Night 1-3
Hotel in Antigua
Enjoy your stay at a comfortable and welcoming hotel in the Old Capital where you can peruse the cobblestone streets and soak up vibes in this city’s colourful markets.
Dive into a world of adventure in Guatemala as a family
The best family holidays are the ones that invite you to not only discovery the natural beauty of a country but also its unique culture and traditions. The 7-Day Guides Hidden Wonders of Guatemala tour is a family adventure that invites you to do just that!
Encounter Guatemala, a country rich in a diversity of culture, natural beauty, and adventure. Experience an intriguing blend of Mayan culture and Spanish colonial influence as you enjoy a wide array of activities as a family. Stroll through the amazingly well-preserved colonial town of Antigua, with its cobblestone streets, ruins, elaborate churches, and a bustling market. Visit the magical Lake Atitlan where you’ll enjoy a local village tour and watersports. Dive into a wealth of adventure activities like mountain biking, a cooking class, and hiking the Pacaya Volcano.
You’ll return from this family adventure in Guatemala inspired by both the rugged beauty of the land as well as the warmth and loveliness of the people!
Welcome to Guatemala! Upon arriving at Guatemala City International Airport, you'll transfer to the colonial city of Antigua. After settling into your accommodation, enjoy free time to explore the city at your leisure.
Once the capital of Guatemala, Antigua is filled with a colorful Old Town surrounding its central plaza, Central Park. The city is also surrounded by several volcanoes. The contrast between these imposing mountains and the colorful architecture of the city makes it one of the prettiest settlements in the country.
Enjoy the rest of your day walking around the cobbled streets, treating yourself to local snacks at cafes and food vendors. Tomorrow you'll explore the city with a guided tour, so for now, simply stroll by a few of the main attractions, like the 16th-century Antigua Guatemala Cathedral and the remains of the 18th century Convento Santa Clara.
This morning the adventure begins as you rise ready to explore the beautiful city of Antigua with the help of a local guide and historian! This former capital includes an impressive catalog of colonial relics, with streetscapes of pastel facades unfolding beneath three volcanoes. On this tour, you'll visit the City Hall Palace, the Palace of the Captain’s General, the Paseo de los Museos, and the Cathedral with its majestic ruins. You'll also learn about Mayan archaeology and the spiritual jade stone.
After the tour, you'll have time to enjoy lunch, relax, and wander around Antigua on your own. In the afternoon, a traditional cooking class awaits you. You'll immerse yourself in the rich culture of Guatemala and learn how to prepare a local meal. Native Guatemalan chefs from the local region of Sacatepequez will lead the class, teaching you to create a main dish, prepare Guatemalan tortillas, and craft a traditional dessert. At the end of the class, you'll enjoy the meal with the chefs.
Views of Guatemala City often include the city's dramatic backdrop of the 2,552m (8,370 ft) mountain, Volcán Pacaya. It may not be Guatemala’s highest peak, but its slopes are home to some of the most impressive volcanic landscapes in Central America! Set in its own national park, Pacaya is a fascinating volcano with its continuous plume of smoke drifting from the summit, plus a massive, dried lava field at the base of its caldera and today, its yours to conquer!
As your group moves up the mountain trails, you'll enjoy the vistas that seem to appear with each step. Upon reaching the base of the caldera, your guide will direct the group through the rugged dried lava fields that were recently reformed by a massive eruption in 2010. No matter the conditions you encounter on the route, you'll traverse unique volcanic-rock landscapes as you ascend towards the peak. At the summit, you'll stop for a freshly prepared picnic to enjoy along with views of nearby volcanoes Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango.
The hike down brings you across the remaining dried lava fields before beginning the descent through Pacaya’s dense, lesser-known forests and farmland. Upon returning to the trailhead, you'll head back to Antigua for another overnight in the old capital.
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel this morning before setting out on a transfer to Lake Atitlan (approx. 2.5-hours) along the Pan-American Highway. You’ll then arrive at Panajachel, the largest town on Lake Atitlan where today’s adventure begins. From here, you’ll begin to explore the lake's surrounding villages.
The lake consists of many smaller Mayan villages and your boat tour will visit a few to give you a closer look into the local markets, arts, traditions, and history. Santiago hosts an array of local artisan crafts as well as the infamous Mayan saint of "Maximon". San Juan is famous for its textiles, and you will have an opportunity to visit a women's weaving co-op and learn about the natural dying process, weaving techniques, and more. You'll have a chance to grab lunch during the tour (your guide can help with recommendations!) and then in the early afternoon you'll head back to across the lake to your lakeside hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax, take a swim, and enjoy the incredible views!
After waking up to gorgeous views of the lake and its towering volcanoes, enjoy breakfast and then meet your guide for today's adventure. In the first part of the tour, you’ll paddle westward along the north shore of Atitlan for 1.5-2 hours, passing by tiny villages perched on the sides of the sheer ridges that rise up from the azure waters of the lake. Depending on weather – and speed of the kayak group - there are opportunities to stop for a dip and/or cliff-jump.
Later, you’ll arrive at the next destination between the villages of Tzununá and San Marcos La Laguna where you will trade your kayaks for daypacks and hiking shoes. Climbing out of town on the lake trail which connects village to village, you’ll be treated to spectacular views of volcanoes San Pedro, Tolimán and Atitlán. You’ll pass through small villages as you follow the shoreline for approx 1.5 hours, eventually returning back to Jaibalito and Casa del Mundo.
After a hearty and well-earned lunch at the hotel, you´ll have the rest of the afternoon free to relax.
Today is yours to enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlán at your leisure! Start with a relaxed breakfast at your hotel, enjoying the scenery around you. Then head out to explore the area, including some of the picturesque villages specializing in traditional Mayan crafts and regional cuisine. You can join private tours (not included), take a taxi, or hike to the different towns.
If you wish to enjoy the water, you can rent kayaks, go swimming, or zip line (not included). There are plenty of public boats that take you around the lake, and several companies offer specialized themed tours. In the afternoon, you will return to Antigua for your final overnight of the tour.
After 1 adventure-filled week, it’s time to say goodbye to Antigua this morning! Depending on your departure schedule, you'll enjoy breakfast and then transfer back to Guatemala City for your flight home.
This guided trip to Guatemala is always run as a private tour for your group only, therefore the prices depend on the size of your group.
The prices below are per person:
*Please note that the prices depend on the size of your group.
This tour is based in hotel accommodations in Antigua and Lake Atitlan. Hotels on this trip are 2 and 3-star and offer modern conveniences that can make this trip more pleasant.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travellers
Rooms are double occupancy. You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel where possible. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
Enjoy your stay at a comfortable and welcoming hotel in the Old Capital where you can peruse the cobblestone streets and soak up vibes in this city’s colourful markets.
Soak up the views at this comfortable lakefront hotel overlooking the beautiful shoreline of Lake Atitlan.
Enjoy your stay at a comfortable and welcoming hotel in the Old Capital where you can peruse the cobblestone streets and soak up vibes in this city’s colourful markets.
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner are included on this tour.
Accommodations for 6 nights are included. Accommodations before and after the tour in Antigua are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation for you and your luggage are included throughout the tour, including transfers to and from the airport.
How hard is the Hidden Wonders of Guatemala Family Tour?
We rate this tour as a 2 out of 5 in terms of difficulty. While many of the day’s activities are customizable, the whole family should be comfortable hiking up to 3 hours and paddling for up to 3 hours as well. While the physical activities are not particularly demanding on this tour, there is a good amount of walking each day.
Do I need a visa to travel to Guatemala?
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
Are meals included on the Hidden Wonders of Guatemala Family Tour?
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner are included.
Do I need insurance?
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip, and your insurance should cover activities mentioned in this itinerary. Get your travel insurance.
How do I get to Guatemala City to start this tour?
Fly into La Aurora (Guatemala City) International Airport (GUA) where a private transfer will pick you up and take you to your accommodations in Antigua.
Is the Hidden Wonders of Guatemala Family Tour in English?
Yes, the tour guide is English and Spanish speaking (bilingual).
Where does the the Hidden Wonders of Guatemala Family Tour end?
This tour ends in Antigua where a private transfer will bring you back to the airport to depart from La Aurora (Guatemala City) International Airport (GUA).
Do I need special vaccines to travel to Guatemala?
Check with your family doctor.
Are there any travel restrictions for Guatemala?
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
All tours on 10Adventures are operated by highly vetted local tour operators and guides.
Having local tour operators and guides means you get a more authentic experience, and your booking creates jobs in the local communities you visit.
Details of the local tour operator will be listed on your booking invoice. If you have questions about the local operator prior to booking, please click the “Ask a Question” button below.
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We rate this tour as a 2 out of 5 in terms of difficulty. While many of the day’s activities are customizable, the whole family should be comfortable hiking up to 3 hours and paddling for up to 3 hours as well. While the physical activities are not particularly demanding on this tour, there is a good amount of walking each day.
Read about our scale for Tour Difficulty Ratings.
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