Holidays To Guatemala & Belize: Antigua + Lake Atitlan + Tikal Mayan Ruins
On holidays to Guatemala & Belize you can combine two wonderful Central American countries - exploring their ancient Mayan ruins, jungle wildlife, Spanish colonial history, stunning mountain landscapes, indigenous customs and handcrafts, and glorious Caribbean beaches. These include the well preserved colonial town of Antigua, beautiful Lake Atitlan and the breathtaking Tikal Mayan Ruins. Between 250 and 900 AD this was the heart of the fabled Mayan Empire, and today holidays to Guatemala & Belize attract millions of visitors who come to visit these famous ruins. The turquoise Caribbean waters and coral beaches of Belize are only a short flight away, so these two countries are often combined in one holiday.
Just 28 miles west of Guatemala City, the country’s bustling capital, you will find the stunningly preserved Spanish colonial town of Antigua, which is a World Heritage Site. Overlooked by three volcanoes, it's easy to explore the monuments, ruins, fountains and historic buildings of this compact town on foot. A major attraction in Antigua is the Santo Domingo Convent, founded in 1542 by Dominican friars. There is also a cathedral and many churches and museums that house a vast array of silverwork, glass, Mayan ceramic and stone pieces, art and traditional handicrafts. Antigua is also a centre for adventure activities such as hiking, white water rafting and climbing up Pacaya Volcano, the most active in the country.
Lake Atitlan is one of most beautiful lakes in the world and one of the deepest in Central America. A largely indigenous population lives in the surrounding towns and villages. Lake Atitlan is best explored by boat on holidays to Guatemala & Belize. The views and atmosphere, heightened by the three brooding volcanoes that overlooking Lake Atitlan, are truly unforgettable.
Tikal National Park is located in northern Guatemala, outside the town of Flores. This 220 square mile park contains the continent’s largest and most important Mayan archaeological site, the Tikal Mayan Ruins - one of the great wonders of Latin America and a World Heritage Site. On holidays to Guatemala & Belize that include the Tikal Mayan Ruins, you will find the bio-diversity of plant, bird and animal life in the surrounding tropical rainforests as extraordinary as the archaeological site.
Colourful ‘chicken buses’ are the main form of transport in Guatemala. These modified local buses are often a little crowded and perhaps have the odd chicken on board, but on holidays to Guatemala & Belize that include Antigua, Lake Atitlan & the Tikal Mayan ruins, you will find them everywhere.
Combine your ideas with our expertise and let us help you create a holiday of a lifetime. We offer a wide range of options at different price points, all of which can be tailor made to your needs.
We have been arranging holidays to Guatemala & Belize including Antigua, Lake Atitlan & the Tikal Mayan Ruins for over 20 years.
ALL OUR HOLIDAYS TO GUATEMALA & BELIZE, INCLUDING ANTIGUA, LAKE ATITLAN & TIKAL MAYAN RUINS, ARE FINANCIALLY PROTECTED wherever in the world you live.
More information on holidays to Guatemala & Belize including Antigua, Lake Atitlan & the Tikal Mayan Ruins:
Guatemala City, the bustling capital, lies in the south in a mountain valley and includes the extensive ruins of the Mayan city of Kaminaljuyu, founded in 1,500 BC and occupied for nearly 3,000 years. The city has spread around the ruins but the ceremonial centre has been preserved in an outstanding park. Despite the commercial buzz and clutter, the country’s finest museums, galleries and theatres are found here on holidays to Guatemala & Belize. The historic centre in the heart of the city includes the massive cathedral, the National Palace of Culture and the Presidential House. Guatemala's entertainment district, Zona Viva, is fun to visit as are the restaurants, bars and cafes of the pretty pedestrianised Zona 1 downtown. There are plenty of green spaces and parks too.
In the centre of Antigua you will find the Central Park, a pleasant open space to relax on holidays to Guatemala & Belize. For a more energetic walk and great views of the town, climb Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross) which is thirty minutes from the park. Pacaya Volcano is the most active in the country and only 15 miles from Antigua. It is over 8,000 ft and a guided hike will take 2-3 hours, but it will be worth the effort as the views of the Guatemalan landscape, including the nearby volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenago, are magnificent. There are safety restrictions but you should see the crater and you can roast your marshmallows over the hot volcanic stones and vents on holidays to Guatemala & Belize.
Located 32 miles northwest of Antigua, Lake Atitlan is one of Guatemala’s most visited destinations. Formed in the crater left after a massive volcanic eruption 84,000 years ago, it is pure blue and 50 square miles in area. At 1,129 ft Lake Atitlan is also one of the deepest lakes in Central America. A largely indigenous population lives in the towns and villages surrounding Lake Atitlan. They maintain their Mayan traditions and wear highly colourful dresses. On holidays to Guatemala & Belize the best way to explore magnificent Lake Atitlan is by boat. You can visit an organic coffee farm, a model village for ecological living, browse in local markets for handcrafts and see a way of life which has barely changed for centuries. On holidays to Guatemala & Belize you can even scuba dive in this volcanic crater lake.
Tikal National Park contains the continent’s largest and most important Mayan remains - the Tikal Mayan Ruins. Located in the heart of the jungle, this amazing city complex was inhabited between 600 BC and 900 AD and there are thousands of ruins including temples, pyramids, courtyards, palaces, public spaces, roads and dwellings. The Tikal Mayan Ruins tell of the history, art and genius of the Mayans and provide an unparalleled record of their social, religious and economic organisation. This is the largest excavated site in the Americas and anyone interested in this great civilisations should definitely visit the magnificent Tikal Mayan Ruins on holidays to Guatemala & Belize. The park is part of the much larger Maya Biosphere Reserve, which in turn is part of the Mayan Rainforest, the second largest tropical rainforest in the world after the Amazon - stretching for 13.3-million acres across northern Guatemala, Belize and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. As a result the bio-diversity and wildlife found here is as extraordinary as the Tikal Mayan Ruins on holidays to Guatemala & Belize. Among the varied wetlands, savanna and tropical rainforests surrounding the Tikal Mayan Ruins you will find over 2,000 plant species, 200 trees, 100 different mammals including the jaguar and puma, over 330 bird species and over 100 reptiles, including many rare and endangered species.
For yet more natural, majestic beauty visit Rio Dulce near Livingstone in the northeast of the country. Otherwise known as Fronteras, the area boasts spectacular scenery and the longest bridge in Central America. In Rio Dulce National Park you can see the Castle of San Filipe de Lara, a fort built to defend the town against pirates, as well as Mayan ruins at nearby Quirgua. One of the main attractions is the Hot Springs Waterfall. On holidays to Guatemala & Belize, you can climb to the top of the falls to trace the hot stream to its source and take an optional mud bath. The water is cooled by the cold river water at the bottom, where you can swim and if necessary wash off the mud.
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FEATURED HOLIDAY
Guatemala + Belize: Antigua + Lake Atitlan + Tikal
14 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,038
Per person sharing
International flights quoted separately
QRG12G
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• Caracol Mayan Ruins
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• Snorkelling & Diving
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• Antigua
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• San Juan & Santiago Villages
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• ATM & Barton Creek Caves
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• Guatemala and Belize holidays
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• Lake Atitlan
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• Tikal National Park
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• Ambergris Caye
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• Chichi Market
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Our Guatemala and Belize holidays combine the highlights of these two wonderful Central American countries. Starting in the lovely colonial city of Antigua, visit vast Lake Atitlan & Tikal National Park. Then cross the border into Belize to explore the Caracol Mayan ruins & caves of the Cayo District, before flying to spectacular Ambergris Caye. All transfers, light aircraft flights & sightseeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
3 Countries: Costa Rica + Guatemala + Belize
18 NIGHTS FROM:
$4,896
Per person sharing
International flights quoted separately
RRG18S
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• La Fortuna Waterfall
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• Antigua
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• Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge
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• Ambergris Caye
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• Arenal Volcano & Sloths
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• Tikal Mayan Ruins
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• Hanging Bridges + Hot Springs
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• Costa Rica, Guatemala, Belize Holiday
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• Lake Atitlan
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• Caracol Ruins & ATM Caves
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This Costa Rica, Guatemala & Belize holiday combines the highlights of these three small Central American countries. View sloths, birds and rainforest wildlife around Arenal Volcano, and enjoy its hot springs & waterfalls. Then explore colonial Antigua, beautiful Lake Atitlan & the Mayan ruins in Tikal & Belize, before relaxing on stunning Ambergris Caye. All transfers, park fees & specified sightseeeing included.
FEATURED HOLIDAY
Guatemala in Depth + Copan - Privately Guided
21 NIGHTS FROM:
$8,572
Per person sharing
International flights quoted separately
QPG21G
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• Antigua
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• Copan Mayan Ruins
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• Lake Atitlan
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• Candelaria Caves
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• Chichi Market
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• Rio Dulce & San Felipe Castle
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• Holidays to Guatemala
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• Semuc Champey
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• Guatemala City
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• Tikal Ruins
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Our tailor made holidays to Guatemala can be designed to your needs. You can visit Guatemala City, Antigua, the Mayan ruins at Copan, beautiful Rio Dulce delta & San Felipe Castle, the famous Tikal ruins, stunning Semuc Champey, Lake Atitlan and Chichi Market, amongst many other sights. Travel with your own private driver/guide and explore at your own pace. All specified sightseeing included.
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