Discover Guatemala

Begin your adventure in Antigua, where pastel colonial buildings are watched over by three volcanoes: Agua, Acatenango and Fuego. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Want more time in Antigua? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Join your tour leader this morning for a walking tour of Antigua, navigating cobblestone streets to beautiful churches, ruins and museums. Our half-day adventure takes us to the most important city landmarks, including La Merced Church, Central Park, the Santa Catalina Martir and much more, while you’ll also sample exotic native fruits. This rest of the day is free to explore solo – though your expert tour leader will happily point out the favourite spots of the Antigueños. Later, we reunite for our welcome dinner, in which we can get to know each a little better and discuss the adventures ahead.

Enjoy a spectacular hike to the top of Pacaya, one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala. It’s the easiest to summit of the trio and we get spectacular views of a volcano chain. Start with a one-hour transfer to the foothills of the volcano, before embarking on our 3hr 30min round-trip hike (4mi/6km with 1,770ft/540m elevation gain). Our path takes us through pine forest and volcanic ash before we reach the top of the cone. From there, we gaze over volcanoes to the north, the lowlands of the Pacific coast and El Salvador. You'll also receive your box lunch to enjoy on the volcano. If you’d prefer to skip the hike, your tour leader can suggest alternative activities, including a visit to the museum complex inside Hotel Casa Santo Domingo, where you can explore the cultural heritage and archaeological finds of Guatemala. After, we return to the foothills and head back to Antigua, with the afternoon free to explore.

Experience a Guatemalan institution: Chichicastenango market. A 2hr 30min transfer brings us to this wildly popular hub of trade, where seemingly endless rows of vendors sell their goods to both local people and tourists. It’s best known for textiles, the perfect opportunity to pick up an authentic Guatemalan gift or something for your home. It’s also a great chance to mingle with people from the neighbouring regions and experience a mix of cultures – a fusion of what came from Spain with the conquest and the roots of the Maya people. We also visit Las Morerias, the workshops where outfits and masks are created for folkloric dancers. After, we transfer (two hours) to Quetzaltenango. Also named Xela or Xelajú, it’s the second-largest city in Guatemala, a vibrant cultural hub in the western highlands. At 7,654ft (2,333m) above sea level, it offers breathtaking mountain views, a cool climate, and a rich history that combines Indigenous traditions and Spanish colonial heritage. The region is also home to the Quiché and Mam ethnic groups, whose customs, languages and crafts continue to thrive. Upon arrival, your guide takes you on an orientation tour.

Experience a different side to Guatemala today, visiting the traditional rural village of Zunil. Set by a river, it's wrapped by green hills and thermal springs, while also being known for its traditional weaving and deep-rooted Indigenous traditions. It is also home to the revered folk saint San Simón (Maximón), who attracts devotees from across the country seeking blessings, protection and good fortune. After, we visit the natural hot spring retreat of Fuentes Georginas, where steaming thermal waterfalls and mineral-rich pools offer pure relaxation. We take a dip in the waters, which are heated by Zunil volcano and believed to have healing properties (making it a popular destination for those seeking stress relief and rejuvenation). We return to our hotel in the afternoon with time to relax.

Head into the historic downtown area of Quetzaltenango this morning to explore the highlights of the city. Our adventure takes us to beautifully preserved 16th-century and neoclassical architecture, particularly around Parque Centro América. Highlights include the elegant Pasaje Enríquez, the grand Municipal Palace, the historic Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, the stately Banco de Occidente, and the iconic Teatro Municipal, one of Guatemala’s finest cultural venues. Then, after hotel checkout, we transfer (two hours) to Lake Atitlán. En route, stop at San Andrés Xecul, best known for its baroque-style church – a masterpiece painted in vivid yellow, red and blue and adorned with intricate carvings of saints, angels and Maya symbols (representing the blend of Catholic and Maya spiritual traditions in the town).

Board a boat this morning and cruise over Lake Atitlán to the village of San Juan la Laguna. In recent years, it has become well-known for its co-operatives of hand-weavers, who create their pieces using a natural dyeing process – forming an important source of income for local women’s associations. Visit the local artisans to learn from the experts how they extract the dyes and use them to create the most beautiful weaves using the waist and standing looms technique. Then, board a tuk tuk to transfer to the Ancestral Delight Project for a unique culinary journey into the heart of Maya gastronomy. Exploring the flavours that define the region, this immersive cooking class is more than just a lesson in preparing traditional dishes. From the corn that forms the basis of the Maya diet to the herbs and spices that season their dishes, every element tells a story of resilience, community and connection to the land. In the afternoon, we tour Santiago Atitlán, one of the few places where Maya people still worship Maximón. This village is the largest and most important of the lakeside villages, being the base of the Tz'utujil-speaking Maya.