Rainforest, Ruins and Beach

Be met on arrival and privately transferred to the magical colonial town of Antigua.  Wander around the cobbled streets and sample the cuisine at excellent restaurants.  The next day, if you’re a coffee aficionado, go on a half-day tour of the coffee plantations in the valley and go through the steps of this time honoured method of making gourmet coffee.   End the tour with a picnic with views of the plantation.

Today your driver and guide will take you on a scenic drive to the magical town of Chichicastenango, a fascinating place deeply rooted in per-Hispanic beliefs and rituals.  If you find yourself there on a Thursday or Sunday, you’ll want a few hours to wander around the colourful market.

Continue on to the highlands to Lake Atitlan where you will board a boat to reach your hotel.  The Lake is famous for being so beautiful and for the many towns and villages that hug the vast shoreline.  For the next few days, go on a guided tour visiting some of the villages, all with their own costumes and cultures.  Spend time taking in the spectacular scenery, swimming, kayaking and diving on the lake, relaxing in the hot springs, paragliding, mountain biking, zip-lining, guided walks through Atitlan Nature Reserve (great for birders), ancient ruins and hiking.

Spend a peaceful morning at your boutique lodge, perhaps indulge in the spa?  Then privately transfer to Guatemala City Airport to board a short flight to Flores.  On arrival, be met and transferred to your luxury eco lodge, deep in the Peten Jungle.  The next day, visit Tikal, the capital of the Mayan Empire with the most magnificent archeological sites from 400 AD.   On day 6, you will spend the afternoon visiting Yaxha lagoon, a post classical period city with lesser visited Mayan ruins.  End the day with a sunset picnic overlooking the lagoon.

Today, travel south, crossing the border to Belize to the Mountain Pine Ridge National Park staying in an eco lodge (entirely self-sustaining).  Spend the next few days exploring this exciting region.  Some of the most extensive Mayan ruins in Central American are a short drive away (Caracol).  Walk, horse-ride or bike in the steps of the ancient Mayans or explore pristine rivers by canoe.

Transfer to Placencia Peninsula on the central/southern Caribbean coastline of Belize.  A fun, laidback vibe, the peninsula has an unwritten rule of “stress not allowed.”  Soak in the fun atmosphere and lounge on the magnificent white sand beaches.  Spend the next four days in a small boutique hotel, in your own thatched cottage on the beach.  The unique location provides a wealth of exciting activities.  The coral reef just offshore offers some of the best diving and scuba in the world, and our dive shop can accommodate the needs of both beginners and experienced divers.  Inland hikes to hidden lagoons, canoe trips up the Monkey River and the short bicycle ride into our local, typically Belizean town will also enrich our guests’ experience of this magical country.

Today you will take a short plane ride to Belize City Airport for a flight to Atlanta, where you will connect with the London flight.