Highlands, volcanoes & Caribbean

Meals included: breakfast and dinner with a maya family
Accommodation: maya homestay (San Juan La Laguna, Lake Atitlán)
A guided hike led by a local guide

Easy-level walk. Elevation gain: 150 m (490 ft). Elevation loss: 150 m (490 ft). Total walking time: about 3 hours 45 minutes (can be shortened if desired).

Lake Atitlán is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, as writer Aldous Huxley once said. Set at 1 500 m (4 900 ft) in the tropical zone, it lies within an ancient caldera surrounded by three towering volcanoes of over 3 000 m (9 840 ft).

Before starting your lakeshore hike, you’ll have the chance to paddle along the edge of the lake by kayak. It’s like gliding through a postcard: the lake, the volcanoes, and the colorful Maya villages along the shore. You’ll then visit the narrow lanes of the Sololá market. Thanks to the village’s unique location between the highlands and the Pacific coastal plain, market days bring together an astonishing mix of Maya populations and a spectacular variety of traditional garments — a true festival of colors.

Your hike along the northwestern shore, facing the volcanoes, offers magnificent views of the lake. This off-the-beaten-path route crosses several hamlets and villages, allowing you to witness daily life among the local Maya communities. You’ll eventually arrive in San Juan La Laguna, one of the most picturesque villages around the lake. Many women here work in cooperatives and will show you how they revive ancestral techniques of dyeing cotton with natural plants. You’ll also find beautiful murals on the walls of the houses, depicting various aspects of Maya identity, painted by local artists.

Dinner will be shared with a Maya family (arranged by a community-based ecotourism association), who will also host you overnight — a warm opportunity to share daily life with the locals and appreciate genuine Maya hospitality. Overnight in San Juan La Laguna.

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation : Hotel (Quetzaltenango).
A guided hike led by a local guide

Moderate to challenging hike, suitable for active travelers accustomed to steep trails. Elevation gain: 650 m (2,130 ft); elevation loss: 650 m (2,130 ft). About 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the summit.

After breakfast with your host family, you’ll set off with a local guide to climb Cerro Cristalinas and reach the Santa Clara plateau. This viewpoint, located at 2,200 m (7,220 ft), overlooks the village of San Juan La Laguna. A major symbol for the locals, this ridge of the caldera — nicknamed the “Maya Face” (Rostro Maya) — resembles the profile of a reclining person, with Cerro Cristalinas forming the “nose.” This is undoubtedly the best hike at Lake Atitlán to enjoy the most spectacular panoramic views of the lake and its three majestic volcanoes (since climbing the volcanoes themselves offers fewer lake views). Along the way, you’ll pass through a lush coffee plantation. After about 30 minutes, you’ll already reach a beautiful lookout known as La Cruz (“the Cross”).        

In the afternoon, transfer to the Maya village of Chichicastenango. On the eve of the market, you’ll be able to witness the fascinating preparations taking place.

Overnight in Chichicastenango.

Meals included: breakfast and dinner with a maya family
Accommodation: maya homestay (Totonicapán)

The village of Chichicastenango is deeply rooted in Maya tradition. One of the few surviving pre-Columbian manuscripts — the Popol Vuh, often considered the Quiché Maya “Bible” — was discovered here.

The village is best known for its vibrant, colorful markets and for the scenes of religious syncretism that can be observed both outside and inside its colonial church. This church, built by the Spanish in the 16th century on the site of an ancient Maya temple, has a staircase with 18 steps, symbolizing the 18 months of the Maya calendar.

As you wander through the narrow streets, you’ll discover one of the most famous handicraft markets in the region — a true explosion of colors! You’ll find wooden carvings, silver jewelry, textiles, fruits, and the traditional incense known as copal. Among the finest local crafts are the embroidered huipils (blouses worn by Maya women) and the beautifully carved masks used in traditional dances.

Just a ten-minute walk from the center lies the town’s colorful cemetery, where you may witness Maya families performing ancestral ceremonies to honor their ancestors. Nearby, the Pascual Abaj hill serves as a sacred site for rituals that blend ancient Maya beliefs with Catholic elements.

In the mid-afternoon, drive across the highlands and its volcanoes along the Pan-American Highway toward the Quetzaltenango region. You’ll discover how local artisans pass on their skills from generation to generation — in weaving, ceramics, and more. Dinner and overnight with a Maya host family (weaving artisans).

Meals included: breakfast with the host family
Accommodation : Hotel (Quetzaltenango).

After breakfast, continue along the Pan-American Highway to San Francisco El Alto, located at 2,630 m (8,630 ft). You’ll stroll through the village to visit one of the largest indigenous markets in the region — featuring a livestock market, hand-embroidered textiles, pinewood furniture, and fruits and spices from all over the country. Near the market, you may also observe Maya ceremonies with spectacular mountain backdrops.

After exploring this vast market, you’ll visit several Maya villages in the area: San Andrés Xecul, whose church has an incredibly colorful façade; Salcajá, home to the oldest church in Central America (founded in 1524); and Zunil, known for its traditional cemetery dominated by the Santa María Volcano (3,770 m / 12,370 ft). You’ll follow a winding mountain road through patchwork fields, all cultivated by hand, to reach the Fuentes Georginas hot springs. Here, you can relax in large natural pools of thermal water on the slopes of the Zunil Volcano, surrounded by lush high-altitude jungle and towering tree ferns. This mountainous region of Quetzaltenango, less frequented by travelers due to its location off the main tourist routes, offers superb natural sites and Maya villages rich in living traditions.

Transfer to Quetzaltenango (altitude 2,300 m / 7,550 ft). The city lies in a highland valley at the foot of the Santa María Volcano and features a beautiful historic center with neoclassical Roman architecture.

Overnight in Quetzaltenango.

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: hotel (Antigua)
A guided hike led by a local guide

Difficulty: challenging. 6–7 hours of hiking, with 1,370 m (4,495 ft) of elevation gain and 1,370 m (4,495 ft) of elevation loss. Steep forest trail.

Before dawn, after a short transfer, you’ll meet your local guide in the hamlet of Llano del Pinal and begin a beautiful 3.5-hour hike. The trail first crosses cultivated fields at the base of the volcano, then climbs steeply through oak and conifer forest to reach the summit of the colossal Santa María Volcano (3,770 m / 12,370 ft).

From the top, you’ll enjoy a 360° panorama of the volcanic chain and the coastal plain. To the west rise the highest peaks in the country — Tacaná (4,000 m / 13,120 ft) and Tajumulco (4,200 m / 13,780 ft). To the east lie the volcanoes of Lake Atitlán and the Antigua region; to the north, the vast valley of Quetzaltenango and the highlands. The summit of Santa María offers some of the finest views in all of Guatemala’s volcanic range. Most impressively, just below you to the south stands the active Santiaguito Volcano (2,500 m / 8,200 ft), where you can often witness explosive eruptions. The Santa María–Santiaguito complex was formed in 1902 after a massive 19-day eruption of Santa María that created a caldera on its southwestern flank. Inside that caldera, the smaller stratovolcano Santiaguito emerged and has remained in constant activity since 1922. On clear days, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Among local trekkers, the ascent of Santa María is considered one of the most rewarding climbs in the volcanic range, thanks to its breathtaking views. However, it’s best suited for experienced hikers due to the steep incline and the rough condition of the trail. The descent follows the same route. (If you prefer a shorter hike, you can opt for a 3.5-hour round trip to a viewpoint overlooking the Santiaguito Volcano instead.)

In the afternoon, drive across the highlands to Antigua.

Overnight in the colonial city.

Meals included: breakfast at the hotel, picnic lunch, and simple dinner at camp
Accommodation: tent camping
A guided hike led by a local guide
Camping equipment included (tent, foam mats, portable stove for meals).

Difficulty: challenging. 3–4 hours of hiking on a steep forest trail, with 1,200 m (3,940 ft) of elevation gain.

Depart from Antigua toward the hamlet of La Soledad, at the foot of the colossal Acatenango Volcano (3,970 m / 13,025 ft). A 3- to 4-hour hike will take you to the Acatenango base camp. The trail first crosses cultivated fields covered in black volcanic sand, then climbs into a magnificent oak and conifer forest. Though well maintained by locals, the trail is steep and best suited for experienced hikers.

The twin volcanoes Acatenango (3,970 m / 13,025 ft) and Fuego (3,760 m / 12,340 ft) form a single volcanic complex. Both are stratovolcanoes, and Fuego is one of the most continuously active volcanoes in Guatemala. The Spanish once referred to them collectively as Volcanes de Fuego because of Fuego’s frequent explosive eruptions, which hurl glowing material down its slopes. Above 3,300 m (10,830 ft), Fuego’s summit remains almost entirely barren.

From the base camp, you’ll enjoy an exceptional view of Fuego and its eruptive activity. A simple meal will be served before spending the night in your tent at 3,600 m (11,810 ft), just a few kilometers away from the eruptive cone — the perfect spot for nighttime observation of Fuego’s spectacular lava bursts.

Meals included: simple breakfast at camp
Accommodation: hotel (Flores – first night)
A guided hike led by a local guide
Flight from Guatemala City to Flores included

Difficulty: challenging. Steep forest trail throughout the hike, with final sections over volcanic sand and scoria to reach the summit.

Approx. 5 hours of hiking: 400 m (1,310 ft) elevation gain, 1,550 m (5,085 ft) elevation loss.

Early in the morning, if you wish, you’ll climb to the summit of Acatenango (3,970 m / 13,025 ft) to enjoy the magnificent views from above. From the top — which rises about 200 m higher than neighboring Fuego — you’ll have an unmatched perspective of Fuego’s eruptions and of the surrounding volcanic landscape. The panorama stretches over the Guatemalan highlands, with views of Agua, the active Pacaya, the three volcanoes of Lake Atitlán, and even the distant Mexican border.

Descent back to La Soledad via the same trail.

You’ll meet your driver for the transfer to Antigua, then continue to Guatemala City Airport for your afternoon flight to the Tikal region.

Upon arrival in Flores, you’ll be welcomed by our local team and transferred to your hotel on the small island of Flores, set on the vast Lake Petén Itzá (Guatemala’s third largest lake, about 90 km² / 35 sq mi). The island’s cobblestone streets wind between colorful houses and open onto beautiful views of the lake.    ² 

Overnight on the island of Flores (two consecutive nights).

Meals included: Breakfast at the hotel and packed lunch during the excursion to Aguateca.
Accommodation: Hotel (2nd night in Flores).
Guided visit in English included: Aguateca archaeological site.

Travel south with your expert guide to the La Pasión River and the village of Sayaxché. There, you’ll meet your boatman for a scenic ride along the Petexbatun River, a tributary of the La Pasión. As you travel through lush jungle landscapes, you’ll have the chance to spot an incredible variety of birds, as well as crocodiles resting on the sandbanks and the occasional turtle.

As the river narrows, it winds its way into the Aguateca Archaeological Park, hidden deep within the rainforest. This region is particularly significant to archaeologists—it’s here that they first found evidence of the waves of invasion from peoples originating in what is now Mexico, which contributed to destabilizing the Classic Maya cities in the 9th century. Some local sites show architecture and stelae with styles very different from traditional Maya art. Fortifications and depictions of armed figures reveal that the region was once in a constant state of warfare.     

At Aguateca, the Maya fortified their city using an extraordinary system of geological fault lines—some reaching 50 m (165 ft) deep! Visitors can enter the site through a steep but accessible trail leading down into this natural trench before reaching the main ruins. (Optional: this short descent is the only technical challenge on the excursion and remains accessible to all active travelers.).

Remote and surrounded by dense jungle, Aguateca is one of Guatemala’s most mysterious sites. Its river access and rainforest setting make it an unforgettable experience for travelers who love nature and adventure—without any particular difficulty.

After the visit, return with your boatman to the village of Sayaxché, then travel back with your driver to Flores.

Second night on Flores Island.

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Lodge (Tikal National Park)
Self-guided visit

Before entering Tikal National Park, enjoy a stop for a canopy tour: from platform to platform high up in the trees, you’ll move through the jungle with a guide, using a system of zip lines.

Tikal National Park is one of the few UNESCO World Heritage Sites recognized for both its cultural and natural significance—thanks to its extraordinary biodiversity and its archaeological importance.            ²  

With its majestic pyramids (Temple IV rises more than 70 m / 230 ft high!), Tikal is the most impressive Maya site in the country—and perhaps in the entire Maya World. During the pre-Columbian period, the political, economic, and cultural influence of this immense Maya metropolis extended as far as the Mexican highlands. The various protected ecosystems are home to several species of monkeys, anteaters, more than 300 species of birds, as well as deer and coatis. The diversity of tropical plant life is equally fascinating—over 200 species of trees grow within the reserve.

Spend the night in a lodge in the heart of Tikal National Park, just steps from the entrance to the archaeological site, allowing you to fully enjoy the magic of the place. At dusk, coatis, ocellated turkeys, and agoutis often wander close to the lodges, making them easy to spot.

Note: It is possible to enter the site for sunrise or sunset visits—please inquire for details.

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (1st night in Livingston).

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (2nd night in Livingston).

Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel (Guatemala City)
Self-guided visit

Meals included: Breakfast

Short transfer to Guatemala City Airport for your return flight (baggage check-in recommended three hours before departure). Depending on your flight schedule, it may be possible to visit some of the capital’s main museums before leaving—please ask us for details. In that case, we recommend choosing a mid- or late-afternoon flight.