Guatemala & Honduras

Day 1 – Guatemala City, Guatemala –

Welcome to El Mundo Maya, the beautiful land of lakes, volcanoes and ancient Mayan culture. Upon arrivel you will be transferred from Guatemala City airport to your hotel. After dinner, join the welcome briefing. D


Day 2 – Ixchel, Guatemala City - Enjoy breakfast, then visit the Ixchel Museum. See handwoven textiles and costumes from Guatemala’s highland Indians. We will visit the impressive historic center and drive by the main plaza and cathedral. After lunch, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. BLD



Day 3 – Chichicástenango, Lake Atitlán - Morning drive into the highlands of Chichicástenango. After lunch we visit the largest market in Central America, full of clothing and handicrafts.  This marketplace has operated continuously for over a thousand years. Market day draws hundreds of vendors from all over Guatemala. Shop for wooden dance masks, hand-woven huipiles and colorful fabrics. Next, see Santo Tomas Church, built in 1540. Here Indians practice their faith, blending Mayan and Catholic rituals. Indian priests chant prayers in ancient dialects, copal incense fills the air, and rose petals and candles cover the church floor. Then, to your hotel for a leisurely two night stay on Lake Atitlán, 5,000 feet above sea level. BLD

Day 4 – Lake Atitlán Boat Cruise - Relaxing morning cruise across the deep, blue water of Lake Atitlán, considered by many to be the world’s most beautiful lake. This breathtaking lake is surrounded by three towering volcanoes. Visit the traditional village of Santiago Atitlán where life goes on as it has for hundreds of years. Fishermen are in their dug-out canoes and women balance huge water vessels on their heads. After lunch you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in this dramatic scenery. BLD


Day 5 – Lake Atitlán, Copán, Honduras - Spectacular scenery this morning as you descend from the highlands into Guatemala’s central valley. Pass through Indian villages with their Mayan culture still intact. See pine forests, picturesque lakes and hand-tilled crops growing on hillside terraces. Enjoy lunch en route. We will cross into western Honduras and arrive at Copán, home to the best preserved ruins of the Mayan world, long protected by the jungle in a remote mountain valley. BLD

Day 6 – Copán, Honduras - Morning visit to Copán Ruins, the “Athens” of the Mayan world. These magnificent ruins are known for their detailed carvings and remarkably preserved stelae. Stelae are stone monoliths which record Mayan history. Visit the Acropolis, Great Plaza, and Ball Court. See the Hieroglyphic Stairway where the world’s longest Maya text, with over a thousand glyphs, is carved on 63 stone steps. See Altar Q, a rectangular stone altar with carved portraits of all of Copán’s rulers from the founder, Yax Kuk Mo, to the last ruler, Yax Pac. After lunch we go to the charming town of Copán. You will have free time to explore the village, main plaza and the native marketplace. BLD




Day 7 - Reenter Guatemala this morning and descend into the Caribbean lowlands. We will cross the Rio Dulce and arrive in Petenchel in the afternoon for our two-night stay.  BLD


Day 8 – Tikal - An unforgettable morning visit to Tikal. Settled in 700 B.C., Tikal became the grandest of all Mayan cities and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. This majestic site also served as the victorious rebel base in the first Star Wars movie. Here, while the sounds of monkeys and tropical birds fill the air, you see towering pyramids jut out of the rainforest canopy. Visit Tikal’s great plaza. See the Temple of the Grand Jaguar and Temple II. Visit the Plaza of the Seven Temples and El Mundo Perdido, the Lost World. After lunch, you can enjoy the afternoon at leisure at the resort. BLD



Day 9 – Tikal, Antigua - Head south this morning for a day’s drive to Antigua. After lunch we arrive at the impressive Mayan archaeological site of Quiriguá. See fantastic zoomorphic figures and some of the world’s largest stelae. Continue to Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved colonial cities in Central America. BLD

Day 10 – Antigua, Coffee Plantation - This morning explore Antigua, Guatemala’s former capital for more than two centuries. Visit a coffee plantation and pick your own beans (in season) and sample fresh Guatemalan coffee. Next, see the ornate façade of La Merced Church. Visit Las Capuchinas Convent. After lunch you have free time in Antigua for great shopping. You can buy ceramics, jade and beautiful weavings. Guatemala’s fame as the “land of the eternal spring” is based on Antigua’s near perfect climate. BLD

Day 11 – Antigua, Guatemala City -Your tour ends this morning at your hotel in Antigua, you will be taken to the airport for your flight home.  B

Departure Dates - January through December