Day 1 - Antigua
After your arrival in Guatemala City, you will be
transferred to the tranquility of Guatemala’s colonial capital, Antigua. Upon check in to your hotel, you will have the evening at leisure to explore this charming
city. Overnight Posada Don Rodrigo
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Day 2 - Antigua
Today you will explore Antigua. The city is noted for its crafts: terracotta, ceramics, silver, and jade jewelry, a great variety of traditional weavings, and much more. Your tour will include a visit to the Mayan music museum and the Maya textile village. You will have the evening to explore the city on your own and enjoy dinner. Overnight Posada Don Rodrigo (B)
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Day 3 - Antigua
You will have today at leisure to relax or explore
Antigua or surrounding areas. You do not have the guide/driver on this day. Overnight Posada Don Rodrigo Atitlan (B)
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Day 4 - Atitlan
This morning you will depart for Lake Atitlán. Enroute you will stop in Solola located in the mountains above the lake. Today is market day so you will have the opportunity to see many colorful Maya coming from the surrounding villages to do their weekly shopping. After you explore the market, you will continue to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Its southern side rimmed by three towering volcanoes, Lake Atitlan is one of the most stunningly beautiful lakes in the world. Volcanic in origin, the gigantic water-filled caldera was formed from an eruption 84,000 years ago.
The lake takes its name from the Mayan word that roughly translates to “the place where the rainbow gets its colors”. Several traditional farming villages are set along the Lake’s shores, enjoying its Xocomil, or “wind that carries away sin.” Overnight Posada Don Rodrigo Atitlan (B)
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Day 5 - Atitlan
After breakfast you will take a boat ride across the lake to the lakeside villages of Santiago and San Juan de la Laguna. Located on an inlet between the towering Toliman and San Pedro volcanoes, Santiago has many inhabitants that still cling to the Tz’utuzil Maya lifestyle. During your visit you will explore the village with your guide and explore their vibrant market and ancient church, and visit the shrine of Maximon. San Juan de Laguna is a very small village known for the use of natural dyes in their textiles. Winding through the streets you will also discover some terrific folk art murals on several of the village buildings. Later in the day you will return to Panajachel. Overnight Posada Don Rodrigo Atitlan (B)
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Day 6 - Chichicastenango
Today you will make your way to Chichicastenango, or simply “Chichi,” home to one of the most spectacular markets in the Americas. Be ready to hit the streets and
bargain. While there you will have the opportunity to explore the market to make purchases and observe the local people. You will also visit the famous church of Santo Tomas which the Spaniards defiantly placed atop
an existing Mayan temple in 1540. The inhabitants of Chichi, who are pure Maya, adapted to this indignity by placing figures representing Mayan gods and saints alongside the Christian ones inside the church. In the afternoon you will travel to Guatemala City. Overnight Crowne Plaza (B)
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Day 7 - Tikal
You will be transferred early in the morning from the hotel to the airport in order to catch flight to Flores. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative of Jungle Lodge Tikal and taken to the lodge. After dropping your luggage in the room, you will explore the spectacular ruins of Tikal. Some ruins are currently under excavation, comprising 3,000 separate structures hidden within the rainforest. The grandest structures are the six Mesoamerican step pyramids that grace the site. Some climb to over 200 feet tall, and most were built between the 7th and 9th century AD. Temple IV is the tallest and visitors can climb to the top for a great view of the ruins. In addition to the temples, Tikal was also home to royal palaces, residences, and a number of other structures and monuments. Tikal is also a vast biosphere reserve rich in wildlife. Look and listen for howler monkeys, spider monkeys, Coatimundi, and grey foxes stirring in the brush. Overnight Jungle Lodge Tikal (BL)
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Day 8 - Departure
This morning you will be transferred to Flores for your flight to Guatemala City, arriving around 9:30AM so a later morning or early afternoon flight is required. Upon arrival, you will check in for your flight home. (B)
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