Itinerary:

Day 1 – U.S. / Guatemala City

Fly to Guatemala City.


Day 2 – Guatemala City (Guatemala) / Antigua

Upon flight arrival at Guatemala City, the capital of Guatemala, transfer in for the sightseeing of Guatemala City, the biggest city in Central America and Caribbean: the Constitution Plaza, National Palace, and Metropolitan Cathedral.

Then depart for Antigua. Its proper name, La Antigua Guatemala, means “the old Guatemala”, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Founded in 1543, as a Spanish colonial capital of what is now Central America, it was abandoned in 1773 after earthquakes, leaving us most of the buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

The city’s colonial architecture was maintained, as there were no plans to rebuild, and its ruined churches and convents remained just that. Antigua is a pleasant mixture of Mayan and Spanish colonial influences and is an excellent base from which to explore other parts of the country.

It is truly a jewel of the Americas offering something for all travel tastes. Colonial history that is always present offering an array of cultural activities including many art galleries and exhibits, performing arts, popular arts, films, forums, markets and cultural tourism in general.

Meals: Lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Casa Santa Domingo


Day 3 – Antigua / Lake Atitlan

Morning departure for the mystical city of Chichicastenango to visit the most colorful native market in the Americas, (Thursday & Sunday only, otherwise straight to Lake Atitlan) where spats of traditionally dressed villagers in a kaleidoscope of colors, come to sell their very colorful textiles, fruits, vegetables and flowers.

After lunch, depart for the magical Lake Atitlan, famous for its natural beauty and colorful Mayan villages. Lake Atitlan takes its name from the Mayan word, “atitlan”, which translates to, “the place where the rainbow gets its colors”. The lake is volcanic in origin. It is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

Lake Atitlán is a large endorheic lake (one that does not flow to the sea) in the Guatemalan Highlands. While Atitlan is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America, its bottom has not been completely sounded. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 340 meters. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanos on its southern flank.

Spend the afternoon visiting the lake side village of Panajachel, enjoy a breathtaking sunset followed by a romantic dinner.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Atitlan


Day 4 – Lake Atitlan / Guatemala City / Flores (Lake Peten Itza)

Spend a free morning enjoying the relaxation in the picturesque Lake Atitlan. You will be picked up at noon time and transfer to Guatemala City Airport.

Fly to Flores.

Flores is a pleasant island town by Lake Peten Itza and the gateway to Tikal, the most famous Mayan ruin in Guatemala.

Upon flight arrival at Flores, transfer in for the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Hotel Camino Real Tikal


Day 5 – Flores / Tikal / Belize City (Belize)

Morning visit of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site, undoubtedly the best example of classical Mayan culture, is one of the largest archaeological sites and urban centres of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BC, Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD. During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically, and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico.

Tikal is the largest excavated site in American continent.

We will visit of the central plaza, the Great Jaguar temple, the lost world or Temple IV.

After the visit, depart from Guatemala through its northern border, towards Belize City, the capital of Belize.

Belize is a democratic constitutional monarchy, and the northernmost Central American nation. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Although Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Belize is bordered by Mexico to its north, by Guatemala to its south and west, and by the Caribbean Sea to the east. Belize is culturally unique among its Central American neighbors; it is the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina


Day 6 – Belize City / Sian Ka’an (Mexico) / Tulum – Cancun

Drive from Belize towards Tulum, enter into Mexico.

Visit the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve en route. Sian Ka'an, a Mayan phrase for "Where The Sky Is Born," It is a Mexican national park and a UNESCO World Heritage site as well.

Proceed to Tulum. Tulum ruins are the 3rd most visited archaeological site in Mwxico, is the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city, one of the most spectacular archaeological sites of the area, because of its location on a rock facing the Caribbean Sea. Perched on a cliff 12 meters (40 feet) above the turquoise Caribbean waters, is justly the subject of thousands of postcards and is one of Mexico’s best-known archaeological sites.

Tulum was at its height between the 13th-15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Old World diseases brought by the Spanish appear to have been the cause of its demise. It is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites.

Continue to Cancun.

Cancun sets in gorgeous beaches of white sand caresses by warm, turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Cancun has become Mexico’s largest tourism resort and is the most prosperous city in the Yucatan Peninsula. It is also the Caribbean’s premier travel destination.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun


Day 7 – Cancun / Chichen-Itza / Cancun
 
Morning drive to Chichen-Itza, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Chichen Itza from Yucatec Maya which means “at the mouth of the well of the Itza”, is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Yucatan state, present-day Mexico.

Chichen Itza, founded in the year 514 AD, was once the capital of the ancient Mayan civilization. Chichen-Itza is the 2nd most visited archeological site of Mexico today. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichen-Itza which known as “El Castillo” (the castle), is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World elected recently. It is exactly 24 meters (79 feet) high considering the upper platform. Apart from the Kukulkan Pyramid, in Chichen Itza there many other archaeological sites to visit, all carrying traces from Mayan Culture in many ways.
The ruins are steeped in a magical history of bloody rituals of human sacrifice, a warrior culture, astrological discovery, and elaborately constructed Maya-Toltec buildings.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun


Day 8 – Cancun / Mexico City
 
Fly to Mexico City, the capital of Mexico.

Upon fight arrival at Mexico City, transfer in for the hotel.

Mexico City is the most important centre for financial, economic and cultural events of the Mexico. Mexico City is one of the world's largest and most populated cities, ranked third as of 2008, with a population of around 8,136,000. The city was originally built by the Amerindians Mexica, also called the Aztecs in 1325 on an island of Lake Texcoco

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Galeria Plaza Hotel


Day 9 – Mexico City

Morning sightseeing of Mexico City, visit National Palace where the beautiful murals painted by the great artist Diego Rivera, Constitution Square and the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Basilica of Guadalupe, Zona Rosa, and the famous Anthropology Museum.

Afternoon we drive to the famous archaeological site of Teotihuacan, the 1st most visited archaeological site in Mexico. The city was thought to have been established around 200 BC, lasting until its fall sometime between the 7th and 8th centuries. At its zenith in the first half of the 1st millennium CE, it may have had more than 200,000 inhabitants; Teotihuacan was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas and the 6th largest city in the world during its period of greatest prosperity. Teotihuacan is a UNESCO a World Heritage Site,

To the Aztec, Toetihuacan was a holy place, where the sun, moon and universe were created. It was they who gave Teotihuacan its name, meaning “The place where men become gods”.

We will see the monumental Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the temple of Quetzalpapalotl and the Avenue of the Dead.

Dinner at La Fonda del Recuerdo for the Mexican ballet forkloric show.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Lodging: Galeria Plaza Hotel


Day 10 – Mexico City / U.S.

Fly to the U.S.

Flight arrives in the U.S. on the same day.

Meals: Breakfast