Essential Guatemala 8-Day Itinerary

E
Etnica
  • Email address verified
34 reviews
Duration: 8 days
Group size: 1 - 8
Essential Guatemala 8-Day Itinerary
Guatemala

Etnica
  • Email address verified
34 reviews

$NaN
Duration: 8 days
Group size: 1 - 8

About this trip

Main Highlights of this Adventure

Accommodation

Transportation

Expert Guides

Meals

Packing List

Booking & Cancellation Policy

What’s included

  • Accommodation
    Single / double room depending on package booked. Some hotels may include breakfast in the room rate.
  • Tours and activities
    Unique experiences available daily. See the day-by-day itinerary for recommended tours and additional options available.
  • Local guides
    Local specialized guides will accompany you during activities. Please note that some guides may not speak English, and an additional cost will apply if an English-speaking translator is required.
  • Airport transfers
    Shuttles and taxis arranged to get you to/from the airport.
  • Ground transportation
    Private/shared shuttles will take you between destinations.
  • Entrance fees
    Entrance fee for Pacaya and Tikal.
  • Domestic flight
    Roundtrip GUA-FRS. Includes one 10lb personal item and one 10lb piece of checked luggage.
  • Specified Meals
    Included meals are noted in the itinerary: B= Breakfast, BB=Box Breakfast, L= Lunch, BL= Boxed Lunch, D= Dinner
  • Interactive itinerary
    Real time itinerary available on an app. Includes recommendations for every destination, maps and direct chat with our team.
  • 24/7 Assistance
    In country assistance in English during the whole trip.

What’s not included

  • International flights
    Book your flights to/from La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City.
  • Travel Insurance
    Prepare in case of any medical emergency, international flight issues or situation where you may require coverage and assistance.
  • Optional activities
    Tell us if you wish to include any of the suggested optional activities.
  • Drinks
    Drinks are not included during meals on day trips and tours.
  • Boat transfers
    We'll give you the pointers for moving like a local in the Lake Atitlan public boats. If you want a private boat let us know in advance.
  • Tips and gratuities
    Ask about our tipping guidelines so you can consider this in your travel budget.
  • Not specified meals
  • Personal expenses

Available Packages

Solo traveler
Available until 30 days before departure
$2,600
Price per person (couples and teens)
$1,675
Price per child (up to 11 years old)
Available until 30 days before departure
$885


Itinerary

Day 1
Bienvenidos! Welcome to the land of eternal spring (-/-/-)

Your Organizer


E
Etnica
34 reviews
At Etnica we invite you to discover culture by experiencing it and encourage you to interact with local communities and learn about the traditions and cultural heritage that make them unique while you discover Guatemala and southern Mexico. We design tailor-made experiences, tours and workshops with local operators and families in their beautiful surroundings. If you are a hands-on travel enthusiast; we welcome you to learn from the best and participate in real and authentic cultural encounters.

Reviews

Good follow up of our trip. A few hick-ups, which were dealt with very fast via the chat of the app.
By Vincent L for Epic Guatemala Adventure - Vincent & Wendy Laneau - De Vries on Jan 19, 2026
We loved the walk and the spectacular scenery through the local farm areas - lush with coffee, vegetables and bush. The 2nd day gave us wonderful views of multiple volcanos and we loved interacting with the local Guatemalan people. Hoses was a knowledge guide who was also our cook - great food. A shout out to Miguel our driver who also looked after and transported one of our group who became unwell. It’s a tough walk but well worth it. Phil and Liz
By Phil B for 3 Day Trek from Antigua to Lake Atitlan on Jan 02, 2026
From start to finish the tour was organized in full detail. Both our local guide René as our English interpreter Hector did an amazing job of showing us around the jungle, setting up camp and preparing food. I would highly recommend this tour!!!
By Arne V for 3 Day Trek from El Zotz to Tikal on Nov 02, 2025
I cannot recommend Etnica highly enough. Our partnership with them for a recent educational program in Mexico was exceptional from start to finish. Their team handled every detail of our on-the-ground logistics with professionalism, warmth, and incredible cultural insight. Every experience, from visiting Maya archaeological sites to learning traditional cooking and weaving, was thoughtfully curated and authentically local. Our guides were knowledgeable, patient, and deeply passionate about the country’s history and culture. Etnica’s organization made it possible for our students to fully immerse themselves in the learning experience without worrying about logistics. As a university faculty member and global studies director with over 15 years of experience coordinating study-abroad programs, I can honestly say that Etnica is one of the very best partners I’ve ever worked with. They balance safety, education, and cultural connection perfectly. We’re already planning our next program with them - and we can't wait!!!
By Stacie F for Experiential Yucatan (Stacie Freeman) on Oct 27, 2025
Ethics Travel was superb and extremely helpful with booking a last minute trip to Lake Atitlan and Antigua Guatemala. Their guides and drivers were fantastic and I was extremely happy with the service provided.
By Lauren G for Adventures in Guatemala (Lauren Gross) on Aug 20, 2025
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References

I had a truly incredible experience in Guatemala - and I have Pablo and the Etnica team to thank for it! Pablo worked closely with me to design a custom trip for my friend and me, taking into consideration our logistical preferences, interests, time window, and budget. As the primary planner for my friend's and my trip, I was in frequent communication with Pablo, and I was impressed by his expertise, professionalism, warmth, and dedication. It is clear that he is passionate about what he does, and wants his travelers to experience the best of what Guatemala has to offer! During our trip itself, everything was smooth, efficient, and executed perfectly, from airport transfers / transportation, food and cultural recommendations, and comfortable, conveniently-located accommodations. All of our guides were incredibly friendly, treating us like friends rather than "tourists"; in fact, I felt that my interactions with the locals were perhaps the best part of this whole experience. At the end of the trip, I remained in Guatemala solo, while my friend returned to the states. During this time, I continued to take tours and explore Guatemala per Pablo's recommendations, and I felt safe, met incredible people, and gained a huge appreciation for the culture and people. I will recommend Etnica to my friends and family with great enthusiasm, and I can't wait to return! Thank you for everything, Pablo! -Kim from NYC
By Kim T on 21 Apr, 2023
I traveled as a teacher with students and can say with full sincerity that our tour guide, Pablo, exceeded every expectation I had for the trip! Not only did my students see beautiful tourist attractions and learn about the history of those places, but the best was them having multiple opportunities to meet and spend time getting to know people and their different ways of life all across the country. Having chaperoned educational tours with various companies, I can easily say that this one facilitated the best cultural learning and human connections for myself and my students. Many thanks, Etnica, for the experience and the memories!
By Emily H on 31 Aug, 2022