Guatemala Experiences

Today visit the local villages that surround Antigua to learn about local culture and history. Start by driving up to the mountain town of Santa Maria, where many women still wear the traditional Mayan dress. Visiting the towns of San Pedro and Ciudad Vieja, admire colonial sights and see local village life before reaching the town of San Antonio. Here, stop at a women's textile cooperative an...

This walking tour explores Antigua's cultural, architectural, and social history with a behind-the-scenes look at some of Antigua's ornately decorated churches, Spanish colonial-era ruins, and the tomb of the first Guatemalan saint. Entrance fees for the Cathedral of San Jose, the San Francisco El Grande and La Merced churches are included; however, with just a word to the guide, this fle...

To reach the highland town of Chichicastenango, pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives - working in the fields, collecting firewood, traveling between markets, selling their wares. Upon arrival at Chichicastenango your guide will take you to explore this famous market, both the local areas of the fruit & veget...

Although more than a dozen fascinating towns and villages overlook majestic Lake Atitlán, Santiago and San Juan La Laguna top the must-see list. In San Juan, watch indigenous weavers mix natural dyes from locally grown plants and flowers, and then see the women use a back-strap loom to create intricate textiles, thread by colourful thread. From there, peruse a workshop of art naïf pain...

Once home to an estimated at 50,000 residents or more, Tikal flourished from 800 BC to 900 AD. In a lush jungle setting, some 3000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. Experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys, that live in the jungle canopy as you follow in the footsteps of Mayan royalty and commoners. Discover sites such as ...

One hour from Antigua by car is the famous Mayan archeological site of Iximche. These well preserved ruins include pyramid temples, ball courts, royal palaces and a museum explaining the history of the site, which was built over 1000 years ago. Mayan rituals are still performed here at an extremely important Mayan spiritual ceremony site. Meet a local shaman who will perform an authentic Mayan cer...

On a walking tour today during your holiday to Guatemala, visit the house of Maximon, the Mayan folk saint who moves annually with the selection of his new caretaker. A shaman may be performing a ritual for a local follower or two gathered at Maximón's candle-lit altar. After visiting Maximon you will visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town and s...

Travel by boat the village of San Juan La Laguna, a petit but picturesque Tz'utujil Maya town with beautiful lake views. You'll visit a women's cooperative to see how traditional backstrap looms and all-natural dyes are used to make some of Guatemala's nicest textiles, including scarves, blankets, and covers. The Tz’utujil weavers of San Juan La Laguna are well known for maki...

Today visit the village of Jocotenango; located just on the outskirts of Antigua, this is where you can visit the wonderful Azotea Coffee farm and museum. On have a guided tour of the farm & the museum (covering Mayan traditional music and costume), learn about the importance of coffee in Guatemala's history and its impact today as well as hearing about the Mayan way of life. Admire the intere...

On your Guatemalan holiday you can watch the sunset from the beautiful Yaxha ruins. This lesser visited Mayan ceremonial site is set atop a hill overlooking two scenic lakes with particularly picturesque views. Before dark, climb to the top of the temple and enjoy sunset drinks and snacks as the sun sets over the surrounding rainforest and nearby lake Yaxha. Experience the sounds of the jungle as ...