The Grand Tour of Guatemala
Your journey can be tailored to your wishes.
Fourteen days around the whole country, and a step beyond it. The colonial streets of Antigua, the volcano-ringed waters of Lake Atitlan, the Chichicastenango market, then east to the carved stelae of Copan and Quirigua, the Garifuna town of Livingston, a Caribbean beach day, the Rio Dulce gorge and, to finish, the Maya cities of Yaxha and Tikal.
Specifications
Duration: 14 days / 13 nights
Style: private journey, complete loop, Maya cities and Caribbean coast
Best season: November to April, the dry season
From €3,170 per person*
Itinerary
From the highlands to the Caribbean and back through the Peten rainforest. Tap the title that interests you and we will take you straight there.
Details
Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to Antigua
You are met on arrival at La Aurora International Airport and transferred privately to Antigua, around an hour away at the foot of three volcanoes. The first evening belongs to the cobbled streets and the lit facades of the old capital.
Private transfer. Night in Antigua.
Day 2 — Antigua and a coffee estate
A guided morning through Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979: the Parque Central, the cathedral, La Merced and the arcaded streets that survived three centuries of earthquakes. In the afternoon, a working coffee estate opens its doors, from the slopes to the roasting room and the cup.
Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Antigua, breakfast included.
Day 3 — Antigua at your own pace, then Lake Atitlan
A free morning to explore Antigua at your rhythm, its markets, its ruined convents, its rooftop views of the Agua volcano. In the afternoon, the road climbs into the highlands to Lake Atitlan, held in a volcanic caldera, with time for a first walk along the Panajachel lakefront.
Private transfer. Night in Panajachel, breakfast included.
Day 4 — Santiago Atitlan and San Juan La Laguna
A private boat crosses the lake to Santiago Atitlan, the Tzutuhil village known for the veneration of Maximon, then continues to San Juan La Laguna, where weaving and natural-dye cooperatives keep the textile tradition alive. Return by boat in the late afternoon.
Private boat. Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Panajachel, breakfast included.
Day 5 — The Chichicastenango market
On Thursdays and Sundays, Chichicastenango holds the largest open-air market in the highlands, and the itinerary is built so that you are there on a market day. Textiles, flowers, masks and incense fill the square around the church of Santo Tomas. In the afternoon, the road runs down to Guatemala City.
Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night in Guatemala City, breakfast included.
Day 6 — Copan, across the Honduran border
An early departure east to the Honduran border and the Maya city of Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the finesse of its stone carving and its hieroglyphic stairway. The visit covers the great plaza, the ball court and the acropolis, with the site museum and the tunnels available as options.
Site entrance included, museum and tunnels excluded. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night in Copan, breakfast included.
Day 7 — Quirigua and the boat to Livingston
Back into Guatemala and down the Motagua valley to Quirigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 whose sandstone stelae are the tallest of the Maya world. From Puerto Barrios, a boat carries you along the coast to Livingston, the Garifuna town that no road reaches.
Site entrance and boat included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Livingston, breakfast included.
Day 8 — A Caribbean beach day at Playa Blanca
Twenty minutes by boat from Livingston, Playa Blanca is a white-sand beach on the Amatique bay, and the day is yours: swimming, hammocks, Garifuna cooking and the slow rhythm of the coast.
Boat and beach entrance included. Night in Livingston, breakfast included.
Day 9 — Up the Rio Dulce to the Peten
The boat leaves Livingston and enters the Rio Dulce gorge, where the river narrows between jungle-covered cliffs. The navigation passes hot springs, water-lily lagoons and the Castillo de San Felipe, a Spanish fort built in the sixteenth century to hold the river against pirates. From Rio Dulce, the road continues north to Flores.
Boat included, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 10 — Yaxha, the quiet Maya city
East of Flores, Yaxha rises between two lakes and receives a fraction of the visitors that reach Tikal. Temples and acropolises look out over the water, and the late-afternoon light from the upper platforms is the reason to linger.
Site entrance and lunch included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 11 — Tikal
A full day at Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979 and one of the most imposing Maya cities of Mesoamerica. Temples and ceremonial plazas rise straight out of the rainforest, and the wildlife is close: howler monkeys, toucans, coatis. A country-style lunch is served inside the park.
Site entrance and lunch included, museum excluded. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 12 — Free morning, then the flight back
A slow morning on Lake Peten Itza or in the coloured streets of Flores. In the afternoon, your domestic flight returns you to Guatemala City, with a private transfer to your hotel.
Domestic flight included, private transfer. Night in Guatemala City, breakfast included.
Day 13 — Guatemala City
A guided tour of the capital: the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Plaza Central, the Centro Civico, the famous relief map of the country and the residential districts. The afternoon is free for the last purchases.
Entrance to the relief map included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Guatemala City, breakfast included.
Day 14 — Departure
Private transfer to La Aurora International Airport for your flight home.
End of our services.
Pricing
A private journey with your own driver, local French-speaking guides on the visits listed, the domestic flight from the Peten included, and dedicated AZORA care from the first enquiry to your return.
THE GRAND TOUR OF GUATEMALA
14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS · PRIVATE JOURNEY
INCLUDED
✓ Accommodation for 13 nights
✓ Breakfasts, and the meals listed in the programme
✓ Private transfers, air-conditioned vehicle with driver
✓ The domestic flight from Flores to Guatemala City
✓ The boats: Lake Atitlan, Livingston, Playa Blanca and the Rio Dulce
✓ Local French-speaking guides for the visits listed
✓ Site entrance fees and the activities listed in the programme
✓ Follow-up and assistance throughout the journey
NOT INCLUDED
✗ International flights: check our airline comparator to find the best options
✗ Border fees between Guatemala and Honduras, around 5 USD per crossing, paid locally
✗ Meals and drinks not listed
✗ Tips and personal expenses
✗ Anything not listed under included
*Indicative starting price per person, in standard category, double occupancy, land services only, excluding international flights. The final price varies with the season, the ages of the travellers and the number of travellers, and may move to a premium category.
Good to know
- The Chichicastenango market is held on Thursdays and Sundays only, so the itinerary is built around those days. We adjust the running order to your departure date.
- The day at Copan crosses the border into Honduras and back: bring your passport, and allow around 5 USD per crossing in border fees, paid locally.
- Antigua, the lake and the highlands sit at altitude, and evenings are cool all year. Bring a warm layer even in the dry season; the Caribbean coast and the Peten are hot and humid.
- Livingston has no road access. It is reached by boat, which is part of its charm and of the programme.
- Yaxha is reached on unpaved roads that can be slow after heavy rain.
- Entry requirements change. Always check the official sources for your nationality before you travel.
When to go to Guatemala
The dry season runs from November to April and is the most comfortable window: clear mornings over the lake, firm tracks in the Peten and reliable light on the volcanoes. The rainy season, from May to October, brings short heavy afternoon showers, greener landscapes and fewer visitors, with mornings usually clear. On the Caribbean coast the air stays warm and humid all year, with showers possible in any month.
Customise my trip
Fourteen days is the full loop, but it is your loop. Add Semuc Champey or the Pacaya ascent, linger on the lake or the coast, swap the beach day for a rainforest day, or continue overland into Belize. Tell us what you have in mind and we build the journey around it.
The Grand Tour of Guatemala FAQ
How long is this Guatemala tour and where does it go?
It is a 14-day, 13-night private loop through Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Copan, Quirigua, Livingston, Playa Blanca, the Rio Dulce, Yaxha, Tikal and Guatemala City.
How much does the trip cost?
From €3,170 per person, based on double occupancy and land services only. The final price varies with the season, the ages of the travellers and the size of the group. International flights are not included.
Is the domestic flight included?
Yes. The flight from Flores back to Guatemala City is included, as domestic flights always are on AZORA journeys. International flights are not.
Do I need a visa or a second passport stamp for Copan?
The day at Copan crosses into Honduras and back. Both countries belong to the Central America border agreement, so for most nationalities the crossing is a simple formality with your passport and a small border fee. Always check the official sources for your nationality before you travel.
Is the journey private?
Yes. You travel with your own driver, and local French-speaking guides accompany the visits listed in the programme.
When is the best time to travel?
November to April, the dry season. The rainy season, May to October, brings short afternoon showers, greener landscapes and fewer visitors.
What makes this itinerary different from a shorter Guatemala tour?
It adds the whole eastern side of the country: Copan and Quirigua, the Garifuna coast at Livingston, a Caribbean beach day and the Rio Dulce navigation, on top of the highlands and the Peten that shorter routes cover.
Can this itinerary be extended?
Yes. From the Peten it is a short road to Belize and its cayes, and the highlands can absorb extra days around Quetzaltenango or Semuc Champey. Every AZORA journey is tailor-made.
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