Exciting trip in Guatemala & Honduras - INTI Tours

Reception at La Aurora International Airport and transfer to the city hotel.

In the morning, city tour of Guatemala City, visiting the Cathedral and the National Palace. Visit to the archaeological museum. After the guided tour of the museum we continue to Antigua (UNESCO World Heritage Site).

Morning city tour of the colonial centre of Antigua, the former capital of all Central America, founded in 1543 and almost completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1737. Visit to the main square with cathedral and city administration. Visit to a monastery. This is followed by a visit to a coffee finca. After the city tour, our journey continues through the highlands to Lake Atitlán. Aldous Huxley called this lake "the most beautiful lake in Latin America". Fertile hills and three mighty volcanoes give the lake a fairytale atmosphere. You can enjoy this during an evening stroll around the lake and in the colourful and lively town of Panajachel.

In the morning, boat trip to the Mayan village of Santiago Atitlán, surrounded by three volcanoes on the opposite shore of the lake. Visit the traditional market and the church. Centuries-old Mayan traditions are still alive in Santiago Atitlán. Continue to the village of San Antonio Palopó, which is known for its textile production. To this day, the women use the traditional hip loom. The inhabitants continue to make a living by growing onions and aniseed. After this interesting insight, we visit the village of Santa Catarina Palopó and then return to Panajachel.

Our destination for the day is the famous highland market of Chichicastenango. Chichi, as it is also called by its inhabitants, is particularly famous in two respects: Not only was it and still is an important supra-regional marketplace, but it is also a place where pre-Christian, shamanistic rituals are practised, giving the town a mystique all its own. Once in Chichicastenango, you will have the opportunity to stroll through what is probably the most beautiful and colourful market of the highland Indians. An unbelievable variety of typical, handmade products are on offer. After our stroll, we go to the over 400-year-old church "Santo Tomás". Here you have the opportunity to witness Catholic and ancient Mayan rites, which merge into a mystical syncretism. Afterwards, drive to Quetzaltenango.

This morning we first visit the nearby village of Almolonga. It is particularly known for its fine weaving and the largest vegetable market in Guatemala. After a stroll through the town, we continue to Zunil, a pretty market town whose economy and appearance are dominated by agriculture. The village is situated in a beautiful valley, framed by steep slopes, which are surmounted by the Santa Maria volcano. The drive downhill from Almolonga offers a wonderful view of the whitewashed colonial church, which shines out of a sea of red-roofed houses. Another destination for today is the village and market in San Francisco El Alto. Once here, we first enjoy an impressive panoramic view, which reaches as far as Quetzaltenango, 17 km away, and the volcanoes Santa Maria (3771 m) and Chicabal (2900 m) behind it. To this day, San Francisco El Alto is Guatemala's textile stronghold. In every corner of the town you will find traders selling everything from socks, scarves, blouses, sweatshirts, etc. to blankets. On the day of the weekly market (Friday), horses, cattle, sheep, goats, pigs and other domestic and farm animals are sold in addition to everyday goods. Before we return to Guatemala City, we visit the church of San Andrés Xecúl, which is painted in all colours. Overnight stay at the Holiday Inn Hotel.

Early morning transfer to the airport and flight to Flores. Then bus ride and visit to the ruins of Tikal, the most important Mayan site in Central America, located in the middle of the tropical rainforest. Lunch at the "Restaurante del Parque". Visit to the Sylvanus G. Morley Museum with its jade and ceramic finds. Then drive to our hotel in Flores/Santa Elena.

After breakfast we set off in a southerly direction. Arriving at the Río Dulce river, we board our boat and head downstream. On the way we visit the "Fuerte San Felipe", which is located at the mouth of the Izabal Lake to the Río Dulce. The task of this historically significant fortress from colonial days was to protect the entrance to the lake and thus to the interior from pirate raids. On the rest of the trip you can relax and enjoy the lush vegetation and variety of exotic birds. Particularly impressive are the water lily fields and mangrove forests, but also the houses of the local Mayan population, who make their living here mainly through subsistence farming, which appear again and again along the river. Before we reach the river mouth to the sea, we are offered another impressive natural spectacle: we drive through the canyon of the Río Dulce. Arriving at the Amatique Bay and thus the Caribbean, we reach the village of Livingston. The village is the cultural centre of the Garífunas, one of the few cultures in Guatemala not descended from the Mayas. UNESCO included the Garifuna culture in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008 because of its uniqueness.

This morning we first return by boat to Río Dulce. From here we take the "Carretera al Atlántico" and drive west to Quiriguá, a small archaeological site located in the middle of a huge banana plantation. Its value comes from the tall, gigantic stelae made of brown sandstone and the so-called 'zoomorphs', huge sandstone blocks covered all around with relief work. The history of the Mayan site is closely linked to that of Copán. Quiriguá was under the control of the Copán rulers until the 8th century. The largest stele (E) is 10.20 metres high and weighs around 60,000 kg! Also interesting is Stela C, on which the creation of the universe can be traced in the Maya imagination, which for the Maya was in the year 3114 BC. Afterwards, our journey continues towards Honduras. Use the drive to marvel at the beautiful and varied natural and cultural landscape of this region. At the Guatemalan-Honduran border station "El Florido" we complete the entry formalities before reaching the small town of Copán Ruinas.

Along with Tikal, Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, the ruins of Copán are among the most outstanding buildings ever created by the Maya. These ruins are located in a beautiful, wide valley, surrounded by extensive tobacco plantations. Here we visit the acropolis, the ball court, the famous glyph staircase and the Plaza Central with its artistic stelae. The volcanic andesite stone present in Copán allowed the stonemasons of the time to produce exact glyphs, which are still so well preserved today that epigraphers can trace a 400-year history more precisely than in any other place. Before returning to the hotel, we visit the sculpture museum in Copán.

Today return to Guatemala City and transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is at your leisure. 

Optional ascent of the Pacaya Volcano

If booked in advance, there is the option of climbing the Pacaya Volcano in the afternoon. (Important: This excursion is subject to current weather conditions and volcanic activity). 

> At noon we set off for Pacaya. After leaving the city behind, we pass coffee and pacaya plantations: the pacaya palm is a type of palm whose flowers are eaten as a salad or vegetable, but which also gave its name to the volcano. Via San Vicente Pacaya we reach the departure point. Within two hours we climb through oak and pine forests to the active cone and on to the summit, weather and volcanic activity permitting. We walk over fresh lava scree and with good visibility we can see all the way to the Pacific coast. Back at the starting point and drive to Guatemala City.

Transfer to the airport and return journey.