A Family Exploration of Guatemala

Less than an hour south west of the capital, the UNESCO-awarded city of Antigua is easily one of the most enchanting in all of Latin America. The setting in a central highland valley ringed by three volcanoes, the city was once one of the largest seats of the Spanish colonial empire and has a perfectly preserved blend of that era’s history and its captivating baroque architecture. Furthermore with Antigua’s modern and very well ordered cosmopolitan charm, it’s no wonder it has and continues to win over so many.

Leaving from the doorstep of your hotel, you’ll enjoy a half day exploring the scenic Antigua valley. Riding on back roads and trails, you’ll pass through local villages, farms and fields getting a glimpse into life in Guatemala. You'll also get to visit tranquil churches and coffee plantations.

Today learn about the indulgent art of chocolate making. Begin by learning a bit about the history, from the Mayan discovery of the cacao bean to the mass production of chocolate throughout the world. You will also talk about the industry today, the different types of cacao and its health benefits before taking on the challenge of making your own chocolate.

Starting with the bean, work this into Cacao tea, Mayan hot Chocolate and European hot chocolate. Next, try your hand at traditional chocolate bars, to which you can use your creativity by adding some fun ingredients, including almonds, coffee beans, ginger, sea salt and much more.

This private tour begins with an hour's morning transfer taking you to the foothills of the active Pacaya volcano. Here you will hike through fragrant pine forest to the tough volcanic ash section and then to the sulfur smoking cone. During the hike, which is fairly strenuous, you may even see little eruptions and lava flow and when at the summit take in the amazing views of the northern volcanoes, pacific lowlands and El Salvador. On your return down you will stop for a picnic lunch with grand volcanic views.

El Paredón is located on the Pacific Coast of Guatemala and is where your day of adventure starts. On arrival you will enjoy breakfast by the beach, followed by a visit to La Posa del Nance turtle sanctuary. The mangroves surrounding the sanctuary are home to crustaceans, shellfish, jellyfish and other sea life and you’ll learn about marine conservation as well as the local sea turtles, whose breeding season is from June to November. You will then enjoy lunch on a black sand beach and have the opportunity to swim, surf, boogie board and more.

On arrival in Comalapa, you’ll see the famous mural painted by school children depicting events in Guatemala’s history un to the signing of the peace accords in 1996. You’ll visit some local painters who teach the tradition of naïve painting for which the town is famous. Stop by the authentic Comalapa market to see local people going about their daily life, buying and selling goods.

After lunch you will explore the small but wonderful Maya archaeology site of Iximche with its four ceremonial plazas, flanked by temples.

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.

You will be met by your guide for a boat transfer to Santa Cruz to kayak on the beautiful Lake Atitlan. Paddling towards the San Pedro volcano, past local fishermen tossing their nets, you will dock at the tranquil village of San Juan la Laguna. Your first stop is a 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.

You will then cross the lake by boat to the village of Santiago for lunch before visiting the colourful Maya god, Maximón. You may also see local shaman performing rituals. After visiting Maximón you'll visit the local 16th-century church and learn about the history of this very traditional town, see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art from this area.

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.

Head to the Reserva Atitlan and enjoy a moderate hike in the tropical rainforest, filled with lush greenery and waterfalls. The reserve is home to a diverse range of plants and animals including monkeys, the raccoon-like coati and exotic birds such as Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal. You’ll also visit the butterfly breeding lab, with approximately 200 species of butterfly. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can end your day with a canopy ride, featuring a 200m cable, which offers spectacular views across Lake Atitlan.