AFFORDABLE LUXURY - GUATEMALA & BELIZE

Day 1 Arrive Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua

Arrive in the charming, cosmopolitan city of Antigua, packed with colonial charm, excellent restaurants, buzzing bars and fascinating markets.  The San Rafael is conveniently located only a short stroll from many of Antigua's ancient landmarks and numerous superb restaurants. We recommend a pre-dinner drink in Tabacos y Vinos, a tiny authentic wine bar, with fabulous wine selection.  

Overnight: San Rafael Hotel

Day 2 Antigua

Today highlights the city's cultural, architectural and social history with a behind-the-scenes look at some of Antigua's most celebrated landmarks. Explore La Merced church with its ornate architecture and the intricate façade of the El Carmen church. Wander through the artisanal market stalls selling handmade traditional blankets and colourful textiles and sample some delicious, hearty streetfood, such as gooey cheese-filled tortillas, vibrant chilli-spiced tacos and saltfish cakes. 

Overnight: San Rafael Hotel

Day 3 Antigua to Lake Atitlán via Chichicastenango Market

Drive north west to the stunning Lake Atitlán; shrouded in mystery, you’ll meet local communities who still wear traditional dress, fiercely protecting their centuries-old traditions and culture. Drive between active volcanoes and terraced farmlands, stopping at the impressive town of Chichicastenango (Chichi).  Home to the largest market in the country, it sells a vast array of local textiles, handicrafts, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. After lunch at a local restaurant continue to Hotel Atitlan, a superb boutique hotel overlooking the lake, arriving in the early evening.  

Overnight: Hotel Atitlan

Day 4 Lake Atitlán

Travel by boat to the village of San Juan La Laguna, a mellow Maya village, steeped in history, which sits on the cusp of the lake. Wander through its charming streets to find a series of impressive murals depicting the history of San Juan and discover how traditional back strap looms and natural plant dyes are used to make Guatemala's richly coloured textiles. Enjoy the afternoon as you please; a chance to explore the botanic gardens, relax beside the pool with those mesmeric views, or get out to explore Guatemala’s highlands; a sprawling assembly of mighty hills, minute villages and a trio of towering volcanoes. 

Overnight: Hotel Atitlan

Day 5 Lake Atitlán to Flores

After a leisurely morning, drive back to Guatemala City via coffee plantations and indigenous villages.  Late afternoon fly north to Flores in the El Remate region, famed for its wildlife, archaeology and Tikal National Park. Drive to your hotel on the shores of Lake Petén Itzá and unwind by the pool with a well-deserved drink in the evening sun. 

Overnight: Camino Real Tikal – Club Real

Day 6 Tikal

An entire day to discover the majestic brilliance of the Tikal National Park, where nearly 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. This extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to various tropical birds and animals, including the mischievous howler monkeys and gangly spider monkeys.  Your guide will show you all the significant sites, such as the imposing Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar, with a wealth of knowledge alongside.  

Overnight: Camino Real Tikal – Club Real

Day 7 Tikal to Mountain Pine Forest Reserve, Belize

Bid farewell to Guatemala and cross the border into Belize.  Drive to Gaia Riverlodge, a collection of rustic eco-friendly thatched-roof huts that sit between the trees in Belize’s jungle.  Upon arrival unwind with a drink on the lodge’s terrace enjoying the stunning views over the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve visit the secluded riverside beach for a refreshing swim. 

Overnight: Gaia Riverlodge

Day 8 Barton Creek and Belize Butterfly Farm

A day spent exploring the country's most remote and rugged terrain with your local guide. Visit the tropical Belize Butterfly Farm before paddling a canoe through Upper Barton Creek and into the cave system known as a Mayan underworld, complete with stalactite formations in cathedral-like chambers. 

Overnight: Gaia Riverlodge

Day 9 Mountain Pine Forest to Ambergris Caye

Fly from San Ignacio to San Pedro on the idyllic island of Ambergris Caye, the archetypal tropical paradise.  The island runs parallel to the superb Belize Barrier Reef and offers sun-drenched days filled with fruity cocktails and superb water sports including diving, snorkelling, sailing, fishing, kayaking and windsurfing. Spend the afternoon strolling through the sandy streets of San Pedro or relaxing by your hotel’s infinity pool. 

Overnight: Victoria House

Day 10 - 11 Ambergris Caye

The last two days are deliberately plan-free, for you to construct as you please. Time to explore this beautiful island both above sea level and below.  The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the northern hemisphere, a diverse ecosystem with a plethora of stunning sea life and coral every colour of the rainbow.  A trip out to the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau who declared it one of the top ten diving sites in the world, is certainly time well spent.  Back on shore, book into the beachfront spa to indulge in an array of pampering pleasures, from a hot stone massage to the detoxifying sea salt foot bath or the cooling and hydrating ‘sun quencher’ body treatment.  Explore the island’s marshes, mangroves and protected areas, home to a variety of tropical birds and set sail from the Victoria House pier late afternoon for a glorious end to the perfect sunny day, watching the sun set over the water, champagne in hand. 

Overnight: Victoria House

Day 12 Depart

Fly back to the mainland this morning to connect with your flight home from Belize City.