Northern Central America
Your journey can be tailored to your wishes.
Four countries in fifteen days, one continuous story. The Maya highlands of Guatemala, the buried village of Joya de Ceren and colonial Suchitoto in El Salvador, the carved stelae of Copan in Honduras, the Rio Dulce and Tikal, and a Caribbean finale on Ambergris Caye in Belize, on the doorstep of the Belize Barrier Reef.
Specifications
Duration: 15 days / 14 nights
Style: private journey, four countries, culture and Caribbean
Best season: November to April, the dry season
From €3,760 per person*
Itinerary
From the highlands of Guatemala to the reef of Belize. Tap the title that interests you and we will take you straight there.
Details
Day 1 — Arrival in Guatemala City
You are met at La Aurora International Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Private transfer. Night in Guatemala City.
Day 2 — Lake Atitlan and its Maya villages
The road climbs through Solola to Lake Atitlan. A boat crosses to Santiago Atitlan, known for the veneration of Maximon, then to San Juan La Laguna and its weaving and natural-dye cooperatives.
Boat included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night by the lake, breakfast included.
Day 3 — The Chichicastenango market
Morning at the great highland market of Chichicastenango, held on Thursdays and Sundays: textiles, flowers, incense on the steps of Santo Tomas. Return to the lake for a quiet late afternoon.
Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night by the lake, breakfast included.
Day 4 — Iximche and the road to Antigua
A stop at Iximche, capital of the old Kaqchikel Maya kingdom, before reaching Antigua, the UNESCO-listed colonial city at the foot of three volcanoes.
Site entrance included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night in Antigua, breakfast included.
Day 5 — Antigua and a coffee estate
A guided day among the convents, arcades and workshops of Antigua, finished on a working coffee estate on the city’s edge.
Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Antigua, breakfast included.
Day 6 — El Salvador: Joya de Ceren and Suchitoto
Across the border into El Salvador. At Joya de Ceren, a UNESCO World Heritage site, a Maya farming village lies preserved under volcanic ash, everyday life frozen in place. After the neighbouring site of San Andres, the road continues to Suchitoto, the country’s best-kept colonial town.
Site entrances included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night in Suchitoto, breakfast included.
Day 7 — Suchitoto and Lake Suchitlan
Cobbled streets, indigo workshops and the church of Santa Lucia in the morning; a boat on Lake Suchitlan, a haven for waterbirds, in the afternoon.
Boat included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Suchitoto, breakfast included.
Day 8 — Honduras: the stelae of Copan
North across the border into Honduras to Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for the finesse of its carved stelae and its hieroglyphic stairway.
Site entrance included, museum and tunnels excluded. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night in Copan, breakfast included.
Day 9 — Quirigua and the boat to Livingston
Back into Guatemala to Quirigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for the tallest stelae of the Maya world. From Puerto Barrios, a boat crosses to the Garifuna town of Livingston, reachable only by water.
Site entrance and boat included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide. Night in Livingston, breakfast included.
Day 10 — Up the Rio Dulce to the Peten
Navigation through the Rio Dulce gorge, its rainforest walls and the Castillo de San Felipe, then the road north to Flores, the island town on Lake Peten Itza.
Boat included, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 11 — Yaxha, the quiet Maya city
A guided day at Yaxha, the ceremonial city set above two lakes, far from the crowds of the better-known sites.
Site entrance and lunch included. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 12 — Tikal
A full day at Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979: temples and plazas rising from the rainforest, howler monkeys and toucans overhead. Country-style lunch in the park.
Site entrance and lunch included, museum excluded. Guided by our local French-speaking guide, private transfer. Night near Flores, breakfast included.
Day 13 — Belize and the water taxi to Ambergris Caye
Across the last border into Belize and on to Belize City, where the water taxi crosses to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. Sand streets, golf carts and the Caribbean at your door.
Water taxi included, private transfer to Belize City. Night in San Pedro, breakfast included.
Day 14 — Free day on the caye
A free day by the water. Snorkelling and diving trips leave the dock for the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996; or simply claim a stretch of sand and let the journey settle.
Free day, optional activities not included. Night in San Pedro, breakfast included.
Day 15 — Flight to Belize City and departure
A short domestic flight carries you from San Pedro over the cayes to Belize City for your international departure.
Domestic flight included. End of our services.
Pricing
A private journey across four countries, with your own driver, local French-speaking guides on the visits listed, and dedicated AZORA care from the first enquiry to your return.
NORTHERN CENTRAL AMERICA
15 DAYS / 14 NIGHTS · PRIVATE JOURNEY · 4 COUNTRIES
INCLUDED
✓ Accommodation for 14 nights
✓ Breakfasts, and the lunches listed in the programme
✓ Private transfers, air-conditioned vehicle with driver
✓ The boats: Lake Atitlan, Lake Suchitlan, Livingston and the Rio Dulce, and the water taxi to San Pedro
✓ The domestic flight San Pedro to Belize City
✓ Local French-speaking guides for the visits listed
✓ Site entrance fees for the visits listed in the programme
✓ Follow-up and assistance throughout the journey
NOT INCLUDED
✗ International flights, arriving in Guatemala City and departing from Belize City: check our airline comparator to find the best options
✗ Border fees, around 5 USD per land crossing, paid locally
✗ Optional activities on the free day, such as snorkelling or diving on the reef
✗ 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 and the domestic flight listed 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 route is open jaw: you arrive in Guatemala City and fly home from Belize City. Book your international flights accordingly.
- The itinerary crosses four land borders; keep your passport at hand and allow around 5 USD per crossing in border fees, paid locally.
- The Chichicastenango market is held on Thursdays and Sundays only; the itinerary is adjusted to your departure date.
- Day 14 on Ambergris Caye is free, without guide; we can pre-book snorkelling or diving on request.
- Entry requirements change. Always check the official sources for your nationality for each of the four countries before you travel.
When to go
The dry season, from November to April, is the most comfortable window across all four countries, on the highlands as on the coast. The rainy season, from May to October, brings short afternoon showers and greener landscapes; on the Belize coast it overlaps with the Atlantic hurricane season, which peaks between August and October.
Customise my trip
Four countries, your rhythm. Add nights on the caye, swap the free day for a guided reef trip, extend into the Peten, or trim a border if you prefer a slower road. Tell us what you have in mind and we build the journey around it.
Northern Central America FAQ
Which countries does this tour cover?
Four: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Belize, in 15 days and 14 nights, from Lake Atitlan to Ambergris Caye.
How much does the trip cost?
From €3,760 per person, based on double occupancy, land services and the domestic flight San Pedro to Belize City. International flights are not included. The final price varies with the season, the ages of the travellers and the size of the group.
Do I fly home from the same airport I arrived at?
No. The route is open jaw: you arrive in Guatemala City and depart from Belize City, which saves a long backtrack. Multi-city flight tickets cover this easily.
How many border crossings are there?
Four land crossings: into El Salvador, into Honduras, back into Guatemala, and into Belize. Each is straightforward with a passport, and border fees are around 5 USD per crossing, paid locally.
Is snorkelling on the Belize Barrier Reef included?
The stay on Ambergris Caye, the water taxi and the domestic flight are included; reef excursions on the free day are optional and can be pre-booked on request. The reef is part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Is the journey private?
Yes. You travel with your own driver on the mainland, and local French-speaking guides accompany the visits listed in the programme. The final days on the caye are free and unguided.
When is the best time to travel?
November to April, the dry season across all four countries. The Belize coast is best avoided at the height of the hurricane season, between August and October.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every AZORA journey is tailor-made: add nights on the caye, include a guided reef trip, slow the pace, or reshape the route entirely.
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