Family-friendly Guatemala tour

La Aurora Airport - Antigua Guatemala

Day 1: Bienvenidos a Guatemala!

Welcome to Guatemala! Arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, where you'll meet your driver and transfer to Antigua. Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing after your travels.

Antigua Guatemala

Day 2: A City Walk and a Chocolate Workshop

Surrounded by three majestic volcanoes, the ancient capital of Central America has suffered throughout its history from many natural hazards: earthquakes, floods, and volcanic eruptions. The city is an open-air museum with a cathedral and more than thirty monasteries and convents.

The cobbled streets adjoin the flowering patios of colonial houses. Stroll along the arcades of the Parque Central, and admire the volcanoes Fuego, Agua, and Acatenango in the distance.

The Mayans were probably the first chocolate makers in the world. The cocoa beans were roasted, ground, and then reduced to a paste, and… they were also used as currency.

Learn more about the history and culture of cocoa in Guatemala at the Cocoa Museum. After a brief explanation of the process, children can get their hands dirty and make their own milk or bitter chocolate.

Antigua Guatemala - Pacaya - Panajachel

Day 3: Look into the Eye of the Volcano

Early in the morning, you will depart to the Pacaya volcano, one of 3 active volcanoes in Guatemala. Your 3-hour ascent will offer you beautiful views of the valley and the volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.

Once at the base of the cone, you will enjoy a beautiful view of the crater and the fumaroles inside it. When the volcano is active, you might even see Lava flow. Possibility of horseback riding on site.

Later, you will visit Lake Atitlan, a highly emblematic place in Guatemala, nestled between 3 volcanoes at an altitude of 1600 meters with magnificent panoramas.

The small villages along the lake - often only accessible by boat - perpetuate festivals and markets rooted in local traditions.

Panajachel - Santiago Atitlan - San Juan Atitlán

Day 4: Boat Trip to Mayan Villages on Lake Atitlan

This morning, hop on a boat and discover the Tzutuhil villages of Lake Atitlan. The Tzutuhil is one of the 21 Mayan peoples of Guatemala, living in only a handful of villages in the southwest of Lake Atitlan.

Visit Santiago Atitlan and get to know a curious syncretic cult. Somewhere between good and bad is Maximón, the smoking God. He is feared as much as he is idolized, receiving gifts of cigarettes, alcohol, or money.

In the small Mayan village of San Juan La Laguna, the weavers' cooperative will open its doors to teach you about the techniques of natural coloring and traditional weaving. After a family lunch, you can check typical naive paintings that represent scenes of daily life.

On your return to Panajachel, you can discover the small town on your own.

Panajachel - Chichicastenango - Guatemala City

Day 5: Journey to Guatemala City

Today, check out of your accommodation and make the journey on to your next destination, Guatemala City. The country's capital offers plenty to please city-lovers, whether you're exploring its rich cultural scene, feasting on local delicacies, or hopping from one colonial-era building to the next. Check into your hotel here and spend the day at your own pace.

Guatemala City - Coban

Day 6: The Secrets of a Perfect Coffee

Today, depart for the region of Alta Verapaz. The mountainous landscapes consist of waterfalls and lush forests, covered in mist.

Visit a coffee cooperative made up of small producers of the Q'eqchi ethnic group in the highlands of Cobán. A community member will take you to the plantation and will explain the history of Guatemalan coffee, and the production process.

Continue to Cobán, capital of Alta Verapaz, at 1300 meters altitude. The name comes from the Indian Quek'chi, which means "between the clouds".

Coban - Crater Azul - Flores

Day 7: Swim in a little-known cenote

Today, depart for the region of Alta Verapaz, whose mountainous landscapes are covered with mist, waterfalls, and lush forests. Arrive in Sayaxché and board a motorized lancha, to enjoy a refreshing swim at the Crater Azul and boat trip on the Río la Pasión.

As you travel along the river, keep your eyes peeled for the many birds that have made their home in the Petexbatún lagoon (herons, kingfishers, cormorants and more), alongside turtles and crocodiles hiding away on the banks of the river. After about an hour of navigation, arrive at the Crater Azul, a natural site little-known to travelers. With its unequaled transparency, the Crater Azul is a fascinating cenote (underwater well) to explore, reaching about 10m deep. Jump in for a refreshing swim in these crystal-clear waters, home to an amazing water garden. Afterwards, return by boat to Sayaxché and embark on your journey by road to Flores, in the heart of Petén.

Flores - Tikal - Flores

Day 8: Tikal: the jewel of the Mayan world

Today is dedicated to the exploration of the impressive city of Tikal, built in the 4th century B.C. The city reached its peak between the 3rd and 9th centuries A.D, and today, you'll see some 3,000 structures emerging from the rainforest in a mystical atmosphere. At a height of 65m, the Serpent Temple was the tallest building in the New World until the 19th century.

Nature is very much still present at Tikal, engulfing every traveler who enters the reserve. Spider monkeys, pheasants, coatis, toucans, and multicolored parrots can be spotted here, while the screams of howler monkeys can be heard for miles around. Adding another element of fascination, the scents of lianas and roots will no doubt surprise you as you explore the site.

In 2017, new research techniques uncovered temples still buried in the jungle - safe to say, Tikal has not finished revealing all of its mysteries! After your Mayan visit, take a thrilling canopy tour to explore new viewpoints across eight ziplines traversing dense flora - the best way to end your day in the jungle!

Flores - Finca Paraiso - Rio Dulce

Day 9: Journey to the Rio Dulce

Today you'll travel for approximately four hours to the banks of the Rio Dulce. Here you'll begin to feel the atmosphere of the Caribbean! After lunch along Lake Izabal, discover the waterfalls and hot springs of Finca Paraíso. Take a swim and relax in this tropical paradise.

Rio Dulce - Livingston - Rio Dulce

Day 10: Explore the sweet Rio Dulce

Spend a wonderful day on the Rio Dulce! Navigate to Fort San Felipe, which was built in the 17th century to stop continuous pirate attacks. Opt to stop and see the fort from inside (fees apply), then continue your private boat trip out onto the Rio Dulce. Travel past a canyon and take a dip in hot springs, before arriving into the village of Livingston, where the population is comprised of Garifuna ethnic people. Spend the afternoon at leisure in Livingston to soak up its unique atmosphere, which differs greatly from the rest of Guatemala. Finally, you'll navigate back along the Rio Dulce to end the day's tour.

Rio Dulce - Parque Arqueológico Y Ruinas De Quiriguá - Guatemala City

Day 11: Mayan stories at Quirigua

Depart from Rio Dulce and hit the road to Quirigua, about 90 minutes away. There you'll pay a visit to the archaeological site in the Motagua Valley. Quirigua was an important and respected city during the Mayan classical period (200 - 900 A.D.) The site is particularly renowned for the beauty of its stelae, the highest reaching 10.7m high and weighing 65 tonnes.

Afterwards, continue on to Guatemala City to check into your hotel and rest for the afternoon.

Guatemala City - Aeropuerto La Aurora

Day 12: Hasta la vista, Guatemala!

Today, check out of your accommodation and transfer by taxi to Guatemala City's international airport, in time for your onward flight. Safe travels and visit again soon!