Julie Marchese
Sample Itinerary
Day 1
ARRIVE IN GUATEMALA
Welcome to Guatemala! Our representative will meet you at the airport and assist with your private transfer to your hotel in Antigua.
Established in 1543, the historic city of Antigua combines old world charm with modern luxury. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala, Antigua has a colonial feel with prominent Spanish influences evident in the architecture and culture. Explore the quaint cobblestone streets and taste regional cuisine.
San Rafael Hotel is a charming boutique hotel located in the heart of old town Antigua. Originally a colonial house, the preserved building blends old-world charm with modern comforts for a luxurious experience. Explore the two courtyards, taking in the cypress and fig trees, native plants, water features, and ancient tile roofs that create the warm and inviting atmosphere. Each guest room is unique with elements such as four-poster beds, sky lights, hand-carved wood furniture, stone fireplaces, antique crystal chandeliers, and traditional Guatemalan fabrics.
Overnight San Rafael Hotel
Day 2
ANTIGUA STREETS AND EATS
Enjoy breakfast overlooking the hotel's gardens.
Then, set out on a sensory journey that combines the flavors of Antigua's street food with the city's rich history, traditions, and everyday culture. With comfortable shoes and an appetite, set out on a walking tour through cobblestone streets lined with colorful Spanish colonial architecture, stopping to learn about some of Antigua's most notable landmarks and neighborhoods.
Your experience includes visits to the Antigua Cathedral and the historic La Merced Monastery, where you'll gain further insight into the city's colonial past and architectural heritage. Along the way, visit several local comedores (eateries) popular with locals and have the opportunity to sample traditional Guatemalan dishes such as chuchitos (Guatemalan-style tamales), pupusas (cheese-filled corn tortillas), and rellenitos (fried plantain dough filled with beans).
You'll also experience a ride aboard a traditional tuc-tuc, a fun and local way to navigate Antigua's charming streets. Your guide will share the stories and cultural significance behind these everyday foods before leading you through Antigua's lively community market, held on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. One of Guatemala's most vibrant markets, it is filled with stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, beans, grains, meats, and fish, offering a glimpse into the ingredients and flavors that shape the country's cuisine.
Overnight San Rafael Hotel
Day 3
EXPLORING THE VILLAGES OF ANTIGUA
Today, set off to discover the communities that surround colonial Antigua with your private guide. Visit several nearby villages, each of which offer a different perspective on local life and traditions. In the mountain town of Santa María de Jesús, many residents continue to wear traditional Mayan dress (traje), providing a glimpse into enduring cultural customs. Continue to San Pedro Las Huertas and Ciudad Vieja, set on the slopes of the iconic Agua Volcano, where you'll explore historic sites and gain insight into everyday village life.
You'll also visit a weaving cooperative in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, where local women demonstrate the use of traditional back-strap looms to create intricate, brightly coloured textiles. Depending on timing, you may stop at an organic macadamia farm in San Miguel Dueñas to sample chocolate-covered macadamia nuts and learn about the food and cosmetic products made from this versatile crop.
Overnight San Rafael Hotel
Day 4
FAIRLY TRADED COFFEE EXPERIENCE
After a relaxed breakfast, transfer with your guide to the village of San Miguel Escobar, located just outside Antigua. Here, you'll visit a small, independently owned coffee plantation and learn about environmentally responsible farming practices that support local communities and sustainable agriculture in Guatemala.
Depending on the season, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside coffee farmers and participate in different stages of the coffee-making process, which may include picking, pulping, fermenting, washing, drying, threshing, sorting, or grading the beans. You'll also roast coffee over an open fire, grind it by hand using a traditional grindstone, and enjoy a freshly brewed cup while learning about the care and labour involved in its production.
Following the coffee experience, you'll share a simple, traditional meal in a local home before returning to Antigua.
Overnight San Rafael Hotel
Day 5
CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET VISIT AND TRANSFER TO LAKE ATITLAN
After breakfast, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby to transfer you to Chichicastenango. This vibrant town is buzzing with activity and is known for its beautiful handcrafts. Your guide will accompany you to local churches known for their magnificent Spanish architecture.
Spend the afternoon exploring the market and browsing through the brilliantly colored stalls. It is not unusual to witness cultural ceremonies that combine indigenous and Christian rituals. Later, transfer to Lake Atitlan where you will check into Hotel Atitlan.
This charming hotel is beautifully furnished with traditional decor and boasts stunning views of the lake and mountains. Spend the evening exploring the picturesque gardens or lounging by the pool and jacuzzi.
Overnight Hotel Atitlan
Day 6
WEAVING WORKSHOP
After enjoying a delicious breakfast at the hotel, board a boat to San Juan la Laguna, a Tz'utujil Maya community on the shores of Lake Atitlán known for its artisan traditions and lake views. From the dock, walk uphill through streets lined with galleries, cafés, and artisan workshops, passing colorful murals that illustrate the history and traditions of the town.
Visit one of the local women's cooperatives to learn how traditional backstrap looms and natural dyes are used to create handwoven textiles, including scarves, blankets, and other handcrafted items. San Juan is also known for its naïf art movement, and you'll have the opportunity to visit an artist's studio and see works by self-taught painters whose pieces often depict local customs, legends, and the surrounding landscape.
A traditional Guatemalan lunch will be served at one of the women's cooperatives before you take part in a two-hour weaving workshop. Guided by local artisans, you'll learn about traditional weaving techniques and have the opportunity to create your own small woven keepsake, such as a bracelet. Once your experience concludes, you'll return to the dock and transfer back to your hotel by boat.
Overnight Hotel Atitlan
Day 7
KAYAKING AND TRANSFER BACK TO ANTIGUA
After breakfast at the hotel, board the boat to Santa Cruz for a kayaking adventure. Spend the morning paddling along the shore and admiring the colorful gardens that dot the landscape. Enjoy the sunshine and splash in the clear water before reuniting with your driver and transferring back to your Antigua hotel.
Overnight San Rafael Hotel
Day 8
Departure
Enjoy your final breakfast in Guatemala. Then, in time for your flight, you'll have a transfer to the airport. Depart Guatemala having experienced the vibrant culture, art, and cuisine of this enchanting country.
