Guatemala Tours

Intriguing Guatemala has a rich archaeological heritage with some of the finest remains of the Mayan civilisation found anywhere in the Americas.

Ancient temples rise from the dense jungle and quaint indigenous villages nestle beneath lofty volcanoes.

Wander the cobblestone streets of romantic Spanish colonial towns and discover the beautiful crystal blue waters of Lake Atitlan high in the mountains. Explore the mysterious temple ruins of Tikal dating back to the 4th century BC, and visit Guatemala’s famous ‘ChiChi’ Chichicastenango market.

Highlights

Guatemala

Antigua

Colonial Antigua

The historic city of Antigua (meaning ‘ancient’ in Spanish), is famous for its magnificent Spanish Baroque architecture.

Once called Santiago de Los Caballeros, it was the old capital of the Kingdom of Guatemala which covered much of central America from Costa Rica to southern Mexico. From the summit of Cerro de la Cruz, there is a spectacular view over the city, which has been designated a World Heritage Site. Antigua is filled with archaeological treasures including many monasteries and churches, such as the Church of San Fransisco, the Merced Church and the Santo Domingo Monastery. Wander cobblestone streets to the Plaza Central, bordered by the Cathedral, the Palace of the Captains-General and other grand buildings. Visit the handicraft market and the wonderful Jade Museum and Gallery.
Mayan Temples of Guatemala

Ancient Mayan Temples of Guatemala

Explore the remains of ancient Mayan civilizations hidden in the jungle.

Guatemala has many thousands of Mayan archaeological sites and some of the finest examples in the Americas. Visit the enormous Tikal site, dating from the Classic Era, situated in the Tikal National Park near Flores. Dating from 600 BC to 900AD, this renowned site has majestic limestone palaces, pyramids and monuments, including a tower 65 metres high. Other important sites include Yaxhà, with 500 different structures, although most are still obscured by jungle, and scenic Topoxte on an island in Lake Yaxhà.
Lake Atitlan

Lake Atitlan

Fall in love with beautiful Lake Atitlan, with its turquoise waters mirroring surrounding verdant hills and the cones of three soaring volcanic peaks.

Visit picturesque Mayan villages where life remains relatively untouched by modernity. Here, indigenous women in brightly coloured garb wash clothing by the lakeshore and fisherman cross the lake in traditional craft. The villages are famous for weaving, textiles as well as other crafts. The town of Santiago Atitlan is also renowned for its local Maya deity Maximon, as well as for its fascinating and colourful Easter celebrations.
Chichicastenango

Chichicastenango & the Famous ‘ChiChi’ Market

Colourful Chichicastenango is the perfect place to experience indigenous K’iche’ Maya culture.

The famous ChiChi market, the largest in Guatemala, is held on Thursdays and Sundays, and visited by traders and farmers from miles around. It is renowned for its handicrafts, brightly coloured textiles, traditional masks, clothing such as the local women’s colourful blouses, as well as food, spices, medicinal plants, farm animals and farming equipment. Near the market is the historic church of Santo Tomás (Saint Thomas), built 400 years ago on top of a Mayan temple; the original steps leading up to it still remain. Today, local K’iche’ Mayan priests also use the church for religious rituals.

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Guatemala Overview

Why Guatemala: The Mayan heart of Central America, Guatemala features dozens of incredible ancient Mayan archeological sites, as well as dense jungle, volcanos, beautiful lakes and colonial towns.

When to Go: You can visit Guatemala any time of year; however the rainy season makes travel on unpaved roads more difficult from mid-May to mid-Oct, and into Nov and Dec in the north and east. The height of the foreign tourist season is from Dec to Feb when you can expect some cool nights and mornings. Weather-wise, March and April are the hottest and driest months.

Combine With: Costa Rica, Belize, Nicaragua, Mexico or go further afield to Ecuador, for Incan history, culture and Amazon rainforest wildlife.

Getting There: Guatemala City’s Aeropuerto La Aurora (GUA) is the country’s main international airport. The only other airport that receives international flights is Flores (FRS).

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