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Guatemala

Adventure Seekers

9 days |

$2,295/person

interested?

If you really want to feel like an explorer and prefer a faster pace with more physical activity, this is the tour for you. Hear the jungle come alive as you watch the sunrise from atop an ancient Mayan temple. Explore pitch black caves with helmet lamps and hand held candles. Take a 4×4 ride to swim pristine hidden jungle pools. Hike up a volcano to camp overnight and watch another erupt. Spend a morning volunteering at the fantastic ARCAS animal sanctuary.

trip summary

Day-to-day Activities

trip detail

Day 1

Fly to Flores, Guatemala

You’ll arrive at the Flores airport in the late afternoon, where you’ll be met by a guide who will escort you to your hotel in Flores, a colorful little town on a small lake island in northern Guatemala. Flores is great for hanging out, kayaking, watching sunsets, and is the base for exploring the fantastic Mayan ruins at Tikal. We’ll have a group dinner and orientation followed by an hour on a small party boat to wrap up a fun Saturday night.

Day 2

Flores & ARCAS Animal Rescue

We’ll start with a boat ride to ARCAS Animal Rescue to learn about their work and see many of the beautiful rescued animals. Hop Skip Jump can also make a monetary donation to ARCAS on behalf of each group member if you wish! After our visit, it’s time to play! We’ll head to a fun water spot with decks and awesome rope swings for lunch and swimming. Once we’ve had our fill of both, the rest of the day is free for you to explore Flores, kayak, or just relax.

Day 3

Tikal Ruins

The ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal are one of the premiere highlights of any visit to Guatemala! We’ll set out at 3 am, drive 1 ½ hours to Tikal, walk in the dark with a professional guide to one of the tallest temples, ascend, and watch the sunrise from the top. You’ll hear the jungle come alive and the monkeys howl, as the sun rises over the spectacular ruins. After a thorough tour of the ruins, we’ll head back to Flores. You’ll have a few hours to relax and then we’ll regroup for a fun cave tour, exploring the fascinating Actun Kan cave system by headlamp.

Day 4

Flores to Lanquin

After an early breakfast, we’ll head out on the long 7 ½ hour journey to Lanquin, a hard to reach Mayan village surrounded by rainforest. Lanquin is the base for visiting the beautiful natural pools of Semuc Champey and is a quiet place except for the sounds of the rainforest at night. It’s visited by backpackers and more adventurous tourists but mostly still intact as an authentic village. We’ll arrive late afternoon and the rest of the day is free for you to check out Lanquin.

Day 5

Semuc Champey

We’ll pack ourselves into 4×4 trucks to make the bumpy 1 hour journey from Lanquin down to Semuc Champey. It’s a rough but very fun ride down to the river, maneuvering through the rainforest while standing in the back, just like the locals do it! We’ll spend the day swimming and exploring Semuc Champey’s stunning blue pools followed by a thrilling guided tour through a pitch black cave by candle light…in waist deep water! It’s a true adventure and not for the faint of heart!

Day 6

Lanquin to Antigua

It’s time to head to Antigua, the epitome of old Spanish colonial charm. After an early breakfast, we’ll load up for an 8 hour trip with stops for lunch, potty breaks, and snacks along the way. This is your opportunity to reflect on the adventures of the past few days while watching the beautiful landscapes of Guatemala roll by. We’ll arrive late afternoon with the rest of the day free for you to explore the plazas and cobblestone streets of Antigua at your own pace.

Day 7

Acatenango Volcano

This is the day we hike up Acatenango, a massive volcano with trails and spectacular views of the super active Volcan de Fuego. After breakfast, we’ll head to the base of Acatenango, where we’ll gear up with sleeping mats and tents to begin our ascent. The hike up to camp is roughly 5-6 hours, including a good stop for lunch. We’ll reach camp late in the afternoon and, after getting settled in, we’ll have dinner around the campfire and spend the evening enjoying the stunning views of Volcan de Fuego erupting in the distance.

Day 8

Return to Antigua

For those adventurous souls whose legs still have some pep, you’ll have the option to wake at 3am and climb 1 ½ km higher to watch the sunrise from a superior viewpoint. This is optional, as the Fuego lava is viewable from camp. After breakfast, we’ll descend down Acatenango and head back to Antigua, arriving early afternoon. You’ll have the afternoon free to relax or explore suggested sights in Antigua. In the evening we’ll wrap up the tour with a group dinner followed by “farewell” music and drinks on a rooftop bar.

Day 9

Travel Home

Today we officially say goodbye as it’s time for you to fly home. Early morning, we’ll begin transporting everyone, in groups, to the Guatemala City Airport based on flight times. Our lead guide will be there to make sure everyone departs without issue. Next, you land at home and tell all your friends what an amazing time you had and we anxiously wait for the day you join us for another tour. Remember, with Hop Skip Jump, the world is smaller than you think!

DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY​

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price & inclusions

$2,295/person

(Prices are in $USD & exclude the cost of any flights.)

price includes

  • Accommodation
  • Most meals (15 meals included)
  • All group transport during the trip
  • Group activities, excursions, and sightseeing
  • Guide and Assistant Guide fees

price excludes

  • Tips & personal expenses
  • Travel, health and cancellation insurance
  • All airfare
  • Shopping
  • Alcohol
  • Individual free time activities

Our Non-Profit Partners

(These are the organizations you’ll visit and how you can help them)

ARCAS Animal Rescue

ARCAS is a non-profit Civil Association who became concerned as they saw their wildlife rapidly disappearing. They built a rescue center to rehabilitate wild animals that were being confiscated on the black market and now receive 300-600 animals of more than 40 species per year. ARCAS is located in a fascinating spot on the forested shoreline of Lake Peten Itza. You’ll get to visit the Animal Rescue, donate supplies, volunteer for a couple of hours, and Hop Skip Jump can donate $100 on behalf of each group member if you’d like to arrange that.

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