Heritage SafarisCreated for history-lovers and archaeology aficionados with a desire for ancient civilizations, this fascinating 12-day tour visits the great cities of Guatemala, from the capital of Guatemala City and colonial hamlet of Antigua to the venerable archaeological sites of Rio Dulce, Ceibal and Quirigüa, ending with a sunset cruise along the La Pasión River in Yaxha.
Starting Price US$ 3,600
Day 1 – Guatemala City|
Day 2 – Day of Museums
Day 3 –Antigua Walking Tour
Day 4 – Iximche
Day 5 & 6 Transfer to Copan
Day 7 – Transfer to Rio Dulce & Quirigüa archaeological Site
Day 8 – Rio Dulce Tour
Day 9 – Transfer to Petén & Yaxha Sunset
Day 10 – Ceibal
Day 11 – Tikal & Flight to Guatemala City
Day 12 – Departure Day
Our representative will meet you at the airport for your transfer to your hotel in Guatemala City. Guatemala’s capital city is the most modern and cosmopolitan city in Central America. Fast paced and vibrant, Guatemala City (or Guate as it’s referred to locally) is a wonderful blend of old and new and possesses a distinct Latin charm. Today, Guatemala City has four million inhabitants. Its location, facilities and the International Airport “La Aurora” make it the starting point for visits to the rest of Guatemala.
Overnight Westin Camino Real
After breakfast your guide and driver will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to the museums. After the visit enjoy lunch at a Guatemalan fine cuisine restaurant. When finished, visit the National Ethnology and Archaeology Museum which has the best archaeology collection in the country. After the museum you will be transferred to Antigua to enjoy of a relaxed afternoon.
Overnight Meson de Maria BL
After breakfast your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel to show you this beautiful colonial town through a half day walking tour. See the beautiful heritage buildings such as The Cathedral, San Francisco and La Merced. Lunch is held in one of Antigua´s restaurants. After lunch enjoy a free afternoon to explore town on your own.
Antigua is among the world’s best conserved colonial cities in the Americas. It is a magic and captivating small town that will make you feel time might have stopped 300 years ago. From its colonial architecture to its beautiful surroundings; strolling through town on the cobblestone streets, you will experience the splendors of ancient times! A few things you can find in Antigua are art galleries and exhibits, films, coffee shops, amazing cuisine, cute little bars and much more.
Overnight Meson de Maria BL
Our representative will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for the transfer to Iximche. A Post Classic period site with a great value for the Mayan History. After the tour your guide will take you to one of the nearby restaurants for lunch and back to your hotel in Antigua.
Iximche, a Pre Columbian Mayan site in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. It is not the major archaeological site, but was founded by the Kaqchikel Maya in 1470 after a prolonged conflict with the Kiche. When learning about Mayas in Guatemala, this site is essential to Mayan history. It was also the capital of the Late Pre-classic Kaqchikel kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524 with the Spaniards arrival.
Overnight Meson de Maria BL
After breakfast your diver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the town of Copan. Lunch will be held on a venue half way. On arrival you will have a free afternoon to rest after this long transfer.
This little charming town with cobblestone streets, white adobe buildings and red tile roofs is a relaxed and peaceful place that will surprise you. A town which treasures one of the most beautiful and important cities of the Mayan Civilization. Local people are very friendly and willing to help someone from abroad.
Overnight Marina Copan B
After breakfast your guide and driver will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for the tour of Copan Site. A half day tour through the site and museums (entrance to tunnels are not included, please ask your guide if you like to purchase this separately). After the tour enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in town. Enjoy of a free afternoon for shopping or simply relax.
Copan is one of the best-restored, interesting and elaborate Mayan cities known. Occupied between 400 and 800 AD, Copan covers over 50 acres of temples, altars, stelea, ball courts, several plazas and the Hieroglyphic Stairway. Located through the beautiful lush and mountainous valley, it features some of the Mayas most impressive accomplishments in architecture, astronomy and art. Among the magnificent finds are the well-preserved Rosalila Temple and the tombs of several of Copan’s rulers.
Overnight Marina Copan BL
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to Quirigüa archaeological site. On arrival to Rio Dulce enjoy lunch at Nana Juana’s restaurant with a beautiful view towards the River and the Marina. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Quirigüa recognized for having the largest and best-preserved stelae of the Maya World, it also shelters a great diversity of species, native to the tropical rainforest north of the Motagua River. Because of its great cultural and natural significance, Quirigüa was declared by UNESCO as a Cultural Heritage Site in 1981. Initially, the city shared its power with Copán, but during the Classic period (250 – 900 AD), after defeating and sacrificing the ruler of Copán, 18 Conejo or Uaxac Laun Ubac Cauil, Quirigüa became one of the most important cities. It was then when the ruler Kawak Cielo or K´ak´- Tiliw Chan Yopaat, started the project of sculpting zoomorphic monoliths and stelae.
Overnight Nana Juana Hotel BL
Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for your boat transfer to Livingstone. Stop at some interesting sites along the way such as: The Lagoon Gardens with beautiful aquatic flowers, the island of the birds, Ak-tenamit Association and Rio Tatin. Lunch will be held at a venue along the river or in Livingstone. After lunch the boat will transfer you back to your hotel.
Rio Dulce is a navigable river which starts at Lake Izabal and ends in the Atlantic Ocean. Even though the river is only 42 km long (26 miles) its abundant tropical vegetation and hundreds of species of fascinating wildlife make the river a unique destination to visit. Mayans used this as a route of commerce to take merchandise out of the main land to the north east.
Overnight Nana Juana Hotel BL
After breakfast your driver will transfer you to Flores. After lunch you will be transferred to Yaxha archeological site for a sunset tour. Enjoy of a magnificent sunset over the main pyramid of this wonderful site. After sunset your guide and driver will transfer you back to your hotel.
Yaxhá is one of the largest Maya cities in Petén, and together with the other cities located in this park, played an important role in the social and political organization of the Central Maya Lowlands. This city was inhabited from the Middle Preclassic (1000 – 350 BC) to the Postclassic (900 – 1200 AD) and reached its highest development during the Early Classic, maintaining an important role in the Maya World for over 1,500 years. Much of its political history is known from carved monuments found at the site.
Overnight Camino Real Tikal BL
After breakfast your driver and guide will transfer you to Ceibal. To get to Ceibal, you will embark on a boat through La Pasión River, peacefully admiring the tranquility and majesty of the Petén rainforest. After Ceibal tour, enjoy your lunch box and embark back to the roadside for your transfer back to your hotel.
Although this majestic city was occupied nearly 700 years earlier, it flourished during the Late Pre-classic Period (350 BC – 250 AD). It then debilitated during the Early Classic Period (735 AD), after the imprisonment of one of its rulers by the neighboring city of Dos Pilas, and it wasn’t until almost 65 years later, with the destruction of Dos Pilas that Ceibal recovered. Today, Ceibal is considered an important site in Maya spirituality. Religious ceremonies take place daily in the site’s “Pirámide de las Puertas” (Pyramid of the Doors) and in the ceremonial temple.
Overnight Camino Real Tikal BL
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at the lobby of your hotel for your transfer to Tikal National Park (45min). Your guide will show you the layout of the temples, architecture, history, some theories of why they disappeared and if you are lucky a few monkeys, parrots, macaws and toucans will be on site. After lunch on site your guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight to Guatemala City.
Tikal is the first National Park in Central America. It’s the biggest archeological site in the Americas with 576 km2 of jungle around the ceremonial center. Tikal was an independent city that bloomed during the late Mayan Classic Period being the wealthiest and populated city. Its massive constructions, symbol of political and administrative power, as well as its astronomical complex, makes Tikal a magical place that takes you more than a 1000 years back in history.
Overnight Westin Camino Real B
After breakfast our representative will transfer you to la Aurora Airport for your departure flight. B
Flexible departures (any day)
Accommodations at hotel
Hotel tax
Meals as described
Food & Beverage tax
Flight FRS-GUA
Private boat tour in Rio Dulce
Entrance fee to: National Archeology Museum, Ixchel Museum, Popol Vuh Musuem, Iximche Archeological Site, Copan Archeological Site & Museum, Quirigua Archeological Site, Yaxha Archeological Site, Ceibal Archeological Site Antigua walking tour: The Cathedral, San Francisco & La Merced
Tikal National Park
Land transfers in private basis
From US$ 3,600 per person
Best season: October to May
