Tikal and the Land of the Mayas
Guatemala Private Journey
Overview
Enter the heart of El Mundo Maya, with its intriguing Mayan culture and lavish temple cities rising out of misty rainforests. Our Private Journey in Guatemala features elegant Antigua, colonial capital of the Spanish realm in Central America, the mysterious mountain village of Chichicastenango, with its famous open-air market, and the stunning volcano-ringed lake called Atitlán, surrounded by traditional Mayan villages. For a grand finale, explore Tikal, the greatest Mayan religious center yet discovered, where thousands of structures have been cleared from the surrounding jungle. Tikal is magnificent not just for its towering temples and pyramids but also for its situation within a vast canopy forest of mahogany, cedar, palm, and ceiba where you'll see playful monkeys and fantastic birdlife. We also offer an optional extension to the extraordinary Mayan city of Copan in Honduras.
Arrive: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Highlights
- Explore Antigua's colonial Spanish architecture engulfed by spectacular volcanoes
- Stroll through the largest open-air market in Central America in lush Chichicastenango
- Witness the towering temples of Tikal soaring from the rainforest
- Stay in charming villas and lakeside lodges surrounded by wildlife
Itinerary
Please Note: If you wish to visit Chichicastenango on market day (either a Sunday or Thursday), your journey must begin in Guatemala on a Tuesday or a Friday.
Surrounded by three majestic volcanoes, Antigua is an enchanting highland city of cobbled streets, courtyard cafes, finely preserved plazas, and ornate colonial-era fountains. Its beautifully preserved examples of Spanish Renaissance art and architecture make you feel as if you’ve stepped back 300 years in time. Explore this exquisite city—once one of the great cities of the Spanish empire and now designated a World Heritage Site—on a fascinating walking tour, discovering its traditional artisan markets. Textile weaving has played an important part in Guatemala’s indigenous K’iche culture for centuries, and the region is renowned for its unique fabrics and complex use of color. Weaving is done by K’iche women on backstrap looms, with each village and family retaining its own distinct weaving patterns, motifs, and colors.
World-famous for its outdoor market full of color and textiles (the largest in Central America), the highland town of Chichicastenango is a rainbow-hued cache of traditional Mayan designs. Explore narrow lanes that lead to the mystical 16th century Santo Tomas Catholic Church, where Mayan shamans perform ancient ceremonies on the front steps. Each of the 18 steps that lead up to the church stands for a month of the Mayan calendar year. Continue to Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the world, ringed by three majestic 10,000-foot volcanoes—Toliman, Atitlan, and San Pedro. Enjoy an excursion by private motor launch on Atitlan’s deep blue waters where simple wooden dugout canoes remain the primary form of transport, and visit lakeside villages where life and customs have changed little over the centuries.
Return to Guatemala City and, time permitting, visit the Museo Ixchel del Traje Indigena, with its extraordinary collections of ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and indigenous clothing from different regions of Guatemala. You will also visit the Museo Popol Vuh to view its collection of pre-Hispanic art (stone sculpture and ceramics) as well as Pre-classic, Classic, and Post-classic Maya exhibits. Fly to the pretty lakeside city of Flores, gateway to Tikal.
Explore Tikal, an unforgettable towering temple-city spread over a dozen square miles in the heart of the wild Peten jungle. Once a wealthy metropolis of 100,000 inhabitants and the seat of power for the great Jaguar Clan lords, Tikal now lies still and mysterious, its immense temples and multi-level palaces cloaked in vines. As you explore this ancient Mayan world, you’ll learn about the enigmatic civilization that built thousands of amazing structures here. The pyramids and giant temples are incredibly breathtaking, most notably the famous Temple IV, the highest Mayan temple still standing and the highest known structure built in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans. On Day 7, return to Tikal for a half day tour or explore the seldom visited Maya ruins of Yaxha, set on the northern shores of a lagoon. Optional afternoon nature walk on hanging bridges or ride the local ziplines for an up-close view of the fantastic rainforest canopy world of screeching howler monkeys and squawking parrots. Depart on Day 8.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is Level 2, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. Daily walks and cultural exploration are the focus of the trip; you may be on your feet for around four to five hours over the course of a day as you tour, although this will be broken up by cultural stops. At the archaeological sites, much of your walking will be on rocky or uneven surfaces and steep stairs, and that can be more strenuous.
Even though this trip is not strenuous, we strongly urge you to train for it, as travel can be wearing and your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training is to hike, especially over hills. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure you have sturdy, comfortable footwear.
This journey can be enjoyed year-round. Altitude is the biggest climatic consideration in Guatemala. In the highlands, including Antigua, Guatemala City, Atitlan, and Chichicastenango, the altitudes are between 4,300 and 6,900 feet and the daytime temperatures are usually 65°F to 80°F. Humidity is rarely a problem in the highlands. At night in the highlands, have a jacket handy because temperatures can drop as low as the 30s. However, in the lowland Petén jungle at Tikal, it is very humid and daytime temperatures are in the 80°Fs. There are two general seasons in Guatemala. From May to October, skies are a mix of sunshine and clouds and you can expect periodic short tropical downpours in the late afternoons, clearing for the evening. From November to April, it is cooler, with clearer skies and cold nights, especially in December and January.
Client Testimonials
"Highest praises for both our guide and driver. They were very knowledgable, thoughtful, considerate, and funny. We enjoyed every moment we spent with them and are so grateful to have met them."
Radha N.
Hillsborough, CA
"Far exceeded my expectations. Well done! Would definitely travel with Wilderness again."
Richard B.
Philadelphia, PA
"We very much enjoyed our trip and look forward to more travel in Central America. What made the trip so memorable was our guide. She was absolutely outstanding."
Scott W.
Seattle, WA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.