Day 01– Guatemala City - Antigua, Guatemala
Arrive Guatemala City and transfer (1-hour) to Antigua for check-in and overnight. Panza VerdeDay 02: Antigua
Half-day colonial guided walking tour of Antigua today including visits to Iglesia San Francisco, the Cathedral and La Merced Church. Antigua is one of Latin America's best-preserved colonial cities and home of some of Guatemala’s most beautiful, traditional art. Nestled between three of Central America’s most impressive volcanoes and surrounded by lush, evergreen forest, Antigua’s charm and grace will touch your soul. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are free to enjoy Antigua’s nightlife and scenery. Optional full day Pacaya Volcano Hike (extra fee) prepare to hike! The trek to the crater takes 2 - 3 hours, and is strenuous. If lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the red-hot lava that swelters down its own path. Enjoy a picnic lunch before descending the volcano. Panza Verde (B)Day 03: Antigua - Lake Atitlan
Transfer to the scenic highlands of Lake Atitlán with a (unguided) visit to Solola Market en route. Each highland village maintains its own traditional dress in the form of unique colors, styles, and patterns that are hand woven. Women’s blouses are hand woven on a backstrap loom, then decorated with appliqué and embroidery designs and motifs common to the weaver’s village. Many of the motifs are traditional symbols with religious or historical significance. On arrival to Casa Palopo, get acquainted with your new surroundings and enjoy the rest of the day doing whatever suits your fancy. Be it relaxing at the pool, enjoying a massage, or hiking to a nearby village. An optional helicopter transfer (extra fee) to Casa Palopo is available for those who wish to see Guatemala’s landscape from a different perspective. In flight, enjoy incredible views of volcanoes, unbeatable views of Lake Atitlán, and small farms and hillside villages that aren’t easy to observe from the main road. The helicopter transfer from Antigua to Casa Palopo takes about 30 minutes, under normal weather conditions (note check-in time is 4PM) Casa Palopo (B)Day 04: Lake Atitlan
Full-day Lake Atitlan tour. Board a boat to travel across the lake, first stopping at Santa Catarina for a visit of this small lakeside village famous for its blue & purple textiles. The boat then continues across the lake to visit the village San Pedro in the shadow of San Pedro volcano where guests can see everyday Maya life in progress. Finally we head south, to the village of Santiago, located on a lagoon that lies between the towering volcanoes of Toliman and San Pedro. Santiago clings to the traditional lifestyle of the Tz’utuhil Maya. The women of the town still weave their blouses (or huipiles) with brilliantly colored flocks of birds and bouquets of flowers embroidered on them. First enjoy lunch and at the Posada Santiago and then tour of Santiago with a local, English-speaking guide. There is a burgeoning art and gallery scene here. The town’s rich and colorful history seems to be depicted in the colorful paintings produced by the local artists, most of whom keep to the traditional - almost primitive - Mayan style. Visit the several-centuries-old church at the center of the town, which dates from the time when Santiago was an important, commercial town, and sits on a site sacred to the Tz’utuhil people. The main point of interest in Santiago is to visit the fascinating Maya God “Maximon” who locals bring offerings of alcohol & cigarettes in order to secure their prayers and wishes. Local shaman can often be seen here performing rituals for local Maya people. Late afternoon, return to Casa Palopo. Casa Palopo (B,L)
Day 05: Chichicastenango - Peten
Transfer (1-hour) to the small town of Chichicastenango where you will enjoy a guided visit of the markets. Often engulfed by mist, this little town is made up of narrow, cobblestone streets and red-tiled roofs and seems almost magical. Though isolated, “Chichi” has always been an important market town. Villagers throughout the region would walk for many hours carrying their wares to participate in the commerce here. Today, though many traders arrive by bus, others still arrive on foot. When they reach the market the night before, they lay down their blankets, set out their wares, and sleep for the night in one of the arcades near the market. Besides the raucous, colorful market, Chichi natives are famous for their adherence to pre-Christian religious beliefs and ceremonies. It is possible to see some of these old rites in and around the Church of Santo Tomas and at the shrine of Pascal Abaj on the outskirts of town. Your guide will escort you through the market, providing excellent background on the history of the textiles you see, the living culture that typifies Guatemala’s indigenous people, and assisting you in making wise purchase decisions. Early this afternoon, transfer to Guatemala City (3-hours) in time for a late afternoon flight to Flores. On arrival, you will be met, assisted with your bags for lodge transfer to Nitún. Nitun Lodge (B,D)Day 06: Peten - Yaxha Ruins
Half-day tour of the seldom-visited ruins of Yaxha. Yaxhá means "Green Water" in Mayan and is located 50 miles from Flores, in the jungle beside the island of Topoxté. Topoxté and Yaxhá are separated by a lake. The waterways near the site were considered to be spiritual to the Maya possibly because they are the color of Jade. The city is comprised of two sectors of rectangular structures, a double acropolis, laid out in such a manner that they form streets and plazas. This 'city plan' is very unlike other cities built in the Classic period, and combined with the fact that the influence of Teoatihuacán is present in the stelae and the architecture, it is thought that the street design was adopted from that place. The hieroglyphic inscriptions indicate that it was inhabited sometime between the Pre-classic and Post-classic. Nitun Lodge (B,L,D)Day 07: Peten - Tikal - Guatemala City
Full-day excursion to Tikal National Park. One of Mesoamerica’s greatest Mayan cities and archaeological sites, Tikal is even more special because it is set in the rainforest. Noisy howler monkeys, brightly colored parrots, and noisy toucans, among other creatures, live among the trees surrounding this most hallowed ground. Settled around 700 BC, Tikal is set an a low hill which provided relief and stability from the low-lying swampy ground that surrounds the area. This must have been appealing to the Maya, along with the abundance of flint, the valuable stone used to make clubs, spear points, arrowheads, and knives. Transfer back to Flores your afternoon flight to Guatemala City. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for overnight. Hotel InterContinental (B,L)Day 08: Guatemala City - Departure
Transfer to the Guatemala airport for departure. (B)
