Guatemala’s Indigenous and Colonial Cultures
Explore the rich colonial heritage of Antigua, the stunning Maya ruins of Tikal, Uaxactun, and Yaxha, and immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery and indigenous cultures surrounding Lake Peten.
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Tours
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Tours
Guatemala’s Indigenous and Colonial Cultures
January 27 – February 6, 2027
Over the course of eleven days, we’ll explore the rich history of indigenous and colonial cultures in this special Guatemala tour.
In Antigua, we’ll explore Guatemala’s rich cuisine and visit the vibrant food market. We’ll also have time to explore a complex of museums and the city’s colonial architecture.
In the north, we’ll explore world-famous Maya sites Tikal, Uaxactun, and Yaxha. We’ll take a boat tour of Lake Peten and there will be options for guided birding/nature walks.
In Antigua and at Lake Peten, there will be plenty of free time to relax at a coffee shop, go ziplining, take a day trip to one of the other indigenous communities in the nearby mountains. go birding or volcano hiking, or just relax by the lake.
Day 1
Arrival in Guatemala
Arrive at Guatemala City’s international airport by 1:00 pm to be met by your tour curator. A one-hour van ride will take us to Hotel las Camelias Inn, just four blocks from Antigua’s Parque Central. After settling in at the hotel and taking a rest, we’ll tgather for our orientation dinner. Meals included: dinner. Arrival on the previous day can be accommodated if desired (at additional expense).
Day 2
Antigua
In the morning, we’ll get the lay of the land by watching the sun rise over Antigua from the Cerro de la Cruz. After breakfast we’ll enjoy a Cultural Walking Tour. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a favorite to walk through with its cobblestone streets, views of the volcanos, colonial architecture, and the abundance of crafts and markets. Discover the historical sites that give Antigua its special character. In the afternoon you’re free to relax, meander through the city, or sign up for a tour of the market, a cooking class, a volcano hike, or whatever strikes your fancy. Meals included: none.
Day 3
Antigua
On our second full day in Antigua, you can relax on the hotel’s roof terrace, wander around Antigua, book a volcano hike, or visit the ruined Iglesia y Convento de Santo Domingo. The convent’s archaeological zone includes six museums, with rich collections. Admission includes: the Museo de la Platería, with silverwork masterpieces including incense burners, candelabras and crowns; the Museo Colonial, with canvases and wooden sculpture on religious themes from the 16th to 18th centuries; the Museo Arqueológico, with ceramic and stone objects from the Maya Classic period; the cleverly curated Museo de Arte Precolombino y Vidrio Moderno, with Maya sculpture and ceramics shown as art pieces alongside glass works by modern artists; the Museo de Artes y Artesanías Populares de Sacatepéquez, with exhibits on traditional handicrafts from the Antigua region; and the Museo de la Farmacia, a restored version of a 19th-century apothecary’s shop from Guatemala City. Meals included: none.
Day 4
Antigua
We have nothing scheduled today so you’re free to explore sites more fully, check out some of the ruined churches, or just relax. Meals included: none.
Day 5
Transfer to Lake Peten
We’ll linger a bit this morning in Antigua before returning to the Guatemala City Airport and flying to Flores in northern Guatemala. Then we’ll take an hour-long van ride to Hotel Gringo Perdido on the northern shore of Late Peten. Late in the afternoon, we’ll take a boat tour of the lake and watch the sunset before returning to the hotel for dinner in the lakeside dining palapa. During our stay on Lake Peten, there will be opportunities to go on birding/naturalist walks/hikes with our naturalist guide Eric and local birding guides. Meals included: dinner.
Day 6
Lake Peten
Experience an extended stay in the ancient Maya city of Tikal on this double tour that combines exceptional early morning exploration into the jungle and a spectacular view of the landscape from Temple IV. This visit allows you to appreciate the singing of birds, howler monkeys and other animals in their natural habitat. The schedule is the coolest for walking in the jungle and the least crowded of the day, and if the weather allows it, you can enjoy a spectacular sunrise over temples I, II and III. Then enjoy the Archaeological Tour that includes the visit of several of the main points of the Tikal National Park. Meals included: breakfast & dinner.
Day 7
Lake Peten
Today, we are returning to the Tikal National Park but this time driving 35 minutes past the Tikal ruins and going deep into the heart of the Petén jungle. There lies a quiet but powerful reminder of the ancient Maya — Uaxactun. While it’s not as famous as Tikal, this incredible site holds its own secrets, stories, and wonders. Many archaeologists believe Uaxactun is one of the oldest known Mayan cities. There will be many other tourists with us at Tikal, but we may be the only ones at Uaxactun. Words are not adequate to describe the feeling of being in one of these ancient cities virtually alone. Meals included: breakfast & dinner.
Day 8
Lake Peten
After breakfast, we’ll explore Yaxha, a city of the Classic Maya period. This tour will give you an overview of the history of the city and allow you to examine buildings such as the Royal Palace, the North Acropolis, the Astronomical Complex, and others. Meals included: breakfast & dinner.
Day 9
Lake Peten
There’s nothing scheduled for today. You can relax at the hotel or sign up at the desk for an adventure: kayaking, a cultural tour, and more! Click here to check out the options. Meals included: breakfast & dinner.
Day 10
Transfer to Guatemala City
After a leisurely breakfast in the lakefront dining room, we’ll transfer to Flores Airport for a quick flight to Guatemala City. Tonight, we’ll stay at a bed and breakfast near the airport to facilitate early morning flights home. Meals included: breakfast.
Day 11
Flights home
Safe travels as you take morning flights home! Meals included: none.
Activity Level
Moderate
Activities are generally not strenuous; however, we expect guests to enjoy two hours or more of walking, be sure-footed on cobbled surfaces, and walk up and down stairs without assistance. In rural and small-town settings, unpaved roads and pathways will be common with some short sections of rough trail, which we expect that guests can traverse with no more than a companion’s hand to steady them. Due to the structure of some buildings, facilities for the disabled may be limited.
Guatemala
Indigenous and Colonial Cultures- Price per person/double occupancy. Single supplement of $575
- Airport transfers for guests arriving and departing during the suggested times
- Van transfers within Guatemala
- Roundtrip airfare between Guatemala City and Flores
- Meals: 5 breakfasts & 6 dinners
- Other meals will be on your own individually or as a group
- Tours (including entry fees) as listed
- Minimum travelers: 5
- Maximum travelers: 9
This Tour’s Local Partners
