ANTIGUA – LAKE ATITLAN – CHICHI – COFFEE FARM – SANTIAGO – HIGHLAND VILLAGES – YAXHA – TIKAL

Start: Sat (To hit the Market Days)

Day 1, Arrival & Transfer to Antigua
Guests are met & transfer to Antigua. (1hr) Antigua 3N

Day 2, Architecture & History Tour (B)
Guests will take a half day walking tour of Antigua. (3-4hr). The tour takes in the main square, Palace, Cathedral, La Merced Church & San Francsico Church. All entrances are included. Free Afternoon.

Day 3, Azotea Coffee Farm, Maya Museum (B)
Guests visit the local woodcarvers in the village of Jocotenango & then the fabulous Azotea Coffee Farm & Maya Traditions Museums covering traditional music, costume & traditions. Free afternoon.

Day 4, Comalapa Market & Lake Atitlan (B,L)
Guests will be transferred to visit the colorful authentic market at Comalpa (1hr) and enjoy a tour of the market,the famous local primitive painting galleries, a local bakery & the famous town mural. Transfer on to Lake Atitlan. (2.5hr). Lake Atitlan 2N

Day 5, Visit San Juan & Santiago (B,L)
This morning guests will take a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan (30min) to the village of San Juan La Laguna where they can visit the women’s textile cooperative to see hand weaving and natural dye process. Also here visit the studios / homes of the celebrated naïf painters. From here guests continue to the village of Santiago where they have lunch in a local hotel and tour the village visiting the Maya God Maximon and learn about the textiles, spiritualism and beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. Return to hotel via St Catarina Village.

Day 6, Maya Highlands (B)
We leave the lake today to drive deeper into the maya highlands. (Approx 3-4hr). Guests can stop to visit the market at sanAndres Xecul with its famous Yellow church, visit the textile cooperative in Zunil & the blown glass cooperative. If time permits guests can also hopefully catch the end of the vegetable market in Almolonga. Quetzaltenango / Xela 1N

• Add a guide accompaniment today

Day 7, Totonicapan Cultural Program (B,L)
Transfer to San Francisco El Alto to visit this bustling market – the largest in Central America. (1hr) Then to the town of Totonicapan – known for its craftsmen and strong maya traditions. Here we will enjoy a visit to some of the local craftsmen’s workshops & take a traditional lunch in a local family’s house whilst watching a traditional dance display accompanied by live marimba music. Transfer on to Huehue (2hr) for overnight in more basic accommodation 1N.

Day 8, Todos Santos Market (B)
Today guests transfer still deeper into the high Cuchumatanes mountains to the remote and highly traditional village of Todos Santos. (1hr) Here guests enjoy the market and the interesting local costume before transferring on to Chichi for overnight. (3hr) Guests can stroll the town tonight to see the market setting up for the next day. Chichi 1N

• Add a guide accompaniment today

Day 9, Chichicastenango Market (B)
This morning guests have time for exploring the market and for shopping as well as opportunity to see Maya rituals being performed in the Catholic Church. Transfer to Guatemala City (1hr) to take the evening flight to Flores (30mins) & transfer to your hotel. (Trf. Time depends on hotel.) Tikal area 2N

• Add a guide accompaniment today

Day 10, Yaxha Sunset (B)
Guests enjoy a free morning to relax. After lunch they transfer to Yaxha National Park (approx 1hr) to explore this atmospheric lakeside site ending with refreshments & wonderful views at sunset over the rainforest canopy from atop the main temples.

• Add a Canopy Tour in the morning
• Upgrade with a luxury picnic

Day 11, Tikal (B,L)
Today guests transfer to Tikal National park (approx 1hr) to explore the amazing UNESCO protected Mayan Temple site of Tikal where huge Mayan temples rise above the jungle canopy and monkeys and tropical birds are abundant in the surrounding rainforest. After lunch guests & time to relax and refresh guests will fly back to Guatemala City (30min) and transfer to their hotel. (Approx 10min) Guate City 1N

Day 12, Transfer Out (B)
This morning our driver will transfer guests to the airport (approx 10mins) in plenty of time to catch their flight.