Guatemala 2: Nature and Culture
Guatemala City, Coban, Semuc Champey, Nebaj, Chichicastenango, Villages around Lake Atitlan, Antigua
January 4-15/2026
Cost: tba in Jan. 2025
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. 4 Sunday: GUATEMALA CITY Morning arrival from night flight or evening arrival depending on flight schedule. Lunch/dinner, setting in, orientation/group meeting. Hotel in Guatemala City
Day 2: Jan. 5 Monday: COBAN: Breakfast at our Hotel. 4 hour drive. Stop at Orchidgonia https://orquigonia.blogspot.com/ Lunch enroute. Dinner at https://casadeacuna.com/ Overnight in Coban. Overnight at La Posada https://laposadacoban.com.gt/
Day 3: Jan. 6 Tuesday: COBAN-SEMUC CHAMPUEY: Breakfast at Hotel. Morning to explore Coban downtown. Lunch together in Coban. 2.5 hour drive to Languin and Semuc Champey. Visit the river and swim in the pools. Overnight and Dinner at Hotel El Portal de Champey https://www.facebook.com/ElPortalDeSemucChampey/?locale=es_LA
Day 4: Jan. 7 Wednesday: 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 on your own. Dinner together. Relax at the hotel pool. Overnight Hotel El Portal de Champey.
Day 5: Jan. 8 Thursday: SEMUC CHAMPEY-NEBAJ: Breakfast at Hotel, drive from Semuc Champey to Nebaj. (6 hour drive to go 206 km). Stop for lunch enroute. Overnight: https://www.hotels.com/ho1416911616/hotel-real-la-villa-nebaj-guatemala/
Day 6: Jan. 9 Friday: NEBAJ: Breakfast at Hotel. Visit the Barefoot College in Chajul https://www.barefootcollege-guatemala.org/ and walk around Chajul. 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 tradition dress of the Ixil Mayan people. Dinner in Nebaj.
Day 7: Jan. 10 Saturday: NEBAJ-CHICHICASTENANGO: Breakfast at Hotel. 2.5 hour drive. Stop in Gumerkaj (ancient Mayan City) in Santa Cruz del Quiche. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q%CA%BCumarkaj Lunch enroute. 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/
Day 8: Jan. 11 Sunday: 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.
DAY 9: Jan. 12 Monday: 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.
DAY 10: Jan. 13 Tuesday: PANAJACHEL: Breakfast, day to chill in Panajachel. Shopping, visit to the nature reserve (zip lining possible at extra cost), visit to the pottery workshop in San Antonio Palapo, Lunch on your own, time at the beach, tortilla and salsa making class, afternoon Mayan Ceremony. Dinner at Doris & Julio’s.
DAY 11: Jan. 14 Wednesday: PANAJACHEL: ANTIGUA: Breakfast, 9 am depart with our bus to Antigua (2 hour drive). Lunch together in Antigua, afternoon free time for exploring Antigua. 5 pm final gathering and celebration dinner together.
DAY 12: Jan. 15 Thursday: ANTIGUA – DEPARTURES: Breakfast, Departures to airport or other adventures on your own.
