12 DAYS TREASURES OF GUATEMALA

Arrive in Guatemala City and transfer 1.5h to the colonial town of Antigua Guatemala (UNESCO) for check in. Shaded by coffee plantations and 3 volcanoes, the former Guatemala capital was founded in 1543.

Tour the city’s colonial monuments: Las Capuchinas convent, La Merced church, La Plaza de Armas, Palace of the Royal Council, Captain-General’s Palace and the Cathedral. This afternoon, visit San Antonio Aguas calientes (hot springs).Along the tour, you will visit some comedores (eateries) most loved by locals to sample authentic Guatemalan street food such as chuchitos (Guatemala-style tamales), pupusas (cheese-filled corn tortillas), rellenitos (plantain dough filled with beans and then fried), and if you dare, even pigs’ trotters!

Depart early morning 54km/1.5h towards the highland. Visit Iximche Archaeological site (the country’s first capital), Chichicastenango (Thu & Sun only) or Solola market (Tue & Fri only). Spend some time to shop and observe traditionally-dressed Mayans from the highlands before continuing 94km/2h to Quetzaltenago, Guatemala’s 2nd largest city.

Visit the charming Indian villages of Zunil and canary-yellow San Andrés Xecul church, the country’s most ornate house of worship with over 200 carved figures echoing the designs found in the huipils worn by local women. Continue to Panajachel at the dramatic edge of Lake Atitlán, where you will stay on full board basis.

Get acquainted with the colourful textiles, arts and histories of the lake villages. Start at San Juan la Laguna, famed for its bright textiles and exquisite art. Learn their natural dyeing and looming process or you can try hands on! After home-cooked lunch at a local house, head to San Pedro la Laguna’s bustling market, church and taste its freshly harvested coffee. Your tour ends at Santiago Atitlan, Atitlan’s biggest town, to learn about the history of “toyocal” indigenous clothing, visit a historic church, colourful costumes market and Maximón, a symbol of the mixed pagan-Christian religion of the indigenous communities.

This morning, you will drive back 124km/3.5h to Guatemala City. Enjoy a tour through Guatemala City’s historical district, including the Central Park considered as one of Central America’s most beautiful, the National Palace, the Cathedral and the multistoried central market. Along your tour, you will visit some of the comedores (eateries) most loved by locals and will get to sample some delicious, authentic Guatemalan street food.

Fly Guatemala City / Flores AV7978 1801/1909 (1h8m)

Arrive in Tikal and check into your hotel on full-board basis.

The classical Mayan site of Tikal (UNESCO) is one of the continent’s biggest archaeological sites, with its golden period spanning 400-900AD. Exploring this heritage site is a fun adventure, as you hike through the dense jungle with abundant birds and wildlife with a deluxe picnic lunch.

A long, exciting day beckons as we continue 121km/2.5h to a less-visited Mayan site from Late Preclassic Period, Aguateca, which though not as immediate as the ones in Tikal is interesting due to its exotic jungle surroundings. Reaching the ruins is part of the adventure! You will boat down the river via Petexbatún Lagoon. Be on the lookout for birds and wildlife! This afternoon, we return to Sayaxche by motorboat and continue 193km/3.5h to Cobán.

Drive 73km/2.5h to Semuc Champey, considered Guatemala’s most scenic spot due to its limestone pools and gentle waterfalls amidst a narrow rainforest canyon. Hike 1h to a lookout above Semuc Champey and descend to swim in the clear waters and leisurely hike the area. Later afternoon, you will be transfer back to Coban.

Rise early for another long, exciting day. Drive eastwards 250km/4h to Honduras via Quiriguá Acropolis ruins (UNESCO), hidden in a Chiquita banana plantation. Known to be Guatemala’s least-weathered Mayan site, the Classic period Mayan site is famed for its tallest stelae. The Great Plaza contains zoomorphic sculptures, elaborate Two-Legged Sky stone monuments and Stela “C” which predicted the end of Mayan calendar on 21 Dec 2012. Drive 167km/3h and cross the international border to Honduras, where you will check into your Copan Hotel for the night.

Copan (UNESCO), dubbed “Paris of the Mayan world”, consists of the ruins and the sepulchers. Enjoy the impressive 63-step stairway with over 2,500 hieroglyphs and masterfully carved Stella. Visit the sculpture museum and 2 ancient tunnels providing insights into Copán’s early stages. After lunch, depart 230km/4h to Guatemala City to rest.

You will have the day free at leisure till time for your transfer to the airport for your flight.