A 16-day discovery of Guatemala and Belize’s highlights - colonial towns, Maya ruins, lively culture, lush rainforest and Caribbean beaches

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

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • All tours mentioned in itinerary
  • All transfers and domestic flight
  • Full support from your Travel Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

Explore the very best of Guatemala and Belize on this luxury 16-day adventure, experiencing the diverse landscapes and cultures of these quintessential Central American countries.

Begin you journey in Antigua, an enchanting little city, ringed by three volcanoes, with perfectly preserved colonial and Baroque architecture from its time as the Spanish capital of Central America. Here, you’ll taste the best local street food and hike up the active Pacaya volcano.

Next, venture to the beautiful shores of tranquil Lake Atitlan, taking private tours to uncover the rich culture of area, visiting villages and a bustling market where Maya traditions are still strongly felt.

Then enjoy three nights at Francis Ford Coppola’s La Lancha lodge by the astounding ruins of Tikal, an ancient Maya citadel surrounded by jungle and the site of the tallest pre-Columbian structure in the Americas.

You’ll also get to visit Yaxha, a lesser frequented site in an area rich with wildlife for an unforgettable sunset. From here, cross the border into Belize and the rainforest of the Cayo District. Spend a full day on an expedition into the Actun Tunichil Mukna cave system, an enigmatic Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics and stoneware.

Your final three nights will be spent on Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, relaxing on its sandy beaches, snorkelling in its warm Caribbean waters and soaking up the wonderfully laid back atmosphere.

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.

Private full day Pacaya Volcano hiking tour Private full day Pacaya Volcano hiking tour

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 lovely 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 and once you are back at the base you will be privately transferred back to either Antigua or Guatemala City.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Antigua to Lake Atitlan

Days 4-7

Lake Atitlan

Accommodation in Lake Atitlan

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.

Full day private tour of Chichicastenengo Market from Atitlan Full day private tour of Chichicastenengo Market from Atitlan

You will be met at your hotel by your private driver & guide for the 1hr transfer out to the highland town of Chichicastenango. Along the way you will pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives - working in the fields, collecting firewood, travelling between markets, selling their wares. Upon arrival at Chichicastenango your guide will take you to explore this famous market both the local areas of the fruit & vegetables & everyday items as well as the craft area where you can find endless variety of beautiful textile, wooden & ceramic crafts. You can also visit the famous St Tomas Church where local Maya people come to perform Maya rituals within the Catholic church - demonstrating the interesting way the two faiths have combined in recent times. If you want to you can also hike up the hill to the Pascaul Abaj ritual site to see if any local shaman are performing rituals and/or to the cemetery on the outskirts of town. Lunch is provided in the Hotel St Tomas.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private Transfer from Lake Atitlan to Guatemala City

Flight

Flight from Guatemala City to Flores

Days 7-10

Tikal

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Transfer from Flores airport to your hotel

Accommodation in Tikal

Three nights in Tikal Three nights in Tikal
Yaxha sunset tour Yaxha sunset tour

Head to Yaxha National Park where you’ll enjoy a private guided tour of this lesser visited site. The city was once home to around 40,000 people and its 400-plus structures include five acropolises, two astronomical towers and three ball courts. The area is rich in wildlife and you’ll enjoy the sights and sounds of howler and spider monkeys as well as colourful tropical birds. Enjoy sunset drinks at the end of the tour on top of the main temple, with views over the surrounding rainforest and nearby Lake Yaxha. You’ll then trek back through the jungle with torches as it starts to get dark, perhaps spotting some nocturnal wildlife along the way.

Private tour of Tikal Private tour of Tikal

Enjoy a private guided tour of the Tikal site with its fabulous temples that rise up through the jungle canopy. History will come to life as you discover the ruins, which are dominated by five enormous pyramids, rising to more than 60m. Many structures are wrapped in giant roots and partially hidden beneath mounds of earth, making this site ripe for exploring. Keep your eyes peeled for tropical birds and monkeys. After a restaurant lunch, explore the museum before heading back to your hotel.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to the Belize border at Melchor de Mencos and on to your hotel in the Cayo District

Days 10-13

Cayo District

Accommodation in Cayo District

Three nights in the Cayo District Three nights in the Cayo District

Spend your days exploring the lush interior area of Cayo and where you can truly get stuck into some outdoors activities, hiking the rainforest, birdwatching, horseriding, kayaking, to happening upon hidden Mayan ruins and cave rivers.

Full day tour of the Actun Tunichil Mukna caves Full day tour of the Actun Tunichil Mukna caves

Your guide and instructor will collect you from your hotel and drive you to the Actun Tunichil Mukna caves for a full day's exploration of them with picnic lunch.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Transfer to San Ignacio airstrip

Flight

Flight from San Ignacio to Ambergris Caye

Days 13-16

Ambergris Caye

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Shared transfer from San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) to hotel

Resorts in Ambergris Caye

Three nights on Ambergris Caye Three nights on Ambergris Caye

The country's most popular beach destination, for good reason when you see its calm Caribbean beaches, chic island hotels and warm tropical waters. Spend your days here winding down and soaking up the sun, to some excellent snorkelling, diving, water sports and days out on a chartered boat.

Private boat cruise to Mexico Rocks Private boat cruise to Mexico Rocks

Take a boat up the coast from Ambergris Caye to Mexico Rocks where an beautiful collection of Star, Elk Horn Coral, and Staghorn corals are colonised by lobsters, rays, eels and colourful juvenile fish. Shallow and protected by the barrier reef from ocean swells, this site is great for novice snorkellers with excellent visibility. Lunch is will be a wonderful BBQ cooked up on the beach.

Day of Leisure at Ambergris Caye Day of Leisure at Ambergris Caye

Enjoy your day of leisure at Ambergris Caye swimming, snorkelling and diving in the warm Caribbean seas, on a trip to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef or simply relaxing at your luxury hotel.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Transfer from Ambergris Caye hotel to San Pedro airport

Flight

Flight from Ambergris Caye to Belize City

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16-Day Example Trip
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