12 Day Culture & Adventure in Guatemala & Belize

Gate 1 Travel
3.8 . Great
71%
Travel Style: Array Mixed
Physical Level: All or most of day hiking or biking, hills included. Moderate
Lodging Level: Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels. Value (3*)
12 days
From: $ 3,359 $ 280 / day
Checking price

Overview

Highlights (Bullets)

  • Get a glimpse into the history of coffee and its production, followed by a tasting
  • Tour Guatemala's indigenous communities around Antigua
  • Savor a home hosted lunch with a local family and hear about their values and traditions
  • Visit Casa Santo Domingo, a cultural complex housing two of Antigua's best museums
  • Take a peaceful boat ride through the canyon of the Rio Dulce and hear the sounds of nature around you
  • Explore the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization
  • Enjoy a tubing excursion at Jaguar Paw Cave, a sacred underground world to the Maya
  • Take a catamaran tour to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, known for its impressive coral reefs and abundant marine life
  • Discover Belize City with its unique blend of Mayan ruins and old colonial buildings
†Transfers are available for purchase for land only or on alternative flight dates

Short Description

2 Antigua, 2 Rio Dulce, 2 Flores, 2 San Ignacio, 2 Caye Caulker, 1 Belize City

Style Small group tour
See all the highlights and popular spots on a classic tour.
Itinerary Focus Classic Highlights
Mid-range budget with accommodations ranging from comfortable lodges, guesthouses, and homestays to three star hotels.
Lodging Level Value (3*)
Flight & Transport Inclusions All internal ground transport
Start City N/A
End City N/A

Destinations

N/A

Attractions & Cities Visited

Antigua Caribbean Caye Caulker Flores San Ignacio Tikal

Activities & Interests

N/A

N/A
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Itinerary

DAY 1, Saturday - Depart for Guatemala
Depart for Guatemala. Arrive in Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua, nestled in the forested hills of southern Guatemala
Overnight: Antigua

DAY 2, Sunday - Coffee Tour, Antigua's Indigenous Communities, Casa Santo Domingo
Today, get a glimpse into the history of coffee, its production, and what makes the perfect brew during a tour of a coffee farm. At the conclusion of the visit, taste a fresh cup of coffee. Then, visit indigenous communities outside Antigua, including Jocotenango, Ciudad Vieja and San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Learn about their history, culture and traditions, and savor a home hosted lunch. Return to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit Casa Santo Domingo. This evening, enjoy an orientation meeting with your Tour Manager and fellow travelers, followed by dinner
Overnight: Antigua
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3, Monday - Travel to Rio Dulce, Archaeological Park & Ruins of Quiriguá
Departing Antigua this morning, head east towards Rio Dulce. Following lunch en route, visit the Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quiriguá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. View the 35 foot stela, the tallest known Mayan stela. Later, continue the drive to Rio Dulce. Arrive and check into your hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Rio Dulce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4, Tuesday - Discover Livingston
Begin the day with a boat ride down the river to Livingston, an Afro-Caribbean town with a unique blend of culture. Stop to visit Ak' Tenamit, a Cultural and Educational Center for indigenous Q'eqchi' Maya people. After, continue to Livingston, located on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Savor lunch prepared by the community Maya Q'eqchi'. Learn the secrets of making Tapado, a traditional Guatemalan seafood soup. Then, take an orientation tour of the town. Later, return by boat to Rio Dulce with time at leisure
Overnight: Rio Dulce
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 5, Wednesday - Flores, Lake Peten Itza
Depart Rio Dulce this morning and travel to Flores, located on Lake Peten Itza. Board a boat to reach the small island. Then, take a walking tour of the town with its pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets and Central Plaza. Browse the shops for local handicrafts. Later, check into the hotel for dinner and overnight
Overnight: Flores
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 6, Thursday - Tikal National Park
A thrilling day of exploration awaits! Journey to the ancient Mayan city of Tikal, a large archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, located at the center of a 222-square-mile national park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. An exhilarating jungle hike leads you through the ruins. View the impressive structures of this ancient civilization, as you visit sites that include the Twin-Pyramid complex, the Lost World Complex (where the Great Pyramid is located), and the Great Plaza. After lunch at the park, free time to explore on your own. Perhaps climb to the top of Pyramid IV, the highest of the Mayan pyramids, from which you will have a panoramic view of Tikal and its surrounding jungle. Afterward, return to your hotel
Overnight: Flores
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 7, Friday - Yaxha National Park, Border Crossing to Belize, San Ignacio
Explore the ancient city of Yaxha, a former Maya ceremonial center, perched on a ridge overlooking Yaxha Lake. This impressive archaeological site encompasses ball courts, several plazas, multiple pyramids, stelae and altars. Opportunity to climb one of the temples for panoramic views of the area. Following lunch, travel to Melchor de Mencos. After border formalities, you cross from Guatemala into Belize, continuing on to San Ignacio. Arrive at the hotel with time to relax before dinner
Overnight: San Ignacio
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8, Saturday - Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing
Depart for Jaguar Paw Cave. On arrival, take a short hike along a jungle trail to reach the waters and embark on a tubing excursion. Float down the river though a series of underground caves and explore limestone stalactite formations. The ancient Mayans used this subterranean system to reach Xibalba, their sacred underworld. After a picnic lunch, return to the hotel, followed by an evening at leisure
Overnight: San Ignacio
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 9, Sunday - Belize Zoo, Ferry to Caye Caulker Island
Morning departure from San Ignacio towards Belize City. On arrival, visit the Belize Zoo. Later, board a ferry to the island of Caye Caulker. This Caribbean island is surrounded by the biodiverse Belize Barrier Reef. Arrive at your resort hotel in time for a lunch of Belizean dishes. Spend the afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Caye Caulker
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 10, Monday - Enchanting Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Today, take a catamaran tour to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, known for its coral reefs and abundant marine life. Come face to face with docile nurse sharks and southern stingrays at the feeding grounds of Shark Ray Alley. Afterward, head to Coral Gardens for snorkeling. View a maze of colorful hard and soft corals along with a variety of bright-colored fish. Continue to Sunken Barge, where you view coral and many species of fish. Lunch is included during the tour. Return to Caye Caulker. Spend time at leisure, before dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Caye Caulker
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11, Tuesday - Discover Belize City
After a leisurely morning, transfer by ferry in the afternoon to Belize City with its Caribbean charm. Embark on a panoramic city tour and learn about the former capital city of Belize, founded in the 1600s by the British. Afterward, check into your hotel. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your Tour Manager and share wonderful memories of your journey
Overnight: Belize City
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 12, Wednesday - Depart Belize
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast

Availability

Checking price
Price From $ 3,359
Price Per Day: $ 280 per day
Checking price
Start DateEnd DateLand OnlyLand + Air Travel 
Jun-17-2023Jun-29-2023$ 2,749$ 3,639 Reserve
Sep-02-2023Sep-14-2023$ 2,749$ 3,389 Reserve
Sep-23-2023Oct-05-2023$ 2,749$ 3,389 Reserve
Oct-07-2023Oct-19-2023$ 2,749$ 3,389 Reserve
Oct-21-2023Nov-02-2023$ 2,749$ 3,389 Reserve
Nov-04-2023Nov-16-2023$ 2,749$ 3,839 Reserve
Nov-18-2023Nov-30-2023$ 2,799$ 3,599 Reserve
Dec-02-2023Dec-14-2023$ 2,799$ 3,999 Reserve
Dec-16-2023Dec-28-2023$ 2,799$ 3,999 Reserve
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Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Gate 1 Travel.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

680 Gate 1 Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings

71%
3.8 out of 5 (100+ reviews)
Excellent 440
Great 22
Average 22
Disappointing 26
Terrible 170
Value
3.8
Guide
3.8
Activities
3.8
Lodging
3.8
Transportation
3.8
Meals
3.8

12 Day Culture & Adventure in Guatemala & Belize

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Company Reviews

Morocco Great trip, exceeded expectations

5.0
Details
Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
We just returned from a 12 day Morocco trip. Our first and definetley not the last. The hotels were all clean and in good locations. Loved the medinas and the highlight was the Camel ride in the Sahara. We extended our stay in Casablanca for 2 nights, and our guide Mohamad, verified the driver would pick us up at 4 am, and asked the hotel have a to go breakfast for us.. beyond the customer service experience.
Our flights luckily were all fine, so that is the luck of the draw these days.. We enjoyed exploring a lot of places in morocco. Yes the bus rides can be long, but the stops were frequent, and prearrange stops with good restrooms. Always had plenty of water available on the bus. Our trip included folks who had been on more that 10 gate one trips, so that was good to know since our first. So next year we are planning another trip.
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Just completed the 11 day Essential…

5.0
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Value5.0
Guide5.0
Activities5.0
Lodging5.0
Transportation5.0
Meals5.0
Just completed the 11 day Essential South Africa tour. I had decided that I would never book with Gate 1 again before I left for the trip. This was due to the number of times that I and the others in my group made phone calls regarding our reservation. We got agents who didn’t follow through, did not return calls, provided incorrect information and a manager who told me we should have gone through a travel agent. The agent was very accommodating when we booked. Having questions and looking for answers, feeling you were a problem was awful. Colleen our tour guide was excellent. She took excellent care of us and only because of her, I would give Gate 1 another chance. Patience is a virtue, and it doesn’t stop when you get a customer’s money.
Sandra Green
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Money not refunded Arch Travel Insurance and/or Gate one

2.0
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Value2.0
Guide2.0
Activities2.0
Lodging2.0
Transportation2.0
Meals2.0
I have been traveling with gate 1 off and on for many years. I usually get the insurance for most trips. In April we would due to go to Fiji. I was diagnosed with the heart condition And told not to fly travel or exert myself in anyway until after I was cleared by my doctor. I had to cancel the trip of course so I filed an insurance claim the trip was approximately $1,500 per person. We canceled it Under the 30 day mark so gate 1 would only give us 10% of our money back. However, Arch insurance Only gave us $475 back. The indicated Gate one would refund the rest. Odd, bot ok. 6/2/23 I called gate 1 and advised them of conversations with Arch..they said no, call arch and ask if they refund airfare in their policy. They were closed, so I called American Airlines, to find out that $776 had been credited back to GATE 1??!!? The cost of the airfare was 776. Why did Gate One take my air credit and why did arch travel insurance send me $475+/- and CLOSE MY CASE? Gate one has my and traveling partners airfare, and I paid $149 for Arch insurance travel policy through Gate one, only to get $475 back from Arch in Total??? Now I have to call again and find out who has the .money.
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Exciting and Rewarding

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
I would like to say for most of this trip to Brazil and Argentina it was amazing but there were some hiccups,sometimes it seems as if we were push for time to leave, I miss something i would like to have seen. Seeing the city of Rio deJaneiro from the statue of Christ The Remeemer and take pictures was a very exciting moment. The Iguazu Falls was a fall to remember I though Niagara Falls was a exciting Fall this is something else. I enjoy the Tradition Gaucho Party the ranch was very nice place the entertainment was, I didn't get to see the museum, i did go to the general store. Here one problem i had at the ranch i told the guide that i did eat farm animal but i did eat fish so I though I would get a fish dinner, even though there were farmers, it has always been notice that there were stream, ponds, creeks and rivers near the farms that had fish in them. Watching them do the Samba and Tango was a a delightful experience. In all it was an enjoyable trip.
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European River Cruise on Monarch Queen…

4.0
Details
Value4.0
Guide4.0
Activities4.0
Lodging4.0
Transportation4.0
Meals4.0
European River Cruise on Monarch Queen from Amsterdam to Budapest. Queen offered great accommodations from cabins, reception, lounges, dining room to sundeck. Staff was professional and went above and beyond, always pleasant, always smiling. Our cruise director Soma and activities director Danielle were the best ever.
Booking was easy, the only negative was when we asked to change cabins in the same category I was put on hold a very long time, could see on line the cabin was changed, but still kept on hold over a half hour to confirm.
Airfare and travel insurance is ALWAYS something we book separate from any travel company. This seems to be the biggest issue travelers have so it's best to book it yourself so you have control.
We will definitely use Gate 1 Travel again....but book our own airfare and insurance.
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France April 27- May 9

3.0
Details
Value3.0
Guide3.0
Activities3.0
Lodging3.0
Transportation3.0
Meals3.0
France April 27 - May 9. We have had several Gale One tours that were Great, but not this one. Basically the accommodations and land travel were not acceptable. Sights were wonderful.

First, the Bus was too small for such a long trip. When sitting, my knees hit back of seat in front of me. No space for legs or anything else. Very cramped. Could not use pouch on back of seat in front of me. Overhead bin was very tiny.

Secondly, Most Hotels, especially Mercure hotel chain were terrible. No air or windows in the rooms. Asked for fan but not always available. Hotel in Bordeaux was the worst. 1 of 2 elevators not working; very hot in room; no relief in sight; meals too sparse. The only decent hotel was in Lourdes where we could open the window. We understand that air-conditioning is infrequent in Europe, but for the price we pay, Gate One can find better places to stay and still be in center of cities.

Tour guide was very nice but seemed uninformed. Gate One tour guides for Greece, Morocco and Sicily were tremendous comparably. Some of her facts about castles etc. differ from most tour books. She needs to use a script as her English is too halted for being a guide. She seemed to often pause mid-sentence thinking for the next word. She frequently asked tourists for the correct word to use.
Poor idea to show two 50-year-old irrelevant movies in the bus. Could not see subtitles unless sitting in first 2-3 rows near the screens. We were looking for more history about the country, artists, music, Resistance movement during WWII, French influence around the world, why Paris selected for so many international treaties, etc.

Several lunch rest stops were at gas stations. We were captive for expensive, lousy food. It would have been nice to know this a day or two in advance so that we could purchase food elsewhere & bring it with us on those days.

In closing, we like Gate One generally and have several friends who used them per our recommendation. Not sure I would suggest it again.
Thank you for your opportunity to reply here.
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Details

Flight & Transport Inclusions

All internal ground transport

Group Size

Small Group - 24 max

Additional Information


Additional Information:
Land only price does not include arrival/departure transfers.

Trip ID#:

gate1-DSCV-GT-BZ-12DGTBZ-PKG-23

What's excluded

Not Included: Gratuities.
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