Day 1 : ARRIVAL - GUATEMALA - ANTIGUA

Arrival at Guatemala in the early evening at GUATEMALA-CITY airport.
Welcome by a member of our team. Transfer to the colonial city of ANTIGUA.
2 overnight stays.

Day 2 : ANTIGUA

Discovery of ANTIGUA. Remarkable and elegant colonial town founded by the Spanish Conquistadors in 1543. ANTIGUA was the capital of the Guatemala's General Captaincy It is located in a greenish valley at the foot of 3 majestic volcanoes.
In 1979, UNESCO classified it Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity. ANTIGUA is a true museum outdoors with more than 50 civil and religious buildings. They date from centuries 16th and 17th. You will enjoy the charm and the quietness of one of the most beautiful American colonial cities.

Day 3 : ANTIGUA - LAC ATITLAN

After the breakfast, you will leave the place to discover other pleasant Indian villages around ANTIGUA.
The sight is unique on the volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. Near ANTIGUA it is produced an excellent coffee. It has a worldwide reputation. During the harvest period, you will see the different stages of the treatment from its crop till the drying.
Then you will go to the Pan-American highway. You will admire the magnificent hilly landscapes.

In the LAKE ATITLAN and HIGHLANDS region, you will attend wonderful spectacles: Indian markets. The indigenous people meet them, sell and buy their products.
We shall offer you the visit of the most typical ones. A patchwork of colours! In the afternoon, trail round off the beaten track. You will visit small native villages in border of the lake.
Accommodation in the lake ATITLAN for 2 nights.

Day 4 : ATITLAN LAKE

The picture is great with the 3 impressive volcanoes. The volcano Atitlán is the highest with 3.500 meters. The boat tour continues for the northern coast towards another traditional village but also it is one of the poorest of the place. Observe, on the bank, numerous small wooden boats called cayucos used by the fishermen.
You will cross the lake where you will meet the ethnic group of Tzutuhils. You will discover SANTIAGO ATITLAN.

Day 5 : EXCURSIONS IN THE HIGHLANDS

The excursion of the day will lead you to CHICHICASTENANGO market. It is the most known of the country. CHICHI, as we call it familiarly, is victim of its reputation by attracting too many tourists. Contemplate the sensational colours of the inhabitants' clothes.
After your numerous purchases of crafts, the trip continues westwards. You will enjoy interesting stops in other small picturesque villages. Churches sometimes present unique architectural characteristics and surprising tints. The craft is an important activity in the region. You will have the opportunity to see some Mayan sanctuaries located in the summits of the mountains or in unusual places. They have been sacred since several centuries.

Day 6 : EXCURSIONS IN THE HIGHLANDS

A morning plenty of discoveries. You will visit an authentic market. Dances of colours, unforgettable scenes. The volcanic land of this region gives excellent products as the radish, carrot, cabbage, mint, onion and broccoli. The various ethnic Mayan groups of Guatemala still practice numerous traditions and ancestral rites. Unfortunately, these customs and faiths are disappearing. During your stay on the HIGHLANDS, you will observe, often off the beaten track, these unique and strange scenes.

Day 7 : HIGHLANDS - COPAN

Brief visit of a few GUATEMALA-CITY's attractions.
After this interesting step, you will take the road to COPAN located in HONDURAS. For some hours you will follow the river MOTAGUA, the longest of Central America. You will note the changes of landscapes. The climate also changes. In the east of the country the Indians Chortí live very poorly.
Lodging in COPAN for 2 nights.

Day 8 : COPAN

Exploration of the exceptional Mayan city of COPAN. It's Patrimony of the Humanity. COPAN is especially attractive for its steles and its sculptured monuments. During the visit of the acrópolis, you will observe the resplendent stairs constituted by 2.000 hieroglyphics, the perfect ball game and square with its extraordinary low-relief steles. They are magnificently preserved despite of the centuries.
The original steles are replaced by copies and take place in the instructive museum near the site. Most of the steles of the Plaza Mayor represent king 18-rabbit and Smoke-jaguar.

Day 9 : COPAN - CARIBBEAN COAST

Return to GUATEMALA. Some kilometers away the Atlantic road, the Mayan site of QUIRIGUA is worth. It is remarkable for its immense sculptured steles. The highest ones in the MESOAMERICAN AREA stand in this site. The most impressive measures 10,67 meters and weighs 65 tons. Small wild beaches lined with coconut palms form the CARIBBEAN COAST. In this region, many inhabitants are descendants of African slaves: the GARIFUNAS. Lodging in Livingston.

Day 10 : CARIBBEAN REGION

You will take pleasure in a boat trip. You will explore privileged charm and nature corners. You will contemplate hundreds of pelicans and thousands of wild ducks.
For lunch, you will taste a delicious fish food or shrimps one in a typical restaurant. You will have contact with the local population and the aborigines Kekchís who live here in his small wooden house under the coconuts.
Accommodation in Rio Dulce.

Day 11 : CARIBBEAN REGION - PETEN

Road to the PETEN and to FLORES. This town, located in a peninsula is the administrative centres of the PETEN department. The Mayas chose this hostile region to found their grand ceremony centres.
We propose you excursions towards Mayan sites little frequented and accessible via inland waterway. Sites are national parks. The fauna and the flora are protected. In the approach of a park, you feel the influence of plentiful tropical vegetation.
You will walk in this dense and plentiful forest to discover nice carved steles dating from the end of the classic period.
Accommodation in a typical jungle lodge in the heart of the jungle.

Day 12 : MAYAN SITES

After the breakfast, you will continue the adventure towards another restored archeological site. You will have the feeling of being the first to discover this forgotten place. You will observe also the only bridge constructed by the Maya.

Day 13 : MAYAN SITES

Other fantastic excursion in the jungle towards a site that was restored before TIKAL. The nature will reveal you its most lovely sorts of trees: mahogany, cedar, chicozapote, indio desnudo, corozo used for the manufacture of the soap, the tree with pepper and the matapalo famous which means " the tree which kills".
For several decades, chicleros (pickers of the chicozapote) have harvested the chicozapote sap. It is used in the manufacture of the chewing gum. They live with their families in the surroundings of the site.
Lodging in the park of TIKAL.

Day 14 : TIKAL- GUATEMALA-CITY

After a good breakfast, you will visit TIKAL, which is the most fantastic masterpiece of the civilization. It is the grandest Mayan world city. The archeologists listed approximately 3.000 structures on 16 square km. Walk-visit on paths to discover temples and impressive pyramids buried in the jungle, the houses and the palaces, the altars, the playing fields. From the top of the temple of the "Snake in two heads", you will have a delightful panorama.
Transfer at the FLORES airport for the flight to GUATEMALA-CITY.

Day 15 : GUATEMALA-CITY - OUT

Transfer hotel/airport for your international flight
From FLORES, you might fly to Mexico or Belize.