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Experience the best of Guatemala & Honduras

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Discover the hidden gems of Guatemala & Honduras with Travel Differently. Book now for the trip of a lifetime.
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Duration

12
nights
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Location

Guatemala
Guatemala
Honduras
Honduras
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Group size

From 2 to
13
or solo
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Best season

November to May
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Accommodation

Eco-lodges, 3* or 4* lodges
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Meeting point

Guatemala City
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Category

100% unique
Trekking
Cultural
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Easy
Easy
Not really difficult, possible to do it in family with children!

Presentation

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Take a journey to two beautiful and culturally rich countries with our experienced local guides. Enjoy a safe and immersive experience while benefiting the local communities through your travels. This is a trip that promises to be both responsible and fulfilling 🌟

📅 Itinerary highlights:

  • Arrival day in Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua
  • A full day in Antigua with a local guide and a sunset trek on the nearby Volcano of Pucaya
  • Transfer to Lake Atitlan and a morning hike to Indian Nose for sunrise on the lake
  • Boat trip across Lake Atitlan to visit local villages including Santa Catarina Palopo
  • Return to Antigua and overnight stay
  • And much more!

Don't miss out on this opportunity to experience the rich culture of Guatemala & Honduras. Book your trip with us now 🚶‍♀️

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Content Summary :

Day 1: Arrival Day in Guatemala, Transfer to Antigua

Upon arrival at the La Aurora International airport (located in Guatemala City), you will receive a transfer by taxi or van to the charming colonial town of Antigua, just over an hour outside of the capital. This is the perfect place to be based for a few days after a long flight, as we do not stay in Guatemala City due to safety concerns. However, exploring the old town of Antigua is very safe, and there are plenty of interesting streets and old buildings to enjoy and explore. You will also have the opportunity to change some money into Guatemalan Quetzals, with the exchange rate being $1 USD = 7.5 Q.

Due to the potentially different arrival times, there will not be any planned activities, but if we can meet as a group for dinner on the first night, that would be great! 😃

Photos: Antigua’s famous colorful streets and Volcan Pucaya in the background

If you arrive in the afternoon, you will have the opportunity to explore this exceptionally pretty town, or you may wish to rest. There is a local market and the craft market Museo ‘Casa De Tejido’, famous for local textiles. La Antigua art gallery, the ruins of the Old San Francisco church, and the ruins of La Merced and the convent are also worth visiting during your free day of exploring. Additionally, a walk to the Cerro Arco Cruz viewpoint is highly recommended. Most of these things cost very little to see or visit, or nothing at all!

In the evening, you could join an intro Salsa class if you're keen, or if you're tired, you can just enjoy a few local cocktails in one of the many local establishments in the downtown.


Overnight Accommodation in Antigua :

Both options are classified as sustainable properties and feature typical colonial house with patio courtyards and gardens. The cost of a single room is an additional $30 USD.

Day 2: Full Day in Antigua: Short City Tour and Surroundings

After breakfast, you will be met by a local English-speaking guide. Our 2-hour walking tour of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will bring you past all of the breathtaking landmarks that make Antigua famous. During the tour, we will discuss Antigua's history, interesting facts about Guatemala, details of Mayan culture, and what makes all of the beautiful sites here in Antigua so important.


The following sites will be visited/discussed during the tour:

  • La Merced Church
  • Santa Catalina Arch
  • Central Park
  • City Hall
  • The Captain General's Palace
  • Santiago Cathedral Ruins
  • Tanque Union Park
  • San Francisco Church

Source : Pexels

You will also hear about some of the hotspots in town that serve the best food and drinks and will be provided with tips and suggestions for other excursions to do while in Guatemala.

If you're feeling adventurous, you can join a sunset trek on the nearby Volcano of Pucaya, which shouldn't take more than 4 hours. The hike leaves around 2 pm and returns by 7 pm, with a total of 3-4 hours. Horses can be hired as an option, with the cost ranging from $30-35 per person, depending on numbers.

Source : Pexels

Overnight Accommodation in Antigua :  3*** LAS MARIAS (shared rooms of 2 maximum)
Single room additional $30 USD

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Atitlan (Mayan Village of San Juan De Laguna)

After breakfast, we hit the road for a 3-hour drive to Lake Atitlan, where we will continue to the village of San Juan De Laguna. In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to explore the different artisanal workshops in the village, including how they produce medicinal plants, textiles, coffee, and cacao. This is a chance to delve into the local culture! 😃

Around 4 PM, we will go on a short walk to the rural countryside where we will participate in an ancient Mayan tradition of tree planting. The Mayan tree-planting ceremony is a way of giving back to the land and seeking blessings from Pacha Mama (Mother Earth). They believe that all living things, including birds, animals, insects, and trees, must be in harmony, and tree planting helps to restore this harmony with nature.

During the ceremony, candles or effigies are burned to connect the land to the gods of the skies and mountains. This is done in partnership with local farmers as a sign of respect for the land. It is something we should all do everywhere on our planet! 🌍🌳

Each person (or couple) will receive a baby tree to plant wherever they choose. It's a unique opportunity to leave your mark on the world! 💚

Overnight Eco-lodge Maya-Chik
Single room additional $25 USD

Day 4: Morning Hike to Indian Nose for Sunrise on the Lake

We start the day with a pre-breakfast hike to Indian Nose for a sunrise over the lake and its 3 volcanoes. The 2-hour trek is worth the early start, and sunrise is at 6.30 AM, so we should aim to start no later than 4.30 AM. You'll be rewarded with stunning views of the lake and its 3 volcanoes! 😍

In the late morning, we will take a boat trip across Lake Atitlan to visit several villages, including the colorful town of Santa Catarina Palopo, where we will visit a local workshop-museum. We'll end the day in Panajachel for lunch and then return to Antigua in the late afternoon. 🛥

The 3-hour trip back to Antigua in the late afternoon means we have less travel to do the next day. 🚗💨

Day 5: Travel day - Transfer to Rio Dulce

Once we have finished our breakfast, we will transfer to Rio Dulce (around 6 hours) with a stop for lunch along the way 🍴. On the way, you'll get a great insight into the rural way of life in Guatemala 🇬🇹. Our mode of transport will be a private van, which is typical for most of the trip 🚐.
When we arrive in Rio Dulce, we will take a 5-minute boat-shuttle or water taxi across the water to the cabin-style accommodation 🛥️.

Rio Dulce

Rio Dulce (also known as Fronteras) is a town built at the intersection of the Rio Dulce river that leads to the Caribbean Sea and Lake Izabal on the other side of the bridge 🌊.

Overnight at Tijax, Eco-Hacienda, Rio Dulce.

Day 6: Morning activities in Rio Dulce

We have a relaxed morning to enjoy our surroundings at Lake Izabel/the beginning of Rio Dulce. If you'd like, you can go for a sunrise kayak to the nearby Mangroves and spot Howler monkeys roaming in the trees 🐒 (30 minutes to get there by kayak and 20 minutes back due to the currents).

At around 9.30 am, we'll take a private motor boat to cruise along the river, hoping to spot a variety of bird-life such as herons, pelicans, and cormorants as we pass by Mangroves and water lilies 🐦.

We will then visit a Maya communities project located alongside the river. First, we'll receive a welcome reception by the community with traditional Marimba music 🎶, followed by some walks on nearby trails where we'll visit the ceremonial site and Educative center of the Ak'Tenemet community. Here, we'll learn about the background of the rural community tourism project, a non-profit focused on sustainability, preservation of Mayan traditions, literacy and numeracy, and much more. Our visit helps fund their education and has a positive social impact. We'll also learn how to cook traditional food and make tortillas at a gastronomy workshop and be greeted by local dancers (some of the students).

Finally, we'll try the local lunch, Pescado Pachay 🍽️.
We'll then arrive at the Garifuna fishing town of Livingston, a mix of different cultures including Afro-Caribbean 🌴.

Livingston has laundry facilities, so we'll have our clothes washed one of the two days we're here.

Overnight at Hotel Casa Rosada.

Day 7: Day Trip to Beach and Iconic Rock Pools

🚣‍♀️Join us on a day trip by boat along the Caribbean coast! We'll start by visiting the famous "Cascades," a series of over a half-dozen swimming pools known as the "7 alters."

🏖️Next up is Playa Blanca, widely considered one of the best beaches on the Caribbean side of Guatemala. From here, you'll get stunning views of the coast-line of Belize! Feel free to bring your lunch and enjoy a day of playing volleyball, swimming, or simply swinging in the sun.

Source : Pexels

💃After a day of fun and relaxation, we'll return to Livingston for another night. And for those interested, don't miss the chance to see some traditional Garifuna dancing and drumming.

Overnight: Casa Rosada, Livingston

Day 8 - Travel Day: Guatemala-Honduras Border Crossing, Continue to Pico Bonito Reserve

🛣️ Get your passport ready, as we embark on one of the longest travel days of the trip!

Our local driver in Honduras (Daniel) has comfortable vans (for 15 people) for all of our private journeys on the West side of Honduras. In the morning, we'll cross to the port of Puerto Barrios in around 30 minutes, and then it's a 1-hour drive to the border and a further 5 hours to La Ceiba town. Finally, we'll enter the beautiful Pico Bonito Park and National Reserve and arrive at our stunning Ecolodge around 3:30 PM.

🌳At the Ecolodge, we'll have 2 full days to discover all the amazing activities the park has to offer.

Day 9: Cayo Cochinas Beach Islands and Garifuna Fisherman Communities Excursion

Source : pexels


Join us for a full day excursion to the stunning Cayo Cochinas beach islands and Garifuna fisherman communities. This archipelago consists of 16 reef islands and 2 volcanic islands, providing a unique opportunity to explore and discover the beauty of this natural marine monument.


Note: This is a suggested itinerary, timings and descriptions are there to give an idea only.


7:00 AM

The tour to Cayos Cochinos begins departing from La Ceiba to the Sambo Creek Tourist Center in the Garífuna community of Sambo Creek (distance 20 km from La Ceiba).


7:45 AM

Boarding duly equipped boats with 2 engines, hoods for sun protection, seats with backrests. Captains and certified guides will direct us to Cayos Cochinos.


8:35 AM

During the boat trip we make our first stop at Cayo Bolaños, a fishing station, here you can enjoy the palm trees, white sand beaches and bathe in crystal clear turquoise waters around this key. Here we begin by seeing some of the 69 species of birds that live there, of which 14 are residents and 55 are migratory, including pelicans and the magnificent frigate-bird.


9:30 AM

We continue with our tour where we can see the solitary tree that is found in Cayo Menor where the Scientific Station is located. There we offer a brief talk and an informative video about the natural marine monument of Cayos Cochinos and we can enjoy the presence of the endemic black jamos of the area, of which there are about 1,400 specimens.


10:00 AM

We go around Cayo Menor until we reach Cayo Mayor where we find some spectacular beaches. Here we can snorkel, being able to observe some of the 226 species of fish between diurnal and nocturnal and 128 species of coral being one of the most diverse places in species in the world. Then our adventure begins on a walk along a path in search of the Boa Rosada endemic species of Cayos Cochinos, of which we have about 1,500 specimens. With luck, we can see some of the 11 registered mammals and 22 species of reptiles, as well as enjoy its varied vegetation.


11:40 AM

We sail past Cayo Chachahuate 2 to make our stop at Cayo Chachahuate 1. According to history, this key is where the Garífuna ethnic group has settled since 1965. This community offers us its gastronomy, accommodation, handicrafts, Garífuna dances (with prior request and additional cost).


Note: In order to support the Garífuna community, you can eat a delicious lunch by paying directly to them for lunches from around L. 200.00 ($10 USD). After enjoying their gastronomy, you can take a walking tour among the houses of the Garífuna inhabitants and interact with their culture.


1:45 PM

Departure back to the Sambo Creek Tourist Center.


2:30 PM

Tour ends back at Sambo Creek + a 45-minute transfer back to the Omega Ecolodge.


Day 10 - Optional Excursions with Pico Bonito National Park and Reserve


Today, we offer you the opportunity to explore the stunning natural beauty of Pico Bonito National Park and Reserve with a variety of optional excursions. 🌳 You can choose to go trekking to a waterfall, take a rafting or kayaking trip along the Rio Cangrejal, or visit the nearby villages. The amount you want to explore nature and adventure in this jungle forest is up to you!


Overnight stay at Omega Ecolodge


Day 11 - Travel Day: Transfer by Road to Copan


We have another exciting day ahead of us as we embark on a 7.5-hour drive to Copan. We will leave after an early breakfast, so we can arrive by early afternoon (around 2pm) and enjoy a visit to the ruins of Copan from 3-5pm. 🌅 During the visit, you can witness the magnificent Stelae (towering sculpted statues) and a UNESCO world heritage site. The cost for entry is included, but tour guides can be hired at the entrance if desired.


Overnight stay at the eco-sustainable hotel, Mary 3*+


Day 12 - Free Day in Copan


Today, we offer various options for you to choose from and explore the beautiful city of Copan at your leisure. 🚶 You can visit the “Macaw Mountain Eco-reserve” to see the birdlife radiant with Scarlet Macaws, a bird ‘rehabilitation and release’ center (entry fee: $10 USD). You can also opt for horse-riding trips (prices depending on numbers), visit the Mayan village of ‘La Pintada’, or explore local walks along the river and to the mysterious ‘los sapos’ site - ancient rocks carved into frogs. Another option is to visit the Mayan Sculpture museum.


Take your pick of things to do or just relax and unwind in Copan.


In the evening, we recommend visiting the Luna Jaguar hot-springs and SPA, where you can enjoy a wellness center that has been developed under a concept of Mayan spirituality. 🌟 You can experience the sacred rituals of the Mayan rulers of Copan, take a tour of trails in the middle of the forest, and be in direct contact with the natural elements of the site, taking advantage of the therapeutic benefits of mineral thermal waters. The service philosophy is: Whoever makes the journey will no longer be the same person, will be reborn as a new person.


Overnight stay at 3+*** Mary, Copan


Day 13 - Transfer to the Border, Continue to Guatemala City/Airport


In the morning, we will head to the border (30 minutes) and continue for 4.5 hours to Guatemala City. For those with an evening flight, you can continue home. For those who need more time or an early morning connection, we recommend taking a hotel near the airport at an additional cost.


Before our departure, we can return for lunch in town and decide on the best plan for the day.

Included :

  • 12x breakfasts, 1 x lunch
  • Accommodation x 12 nights (Rooms are double/twin/triple shared)
  • Private van transport for all of the trip.
  • Private boat transport for all of the trip
  • Airport transfers

 
Trips:

  • Antigua City tour - English speaking guide –(Guatemala)
  • Atitlan boat trip to villages around lake (Guatemala)
  • Mayan tree-planting ceremony (Guatemala)
  • Indian nose sun-rise trek (Guatemala)
  • City tour in Antigua (Guatemala)
  • Livingston boat cruise (Guatemala)
  • Maya community visit + cookery class with lunch (Guatemala)
  • Day trip to Cayo Cochinos Islands (Honduras)
  • Guided tour (in English) of the ruins of Copan (Honduras) + entry ticket
  • Hot springs at Luna Jaguar SPA (Honduras)
  • On-hand support and assistance for duration of trip.  

 

Not included :

  • Optional excursions as mentioned in the itinerary.
  • Entry visas or international taxes. 
  • International flights to starting/ending cities e.g. Guatemala City.
  • Single room upgrades available at extra cost – please enquire for specific details
  • Travel insurance is not included
  • Any vaccinations are at the clients discretion.
  • Any other services or meals not mentioned in the main itinerary or above.
  • Tips are not included.
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YOUR ECOLODGE

Your guide

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Matt

Matt

Matt is originally from Scotland and traveled to many countries before settling in Peru in 2006 as a Tour Leader responsible for groups of tourists from all over the world. He has more than 300 treks to his credit !


He has worked for years as a volunteer for the famous association: South American Explorers (founded in 1977 by the journalist Donald James Montague). He was the last one to fight to keep the Cusco agency open, but it wasn't enough, so he is independent now.


Considered as a unique explorer, as are those who book with him. His hikes meander through unfamiliar trails, you'll never read about in the Lonely Planet. As they say, "the best views come after the hardest climb," and with Matt, you'll see the authentic side of this often overlooked South American gem.

Yaneth

Yaneth is Peruvian and has been a Tour Leader for over 13 years in Peru ! She started as a volunteer for the South America Explorers association, then participated in many projects to support sustainable development on a large scale. She is in charge of all operational aspects, ready to make your trip a dream come true !

Experience the best of Guatemala & Honduras


Matt

Matt

Matt is originally from Scotland and traveled to many countries before settling in Peru in 2006 as a Tour Leader responsible for groups of tourists from all over the world. He has more than 300 treks to his credit !


He has worked for years as a volunteer for the famous association: South American Explorers (founded in 1977 by the journalist Donald James Montague). He was the last one to fight to keep the Cusco agency open, but it wasn't enough, so he is independent now.


Considered as a unique explorer, as are those who book with him. His hikes meander through unfamiliar trails, you'll never read about in the Lonely Planet. As they say, "the best views come after the hardest climb," and with Matt, you'll see the authentic side of this often overlooked South American gem.

Yaneth

Yaneth

Yaneth is Peruvian and has been a Tour Leader for over 13 years in Peru ! She started as a volunteer for the South America Explorers association, then participated in many projects to support sustainable development on a large scale. She is in charge of all operational aspects, ready to make your trip a dream come true !

South Andes Travel


Reviews

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Valentin C

Amazing trip to Peru (M&friends)

Alright folks! Is what Matt will tell you before embarking on a uniquely beautiful experience.Traveling with Matt as our trusted guide and his lovely family has been a real treat. He is very knowledgeable about Peruvian culture and history and had every day and activity well planned ahead. Matt was very patient with us and flexible to changing some parts of our trip.For an amazing trip to Peru, you can choose Matt and his team with confidence!Muchas gracias Matt, Feli & Theo!Stefan, Raluca & Valentin

...

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Global72497

M& friends. Tks Matt!

Do not hesitate to trust Matt, he will try to satisfy any desire. He is the kind of person who makes things seem easier. A beautiful family that helped us have a dream vacation. Tks Matt, Feli and Theo and good Luck for the future!!

...

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Ioan D

Hellooo folks, this is not a trip, it is an experience!!

Traveling in Peru with Matt and his family was like a dream come true. In two weeks we covered more than we expected, from the Amazonian Jungle, to cities like Cusco, Arequipa and Lima; from Machu Piccu to the Rainbow Montain; from living in fancy hotels to living with locals and metting shamans.Our group is traveling a lot. Many of us are almost 'professional holidaymakers'. We all agree that Matt is unique in this line of business. He is always available, full of energy and information about the places we visit, full of humour and laid back and, above all, full of resources for solving all problems. And believe me, we had quite a few of those, including the C word ( covid). Afterall, we all enjoyed to the maximum and returned back home ready to resume life.If you want a full experience of Peru, we strongly recommend Matt's team. Enjoy!!

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Discover the Wonders of Guatemala in 12 days
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Discover the Wonders of Guatemala in 12 days

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With locals who know where to go and how to stay safe, you won’t need to worry about any of the arrangements, but enjoy your holidays.
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