Guatemala 2: Nature and Culture
Guatemala City, Coban, Semuc Champey, Nebaj, Chichicastenango, Villages around Lake Atitlan, Optional visit to Tikal at the end of the Tour
January 8-19/2026
Cost: $3,280.00 CAD Shared accommodation $3,800.00 CAD Single accommodation
Optional Tikal (Jan 19-21): extra cost more info on request
Come and explore rural Guatemala, visiting indigenous communities, projects and markets in the Highlands of Guatemala in the province of Quiche and Alta-Verapaz. Discover the natural beauty of this region of Guatemala. Visit an ancient Mayan archeological site and enjoy the natural beauty of one of most beautiful rivers in Guatemala, Semuc Champey. Coban and Nebaj are small cities without a lot of tourism but hold treasures of the Mayan culture in language, traditional clothing and practices. Of course we will visit the most famous market in Guatemala in Chichicastenango. We will also spend time at Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world visiting the villages of Santiago Atitlan and San Marcos La Laguna. We end the tour in Antigua for a final day to discover the delights of this 500 year old colonial city.
Day 1: Jan. 8 Thursday: GUATEMALA CITY Morning arrival from night flight or evening arrival depending on flight schedule. Lunch/dinner, settling in. Overnight: Hotel Immaculata: https://www.inmaculadahotel.com/ Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Jan. 9 Friday: GUATEMALA CITY/COBAN: Breakfast at our Hotel and orientation memeting. 4 hour drive to Coban. Lunch enroute. Drive to Orchidgonia https://orquigonia.blogspot.com/ with a tour of the conservation project. Dinner at https://casadeacuna.com/ Overnight at: https://casaduranta.com/ Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 3: Jan. 10 Saturday: COBAN-SEMUC CHAMPEY: Breakfast at Hotel. 2.5 hour drive to Languin and Semuc Champey. Stop and tour the Cuevas de Lanquin (Caves). Lunch in Lanquin. Settle into Hotel. Visit the National Park together and swim in the pools. Hotel is a few minutes walk to the entrance of the National Park Semuc Champey. Overnight and Dinner at Hotel El Portal de Champey https://www.facebook.com/ElPortalDeSemucChampey/?locale=es_LA Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Jan. 11 Sunday: SEMUC CHAMPEY NATIONAL PARK: Breakfast.Tour day (hike to the lookout, swimming in the pools and falls, tubing down the river with a guide) or relax in the pools on your own with your own timeline. Lunch, Tour and park Entrance extra cost and on your own. Dinner together. Relax at the hotel pool. Overnight Hotel El Portal de Champey. Meals included Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 5: Jan. 12 Monday: SEMUC CHAMPEY-NEBAJ: Breakfast at Hotel, drive from Semuc Champey to Nebaj. (5 hour drive to go 206 km). Stop for lunch enroute. Overnight: https://www.hotels.com/ho1416911616/hotel-real-la-villa-nebaj-guatemala/ Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Jan. 13 Tuesday: NEBAJ: Breakfast at Hotel.Visit the Barefoot College in San Juan Cotzal https://www.barefootcollege-guatemala.org/. Visit to the Hacienda Mil Amores, to visit a working ranch and the famous place where the Nebaj cheese is made, lunch there. Later afternoon back in Nebaj, freetime to explore the centro historico and marvel at the traditional dress of the Ixil Mayan people. Dinner in Nebaj. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7: Jan. 14 Wednesday: NEBAJ-CHICHICASTENANGO: Breakfast at Hotel. 2.5 hour drive. Lunch in Santa Cruz del Quiche. Stop in Qumerkaj (ancient Mayan City) in Santa Cruz del Quiche. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q%CA%BCumarkaj Drive to Chichicastenango and settle into the hotel. Happy Hour at the beautiful bar at the Mayan Inn, visit to the cemetery for sunset and dinner in Chichi. Overnight at the Mayan Inn: http://www.mayaninn.com.gt/ Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 8: Jan. 15 Thursday: CHICHICASTENANGO – PANAJACHEL Breakfast at the Hotel, visit to the Market in Chichicastenango. Lunch at Casa San Jose. Drive back to Panajachel. Freetime to relax and rest. Dinner at home and overnight at Casa D & J. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 9: Jan. 16 Friday: PANAJACHEL-SAN MARCOS-SANTIAGO ATITLAN Breakfast, boats over the lake with a stop in Santiago Atitlan, visit to the market, the church and hear the story of Father Stanley Rother, a martyr in the civil war and the first Saint from the United States. Boat over to San Marcos, lunch in San Marcos and walk to the nature reserve and afternoon of swimming and enjoying the park. Freetime to explore San Marcos and late afternoon boat back to Panajachel. Dinner at D & J. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 10: Jan. 17 Saturday: PANAJACHEL: Breakfast. Visit to IMAP, Centre for Permaculture Training in San Lucas Toliman, enjoy swimming and the nature reserve, boat back to Panajachel and lunch together, tortilla and salsa making class and cooking class. Afternoon Mayan Ceremony. Dinner at Doris & Julio’s. Meals included Breakfast, Dinner.
DAY 11: Jan. 18 Sunday: PANAJACHEL – ANTIGUA Breakfast, 3.5 hour drive. Arrive in Antigua and enjoy freetime exploring the city. Lunch on your own. Dinner together to celebrate the trip and close the group. Overnight: Hotel Aurora https://www.hotelauroraantigua.com/ Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
TIKAL OPTION OR FLIGHTS HOME:
DAY 12: Jan. 19 Monday Breakfast at Hotel. Drive to Airport in Guatemala City for flight to Tikal at midday or flight home. Shuttle to Tikal from Flores and the Jungle Lodge. Dinner together. Lunch on your own.
DAY 12: Jan. 19 Monday: TIKAL: Sunrise Tour. Breakfast back at Hotel. Options of Afternoon Archeology tour or Sunset Tour. Lunch on your own. Dinner together. Overnight: Jungle Lodge.
DAY 13: Jan. 20 Tuesday: FLORES-GUATEMALA CITY: Breakfast at Hotel. Shuttle to Flores Airport. Flight back to Guatemala City. Either flights back to your homes or continue the journey.
