11-Day Mayan Ruins Tour: Guatemala and Copán

Transportation to your hotel in Antigua.

Spend the day discovering Antigua on this guided day tour. Located in the central highlands of Guatemala, Antigua is home to cobblestone streets and terracotta roof buildings that give the city its colonial charm. Your tour begins with a visit to Cerro de la Cruz, where you'll admire the whole city of Antigua from atop the hill. Then, head back down to Antigua's Central Plaza, where you'll visit San Francisco Church, home to the shrine of Peter of St Joseph Betancur. See also the famous arch of Santa Catalina, built in the 17th century and once home to Santa Catalina Convent. Next, visit La Merced Church, which has a beautiful Baroque-style façade.

Eat lunch at a local restaurant (own expense) before heading to a nearby coffee plantation. Learn how coffee is made and sample some of the fresh product before being transported back to your hotel.

Morning hike up to Pacaya Volcano, the most active volcano in Guatemala.

After pickup from your Antigua hotel, venture northwest approximately an hour to the dusty town of Tecpán. Here, explore the Mayan ruins of Iximché, once the Kaqchiquel Maya capital and a Guatemala must-see attraction. Upon entering the ruins, you'll see four ceremonial plazas, which are surrounded by tall temple structures and two ball courts. The plazas were used for things such as housing for residents and special ceremonies, and the ball courts were used to play the Mesoamerican ballgame, a sport that dates back to 1400 BC.

Feel as if you’ve gone back in time as you walk along the town’s narrow, cobblestone streets and past its red-tiled roofs. In the central plaza, discover Chichicastenango’s most prominent attraction, the open-air market, filled with local goods like ceramic pots, wood carvings and other handmade wares, as well as fruits and vegetables. Browse the locally made goods and pick up a souvenir or two to take home! While you’re in the plaza, visit the Iglesia de Santo Tomas (Church of Santo Tomas), located on the east side of the plaza. Dating back to 1540, the church is often home to Mayan rituals. On the west side of the plaza, visit Calvary Church, a smaller version of Iglesia Santo Tomas.

Enjoy a beautiful sightseeing cruise across the lake to the Tzutujil village of Santiago de Atitlán.

Visit Panajachel, a small town located on the northeast shore of Lago de Atitlán (Lake Atitlan). Known as a hub for traveling across Lago de Atitlán, Panajachel is a quaint, charming town where you'll have lunch at a local restaurant (own expense) before heading over to the town’s main thoroughfare, Santander Street. Stroll down the street with your guide and observe town life going on at the locally made handicraft stalls, other shops and restaurants. Transfert to Guatemala City.

Located only 37 miles (60 km) from the Guatemala border, the ancient UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Copan is considered a spectacular example of Mayan pre-Colombian culture. Along with your knowledgeable guide, explore the huge complex here, consisting of several plazas and ceremonial temples. Admire the impressive detailed carvings of the more than 4,000 structures on site. Visit the Great Plaza, located on the north side of the complex, before seeing Copan's most famous monument, Altar Q, which is an intricate structure depicting all of the city’s 16 kings in succession. Enjoy lunch (own expense) in Copan before having free time to explore on your own for the rest of the day.

Visit to the Mayan site, Quirigua. It's known for the Mayan world’s tallest stela. When finished, transportation to Rio Dulce.

Time to enjoy a boat trip from Río Dulce to Livingston and a stop at a hot water springs. After lunch continue to Flores.

Visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Tikal National Park, embark on a 4.5-hour tour with your knowledgeable guide. One of Guatemala's most important archaeological sites, Tikal was built during the Classic Period. The park, which covers 341 square miles (550 square km), contains thousands of separate ruin structures. Your guide will show you the layout of the complex, including the Central Acropolis, which consists of a maze of courtyards, small rooms and temples. Visit Complex Q and R, featuring twin-pyramid complexes with altars set in front of the temples. Walk to Temple I—the Temple of the Grand Jaguar—a 144-foot (44-meter) temple with three rooms, including exterior stairs leading to the top. Then head to the nearby Temple II, also known as the Temple of the Masks, regarded as one of the most important within the vast complex. At the completion of your guided tour, return to the visitor center to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Visit Yaxhá, a former ceremonial center and city of the Pre-Columbian Maya Civilization. When finish transfer to Mundo Maya Airport to take the flight back to Guatemala City.

Transfer to La Aurora International Airport to take flight back to your country.