Antigua and Atitlan 7 days

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival day & Transfer to Lake Atitlan
Transport from Guatemala City Airport to Lake Atitlan
Private transfer · 3- 3.5hrs

Our driver will transfer you from the Guatemala City airport to Lake Atitlan to drop you off at your local hotel in Lake Atitlan.

Free time to explore Lake Atitlan (Self guided)

Today you will have part of they day to enjoy the beauty of Lake Atitlan. Whether you are in Panajachel or in one of the villages. You will have time to relax or explore the lake at your leisure.

Head out to explore the area in a walk through the main street of Panajachel “La Santander”, including some of the picturesque views in traditional Mayan crafts and regional cuisine.

Take your time and coordinate with your guide to enjoy the day, depending on your arrival time!

Day 2
Kayaking & Hiking Lake Atitlán
Imagine waking up to the stunning sight of Lake Atitlán and its majestic volcanoes! Get ready for an unforgettable day that starts with a leisurely kayak adventure. You’ll paddle west along the north shore for about two hours, soaking in the incredible scenery. As you go, you’ll glide past charming villages clinging to lakeside cliffs and have chances to cool off with a swim or even try some exhilarating cliff jumping!

Your kayaking journey ends near the lovely village of San Marcos La Laguna. From there, you’ll swap your paddle for hiking boots and hit the trails! Enjoy a scenic hike along the lake, with continuous breathtaking views of the San Pedro, Tolimán, and Atitlán volcanoes. This roughly 1.5-hour trek takes you through picturesque shoreline and small villages before leading you right back to your cozy lodge. The rest of your afternoon is then free to relax and enjoy!

Good to know for families: There’s a shorter version of this tour available if you’re looking for a more condensed adventure!

Day 3
Boat Tour of Lake Atitlán Villages
Get ready for an amazing day on Lake Atitlán, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world! You’ll meet our expert local guide on the shore. Before boarding the boat, your guide will provide a brief introduction and all the instructions for the tour. This immense lake, formed about 84,000 years ago, covers 130 km² and is the deepest in Central America (up to 341 meters), with waters ranging from deep blue to green. Be sure to bring your camera to capture the views of the 3 volcanoes surrounding it: Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro.

Today, you’ll enjoy a private boat tour to visit the charming Maya villages that dot Lake Atitlán. Our boat will take you from one village to another, where you’ll meet local residents and learn about daily life on the lake. You’ll have several stops and plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or snacks as you wish.  After the tour, you will drive 2 hours back to Antigua to enjoy your own a delicious dinner in one of our recommendations for you in a local restaurant. (Note: get ready for tomorrow´s hike with water and enough clothing for the campsite)

Day 4
Antigua to Acatenango Volcano
Conquer Acatenango: An Overnight Volcano Adventure

Get ready for an exhilarating trek up Acatenango Volcano, culminating in an unforgettable night camping near the summit. Imagine witnessing the incredible eruptions of nearby Volcán de Fuego under a blanket of stars – it’s a truly mesmerizing sight!

Your adventure begins with a convenient pickup from your hotel in Antigua. From there, you’ll embark on a scenic drive to the base of Acatenango Volcano, specifically to the charming village of La Soledad, where the trailhead awaits. The climb up Acatenango takes you through four distinct microclimates, each lasting about an hour.

You’ll start by ascending a stiff path through local farmland. This is the same trail villagers use to access their crops, and it offers a fantastic warm-up for your legs, getting them ready for the journey ahead.

Next, you’ll enter an ancient, high-alpine cloud forest. This unique forest, found on the higher slopes of Guatemala’s tallest volcanoes, is a haven for exotic birds, including the famous and elusive resplendent quetzal. As you emerge from the cloud forest around midday, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of other highland volcanoes like Atitlán, Tolimán, San Pedro, Santa María, Santo Tomás, and Tajamulco. You’ll have plenty of time to soak in the scenery as you enjoy a well-deserved break and a delicious picnic lunch.

The third part of your ascent takes you through temperate and tropical forests, leading to the rugged, storm-beaten tree line of the volcano. Your campsite is strategically located just below this tree line, offering sweeping views of the Antigua Valley and the active Volcán Fuego right next door. After setting up camp, take a moment to stretch, relax, and absorb the vastness around you while your guide prepares a delicious dinner at an elevation of 12,300 feet (3,750 m). Savor your meal as you marvel at the awe-inspiring, fiery display of Volcán Fuego’s eruptions lighting up the night sky.

Hike Details:

• Estimated hiking time: 5-6 hours
• Distance: 5 miles (8 km)
• Ascent: 3600 feet (1100 m)
• High point (campsite): 11,480 feet (3,500 m)
• Meals included: Breakfast (B), Lunch (L), Dinner (D)
• Accommodation: Acatenango Base Camp

Day 5
An Unforgettable Sunrise on Acatenango, Descent & Transfer to Antigua
Depending on weather conditions, you’ll rise early, ready to witness a truly spectacular farewell. You’ll embark on a 45-minute to one-hour trek up a steep gravel trail through a pine forest. This final ascent is the most challenging yet, leading you to the rocky, often windy, summit of Acatenango’s peak.

Reaching the summit before dawn is nothing short of magical. Here, you’ll be treated to breathtaking 360-degree views of the Guatemalan highlands stretching all the way to Mexico. But the true highlight is the awe-inspiring sunrise over the surrounding volcano peaks, casting golden light across the landscape. This is your last, incredible chance to gaze upon Volcán de Fuego’s eruptions as the first light illuminates its powerful display. It’s a truly fitting and unforgettable end to an experience of a lifetime with an active volcano.

After soaking in these majestic views and enjoying a well-deserved breakfast at the summit, you’ll break camp and begin the three-hour descent back to La Soledad. This return journey follows a different trail, offering even more beautiful scenery as you pass through diverse microclimates on your way down.

Day 6
Antigua Coffee tour “La Familia del Cafe”
Meet your guide at your lobby hotel then take a car or bike to move to San Miguel Escobar. then meet Fredy Gonzalez a local farmer in this small village that has developed a business for his family and his 30 members that see an income based on this personalized tour that will get into the traditional cultural farmers.

Car: 15 minutes
Bike: 40 minutes

The tour: Visit the coffee plantation and learn with the farmers the process of coffee from the fields to the coup on their table. You will see the rudimentary tools they use to package the coffee and finally will get lunch or dinner (depending on time of the tour) with the family to talk about the experience.

SAN MIGUEL ESCOBAR COOPERATIVE
The San Miguel Escobar Co-op (in Spanish, Café Artesanal San Miguel Entre Volcanes de Antigua) is a 30-member community of smallholder coffee farmers near Antigua, Guatemala. Situated at the base of Volcán Agua, San Miguel Escobar is located in a scenic, vibrant valley with views of other neighboring volcanoes Fuego and Acatenango. The town is home to many coffee farmers, whom you can see on a typical day heading up the slopes of the volcano through the communal paths to tend to their fields of coffee or other crops.

Day 7
Transfer to Guatemala City Int. Airport (GUA), Departure
Your driver will transfer you to the airport in Guatemala City to catch your flight home. We recommend arriving three hours prior to your flight.