15 Day Remote Guatemala

15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala
15 Day Remote Guatemala

15 Day Remote Guatemala

Duration

15 Days / 14 Nights

Package Type

https://cms.vaexpeditions.com/media/images/package_type/adventure.svg

Adventure

Activity Level

Activity Level

Moderate

Wildlife expectation

Physical Difficulty

Wildlife expectation

Cultural rating

Wildlife expectation

Wildlife expectation

Specialist

Travel specialist

Claire
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Guatemala is a country blessed with different ecoregions ranging from subtropical and tropical rainforests and wetlands to dry pine-oak forests, home to a significant variety of wildlife. The richness of culture is defined by Guatemalan cultures, textiles, handicrafts and languages combined with the agricultural landscapes of sugar cane, coffee, vegetables and fruit plantations mixed with native forests. The geology is related to the weather; and the weather defines the natural landscapes. The geology of Guatemala has an important influence on the people’s culture and there is nowhere better to see that than in Guatemala. These all intertwine perfectly to make Guatemala a fascinating and spectacular country to visit.  This 15 day trip will suit travellers looking for unique and different destinations to visit, discover exceptional places, make contact with native people along the way, and who are looking to head to off the beaten track destinations.

Special features of our 15 day Remote Guatemala Adventure: 

Type of Tourism:  Nature, Culture, Geography, hiking, Archaeology

Places to Visit: Guatemala City, Antigua, Iximche, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Nebaj, Chajul, Cotza, Livingston, Tikal, Yaxha.

Duration:  15 Days and 14 Nights. 

Type of Service: group tours. 

Accommodation:  3 star hotels and lodges at every destination that you will visit. These hotels have been carefully chosen and we can guarantee that you will feel comfortable and your every need catered for! 

DAY BY DAY SCHEDULE

Today is the day you arrive to Guatemala cities International Airport. Our guide will be waiting to take you to your hotel in colonial Antigua.

    Today we will head out on a bike ride through the Riders can bike through Almolonga Valley to the Ciudad Vieja, Guatemala’s former second capital, buried by an earthquake-triggered mudslide in 1541. Along the way, we can stop off at an interesting experimental macadamia farm in the village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Along other trails, such as the Las Tierra Altas route, we can pass through the coffee growing regions for a different experience. In the afternoon, we will see the women’s textile cooperative for hand we...

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      After breakfast, we will visit the ruins, churches and museums of the city. The stories and legends of colonial times are still part of everyday culture and we will visit: La Merced Church, Convent Las Capuchinas, Saint Joseph Cathedral, Central Park, the local craft market and the Chocolate Museum. In the afternoon, we will head out to The Pacaya volcano,  standing at 2,552 metres elevation. The hike is a relatively easy ascent and offers spectacular views of the whole volcanic chain. We will head along a trail through a pine f...

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        Today, we will visit the historical site of Iximche in Tecpán, a Mayan city founded in 1463. The city was important before the Spanish arrived, yet almost a century later, it played a decisive role in the Spanish conquest of this region of Guatemala. The city's remains can still be found in the surrounding pine forests, with its ceremonial plazas, temples and ball courts still on display. We will enjoy a traditional lunch in Tecpán before heading off to Panjachel on Lake Atitlan banks for the evening.

          Today, we will visit San Juan La Laguna, where we can see the women’s textile cooperative for hand weaving and natural dye processing of the textiles. We will also visit the homes of the famous naïf painters before we continue to Santiago Village. We will then head to see the famous Maya deity, Maximon and learn about the textiles, spiritualism and beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. Each year a different family houses the saint of the town, taking care of their cigarette smoking God. We will then head back to Panajachel ...

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            Today we will head to the market town of Chichicastenango, where the Mayan and Catholic traditions come together in glorious and colourful fashion! The scent of incense and the people's mysticism offers a unique atmosphere found only in Guatemala. The combinations of tastes, smells and colours combine uniquely here and we will head for a traditional lunch with a local Mayan family for the full, cultural experience. We will spend the rest of the day in Chichicastenango to take in the Guatemalan mountain traditions to the full.

              After breakfast, we will take the 3 hour drive through glorious patchwork countryside which is a combination of agricultural areas and natural phenomenon, to the town of Nebaj. On arrival, our guide will take on a walking tour around the area.

                Today, we will visit another side of the Ixil Triangle, heading to the quaint town of Chajul. The town’s church of San Gaspar Los Reyes is one of Guatemala’s most beautiful, with finely carved wooden doors. Inside, there is an impressive gold-leaf altar. We will then continue on to San Juan Cotzal, a town famous for its impressive traditional weaving.  We will visit The Iglesia San Juan and its picturesque plaza, where the statue of Jesus is holding an Israeli flag. We will head out on a short hike in the afternoon, ...

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                  Today is a travel day as we take the car trip to Lanquin on the Cahabon River. We will arrive and settle into the lodge in preparation for the next days’ activities.

                    Today we will head out on a 4 x 4 adventure to Semuc Champey, a limestone bridge on top of different sized natural pools filled with fresh crystal clear mountain spring water. Beneath the bridge flows the Cahabon River, and at the end of the bridge, the water from the pools falls naturally into the river, forming a waterfall. We can hike to the 2 lookout points for impressive views or just relax in the beautiful blue water of these incredible pools. We will then head back to Lanquin for the evening.

                      After breakfast, we will head towards Rio Dulce, visiting Las Conchas along the way. Las Conchas is a nature park of natural pools and cascades, surrounded by spectacular flora and fauna. The site is so named as we will be able to see fossils of shells and snails in the base of the pools. It is also home to a 15-metre natural waterfall, which is an impressive sight! We will then head to Rio Dulce for the evening.

                        Today we will set out through glorious gorges of the River Dulce with its impressive flora and fauna on the way to the Caribbean coast and the Garifuna town of Livingston. The Garifuna originate from the slaves brought over by the Spanish conquistadores and maintain their traditions to this day.  More reminiscent of a Jamaican city than Guatemalan, this town shows the diversity of Guatemalan culture.  Livingston is only accessible by boat from Puerto Barrios or Rio Dulce, giving it an island feel. We can enjoy a delicious t...

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                          Today we will visit one of the most spectacular Mayan archaeological sites in existence of Tikal. Set amid the lush green rainforest, the temples appear from nowhere as we walk along the jungle trails appreciating the spectacular flora and fauna. This site was an important part of the Mayan empire and is known locally as the “City of Voices”. The ruins temple and the natural beauty of the area all come together for the perfect adventure.

                            After breakfast, we will visit the Yaxhá National Park, located on the banks of the Yaxha Lake. We will walk along the causeways beneath a lush tropical forest, where howler monkeys fill the air with their calls, hoping to impress a female or to defend their territory. We can climb Mayan temples that offer spectacular views over the rainforest. We will finish our tour at the highest temple in the park, the temple 216. We will then head to the airport for our connecting flight to Guatemala City, where we will spend our final ev...

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                              Today is our final day in Guatemala. Our driver will take you to the international airport in time for your flight back home or onto your next exciting destination!


                                WHAT'S INCLUDED

                                • All private ground transportation during your trip for tours and transfers mentioned according the program
                                • 14 nights of lodging Guatemala at mentioned hotels – standard rooms
                                • 14 breakfasts at hotels (American and continental)
                                • 04 lunches with one non-alcoholic drink p/p
                                • Private boat for Lake Atitlan and Livingston tour
                                • Professional English guide for tours
                                • One-way airline ticket from Flores to Guatemala City via TAG Airline
                                • Entrances fees to the sites of visit
                                • Antigua: Donations at the community projects around Antigua, Capuchinas convent, Main cathedral, La Merced Church, Chocolate Museum
                                • Pacaya Volcano: Entrance fees to the park
                                • Donations at women cooperative at Lake Atitlan
                                • Iximche archaeological site
                                • Triangulo Ixil: Santa Abelina Waterfalls
                                • Lanquin area: Lanquin caves and semuc champey
                                • Rio Dulce area: Las Conchas and activities in Livingston
                                • Tikal: day entrance fees
                                • Yaxha archaeological site
                                • Garifuna presentation at Livingston
                                • Local taxes

                                WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

                                • Extra charges for payments with credit card
                                • Travel insurance for trip cancellation, medical services or evacuation
                                • Meals not described
                                • Departure tax from Flores to Guatemala City ($3.00 or Q20.00)
                                • Alcoholic and none-alcoholic beverages
                                • Personal expenses like phone calls, laundry, etc
                                • Gratuities for drivers and guides
                                • Services not described in the itinerary

                                Trip Preparation & FAQS

                                For city tours, there are public bathrooms available, in remote destinations bathroom facilities are more sparse.

                                Guides & Drivers:

                                2.2. Protective Measures and Equipment to consider:

                                2.2.1. Mandatory Equipment:

                                 

                                • Face mask

                                • Tied Hair (in case of having long hair)

                                • Closed Shoes (not sandals)

                                • Constant use of Hand Sanitizer

                                • Use pants with the uniform (not shorts)

                                • Sanitize your backpack and equipment constantly when providing services

                                • Limit the use of accessories (wallets, fanny packs, watches, etc.)

                                • Avoid sharing glasses, spoons, bottles, etc.

                                • Avoid the use of reusable tissues, make use of disposable towels or napkins

                                • Make use of the digital thermometer

                                • Avoid wearing a tie or scarf

                                 

                                III. SPECIFIC PREVENTION MEASURES

                                 

                                3.1. Tourist Guide Service

                                 

                                • Maximum 1 Guide for every 14 visitors

                                3.2. Tourist Reception

                                • Welcome: greet without physical contact and maintaining a distance of 1.5 meters.

                                 

                                3.3. Delivery of Preventive Utensils

                                • Take the temperature of Each Visitor

                                • Hand Sanitizer

                                • Masks, if necessary.

                                • Gloves

                                 Physical distancy and wear masks in public spaces are mandatory for clients, guides and drivers.

                                We do not include travel or health insurance and we strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance for any unexpected circumstances. This is not obligatory, however. An full travel insurance policy that covers cancellations and delays as well as medical insurance.

                                We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure that you are up-to-date with the recommended vaccinations when traveling to the destination. In any case, a negative Coronavirus Molecular Test (PCR) is needed to enter the country.

                                We suggest that you speak with your doctor to ensure what medications you will need to bring to the destination. Pharmacies and drugstores are common in all cities, however, it is not certain that you will be able to find a specific drug that you can find in your country of origin.

                                As in any city in the world, there can be pickpockets in crowded places. We suggest being vigilant at all times, but if you are in a group you will always be safer.

                                We do not include the cost of any domestic or international flight in any of our programs. These services must be booked independently by each guest.

                                Yes, hotels will charge the cost of a double room as standard, so a single supplement will be charged if you are traveling alone.

                                VA Expeditions is supported by Valencia Travel, a company with more than 12 years of foundation with a solid financial position. We have insurance from the insurance company La Positiva, that supports us and protects our guests from any eventuality at the destination, covering our guests for more than 5 million US dollars.

                                Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                                Yes, in addition to multi-day programs, we offer half-day experiences and excursions without overnight, which you can purchase as additional services. In case you wish to purchase one of these services, you can ask your guide, the transfer representative or your sales representative to provide you with the support you need.

                                Yes, you can add additional or optional services to your regular tour. We appreciate contacting your sales representative for any changes you wish to make.

                                Yes, you can travel with children and we have many activities to do as a family, however, depending on your itinerary, some experiences can be a bit demanding for young children. As a recommendation, we suggest that you ask your sales consultant if the tour you wish to book is suitable for children.

                                We work with a maximum group size of 12 passengers for sustainability reasons and a more personaized experience.

                                We suggest making your reservations at least one month before your trip in order to reserve the best hotels, transportation and services for your travel dates, however, in last minute cases, we can reserve up to 15 days in advance.

                                We suggest consulting with your embassy to review any documents, tests or special visa you need for your trip.

                                The official currency in Guatemala is the  The Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ). In large cities there is a good chance that you will find ATMs or ATMs, however, we suggest that you do not rely entirely on this solution, as it may not be enabled to work with your bank.

                                Yes, we cater for all special dietary requirements. Please let us know at the time of booking if you have any allergies or special dietary needs.

                                We have our own NGO www.procrea.org Proyectos Creativos, after March 2020 we have the program in San Andres Ceballos, 20 minutes out Antigua Guatemala to build energy saving stoves for the parents of the kids we had in the school before the pandemic, some of the mothers make tortillas for sell, so they have some income for the families, Also we have program with kids and parents vegetables home-garden and organic chicken to have organic eggs, so is a complete program for 25 families,

                                 

                                We support a project in Sipacate that protects Green or Pacific Turtle, we have been working so closed with doctors from Universidad de San Carlos that  are in charge of this project, at least to weekends at month they capture turtles to clean them of parasites, plastics, some need surgery because the propellers of the boats hurt them and also to check the chips with the information of their trip. 

                                 

                                We are working with Vivamos Mejor at Lake Atitlan to push the government to declare 2 protected parks located around the Lake Atitlan, this is Paquisis which is part of San Pedro Volcano and is the home of Horned Guan, this is the sixth rarest bird in the world, and the other area is Rey Tepepul Park, here there are Quetzales, which is our National Bird, and other interesting birds and wild life,

                                 

                                We work also with the Mayan Q'eqchi community of Cruce Dos Aguadas, this community is located inside of the Mayan Biosphere and 15 families of this community are in charge to do El Zotz-Tikal Trek, we give them training in first aid, food management, cooking lessons, communitarian tour guides, firefighters, etc., because they work with tourism, they value the jungle and have become guardians of the forest and are teaching their children to protect the environment.

                                Tips are not included in the cost of the tour. You should plan to tip 10% in restaurants and for your guided services, however, tipping is never required.

                                Cultural norms vary within each Latin American country, even within each city within the country, however, we recommend the following measures to have a pleasant visit in each destination: Latin American culture in general tends to be closer and more informal than in others cultures, so there is usually always a friendly approach in all conversations, and going directly to the point could be considered offensive to some people. Personal space can be much shorter as well, but without being interpreted as sexual in nature. 

                                The schedules are also usually more relaxed and informal, however, this is not the case of VA EXPEDITIONS, since we will always respect the hours indicated in your itinerary. This may be different for other appointments that you can book on your own at other locations.

                                This depends on each itinerary, and will be indicated in the detail of the day. However, our itineraries always usually include free times to offer more flexibility to our guests. 

                                For any emergency, we appreciate contacting the 24/7 Operations Phone :  + (502) 5417-5517

                                For an example of sustainable activities in Guatemala, we offer: Sustainable coffee tour at San Miguel Escobar, Antigua Guatemala and La Voz at San Juan La Laguna, Lake Atitlan, Pacaya Volcano day tour,Acatenango hike with the community project, Women textiles associations in Antigua and Lake Atitlan, Jungle Hikes in Peten, inside of the Mayan Biosphere reserve

                                All our guests have 24/7 support for any type of emergency or eventuality. For emergencies you can contact the following number: + (502) 5417-5517. For general inquiries, you can write to us at the following email: info@valenciatravelcusco.com 

                                This depends on each itinerary, but generally is a ratio of one guide for every nine guests.

                                This depends on the type of the type of Travel insurance that the passenger has. We recommend that you have a comprehensive travel insurance policy for better care and hospital facilities.

                                The tours are carried out by an expert team that has determined the optimal times of visits to make the most of our guests' time, without rushing. All our programs are customizable, so if at any time at the destination you want to adjust the pace of the trip, you can ask your guide to reach a consensus with the whole group in case you need to make adjustments to the pace of the trip.

                                Each trip is customizable, but there may be additional restrictions and expenses in each case. We suggest contacting your sales representative for more information.

                                Yes, you can safely store any luggage at your  hotel.

                                In the mountains and remote places there is no Internet connection. Hotels and public places usually have WIFI available.

                                In cities and tourist centers you will have good telephone reception. In remote areas, there may be no cell phone reception.

                                It depends on each itinerary. We suggest contacting your account representative to give you specific information regarding your  program.

                                We suggest that you bring a refillable water bottle or purchase bottled water if necessary. At various points on your trip including hotels, there will be places where you can fill your water bottle.

                                Thank you very much for your interest! You can follow us on our networks:

                                 

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