Day 1London - Guatemala City - Antigua
Indirect International flight from UK to Guatemala City where you will be met on arrival and driven to the ancient capital of Antigua approximately an hour away.
Today you will have a half day walking tour of beautiful colonial Antigua to get your bearings and visit the highlights - including the plaza, the cathedral, the many cobbled streets and stunning architecture.
Day at leisure to perhaps travel out of Antigua to explore the local villages or coffee farms. Perhaps climb the active Pacaya volcano.
This morning you will be transferred to the awe-inspiring Lake Atitlan via the indigenous highland market at Solola where you have the opportunity to get a real insight in to the locals lives as they barter for their weekly shop.
At leisure to relax and enjoy the scenery or explore the area yourselves - take a local boat perhaps out on the lake to visit the local villages or a bus to the famous Chichicastenango market.
Drive from Lake Atitlan winding your way further up in to the highlands driving through spectacular scenery and traditional villages to reach Quetzaltenango for the night.
Day 7Quetzaltenango - Antigua
Early start this morning to reach the famous San Francisco El Alto animal market held once a week where locals buy and sell livestock of all kinds. After time exploring continue on to Antigua for the night.
Day 8Antigua - Lanquin
This morning take the long journey between Antigua and Lanquin. The scenery you pass through is beautiful, often alpine looking cloud forests and then changing into lush jungle.
Before you reach Coban in the Baja Verapaz region, you will stop off and visit the Biotopo del Quetzal reserve. The reserve is a humid patch of protected forest thick with ferns and lichen. It is extremely rare to spot a Quetzal bird, however there is a huge variety of other species.
Day 9Lanquin
You will be taken to the beautiful pools at Semuc Champey and visit the caves nearby too.
You will leave Lanquin early to reach Flores and Tikal that afternoon.
Today you will explore the incredible ruins of Tikal with your guide in a group excursion. There is nothing quite like walking through the jungle mist surrounded by the morning calls of tropical birds and the bark of the howler monkeys to stumble upon magnificent temples rising out of the forest.
This morning at leisure. This afternoon you will be driven to the peaceful archaeological site of Yaxha to witness the beautiful sunset from the temples. There is also a superb variety of wildlife here such a Howler monkeys and Toucans.
Day 13El Petén - Flores - Guatemala City
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Guatemala City for your International flight. Depending on your International flight time you may want a 'Day Use' room booked for you.
Day 14Guatemala City
Arrive back in the UK.