Overview
Who is Maya Trails?
A world class ground handler, dedicated to creating authentic experiences and travel solutions through personalized, reliable, and sustainable service. As a specialized DMC, we offer carefully designed, custom EXPERIENCES throughout Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras. Bringing a fresh and creative approach to traveling in the region.
As the heart and center of the Mayan world and the capital of colonial Spain, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras offers travelers a plethora of diverse cultural experiences, atmospheric ancient ruins, adventure, great value 4 & 5 star, luxury, and boutique properties and a stunning natural landscape of lakes, volcanoes, beaches, and lush jungles.
Quick Summary
Day 1
Welcome to Guatemala & transfer to Antigua
Your driver will meet you at the RIGHT side exit at the airport with a sign with your name on it for private transfer to Antigua (approx 1hr). (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Day 2
Antigua walking tour
Enjoy a guided walking tour of Antigua. You will visit breathtaking colonial monuments and find out why this city was the bustling center of the region for the Spaniards. Starting at central plaza the guide will give you a general idea about the colonization, Guatemala’s history & contemporary issues. View the outside main buildings (Palacio de Capitanes, City Hall, and El Portal), visit backstage of the Cathedral & Cathedral ruins & San Francisco church.
Tour duration: approx. 4hrs (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Day 3
Pacaya volcano hike
Private transfer to Pacaya volcano.
Located just outside the capital of Guatemala City, Pacaya Volcano rises to 2,552m (8,373ft) is one of three active volcanoes in Guatemala. After a period of dormancy, it's been active since 1965, sometimes more dramatically than other times! It is about an hour drive from Antigua to the Pacaya National Park (declared in 2001) and the trailhead in the small village of San Francisco de Sales. The roughly 2 mile trail is relatively steep but well maintained and climbs steadily through farmland and pine forest before arriving on an exposed ridge offering a panoramic view of Pacaya's smoking black cone, miles of old blackened lava flows and the volcanoes to the north around Antigua and Lake Atitlan. The hike continues onto the barren moonscape of the lava flows where you'll be able to roast marshmallows over hot spots for a smores ala Guatemala! You'll enjoy a picnic lunch with a view of the crater from afar (National Park regulations do not allow climbing to the top of the crater).
Total Distance: 8km
Elevation gain: 400mts
Highest point: 2,552mts
Tour duration approx: 8hrs
Please bring:
- Hiking boots or trekking shoes (no sandals)
- Daypack with rain cover
- One warm layer and/or windbreaker
- Rain jacket (May thru October)
- Personal toiletries and/or medications
- Camera, hat, sunglasses & sunscreen
- Two liters of water (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Day 4
Chocolate workshop & transfer to Lake Atitlan
Learn hands on about cacao seed through a personalized workshop where you will be able to work with the kernel, brew, toast and grind it to elaborate chocolates as we know them. Become a Master-Chocolatier and make your own chocolates, just an hour later you will be able to enjoy them.
Private transfer to Lake Atitlan. (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Day 5
Kayak, Tzununa hike & San Juan Village tour
After breakfast your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel for your boat transfer to the kayak starting point. Paddle for approximate 45 minutes along delightful peninsulas admiring the shore's beautiful gardens. After kayaking you will start the hike to Tzununa. The north shore of Lake Atitlan Guatemala has no true road access, so you will be hiking along ancient paths that have been used by the Kaqchikel Maya for centuries. You will view villagers going about their daily life and see some of the most magnificent scenery in the world.
Please bring:
- Swim suite underneath clothes
- towel
- sunblock
- change of clothes
- sneakers for the hike
Tour approx. 4hrs (This service is on a private basis.)
Your guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel. Private boat transfer to San Juan village. San Juan is famous for its naïf art galleries, town murals and natural dyes textiles. This town is set as an example of organization and tourism destination among the highlands. Its beauty and cooperatives have set it as the perfect village.
Daily Summary
Day 6
Zipline adventure & afternoon flight to Peten
Private transfer to the Atitlan Reserve. The zip lines cross the San Buenaventura Valley and reach the tip of the Lake Atitlan’s bay. Amazing views of the volcanoes as background.
Each zip-line is a different experience: some are as high as 60 m (196 ft.), others have superb vistas of forests, waterfalls, volcanoes, and the lake itself. At the end of each circuit there is an optional ropes course.
Private transfer to Guatemala City airport. (This service is on a private basis.)
Private transfer from Flores airport to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Flight GUA-FRS
Local flight GUA-FRS (approx 1hr).
Day 7
Tikal Mayan Ruins & Wildlife Encounter
After breakfast, your tour guide will meet you at the lobby of your hotel and transfer you to Tikal National Park. Your guide will show you the layout of the temples, architecture, history, some theories of why the Mayans disappeared and if you are lucky a few monkeys, parrots, macaws, and toucans will be on site. After the tour, enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the middle of the jungle.
The tour has a duration of approx. 6hrs (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Day 8
Flight back to Guatemala City & departure
Transfer to Flores airport. (This service is on a private basis.)
Daily Summary
Flight FRS-GUA
Local flight from FRS - GUA (approx 1hr)
Antigua, Guatemala
Hotel Casa Santo Domingo
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Hotel Atitlan
Hotel Atitlán has the best views of the lake. A property with fantastic gardens, birds, and great place to stay when visiting the lake. Each room has a unique personality that is reflected in the decor of hand-woven fabrics, hand-crafted furniture, paintings, and other decorations from the many indigenous villages in the region. The floors are made of traditional tile and covered by hand-made area rugs.
Peten, Guatemala
Las Lagunas Luxury Lodge
Las Lagunas Luxury Boutique Lodge is a beautiful property that combines over 300 acres of land with the comfort of luxury. This hotel has 20 charming suites perfectly equipped (all with private balcony and jacuzzi) and surrounded by a magnificent view of the Quexil Lagoon that will make an unforgettable stay. The property provides with the most amazing SPA, world class dinning, Pool, Avant-garde museum, biking and trekking, boat monkey tour, helicopter landing, etc.
Details
Price Includes
• Private transfers• Hotel accommodations
• Hotel tax
• RT Flight GUA-FRS-GUA
• Entrance fee to:
o Antigua half day tour: La Merced, San Francisco & The Cathedral
o Pacaya volcano
o Chocolate workshop
o Horseback riding
o Zip line
o Tikal tour
• Meals as described
o Daily American breakfast
o Picnic lunch at Volcano trek
o Lunch at local venue for Antigua tour, Kayak tour & Tikal tour
Price Excludes
• Gratuities for guides and drivers• Gratuities for porters and housekeeping at hotels
• Personal travel insurance
• Personal expenses
• Alcoholic beverages
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary
• Activities not mentioned in itinerary
Why Maya Trails?
Who we are
Maya Trails is a Guatemalan-owned and operated tour operator offering bespoke FIT and small-group tours throughout Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Jimmy Rogers founded Maya Trails as a more personal and creative alternative to the larger, mass-market operators which abound in Guatemala, eventually expanding regionally into complimentary destinations where he and his team had developed deep expertise. The experienced and passionate Maya Trails team understand the expectations of the trade as well as of savvy, well-traveled clients. They specialize in creating authentic experiences through personalized, reliable and sustainable service.
Responsible Travel
Environmental Practices
Community Engagement
Cultural Preservation
Educational Initiatives
Transparency
What we do
Maya Trails is 100% committed to the travel trade and do not take direct consumer bookings, instead working through a network of Latin America specialists worldwide. With outstanding service and careful attention to detail, the passionate team at Maya Trails makes each trip a unique experience. Offering both customized trips and Signature Tours that allow travelers to 'escape the usual,' Maya Trails are constantly innovating, developing new products and services for their guests and have some of the best, most knowledgeable guides in the region. Maya Trails also have access to top subject matter experts such as Francisco Estrada-Belli, one of the foremost Mayan archaeologists in Guatemala today. He can be brought on board for luxury travelers looking for an in-depth Mayan archaeological tour.
In addition to great rates at all the key hotels/lodges throughout Guatemala, Belize and Honduras, Maya Trails also own Guatemala’s Hertz franchise, meaning your clients will only ride in top of the line vehicles, which are consistently ‘best in fleet,’ from small 4×4’s up to a Mercedes C class. For your higher-end clients (or those short on time), Maya Trails have access to an extensive fleet of helicopters, so adding a spectacular heli-transfer from Antigua to Lake Atitlan (25 minutes by air vs 3hrs by road) or a helicopter excursion to the remote Mayan ruins of El Mirador are easily arranged.
Terms and Conditions
Prices: Quotes and prices are valid for 30 days from the date they are issued. Rates are quoted in USD$ and includes tax (12% VAT). Prices are subject to change without prior notice.
Payment Policy: A 25 percent advance payment is required at the time of booking to secure services, hotel rooms, and local flights. With the remaining amount no later than 45 days prior arrival. Failure to adhere to the payment policy may result in the cancellation of your booking. A non refundable credit card surcharge of 5 percent applies on all Visa, MasterCard and American Express transactions. Money Transfers fees are not included on the bill.
Itinerary Changes: For itineraries, once finalized and booked each change is subject to a 150 dollar change fee, as well as any cost increase. Changes are also subject to availability. Please contact Maya Trails to request any changes to your reservations. For cancellations, please see the section on Cancellations, below.
Cancellation Policy: Due to the extensive organization involved with touring, a strict cancellation fee will be applicable to compensate for costs and lost revenue. Once a booking is confirmed, the amount will vary depending on payments already made to providers. Cancellation made less than 30 days before arrival are subject to a cancellation fee of 100 percent of the total value of the booking. *If you have been notified beforehand from our travel experts on the booking that the property or service has a strict non refundable policy.
Credit Card and Bank Fees: Credit Card and Bank Fees are not included in the total amount. For credit card a 5 percent and for bank Fees a 50 dollar fee will be added to the total amount of your final bill. Conditions of Travel: Maya Trails reserves the right to arrange an alternative route due to severe weather conditions or in the event of any protests on the road. No refunds will be given in these circumstances.
Guest Numbers: Quotes for groups are given based on certain amount of passenger numbers. If the quote is confirmed with a different number of passengers, the price will vary.
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is NOT included in the Maya Trails tours and requires all passengers to plan ahead in this matter. Maya Trails offers a travel assistance program for our travelers in Central America, please ask for more information with your travel expert.