Mountain, jungle & beach: the sacred lands of the Maya
When to go
November-July
Trip length
15 days / 14 nights
Typical investmentPrice
from $6,500 pp
Travel back in time on an immersive cultural adventure through Belize and Guatemala. Stroll cobblestone streets in Antigua, peruse local markets and partake in Maya culture at Lake Atitlán, and climb ancient pyramids in Tikal. Next, discover beautiful Belize: ancient Maya ceremonial caves, lush rainforest and finally, idyllic beaches to wrap up a truly memorable journey.
Along the way
Explore Tikal at sunrise as mist lifts over ancient temples
Wander Chichicastenango's vibrant market on the journey to Lake Atitlán
Enjoy unhurried days on Lake Atitlán
Snorkel Belize’s barrier reef
Your route
Colonial charm in the shadow of volcanoes
When you touch down in Guatemala City, meet your driver for the journey to Antigua, a colonial city in a valley surrounded by towering volcanoes. Check into your stately boutique hotel, and settle into the lap of luxury in one of the country’s most iconic locations.
In this city, where old stands side by side with new, you'll get your first introduction to Guatemala. Step back in time on a private walking tour of the city, meandering along labyrinth cobblestone streets, taste testing a variety of mouth-watering delicacies and street fare, discovering fascinating ruins of convents and churches, and catching a glimpse of modern Guatemalan culture as you uncover secrets of Antigua's ancient past.
Start your day on a bumpy dirt path up to Finca Filadelfia, a working coffee farm whose hilltop location affords stunning panoramic views over the valley. Visit the plant nursery and lab before heading out to the farm to handpick bright red coffee cherries right off the plants, then on to the processing plant where the beans are sorted, dried, and roasted. Finally, finish with a cupping session and a tasting of some of the estate’s premium roast.
Volcanic waters & Maya traditions
After breakfast, depart for the colorful open-air market of Chichicastenango for an authentic glimpse of daily life in the Mayan highlands. Every Thursday and Sunday, local vendors from all over the region make their way to Chichicastenango to hawk their wares, anything from fruit and vegetables to flowers, pottery and even livestock, and local families visit their favorite vendors to gather ingredients and goods for the week.
Spend a relaxing day making the most of legendary Lake Atitlán’s pristine cobalt-colored lake bordered by three volcanoes. Enjoy the views from your luxurious lakeside hotel, or take a kayak or paddleboard out for a spin.
Today, revel in lakeside paradise and serene volcanic views from your lakeside hotel. Gone are the tuk-tuks whizzing by and the market vendors hawking their wares; instead, a gentle breeze and quiet lapping of waves. Optional activities might include kayaking, spa time, or a scenic boat ride, though doing very little here is equally rewarding.
History in the City of echoes
Get an early start this morning for the transfer from Lake Atitlán to Guatemala City, then fly north to Petén. Continue to your intimate lakeside retreat along the shores of beautiful Lake Petén Itzá, ready for tomorrow’s exploration of Tikal.
Start your day atop Temple IV, watching as the sun ascends over the morning mists and bathes the forest in the warm shades of first light. Then wander Tikal’s temples and plazas with your guide, learning about this once vibrant hub of Maya life, now gently reclaimed by the rainforest and the troops of howler monkeys that whoop and call overhead.
Rituals, ruins & rainforest
Travel from Guatemala into Belize, crossing the border and continuing to Mountain Pine Ridge. Check into your mountain lodge, where cool pine-scented air, wide skies and waterfalls welcome you to the next chapter of your adventure.
Glide through the shadowy, sacred corridors of Barton Creek Cave on a canoe tour. Paddle beneath soaring stalactites, past ancient Maya pottery and burial sites on an atmospheric adventure into Belize’s ancient past. Wind down back at the lodge.
Head deep into the reserve on a private wilderness expedition, walking forest trails to hidden waterfalls. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside cascading water before returning to your lodge for a quiet evening under the stars.
Salt air & sea breezes
Say farewell to pine-scented mountain air, heading to the coast today along the Hummingbird Highway that carries you to the Placencia Peninsula. Check into your beachfront retreat and spend the afternoon with your toes in the sand and the sea stretching out before you.
Set out on a snorkeling adventure to explore the Belize Barrier Reef, where colorful fish, stingrays, and coral gardens await beneath the surface. Return to shore for an afternoon of beachside lounging or poolside daydreaming.
On your last day in Placencia, gear down into ultimate vacation mode and spend the day lounging, or if you’re feeling adventurous, walk down the beach or into town. After a final painted sky sunset, head to the beach for a final candlelit dinner to wrap up an unforgettable escape, digging your toes into the cool sand.
Bid farewell to turquoise waters and powdery sands, with a short flight to Belize City, where you will depart on your international flight home.
Let's discover your next adventure
Our top picks
Gaia Riverlodge sits above the Five Sisters waterfalls in Belize's Mountain Pine Ridge, where forest surrounds a small collection of hillside rooms and villas. Stone paths wind down to the river, inviting afternoons spent swimming beneath the falls or relaxing beside the water. Nearby caves, rivers, and Maya sites make it easy to explore beyond the lodge.
Hidden deep within the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, about an hour from San Ignacio, Blancaneaux Lodge is Francis Ford Coppola's 20-room retreat beside the Privassion River. Stone cottages and thatched villas are scattered between waterfalls, pools, and open pine forest, creating a landscape unlike anywhere else in Belize.
Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge lies within a 7,200-acre private reserve in the Mountain Pine Ridge, where pine forest gradually gives way to broadleaf jungle, waterfalls, and rivers. Twenty-six cottages and villas are spread across the landscape, with more than 90 kilometres of private trails leading to swimming holes, lookouts, and hidden cascades.
Stretching along an undeveloped beach about 40 minutes from Placencia Airport, Naïa spreads beachfront studios, beach houses, and private pool villas across 19 acres of gardens and shoreline. The spacious layout gives each accommodation plenty of privacy without feeling isolated. A protected lagoon sits on one side of the property, with the Caribbean on the other.
Bright blues, handcrafted Guatemalan textiles, and contemporary local art have become the signature of Casa Palopó overlooking Lake Atitlán. Fifteen individually designed rooms and a private villa face the lake and its surrounding volcanoes, while Relais & Châteaux dining has earned the hotel a reputation as one of Guatemala's finest culinary destinations.
Botanical gardens have been part of Hotel Atitlán's identity for decades, cascading toward the shores of Lake Atitlán beneath towering volcanoes. Family-owned, the hotel combines hand-painted furnishings and Guatemalan textiles with one of the lake's most celebrated garden collections. Peacocks, orchids, and lake views are never far away.
Water defines Las Lagunas, where spacious overwater suites extend across a private lagoon outside Flores. The intimate property combines polished contemporary design with a private nature reserve, while Tikal, Yaxhá, and the surrounding wetlands are all easily explored from the hotel.
Francis Ford Coppola's La Lancha overlooks Lake Petén Itzá from a forested hillside just outside Tikal National Park. Only ten casitas combine carved Guatemalan furnishings, colorful textiles, and screened terraces with sweeping lake or jungle views. Its intimate scale suits the quiet character of northern Guatemala.
Art has always been central to Mesón Panza Verde. Twelve individually designed rooms surround leafy courtyards filled with antiques, sculpture, and original artwork, while the restaurant has long been considered one of Antigua's finest. The atmosphere is refined without ever feeling formal.
Facing Antigua's 18th-century Capuchin Convent, El Convento draws much of its character from the city that surrounds it. Spacious suites feature vaulted ceilings, timber beams, stonework, and private patios, while Antigua's churches, cafés, galleries, and restaurants are all just a few minutes away.
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