EL CAMINO SMALL GROUP TRIP
Vibrant Guatemala Itinerary
Join us on a one-of-a-kind exploration of this vibrant country and be prepared to fall in love with its people and its awe-inspiring landscapes. Sitting at the base of three magical volcanos, explore Antigua’s hidden garden patios, colorful cobblestone streets, and the bursts of tropical flora and fauna at every turn. Then, venture to Lake Atitlán for a magical lakeside adventure. Swim amongst the underwater ruins in the crystal clear waters at one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
Day 1
Arrive: Welcome to Guatemala! After arriving at La Aurora Airport, you'll be scooped up for the next leg of the journey. We'll travel from the valley of Guatemala City and then climb our way to Antigua. Note how quickly the terrain becomes drenched in greenery as you enjoy the sights through the winding roads. At every turn, you will catch glimpses of dozens of volcanoes along the way until you reach the peak and begin the descent into the breathtaking Antigua valley.
We'll arrive in the early evening. Check in and get settled before heading back out for dinner. For our time in Antigua, we've selected a social impact boutique hotel with a modern aesthetic and tropical flair. This hotel provides long-term unemployed people with the opportunity to build a career in hospitality. They find interesting locations to run their hotels, repurposing buildings that have been long forgotten. Everything inside is locally and sustainably sourced and designed through a gorgeous, modern lens—imagine handmade tiles, textiles, art, furniture, and even food.
Evening: For dinner, we’re taking you to a classic Guatemalan spot that is known by many and loved by all. Settle into the cozy and colorful venue for your first introduction to the local flavors and regional dishes. This restaurant is known for celebrating all things corn (one of Guatemala's most loved products)—you’ll even have the chance to make your own tortilla as we wait for dinner. Get to know your fellow travelers as we enjoy an exciting welcome feast over candlelight.
Meals included: Dinner
Day 2
Morning: Enjoy a delicious breakfast at the hotel before heading out for the rest of the day. Ten minutes outside of the city, Molly Berry will be there to welcome us to her world, Luna Zorro, a modern textile studio located inside a 150-year-old coffee farm. Molly is a textile designer who works very closely with local weavers, collaborating on various projects with a shared goal of preserving Guatemalan culture. The weavers are honored, respected, and celebrated for their incredible talent and skill in a workplace that advocates for social equality, women’s rights, and sustainability. Molly will lead us through a natural dyes workshop with materials from the on-site garden. Using plants and flowers, we'll each have the chance to create our own masterpiece, with hand-woven textiles as our canvas in a dreamy outdoor kitchen in the garden. You’ll also have the opportunity to shop beautiful handcrafted pieces from the on-site store, which houses textile goods from local emerging artists including Meso Goods and Nada Duele.
Afternoon: In the gorgeous outdoor kitchen and garden space, enjoy an incredible open-fire lunch prepared on-site. This Mediterranean-style feast comes complete with homemade breads, locally-sourced greens, healthy treats, grilled fish, and whatever is in season! Passionate about innovative concepts and story-telling through food, our chef loves dining in nature, so we'll do just that surrounded by the lush surroundings of a country dubbed “eternal spring”. After an extravagant morning full of nature and fresh food, we invite you to enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. You can explore the local area, relax at the hotel, or venture out to discover more of Guatemala's rich culture on your own.
Evening: The remainder of the evening is yours to do as you please. This is your chance to grab your new travel friends and head out to one of our favorite spots from your Eat, Play, Shop guide. We suggest continuing your journey into Guatemalan cuisine at a gorgeous venue in the historical center of Antigua. It serves traditional local food but with a modern twist—get all the details in your guide.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3
Morning: Enjoy a light breakfast at the hotel, because this morning's activities include an incredible brunch at one of our favorite places in town. Located in a hidden garden courtyard, you can explore the open space and enjoy a feast of fresh juices, breads, eggs, and fruits.
Afternoon: We’ll head to a lush local farm to enjoy one of Guatemala’s most famous exports—coffee! Delve fully into the world of café, and learn more about what it takes to get us from bean to cup while enjoying some of the best coffee you’ll ever have. Take in the natural beauty and lush flora and fauna while you caffeinate for what’s sure to be an unforgettable day.
Evening: Join us just a few minutes away from your hotel at a true Antigua staple! Get ready for a beautiful dining experience at one of the most traditional restaurants in Antigua that serves the best of Guatemalan food. Order one of their many delicious dishes as you enjoy this beautiful and vibrant place .If you’re looking to extend your night, this is a great place to start. For even more recs, tap into our Eat, Play, Shop guide for all our favorite spots in town.
Meals included: Breakfast, brunch and dinner
Day 4
Morning: Enjoy a delicious and locally-sourced breakfast at the hotel. Embark on a 1.5-hour journey to a privately-owned estate and botanical garden. We'll traverse a few rivers via 4x4 to get there—the rush will leave you feeling even more excited to arrive than ever. You’ll have the entire day to enjoy the grounds… trust us, there's a lot to discover here! As our Luna Zorro host, Molly Berry says, it's very Jurassic Park-like, which is reason enough to go check it out. . (Clubhouse members can read more about Molly's tips for this place here). The estate is located at the base of Volcan de Fuego, which is still active and puts on quite a show (don't worry though, we’re well out of range for anything to reach us!). Guests have access to all the gardens, a water spring, a natural swimming pool, 4 lakes, rope swing, paddleboards, kayaks, cornhole, acres of grass, and even a giant slip-and-slide (yes, really!).
Afternoon: We'll enjoy lunch together outside on one of the estate's many green lawns, and an optional 2-hour waterfall hike is also on the menu. We'll return to Antigua in the late afternoon, with some time to rest and refresh before dinner.
Evening: After a full day, the evening is yours to explore as you chose. For dinner, choose from many of Antigua’s great restaurants. Check out our Eat, Play, Shop guide for more ideas on our favorite spots in town. If you’re hoping to stay close by, a nearby favorite offers a beautiful sit-down garden meal, or their cool and more casual neighbor is another great choice. Or head a bit further out for an intimate and quirky restaurant with top-notch eats.
Meals Included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 5
Morning: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and have a free morning to explore the city on your own. This is your chance to stop by one of the many amazing artisan markets and stores recommended in your Eat, Play, Shop guide. One of our favorites includes a textile studio that offers beautiful designs and home decorations made by local artisans.
Afternoon: After your free morning, we'll whisk you away to a hidden gem—a beautiful sustainable organic farm. Prepare yourself for an unforgettable farm-to-table experience, where you'll indulge in a delectable lunch made with the freshest locally-sourced ingredients. Immerse yourself in the farm's vibrant atmosphere, surrounded by nature's embrace. Take a moment to soak in the tranquil beauty and savor each flavorful bite, knowing that you're supporting a sustainable culinary journey. After lunch, we’ll reconvene for a special experience that takes a deep dive into the world of Guatemalan art. Join us at an incredible private estate-turned-museum that features one the largest collections of Guatemalan art in the world, expertly curated amongst the finest of furnishings and immaculate grounds. You’ll enjoy a complimentary glass of wine (or more coffee!) as you take in the splendor that surrounds you.
Evening: After an amazing afternoon, scour your Eat, Play, Shop guide and head out for another unforgettable evening with your new friends. Make sure to get some good rest though as we have a day of traveling ahead of us.
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
Day 6
Morning: Wake up and get excited for your first day of travel up to the storied Lake Atitlán! Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we load up and head out to Panajachel. You’ll have some free time to wander the lakeside town which is home to a number of restaurants, shops, and local handicraft stalls. Enjoy the picturesque views framed by stunning volcanoes and small Mayan towns, before we meet up again for lunch.
Afternoon: After lunch, a “Lancha”, or water taxi will be delivering us to private docks at the ever-magical lakeside accommodations. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon discovering the immaculate gardens of the property, taking a swim amongst the underwater ruins in the crystal clear lake waters, scheduling a massage with their in-house staff, or enjoying a beverage or snack from their incredible kitchen and restaurant team.
Evening: A delicious local meal will be prepared and served family-style by candlelight. Enjoy the cozy feast before heading off to your room to recharge for tomorrow's exploration of this incredible location that Aldous Huxley once called “the Lake Como of Central America.”
Meals Included: Breakfast and dinner
Day 7
Morning: Wake up to the sunshine bouncing off the shimmering waters of Lake Atitlán and head down to the on-site restaurant at our hotel for an amazing breakfast menu. After fueling up for the day, we’ll meet at the dock where a private lancha will be picking us up to take us to a small town, Santa Catarina. Discover the beautiful streets of the pueblito, and learn more about their social impact mural project which vibrantly covers many of the walls. From there, we’ll head to a local candle studio where we’ll learn more about candle-making and have the opportunity to collect some gorgeous take-home gifts. Next, we’ll zip over to the neighboring village of San Antonio to have a quick and casual lunch and visit a few local ceramics studios before jumping on the boat to head back to the hotel.
Afternoon: Once back at the hotel, you’ll have a free afternoon to yourself where you can continue to enjoy the amenities at the hotel or use the opportunity to discover other towns via the public boats or short walking trails from the hotel. Visit the bohemian San Marcos for great eats, yoga, traditional Nahaul readings, and to enjoy the Cerro Tzankujil nature reserve (which includes some great cliff jumping into the lake!), or head over to Santa Cruz to check out Café Sabor Cruceno—a community-led social education project and restaurant with an incredible view of the lake. Just remember that public boats on the lake stop running at 5 pm every day, so make sure you plan accordingly! Or stay back and enjoy the gardens, or kayaking and swimming in the lake.
Evening: Recount your afternoon adventures over another family-style meal at the hotel. Soak up your last evening at this magical lake, enjoying the stars and delicious food with the best of company. You also have the option to take a dip in a wood-fired hot tub at the edge of the lake that has been heated up slowly throughout the day just for our group!
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 8
Morning: Wake up slowly and take in your final hours at the lake. Watch a hummingbird flutter by you as you enjoy your breakfast amongst the lush gardens at our hotel, or work in that final massage! The morning is yours to enjoy as you please before we gather to head back to Panajachel via our lancha. We’ll enjoy lunch together in Pana before loading up to continue the journey to Antigua.
Evening: After an afternoon of traveling and getting settled in at our hotel back in Antigua, get ready for our last dinner together. We've made a reservation at a dual-purpose vintage boutique store and high-end restaurant owned by a young Guatemalan couple, offering fun, family-style dinners and great cocktails. Take note of the fragrant smell of Night Blooming Jasmine vines hanging through the retractable rooftop while you eat and drink with friends. One of the things we love about Antigua is that the city is incredibly walkable, so we'll head there on foot. As our last meal together, we'll celebrate the amazing experiences that we’ve shared over the past few days.
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
Day 9
Depart: Enjoy a delicious and locally-sourced breakfast at the hotel before saying your goodbyes. Return home feeling fulfilled by the warmth of Guatemalan culture and inspired by the dramatic natural landscapes that you got to experience.
Meals included: Breakfast