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Contact UsDeparture from the campus to go to Washington Dulles Airport
Morning flight to Guatemala City. Check-in at airport is 3 hours prior departure. Arrive in Guatemala City. Meet and greet at Guatemala city airport. Private transfer to Antigua, approximately 1 hour drive Check-in at Posada Los Bucaros (or similar) Dinner and overnight at Posada Los Bucaros
Morning tour of Antigua’s primary historic sites, including the cathedral and other churches, city buildings, Casa de Tejido, and Museum of Guatemala Indigenous Dress. Discussion of changes in the past generation. Group lunch. Late afternoon presentation on Guatemala’s contemporary social and political concerns Group dinner. Overnight at Posada Los Bucaros
Depart for the highlands, approximately 3-hour drive. Visit the archeological site of Iximche, last capital of the Kachiquelspeaking group. Lunch en route to Panajachel. Shaman Ceremony at Iximche. Mid-afternoon arrival in Panajachel, on the shore of Lake Atitlan. Group dinner at a lakeside restaurant. Overnight at Hotel Dos Mundos (or similar)
Travel to Sololá which is only 20 minutes away. Visit the market on arrival. Not as big but less touristy is the Friday and Tuesday market of Solola on Lake Atitlan. The vivid colorful merchandise is available with delicious food and interesting souvenirs, but the top attraction of this market is the colorful local inhabitants who visit in their traditional costumes from their highland villages.
Then visit the Asociación Maya de Desarrollo, women’s weaving cooperative. Explanation of cooperative operation. Lunch in Panajachel. Afternoon visit to Reserva Atitlan Nature Reserve located on a former coffee plantation. Hike through the reserve Atitlan/Canopy Cooking class – regional Guatemalan cooking in local house and dinner. Overnight at Hotel Dos Mundos (or similar)
Depart to Santiago village, visit Mayan Families center and travel to preschools with food deliveries. See Santiago village Church and Maximon. Lunch in Santiago Atitlan. Boat transfer to San Juan La Laguna. Afternoon visit to the medicinal herb garden in San Juan La Laguna. Visit the Naif painters and galleries, Painting classes with local painter. Visit to Textile Women Coops. Boat transfer to hotel. Group dinner at a local restaurant. Explanation of contemporary Mayan society and culture, highlighting the cofradía system. Overnight at Hotel Dos Mundos (or similar). Local Transportation: Lanchas and Tuc Tucs.
Hiking to San Pedro Volcano. Private Adventure guide, Private Boat Transfers, Tuc Tuc, Entrances, Snacks, Water & Picnic Lunch Dinner in Panajachel. Overnight at Hotel Dos Mundos (or similar). Tour starts with a boat transfer to the town of San Pedro, a short pick up. Transfer brings us to the visitor center, from where the actual climbs starts. Within 3 -4 hours of climbing through fields and cloud forest we reach the top of the volcano on almost 3000 meters. Often enjoy magnificent views over the Lake and its mountains and volcanoes while having our well-deserved lunch. After lunch we go down back to your hotel.
MicroCredit activity and coordinal local activity with women. Micro Credit Tour (Private)
Friendship Bridge is a non-profit, non-governmental organization that provides micro credit and educational programs so women and their families can create their own solutions to poverty. After the meeting guests can visit the home of one of the participants to see first hand what they do with the loans and how the money has helped them to initiate and/or grow their business. The tour is accompanied by a staff member of Friendship Bridge who can elaborate about the work of Friendship Bridge across Guatemala and answer guest’s questions in detail on the subject.
Group farewell dinner At Hotel Atitlan and enjoy gardens. Overnight at Hotel Dos Mundos (or similar).
Transfer back to Guatemala City to take your flight back to the US.
This sample tour is just an example of a specific itinerary related to the country we just described to give you an idea of what is available in that country when you travel.
All our trips are tailor-made and we are at your disposal to plan your trip in consideration of how many people will be traveling, how many days you wish to travel, the season, the standard and the location of the hotels, the amount of meals you wish to include, the guided tours or experiences which will show you not only the “must see” landmarks but also the special interest sites and events you will love that are off the beaten track.
Francoise is the president and founder of Celestial Voyagers. She graduated with a tourism degree at Nice University in France and has worked as a tour director and operations manager in France, Australia and Mexico. Settling in New York City, she founded Celestial Voyagers with the aim of creating uniquely curated group travel for adults and Academia.