Experience Overview
Find your paradise somewhere between the blazing Mexican sun and the cool Guatemalan highlands on this 16-day odyssey. Wander Antigua’s cobblestone streets and its local markets before experiencing the diverse beauty of Lake Atitlán and its Indigenous villages. Geared to the adventurer wanting to capture some of Central America's finest highlights, this trip will ensure that you really pack some punch into those postcards home.
Highlights
- Relax on white-sand beaches
- Bask in Caye Caulker sunsets and reggae music
- Experience a local homestay
- Explore gorgeous colonial Antigua and its colourful markets.
Trip Details
Product Code: 1777
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: 18 - 35 Year Olds Only
Supplier Code: CMCA
Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finishes: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Duration: 16 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch, San Ignacio Your G for Good Moment: Caribbean Gastronomic Experience "El Manglar", Lívingston Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Discover Moment: Playa del Carmen Your Discover Moment: Caye Caulker Your Discover Moment: Antigua Guatemala Your Big Night Out Moment: Antigua Guatemala
- Guided tour of Tikal
- Orientation walk in Antigua
- Beach time in Playa del Carmen and Caye Caulker
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Simple hotels/hostels (14 nts, most multi-share), local homestay (1 nt).
- 2 lunches, 1 dinner
Transport
- Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 1709 (CAD 107 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Arrive at any time. Head out tonight with your fellow travellers to 12th Street, where there's tons of bars and clubs to choose from. Say cheers to new adventures with new friends!
Check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
Day 2: Playa del Carmen
Enjoy free time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm or take a ferry to nearby Cozumel. Or just play in the waves and enjoy the beach.
Start your holiday off with some hardcore relaxation. Enjoy a full day of free time to fill as you wish. Get your ruin on with a visit to Tulum perched atop the sea, explore the fish- and coral-filled seas around Cozumel on a scuba dive, go swimming in a cenote or at the beach, and save some energy for a night out on the town.
Day 3: Playa del Carmen/Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Mention Belize and you may conjure up visions of unbelievably clear blue waters, diving and snorkelling along the barrier reef and remarkable marine life. Belize also boasts huge swaths of jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, and above all, friendly, easygoing people. Belize is all this and much more!
Day 4-5: Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Day 6: Caye Caulker/San Ignacio
Travel by boat and bus from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio. Enjoy an included pottery demonstration and local lunch at a G Adventures-supported women's pottery cooperative.
From the town of San Ignacio, opportunities abound for exploring Belize's little known inland scenic beauty. With free time here, choose to explore the area by foot, canoe or horse, take a caving trip, or visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and swim in its inviting pools and rivers.
Day 7: San Ignacio
Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.
Day 8: San Ignacio/Flores
Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of the ruins of Tikal.
Cross the border into Guatemala and you immediately notice the difference in culture, with its heavy Mayan influence and Spanish language. Here we have entered Guatemala's northeast jungle Petén region. The descendants of the Maya of Chichén Itzá migrated to the Petén area several centuries after the collapse of the great Mayan cities in the Yucatán.
En route to Flores, stop for a guided tour of the ancient city of Tikal. Arrive in Flores, the capital of the department of Petén, a small island located on the second largest lake of Guatemala, Lake Petén Itzá.
Day 9: Flores/Rio Dulce
Travel across the country towards the coast to Rio Dulce, on the shores of Lake Izabal.
A travel day from Flores to Rio Dulce which is located in the department of Izabal, home of the largest lake in Guatemala, Lake Izabal was one of the most important water ways of the Spanish crown during colonial times.
We take the road past areas of dense jungle and arrive at Río Dulce, a small town on Lake Izabal and a port stop for boaters around the globe, on their way to/from Livingston and the Caribbean coast.
Day 10: Rio Dulce
Travel to the Caribbean town of Livingston by scenic boat ride from Rio Dulce. Enjoy a visit to the G Adventures–supported El Manglar Restaurant for an explanation of the women-led community initiative project here. Then, walk around the grounds before a sit-down lunch of delicious local flavours.
Day 11: Rio Dulce/Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy an orientation walk of Antigua's cobblestone streets, then opt to take a salsa lesson and practice new moves out at night.
Today is a travel day from Rio Dulce to Antigua, followed by an orientation walk once you arrive. Plan your activities for the next day and enjoy some of the nightlife this beautiful colonial city has to offer.
Day 12: Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy a free day in Antigua. Opt to relax with a massage, climb a volcano, soak up the culture in one of the city's many cafés, or explore the nearby hills and towns by bike.
Get adventurous and pre-book the Pacaya Volcano Hike on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 13: Antigua Guatemala/Panajachel
Travel to beautiful Lake Atitlán and enjoy the views.
Travel through the hills and fertile fields of the Guatemalan highlands to the shores of Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. Twelve native villages, blue/grey mountains and three volcanoes line the shores of this lake resulting in a wonderful combination of unusual natural beauty and traditional culture.
The area is also ideal for outdoor pursuits like swimming, fishing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding.
Day 14: Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna
Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings at the lake's markets.
Day 15: San Juan La Laguna/Antigua Guatemala
Return to Antigua, and enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.
We return to Antigua to spend more time to explore the city, shop, and check out optional activities in the area.
Optional activities include visiting a macadamia nut farm, checking out a coffee plantation, biking around Antigua's surrounding hills or taking a salsa lesson.
Day 16: Antigua Guatemala
Depart at any time.
Similar Experiences
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Callum S - Traveled, December 2023
Very organised and enjoyable trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Yasmine B - Traveled, December 2023
The trip was excellent, easily one of the best times of my life. The places we got to see, our CEO, and the group were phenomenal! In my 30s, I find it a bit harder to do these longer tours and the accommodations were not always very comfortable but for people who like the style of travel, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. The G for good aspects were very nice as well, I appreciate that the company supports local communities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Heather M - Traveled, December 2023
I have been on 5 G Adventures trips now and would always recommend them for group travel.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/31/2023
Benjamin L - Traveled, December 2023
I've done 4 tours, all have been great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Manisha R - Traveled, November 2023
I had a fantastic time on this trip and I will remember this trip forever! I will definitely recommend this to my friends and family!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/17/2023
Francella B - Traveled, November 2023
Well organised trip, felt safe and secure the entire time!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Vuk S - Traveled, November 2023
The enjoyment, the great CEO on this trip Luis Herlindo Del Cid showed the entire group a great time. The itinerary was fairly well planned out. You get to see so much in so little time.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Owen R - Traveled, November 2023
Can see a lot in small part of tine. Does take the stress frombooking/organising
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Benedikt B - Traveled, October 2023
The experience I got from my trip. I have only good memories and moments when I think back to this time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/10/2023
Joachim K - Traveled, October 2023
Good group size, great tour and an AMAZING tour leader (CEO)
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/07/2023
Adam W - Traveled, October 2023
Well organised trips with a great CEO. Stress free travel
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/07/2023
Sandro S - Traveled, October 2023
I had a lot of fun and found friends. The rare moments i needed help the CEO was there for me.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/07/2023
Jossety S - Traveled, October 2023
You can balance between relaxing and having adventurous activities.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Sofia Y - Traveled, October 2023
I think this way of traveling is great because it's much more stress free and safer than independent travel. You also make friends from all over the world which is a great added bonus as you can share your experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Analia M - Traveled, October 2023
All activities are well organized. it's great to have free time and have all trasnportations and accommodations organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/03/2023
Harry W - Traveled, November 2023
Ota was a faultless tour guide, everything was seamless. Transfers, activities and group bonding all excellent due to Ota.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/30/2023
Courtney J - Traveled, November 2023
Amazing group adventures
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/30/2023
Kate M - Traveled, November 2023
it's a great cheaper way to travel and guarentee having people of a similar age to you. Sometimes I think it's worth considering a classic as they may be slightly better value for money with better accommodation and more inclusions
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/30/2023
Faran W - Traveled, October 2023
The tour was great. Our guide, Ota, was friendly and fun and made sure everyone was able to get the most out of the tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/30/2023
Nicole G - Traveled, October 2023
Anita was incredible and so authentic. Her enthusiasm for every aspect of the tour is ti be commended!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/23/2023
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