Archaeology and Ecology in Guatemala

Visit Antigua Guatemala, a colonial city declared by UNESCO “Cultural Heritage of Humankind”. We begin in Antigua’s Historic Centre, starting from the Main Plaza and visiting the main monuments of the city. Afterwards we will continue towards the pacific coast to hike the Pacaya Volcano (2,500masl), an impressive active volcano, Strombolian type. We start climbing from the village of San Francisco de Sales, and hike up for approximately 1.5 hours. PM return to Antigua Guatemala.

In the morning we head to the highlands. On the way to Lake Atitlán we will visit Iximché, an archaeological site located in the town of Tecpán. Iximché was the former capital of the Maya-Cakchiquel, place where in 1524 was founded Guatemala ́s first capital by the Spanish conqueror Pedro de Alvarado. After the visit we continue to Lake Atitlán. Time at leisure to enjoy the town of Panajachel.

Lake Atitlán is considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the World. Today we will visit Santiago Atitlán, one of the twelve villages that surround the lake. Departure in the morning by boat to the Maya-Tzutuhil village of Santiago, famous for Maximón, a character that is widely worshiped by its inhabitants. Santiago also offers a variety of handicrafts, colorful textiles, woodcarvings and naïf paintings. In the afternoon return to Panajachel and afterwards continue to Guatemala City.

The Northern part of Guatemala was the birthplace of the great Mayan Civilization. Early morning transfer from the hotel to the airport to board the flight to Flores, Petén and continue to Yaxhá (“Turquoise Water”). Yaxhá was considered an important civic and ceremonial site during the Mayan Classic Period; it is settled on a hill overlooking the beautiful Yaxhá and Sacnab Lagoons. Epigraphic evidence assures that it had important relationship with Tikal, as a “satellite” of Tikal during the Classic Period (300-950 A.D.). Yaxhá is the only site in Petén, besides Tikal, that has a “Twin Pyramid Complex”. (x 3 nights)

The majestic city of Tikal, considered the largest and most monumental of all sites discovered in the Mayan World; it was declared by UNESCO as a “World Heritage Site”. Enjoy a guided walking tour to visit the most important plazas, complexes, temples, ball courts, palaces and stelae. Also enjoy the tropical forest, nesting place of hundreds of exotic birds and the habitat of a wide variety of wildlife. Afternoon transfer back to Flores.

Enjoy an adventure in Ixpanpajul Natural Park, where you will walk in the “sky way”, as series of 6 suspension bridges through the upper levels of the forest and paths, which will give you the opportunity to enjoy the lush tropical forest and wildlife of the region. After this 2 hour walk, enjoy the “tarzan tour”, a fun and full of adrenaline canopy ziplines, where you will fly over the jungle.

Depart by road to Sayaxché, where we take a boat through La Pasion river to Ceibal. The archaeological site of Ceibal flourished from 200 AD to 900 AD and has an extraordinary number of Mayan stone carved monuments and temples.  The stelae of Ceibal are one of the finest and best preserved which is why Ceibal is known as the “Gallery of Mayan Art”.  After the visit continue to Cuevas de Candelaria National Park in Alta Verapaz.

This morning we visit the Candelaria Caves, the largest found in Central America, located at the foot of the Chamá Mountain Range. “It is one of the most extraordinary underground systems on Earth”. Afterwards we continue to the city of Cobán to visit the Calvary Church where the Maya-Kekchí practice ceremonies to worship their pre-hispanic gods.

After breakfast we drive through the mountains to visit the lush cloud forest ecosystem of the Biotope “El Quetzal” natural habitat of the National Bird, the Quetzal. After the visit we continue to Guatemala City passing through a varied topography, from the misty cloud forests in Alta Verapaz, to the hot, dry tropical climate of the Motagua river valley where dinosaurs once roamed, to a cooler climate of Guatemala City.

At the specified time, transfer from the hotel to the airport