rows of coffee plants, pick a coffee “cherry” (each one has two beans inside), then discover the various stages that go into making the perfect cup of quality coffee. The farm also has a restaurant and zipline for those who opt to fly above the canopy to spot the very best beans.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 3Antigua Guatemala/Jaibalito
Travel today by van and boat to the village of Jaibalito on Lake Atitlán. Visit the communities on the lake by boat, including San Juan la Laguna, a G Adventures-supported village. Take an orientation walk, visit various co-ops, enjoy a local Mayan lunch and a Mayan tree-planting ceremony.
Our home at the lake will be in the tranquil town of Jaibalito. This tiny village sits on the north shores of breathtaking Lake Atitlán, surrounded by volcanoes. There are no paved roads leading into Jaibalito, but the paths weaving across the slopes offer rewarding views of the lake.
Test your communication and bargaining skills in the colourful local markets, of which there are many. There are also a number of weaving cooperatives that you may wish to visit. The proceeds from the sales return directly to the community and are a significant contribution to the local economy.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Transport
Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.
Your G for Good Moment: Lake Atitlán Boat Ride and Community Visit
Get ready for spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes and everyday life in a highland village. The people of this area are friendly and excited to greet travellers. Stop off in San Juan la Laguna, a G Adventures-supported village, for an included local Mayan lunch. Participate in a Mayan tree planting ceremony, providing insight into Mayan culture and beliefs.
Test your communication and bargaining skills in the colourful local markets, of which there are many. There are also a number of community Mayan weaving cooperatives that you may wish to visit. The proceeds from the sales return directly to the community and are a significant contribution to the local economy.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 4Jaibalito
Free time for outdoor pursuits such as fishing, hiking, bird watching, and kayaking.
Free Time
Enjoy a full day to relax or explore the lake.
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Fishing
Channel your inner Mayan, hop aboard a rustic wooden cayuco, paddle out into Lake Atitlán, and pray for fish. With only a small hook, net, and no motor, your local guide will demonstrate his traditional fishing techniques. You may even catch a black bass!
Paragliding in Lake Atitlán
45USD per personStrap into your harness and sit comfortably during the flight. From take-off until landing, the pilot and passenger are both connected by two spreader bars. The pilot, sitting behind the passenger, takes care of take-off, flight, and landing. So sit back and enjoy the absolutely incredible views.
Kayaking
Grab your life jacket and tour local waters by kayak. Get up close to marine life and see many sights you may miss on shore.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Jaibalito/Antigua Guatemala
Return to Antigua and visit a chocolate museum to take a hands-on workshop to learn about the ancient Mayan process from bean to bar. Opt to take a salsa dance class.
Boat
Climb aboard and get your float on.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Hands-On Moment: ChocoMuseo Tour and Workshop
Enjoy a chocolate workshop and museum tour to learn about the process "from bean to bar" and the history of this tasty crop. In this 1.5-hour workshop, make your own bar to take home and enjoy tastings of the varieties of chocolate drinks made on site. Who knew history could be so sweet?
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Salsa Lesson
Learn how to salsa – whether you are a beginner or an expert, we have a lesson perfect for you! It's a great option for groups. Small class sizes and professional teachers make this activity a hit with G Adventures passengers.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6Antigua Guatemala/Flores
Catch our flight to Flores in the Petén region of Guatemala. Enjoy a cooking lesson and lunch with a local chef on the shores of Lake Petén Itzá.
This charming town, with its pastel-coloured buildings, enjoys a scenic setting on Lake Petén Itzá. There will be time to stroll through the streets, buy local handicrafts, or take a swim in the lake. Despite the recent growth in Petén, Flores remains the same small island town, with narrow, cobblestoned streets, small, brightly painted houses, and friendly people.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Lakeside Cooking Class
Get creative in the kitchen during a cooking lesson at a charming hotel located on the shores of Lake Petén Itzá. Listen as an experienced local chef explains the history of Guatemalan cuisine before learning to prepare traditional dishes like “pepián” (a spicy meat stew) or “tamales” (a cornmeal-based dish wrapped in husks or leaves). Enjoy the results of the lesson for lunch and, afterwards, opt to kick back in a hammock, go for a swim or take to the water in a kayak.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 7Flores
Take a guided tour of the famous Mayan ruins of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site set in the heart of the jungle.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Tikal Ruins Guided Tour
Put on your walking shoes and prepare for a tiring but memorable day walking through history at the impressive site of Tikal. The Mayan site is set in the heart of the jungle, in Tikal National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Along with our bilingual guide, see some of the temples, plazas, carved stone monuments and public squares, more than 3,000 buildings in all, dating from as far back as 600 BC. Climb to the top of Temple IV, catch your breath, take photos, and then sit and contemplate the magnificence of the site and the tropical rainforest beyond. Look for monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, and deer, as well as macaws and eagles, snakes, and spiders.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Free Time
Enjoy some free time this afternoon to explore the lake.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Flores
Depart at any time.
Depart at any time.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.