(Choose one or more fields)
By adding trips to “Compare Trips” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
By 4WD vehicle, riverboat, and—a Botswana specialty—mokoro (dugout canoe), track the best of Africa’s wildlife in a breathtaking mix of Botswana’s most beautiful environments, from savannas to woodlands to the enchanting waterways of the Okavango Delta.
Guatemala Highlands Extension
Antigua, Chichicastenango, and Lake Atitlan
Trip Details at-a-Glance
| Cost From: | $1150 |
|---|---|
| Length: | 5 days |
| Arrive: | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Depart: | Guatemala City, Guatemala |
| Activity: | Cultural Adventures |
| Trip Level: |
explain
|
Our Trips using this Extension
Belize and Tikal
Belize and Tikal Private Journey
Day 1 (Saturday)
Guatemala City / Lake Atitlan
After morning arrival in Guatemala City, transfer through the highlands to Lake Atitlan, a natural wonder of blue, wind-tossed waters set against a backdrop of three 10,000-foot volcanos. Lining the shores are Indian villages where life has changed little over the centuries. Journey by private motor launch to beautiful lakeside villages and visit Santiago Atitlan as well as the shrine to Maximun, a colorful pagan saint. Overnight at the lakeside Villa Santa Catarina, with its lovely gardens full of birds.
Day 2 (Sunday)
Chichicastenango
Visit Chichicastenango (6,500'), a small town famous for its open-air market, the largest in Central America. The handicraft market draws the Maya from all the surrounding regions. Visit Chichi’s Santo Tom’s Church, built in 1540 on the site of an existing Mayan altar. Maya shamans still use the church for their rituals. Overnight at Villa Santa Catarina.
Day 3 (Monday)
Lake Atitlan / Antigua
Transfer to enchanting Antigua, set in a coffee-growing valley at 5,000 feet with spectacular Volcano Agua (12,400') dominating the skyline. Antigua was the seat of Spanish colonial government for the Kingdom of Guatemala and one of the first planned cities in the Americas, with a grid pattern inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Enjoy a city tour with your guide plus time for independent exploration. Overnight at the historic Casa Santo Domingo, which has been listed in Travel & Leisure’s “World’s Best Hotels.”
Day 4 (Tuesday)
Antigua
Antigua’s beautifully preserved Spanish Renaissance architecture make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time 300 years, and the city offers a glimpse into the modern-day Maya culture. Enjoy a day to explore the cobbled streets, fine public plazas, and ornate colonial churches. Some of Guatemala’s most skillful Mayan artisans sell their wares here through galleries and open-air markets. An optional visit to the weavers’ village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes is available. Overnight at Casa Santo Domingo.
Day 5 (Wedneday)
Antigua / Guatemala City
Transfer to Guatemala City for departure on homeward-bound flights.
Note: The Belize and Tikal group departure uses the extension itinerary above. On our Belize and Tikal Private Journey, the extension starts in Antigua and ends in Atitlan, with the same accommodations.
Extension Costs
Prices are for 2012
From $1150 per person, double occupancy
Casa Santo Domingo
Days 1 to 2 (2 nights), Antigua, Guatemala
With its beautiful gardens and traditional colonial courtyards and fountains, the Casa Santo Domingo is an oasis in the heart of Antigua. A former ...
Click here for full description and more photos
Villa Santa Catarina
Days 3 to 4 (2 nights), Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
The Villa Santa Catarina, a peaceful retreat right on the shores of volcano-ringed Lake Atitlán, conveys a Spanish-Colonial flavor and a ...
Click here for full description and more photos
Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.