5-day Guatemala cultural immersion tour

Aeropuerto La Aurora - Antigua Guatemala

Day 1: Bienvenidos a Guatemala!

Upon arrival at Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport, look out for the friendly face of your chauffeur waiting for you in the arrivals hall.

After assisting you with your luggage, your private transfer will drive you to the historic city of Antigua. Along the way, don’t forget to look out the window and admire the picturesque landscapes, passing through small towns and villages where you can see Guatemalans live out their daily lives.

Once you've checked into your hotel in the heart of the city, feel free to enjoy the rest of the evening at your own pace and leisure. Whether you venture further afield to explore the rest of the city or choose to relax in your room, don’t worry - you deserve both!

Antigua Guatemala - Panajachel - San Juan Atitlán

Day 2: Explore village life on Lake Atitlan

After breakfast, follow a coffee farmer on his plot to discover his work and understand how the precious bean is produced through cultivation, harvesting, roasting and grinding, ending the tour with a tasting session.

Return to Antigua in the early afternoon and transfer to Lake Atitlan, nestled between three volcanoes at an altitude of 1,600m. The small villages that border the lake - often only accessible by boat - perpetuate festivals and markets rooted in local traditions. You'll reach Panajachel and transfer by 30-minute boat to San Juan la Laguna, a small Mayan village. A cooperative of women weavers will open its doors to explain the techniques of natural coloring and traditional weaving. You'll also have time to admire the naive paintings that represent scenes of daily life in the region.

The Tzutuhil Indigenous people are one of the 21 Mayan peoples of Guatemala, and are present in only a handful of villages southwest of Lake Atitlan. You'll be welcomed by a family from the village and participate in daily life: depending on the season, it may be a matter of destemming the corn, drying the coffee beans, or accompanying the grandfather on his cultivated plot. Enjoy cooking and dinner with the family before an overnight stay with a local resident.

San Juan Atitlán - Santiago Atitlan - Panajachel

Day 3: Mayan Immersion in San Juan la Laguna

You'll have this morning free to spend with your host family. Walk in the village with a family member and experience the women's weavers' cooperative which opens its doors to you to explain the techniques of natural cotton dyeing and traditional weaving.

After a ​traditional lunch with local people, we'll visit Santiago Atitlan to discover a curious syncretic cult. Somewhere between good and bad, Maximón, the smoking God of Guatemala is feared as much as he is idolized with villagers offering him gifts in the form of cigarettes, alcohol, or money. 

Once finished, we’ll head back to Panajachel in the afternoon. After checking into your hotel, freshen up and feel free to enjoy the rest of the evening at your own pace and leisure.

Panajachel - Chichicastenango - Antigua Guatemala

Day 4: Market day in Chichicastenango

Today, travel for 90 minutes to Chichicastenango to explore its famous market (available on Thursdays and Sundays). The Kaqchikel Indians descend from surrounding villages twice a week to sell their wares here, transforming the city into a real kaleidoscope of colors and smells. The women wear traditional huipil representing the seasons of the Mayan calendar, and in the center of the village, shamans purify the stairs of the church with incense and indulge in Mayan rituals.

Walk with an English-speaking guide to Mount Pascual Abaj (90-minute round trip), a place full of stories and legends where many ancestral rites and sacrifices are practiced. Enjoy a lunch of local specialties and a traditional ceremony with a Mayan shaman - a process of spiritual purification, protection and good omens.

Afterwards, continue your journey towards the city of Antigua. Arrive in the late afternoon and spend the evening in this incredible colonial city.

Antigua Guatemala - Aeropuerto La Aurora

Day 5: A Culinary Adventure

Meeting with Joaquin this morning in the lobby of your hotel. His family prepares traditional dishes that are sold in the evening in villages near Antigua.

Your tour with him will take you to Antigua's lively market where you will walk through a maze of foods to buy the ingredients that will be used for the cooking workshop. 

You'll then take local transport to reach the neighbouring village of Jocotenango, an opportunity to board a famous "Chicken Bus", colourful vehicles that travel around the country.

You'll prepare a traditional Guatemalan dish at Joaquin's while discussing local life. To top off lunch on the terrace is the panoramic view of the volcanoes that surround the region.

Afterwards, meet your driver who will transfer you to Guatemala City Airport for your onward travels.