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12 Day itinerary in Guatemala, Central America & Caribbean

Adventurous soul

A tour full of adventure, amazing landscapes and unique experiences in Guatemala. The itinerary runs through the highlands of Guatemala, between lakes and volcanoes. You will hike the amazing Acatenango volcano, you will know the magical destination of Huehuetenango, you will visit the iconic Semuc... Read More

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PetraHenry

By Petra and Henry

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Demanding
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Guatemala City

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Hiking

Indigenous culture

Snorkeling/Diving

Kayaking

Historic & cultural landmarks

Nature & Wildlife

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

Antigua, Acatenango Volcano

2

Atitlan, Mayan Face

3

Huehuetenango, Cenotes de Candelaria

4

Peten, Tikal National Park

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Arrival to Guatemala

Arrival at the airport in Guatemala City. You are received by our taxi driver, who will transfer you to the hotel in Antigua Guatemala. Antigua is a beutiful and colorful city, full of colonial baroque architecture. The hotel, is built in the colonial style. Rooms are distributed on two floors and are located around a beautiful traditional Guatemalan patio, surrounded by flowers and plants, with a large traditional fountain in the center. You stay 2 nights, in a double room with private bathroom and breakfast included. 

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Posada San Vicente by AHS
  • Comfort: Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
  • Luxury: Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
Day 2

place Overnight tour to Acatenango

Time for some adrenaline: you hike to the Acatenango volcano. This is the volcano that is located right next to the active Fuego volcano, outside Antigua. The hike to Acatenango is of a difficult level, because it is an "overnight hike". So you take camping gear and food up in your backpack. We organized this trekking with a local tour company that is committed to involving the local population in tourism.

Departure is at 7:00am from Antigua, and after a ride in the car you will first arrive at the guide's house, where you will have a typical breakfast in his mother's house. Then the hike begins. You arrive at the base camp in the afternoon, where a nice campfire is lit for the cold. From here you can watch the eruptions of the Fuego volcano! At 4:00pm there is an extra hike (3 hours), where you can get closer to the Fuego. This is included but optional if you don't want to go. Very early the next morning you hike to the top of the Acatenango, from where you can see the sun rise, with a view of 360 degrees! Then you pack up again and arrive back in Antigua around 2:00pm, where the afternoon is free.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snacks

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Acatenango Base Camp Area
  • Comfort: Acatenango Base Camp Area
  • Luxury: Acatenango Base Camp Area
Day 3

place Day free

After that adventurous expedition you return back to Antigua. You will be back around 2:00pm. Then the afternoon is free to walk around the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Posada San Vicente by AHS
  • Comfort: Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
  • Luxury: Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
Day 4

place San Juan la Laguna

At 08:00am you are picked up at the hotel, and in a collective vehicle you are transfer to Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan (if on Thursday or Sunday, you can visit the market of Chichicastenango here).


Then you will take a private boat to San Juan la Laguna, where you spend 1 night in a double room with bathroom and breakfast included, in an eco-hotel right in front of the lake. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the village.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Eco Hotel Uxlabil
  • Comfort: Eco Hotel Uxlabil
  • Luxury: Sababa resort
Day 5

place Mayan face tour

The day starts very early; you will be picked up at 4:00am at the hotel in San Juan la Laguna, and transported to Sant Clara, where the hike to Rostro Maya begins. This is a hike of medium difficulty, and the summit is about 2.5 hours hike, through the dark. The view of the rising sun from this mountain is breathtaking! Then you will descend again to San Pedro, where you will arrive around 8:30 am.


Then at 11:00am you're boat driver will be pick up in the hotel dock to take you back to Panajachel, where you spend 1 night in a comfortable hotel in the main street in a double room with bathroom and breakfast included.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Dos Mundos
  • Comfort: Porta Hotel del Lago
  • Luxury: Porta Hotel del Lago
Day 6

place Magic Huehuetenango

Today you travel at 5:00am from Atitlan to Huehuetenango. This trip takes about 4 hours, and leads you 

in a territory full of forested landscapes, rivers, lagoons and cenotes, a perfect place for long walks and enjoy beautiful landscapes. After arriving at your hotel, you depart at 10:00am for the first tour, where you will visit the iconic Olaverri viewpoint and the Magdalena lagoon, with turquoise waters, wich combine perfectly with the surrounding forests, forming impressive landscapes. Because it is located at almost 3,000 meters above sea level, the climate is cold. To get to the lagoon, you must walk along a path where you can see small streams and even waterfalls with crystal clear waters. You arrive back in Huehuetenango around 18:00pm


In Huehuetenango you will stay 2 nights, in a double room. The hotel has a swimming pool and a restaurant. Breakfast is included.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Comfort: Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Luxury: Hotel Ruinas Resort
Day 7

place Cenotes of Candelaria

You continue with more adventure through the territory of Huehuetenango! Today at 6:00am you will be picked up at the hotel, and you will travel to your tours destinations in private transport. You go on a tour to the cenotes of Candelaria, this are two huge cavities in the limestone earth, full of crystalline water, and with a guide you will swim and if you dare, you can dive from the rocks. Also you will go to the Cimarron hole, that it's a giant hole, with a depth of approximately 200 meters and a diameter of 170 meters. The tour consists of a 5- hour car ride to get there.


 You arrive back to Huehuetenango around 21:00pm.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Comfort: Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Luxury: Hotel Ruinas Resort
Day 8

place Ruins of Zaculeu

Today is your last day in Huehuetenango, but before you leave, at 08:00am you will go on your last tour, where you will see the ruins of Zaculeu and the Mammoth Museum. 

Then al 14:00pm you travel from Huehuetenango to Lanquin. This trip takes about 7 hours, and leads you to the very interior of Guatemala, in the area of lush cloud forests and green hills and mountains. 


In Lanquin you will stay 2 nights in a great hotel, in a double room, breakfast is included.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hostal Oasis The Traveler
  • Comfort: Guayaha
  • Luxury: Guayaha
Day 9

place Semuc Champey

Today the tour that you came here for; from the lodge you depart for National Park Semuc Champey at 9:00am. This is formed by what is known as a natural land bridge 500 meters long which forms the backbone of a series of descending turkoize pools and small waterfalls that make up Semuc Champey. We take you on a full-day tour, starting with a visit to the Kan-Ba caves. This cave complex is flooded by water, and with a guide you will swim, climb and slide through the caves, with only candle in your hand (can be optional). After that you visit Semuc Champey itself, where you can hike to the lookout point, and take a swim in the stunning turkoize pools. Finally, you tube down the river to relax from this day. Lots of fun and adventure!

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hostal Oasis The Traveler
  • Comfort: Guayaha
  • Luxury: Guayaha
Day 10

place Flores

Today at 8:00am you travel to Flores, the colorful peninsula in the Peten Itzá lake. The ride takes about 8 hours. In Flores you stay at a comfortable hotel on the boulevard, with great lakeviews.Here you stay 1 night at a hotel on the boulevard, with great lakeviews, a good restaurant and a small swimming pool. You stay in a double room with bathroom and breakfast included.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Casa Turquesa
  • Comfort: Hotel Casona de La Isla
  • Luxury: Hotel Camino Real Tikal
Day 11

place Tikal National Park

Get ready to visit one of the highlights of Guatemala! Today at 07:30am you will go to Tikal National Park. It is a 45-minute drive from Flores to Tikal, and in Tikal you have a guided tour through this immense park of Mayan ruins. The bilingual guide will walk you along the many ruins, temples and complexes from the ancient Mayan culture, and tell you everything about the impressive history. Entrance fees are included, as well as the lunch in the park. In the afternoon the van returns you to the hotel in Flores.

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation:

  • Standard: Hotel Casa Turquesa
  • Comfort: Hotel Casona de La Isla
  • Luxury: Hotel Camino Real Tikal
Day 12

place Back home

At xx you are picked at the hotel, and in a private vehicle you are transfer to the airport Mundo Maya, for your flight back to Guatemala City, then in the airport La Aurora your flight back home. Hasta pronto Guatemala!

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hotel Posada San Vicente by AHS
  • Acatenango Base Camp Area
  • Eco Hotel Uxlabil
  • Hotel Dos Mundos
  • Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Hostal Oasis The Traveler
  • Hotel Casa Turquesa
  • Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
  • Acatenango Base Camp Area
  • Eco Hotel Uxlabil
  • Porta Hotel del Lago
  • Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Guayaha
  • Hotel Casona de La Isla
  • Hotel las Camelias Inn by AHS
  • Acatenango Base Camp Area
  • Sababa resort
  • Porta Hotel del Lago
  • Hotel Ruinas Resort
  • Guayaha
  • Hotel Camino Real Tikal

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (11)
  • Lunch (3)
  • Dinner (1)
  • Snacks (1)

Transport expand_less

  • Private transfer airport Guatemala City - Antigua hotel.
  • Collective shuttle Acatenango - Antigua hotel.
  • Collective shuttle hotel Antigua - Tzanjuyu dock. Private boat transportation dock - San Juan
  • Collective shuttle hotel Atitlan - meetingpoint. Private transfer meetingpoint - hotel Huehuetenango
  • Private transfer hotel Huehuetenango - hotel Lanquin
  • Collective shuttle Lanquin meetingpoint - hotel Flores
  • Private transfer hotel Flores - airport Mundo Maya. Air tickets airport Santa Elena - Guatemala City

Activities expand_less

  • Acatenango collective hike
  • Tour to Rostro Maya
  • Tour to Olaverri viewpoint & Magdalena Lagoon
  • Tour of Cenotes of Candelaria & Cimarron Hole
  • Tour of Ruins of Zaculeu & Mammoth Museum
  • Tour to Semuc Champey
  • Tour Tikal National Park

Extras expand_less

  • Full service by destination expert of Trip.me; a welcome packet before departure and 24/7 assistance

Not Included expand_less

  • International flights, travel insurance
  • Other meals and drinks, personal expenses, tips
  • Aditional tours and excursions, to be booked on location according to your own preference

About Petra

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

verified Baboo Certified

star_outline 5 (8 reviews)

Expertise: 

Kayaking

Hiking

Snorkeling/Diving

Visit markets

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Historic & cultural landmarks

Purposeful Travel

Nature & Wildlife

I have a tourism education background from the Netherlands. In Guatemala I worked in tourism, and then started my own business in 2012. I have been organizing trips for traveling and volunteering ever since, and I love showing Guatemala´s beauty!

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