Tour overview

This 19-day small-group journey follows the Maya world from Mexico's Caribbean coast through Belize to the highlands of Guatemala, mixing beaches and reefs with ancient cities, jungle rivers and living Maya traditions. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 15 and over, with local leaders throughout. You stay eighteen nights in hotels and a riverside jungle lodge, travelling by private vehicle, local bus, boat and Guatemala's famous chicken buses. Breakfast is included on most days, with three lunches, including a cooking class on Caye Caulker.

Your adventure begins in Playa del Carmen, where you swim in the clear waters of Cenote Azul. At Bacalar you relax at the Lake of Seven Colours, then cross into Belize and take a water taxi to Caye Caulker for three nights. There's time to snorkel the barrier reef, look for manatees or relax under a palm tree, and you join a local family to cook a Belizean meal of chicken, rice and beans.

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From San Ignacio, a base for caves and the Maya ceremonial site of Xunantunich, you cross into Guatemala to explore Tikal with a local guide, climbing above the jungle canopy to look out for toucans and macaws. A boat takes you to a jungle lodge on the Rio Dulce for two nights, and a spectacular river journey through a deep canyon brings you to Livingston, a Garífuna town reached only by water, for a dance class with locals.

After two nights in Antigua, a colonial city ringed by volcanoes, you head into the highlands. At San Andrés Itzapa you witness a shamanic ceremony at the temple of San Simón, the chain-smoking saint also known as Maximón, then ride a brightly painted chicken bus to the Almolonga vegetable market from Quetzaltenango. Chichicastenango, one of the largest outdoor markets in Latin America, leads you to Lake Atitlán, where a boat takes you to Santiago Atitlán to visit the keepers of Maximón's shrine. You return to Antigua for a farewell dinner.

The physical rating is medium, with long travel days and border crossings. This trip suits curious travellers who want to experience Maya culture past and present.

Trip highlights

  • Swimming in Cenote Azul (Day 2)
  • A cooking class on Caye Caulker (Day 6)
  • The Maya city of Tikal (Day 9)
  • A Garífuna dance class in Livingston (Day 11)
  • A chicken bus to Almolonga market (Day 15)
  • Santiago Atitlán and Maximón's shrine (Day 17)

Your route

17 stops from Playa del Carmen to Antigua

19-day route: Playa del Carmen – Bacalar – Caye Caulker – San Ignacio – Tikal – Rio Dulce – Antigua – Quetzaltenango – Lake Atitlán – Antigua
  1. Playa del Carmen Days 1–2
  2. Tulum Day 2
  3. Bacalar Day 3
  4. Chetumal Day 3
  5. Belize City Day 4
  6. Caye Caulker Days 4–6
  7. San Ignacio Days 7–8
  8. Tikal National Park Day 9
  9. Flores Day 9
  10. Rio Dulce Days 10–11
  11. Livingston Day 11
  12. Antigua Days 12–13
  13. San Andrés Itzapa Day 14
  14. Quetzaltenango Days 14–15
  15. Chichicastenango Day 16
  16. Panajachel Days 16–17
  17. Antigua Days 18–19

Why choose this tour

Maya history and living culture across three countries. Reef, jungle, highlands and lake in one journey.

Best suited to

  • Culture and history lovers
  • Travellers who want variety
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
  • Travellers on a budget
The turquoise water of Bacalar Lagoon

Day-by-day itinerary

19 days from Playa del Carmen, Mexico to Antigua, Guatemala

  1. Day 1 · Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen

    A welcome meeting.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Cenote Azul Playa del Carmen

    A swim in a cenote.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  3. Day 3 · Bacalar, Chetumal Chetumal

    The Lake of Seven Colours.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Belize City, Caye Caulker Caye Caulker

    Into Belize and out to the island.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Caye Caulker Caye Caulker

    A free day on the reef.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  6. Day 6 · Caye Caulker Caye Caulker

    A cooking class with a local family.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Lunch
  7. Day 7 · San Ignacio San Ignacio

    To the jungle town.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  8. Day 8 · Xunantunich San Ignacio

    A free day for caves and ruins.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  9. Day 9 · Tikal National Park, Flores Tikal

    The great Maya city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  10. Day 10 · Flores, Rio Dulce Rio Dulce

    A boat to a riverside lodge.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  11. Day 11 · Livingston Livingston

    A river journey and a Garífuna dance class.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge
    Meals
    Breakfast
  12. Day 12 · Antigua Antigua

    To the colonial city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Antigua Antigua

    A free day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  14. Day 14 · San Andrés Itzapa, Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango

    A shamanic ceremony.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  15. Day 15 · Almolonga Almolonga

    A chicken bus to market.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Chichicastenango, Panajachel Panajachel

    A great market and the lake.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  17. Day 17 · Santiago Atitlán Lake Atitlán

    A boat to Maximón's shrine.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  18. Day 18 · Antigua Antigua

    Back to Antigua for a farewell dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  19. Day 19 · Antigua Trip ends

    The trip ends after breakfast.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Aerial view of the church and market stalls in Chichicastenango, Guatemala

Where you stay

  • Playa del Carmen (2 nights) Hotel
  • Chetumal (1 night) Hotel
  • Caye Caulker (3 nights) Hotel
  • San Ignacio (2 nights) Hotel
  • Flores (1 night) Hotel
  • Rio Dulce (2 nights) Jungle lodge
  • Antigua (2 nights) Hotel
  • Quetzaltenango (2 nights) Hotel
  • Panajachel (2 nights) Hotel
  • Antigua (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 16 nights in hotels and 2 in a jungle lodge
  • Meals 12 breakfasts and 3 lunches
  • Private vehicles, local buses and boats
  • Cenote Azul and Bacalar beach club
  • Caye Caulker cooking class
  • Tikal tour with a local guide
  • Livingston dance class and shamanic ceremonies
  • Local leaders throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional activities such as snorkelling
  • Meals not included 6 breakfasts, 14 lunches and 18 dinners
  • Visas, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A stingray over seagrass in Belize

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You dislike long travel days
  • You want luxury
  • You want many meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 4 and 9–19 · Lunch: Days 3, 6 and 14 · Dinner: none included
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Belize · UK FCDO travel advice for Guatemala · UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico
The Maya ruins of Xunantunich

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,243 per person, twin share, tour only. 128 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How many countries do we visit?

Three: Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.

Is snorkelling included?

No, reef trips on Caye Caulker are optional.

What is a chicken bus?

A brightly painted former school bus, used as local transport in Guatemala.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors don't usually need visas for short stays in Mexico, Belize or Guatemala. Check the latest advice before travel.

Is it safe to swim on Caye Caulker?

Take care at the Split, where crocodiles may be present, and only swim if confident.

How many people travel together?

Up to 16 travellers, with local leaders.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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