7-Nights Highlights of Guatemala: Antigua, Atitlan & Tikal - Private Guided Experiences from $5,435

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Arrive in Guatemala City & Transfer to Antigua

Transfer: Guatemala City Airportto Antigua

Hotel: El Convento Boutique Hotel (4 Star Rating)

Providing extraordinary hospitality experiences while visiting one of the mostcharming historical cities in the world, El Convento Boutique Hotel is an exclusive and historic propertyin the heart of Antigua Guatemala. With its contemporary colonial architecture and world class service,guests also enjoy being surrounded by the spectacle of a diverse community accented by 300-year-oldchurches, plazas and markets.

Antigua is among the world’s best conserved colonial cities in the Americas. It is a magic and captivating small town that makes you feel time might have stopped 300 years ago. Enjoy this exceptional walking tour visiting the Central Plaza, where you can find the main buildings including El Portal, Palacio de Capitanes, City Hall and the Cathedral. Admire the colonial architecture and secrets of this interesting colonial city. The tour will also walk through Tanque la Union, San Francisco Church and Museum, 5th Avenue and finally end at La Merced where you will be left to enjoy time at leisure.

After being met at your hotel, settle in for a traditional tuk tuk transfer to the nearby Rum House. Here, you will be welcomed by local staff and be invited to taste one of the world's best rums. Zacapa Centenario is a first-class Guatemalan rum made from virgin sugar cane honey. It received 97 points from the Beverage Tasting Institute and a Gold Medal at the 2007 International Cane Spirits Festival and is widely considered to not only be the best rum in Guatemala, but among the finest examples in the world. After your tasting course, you will be returned to your hotel in Antigua.

Transfer: Antigua to Santiago Atitlan

Hotel: Casa Palopo (3 Star Rating)

Perched in a spectacular fashion above beautiful Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan Highlands, Casa Palopo is a place for relaxation on the banks of one of the country’s greatest draws. An especially noteworthy feature is the helipad on-site; many visitors skip the three-hour drive from Guatemala City and arrive via helicopter. Casa Palopo, loaded with art and culture, brightly painted walls, exquisite furnishings and local Guatemalan crafts blends modern design with Guatemala’s rich culture.

Today's journey invites you to board a vessel and sail to Santiago Atitlan. Santiago, also known as St. James, is home to Maximon, a pagan saint known for his love of moonshine and cigars. Maximon is visited every day by locals, healers, and tourists seeking favors or requests considered too risqué for other deities. The adventure continues in Santa Catarina Palopo, a small-town rich in beautiful landscapes. Set out on a private walking tour, gaining insight into the town's impressive painting project. The aim of this project is to refresh building facades throughout town to encourage tourism to the region. Two Dutch artists have taken on this monumental task and work daily to empower locals to create designs that best represent the culture of Santa Catarina Palopo. After your tour, a private transfer whisks you back to your hotel to enjoy drinks on the terrace as the sun sets in the distance.

Transfer: Santiago Atitlan to Guatemala City

Board your flight from Guatemala City to Flores. Approximate flight time is one hour.

Transfer: Flores Airportto Flores - Tikal

Hotel: Jungle Lodge Hotel (3 Star Rating)

Jungle Lodge is directly related to the creation of the first established scientific campsite in Tikal, which lodged archaeologists from the University of Pennsylvania, United States, for the exploration of the Mayan city. Family-owned, the lodge is dedicated to taking care of and bring attention to explorers and visitors, focused on giving comfort and guidance to those who are looking for magic in the most important cities in Mayan history. Jungle Lodge is guided and inspired by discovery and innovation and aims to deliver unique and highly comfortable experiences for their guests.

Uaxactún Archaeological Park is located close to Tikal and is surrounded by 47 hectares of dense tropical rainforest. In addition to its unique natural beauty, this city was an important center for the development of monumental art during the Preclassic Period (2000 BC - 250 AD). The Astronomical Observation Complex found in Uaxactún is still very important for the celebration of Maya ceremonies and rituals. Equinoxes and solstices are celebrated every year during the Uaxactún Festival. The community of Uaxactún is an excellent role model of how communities can benefit more from preserving their natural resources. After exploring the ruins, you will be returned to your hotel.

In the early afternoon, a local private guide will transfer you to Yaxhá Archaeological Site for a beautiful sunset tour. An archaeological site and ancient ceremonial center of Mayan civilization situated in the northeast of Peten, this site is a mixture of archeology, beautiful landscapes and ecological tourism. With more than 500 structures in the site, including 40 stelae, 13 altars and 9 pyramids, this site is a must-see when visiting the area. Paired with a wonderful sunset, it may just be the highlight of your trip. After the sun fades into the horizon, you will be returned to your hotel.

Your tour guide will meet you in the lobby of your hotel and transfer you to Tikal National Park. Here your guide will guide you through the layout of the temples, history, and theories of why the inhabitants disappeared. If you are lucky, a few monkeys, parrots, macaws and toucans will also be on site. One of the largest examples of pre-Columbian architecture, Tikal was once the capital of a powerful Mayan kingdom. Though mystery still abounds, some researchers believe that as many as 90,000 people once lived here, and the nearby museum helps to showcase much of what is known as well as some of the alluring unknowns. After the tour, enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the jungle, and afterward, settle in for the return transfer back to your hotel or to the airport, pending on your itinerary.

Transfer: Flores - Tikal to Flores Airport

Board your flight from Flores to Guatemala City. Approximate flight time is one hour.