Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Sunday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Sunday - USA-Guatemala City: Depart the USA on short flight to Guatemala City.  Upon arrival, your private car and guide will be waiting to transfer you to the boutique Quinta Real hotel in a quiet residential area surrounded by gardens and waterfalls for your overnight stay.

Monday – Guatemala – Lake Atitlan: The morning guided tour of the present day capital will reveal a mix of the new and traditional, in architecture, culture and ambiance. Highlights will include, the major downtown sites of the Parque Central (main plaza) which, as colonial Spanish tradition would dictate, is flanked by the Cathedral, National Palace and the Archbishop’s Palace. You will also have a guided tour of two major museums: the Ixchel Museum features an excellent collection of thousands of samples of handwoven textiles, there are some painting and jewelry displays as well; the Popol Vuh Museum has a large exquisite collection of pre-Columbian jewelry, artifacts, colonial art, religious art, ceramics and antiques, most of the items came from a private collection. In the afternoon, your private guide will drive you some two hours to what is often referred to as  the "Switzerland of Central America", the area of Lake Atitlan. The 50-square mile Lake Atitlan (“abundance of waters”) is dominated by three towering volcanoes, Toliman, San Pedro and Atitlan, sheer granite cliffs and its shores are dotted with twelve Indian villages, named after the Apostles. Your terraced hillside hotel is the Casa Palopo, near Santa Catarina Palopo, just 6 kms. from Panajachel. (B)

Tuesday – Lake Atitlan:  This morning visit nearby Solola, a major market center of the highlands perched on a ridge high above the lake. Here you will also find colorful dress among men and women. In particular, note the bat-shaped emblems on the back of the men’s jackets, symbol of the last Cakchiquel Maya clan. The afternoon  you will go by car to the village of San Antonio de Palopo, whose hillside terraces harvest onions, anise, corn, and beans. Traditional dress here for women is red shirts, wool skirts with a turban-style hat.  (B)

Wednesday - Lake Atitlan: In the morning you will visit the largest of the twelve villages, Santiago de Atitlan by taking a boat, along with your guide, across the 11-mile long, 3-mile wide lake. As other villages in the country, this one also has a traditional dress color scheme; for men it is white and purple striped pants and the women wear intricately embroidered blouses (“huipiles”) and a tightly wound halo of red cloth on their heads.  Around noon, return to your hotel and the balance of the day is at leisure to explore on your own or relax in the tranquil atmosphere. (B)

Thursday – Lake Atitlan (Chichicastenango) – Antigua:  Early this morning, your host will drive you into the heart of the Quiche Maya in the  western highlands (about 2-hours), Chichicastenango, since 1200 a major trading center. Today, the market days at “Chichi” (Thursdays and Sundays) are the most colorful of Central America (perhaps of all the Americas). With your private guide,  walk the main plaza  teeming with hundreds of stalls and merchants selling the wares from throughout the countryside. The churches of El Calvario and Santo Tomas flank either end of the square. Santo Tomas built in 1540 on the site of a Maya temple is revered to this day. Only the Maya are allowed to walk up and sit on the steps leading into the church. Non-Indians enter the church through a side door. Across the plaza is the El Calvario Church, smaller and used exclusively by the Indians for prayers and services, both Christian and otherwise. Throughout the market area the aroma of copal incense pervades.  Enjoy a typical lunch at the charming Mayan Inn before heading tot he colonial capital at Antigua (about 2-3 hour drive). Your hotel for the next three nights, will be the utterly delightful Posada del Angel.  (B/L)

Friday – Antigua: Today you will visit this delightful historic town, where by decree, all construction must reflect the colonial era. Destroyed by a devastating earthquake in the 1700's, it has been declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO. Main sites to be visited will include the churches of Santa Clara and La Merced, the central plaza and Palace de Los Capitanes, Capuchinas, and historic Popanoe House (now a museum),  (B)                                             

Saturday – Anitgua: With your private guide, continue your visit what some say may not only be the most beautiful city in Central America, but perhaps the finest example of Spanish colonial towns.  Sites willinclude Cuidaad Vieja and  the nearby (4-miles) village of San Antonio de Aguas Calientes, well known for it wide variety of handmade textiles, noted for their tightness of weave and colorful combinations of floral and geometric designs.  Depending on time and the season, perhaps even visit a working coffee plantation.   (B)

Sunday  - Antigua - Guatemala City - USA: At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport in Guatemala City  for your departure flight .   (B)

Aerial view Tikal

OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO THE CLASSIC MAYA CITY OF TIKAL 4-day/3-night FLORES and TIKAL PRE OR POST EXTENSION: You may select an optional extension to Flores-Tikal - either by arriving 4 days earlier or leaving 4 days later).  The extension includes 1 additional night in Guatemala City + air transportation roundtrip to Flores + 2 nights  in Flores at the Camino Real-Tikal + tours of Ceibal, Uxacatun and Tikal.  Rates: single alone $1588; per person twin $920; per person triple $740.

RATES and DETAILS: