After a delicious breakfast at your hotel, we will enjoy a two-hour Spanish class. During this class, we will review important vocabulary, phrases, and grammar points that will come in handy during your time in Guatemala. 

After this Spanish warm-up, we will hit the town for a brief walking tour that strikes a balance between Antigua's historical past while also giving you some insider tips about the here and now in Antigua, with a particular emphasis on the small business scene. We will stop for lunch at a local eatery loved by visitors and locals alike before taking an afternoon break for rest, relaxation, or independent exploration. 

In the early evening, we will enjoy a jade workshop where you will learn more about this beautiful stone's history and its importance in Guatemala's culture and economy. Plus, you'll even get to take a small piece home! 

Enjoy a full day of adventure as we soak up the epic views at the top of one of Guatemala’s most popular and active volcanoes! This moderate hike will begin at the base of the volcano in the village of San Vicente Pacaya where you will make a 1.5 - 2-hour ascent up the side of one of Guatemala’s three active volcanoes, taking in the beautiful surrounding landscapes along the way. At the top, you will possibly get to peer down at the fiery lava and have the opportunity to toast marshmallows and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Afterward, our group will hike down to the trailhead, and take our private shuttle to a thermal spa, whose natural springs are heated by the linked underground activity generated by the very volcano we just climbed. Plus you’ll get a relaxing 50-minute massage and delicious smoothie.

Once back in Antigua you will have a few hours to shower and freshen up before an evening Spanish class from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. You can then join us for an optional group dinner! 

We will meet at your hotel entrance to board our private shuttle for a 1-hour drive to the nearby farming town of Tecpán. At around 9:00 am we will arrive in Tecpán to enjoy a traditional breakfast in this cozy mountain town. Here, we can also spend some time looking at artisan crafts. After departing Tecpán we will continue driving to the famous Lake Atitlán.

We will arrive in Lake Atitlán around noon to take a short boat ride to San Juan La Laguna. Here we will spend the day learning about the crafts and traditions of the Tzutujil people. This mellow lakeside town has escaped the commercialization of its neighboring town and has built an impressive and successful cultural/experiential tourism micro-economy that does not rely on Western influence or heavy investments from foreigners. You’ll see this when we tour their cooperatives to learn about agriculture, weaving, textiles, chocolate making, and more. In short, the people of San Juan are pioneers of community-based cultural tourism in the country. 

We will spend the entire day and night in San Juan exploring, eating, and interacting with individuals from the community who have graciously opened up the doors to their homes for you. Lunch and dinner are provided and meals are a great time to interact with your host family! 

After breakfast with our host families, we will head to Casa Flor Ixcaco for a two-hour Spanish class. From there, we will visit Voz Coffee Cooperative to learn about sustainable coffee production in Guatemala. 

After our tour at La Voz, we will return to Panajachel to get settled into the hotel and enjoy a free day. From here, you can visit the local nature reserve, rent a kayak, explore the nearby town of Panajachel, and much more! Just let your tour leader know what you’re interested in doing and we can arrange it for you!

That evening we will enjoy a group dinner in town! 

After breakfast, we will have an interactive 2-hour Spanish class before departing our hotel and making the 3.5-hour journey from Lake Atitlán to the Guatemala City airport. From there, we will catch a short 50-minute domestic flight to the eastern lowlands of Guatemala. 

Upon landing, we will head to our charming hotel in the town of Flores. Flores is a small island on Lago Petén Itza. Once you are settled in we will enjoy dinner overlooking the lake and you can leisurely explore this small, lively little town. 

We will wake up early for a light breakfast as the sun comes up over Lago Petén Itzá. With full bellies, we will begin the 45-minute drive from Isla de Flores to the Tikal National where our local guide, Oliverio, will be waiting for us. 

Once inside the park, you’ll be able to appreciate all different kinds of wildlife such as spider monkeys, howler monkeys, orange-breasted falcons, woodpeckers, parrots, and many other unique species. In addition to the impressive flora and fauna, you’ll visit various temples, as well as the Central Acropolis, The Palace of Windows, and the Lost World. For our adrenaline seekers, upon exploring the park, there will be an opportunity to zipline through the jungle which costs approximately $50 extra. 

Upon wrapping up our tour of Tikal we will enjoy lunch in the small, lakeside town of El Remate. From there we will head to the Flores airport in order to catch our flight back to Guatemala City. 

Once in Guatemala City, we will have one final hurrah as we enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate lessons learned and friendships and memories made! 

Enjoy breakfast before hopping on the shuttle to the airport in order to catch your return flight home!