Tour overview

This 16-day adventure is designed for travellers aged 18 to 35, crossing from Mexico's Caribbean coast through Belize to the volcanoes and Maya villages of Guatemala. Groups have up to 16 travellers, with a local leader throughout. You stay fifteen nights in simple hotels and a jungle lodge, mostly twin-share with some multi-share nights in Tulum, on the Rio Dulce and at Lake Atitlán, and travel by local bus, private vehicle and boat. A taco dinner, a pupusa dinner, a home-cooked lunch and two breakfasts are included, leaving you free to eat where the locals do.

Your adventure begins in Playa del Carmen with a welcome meeting and a taco dinner, with an informal Spanish lesson between bites. A local bus takes you along the coast to Tulum, where Maya ruins cling to a clifftop above the sea, with a free day to swim in cenotes, cycle or relax on the beach. Crossing into Belize, a speedboat brings you to Caye Caulker, a laid-back island where life moves slowly. Three nights give you time to snorkel the barrier reef at Hol Chan, look for manatees or simply relax with fresh lobster and a rum punch.

Read more

Inland, San Ignacio is a base for caves, waterfalls and the Maya city of Xunantunich, reached by a hand-cranked ferry. Crossing into Guatemala, you explore Tikal, one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Maya, where temples rise above the jungle canopy. A boat takes you to a jungle lodge on the Rio Dulce for two nights, with the chance to sail down the river to Livingston, home of the Garífuna people, and look for manatees.

In the highlands you visit the colourful Chichicastenango market, then stay beside Lake Atitlán, ringed by volcanoes. In San Juan La Laguna you meet a traditional midwife, visit a medicinal garden and learn the Maya art of weaving and natural dyeing before a home-cooked lunch with your hosts. The journey ends in Antigua, a UNESCO-listed colonial city surrounded by volcanoes, ideal for salsa lessons, coffee tours or a volcano hike.

The physical rating is low, with long travel days and simple accommodation. This trip suits young, sociable travellers who want great value and plenty of free time.

Trip highlights

  • Tulum's clifftop ruins (Day 2)
  • Three nights on Caye Caulker (Days 4–6)
  • The Maya city of Tikal (Day 9)
  • A jungle lodge on the Rio Dulce (Days 10–11)
  • Chichicastenango market (Day 13)
  • A weaving workshop at Lake Atitlán (Day 14)

Your route

15 stops from Playa del Carmen to Antigua

16-day route: Playa del Carmen – Tulum – Caye Caulker – San Ignacio – Tikal – Rio Dulce – Lake Atitlán – Antigua
  1. Playa del Carmen Day 1
  2. Tulum Days 2–3
  3. Belize City Day 4
  4. Caye Caulker Days 4–6
  5. Belmopan Day 7
  6. San Ignacio Days 7–8
  7. Tikal National Park Day 9
  8. Flores Day 10
  9. Rio Dulce Days 10–11
  10. Livingston Day 11
  11. Antigua Day 12
  12. Chichicastenango Day 13
  13. Panajachel Days 13–14
  14. San Juan La Laguna Day 14
  15. Antigua Days 15–16

Why choose this tour

Mexico, Belize and Guatemala in just over two weeks at a great price. Designed for travellers aged 18 to 35.

Best suited to

  • Travellers aged 18 to 35
  • Travellers on a budget
  • Solo travellers looking for a social group
  • Beach and history lovers
Colourful parasols in the sea off Caye Caulker

Day-by-day itinerary

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

  1. Day 1 · Playa del Carmen Playa del Carmen

    A welcome taco dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Tulum Tulum

    Ruins above the Caribbean.

    Hotel
    Hotel, multi-share
  3. Day 3 · Tulum Tulum

    A free day for cenotes or the beach.

    Hotel
    Hotel, multi-share
  4. Day 4 · Belize City, Caye Caulker Caye Caulker

    Into Belize and out to the island.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  5. Day 5 · Hol Chan Marine Reserve Caye Caulker

    A free day on the reef.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  6. Day 6 · Caye Caulker Caye Caulker

    Another island day.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  7. Day 7 · San Ignacio San Ignacio

    By boat and bus to the jungle.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  8. Day 8 · Xunantunich San Ignacio

    A free day for caves and ruins.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  9. Day 9 · Tikal National Park Tikal

    Into Guatemala and the great Maya city.

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

    A boat to a jungle lodge.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge, multi-share
  11. Day 11 · Livingston Rio Dulce

    A free day on the river.

    Hotel
    Jungle lodge, multi-share
  12. Day 12 · Antigua Antigua

    To the colonial city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  13. Day 13 · Chichicastenango, Panajachel Lake Atitlán

    A famous market and a pupusa dinner.

    Hotel
    Hotel, multi-share
    Meals
    Dinner
  14. Day 14 · San Juan La Laguna San Juan La Laguna

    Weaving and a home-cooked lunch.

    Hotel
    Hotel, multi-share
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  15. Day 15 · Antigua Antigua

    Back to Antigua.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Antigua Trip ends

    Depart at any time.

A wooden dock and palms on Caye Caulker

Where you stay

  • Playa del Carmen (1 night) Hotel
  • Tulum (2 nights) Hotel, multi-share
  • Caye Caulker (3 nights) Hotel
  • San Ignacio (2 nights) Hotel
  • Tikal (1 night) Hotel
  • Rio Dulce (2 nights) Jungle lodge, multi-share
  • Antigua (1 night) Hotel
  • Lake Atitlán (2 nights) Hotel, multi-share
  • 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 15 nights in hotels and a jungle lodge
  • Meals 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 2 dinners
  • Local buses, private vehicles and boats
  • Speedboat to Caye Caulker
  • Tikal National Park tour
  • Chichicastenango market
  • San Juan La Laguna weaving workshop
  • Local leader throughout

Not included

  • Flights
  • Optional activities such as snorkelling
  • Meals not included 13 breakfasts, 13 lunches and 13 dinners
  • Visas, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
Thatched huts on the Río Dulce

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You are outside the 18–35 age range
  • You dislike shared rooms
  • You want many meals included
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 14–15 · Lunch: Day 14 · Dinner: Days 1 and 13
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Belize · UK FCDO travel advice for Guatemala · UK FCDO travel advice for Mexico
The Great Jaguar temple at Tikal, Guatemala

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £1,120 per person, twin share, tour only. 62 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.

Who is this trip for?

Travellers aged 18 to 35.

Are rooms shared?

Mostly twin-share, with multi-share rooms in Tulum, on the Rio Dulce and at Lake Atitlán.

Is snorkelling included?

No, reef trips on Caye Caulker are optional.

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.

Which airport should I fly home from?

Guatemala City (GUA), about an hour from Antigua.

How many people travel together?

Up to 16 travellers, with a local 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

Similar routes

19 days · 128 departure dates

Maya Adventure: Mexico, Belize & Guatemala – 19 Days

From £2,243
13 days · 167 departure dates

Maya Encounter: Mexico, Belize & Guatemala – 13 Days

From £1,216
32 days · 53 departure dates

Mexico to Costa Rica Overland: Six Countries for 18–35s – 32 Days

From £2,262
4 days · 2 departure dates

Tikal Short Break: Guatemala & Belize – 4 Days

From £1,238

More tours in Belize

15 days · 14 departure dates

Contrasts of Mexico: Mexico City to Tikal & Belize – 15 Days

From £2,460
14 days · 7 departure dates

Belize Family Wildlife Adventure – 14 Days

From £2,890

Combine with

Tours in neighbouring countries.

15 days · 22 departure dates

Discover Mexico: Mexico City, Oaxaca, Chiapas & Yucatán – 15 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £3,920
10 days · 20 departure dates

Discover Guatemala: Antigua, Atitlán & Tikal – 10 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £1,955
16 days · 3 departure dates

Mexico Day of the Dead: Oaxaca to the Yucatán – 16 Days

On offer · save up to 20% From £5,040
16 days · 9 departure dates

Central American Highlights: Guatemala to Costa Rica – 16 Days

From £2,920

Explore more

From £1,120
See dates & prices