Arrive in Guatemala & transfer to Antigua

Upon your arrival in Guatemala, an NPE representative will meet and greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in beautiful Antigua (1 hr. drive).

Antigua is among the world’s best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas. It is a mysterious and alluring tiny village that gives the impression that time may have stood still 300 years ago. The colonial architecture and stunning surroundings will attract you as you meander through the town on the cobblestone streets.

Overnight at El Convento (No meals).

Antigua walking tour & community cooking class

After breakfast, enjoy a guided walking tour of Antigua. You will visit breathtaking colonial monuments and find out why this city was the bustling center of the region for the Spaniards. You will start your tour at the central plaza, and your expedition leader will give you a general idea about colonization, Guatemala’s history & contemporary issues.

View the main buildings (Palacio de Capitanes, City Hall, and El Portal), and visit the backstage Cathedral & Cathedral Ruins and San Francisco Church.

Stop for lunch at a local restaurant.

Afterward, hop on a private transfer to San Miguel Escobar Town. On arrival, you will head towards the house of a Guatemalan family to test your cooking skills by preparing a traditional Guatemalan dish at a real Guatemalan home. Enjoy for dinner the fruits of your labor.

Overnight at El Convento (B, L, D)

Pacaya Volcano hike

After breakfast, you will head towards the Pacaya volcano.

One of three active volcanoes in Guatemala, Pacaya Volcano, is situated not far from Guatemala City and rises to 2,552m (8,373ft). It has been active since 1965, occasionally more spectacularly than other times, following a period of hibernation. The Pacaya National Park, established in 2001, and the trailhead in the little community of San Francisco de Sales are both around an hour’s drive from Antigua.

During your hike, you will enjoy panoramic views of Pacaya’s smoking black cone, and miles of ancient blackened lava flows from the about 2-mile-long, slightly steep but well-maintained trail through farmlands and pine forests.

The journey continues onto the desolate moonscape of the lava flows, where you can make Guatemalan-style smores by roasting marshmallows over hot places and stop for a picnic lunch with a distant view of the crater.

Afterward, you will return to Antigua to rest and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight at El Convento (B, L, D).

Iximche visit & transfer to Lake Atitlan

After breakfast, your driver will transfer you from Antigua to Lake Atitlan (approx 3hrs).

En route to Lake Atitlan, you’ll visit Iximche archeological site. The Western Highlands of Guatemala is home to the Post Classic Mayan site of Iximche. It was established in 1,470 by the Kaqchikel Maya following a protracted struggle with the Quiche. It served as the Late Pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom’s capital from 1470 until the arrival of the Spaniards in 1524 when it was abandoned.

After visiting this unique archaeological site, you will stop for lunch at a local restaurant and continue your journey to your hotel located at the banks of Lake Atitlan.

You will have time to relax and get ready for dinner, served at your hotel.

Overnight at Hotel Atitlan (B, L, D).

Birding & San Juan village visit

On this day, we will drive to Rey Tepepul Reserve, on Santiago Atitlan.

This reserve is located on the western slopes of the Atitlán volcano, with montane and subtropical humid forest areas inhabited by exciting bird species. At the entrance on both sides of the street, there are two viewpoints with spectacular views of the three volcanoes, the community of Santiago Atitlán, and the Pacific slope.

Your expedition leader and your local master guide will help you pick a trail inside the national reserve in order to ensure you spot as many species as possible.

After birding, we will take a private boat transfer to the picturesque San Juan village. San Juan is famous for its art galleries, town murals, and natural dyed textiles. A perfect stop for buying authentic souvenirs and getting close contact with the locals.

Afterward, we head to our hotel to relax and spend the night.

Overnight at Hotel Atitlan (B, L, D).

Chichicastenango Market & transfer to Guatemala City

Transfer to Guatemala City (approx 4hrs).

En route to Guatemala City, you’ll stop at Chichicastenango.

Chichicastenango is home to the most colorful native market in the Americas. Market days are held every Sunday and Thursday and draw not only the K’iche’ Maya of the surrounding region but vendors from all over Guatemala, representing many of Guatemala’s linguistic groups, such as Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel, and many others.

On arrival in Guatemala, you will meet your new expedition leader. They will show you the church in the heart of Guatemala City, an essential and iconic monument for indigenous and Mayan history.

If we’re lucky, you will also witness special ceremonies and a mix of religions.

Stop at a local restaurant for dinner.

Overnight at Hyatt Centric. (B, L, D).

Morning flight to Flores & Yaxha tour

Uaxactun full-day tour

Full Exploration of Tikal

Flight to Guatemala City & departure

Transfer to Belice

Transfer to the Belize Border. At the border, you will cross on your own, and a different vehicle will meet you on the Belizean side.

After crossing the border, you will be met by your driver for transfer to your hotel (approx 2hrs).

Please note that an NPE Senior Local Guide will escort the extension.

Overnight at Cassia Hell Resort Belize. (B)

Xunantunich & Cahal Pech

On this day, you will be transferred to Xunantunich Archeological Site. Enjoy a guided tour through the site, visiting the most important monuments. El Castillo’s structure rises 130 feet above the ground, making it one of the highest buildings in Belize, offering an impressive panoramic view of the Mopan River valley. From this structure, you will be able to appreciate a lower temple, a large stucco frieze, as well as a mask with larger ears next to a moon sign with a border of signs representing Venus.

After the Xunantunich visit, transfer to Cahal Pech archeological site.

Cahal Pech means “place of ticks” in the modern Maya language and refers to the fact that the area was surrounded once by pastureland. During the Classic Period, Cahal Pech was the royal acropolis-palace of an elite Mayan ruling family. Cahal Pech was settled around 1000 BC and abandoned by 800 AD. The site consists of seven plazas and over 30 structures, including temples, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweathouse, all situated on just 2 acres. A royal burial chamber was found in one of the structures. Inside the tomb, a ruler had been laid to rest with the accouterments necessary for the afterlife. Included in the find were shell & bone ornaments, pottery vessels, obsidian blades, and jade objects, the most impressive being a jade & shell mosaic mask. One of the temples in this small complex commands the best view of the surrounding Belize River Valley. 

Overnight at Cassia Hill Resort Belize. (B, L).

Transfers to Belize City & flight to San Pedro

Transfer to Belize City (approx 2hrs).

A hotel representative will meet you at San Pedro Airstrip to help you carry your luggage to the hotel, located 5 minutes from the airstrip.

Upon arrival in San Pedro, an NPE representative will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel. You will enjoy a leisure day or sign up for the activities in the hotel surroundings. 

Overnight at Sunbreeze (B).

San Pedro

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