Guatemala Tours & Vacations
Small Group Tours & Tailor-Made Vacations
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Overview
Volcanic and laid-back, Guatemala is filled with ancient ruins, lush rainforests, vibrant markets and pleasant beaches. An ideal destination for a Central American hiking adventure, it is a wildly exuberant land of Caribbean coastlines, picturesque colonial towns, towering mountains and fertile highlands.
Blanketed in coffee plantations, sugar cane and the remains of a magnificent Maya heritage, its rugged landscapes are scattered with pre-Columbian relics that can trace their origins ...
Volcanic and laid-back, Guatemala is filled with ancient ruins, lush rainforests, vibrant markets and pleasant beaches. An ideal destination for a Central American hiking adventure, it is a wildly exuberant land of Caribbean coastlines, picturesque colonial towns, towering mountains and fertile highlands.
Blanketed in coffee plantations, sugar cane and the remains of a magnificent Maya heritage, its rugged landscapes are scattered with pre-Columbian relics that can trace their origins back to the height of the Mayan civilisation and the classic period of Mesoamerican culture.
Bordering Mexico and heavily influenced by both the Maya and, more recently, Spanish traditions, Guatemala's rich cultural landscapes span centuries of religious and political influence that can be seen in the cobbled streets and Spanish-style buildings of colonial Antigua, as well as the jungle ruins of El Peten and Tikal. The jungles and surrounding volcanoes offer excellent hiking trails, as does the spectacular setting of Lake Atitlan in the highlands of the Sierra Madre Mountains. Amongst the central Quiche Mountains, the stucco-white town of Chichicastenango plays host to one of the region's most famous markets every Thursday and Sunday, providing a unique and colourful insight into traditional K'iche' Maya culture and the daily life of modern Guatemala.
Start your journey
Group tours
Travel to Guatemala with like-minded people on one of our small group tours (usually max size 12), featuring knowledgeable local guides and an expert tour leader.
TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS
Whether you want to travel on one of our award-winning itineraries or build your own journey from scratch, our expert consultants will help create the perfect tour for your tastes and budget. Below are a few suggestions of the kind of trips we can offer, all of which can be tailored to you.
EXAMPLE ITINERARIES
HIGHLIGHTS OF GUATEMALA
BEST EXPERIENCES
Hike active Pacaya Volcano
Go on a 2-mile private guided hike with a picnic lunch on Pacaya Volcano 2,552m (8,373ft) through farmland and pine forest to an exposed ridge offering a panoramic view of Pacaya's smoking black cone and miles of old blackened lava flows.
Go on a historic walking tour in Antigua
The historic importance of this city is evident from the grandeur of its wonderfully preserved colonial buildings. Your local guide will cover the historical, cultural and social highlights of the colourful city as you walk through its cobblestone streets.
Boat down the Rio Dulce
Tour along the Rio Dulce (Sweet River) to Livingston with great nature viewing and cultural stops en route. The transfer ends at Livingston, the only town in Guatemala where the Garifuna settled in the 1800s with a unique ambiance not found anywhere else.
Embrace San Juan culture
Transfer to San Juan la Laguna, the bustling lake town, to visit the Rupalaj Association cooperative protecting cultural, artisan and artistic traditions of T'zutujil culture such as natural textile dyeing, stand-loom weaving, and medicinal plants and honey.
Watch sunrise over Tikal ruins
Start early with our private guide at Tikal National Park to enjoy the sunrise on top of this iconic temple. Then, enjoy a full day tour around the park’s ruins viewing the architecture, history and wildlife including monkeys, parrots, macaws, and toucans.
Enjoy a lake villages tour
Tour two of the twelve villages that surround Lake Atitlan. San Juan is famous for its naïf art galleries, town murals and natural dyes textiles whilst Santiago is the home to Maximon, a pagan saint who drinks moonshine and smoke cigars.
Climb Yaxhá ruins for sunset drinks
Tour Yaxhá ruins inside the Mayan Biosphere Reserve. Less travelled than Tikal, Yaxha remains peaceful and there are wonderful wildlife watching opportunities. At the end of the tour climb one of the temples overlooking Yaxhá lagoon to enjoy a drink at sunset.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT
Antigua
Set in the scenic central highlands of Guatemala is the beautiful colonial city of Antigua. Nestling in a lovely valley that lies within the dominating embrace of three spectacular volcanoes: Agua ...
Flores
Flores is a small town located on Lake Péten Itzá within Péten, Guatemala's largest department of lowland jungle. The town has an airport, making it logistically the best entry ...
Lake Atitlan
The deepest lake in Central America, Lake Atitlan occupies an ancient volcanic caldera in the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands. Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful in the Americas, ...
Tikal
These spectacular ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in the dense tropical forest. Even with many of its complexes yet to be discovered and unearthed, Tikal is arguably the most impressive ...
Rio Dulce & Livingston
When the Spanish colonised Central America, the Guatemalan city of Antigua was the capital of the whole continent. Shipping, communication and travel all reached Antigua via the Rio Dulce River, which ...
OUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO STAY
Casa Palopo, Lake Atitlan
Spectacularly perched above Lake Atitlan, this romantic setting offers stunning views of the Guatemalan Highlands and a hotel of distinction. The main building of this Relais & Chateaux property…
El Convento, Antigua
El Convento is an award-winning, luxury hotel within the UNESCO city of Antigua. Across from the Convent of the Capuchinas and four blocks from the central park, this stylish recreation of a…
Hotel Isla De Flores, Flores
One of the best options on the small inland island of Flores, Hotel Isla de Flores is a charming hotel close to Flores’ main square. The small, personal hotel offers 30 simple rooms all the amenities…
Jungle Lodge, Tikal
Jungle Lodge is a superbly located lodge within the national park close to Tikal ruins. Built on the site of the first scientific camp housing archaeologists exploring the ruins, the site dates back 63…
La Lancha, Tikal
Located around an hour from the Belize border and just 45 minutes by road from the archaeological ruins of Tikal, La Lancha is a tranquil 10-room lodge, nestling amongst a jungle landscape high above…
Las Lagunas, Flores
Although only a short drive from Flores Airport, Las Lagunas offers a paradise escape, set deep within the jungle. There are only 19 suites at the hotel featuring rustic décor, a hot tub, air…
Posada Del Angel, Antigua
Established in 1993, Posada del Angel was one of the first luxury boutique hotel’s in Antigua. Four blocks from the centre, this stylish hotel has just seven cosy rooms with each suite decorated…
Villa Santa Catarina, Lake Atitlan
Set above the shores of Lake Atitlan, Villa Santa Catarina boasts a stunning location, leafy garden and modern amenities. The bursts of colour and beautiful textiles used throughout its 38 rooms draw…
Villa Caribe, Livingston
Located at the mouth of the Rio Dulce river, Villa Caribe occupies a prime spot next to the merging of the Rio Dulce and the Caribbean Sea, offering a great seat from which to catch the Caribbean sun…Discover more
WHEN TO GO
There is no real bad time to go to Guatemala but the months of November to April are generally considered the dry months and the best time to visit. At this time you can expect daytime temperatures to be in the late 20s and night time temperatures to be low double figures. It can be fairly humid year-round.
Meet the expert, Richard
Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Richard by calling
1(833) 200-4640
LGBTQIA+ Guidance
When planning to travel as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, there may be additional things you wish to consider doing, such as:
- Speaking to one of our travel experts for information about travelling in your chosen destination and local attitudes towards members of the LGBTQIA+ community
- Checking the Human Dignity Trust map which highlights regions and countries which are potentially dangerous to LGBTQIA+ people, or Equaldex, which tracks the progress of LGBTQIA+ rights around the world.
- Checking the ‘Local laws and customs’ section of your country's official foreign travel advice page
- Looking for any updates for your desired destination on the Human Rights Watch LGBTQIA+ rights page
- Buying a recommended guidebook, as many include an LGBTQIA+ section and advice for LGBTQIA+ travellers
USEFUL INFORMATION
Health and Vaccinations
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Guatemala though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Please note we are not medical professionals and so we highly recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre as to the correct immunisations and preventative treatments.
Currency
In Guatemala the official unit of currency is the Quetzal (GTQ). The Quetzal is extremely difficult to obtain outside Guatemala or exchange after leaving Guatemala, and visitors are strongly advised to exchange local currency before departure.
To check out the latest exchange rate for the places that you are visiting you can go to www.oanda.com.
Cultural Sensitivity
On our tours you will frequently interact with local people, each with their own distinct customs and traditions. We therefore ask you to be considerate and to treat them with respect. Your tour-leaders and guides will always be able to advise you accordingly.
There is no dress code in Guatemala however, in rural areas it is better to dress a bit more conservative (e.g. knee-length trousers/skirts, t-shirts). The same should be followed when entering a church.
Language & Religion
In Guatemala the major language is Spanish but there are also several Mayan indigenous languages in use. English is spoken in some of the more heavily visited tourist sites but any Spanish you can learn beforehand will be very useful. Catholicism is the major religion in the country but Evangelism is on the increase. Many Guatemalans combine ancient Mayan beliefs almost seamlessly with Christianity and the result can be a very interesting mix!
Time
Guatemala is 6 hours behind of GMT, on Central Standard Time.
A useful website to check the time zone differences is www.worldtimezone.com.
Food and drink
As with much of Central America, Guatemalan food heavily features tortillas made from maize, however rice and potatoes are also important staples and are available in most places. Frijoles (or black beans) are also predominant and will be found accompanying many dishes. In the more popular areas, a wide variety of international cuisine can be found but there will still be many opportunities to sample traditional local food. Excellent coffee is available everywhere and local beers such as Gallo & Cabro are very drinkable. Imported wine is available in some of the more international establishments but be prepared for this to come at an international price.