Guatemala: Culture & Connection

Welcome to Guatemala.

Upon arrival at La Aurora International Airport, you will be welcomed and transferred privately to the shores of Lake Atitlán—a journey of approximately three and a half hours that offers a first glimpse of Guatemala’s dramatic highlands.

Arrive, settle in, and let the stillness of the lake do its work. As the evening descends over the water, join the group for a welcome dinner—a warm and unhurried introduction to the days ahead.

Begin the morning with a wellness session and breakfast before heading out onto the lake.

A short boat transfer takes you to Santa Cruz La Laguna for a kayaking session on the clear, volcanic waters of Lake Atitlán—one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, cradled by three dormant volcanoes. From there, continue by boat to San Juan La Laguna, a village where sustainable tourism and Mayan tradition genuinely intersect. Visit women-led textile cooperatives, natural dyeing studios, and the ateliers of local painters whose work bridges the ancestral and the contemporary.

At midday, join a local family for a Sustainable Mayan Cooking Experience—a hands-on class rooted in ancestral technique, organic ingredients, and the cultural centrality of corn in Mayan life. Share a meal with your hosts and leave with more than a recipe.

Afternoon transfer back to the hotel.

After your morning wellness session and breakfast, the day opens into something more sacred.

Cross the lake to San Marcos La Laguna, where a respected Maya shaman leads the group through a traditional Fire and Cacao Ceremony. Offerings of candles, incense, flowers, and corn are made in gratitude and guidance, as the shaman shares the cosmovision of the four elements—fire, water, air, and earth—and their enduring role in Mayan spiritual harmony.

Afterwards, a scenic boat crossing brings you to Santa Catarina Palopó for free time at the natural hot springs—a quiet, grounding close to a deeply felt day.

A morning wellness session and breakfast before departing the lake.

En route to Antigua, the journey pauses at Iximché—a Maya Kaqchikel city founded in 1463, nestled in quiet pine forests and carrying the weight of a civilisation that shaped this region’s history. Walk the traces of its plazas and temples, and take a moment with what still stands.

Continue to Antigua Guatemala, arriving in time to settle in, explore the cobblestones at your own pace, and ease into the city’s quiet elegance.

A morning wellness session at the hotel, followed by breakfast at a local restaurant.

Antigua is one of the best-preserved colonial cities in the Americas—a UNESCO World Heritage Site where baroque churches, crumbling convents, and flowering vines line streets of volcanic stone. Your guide leads you through the living heart of it: lively plazas, hidden courtyards, artisan markets, and the iconic Santa Catalina Arch.

Stories of Spanish grandeur and indigenous resilience give texture to what you see, with unhurried stops for exceptional coffee and the kind of discovery that only comes on foot. The afternoon is yours—to wander further, rest, or simply sit with the city.

A final morning wellness session and breakfast before a full and unhurried day in the villages surrounding Antigua.
The day moves through four distinct communities. In San Juan El Obispo, visit the historic monastery and meet artisanal cacao growers whose chocolate-making connects ancient knowledge to living craft. In San Pedro Las Huertas, the communal washbasins—still in daily use—offer a quiet window into the rhythms of village life.

San Antonio Aguas Calientes is the heartland of Mayan textile tradition. Sit down to a home-cooked lunch made by local artisans, then meet the weavers who have kept backstrap loom weaving alive across generations—learning the symbolism embedded in every colour and pattern, and trying your hand at the loom yourself.

The final stop is Valhalla Macadamia Farm, a pioneering model of regenerative agriculture where reforestation, soil health, and community sustainability are woven into every harvest. Taste their macadamia products and leave understanding that food, too, can be an act of care.

In the evening, gather at Welten Restaurant for a farewell dinner—local wines, shared reflection, and a meaningful close to the journey.

Begin your final morning with a wellness session and breakfast at the hotel.

When your flight schedule allows, your private transfer will take you to La Aurora International Airport for your onward journey. You leave having moved through ancient ruins, volcanic lakes, colonial streets, and the hands of people who have kept their traditions alive for generations.