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Overview

Adventure travel in Central America

This light hiking adventure in Central America will take you to luxury hotels in Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize. Trip highlights include colonial Antigua, an easy hike to Pacaya, an active volcano in Guatemala, an easy hike to Atitlan lake, Chichicastenango market, Copàn archeological site in Honduras, Quirigua archeological site, Livingstone village, a boat ride up the Rio Dulce, Tikal archeological site, and three days in a surreal setting on Belize’s Ambergris Island.
Rich in history and prestige, these sites paint a complete picture of the traditions and ancient customs of these ancient lands. Throughout this customized trip to Central America, you’ll explore ruins, visit villages, and marvel at breathtaking landscapes, creating globetrotting memories that will stay with you forever. Adventure, hiking, and slices of life round off this exceptional adventure. You couldn’t ask for a better introduction to this land where time seems to stand still and nature remains the ultimate authority.

Contact Uniktour’s Central America specialist for more information on this unique customized adventure!

Itinerary

Day 1| International Flight - Guatemala City - Antigua
Staff welcome at Guatemala City airport. 45-minute transfer to Antigua. Overnight in Antigua.

Day 2| Antigua
You have some free time to visit Antigua, the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala, founded in the early 16th century. Built 1,500 m above sea level in an earthquake-prone region, it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, though its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. Built on a grid pattern inspired by the Italian Renaissance, it took less than three centuries for this city to produce many of its superb monuments.

Day 3| Pacaya Volcano National Park – Lake Atitlan
Transfer to Pacaya volcano National Park, where you observe the active volcano in action. Depending on the magnitude and frequency of the eruptions, you may get to hike to the main crater. Transfer to Panajachel, a village on the shores of Lake Atitlan – easily one of the world’s most beautiful lakes.

Day 4| Santa Cruz La laguna
Boat ride to Santa Cruz La Laguna. Hiking on the western shores of Lake Atitlan. This hike off the beaten path crosses hamlets and villages, giving you an opportunity to take a close look at daily life in a Mayan village. Overnight in San Juan.

Day 5| Santiago Atitlan - Panajachel - Chichicastanego
Transfer by boat to Santiago Atitlán, Tzutujil Maya village, with rich traditions and varied crafts. Observe the worship of Maximón, a contemporary Mayan god. Transfer by boat to Panajachel. Mid-afternoon transfer to Chichicastenango.

Day 6| Chichicastenango
Visit Chichicastenango market. The village is known for its colorful market, but also for its religious syncretism. Apart from the market, we will also visit a mask workshop and gallery. We then take a walk in the village’s colorful cemetery. The inhabitants of Chichicastenango believe that the cemetery allows them to communicate with supernatural entities. Early afternoon transfer to the capital.

Day 7| Copan
Take the road to Copán (Honduras). Visit this archeological site, often called the Alexandria of the Mayas. Located at the western part of the country, these ruins have been classified as a UNESCO world heritage site. The site includes relics like the stela of the great plaza, the Hieroglyphic stairway, and the portraits of the rulers (dating back to 631 AD). The acropolis includes superb sculptures representing the sixteen kinds of Copan. Visit Las Esculturas museum. Overnight in Copan.

Day 8| Puerto Barrios - Quiriga - Livingston
Back on the road to Puerto Barrios. Visit Quirigua archeological site, whose stelas are the highest in the Mayan world. A boat will then take you to Livingston, a Caribbean village with a unique culture. The local inhabitants, the Garifunas, are a mixture of African slaves, Caribbean Indians, and Arawak Indians. Overnight next to the sea.

Day 9| Rio Dulce - Tikal
A boat ride will take you up the Rio Dulce. During this 3-hour boat ride, you will have the opportunity to take a close look to the luxuriant vegetation that thrives on the shores of the “soft river”. Transfer to Tikal early in the afternoon. Overnight in a lodge in the National Park.

Day 10| Tikal
Visit Tikal, an ancient ceremonial center in the heart of the tropical forest. Of all the Mayan sites, Tika is certainly the most impressive. The imposing height of the structures as they emerge from the jungle and the magical sounds of this enchanting forest make it easy to understand why Mayan priests still consider Tikal to be the most important sacred site of the empire.
In the afternoon transfer to Flores airport for your flight from Flores to Ambergris Cayes via Belize City.

Days 11 to 13| Ambergris Cayes (Belize)
Three days at leisure in this paradise on earth. The Mata Chica Resort sits right on the beach and offers exceptional lodgings ranging from intimate bungalows to private villas. A perfect blend of rustic design and cozy modern comfort, this resort is an open invitation to relaxation and daydreaming. Make the most of the bars and restaurants and their delicious local cuisine, go scuba diving in the crystal clear waters of Ambergris Caye, explore the nearby jungle, its exotic wildlife and majestic ruins (optional), or take a swing on one of the nearby golf courses.

Day 14| Belize City – International flight
Flight to Belize City and return flight back home.

Budget

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Lodging