When exiting the airport, please exit to your left and look for a sign with your name on it once you've reached the curb. If you don't see our driver right away, they may be making another lap to setup for your arrival. 

You'll transfer from the airport to Antigua where you'll be able to check in at your hotel.

Dinner included

Today's tour gives you a great opportunity to explore the area surrounding Antigua. Heading to the south, we will head out of Antigua and onto the base of Agua Volcano. On today's tour you will explore and experience the various towns and villages of the Almolonga Valley.

Your guide will make plenty of stops along the way to show off the magnificent churches and Spanish colonial ruins. Other highlights of today's ride include: Escape Antigua for the day and tour the countryside by bus. See ruins one earthquake away from extinction. Visit Lorenzo’s experimental macadamia farm at Valhalla – a sustainable agriculture project. Explore the many local villages including San Antonio Aguas Calientes, famous for its textiles and weaving.

We will return to Antigua around mid-day (varies a little for each group) and then your guide can recommend a great place for lunch. The rest of the day is yours to explore and enjoy the charming streets of Antigua.

Climb the slopes of beautiful Acatenango to our private campsite – bench-cut into the side of this towering mountain. Enjoy freshly prepared camp meals, incredible panoramic views, and the sights and sounds of nearby Volcán Fuego’s violent volcano eruptions.

Our group leaves from the Old Town Outfitters Shop at 8:00 am, where you can fill up your water bottles and purchase any additional gear you might need. Hikers should eat breakfast beforehand and pack a small snack for the road. A one-hour drive takes us from Antigua to the sleepy mountain village of La Soledad, perched on the ridge of the Pacific slope of Volcan Acatenango. The trail up Volcan Acatenango has four distinct microclimates, each of which will take you about an hour to traverse. We’ll begin by walking up a steep trail through local farm fields - the same trail used by local villagers each morning to access their corn, snow pea and lily fields. Our first hour of hiking will help you acclimatize and warm up the leg muscles for the day’s hike.

The second phase of our ascent passes through an old-growth tropical cloud forest. In this environmental zone, we find some of Acatenango’s oldest trees, incredible biodiversity of flora and fauna, fresh mountain air and the sounds of local birds and wildlife. This type of high-alpine cloud forest is found on the upper slopes of many of Guatemala’s tallest volcanoes and mountains and is home to the famous Quetzal.

After exiting the cloud forest, we will be rewarded with fantastic views of the other highland volcanoes (Atitlan, Toliman, San Pedro, Santa Maria, Santo Tomas, Tajamulco), along with glimpses of the Cuchumatanes mountain chain. A fresh picnic is prepared mid-day for our group to enjoy.

Temperate coniferous forest and tropical dry forest characterize the 3rd phase of our ascent, which will lead us to the storm-beaten tree-line of the volcano. Our campsite is perched just below the tree line with sweeping views of the Antigua valley and Volcan Fuego. After setting up camp, hikers are free to rest, relax and enjoy their surroundings while our guide prepares a fresh camp dinner at ~3750m with hot tea and coffee.

NOTE: Check out this tour's cheat sheet here for some quick tips and information.

In the morning, after an early camp breakfast, our group embarks on a 45-minute ascent to the summit on a sand and gravel scree-trail dotted with dwarf pine trees and high alpine mosses. The trail up to the summit is the steepest we will have seen and leads to the rocky summit exposed to the gusty and cold winds which constantly pass over Acatenango’s peak.

At the summit, our group will rest and enjoy unparalleled 360-degree views of the entirety of the Guatemalan highlands – all the way to the border of Mexico. After 45min at the top (depending on conditions and time considerations), the group will begin the 3-hour descent back towards La Soledad. Our group has the opportunity to descend through an alternate route down Volcan Acatenango, experiencing a variety of microclimates and a beautiful trail.

From La Soledad, we will transport back to Antigua, arriving in the afternoon with plenty of time for you to enjoy the delights of the old Spanish colonial capital around 1:00 pm.

A visit to the Mayan Ruins of Iximché offers tourists a fascinating glimpse into the ancient history of the Kaqchikel Maya civilization. Located near the town of Tecpán, Iximché was once the capital of the Kaqchikel kingdom and played a significant role in Guatemala’s pre-Columbian history. Founded in the late 15th century, the city became a central political and cultural hub for the Kaqchikel people before the arrival of the Spanish.

We will explore the ceremonial plazas, temple-pyramids, ball courts, and residential structures that once made up this thriving city. The ruins reflect the sophisticated urban planning and religious practices of the Maya, with several sites still used today for traditional Mayan ceremonies. The ball courts are particularly noteworthy, as they represent the ancient Mesoamerican ball game that held deep spiritual significance.

Your guide will share the history of how Iximché became an important meeting point during the Spanish conquest, as it was here that the Kaqchikel initially allied with the Spaniards, only to later rebel against them. This adds a layer of historical intrigue, blending pre-Columbian and colonial narratives. With its peaceful surroundings and rich history, a visit to Iximché offers a unique window into Guatemala’s past.

You will meet with our expert local guide on the shore of Lake Atitlan, often considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in the world! The lake has an area of 130 km2, and the color of its waters varies from deep blue to green. Formed approximately 84,000 years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption and with depths up to 341 meters, thus making it the deepest lake in Central America. Be sure to bring your camera and take in the views of the 3 volcanoes surrounding the lake -  Atitlán, Tolimán, and San Pedro.

Today you will take a private boat tour to visit the quaint Maya villages that surround Lake Atitlán. Our private boat will take you across the lake, stopping at various villages where you'll meet local residents and learn about daily lake life. You will have several stops along the way and plenty of opportunities to buy souvenirs or snacks as you wish.

We'll take the boat back to Panajachel and then meet the shuttle back to Antigua.

In the Introduction to Natural Dyes Workshop, students will work with ingredients local to Guatemala. Students assist instructor with preparing natural dyes, dye vats, and handwoven textiles to be dyed. Walking through the step by step process of mordanting, dyeing, fixing, and drying. Each student will get to choose which color they will dye their bandana and scrunchie.

Materials Included: One handwoven cotton Luna Zorro bandana and one handwoven cotton Luna Zorro scrunchie (per student) to be used for dyeing.

Enjoy one last dinner as a group in Antigua!

Sun-lit and tasteful rooms set in a peaceful respite, just steps from the center of Antigua.

Access to our guesthouse is hassle free, with coded entry and friendly staff. Our eight rooms each feature their own ensuite bathroom, high speed wifi, luxury bedding, organic bathroom products, handwoven textiles and artisanal touches. Our colonial courtyard has a fountain and bistro-style tables to enjoy a coffee and work remotely. Upstairs, relax on the terrace to a chorus of birds, with views of flowers, blue skies, and the morning sunrise on the Eastern side of Antigua valley.

Airport shuttles provided for your departure flights.