Description:
Plenty of time to enjoy the highlights of Guatemala. We will bike through the lovely colonial town of Antigua, kayak the pristine Lake Atitlan, which is surrounded by volcanoes. Then spend a few days in the rain forest near the border with Belize and a full day at the magnificent Mayan ruins at Tikal.
Activites:
Cultural Exploration, Hiking, Biking, Kayaking
Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Antigua
We will meet you off your flight and transfer you to the beautiful city of Antigua. Overnight in Antigua.
Day 2: Biking Antigua Valley (B, L)
This morning we will provide an orientation and safety talk before selecting the bikes, giving out helmets, gloves and water bottles and embarking on the first “warm-up” ride. This morning ride will take guests through colorful local Maya villages, coffee plantations and colonial ruins. You will enjoy biking on the slopes of Antigua’s towering volcanoes and through traditional farms and fields.
Day 3: Guided Tour of Antigua & Free time to explore (B)
Today guests will be take on a guided tour of the main monuments of the beautiful colonial city of Antigua including the main square, cathedral, iglesia la Merced & San Francisco. In the afternoon you will be free to explore and shop unaccompanied but armed with a map and lots of information on where to go and what to see.
Day 4: Bike to Lake Atitlan. (B, L)
Today we transfer and then bike all the way to Lake Atitlan. Guests will experience riding through glorious Maya mountain villages and beautiful remote highland countryside. In the last portion of the ride you will be able to enjoy magnificent views towards Lake Atitlan and her three surrounding volcanoes.
Day 5: Kayak Santiago Bay (B)
This morning guests can take off and kayak on the crystal-clear Lake Atitlan. They will pass by local fishermen, indigenous Maya women doing their washing and men working in the fields wearing their famous embroidered Santiago shorts. After lunch we recommend a visit to the village of Santiago Atitlan, with its lively market andits strange Maya God, “Maximon” which locals revere and perform rituals in front of to bring good luck – or bad!
Day 6: Market at Chichicastenango
Today you will transfer to the famous highland market town of Chichi where you will have time to explore the market, shop for many wonderful traditional crafts and see maya rituals being performed in the catholic church and up in the cemetery. In the afternoon you will transfer back to Antigua for a relaxing evening back in this beautiful and lively town.
Day 7: Yaxha Maya Ruins in the Rainforest
This morning we will transfer you to Guatemala City for your internal flight up into the northern rainforest to their hotel on the banks of the Peten Itza lake. In the northern rainforest area of the Peten there are numerous ancient Mayan temple sites and bountiful tropical wildlife. After lunch and a rest at the hotel we will transfer you deep into the rainforest to visit the beautiful and atmospheric site of Yaxha & to watch the sunset from the top of the main temple.
Day 8: Tikal World Famous Maya Ruins in the Rainforest
An early start today in order to see the best of the tropical wildlife and to have the site all to yourselves! Today we will transfer guests into Tikal National Park to visit the world famous site of Tikal. After your tour, in the mid-afternoon, guests will be transferred back to Flores airport for the evening flight back to Guatemala City. After being met at the airport you will be driven to your hotel.
This area is full of restaurants and bars where you can celebrate your last night in Guatemala. Overnight in Guatemala City.
FOR CLIENTS STAYING ON TO DO A BELIZE TOUR THEY WILL STAY TONIGHT IN THE TIKAL AREA AND THE NEXT DAY WILL TRANSFER INTO BELIZE ON DAY 1 OF THE BELIZE TOUR
Day 9 Departure
This morning we will transfer guests to the airport in plenty of time for their international flight home or we will continue with extensions to this trip.