Itinerary Summary

Day	Place	Highlights	Hotel Options
1 - 2	San José and Central Valley	Spanish Colonial History, Museums and Contemporary Art, Saturday Markets, Vibrant Nightlife	Xandari Resort & Spa, Finca Rosa Blanca
2 - 5	Arenal	Arenal Volcano National Park, Volcanic Peaks, Caves and Hot Springs, Hiking, Sky Trekking, Canopy Walks and Kayaking	Arenal Kioro, Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort
5 - 8	Manuel Antonio	Manuel Antonio National Park, White Sandy Beaches, Wildlife	Plaza Yara, Parador Resort & Spa
8 - 11	Antigua	Colonial Heritage and Ancient Ruins, Volcanoes and Coffee Plantations, Mayan Communities	Meson de Maria, Pensativo House Hotel
11 - 13	Lake Atitlan	Scenic Beauty, Volcanic Peaks and Lake, Hiking and Trekking	Hotel Atitlan
13 - 14	Guatemala City	Spanish Colonial Architecture, Buzzing Creative Scene, Shopping and Nightlife	Radisson Hotel and Suites Guatemala City, Hilton Guatemala City
14 - 16	Flores	Ancient Mayan History, Lake Peten Itza, Colonial Heritage	Isla de Flores, Villa Maya
16 - 17	Tikal National Park	Pre-Columbian Ruins, Tropical Jungle and Wildlife, Hiking and Trekking	Tikal Jungle Lodge, Tikal Jungle Lodge
17 - 18	Flores	Ancient Mayan History, Lake Peten Itza, Colonial Heritage	Isla de Flores, Villa Maya
18 - 18	Guatemala City	Spanish Colonial Architecture, Buzzing Creative Scene, Shopping and Nightlife

Itinerary Details

Day 1 - 2

International Arrival

Transfer to your Hotel

San José and Central Valley

1 Night

Cushioned in the valley between the Central American mountain ranges and volcanic peaks, the Costa Rican capital is surrounded by lush green landscapes.

Destination San José and Central Valley in Costa Rica

Hotel Options

Xandari Resort & Spa – Opt 1

Room	Prima Villa
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Finca Rosa Blanca – Opt 2

Room	Junior Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 2 - 5

Drive from San José to Arenal (130 km, 3 hrs)

The beautiful region of Arenal serves as the perfect base for exploring Costa Rica’s highland country of volcanic peaks, ancient caves, hot water springs and national parks. The drive up towards the Arenal Volcano National Park is spectacular.

Included Activities

Rainforest Canopy Hike At Arenal
Experience a fascinating tour of the rainforest with a walk over the treetops along Arenal’s famed hanging bridges. After an early breakfast in your hotel, take a comfortable half hour ride to the hanging bridges in the company of your local guide. Enjoy a leisurely hike along the two mile-long trail of bridges that crisscross the dense forests spread out below. If you’re lucky, you could spot howler monkeys, spider monkeys, capuchin monkeys, flocks of colorful birds, butterflies, armadillos, and a host of other wildlife on your jungle canopy walk! (Half Day Trip; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 2 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable boots, insect repellent and sunscreen; Note: A bilingual guide will accompany you).

Volcano Hike At Arenal
Ever been fascinated by the sight of molten lava forming its way out of the earth’s bubbling core? This may be an opportunity of a lifetime to watch an active volcano from a perfectly safe vantage point. After breakfast at your hotel, drive over to the north-western end of the Arenal volcano, which is less than a half hour drive away. Get off ahead of the Las Coladas Trail and enjoy a leisurely hike through tropical rainforests and an old lava flow formed nearly three decades ago. Note the interesting lava formations along this easy trail. Watch out for the region’s local plant and wildlife too. If you’re lucky, you may come across a variety of primates, sloth bears, and birds, including toucans and hawks on your hike. The walking trail ends at an observation area that offers spectacular views of the volcano. Weather permitting, one can spot the fiery lava trickling along the mountain side! (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 3 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable boots, insect repellent and sunscreen; Note: A bilingual guide will accompany you).

Hotel Options

Arenal Kioro – Opt 1

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort – Opt 2

Room	Orchid Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 5 - 8

Drive from Arenal to Manuel Antonio with guide (230 km, 5.5 hrs)

Manuel Antonio

3 Nights

The little seaside village of Manuel Antonio serves as the entry to the lush tropical rainforests of the Manuel Antonio National Park.

Destination Manuel Antonio in Costa Rica

Included Activities

Walking Safari at Manuel Antonio National Park
Discover the natural history of the lush rainforests at the Manuel Antonio National Park on this trip. After breakfast at your hotel, take a half hour drive to the national park with your local guide. Take a leisurely hike through one of the most popular walking trails at the park. Absorb interesting information about the rainforest that your guide shares as you walk along. Take in your gorgeous surroundings, stopping to take advantage of numerous photo ops along the way. Watch out for the various tropical primates endemic to the park. About halfway into your trip, take a half hour break by the Third Beach. Refresh yourself with snacks by the seaside, take a dip in the sea, or just admire the seascape before getting back to the trail. Look out for exotic birds and butterflies, various orchids and tropical plants, as well as sloth bears. At the end of your walking safari, stop by a local restaurant for a delicious Costa Rican meal. Drive back to your hotel after lunch. (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 3.5 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Snacks & Lunch; Fitness Level: Moderate; Please bring comfortable hiking shoes, sunscreen & sunglasses; don’t forget your camera; Note: Park closed on Mondays; Telescopes, water & a bilingual guide are available for you).

Kayaking and Snorkeling by Biesanz Bay
Enjoy a snorkeling and kayaking trip along the beautiful coastline of Biesanz Bay. Take a half hour drive down to Quepos pier with your local guide. Set off in your kayaks for the lovely inlet of Biesanz Bay, drifting past tiny islands and flocks of water birds roosting by the waterside. Make a half hour pit stop at Biesanz Bay, stretching your legs and catching refreshments. Go snorkeling and explore the rich marine life by the bay. If you’re lucky, you’ll spot parrotfish, starfish, angelfish, and even elusive sea turtles! Paddle back to Quepos pier, watching out for flocks of pelicans, flying fish, and other exotic sea creatures on your way. Leaving your kayak behind, relish a delicious homemade lunch over conversations with your local hosts. (Half Day; Time of Day: Afternoon; Duration: 4 hrs; Private Activity & Transfer; Meals included: Beverages & Lunch or Dinner; Fitness Level: Hard; Please bring sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hat & beach towel; don’t forget your camera; Note: a bilingual guide will be provided for you).

Hotel Options

Plaza Yara – Opt 1

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Parador Resort & Spa – Opt 2

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Resort

Day 8 - 11

Antigua

3 Nights

Antigua is the perfect city to travel back in time while staying grounded in the present! Sounds contradictory? That’s Antigua for you!

Included Activities

Treasures Of Antigua Walking Tour
Explore the historic ruins and period architecture of the distinctive Guatemalan city of Antigua on this day tour. Discover the many Spanish colonial churches that Antigua is home to. Amble along the old city’s paved streets and alleyways, peeking into stories and legends from bygone ages. Visit the La Merced Church and the Central Park, before stopping by to explore Antigua’s Main Cathedral and its ruins. Drop by the San Francisco El Grande Church, as well as the Convent Capuchinas on this leisurely tour of the city’s old churches and chapels. Spice up your day with a little trip to a local crafts market, admiring the various handcrafted artefacts on display and interacting with local artisans. Wrap up your city tour on a sweet note by dropping into the Chocolate Museum (yes, such a place does exist on this planet!). (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning or Afternoon; Duration: 4 hrs; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable walking shoes).

Mountain Biking Through Almolonga Valley And Highland Villages
Enjoy a day of mountain biking along the picturesque countryside surrounding Antigua on this adventurous excursion. Ride along the spectacular landscape of the Almolonga Valley, before pedalling it over to the beautiful highland villages of Santa Ana, San Juan del Obispo, and San Pedro Las Huertas. Ride over to Guatemala’s former second capital, Ciudad Vieja, which was buried by a mudslide in the 16th century. Visit an experimental, local macadamia farm along the way, before riding back to Antigua. (Half Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 4 hrs, 0900-1300 hrs; Shared Activity & Transfer; Fitness Level: Moderate. Note: Expect bike with helmets, bottle of purified water, and a bilingual English and Spanish guide).

Hotel Options

Meson de Maria – Opt 1

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Pensativo House Hotel – Opt 2

Room	Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Boutique

Day 11 - 13

Drive from Antigua to Atitlan Lake with guide (100 km, 2 - 3 hrs)

Lake Atitlan

2 Nights

Lake Atitlan, or Lago de Atitlán, impresses most travelers with its scenic beauty. This city offers lovely views of a volcanic lake hemmed in by velvety green volcanic hills.

Included Activities

Village Tour And Boat Ride On Lake Atitlán
Spend a refreshing day boating on Lake Atitlán and visiting some sites to get to know local cultures and lifestyles a little better. After breakfast at your hotel, set out for a leisurely boat ride of about half an hour across Lake Atitlán. Ride out to the village of San Juan La Laguna to visit a women’s textile cooperative. Watch how colorful fabrics are hand woven and dyed naturally before the traditional handloom is ready for the market. Learn about the local artistic community when you drop by the studio homes of the region’s famous naïf painters. A Mayan encounter awaits you at the town of Santiago, where you learn about the age-old culture and tradition of the T’zutujil Maya. Get to know more about the traditional handicrafts, ancient belief system and spiritualism of the local community, before returning to your hotel. (Half Day; Fitness Level: Easy; Please bring comfortable walking shoes and a wind-breaker).

Uncover Secrets Of The Guatemalan Highlands
Enjoy watching the locals engage in cow and sheep herding as you head towards the highlands of Guatemala. As you journey from Lake Atitlan, you can catch glimpses of quaint towns and the colorful hillsides dotted with vegetables and flowers. The fragrance of incense welcomes you to the busy Chichicastenango market where you can find all kinds of wares at a bargain. Open only twice a week, this delightful market offers visitors a number of items to choose from such as local crafts and textiles. Look around a unique church with its mixed Mayan and Catholic traditions before you head back. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration around 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Fitness Level: Easy. Lunch is not included).

Hotel Options

Hotel Atitlan – Opt 1

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Day 13 - 14

Drive from Atitlan Lake to Guatemala city with guide (124km, 3.5 hrs)

Guatemala City

1 Night

Lose yourself in the effervescent buzz of Guatemala City, or Guate as the locals call it. This Central American capital city is split into multiple zones that are so different from each other that they may as well be separate towns!

Hotel Options

Radisson Hotel and Suites Guatemala City – Opt 1

Room	Studio Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	International

Hilton Guatemala City – Opt 2

Room	Master Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	International

Day 14 - 16

Transfer to the Airport

Flight from Guatemala to Flores

Transfer to your hotel

Flores

2 Nights

Flores is one of the oldest inhabited towns in the Americas. The original island town of Nojpetén was built in the 13th century by the Mayan Itza on Lake Peten Itza (or Lago de Petén Itzá).

Included Activities

Exploratory Tour And Lunch At Yaxha National Park
Soak in the warmth of the early morning sun as you head from Flores for the archaeological site at Yaxha National Park. Learn about this lesser visited ecologically important site from your private guide. Catch glimpses of different species of tropical birds and monkeys as you wander across the ruins nestled in the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Take a break from exploring the ancient city while you lunch at El Sombrero Lodge which sits on the banks of the serene Lake Yaxha. Bring an interesting day of discovery to an end by heading on to Tikal National Park. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 7 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Includes lunch without drinks; Fitness Level: Easy).

Boat Ride Adventure And Hike To Ceibal Archaeological Site
Travel by road to Sayaxche town located on the banks of the Pasión river. Hop aboard a boat and sail down this peaceful river into the rainforest on your way to the archeological site at Ceibal. Climb up the steep hillside to reach the site located in a forest of Ceiba trees from which its name is derived. Marvel at the intricate carvings on the stelae (stone columns) as well as an interesting circular monument thought to be an astrology platform. Rest a while as you eat your box lunch before preparing to return to your hotel in Flores by boat and then by road. (Full Day; Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 8 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Includes Lunch Box; Fitness Level: Difficult; During the dry season, you may be able to skip the steep hike as we can provide land transport all the way to the site.)

Hotel Options

Isla de Flores – Opt 1

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Villa Maya – Opt 2

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Day 16 - 17

Drive from Flores to Tikal National Park with guide (65 km, 1.5 hrs)

Tikal National Park

1 Night

Close to Flores, discover the UNESCO World Heritage site of Tikal National Park (or Parque Nacional Tikal) with its rich treasure trove of Mayan archeological ruins.

Destination Tikal National Park in Guatemala

Included Activities

Sunrise Visit To Tikal National Park
Set off for Temple IV with your local guide early in the morning to watch the sun rise over these architectural marvels. As you walk on, you will spot many tropical birds, and animals such as spiders and howler monkeys. Enjoy a boxed breakfast before your guide takes you on a discovery of the magnificent temples. Awaken your adventurous spirit and take off on your own exploration of these marvelous structures. You will be dropped off at your hotel or at Flores, once you are done exploring to your heart’s content. (Time of Day: Morning; Duration: 6 hrs; Private Activity & Transfers; Breakfast box included; Fitness Level: Easy)

Hotel Options

Tikal Jungle Lodge – Opt 1

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Tikal Jungle Lodge – Opt 2

Room	Junior Suite
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Day 17 - 18

Drive from Tikal National Park to Flores with guide (65 km, 1.5 hrs)

Flores

1 Night

Flores is one of the oldest inhabited towns in the Americas. The original island town of Nojpetén was built in the 13th century by the Mayan Itza on Lake Peten Itza (or Lago de Petén Itzá).

Hotel Options

Isla de Flores – Opt 1

Room	Premium Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Guest house

Villa Maya – Opt 2

Room	Standard Room
Meals	Breakfast
Style	Lodge

Day 18 - 18

Transfer to the Airport

Flight from Flores to Guatemala City

Guatemala City

0 Nights

International Departure

Price & Inclusions

Option 1 From $ 7,090 /person
Option 2 From $ 7,990 /person

Prices are in USD and exclude international flights. This trip price is based on low season rates for accommodation and other applicable services, and may change depending on availability, currency fluctuations and number of people traveling together. For high season prices, please contact us with your exact travel dates and preferences.

Price Includes

Accommodation in one double room for 18 days / 17 nights
Meals as indicated
Flights mentioned below on Economy Class unless otherwise specified:
- Flight from Guatemala to Flores
- Flight from Flores to Guatemala
All activities as listed:
- Arenal: Rainforest Canopy hike at Arenal
- Arenal: Volcano Hike at Arenal
- Manuel Antonio: Walking Safari at the Manuel Antonio National Park
- Manuel Antonio: Kayaking and Snorkeling by Biesanz Bay
- Antigua: Treasures of Antigua Walking Tour
- Antigua: Mountain Biking Through Almolonga Valley and Highland Villages
- Lake Atitlan: Village Tour and Boat Ride on Lake Atitlán
- Lake Atitlan: Uncover Secrets of the Guatemalan Highlands
- Flores: Exploratory Tour and Lunch at Yaxha National Park
- Flores: Boat Ride Adventure and Hike to Ceibal Archaeological Site
- Tikal National Park: Sunrise Visit to Tikal National Park

All airport and hotel transfers
All activities specified in the itinerary, including entrance fees, accompanied by our tour guide
If your itinerary includes self-drive travel then all such travel comes with CDW insurance for an unlimited number of kilometers. For further details about the type of car please speak to your Travel Consultant.
Your Trip Coordinator: a 24/7 point of contact, supporting you during your trip
Insolvency insurance
Fees and taxes

Highlights of Guatemala and Costa Rica

Itinerary Summary

Ideal For

Itinerary Details

San José and Central Valley

Arenal

Manuel Antonio

Antigua

Lake Atitlan

Guatemala City

Flores

Tikal National Park

Flores

Guatemala City

Price & Inclusions

Price Includes