Devour delicious local street food, explore ancient Iximche ruins and enjoy strolling round markets while soaking up the country’s natural beauty

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

What's included

  • Privately guided tours tailored specifically to you
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Private transfers
  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
  • Tour of ancient Iximche ruins
  • Street food tour in beautiful Antigua
  • Visits to local markets and textile cooperative
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Enjoy an authentic exploration of Guatemala that offers an insight into local culture and lets you experience some of Central America’s most beautiful landscapes.

Your adventure starts in the charming city of Antigua, once one of the largest seats of the Spanish colonial empire. As well as being filled with beautiful baroque architecture, the city enjoys a favourable setting in a central highland valley, ringed by three volcanoes.

Sample local delicacies on a street food tour that takes in some of the city’s tastiest food, and enjoy some time to explore the city on your own. Its pretty streets were made for walking and there are plenty of quaint plazas in which to enjoy a cup of local coffee.

En route to Lake Atitlan, visit the famous Maya archaeological site of Iximche and its atmospheric ruins, where a local shaman will perform an authentic Maya ceremony. You’ll then enjoy three days at the beautiful and peaceful Lake Atitlan, formed 80,000 years ago by a violent volcanic eruption.

As well as visiting a local textile cooperative and vibrant markets you’ll enjoy some time to take in the natural beauty of the lake and its surroundings before heading to Guatemala City for your return flight.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

Antigua

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Guatemala airport to your hotel in Antigua

Accommodation in Antigua

Three nights in Antigua Three nights in Antigua

Spend your days in this enchanting city strolling through avenidas, plazas and calles, soaking up the baroque architecture and lovely atmosphere. Explore the central market and artisan workshops and then head up to the Hill of the Cross for impressive city panoramas. Your travel designer will give you our top recommendations for culture, dining and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here.

antigua-street-food
Street food tour in Antigua Street food tour in Antigua

Discover the local cuisine on a tour that takes in some of Antigua’s best street food. You’ll visit several stalls, each with their own speciality, and enjoy sampling delicious morsels along the way.

Day at lesiure in Antigua Day at lesiure in Antigua

Spend a day in this enchanting city strolling through avenidas, plazas and calles, soaking up the baroque architecture and lovely atmosphere. Explore the central market and artisan workshops and then head up to the Hill of the Cross for impressive city panoramas. Your travel designer will give you our top recommendations for culture, dining and shopping so that you can make the most of your time here.

Tour of Iximche ruins and shaman ritual Tour of Iximche ruins and shaman ritual

Today you will be driven from Antigua to the famous Mayan archaeology site of Iximche for a tour of this fascinating site. Towards the back of the site is a lesser known (to visitors) yet it is an extremely important Maya spiritual, ceremony site. Here you will meet a local Shaman who will perform an authentic Maya ceremony for you in a local Maya language and include you in the ceremony as much as you wish. After the ceremony you can enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant.

Days 4-7

Lake Atitlan

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel at Lake Atitlan

Lodges at Lake Atitlan

Panoramic view of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, surrounded by mountain peaks on a sunny day
Three nights at Lake Atitlan Three nights at Lake Atitlan

Spend your time at Lake Atitlan taking in the incredible scenery and exploring this outstanding area of natural beauty. The tranquil atmosphere of this location means that it's the perfect place to relax for a few days.

Full-day tour to San Juan village and Santiago village on Lake Atitlan Full-day tour to San Juan village and Santiago village on Lake Atitlan

Transfer to San Juan La Laguna Village where you can visit a local textile cooperative to see the back strap loom in use and to see how they still dye with natural dyes. You can also visit the home and workshop of local naïf painters before boarding the boat onto Santiago Village for lunch. After lunch walk with your guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximon is living. Each year a different "brotherhood" has the privilege of taking care of their God so his location changes. Once with Maximon you may see local shaman performing rituals for local people and if you wish you can ask your guide to help you hire the services of a shaman for you to have a personal ceremony performed. After visiting Maximon guests can visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town and also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art that is famous from this area. When you are ready you will be transferred back to your hotel.

Tour of Chichicastenango Market Tour of Chichicastenango Market

Today you'll be brought on a tour of the vibrant Chichicastenango Market. Explore the stalls selling everything from handicrafts, food, flowers and pottery to livestock such as pigs and chickens. Textiles are a favourite at the market and make for great souvenirs. Next to the market, you'll see the 400 year old Church of Santo Tomas. This ancient church has been built on an even older site and its steps originally lead to a Mayan Temple, with each of the 18 steps standing for one month of the Maya calendar year. You'll then be transferred on to Antigua.

Panoramic view of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, surrounded by mountain peaks on a sunny day
Time at leisure at Lake Atitlan Time at leisure at Lake Atitlan
Days 7-8

Guatemala City

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Guatemala City

Accommodation in Guatemala City

The fountain of Constitution Plaza lined with locals on a sunny day, Guatemala City in Guatemala
Overnight in Guatemala City Overnight in Guatemala City
Flights & transfers

Transfer

Transfer to Guatemala City airport

Use the navigation to jump down to a particular part of this example trip
What's your dream trip?

We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.

Get in touch

A Luxury Discovery of Guatemala

An Eight-Day Example Trip
Prices start from
  PP
1
Simply complete the form below or give us a call
2
We'll get in touch within 24 hours and work with you to perfect the details of your trip.
3
Sit back and relax while we plan the perfect itinerary for you.

How we work

We create fully personalised trips from start to finish, working with you to pick locations, accommodation and guides that suit you.

Every trip helps support Conservation.

From in-depth private tours to restaurant reservations, we take care of every detail so you can make the most of your journey.

Be Inspired