Guatemala 2026

March 5-19, 2026
Only 11 spots available
Host: Trish

Cost:
First 5 participants to book: $5,049 USD
Remaining 6 participants: $5,349 USD

Payments:
25% down payment required to secure your spot
A payment plan will be made for the remaining amount
Full payment is due 120 days prior to trip start

Registration:
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Click the Register button below and fill out the form! Then you'll receive an email with next steps.

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About the trip

Welcome to Guatemala, the "land of eternal spring"

Get ready for an unforgettable 14-day journey through one of Central America’s most vibrant and diverse countries. Guatemala is a land of towering volcanoes, lush cloud forests, ancient Mayan ruins, and colorful highland villages rich in culture and tradition. From the cobblestone streets of colonial towns to the jungle temples of Tikal, this country invites you to explore deeply and connect meaningfully.

On this adventure we’ll witness the raw power of Volcán Acatenango, trek through remote mountain trails to the stunning shores of Lake Atitlán, and immerse ourselves in the warmth of local communities as we stay in their homes. Choose your own pace at Lake Atitlán with options like yoga, kayaking, hiking, or ATVing around the lake. Experience hands-on cultural workshops, explore Guatemala’s natural and historical wonders, and give back through meaningful volunteer work in Suchitepéquez Village.

This journey is about more than seeing a new place. It’s about forging lasting connections, stepping outside your comfort zone, and discovering your strength alongside a supportive community of women.

Activities

Included activities:

  • Antigua walking tour

  • Weaving workshop + cooking class

  • Jade jewelry workshop

  • Free time to explore Antigua

  • Acatenango Volcano overnight hike

  • Post-hike massage

  • 3-day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan

  • Kayak or paddleboard on Lake Atitlan

  • Sunset ATV tour to different villages around Lake Atitlan

  • Cultural workshops

  • Full day Mayan ruins and jungle tour

  • Sunrise wildlife tour

  • Volunteer day at Suchitepecez Village

​

Optional activities:

  • Hike from Acatenango base camp to Volcano Fuego

  • Easy day hike before trek orientation with guides

  • Sunrise Indian Nose hike

  • Yoga

  • Sunset hike to Volcano Pacaya

  •  Final morning hike

Recommendations available to those arriving early or staying longer

Inclusions

  • All included activities

  • Flights from Antigua to Tikal, and Tikal to Antigua

  • ​Meals as outlined in itinerary (about 60%)

  • Ground transportation throughout tour

  • Accommodations throughout the tour

Exclusions

  • International flights​

  • Passports/visas

  • Travel/medical insurance

  • Optional activities

  • Meals not included in itinerary

  • Airport transfers

  • Tips for guides

  • Vaccines

Accommodations

During our time in Antigua we will be staying at our tour operator's private dorms located in Jocotenango, a ten minute drive from the center of Antigua. The rooms include a full bathroom, small balcony, and a terrace with incredible views of VĂłlcan de Agua and the surrounding landscapes. Each room has 4 beds available, and each bed includes a night-light, outlet, and small shelf to place your phone or any other personal items. The dorm sits above EXPLORENGO's NGO Day Care Center, giving you the opportunity to spend time with the local children and families that we are assisting.

During our overnight Volcano Acatenango hike we will be staying in a private camp with private cabins just for us: 3 cabins with 4 double beds per cabin, with a direct view of the volcano.

During our 3 day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan as well as our time at Lake Atitlan, we will be staying at homestays.​ Spread out in multiple homes, we will have the opportunity to spend time with our homestay families and eat their delicious food. These accommodations are special, as you'll get to stay and spend time with the families whom your money has gone to.

For our single night in Tikal, we will be staying at a 2-star hotel in Flores, the closest town to Tikal.

Day 1: Arrival

 Arrive in Guatemala at your leisure and take your time to drop off your luggage, then spend your afternoon as you please!​

Meet the group for our first dinner together and get to know one another.

Meals Included: Dinner

Accommodation: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 2: Antigua

Today we will be spending our first full day together exploring Antigua with a walking tour and weaving workshop in the morning, a cooking class for lunch, and a jade jewelry workshop in the afternoon. Then, choose to stick with the group or go on your own to continue exploring the city.

Meals Included: Lunch

Accommodation: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 3: Volcán Acatenango

We will leave the dorms around 7:30am and take a shuttle to the trail guide's office, where you will be able to rent jackets, headlamps, hiking poles, and receive your packed lunch to carry with you. For anyone who wants a porter to carry their bag (for an extra cost), this is also where you meet the porter. The hike starts around 10am with our group arriving at basecamp around 4 or 5pm which is just near the top of Acatenango. There is then the option to hike an additional 2 hours after sunset onto Volcano Fuego, (the volcano that is currently active/erupting) to see the lava eruptions up close. This takes about 4-5 additional hours, and costs an additional $25. Participants will sleep in a dorm room at basecamp. A home cooked dinner is included.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: Dorm room at basecamp

Day 4: Volcán Acatenango

 A 4am wakeup call will have us hiking to the very top of Acatenango for a sunrise hike! Everyone will have a home-cooked breakfast and then descend Acatenango, returning to the office around noon or 1pm. We will then shuttle back to Antigua and arrive around 1:30 or 2 pm, where lunch will be waiting for us, and a massage!

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodation: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 5: Transfer to Xela

 Today is all about prepping for our 3 day trek. We will start by driving to Xela, and in the evening we will meet our guides for our orientation, make sure we've got everything we need, and to ask any questions we may have about the trek. In between our arrival in Xela and our orientation you're free to explore on your own or join an optional, easy day hike.

Meals Included: None

Accommodation: TBD

Day 6: Xela Trek (day 1)

Our 3-day trek from Xela to Lake Atitlan will cover 46km (28.5 miles) with a total of 1,600m (5,250 feet) elevation gain and 2,500m (8,200 feet) elevation loss. Our highest altitude will be 3,050m (10,000 feet).

We're skipping the shuttle, and instead trekking through cloud forests, coffee groves, and rural villages. Marvel at corn fields growing on steep hillsides, cross rivers and relax by a wood fire, and enjoy views of the surrounding countryside and mountains. Your extra luggage however, will be shuttled to Lake Atitlan and await your arrival.

Our evenings will be spent in local Mayan communities, and on our first night, we will have the opportunity to use a temescal (traditional Mayan sauna).

Distance covered: 19km / 12 miles
Elevation gained: 1,050m / 3,445 feet
Elevation loss: 1,050m / 3,445 feet

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodations: Homestay

Day 7: Xela Trek (day 2)

After our second full day of hiking, enjoy a homecooked meal with your homestay! You'll have the option for a shower tonight, too!

Distance covered: 18km / 11 miles
Elevation gained: 500m / 1,640 feet
Elevation loss: 850m / 2,790 feet

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

​Accommodations: Homestay

Day 8: Xela Trek (day 3)

 On Day 3, we will rise early to watch the sunrise over the beautiful Lake Atitlán while enjoying breakfast at the mirador. From there, we will descend into San Juan La Laguna where you may enjoy a local coffee or other snack before we transit to nearby San Pedro La Laguna.

Arriving at Lake Atitlan mid-day, you will have time to relax and explore at your leisure.

Distance covered: 10km / 6 miles
Elevation gained: 100m / 330 feet
Elevation loss: 600m / 1,970 feet

Meals Included: Breakfast, dinner

​Accommodations: Homestay

Day 9: Lake Atitlan

 Sleep in this morning after 3 long days of hiking, or get up and join an optional hike to Indian Nose or yoga session! We will spend the day at the lake using paddleboards and kayaks to explore at our leisure, and end the day with an ATV tour at sunset to go see other nearby villages.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

​Accommodations: Homestay

Day 10: Lake Atitlan + Antigua

Today is a special day, as our homestay families have helped arrange some cultural workshops for us to participate in. One includes a ritualistic art and Mayan healing workshop with a Mayan spiritual guide and artist. Another is a medicinal herbal workshop to learn about the plants and surrounding nature that have been sacred and healing to the Mayans living here for generations. We also have the option to do a coffee/cocoa workshop and tour, and there are tons of other workshop options based on what we are interested in as a group!

Or if you'd rather continue your relaxation journey, you can opt out and spend more time at the lake. After our final meal with our homestay families we will take the 3hr shuttle back to Atitlan, and have dinner together.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Accommodations: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 11: Tikal

Today we will take a quick early morning flight (45 minutes) to Tikal and spend a full day exploring Mayan ruins and the jungle!

Meals Included: Lunch

Accommodations: 2-star hotel in Flores

Day 12: Tikal

 This morning we will wake up early for a sunrise wildlife tour before catching our flight back to Antigua. Choose to join an optional hike to Volcano Pacaya, or take it easy in town or at the dorms!

Meals Included: None

Accommodations: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 13: Suchitepecez Village

For our final full day together, we will start by taking a 2.5hr drive to the village of Suchitepecez, and spend the day with the community volunteering and getting to know them. 

Once or twice a month, the ExplorenGo team visits the village to deliver supplies and materials that the families aren't able to access or afford in the remote area they live in such as school supplies, books, shoes, clothes, any household items, and period products for the women/mothers. The team normally needs help organizing and handing out all of the supplies to the correct people which can take a few hours, and they always need help before the visit to organize as well, which is something you can choose to help with during your free time if you'd like!

We will go to the village with activities for the students/children to participate in centered around their dreams, goals, and other self-development topics. As an example, during the last time volunteers worked with the children they helped them draw pictures of themselves living out their "dreams" (some kids want to become doctors, scientists, etc. and it's important we remind them to dream big and work towards their goals). The ExplorenGo team can develop the activity, but if you're interested you can also help to come up with an idea for an activity you are passionate about!

Lastly, we'll share a meal with the families and spend a few hours playing with the children and just letting the kids be kids - something they don't always get to experience. We can play soccer, hide and seek, jump rope - anything they are interested in, and the kids always have such an amazing time laughing and smiling.

After our fun with the kids we will take our 2.5hr drive back to Antigua for our farewell dinner together.

Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

​Accommodations: EXPLORENGO Dorms

Day 14: Departure

Today our journey comes to an end, but not without first having the opportunity for a final (optional) morning hike for those whose flights aren't until the afternoon, or who are staying longer. The EXPLORENGO team are happy to provide recommendations for additional activities if you'd like to stay longer!

If not, make your way to the airport, and have safe travels home!

Meals Included: None