Once arrived at the airport, one of our trusted drivers will be waiting to sweep you away to the former capital, Antigua (roughly 1-hour ride depending on traffic). In Antigua, you will be checked into our hotel and given a brief orientation of the town.

Guests who need to visit the ATM or other vendors, simply let your guide know and they'll offer assistance. Should you arrive early in the morning and would like us to coordinate a day of exploration, let us know and we will make it happen!

After a quick siesta, we will enjoy a welcome happy hour before our “Bienvenidos” dinner to indulge in a delicious menu of a local favorite with scenic views of the town. Meanwhile, you will meet your guide and host, as well as mingle with fellow travelers. Your host will also share more about the week ahead and review itinerary details.

After a hearty breakfast with a view, we'll depart for Iximche. At the historical Mayan site, we'll be joined by an anthropologist who will share knowledge and understanding about the past, present, and potential future of the Mayan civilization. Before continuing to Lake Atitlan, we'll have a Q&A session during a delicious lunch.

From there, we arrive at Panajachel, one of the most bustling towns around Lago de Atitlan. As with every day on the trip, we'll enjoy some downtime in the afternoon before dinner. For guests too restless for siesta, we'll have the option to walk down the popular Santander and continue along the shoreline to take in majestic views.

That evening, we'll be joined by a team member from our first local lending partners, for a night of eclectic fare and learning more about the institution and its end borrowers.

Journeying around the Lake, we'll visit a small business owner to meet them in person and learn more about their story, what their loan went toward, and how micro-lending improved the lives of them and their family.

After lunch, guests are welcome to enjoy a siesta or join on a tour through the "Land of Cooperatives," San Juan la Laguna. San Juan is one of the most colorful pueblos at Atitlan, from the well-decorated dockside to the festive road leading into town where local artists have painted murals for storytelling. Here, we'll learn about chocolate from bean-to-bar, textiles and natural dyes, as well as world-famous Guatemalan grown coffee.

Returning to Panajachel, later that night we'll enjoy a festive dining experience and enjoy Panajachel by night.

After a free morning to explore the beauty of Lake Atitlan, we'll journey further into the highlands to Chichicastenango.

There, we'll meet with our second local lending partner to learn about the team and small business owners.

*An optional morning trip to Santa Cruz la Laguna will be arranged to visit a local academy

Our day starts with a delicious breakfast before venturing to Santa Cruz del Quiche. There, we’ll meet our third local lending partner and visit with a small business owner who improved their quality of life with a microloan. More about loan recipients will be shared in preparation for the trip, so please keep an eye out for your communications and payment schedules.

After, we'll take a tour of the town to check out the well-known Iglesia de San Andres de Xecul (Church of Saint Andrew of Xecul) and other sites.

That afternoon, we’ll return to our hotel in Chichicastenango before enjoying local cultural favorites at dinner together before nestling in for the travel day ahead.

Once again, we will enjoy breakfast at our hotel before venturing on to experience the final hours of our time in this magical place.

Chichicastenango is home to the most famous market in Guatemala. There, we'll learn about the offerings of artisans and farmers who travel miles to share their goods, systems within the market, and how Chichi became so well-known.

We will then begin the 4.5-hour drive back to Antigua Guatemala. We will be sure to make stops for bathroom breaks, stretch our legs, and enjoy a refacción. Once in Antigua, you will have a free evening to rest, relax or explore independently. You can also join us for an incredible dining experience in a private location.

After breakfast at a farm-to-table restaurant, we will make our way to Parque Central and hear the history of Antigua and the surrounding pueblos. We'll continue by sauntering along the famous Arch Street on the way to Cerro de la Cruz, overlooking the town and offering a scenic view of volcanoes Agua, Acatenango, and (active) Fuego.

Once we've finished our outdoor adventure, we will enjoy lunch at 7 Caldos, a restaurant featuring an eclectic mix of traditional Guatemalan soups and specialties. After, you're welcome to enjoy a free afternoon or to join a tour of the ancient ruins of a former monastery, take in unique art collections, and learn the significance of Jade within Mayan culture while finding your nawal (spirit animal).

To conclude our trip, we'll visit Cerveceria 14 for dinner, a microbrewery in Ciudad Viaje. Here, we'll enjoy live music, delectable eats, and share our favorite moments and experiences from a very special week in Guatemala.

All good things must come to an end, but it doesn't mean you can't take a part of Guatemala with you. We'll be sharing a (bonus) folder of candid pictures from throughout our trip along with a special thank you message.

Please confirm your departure date and time with us so we can coordinate your transportation to Aurora International Airport for a safe return home.