Guatemala Cultural Explorer Sample Itinerary
Your TourHero
This is the spot for your picture and bio. Tell your travel story and get your group excited for this trip!
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
Travel Date
TBD
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
6 – 15
Transportation
Van, boat
Tour Price
Your Fellow Explorers
Age range
18+
Travel interest
Cultural immersion, sightseeing, wellness
Your Local Guide
.
Immerse yourself in a landscape filled with incredible Mayan culture, ancient architecture, and unparalleled natural beauty. This is Guatemala, and the country will feed your heart and soul on an unforgettable six-day wellness retreat.
Your adventure begins in the cultural gem of Antigua, a UNESCO city flanked by volcanoes and forested hills in Southern Guatemala. From here, you'll travel to the shores of the stunning Lake Atitlán for cultural delights and majestic sites before your final stop in Guatemala City. With various tours and daily yoga complementing this cultural experience, you’ll leave Guatemala feeling completely restored and renewed, providing a new lease on life for your journey home.
Note: You can customize this itinerary to include your workshops/sessions throughout the trip.
Cancellation policy
Refunds for deposits:
The deposit amount will be subject to the total price per participant, ranging from 200 - 500 USD, and will be defined before going live with the itinerary. If a participant wants to cancel after paying, the deposit will be non-refundable.
Refunds for fully-paid trips:
If a participant wants to cancel the trip after making the full payment, they may change or cancel up to 60 days before the tour departure for a refund, excluding the deposit amount.
Trip cancellation due to COVID-19:
A full credit will be issued if the tour is canceled when there is full border closure due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This credit can go towards booking a future TourHero tour (see our COVID-19 guarantee on the tour itinerary page). We suggest buying your own travel insurance for coverage of cancellations within 60 days of the tour commencing for reasons other than a full tour cancellation.
Your TourHero
This is the spot for your picture and bio. Tell your travel story and get your group excited for this trip!
Duration
6 days · 5 nights
Travel Date
TBD
Activity Level
Moderate
Group Size
6 – 15
Transportation
Van, boat
Immerse yourself in a landscape filled with incredible Mayan culture, ancient architecture, and unparalleled natural beauty. This is Guatemala, and the country will feed your heart and soul on an unforgettable six-day wellness retreat.
Your adventure begins in the cultural gem of Antigua, a UNESCO city flanked by volcanoes and forested hills in Southern Guatemala. From here, you'll travel to the shores of the stunning Lake Atitlán for cultural delights and majestic sites before your final stop in Guatemala City. With various tours and daily yoga complementing this cultural experience, you’ll leave Guatemala feeling completely restored and renewed, providing a new lease on life for your journey home.
Note: You can customize this itinerary to include your workshops/sessions throughout the trip.
Timeline
- Day 1 · Antigua
- Arrive at La Aurora International Airport
- Transfer from airport to accommodation
- Check-in at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (or similar according to availability)
- Free time
- Welcome dinner at hotel
- Evening restorative session
- Day 2 · Antigua
- Morning yoga session
- Breakfast at hotel
- Antigua city tour
- Tour of La Azotea coffee farm cultural center
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Visit jade workshop
- Free time
- Dinner at hotel
- Evening restorative session
- Day 3 · Iximché & Panajachel
- Breakfast and check out of accommodation
- Transfer to Iximché Archeological Site
- Guided tour of Iximché ruins
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Transfer to Panajachel
- Check-in at Hotel Atitlán (or similar according to availability)
- Free time
- Dinner at hotel
- Evening restorative session
- Day 4 · Panajachel
- Morning yoga session
- Breakfast at hotel
- Boat ride to San Juan La Laguna
- Tour markets and craft shops
- Travel to Santiago Atitlán
- Visit Maximón shrine
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Return to Panajachel
- Free time
- Dinner at hotel
- Evening restorative session
- Day 5 · Panajachel & Guatemala City
- Breakfast and check out of accommodation
- Transfer to Guatemala City
- Lunch (not included in price)
- Visit the Relief Map
- Tour the Museum of Archeology
- Transfer to accommodation
- Check-in at Westin Camino Real (or similar according to availability)
- Free time
- Farewell dinner
- Evening restorative session
- Day 6 · Departure
- Morning yoga session
- Breakfast and check out of accommodation
- Transfer to airport
- Journey ends
Details
Day 1
Welcome to Guatemala, the heart of the Mayan world – get settled in Antigua
Welcome! We are thrilled to have you here with us in vibrant Guatemala for a stellar wellness retreat. A warm welcome awaits at La Aurora International Airport, where you’ll be whisked away to the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua. Nestled in forested hills and surrounded by volcanoes in southern Guatemala, this much-loved destination is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and well-preserved culture. This is a place where history buffs can find immersive experiences at every turn!
Check into your accommodation and enjoy ample time to get your bearings and start exploring. You’ll meet back at the hotel for a welcome dinner to get to know your wellness group then come together for a relaxing restorative yoga session. Release what no longer serves you and shift into vacation mode.
Day 2
Explore the city of Antigua and a coffee farm with a local guide in between yoga sessions
Awake to your first full day in Guatemala with a sunrise yoga session. Each morning, we’ll come together and align the body and mind through gentle movement. After a delicious breakfast spread, put on your exploring shoes and hit the town with a local guide. You’ll learn all about the rich architecture and an array of stories that will take you back in time. You’ll visit the famous Mermaid fountain before a visit to a local coffee farm known as La Azotea. Here, learn all about the production of that famous Guatemalan coffee before a divine tasting on the property. After the tasting, we’ll head back into the city proper to tour the Church of La Merced, the Capuchinas Convent, and the Cathedral before we visit the markets for shopping fun.
After some free time for lunch on your own, your guide will take you to a jade workshop to learn all about this precious gem and its historical significance. It’s here the tour will end, leaving you with a free afternoon to continue your explorations or relax back at the hotel. We’ll come together for another delicious meal on site before our evening yoga session to wind down from an exciting day of sightseeing.
Day 3
Travel into the past with a trip to Iximché before getting settled at your new accommodation on Lake Atitlán
Rise and shine to a day of ancient history and natural beauty. After fueling up with breakfast at the hotel, we’ll pack our bags and travel to the archaeological site of Iximché. This location was the capital of the Late Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524. Your guide will take you around the grounds, showcasing pyramid-temples, palaces, and two Mesoamerican ballcourts. From here, you’ll stop for lunch before continuing on to Panajachel at Lake Atitlán. The water of this stunning location rests in the bottom of a volcanic crater and features lush greenery and an array of history all around. Get settled at your new accommodation before a group dinner at the hotel and an evening restorative session.
Day 4
Cruise around the lake to the local villages of San Juan La Laguna and Santiago Atitlán
Today, we get to explore the beauty and culture that thrives on the shores of Lake Atitlán. After morning yoga and breakfast, we’ll take a boat ride across the lake’s crystalline waters until we reach the charming, picturesque town of San Juan La Laguna. Here, we’ll enjoy a cultural afternoon full of ancestral knowledge by visiting the markets and craft shops. We’ll also travel to Santiago Atitlán to visit the idol known as Maximón, a deity of this village. Located in a local home, you’ll learn all about the legends and lore of this trickster and protector.
After lunch in the village, we’ll return to the hotel with ample free time to relax before dinner and evening yoga. Enjoy it all!
Day 5
Journey to Guatemala City and visit the Relief Map and the Museum of Archeology
We’re hitting the road once again with a journey to Guatemala City. This cosmopolitan capital is known for its beautiful architecture, collection of stellar art, and its Mayan history. Our first stop of the day is at the Relief map – a replica of the topographical data of the country. What looks like a swimming pool contains the exact landscape of Guatemala with elevated spots for pictures. From here, we’ll travel to the Museum of Archeology and explore its 10 rooms with our guide. You’ll learn all about the country’s history, from the famed Mayan sites to the settlement of America. Marvel at the jade, the sculptures, and the relics that showcase a time passed.
After a day of immersing yourself in Guatemala’s heritage, you’ll get settled at your next hotel, offering free time for souvenir shopping and exploring, a farewell meal, and evening yoga.
Day 6
Stretch it out one last time before saying goodbye to Guatemala
Rise with the sun and stretch it out one last time in Guatemala. During this morning session, we can prepare for the trip ahead by moving the body and processing all that we have experienced and learned throughout our stay. After breakfast, it’s time to say goodbye and take your transfer to the airport to catch your flight. We hope you had a memorable time here in Guatemala and will travel with us again soon. Be well!
Accommodation
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (or similar according to availability)
Casa Santo Domingo is a former convent, now refurbished into a cozy and modern hotel. Only an 8-minute walk from Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and 9 minutes from the famous Santa Catalina Arch, this destination will get travelers right into the heart of the city. Rustic rooms featuring Guatemalan art and traditional stylings are outfitted with modern amenities such as smart TVs, minibars, free Wi-Fi access, and safes. On-site, you'll find 3 restaurants and a bar, as well as a spa, an exercise room, an outdoor pool, and even a cultural museum. Casa Santo Domingo is the perfect location for travelers wanting to enjoy the best of Antigua. Room type: Standard double room.
Hotel Atitlán (or similar according to availability)
Built on a former coffee plantation in the small town of Panajachel, this hotel is the go-to place for touring the lake and its surrounding areas. Nestled on the banks of Lake Atitlán, the hotel also has access to a private beach. The rooms feature local art, terracotta flooring, and all the modern touches you need for a home away from home. Free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, safes, and balconies with lake or garden views can be found here, and the hotel also has a fine dining restaurant, hot tub, and infinity pool on-site. There's nowhere better to explore Lake Atitlán than the Hotel Atitlán. Room type: Standard double room.
Westin Camino Real (or similar according to availability)
Minutes from local shopping, upscale restaurants, and art galleries is the Westin Camino Real. Located in an exclusive district of the city, this stylish hotel and convention complex mixes business and local culture throughout. Enjoy time at the property’s outdoor heated pool, grab a meal at the on-site restaurant or bar, or move your body on the tennis courts or in the fitness center. In your room, find the same high-end comforts with all the modern amenities you crave on vacation, including high-speed Wi-Fi, satellite TV, an en suite with toiletries, and much more. Room type: Standard double room.
Included
- 2 nights at Hotel Casa Santo Domingo (or similar)
- 2 nights at Hotel Atitlán (or similar)
- 1 night at Westin Camino Real (or similar)
- Double occupancy in accommodations
- Private airport & activity transfers (includes boat rides)
- All breakfasts & dinners
- All tours & activities listed in itinerary
- English-speaking guide
Not included
- Flights
- All food not mentioned in inclusions
- Drinks with included meals
- Personal expenses not stipulated
- Optional add-ons
- Gratuities
- COVID testing
Cancellation policy
Refunds for deposits:
The deposit amount will be subject to the total price per participant, ranging from 200 - 500 USD, and will be defined before going live with the itinerary. If a participant wants to cancel after paying, the deposit will be non-refundable.
Refunds for fully-paid trips:
If a participant wants to cancel the trip after making the full payment, they may change or cancel up to 60 days before the tour departure for a refund, excluding the deposit amount.
Trip cancellation due to COVID-19:
A full credit will be issued if the tour is canceled when there is full border closure due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. This credit can go towards booking a future TourHero tour (see our COVID-19 guarantee on the tour itinerary page). We suggest buying your own travel insurance for coverage of cancellations within 60 days of the tour commencing for reasons other than a full tour cancellation.
- Get settled at the hotel, then wander the beautiful streets and soak in the magic of this ancient town. - Unsplash: Clovis Castaneda
- Today, you'll take to the streets with a local guide who will show you all the important landmarks in town, such as the Old Cathedral. - Unsplash: Robin Canfield
- Learn about Calle del Arco (Arch Street) and Antigua's musical history. - Unsplash: Manuel Asturias
- You'll also have time to grab some souvenirs at the local markets. - Unsplash: Jeison Higuita
- Come together tonight for another incredible meal. - Unsplash: Annie Spratt
- Hotel Atitlán - Exterior - Hotel Atitlán
- Hotel Casa Santo Domingo - Exterior - Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
- Hotel Casa Santo Domingo - Double room - Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
- Westin Camino Real - Double Room - Marriott Hotels
- Embark on a boat ride across the lake’s crystalline waters to reach the small and picturesque town of San Juan La Laguna. - Unsplash: Arturo Rivera
- Your travels from Antigua will lead you to Lake Atitlán - a tranquil respite in the heart of Guatemala. - Pixabay: marcoreyes
- Our first stop is in the village of San Juan La Laguna to tour the markets and craft workshops. - Unsplash: J'Enrike Marrokín
- Maximón is a renowned god and saint known for his protection and trickery. - Wikimedia Commons
- Nestled in forested hills and surrounded by volcanoes in southern Guatemala, this much-visited city is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and well-preserved culture and history. - Pexels: HAROLD PRODUCTIONS
- We'll then travel to the village of Santiago Atitlán to catch a glimpse of a legendary deity. - Unsplash: Robin Canfield
- With plenty of ruins and colonial edifices to discover, you'll find many treasures here! - Unsplash: Linda Knicely
- Learn all about Guatemala's landscape at the giant Relief Map. - Wikimedia Commons
- Hotel Atitlán - Double room - Hotel Atitlán
- Explore the Iximché ruins, a key part of the Mayan civilization. - Wikimedia Commons
- Visit the famous La Merced Church, Central Park and its mermaid fountain, the Cathedral, and the Capuchinas Convent! - Manuel Asturias
- Visit a jade workshop and discover the secrets behind the important stone. - Wikimedia Commons
- Get curious about cosmopolitan Guatemala City, the country's capital - Wikimedia Commons