- Guatemala Private Tours
- Guatemala and Belize: Lands of the Maya with San Ignacio Stay - Private Tour
Journey through two countries where ancient Mayan heritage, dramatic volcanic landscapes, and lush tropical jungles combine. From Antigua’s colonial streets to the shimmering Lake Atitlán and ancient temples of Tikal, Guatemala’s culture and history is as vivid as its scenery. In Belize, discover pristine rainforest, vibrant wildlife, and modern-day Mayan and Afro-Caribbean traditions. This tour offers an immersive adventure through two of Central America’s most enchanting and compelling destinations.
Immerse yourself in the heart of nature with an extended stay at a serene eco-lodge nestled along the Macal River. Wake up to the sounds of tropical wildlife, enjoy breathtaking river views, and experience sustainable living in harmony with the jungle.
Dinner
Depart the UK on a flight to Guatemala City. Transfer to Antigua to check into your hotel and join your tour group for a welcome dinner.
If you are arranging your own international flights, free airport transfers are available and included in the price. Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the tour starts and you will need to provide your inbound and outbound flight details.
Breakfast
Located in the highlands of Guatemala, Antigua is a captivating Spanish colonial city renowned for its rich history, architectural beauty, and vibrant atmosphere. Explore the city’s historic centre on a guided walking tour, viewing an abundance of ruined churches, convents, and monasteries, wandering cobbled streets with overhanging tiled roofs, and visiting the city’s charming central plaza, all set against a dramatic backdrop of smouldering volcanoes.
Breakfast
Drive to Lake Atitlán, where beautiful cobalt waters mirror forested volcanic slopes and traditional villages and indigenous settlements line its shores. En route, visit a coffee farm to learn about the vital importance of coffee in Guatemala’s history. Spend time browsing the artefacts of the Mayan Traditions Museum.
Breakfast
Begin your day with a motorboat ride over the calm and silent morning waters of Lake Atitlán, admiring breathtaking views of traditional hamlets, cultivated fields, and the picturesque volcanoes that encircle the lake. Arrive in Santiago de Atitlán, where you’ll be greeted by enthusiastic local children, and the fantastic opportunity to purchase brilliantly coloured, locally-crafted textiles.
Breakfast
Today is yours at leisure to explore the lake and its surrounding shores, dotted with charming agricultural and fishing communities. Each village boasts its own unique traditional dress and speaks its own Mayan dialect. Take the opportunity to relax and enjoy the serenity of the area or take part in one of the optional activities available nearby, including canoeing, biking, or visiting butterfly and animal parks.
Breakfast & Lunch
As you make your way back to Antigua, stop in Chichicastenango, a cool mountain town with an almost mystical atmosphere. Here Catholic practices go hand in hand with esoteric Mayan religious ceremonies, centred around the town’s simple, whitewashed church.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
An early transfer from Antigua brings you to the Quiriguá Archaeological Site, a complex of pyramids, temples and stairways and UNESCO World Heritage Site home to the largest standing stone in the whole of the Mayan world. On arrival in the town of Rio Dulce, embark on a scenic boat ride along the picturesque Río Dulce river. Gliding through serene waters, admire the surrounding lush tropical landscapes and vibrant endemic wildlife. Your destination is the Garifuna town of Livingston, renowned for its rich Afro-Caribbean culture and relaxed atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the unique traditions, music, and dance that define this charming coastal town.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Take a walking tour of Livingston, exploring the town’s vibrant streets and experiencing its rich Afro-Caribbean culture firsthand. Afterward, enjoy another boat trip along the lush Río Dulce, taking in the stunning scenery en route to Bird Island, home to a diverse array of bird species. You will also have the opportunity to visit a local indigenous community, gaining insight into their traditions and way of life. Continue by road to Flores, gateway to nearby Mayan ruins and the vast rainforest region of the Petén.
Breakfast & Lunch
Today, venture into the heart of the Guatemalan jungle to explore Tikal National Park, one of the largest and most awe-inspiring Mayan archaeological sites in the world. Discover the towering temples, ceremonial plazas, and ancient causeways that make up this incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a morning of exploration, return to Flores for an afternoon at leisure, where you can relax and soak up the tranquil lakeside atmosphere.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy a morning tour of the nearby Mayan ceremonial centre of Yaxha, located on the shores of a lagoon. Though not as large as Tikal, the site boasts nine huge temple pyramids, carved monuments, and several altars, alongside scenic lake views and a host of exotic wildlife. From here, take a beautiful drive across the border and into Belize, passing through the town of San Ignacio before reaching the low-lying Cayo district. You’ll spend the following few days in Belize's verdant, unspoilt, and sparsely populated interior, nestled on the rain-forested banks of the Macal River. Arrive at your lodge in San Ignacio, situated among a picturesque network of nature trails that will take you to many different areas of this 400-acre nature reserve. Spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
This morning begins with an early bird watching tour at the Chaa Creek Nature Reserve, home to over 350 species of resident and migratory birds. The varied topography, vegetation, and ecosystems of this Central American reserve provide rich and sustainable habitats for an enormous number of bird species: explore common grounds at the lodge where highly trained and knowledgeable naturalists will assist you in spotting the tropical birds that abound in western Belize. Enjoy spotting species such as keel-billed toucans, the Lesson's motmot, rufous-tailed hummingbird, pale-billed woodpecker, gartered trogon, ferruginous pygmy owl, and a host of parrot species. In the afternoon, a captivating guided tour of the Rainforest Medicinal Trail awaits on a Chaa Creek Rainforest Safari: explore the wilderness on a rugged four-wheel drive, accompanied by a local guide. This sensational motorised trek into Belize’s lesser-explored landscapes provides the thrilling opportunity to spot local wildlife. The remainder of your day will be at leisure to enjoy some of the lodge’s optional excursions (some at a fee), such as canoeing, horseback riding or biking.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Visit the Chaa Creek Natural History Centre, situated at the top of a hill behind the cottages of the resort. Discover Belize through the ages, from the legacy of Mayan temples nestled in misty jungle to the practices of modern-day traditional healers. The Centre provides a comprehensive introduction to the history and geography of Belize, including displays of archaeological artifacts, butterflies, moths, insects, and amphibians that capture the curiosity of visitors and scientists alike. The surrounding forested area has become a destination for education: combined with the Rainforest Medicine Trail, it provides an excellent opportunity to study medicinal and useful plants. Your afternoon will be at leisure: enjoy the optional excursions at lodge or indulge in a treatment at the onsite spa to unwind after your adventure.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Extend your stay in San Ignacio at Chaa Creek Lodge. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Belize by taking advantage of the wide range of optional excursions available during your time at the lodge. For those seeking relaxation, unwind by the pool, or simply soak in the serene jungle surroundings.
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport in Belize for your return flight to the UK.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
An ESTA is mandatory for transiting through the U.S. You must apply for the ESTA through the official website, provide your destination as "In Transit," and have it approved before travel; otherwise, you could be denied boarding.
Application: Apply at the official ESTA website (esta.cbp.dhs.gov) or via the mobile app. Address Field: In the "Address While In The United States" section, enter "In Transit" and your final destination
A visa is not required to enter Guatemala or Belize; however further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries.We strongly advise you check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up-to-date guidelines regarding passport validity.
It is your responsibility to check your passport validity. To enter Guatemala your passport must: have a ‘date of issue’ less than 10 years before the date you arrive and have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave, as well as 2 blank pages. To enter Belize, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ more than 3 months after the date you arrive. Some airlines may refuse boarding if the expiry date is not more than 6 months after the date you arrive.
Sources of information include; https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with a good level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves climbing steep stairs and getting on and off transport such as coaches and trains. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Guatemala is the Guatemalan Quetzals. The US Dollar is widely accepted in Guatemala; however, it is still recommended to have Guatemalan Quetzals on hand at all times, particularly smaller bills if you are visiting smaller towns, local restaurants and government operated tourist sides. Credit cards are also accepted as a form of payment in larger cities, restaurants and major tourist attractions; however some smaller stores, supermarkets and restaurants may only accept cash.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take money with you to cover any personal purchases such as souvenirs, laundry, any meals not included in the itinerary as well as drinks and any additional snacks. Approximately £800/£900 per person will be sufficient for the duration of the tour. It is a good idea to try and maintain a supply of small notes and change in the local currency for tipping or small purchases.
It is at your customary to tip both your driver and guide. We would recommend to tip approximately US$5.00 (£3) per person per day for the tour guide and US$3.00 (£2) per person per day for the driver. As tipping is at your discretion, please tip as and when you feel appropriate. Tips are accepted in any currency.
It is important that you budget carefully and ensure you have the right form of currency before you arrive. There are foreign exchange offices and cash machines available in most places during your tour. Your tour guide can assist you in each country with currency exchange. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants; a charge is sometimes added for using them.
This is an escorted tour meaning that you will have an English Speaking Guide who will greet you in each of the cities that you visit, during coach transfers and excursions, ensuring that you always have first-hand knowledge.
Your extended stay in Beilze is not escorted by a tour guide.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist between the UK and Guatemala or Belize.. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way.
Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
On your arrival in Guatemala, you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Best Costa Rica, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Best Costa Rica representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your national guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
If you need to contact our local partner during your stay the details are:
Best of Costa Rica: Contact number: 00506 8747 8000
E-mail: mercuryholidays@bestcostaricadmc.com
Please find below the emergency contact details for Best of Costa Rica Contact details:
24 hour telephone: 00506 8936 1212
24 hour email address: mercuryholidays@bestcostaricadmc.com
