Tour overview

This 10-day small-group adventure takes in the very best of Guatemala, from colonial Antigua and the highland markets to Lake Atitlán and the great Maya city of Tikal. A tour leader travels with the group, which numbers no more than sixteen, and an internal flight to Flores saves a long drive. You stay nine nights in locally owned hotels, with breakfast daily, two lunches and two dinners, and group airport transfers are included.

After a welcome dinner in Antigua, watched over by the Agua, Acatenango and Fuego volcanoes, a walking tour explores its churches, ruins and museums. The next day you hike to the top of Pacaya, one of Guatemala's three active volcanoes, for views along the volcanic chain. You then visit Chichicastenango market on the way to Quetzaltenango, explore the farming villages of Almolonga and Zunil, soak in the Fuentes Georginas hot springs and see the extraordinary painted church of San Andrés Xecul.

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On Lake Atitlán a boat takes you to San Juan la Laguna to meet local artisans, followed by a cooking masterclass with a Maya family. On the way to the airport you explore the Maya ruins of Iximché, then fly to Flores, an island town on Lake Petén Itzá. Before dawn you transfer to Tikal National Park to explore its temples and pyramids as the jungle wakes around you.

The physical rating is medium. This trip suits travellers who want a complete, well-paced journey through Guatemala.

Trip highlights

  • A hike up the Pacaya volcano (Day 3)
  • Chichicastenango market (Day 4)
  • The Fuentes Georginas hot springs (Day 5)
  • A Maya family cooking class (Day 7)
  • Iximché ruins (Day 8)
  • Tikal at sunrise (Day 9)

Your route

10 stops from Antigua to Tikal National Park

10-day route: Antigua – Pacaya – Chichicastenango – Quetzaltenango – Lake Atitlán – Iximché – Flores – Tikal
  1. Antigua Days 1–3
  2. Pacaya Volcano Day 3
  3. Chichicastenango Day 4
  4. Quetzaltenango Days 4–5
  5. Zunil Day 5
  6. Lake Atitlán Days 6–7
  7. San Juan La Laguna Day 7
  8. Iximché Day 8
  9. Isla de Flores Days 8–10
  10. Tikal National Park Day 9

Why choose this tour

Guatemala's highlights, including Tikal, in ten days. Locally owned hotels and a small group.

Best suited to

  • First-time visitors to Guatemala
  • History and culture lovers
  • Active travellers
  • Solo travellers and couples
Maya temples of Tikal rising above the jungle, Guatemala

Day-by-day itinerary

10 days from Antigua, Guatemala to Flores, Guatemala

  1. Day 1 · Antigua Antigua

    A welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel Mesón de María
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Antigua Antigua

    A walking tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel Mesón de María
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Pacaya Volcano Pacaya

    An active volcano.

    Hotel
    Hotel Mesón de María
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Chichicastenango, Quetzaltenango Quetzaltenango

    A great market.

    Hotel
    Pensión Bonifaz
    Meals
    Breakfast
  5. Day 5 · Almolonga, Zunil, Fuentes Georginas Quetzaltenango

    Villages and hot springs.

    Hotel
    Pensión Bonifaz
    Meals
    Breakfast
  6. Day 6 · San Andrés Xecul, Lake Atitlán Lake Atitlán

    A painted church.

    Hotel
    Hotel Dos Mundos
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · San Juan la Laguna Lake Atitlán

    Artisans and a cooking class.

    Hotel
    Hotel Dos Mundos
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Iximché, Flores Flores

    Maya ruins and a flight.

    Hotel
    Hotel Isla de Flores
    Meals
    Breakfast
  9. Day 9 · Tikal National Park Tikal

    A sunrise tour.

    Hotel
    Hotel Isla de Flores
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Flores Flores

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
The Pacaya volcano

Where you stay

  • Antigua (3 nights) Hotel Mesón de María
  • Quetzaltenango (2 nights) Pensión Bonifaz
  • Lake Atitlán (2 nights) Hotel Dos Mundos
  • Flores (2 nights) Hotel Isla de Flores

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 9 nights in locally owned hotels
  • Meals 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Private minibus and a flight to Flores
  • Group airport transfers on set times
  • Pacaya hike and Fuentes Georginas hot springs
  • Lake Atitlán boat trip and Maya cooking class
  • Sunrise tour of Tikal and a tour leader

Not included

  • International flights
  • Meals not included 6 lunches and 7 dinners
  • Optional activities
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
The painted church of San Andrés Xecul

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want luxury hotels
  • You want most meals included
  • You dislike early starts
  • You want international flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–10 · Lunch: Days 3 and 9 · Dinner: Days 1 and 9
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Guatemala
Aerial view of the church and market stalls in Chichicastenango, Guatemala

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,955 per person, twin share, tour only. 20 upcoming departures. Single travellers from £2,374 (single supplement from £420).

Offer Reduced prices on selected dates, shown with the regular price crossed out. Book by 16 Oct.

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.

Is the internal flight included?

Yes, the flight to Flores for Tikal is included.

How hard is the Pacaya hike?

It's the easiest of Guatemala's active volcanoes to climb, taking a few hours.

How early is the Tikal tour?

You leave Flores at about 3am to reach Tikal for dawn.

Do I need a visa?

UK citizens don't need a visa for Guatemala for tourist stays.

Are airport transfers included?

Yes, a group arrival transfer and a departure transfer from Flores at set times.

How many people travel together?

Between four and sixteen travellers, with a tour leader.

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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