Explore the Heart of the Mayan World - 7-Day Guatemalan Adventure Excursion All-inclusive; including airport pick-up and drop-off 7 nights accommodations, meals, activities, and transportation.
SUMMARY
Explore the newest exotic travel destination. It is a non-stop week of adventure including: the colonial town of La Antigua, Chichicastenango market, active Pacaya volcano, horseback riding, zip-lines, kayaking, hiking, geo-thermal hot springs, beautiful Lake Atitlán and it’s Mayan villages.  Nestled in the western highlands of Guatemala, this is the last unexplored gem of the Americas.

ITINERARY
Day 1:  Arrival
Transfer from airport to shuttle van for a 45-minute drive to Antigua. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Antigua was the first capital city of New Spain, dating to 1543. It is known for its well-preserved Spanish Baroque architecture and a number of spectacular ruins. Check into hotel and meet for welcome party and orientation.

Day 2: Chichicastenango
Enjoy your first morning in Antigua with a typical breakfast, and then prepare for travel to the Chichi market and later on Lake Atitlan.  Chichi has the largest indigenous market in Guatemala where local Mayan people bring their textiles, fruits, and vegetables. Travel to Lake Atitlan via Chichicastenango and end the day at a lakefront Eco Hotel.  Enjoy the sunset and your first opportunity for a paddle.

Day 3: Kayak and Hike – Explore San Marcos, Tzununa, & Jaibalito
Start with a sunrise kayak excursion along the rugged north shore. This section of the lake’s shoreline has dramatic scenery, passing the villages of El Jaibalito and Tzununa. You paddle along rugged cliff faces filled with exotic plant and bird life.  Take the opportunity to climb a cliff and jump into the crystal clear waters, or just enjoy a swim and sun.  We pull into the bay and village of San Marcos and gear up for the next part of our adventure. The north shore of Lake Atitlan has no true road access, so you will be hiking along ancient paths that have been used by the Maya for centuries. You will view villagers going about their daily life, encounter farmers tending their maize and coffee fields, and see some of the most magnificent scenery in the world.  This rugged and remote section of Lake Atitlan has barely been touched by the outside world.  Our hike takes us several hundred feet above the ever-changing waters of Atitlan for breath taking views of the famous volcanoes.  You can schedule a massage, sauna, or hot tub to relax at the end of the day.

Day 4: Boat tour – Explore San Juan & San Pedro villages
Travel by private boat to the “Swiss village” of the lake. San Juan is a small village and is home to several of the country’s most famous painters.  We will visit the art gallery of Andrés Curruchiche who initiated a naïf art movement among the indigenous people.  Other stops include weaving cooperatives, a medicinal and curative herb garden, and a re-forestation nursery.  There is also an optional hike to Indian Nose Mountain, a sacred Maya site: or explore the backpacker’s haven of San Pedro.  We will have lunch at a local comedor (authentic Guatemalan home-style cooking).  At the end of the day you have some free time for kayaking or relaxing.

Day 5: Horseback ride – Explore Santiago village
We start the morning with a horseback ride to a mirador, with views of Lake Atitlan on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other.  Return to Santiago, the largest of the lakeside villages. Here we are nestled between 3 impressive volcanoes. Santiago is noted for its worship of Maximón, an idol formed by the fusion of traditional Mayan deities, Catholic saints and conquistador legends. A visit to Maximón is an opportunity you should not miss.

Day 6: Atitlan Nature Reserve – Zip Lines
Visit the Atitlan Nature Reserve and explore the trail system to see exotic wildlife, waterfalls, and a butterfly pavilion. Be sure not miss the exhilarating zip line adventure. Explore Panajachel.