Guatemala 2.0: Nature and Culture
Guatemala City, Coban, Semuc Champey, Nebaj, Chichicastenango, Villages around Lake Atitlan, Optional visit to Tikal at the end of the Tour
February 7-18/2027
Cost: $2400 USD includes GST, single room available at extra cost
Optional Tikal (Feb. 18-20/27): 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 and close the tour. An optional self-guided tour to Tikal is possible at the end of this tour. 1 night in Tikal and 1 night in Guatemala City prior to your flights home. Tours of the UNESCO world heritage site of the ancient Classic Period Mayan City could include a sunrise tour, an archeological tour and a Sunset tour. Message of more info on this option.
Guatemala 2
February 7-18/2027
**tentative schedule subject to shifts and changes
Day 1: Sunday, Feb. 7 : GUATEMALA CITY Arrival in Guatemala City. Drive to Hotel. Depending on arrival dinner. Overnight: Hotel Immaculata: https://www.inmaculadahotel.com/ Meals included: Dinner
Day 2: Monday, Feb. 8: GUATEMALA CITY/COBAN: Breakfast at our Hotel and orientation meeting. 4 hour drive to Coban. Lunch enroute. Visit 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: Tuesday, Feb. 9: 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.instagram.com/hostalelportaldechampey/ Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 4: Wednesday, Feb. 10: 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: Thursday, Feb. 11: SEMUC CHAMPEY-NEBAJ: Breakfast at Hotel, drive from Semuc Champey to Nebaj. (5 hour drive to go 206 km). Stop for lunch enroute. Overnight: Hotel Real La Villa in Nebaj. https://www.hotels.com/ho1416911616/hotel-real-la-villa-nebaj-guatemala/ Walk to the Parque Central and explore the main plaza. Dinner together. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Friday, Feb. 12: Breakfast at Hotel. Visit the Barefoot College in San Juan Cotzal https://www.barefootcollege-guatemala.org/. Visit to a walk into Santa Avelina Waterfall with a picnic 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: Saturday, Feb. 13: NEBAJ-CHICHICASTENANGO: Breakfast at Hotel. Departures and 2.5 hour drive to Santa Cruz del Quiche. Lunch and visit to 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: Sunday, Feb. 14: CHICHICASTENANGO – PANAJACHEL Breakfast at the Hotel, morning visit to the Market in Chichicastenango. Lunch at Casa San Jose. Drive back to Panajachel. Freetime to relax and rest and settle in at Casa los Nidos (House of the Nests). Dinner at The Gathering Nest. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 9: Monday, Feb. 15: 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. 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 and overnight at Casa los Nidos. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 10: Tuesday, Feb. 16: PANAJACHEL-SAN LUCAS TOLIMAN: Breakfast. Boats over the lake and visit to IMAP, Centre for Permaculture Training in San Lucas Toliman where we will learn about their programmes and enjoy swimming and the nature reserve. Boat back to Panajachel and lunch together, tortilla and salsa making class and cooking class. Afternoon Mayan Ceremony on the property. All meals and overnight at Casa Los Nidos. Meals included Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
DAY 11: Wednesday, Feb. 17: PANAJACHEL – ANTIGUA Breakfast, 3 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
DAY 12: Thursday, Feb. 18: DEPARTURES: Depending on flight time breakfast at Hotel and departures to the airport. Meals included: Breakfast **Taxi to the airport is your own responsibility depending on departure time and whether or not you go to Tikal.
TIKAL OPTION: self guided option for Tikal
DAY 12: Thursday, Feb. 18 Monday Early departure to the airport in Guatemala City via taxi. Flight to Flores. Shuttle to Tikal from Flores and the Jungle Lodge. Sunset tour and overnight and dinner at the Jungle Lodge.
DAY 13: Friday, Feb. 19: TIKAL: Sunrise Tour. Breakfast back at Hotel. Options of Afternoon Archeology tour or Sunset Tour. Lunch on your own. Shuttle back to Flores airport. Flight back to Guatemala City and overnight at Hotel Barcelo, close to the airport.
2DAY 14: Saturday, Feb. 20: 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.
