amazing Guatemala & mayan experience
8 days / 7 nights
day 1 - Begins in: GUATEMALA CITY
day 8 - ends in: GUATEMALA CITY
*** what you must do to join the program is just TO arrangE your own transportation FOR arrivING " GUATEMALA CITY " on time to catch the program according to vacation date alternatives that may seen from "form fill in" section right below of THE vacation program. ***
vacation program
Day 1 : Arrival to Guatemala city and transfer to la Antigua guatemala
guests will be transfer upon arrival to one of the most charming
colonial cities in the UNESCO heritage site list. La Antigua Guatemala is
located 50 minutes from the national airport in Guatemala City. K&S guides /
tour leaders / drivers are perfectly trained to maintain a tight control over
luggage management throughout the entire program. The idea is to create a
hassle-free environment in every moment of the program and maximize enjoyment
during their stay. This will be applied once they arrived at the airport as
every staff member will be properly dressed with company uniform and ID-tags.
Once the groups arrive to the exit gate in the front of the airport, our program
coordinator and TL will welcome them and the team. We will personally handle all
belongings through tags matching guest list.
Upon arrival to the hotel, check-in and A welcome dinner will be set in the hotel restaurant.
overnight in la Antigua Guatemala.
Day 2 : Colonial tour / Cycle through the Valley
Today we will have the chance to explore the magic of this colonial town and its heritage. Pounded with hard natural disasters the capital was thought to move out to a different location. Several hundred years later we
consider the town of La Antigua as one of the most charming towns in Central America. After walking through Antigual, we will be going on a cycling tour. This tour is named for the Almolonga Valley, just to the west of Antigua, which was home of the 2nd capital of Guatemala, Ciudad Vieja. The old city met a fateful doom in 1541 as a result of a terrible mudslide released from the crater of the Volcano de Agua. The city disappeared in the valley between Agua, Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes and the exact site of the old city is the source of much debate. They will go on the countryside by mountain bike. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. See
ruins one earthquake away from extinction. Stop at a macadamia farm in Valhalla and visit Lorenzo‟s experimental farm—sustainable agriculture using radical economics. In this farm we will have lunch.
after lunch, Return to the road and cycle to the textile village of San Antonio Agua Calientes, famous for its weavings, visiting the market and museum. Then we will return to the hotel in Antigua Guatemala.
Dinner will be on Peña del Sol Latino restaurant,
enjoying a live music show.
overnight in la Antigua Guatemala.
Day 3 : Active volcano hike
This morning we will head toward an adventure and climb the Pacaya Volcano. Located 50 km to the southwest of Guatemala City, it is close enough for a daytrip yet far enough for a wild natural adventure. To get there, take the road to Palin and Escuintla and make a left turn in km 37.5, head to San Vicente Pacaya, then precede to San Francisco de Sales (dirt road), where the ascent begins.
It has four peaks called: Cerro Chiquito, Cerro de Agua, Cerro Chino and Pico Mackenney. The active crater is at the top of Pico Mackenney. It is always throwing ashes, water vapor and lapilli (small stones) up into the sky, and at least once a year it pours out lava. Its official height is 2550 mt., but it is only a symbolic number, because its continuous eruptions keep piling new materials over the summit and blowing them away occasionally to start over again. Another consequence of this nonstop activity is that the shape of the active cone never remains the same, giving the visitor a unique show every time, no matter how many times he has been there. A short briefing and explanation will be given upon arrival before the hike start. This hike is considered a basic to medium level of difficulty and hiked comfortably almost by any one. However, don‟t you worry if you have any difficulties as we have local horses available if needed for this activity. Once we reach the summit we will enjoy this beautiful view with some refreshments and light snacks. Get close to LAVA activity and witness the many traces of dry lava paths that mark years of constant activity.
Pacaya is one of the three active volcanoes in the country and one of the few you can climb around the world and get this close to the crater.
A box lunch will be given and enjoy at a field located just a few minutes down from the summit. This will be a perfect place and location for taking pictures. From this place you can also witness Pacaya‟s two bigger and twin brother volcanoes, Fuego and Acatenango.
After lunch we will head back to our vehicles to be transferred back to La Antigua with enough time to freshen up before dinner.
Tonight dinner will be set on a local restaurant.
overnight in la Antigua guatemala.
Day 4 : The breathtaking Highlands & national traditional market of Chichicastenango en route to Lake Atitlan
We will start early in the morning and after breakfast check-out from the hotel and transfer in luxury vehicle across the Pan-American Highway through and into the highlands. On our way, we will take a short stop perfect for some photography opportunities and have some snacks and refreshing drink.
The first stop: Our National market. Chichicastenango. People travel around the world in search of this kind of authentic market. This is where all the products are sold right after they are picked up from the field, or weaved at home or shop, or carved in their local
garage. This is where it all starts before it reaches the stores and other markets in the country. This is where the all products are sold after they are picked up from the field, or weaved at home or shop, or carved in their local garage. This is where it all starts before it reach the stores and other markets in the country.
Lunch will be ready for the group on the Santo Tomás Hotel restaurant.
We will continue traveling to Lake Atitlán where check in will be set up on the beautiful gardens of the hotel.
A natural drink will be served while checking in to hotel.
The group will have time to enjoy these beautiful gardens or go to the main street of Panajachel, called Calle Santander, where they will find different handicraft stores and have a look at a busy town.
dinner at hotel. overnight in atitlan.
Day 5 : Boat ride to Mayan Village of Santiago / Visit Maximon shrine / Zip line activities
This day will start on the same way for the three programs and will change from midday on.
After breakfast, we will have a boat waiting for us at the dock in order to take them to their wonderful boat ride across the lake.
than we'll be taken to the village of Santiago. Here is where the Maximon, The Mayan God is represented by an effigy and located with his brotherhood shaman. While we stop by for a private visit, our guides will ask the Mayan shaman to pray for the well being of each of ours family, ask for success and health in their lives and business ahead. For a short distance we will travel by one of the most authentic local method of transportation, the famous fletes. Pickup trucks that are used specially to transfer a good amount of people standing in the back bed of the vehicle. This represents a cheap way, both, for the driver and the passenger in moving more
people and best value. This is how we will travel around the village and visit the church.
after the visit to Santiago, we'll go back to Panajachel and have lunch at the Sunset Café on the shore of the lake.
than we will head back to Panajachel and be transferred by TUC TUC´s, to a Natural Reserve Park where they will have the opportunity of enjoying it's beautiful oak forests, dappled creeks and coffee groves as they walk along shaded nature trails and crosses hanging
bridges. The park has nature trails with signs for self-guided walks. An enclosed butterfly preserve with a breeding laboratory including examples of eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis, with information on the importance of butterflies and their relationships with the plants and animals around them. Also a collection of orchids which can be found in the Butterfly Preserve and on
the nature trails, with nearly 50 of the more than 900 species native to Guatemala, a bird refuge, marvelous "open" enclosures for monkeys, raccoons and other wildlife, with an observation deck for watching the birds and animals in their natural settings.
Ziptreck guests ride a total of eight ziplines ranging from 90 meters (295 ft) to 320 meters /1050 ft.) along waterfalls, canyons, the valley and the coffee grove forest. Ziplining involves gliding along suspended steel cables, using pulleys and a full-body climbing harness. Tour durations is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it includes a 600 mt. (1970 ft.) walk with a vertical ascent of 70 mt. (230 ft.) along an old horse trail. Each zipline offers a totally different experience: some generate adrenaline at 60 meters (196 ft) above ground enjoying the moving landscape, others offer striking beauty in the vistas (views) of the volcanoes and the lake. All equipment (harnesses, carabinners, slings, trolleys, etc.) has US and European certification, the design and construction of the ziptrek
followed international standards for safety and it has been tested with loads that provide wide margins of safety.
After their rides on the ziplines, we will go to an area were a bone fire will be lighted and have some beers and crackers.
Dinner will have in a local restaurant.
overnight in atitlan.
Day 6 : atitlan - Guatemala city - tikal
after Breakfast, Time to freshen up and check out of the hotel than Transfer to Guatemala City, we'll have Lunch on
the way to the airport. and we will have flight to tikal.
Tikal was home to an estimated 100,000 Maya & it was one of the more important urban centers of its time. This is evident in the more than 3,000 structures extending over six square miles. Around the Great Plaza is the Temple of the Giant Jaguar which reaches a height of over 170 feet. This Temple is the tomb of a high priest, buried with hundreds of offerings like vases & jade. The sanctuary for worship at the top of the structure sits on a nine-tiered pyramid. Nearby is The Temple of Masks, which has a flat form and reaches 139 feet. Between these two temples is a courtyard which covers two-and-a-half acres, and its original floor goes back to 150 years before
Christ. Two palace complexes can also be found there. Tikal is also the refuge for most of the animals in Guatemala & is a place where they can be easily seen. Spider & howler monkeys are visible, as well as red coatis, raccoons, white-tailed deer, toucans, parrots, macaws, humming birds & rare falcons such as the orange breast falcon. Reptiles, in particular snakes, are also abundant.
after arrival, we will transfer to camping area and have dinner there and than check-in to hotel and free time to exploring tikal at night.
overnight in tikal
Day 7 : Discover the City of Voices, UNESCO heritage & world famous TIKAL & Ixpanpajul Park - return to Guatemala city
after a breakfast, check-out from the hotel and start tour in order to explore emazing tikal and ixpanpajul park where also you will have lunch at local restaurant.
then transfer to the tikal airport to way back to Guatemala city. the flight will be 50 mins. and after arrival to Guatemala city, transfer to your hotel to take a rest.
dinner at hotel restaurant.
overnight in Guatemala city.
Day 8 : transfer to airport
after breakfast, check-out from the hotel, transfer to airport and back home
day 8 - ends in: GUATEMALA CITY
*** what you must do to join the program is just TO arrangE your own transportation FOR arrivING " GUATEMALA CITY " on time to catch the program according to vacation date alternatives that may seen from "form fill in" section right below of THE vacation program. ***
vacation program
Day 1 : Arrival to Guatemala city and transfer to la Antigua guatemala
guests will be transfer upon arrival to one of the most charming
colonial cities in the UNESCO heritage site list. La Antigua Guatemala is
located 50 minutes from the national airport in Guatemala City. K&S guides /
tour leaders / drivers are perfectly trained to maintain a tight control over
luggage management throughout the entire program. The idea is to create a
hassle-free environment in every moment of the program and maximize enjoyment
during their stay. This will be applied once they arrived at the airport as
every staff member will be properly dressed with company uniform and ID-tags.
Once the groups arrive to the exit gate in the front of the airport, our program
coordinator and TL will welcome them and the team. We will personally handle all
belongings through tags matching guest list.
Upon arrival to the hotel, check-in and A welcome dinner will be set in the hotel restaurant.
overnight in la Antigua Guatemala.
Day 2 : Colonial tour / Cycle through the Valley
Today we will have the chance to explore the magic of this colonial town and its heritage. Pounded with hard natural disasters the capital was thought to move out to a different location. Several hundred years later we
consider the town of La Antigua as one of the most charming towns in Central America. After walking through Antigual, we will be going on a cycling tour. This tour is named for the Almolonga Valley, just to the west of Antigua, which was home of the 2nd capital of Guatemala, Ciudad Vieja. The old city met a fateful doom in 1541 as a result of a terrible mudslide released from the crater of the Volcano de Agua. The city disappeared in the valley between Agua, Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes and the exact site of the old city is the source of much debate. They will go on the countryside by mountain bike. Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. See
ruins one earthquake away from extinction. Stop at a macadamia farm in Valhalla and visit Lorenzo‟s experimental farm—sustainable agriculture using radical economics. In this farm we will have lunch.
after lunch, Return to the road and cycle to the textile village of San Antonio Agua Calientes, famous for its weavings, visiting the market and museum. Then we will return to the hotel in Antigua Guatemala.
Dinner will be on Peña del Sol Latino restaurant,
enjoying a live music show.
overnight in la Antigua Guatemala.
Day 3 : Active volcano hike
This morning we will head toward an adventure and climb the Pacaya Volcano. Located 50 km to the southwest of Guatemala City, it is close enough for a daytrip yet far enough for a wild natural adventure. To get there, take the road to Palin and Escuintla and make a left turn in km 37.5, head to San Vicente Pacaya, then precede to San Francisco de Sales (dirt road), where the ascent begins.
It has four peaks called: Cerro Chiquito, Cerro de Agua, Cerro Chino and Pico Mackenney. The active crater is at the top of Pico Mackenney. It is always throwing ashes, water vapor and lapilli (small stones) up into the sky, and at least once a year it pours out lava. Its official height is 2550 mt., but it is only a symbolic number, because its continuous eruptions keep piling new materials over the summit and blowing them away occasionally to start over again. Another consequence of this nonstop activity is that the shape of the active cone never remains the same, giving the visitor a unique show every time, no matter how many times he has been there. A short briefing and explanation will be given upon arrival before the hike start. This hike is considered a basic to medium level of difficulty and hiked comfortably almost by any one. However, don‟t you worry if you have any difficulties as we have local horses available if needed for this activity. Once we reach the summit we will enjoy this beautiful view with some refreshments and light snacks. Get close to LAVA activity and witness the many traces of dry lava paths that mark years of constant activity.
Pacaya is one of the three active volcanoes in the country and one of the few you can climb around the world and get this close to the crater.
A box lunch will be given and enjoy at a field located just a few minutes down from the summit. This will be a perfect place and location for taking pictures. From this place you can also witness Pacaya‟s two bigger and twin brother volcanoes, Fuego and Acatenango.
After lunch we will head back to our vehicles to be transferred back to La Antigua with enough time to freshen up before dinner.
Tonight dinner will be set on a local restaurant.
overnight in la Antigua guatemala.
Day 4 : The breathtaking Highlands & national traditional market of Chichicastenango en route to Lake Atitlan
We will start early in the morning and after breakfast check-out from the hotel and transfer in luxury vehicle across the Pan-American Highway through and into the highlands. On our way, we will take a short stop perfect for some photography opportunities and have some snacks and refreshing drink.
The first stop: Our National market. Chichicastenango. People travel around the world in search of this kind of authentic market. This is where all the products are sold right after they are picked up from the field, or weaved at home or shop, or carved in their local
garage. This is where it all starts before it reaches the stores and other markets in the country. This is where the all products are sold after they are picked up from the field, or weaved at home or shop, or carved in their local garage. This is where it all starts before it reach the stores and other markets in the country.
Lunch will be ready for the group on the Santo Tomás Hotel restaurant.
We will continue traveling to Lake Atitlán where check in will be set up on the beautiful gardens of the hotel.
A natural drink will be served while checking in to hotel.
The group will have time to enjoy these beautiful gardens or go to the main street of Panajachel, called Calle Santander, where they will find different handicraft stores and have a look at a busy town.
dinner at hotel. overnight in atitlan.
Day 5 : Boat ride to Mayan Village of Santiago / Visit Maximon shrine / Zip line activities
This day will start on the same way for the three programs and will change from midday on.
After breakfast, we will have a boat waiting for us at the dock in order to take them to their wonderful boat ride across the lake.
than we'll be taken to the village of Santiago. Here is where the Maximon, The Mayan God is represented by an effigy and located with his brotherhood shaman. While we stop by for a private visit, our guides will ask the Mayan shaman to pray for the well being of each of ours family, ask for success and health in their lives and business ahead. For a short distance we will travel by one of the most authentic local method of transportation, the famous fletes. Pickup trucks that are used specially to transfer a good amount of people standing in the back bed of the vehicle. This represents a cheap way, both, for the driver and the passenger in moving more
people and best value. This is how we will travel around the village and visit the church.
after the visit to Santiago, we'll go back to Panajachel and have lunch at the Sunset Café on the shore of the lake.
than we will head back to Panajachel and be transferred by TUC TUC´s, to a Natural Reserve Park where they will have the opportunity of enjoying it's beautiful oak forests, dappled creeks and coffee groves as they walk along shaded nature trails and crosses hanging
bridges. The park has nature trails with signs for self-guided walks. An enclosed butterfly preserve with a breeding laboratory including examples of eggs, caterpillars and chrysalis, with information on the importance of butterflies and their relationships with the plants and animals around them. Also a collection of orchids which can be found in the Butterfly Preserve and on
the nature trails, with nearly 50 of the more than 900 species native to Guatemala, a bird refuge, marvelous "open" enclosures for monkeys, raccoons and other wildlife, with an observation deck for watching the birds and animals in their natural settings.
Ziptreck guests ride a total of eight ziplines ranging from 90 meters (295 ft) to 320 meters /1050 ft.) along waterfalls, canyons, the valley and the coffee grove forest. Ziplining involves gliding along suspended steel cables, using pulleys and a full-body climbing harness. Tour durations is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it includes a 600 mt. (1970 ft.) walk with a vertical ascent of 70 mt. (230 ft.) along an old horse trail. Each zipline offers a totally different experience: some generate adrenaline at 60 meters (196 ft) above ground enjoying the moving landscape, others offer striking beauty in the vistas (views) of the volcanoes and the lake. All equipment (harnesses, carabinners, slings, trolleys, etc.) has US and European certification, the design and construction of the ziptrek
followed international standards for safety and it has been tested with loads that provide wide margins of safety.
After their rides on the ziplines, we will go to an area were a bone fire will be lighted and have some beers and crackers.
Dinner will have in a local restaurant.
overnight in atitlan.
Day 6 : atitlan - Guatemala city - tikal
after Breakfast, Time to freshen up and check out of the hotel than Transfer to Guatemala City, we'll have Lunch on
the way to the airport. and we will have flight to tikal.
Tikal was home to an estimated 100,000 Maya & it was one of the more important urban centers of its time. This is evident in the more than 3,000 structures extending over six square miles. Around the Great Plaza is the Temple of the Giant Jaguar which reaches a height of over 170 feet. This Temple is the tomb of a high priest, buried with hundreds of offerings like vases & jade. The sanctuary for worship at the top of the structure sits on a nine-tiered pyramid. Nearby is The Temple of Masks, which has a flat form and reaches 139 feet. Between these two temples is a courtyard which covers two-and-a-half acres, and its original floor goes back to 150 years before
Christ. Two palace complexes can also be found there. Tikal is also the refuge for most of the animals in Guatemala & is a place where they can be easily seen. Spider & howler monkeys are visible, as well as red coatis, raccoons, white-tailed deer, toucans, parrots, macaws, humming birds & rare falcons such as the orange breast falcon. Reptiles, in particular snakes, are also abundant.
after arrival, we will transfer to camping area and have dinner there and than check-in to hotel and free time to exploring tikal at night.
overnight in tikal
Day 7 : Discover the City of Voices, UNESCO heritage & world famous TIKAL & Ixpanpajul Park - return to Guatemala city
after a breakfast, check-out from the hotel and start tour in order to explore emazing tikal and ixpanpajul park where also you will have lunch at local restaurant.
then transfer to the tikal airport to way back to Guatemala city. the flight will be 50 mins. and after arrival to Guatemala city, transfer to your hotel to take a rest.
dinner at hotel restaurant.
overnight in Guatemala city.
Day 8 : transfer to airport
after breakfast, check-out from the hotel, transfer to airport and back home
destination video
|
cities of accommodation
la Antigua guatemala (3 nights) atitlan (2 nights) tikal (1 night) Guatemala city (1 nights) |
hotels
posada de don rodrigo hotel atitlan tikal archeological park westin camino real |
Note: Above hotel list is indicative only. If any of the above mentioned hotels are not available, an alternative hotel of similar standard shall be suggested
pricing double room per person
SINGLE ROOM triple room per person |
usd ($)3,360
3,700 3,260 |
euro (€)2,575
2,835 2,495 |
gbp (£)2,225
2,445 2,155 |
note: You may find additional child pricing on payment section.
|
program price INCLUDEs
>all Accommodations as vacation program, >All meals on the program, >All flights within the program include flight tickets (airport taxes are included). > Airport and hotel transfer & porters, > Water on hand for tours, > All entrance fees, > Every transfer (except local village style) has A/C and water refreshments on hand. > Local asistance & guidance. |
program price NOT INCLUDEs
>Expenses of personal nature like laundry, telephone, fax, internet, beverages, medical expenses, >Local payments in domestic currency, such as tips and gratuities >International air fare >Visa Fees (if needed) >Any other services not mentioned in Price Inclusions above |
remarks
>Clients are schedule to depart from Guatemala International airport. >Departure tax is not charge as it might be included in your ticket prices already. > Pillow gifts could be included upon request, with the Mayan and program themes in mind. > luggage must not be over 45 pounds for the flights to guatemala city airport. It will have an extra cost of US$0.80 per extra pound. >In case of any significant foreign exchange fluctuations or amendment in local Government taxes, or any fuel hike, we reserve the right to adjust the tour price accordingly. > Not applicable on Eastern week and final week of the year. |