Complete Guatemala 13 days

Day 1: Welcome to Guatemala

Upon arrival to Guatemala City you will be met our staff for the transfer to Antigua Guatemala. La Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as just Antigua or La Antigua) is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Hotel Superior: Casa Santo Domingo; STD: Villa Colonial

Day 2: Antigua Guatemala

Antigua Guatemala tour. Stepping in Antigua is like stepping back in time… cobbled stone streets, sprays of bougainvillea bursting from crumbling ruins, pastel façades under terracotta roofs, parks with fountains & a dramatic setting surrounded by three volcanoes: Agua, Fuego & Acatenango. These are one of the reasons why Antigua is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the Americas & declared by UNESCO as “Cultural Heritage of Humankind”. We begin in Antigua’s Historic Centre, starting from the Main Plaza and visiting the main monuments of the city.

Hotel Superior: Casa Santo Domingo; STD: Villa Colonial

Day 3: Antigua AM at leisure /Lake Atitlán

Transfer to one of the most beautiful lakes in the world: Lake Atitlán. In Panajachel, enjoy leisure time to relax by the lake’s shores and enjoy the breathtaking vistas of the volcanoes, or to explore the main street crowded with colorful handicrafts.

Hotel Superior: Hotel Atitlán; STD: Villa Santa Catarina

Day 4: Santiago Atitlán

L ake Atitlán was formed by a caldera (collapsed volcanic cone) and is surrounded by three impressive volcanoes (San Pedro, Atitlán and Tolimán) and 12 picturesque Maya-Cakchiquel and Maya.Tzutuhil villages. Departure in the morning by boat to the Maya-Tzutuhil village of Santiago Atitlán, famous for Maximón, a character that is widely worshiped by the inhabitants of Santiago. Santiago also offers a variety of handicrafts, colorful textiles, woodcarvings and naïf paintings. In the afternoon return to Panajachel.

Hotel Superior: Hotel Atitlán; STD: Villa Santa Catarina

Day 5: Chichicastenango

In the morning visit Chichicastenango, where you will see the most colorful and picturesque outdoor market in Guatemala, where every Thursday and Sunday locals from the region, gather to buy and sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, grains, animals, textiles and handicrafts. Relevant is the visit to the Santo Tomás Church, where the Maya-Quiché pray to their gods according to the old Maya traditions. Time at leisure for shopping in the market. Afterwards, departure to Guatemala City.

Hotel Superior: Guatemala City Marriott; STD: Best Western- Stofella

Day 6: Copán (Honduras)

In only 5 hours through an excellent highway, you can appreciate one of the most dramatic landscapes in the country, from tropical forests to semi-arid regions. After short border formalities, you will arrive to one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Maya World: Copán, declared by UNESCO a “World Heritage Site”. Copán presents a sophisticated architectural style and a unique art for stone carving. Visit the main plazas, complexes and monuments.

Hotel Superior: Hotel Marina Copán; STD: Posada Real de Copán

NOTE: FROM COPÁN YOU CONTINUE FOR EXTENSIONS TO ROATÁN ISLAND OR TELA, RETURN TO GUA AND CONTINUE THE ITINERARY.

Day 7: Quirigúa/Puerto Barrios/Livingston

Departure in the morning, on the way to Puerto Barrios we will visit Quiriguá, a unique

archaeological site surrounded by the largest banana plantation in Central America. Declared by UNESCO “Cultural Heritage of Humankind”, Quiriguá is famous for having the tallest stonecarved stelae in the Maya World. After the visit continue to Puerto Barrios, where you will take a boat ride to the Garífuna town of Livingston, located where Río Dulce meets the Caribbean Sea.

Hotel Villa Caribe

Day 8: Playa Blanca

In the morning, visit Playa Blanca, a white sand beach, accessible only by a 30-minute boat ride from Livingston, to relax and enjoy the sun and sea. Afternoon at leisure.

Hotel Villa Caribe

Day 9: Río Dulce (Castillo de San Felipe)

In the morning, we will take a 45 min. boat ride through Río Dulce. You will have the chance to admire the lush tropical forest, hundreds of birds and the impressive Río Dulce Canyon. Visit to Castillo de San Felipe. In the early XVI century, the commercial activity between Guatemala and Spain flourished throughout the former Golfo Dulce. This fortress was built to protect the merchandise from the pirates of the Gulf of Mexico. After the visit,

continue to Flores.

Hotel Superior:Villa Maya; STD: Maya Internacional

Day 10: Yaxhá

The Northern part of Guatemala was the birthplace of the great Mayan Civilization. The region witnessed the rise and fall of this ancient culture that was a very advanced stratified society which lived harmoniously with nature. The Maya were excellent astronomers and mathematicians and developed a complex hieroglyphic scripture. They were also very skilled in arts, stone carving and architecture, and established a vast commercial net-work from the North of Mexico to Costa Rica. The fall and collapse of this great civilization is still a true enigma. In the morning transfer to the archaeological site of Yaxhá (“Turquoise Water”), considered an important civic and ceremonial site during the Mayan Classic Period; it is settled on a hill overlooking the beautiful Laguna de Yaxhá and Laguna Sacnab. Epigraphic evidence assures that it had important relationship with Tikal, as a “satellite” of Tikal during the Classic Period (300-950 A.D.). Yaxhá is the only site in Petén, besides Tikal, that has a “Twin Pyramid Complex”.

Hotel Superior:Villa Maya; STD: Maya Internacional

Day 11: Tikal

Visit to Tikal National Park. Declared “Cultural Heritage of Humankind” by UNESCO. This

m ajestic Mayan city is considered the largest and most monumental of all of the sites discovered in the Mayan World. Guided walking visit to the most important plazas, complexes and temples, enjoying as well the tropical forest, nesting place of hundreds of exotic birds and the habitat of a wide variety of wildlife. After lunch, visit the museums and transfer back to the hotel.

Hotel Superior:Villa Maya; STD: Maya Internacional

NOTE: FROM FLORES YOU CONTINUE FOR EXTENSIONS TO CANCÚN OR BELIZE.

Day 12: AM at leisure / PM FRS/GUA

AM at leisure to enjoy the diferent activities offered by the property chosen; kayak ride at the lake/lagoon; relax at the pool; bike ride; hiking; etc. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport to board a plane to Guatemala City.

Hotel Superior: Guatemala City Marriott; STD: Best Western-Stofella

D ay 13: Guatemala City Tour

Guatemala City tour featuring visits to the National Palace of Culture (former “National Palace”, government offices), Cathedral, Main Square, Civic Center, Residencial Zones, Relief Map,etc.

Hotel Superior: Guatemala City Marriott; STD: Best Western-Stofella

Day 14: See you soon

At the specified time, transfer from the hotel to the airport for your flight back home.