here

TWO
8 - Days Trip for
Independent Travelers
1
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
1. El Mirador
11. Rio Dulce / Finca Paraíso
2. Tikal
12. Quirigua
3. Yaxha
4. Flores / Santa Elena (Airport)
5. Sayaxche / Ceibal / Aguateca
6. Lachua Lake / Roc Ha / Salinas
13. Copan (Honduras)
14. Guatemala City (Airport) / Pacaya
15. Antigua Guatemala
16. Comalapa / Tecpan / Iximche
7. Candelaria Caves / Chisec
8. Coban / Biotopo del Quetzal /.
17. Chichicastenango
18. Quetzaltenango
Ram Tzul
9. Lanquin / Semuc Champey
19. Cuchumatanes Mountains
10. Livingston / Puerto Barrios
20. Ixil Triangle
Route Overview
Date
Route
Overnight
Day 1 Monday
Guatemala City Arrival
Vista Real
Day 2 Tuesday
Guatemala City - Flores - Tikal - Flores
Casona del Lago
Day 3 Wednesday
Flores - Candelaria - San Pedro Carcha
Mansión SD Guzmán
Day 4 Thursday
San Pedro - Semuc Champey - Coban - Santa Cruz Verapaz
Park Hotel
Day 5 Friday
Santa Cuz Verapaz - Biotopo del Quetzal - Antigua Guatemala
Camino Real Antigua
Day 6 Saturday
Antigua Guatemala
Camino Real Antigua
Day 7 Sunday
Antigua - Chichicastenango - Antigua
Camino Real Antigua
Day 8 Monday
Antigua - Guatemala City Departure
1
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Day
Activity
Day 1 / Monday
Guatemala City (Arrival Day)
Destination
Upon your arrival your guide will be waiting for you at the airport to take you
on a private transfer to your Hotel.
Day 2 / Tuesday
Guatemala City - Flores - Tikal - Flores
Todays excursion will take you back in time to the splendor of the Mayan
Tikal
kingdom of Tikal. Situated in the Petén basin, northern Guatemala, the site is
part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tikal was the capital of a conqueror state that
became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. Though
monumental architecture at the site dates back as far as the 4th century BC,
Tikal reached its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD. During
this time, the city dominated much of the Maya region politically, economically,
and militarily, while interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as the
great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley of Mexico.
In the evening you will visit Flores, the capital city of Petén, the biggest
Island Town of Flores
department of Guatemala. The old part of the city is located on an island on
Lake Peten Itza, connected to the mainland by a short causeway.
In Pre-Columbian times, Flores was the Maya city of Tayasal. The Spanish did
not manage to conquer the island until 1697, when they marched in, attacked
via boats, and destroyed it. Those who could flee did so, and many Itzá people
hid in the jungle for years. From the ruins of Noh Petén arose the modern city
of Flores.
Day 3 / Wednesday
Flores - Candelaria - San Pedro Carcha
After having breakfast on a terrace overlooking the colorful town of Flores
you'll depart to your next destination, the Caves of Candelaria, a large natural
cave system that including coulisses, secondary and upper passages, is
estimated to be 80 km long. A 45 min walk through the cave will lead you
through enormous galleries and 'windows' facing the outside jungle. Once you
reach the underground river you will join a spectacular ride on wheel tube on
the caves river and the jungle outside.
Day 4 / Thursday
Candelaria Caves
San Pedro - Semuc Champey - Coban - Santa Cruz Verapaz
Don't forget your Swim-Suit because you'll be visiting Semuc Champey, where Semuc Champey
pristine waters emerging from the karst mountains have created a series of
pools in which you can relax and swim surrounded by the lush vegetation of the
jungle. A 2 hour walk up and down the mountain next to the pool will lead you
to a fantastic view point just before reaching the pools.
In the afternoon you'll visit Freddy Archilas Orchid Nursery, who keeps the
Orchid Nursery of
biggest orchid nursery in the country, aiming to safe endangered species from
Freddy Archila
disappearing. Some of his three thousand species of orchids are already extinct
in their natural environment.
Day 5 / Friday
Santa Cuz Verapaz - Biotopo del Quetzal - Antigua Guatemala
Ram Tzul, your next place to visit, is a large estate that keeps still a small but Ram Tzul
valuable primary forest, sanctuary of the Quetzal bird. A walk through this
estate will also lead you to Rubel Chaim, a waterfall that with its 60 m is one of
the highest in the country.
You're final destination today will be the colonial town of Antigua.
Day 6 / Satruday
Antigua Guatemala
1
Day
Activity
Destination
La Azotea is a cultural center and museum complex, that comprises three
La Azotea Cultural Center
separate museums: a coffee museum, which illustrates the history of processing
and marketing Coffee production in Guatemala, the Mayan Music Museum,
which houses Mayan musical instruments from pre and post Columbian times,
and the Rincon de Sacatepéquez Museum which has items related to traditional
Guatemalan dresses.
Later this morning you will continue your City Tour exploring some of
Guatemalas most impressive colonial monuments starting with Church San
Francisco, one of the most frequented sanctuaries by the local population
because of the shrine of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur.
San Francisco Church
The cloister of Santa Clara is a notable convent and one of the finest examples
of an 18th century convent in Guatemala. The inner patio with its beautiful
garden as well as the church with it late baroque facade is now a popular
scenario of the fanciest weddings and events in town.
Santa Clara Cloister
Last but not least Saint Joseph Cathedral church, originally built around 1541. San Jose Catedral
The devastating 1773 earthquake seriously damaged much of the building,
however the two towers at the front remained largely intact. These have
undergone restoration work, and the cathedral has been partly rebuilt.
Day 7 / Sunday
Antigua - Chichicastenango - Antigua
Today you'll be visiting Chichicastenango, well known for its famous market
Chichicastenango
days where vendors sell handicrafts, food, flowers, pottery, wooden boxes,
condiments, medicinal plants, candles, pom and copal (traditional incense), cal
(lime stones for preparing tortillas), grindstones, pigs and chickens, machetes,
and many other things.
The manufacture of masks, used by dancers in traditional dances, such as the
Dance of the Conquest, have also made this city well-known for woodcarving.
Next to the market is the 400-year old church of Santo Tomás. It is built atop a
Pre-Columbian temple platform, and the steps originally leading to a temple of
the pre-Hispanic Maya civilization remain venerated. K'iche' Maya priests still
use the church for their rituals, burning incense and candles.
On you're way back to Antigua you'll stop by Iximche, a Pre-Columbian
Iximche
archaeological site, former capital of the Late Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya
kingdom from 1470 until its abandonment in 1524. The architecture of the site
included a number of pyramid-temples, palaces and two ball-courts. The ruins
of Iximche were declared a Guatemalan National Monument in the 1960s.
Day 8 / Monday
Antigua (Departure Day)
A private shuttle will take you to the Airport in Guatemala City. Departure
time will be scheduled according flight time. You will leave your Hotel three
and a half to four hours before your boarding time.
End of Services
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Price & Benefits
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Price List
PAX
Details
USD per person
Single Suplement in USD
2
1 Double Room, Guide as driver in a Minibus with 7 passenger seats
2550.00
3-4
2 Double Rooms, Guide as driver in a Minibus with 7 passenger seats
2400.00
303.00
5-6
Mercedes Sprinter with 15 passenger seats
2250.00
303.00
7-8
Mercedes Sprinter with 15 passenger seats
2100.00
303.00
9 - 10+
Mercedes Sprinter with 15 passenger seats
1950.00
303.00
11 - 16
Bus Car with 20 passenger seats
17 - 18
Scania Bus with 45 passenger seats
19 - 20
Scania Bus with 45 passenger seats
21 - 30
Scania Bus with 45 passenger seats
all vehicles with AC
Payment Deadline 6 Weeks
before arrival date
NOTE:
The tour package includes all mentioned activities, English speaking guide, standard room accommodation in hotels listed,
transportation in vehicles mentioned and taxes. All other products / meals included in the tour package are detailed in the day by day
itinerary, any product / meals not mentioned are therefore are not included and will be payed directly by the traveler during the tour.
Meals don't include beverages.
Package Rates are valid for all the year 2011 with exception of the holidays (Eastern, Christmas & New Year).
Tips are not included. Airport Tax (US$ 3.00 per PAX) not included.
Recommended Tips:
Drivers US$ 2-5 per PAX per day
Bell Boys US$ 2-5 per Room
Room Maid US$ 2-5 per Room
Guide US$ 5-10 per PAX per day
Photos US$ 2-3 per model
Restaurants and Bars 10%
ATIVOS TOURS will provide one bottle of drinkable water per person per day. Additionally it will provide with endless water refill for
the travelers. ATIVOS TOURS will also provide with one towel and one flash light per PAX during the trip. This items will have to be
given back to ATIVOS TOURS before departure in Guatemala City.
The full payment of the package will have to be made 6 weeks before the tour starts. In case of a cancelation for any reason after
payment ATIVOS TOURS keeps the right to refund the client in the amount that ATIVOS TOURS considers appropriate. The
traveller is responsible to purchase a traveler insurance to cover for cancelations, health emergencies and others.
With the payment of any of our products the client(s) recognize full agreement with all terms and conditions of ATIVOS TOURS.
1
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Monday
Route
Guatemala City Arrival
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Your guide will be waiting for you at the airport to
take you on a private transfer to your Hotel (time
will depend on your flight schedule)
18:00 Meet your guide at the hotels restaurant to get an
orientation and introduction for the following day
Overnight
Vista Real
1
Notes
(I)
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Tuesday
Route
Guatemala City - Flores - Tikal - Flores
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
5:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
National Park and Archeological Site of Tikal
Situated in the Petén basin, northern Guatemala, the
site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in
1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Tikal was the capital of a conquest state that became
one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient
Maya. Though monumental architecture at the site
dates back as far as the 4th century BC, Tikal reached
its apogee during the Classic Period, ca. 200 to 900 AD.
During this time, the city dominated much of the Maya
region politically, economically, and militarily, while
interacting with areas throughout Mesoamerica such as
the great metropolis of Teotihuacan in the distant Valley
of Mexico. There is evidence that Tikal was conquered
by Teotihuacan in the 4th century AD. Following the
end of the Late Classic Period, no new major
monuments were built at Tikal and there is evidence
that elite palaces were burned. These events were
coupled with a gradual population decline, culminating
with the site’s abandonment by the end of the 10th
century.
A four hour walk will take us back in time to the
splendor of that Mayan kingdom.
Island Town of Flores
1
Notes
Date
Tuesday
Route
Guatemala City - Flores - Tikal - Flores
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
Santa Elena to Tikal
68 km
1h
Tikal to Santa Elena
68 km
1h
Flores is the capital city of Petén, the biggest
department of Guatemala. The old part of the city is
located on an island on Lake Peten Itza, connected to
the mainland by a short causeway. On the mainland are
the suburb towns of Santa Elena, in which the the
airport is located, and San Benito.
In Pre-Columbian times, Flores was the Maya city of
Tayasal. The Spanish did not manage to conquer the
island until 1697, when they marched in, attacked via
boats, and destroyed it. Those who could flee did so,
and many Itzá people hid in the jungle for years. From
the ruins of Noh Petén arose the modern city of Flores.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Overnight
Casona del Lago
2
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Wednesday
Route
Flores - Candelaria - San Pedro Carcha
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
8:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
Tubing in Caves and River of Candelaria
The Candelaria caves is the name of a large natural cave
system, with a main gallery of a length of 22 km, of
which 12.5 km follows the underground passage of the
Candelaria River. The total length of the cave system,
including coulisses, secondary and upper passages, is
estimated to be 80 km. Daniel Dreux, a French citizen
still living in the area, discovered the caves for the
western world in 1974, he was the first person to
explore the cave using spelunking equipment. A 45 min
walk through a will lead you through enormous
galleries and 'windows' facing the outside jungle. Once
you reach the underground river you will join a
spectacular ride on wheel tube on the caves river and
the jungle outside. The whole tour takes about 4 hours.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Flores to Candelaria Caves
2h 30m
Candelaria Caves to San Pedro Carcha
Overnight
77 km
Mansión SD Guzmán
1
2h 30m
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Thursday
Route
San Pedro - Semuc Champey - Coban - Santa Cruz
Verapaz
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
San Pedro Carcha to Semuc Champey
59 km
1h 45m
Semuc Champey to Coban
65 km
2h
Coban to Santa Cruz Verapaz
14 km
20m
8:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
Springs and Pools of Semuc Champey
Semuc Champey stand for "hidden waters" in Queqchi
a local Mayan language and is named after the Cabon
river that is sucked into a short but misterious cave, no
one ever has managed to explore from inside, just to
emerge some hundreds meters down the valley. At the
same time pristine water emerging from the karst
mountains surrounding the Cabon river have created a
series of pools in which you can relax and swim
surrounded by the lush vegetation of the jungle. A 2
hour walk up and down the mountain next to the pool
will lead you to a fantastic view point just before
reaching the pools.
Orchid Nursery of Family Archila
Freddy Archila, is a Guatemalan inteupreneur that has
put himself the task to create the biggest orchid nursery,
aiming to safe endangered spicy from disappearing.
Some of his tree thousand species of orchids are now
extinct in their natural environment.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Pic Nic for Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Overnight
Park Hotel
1
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Friday
Route
Santa Cuz Verapaz - Biotopo del Quetzal - Antigua
Guatemala
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
8:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
Private Nature Reserve of Ram Tzul
Ram Tzul a member of the Private Reserve Association Biotopo del Quetzal
of Guatemala is one of the more than 50 private
enterprises that have joint efforts to safe Guatemalan
forest from depredation. The large estate keeps still a
small but valuable primary forest,sanctuary of the
Quetzal bird. A walk through this estate will also lead
you to Rubel Chaim, a waterfall that with its 60 m is
one of the highest in the country.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Overnight
Santa Cruz Verapaz to Ram Tzul
30 km
30m
Ram Tzul to Antigua Guatemala
205 km
5h
Camino Real Antigua
1
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Saturday
Route
Antigua Guatemala
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
8:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
Coffee Farm and Music Museum La Azotea
The Centro Cultural la Azotea is a cultural center and
museum complex, located in the township of
Jocotenango and lies some 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north
of Antigua Guatemala in the city's modern outskirts.
The center comprises three separate museums, on the
grounds of a coffee-growing estate or finca. The center
contains a coffee museum, which illustrates the history
of processing and marketing Coffee production in
Guatemala, the Mayan Music Museum, also known as
Casa K'ojom which houses Mayan musical instruments
from pre-Columbian times, and the Rincon de
Sacatepéquez Museum which has items related to
traditional Guatemalan dress.
Jocotenango
City Tour in Antigua
San Francsico el Grande is one of the most frequented San Francisco Church
sanctuaries by the local population because of the shrine
of Peter of Saint Joseph Betancur (Santo Hermano
Pedro), who was beatified 1980 and canonized in 2002,
is enshrined at the site. His tomb is visited by thousands
of pilgrims each year to beg for favours and miracles.
San Francisco is also one of the latest temples being
restored in Antigua.
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Notes
Date
Saturday
Route
Antigua Guatemala
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
The cloister of Santa Clara is a notable convent and
church. One of the finest examples of an 18th century
convent in Guatemala. It was consecrated in 16th
century and like the rest of the city suffered damage
during the 1751 and 1773 earthquakes respectively.
The inner patio with its beautiful garden as well as the
church with it late baroque facade is now a popular
scenario of the fanciest weddings and events in town.
Santa Clara Cloister
Notes
Saint Joseph Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church in San Jose Catedral
originally church was built around 1541, but suffered
several earthquakes throughout its history, and the first
church building was demolished in 1669. The cathedral
was rebuilt and consecrated in 1680. By 1743 the
cathedral was one of the largest in Central America.
However, the devastating 1773 Guatemala earthquake
seriously damaged much of the building, though the two
towers at the front remained largely intact. These have
undergone restoration work, and the cathedral has been
partly rebuilt.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Overnight
Antigua Guatemala to La Azotea
5 km
20m
La Azotea to Antigua Guatemala
5 km
20m
Camino Real Antigua
2
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Sunday
Route
Antigua - Chichicastenango - Antigua
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
8:00 Departure Time
Today you will visit
Mayan Village of Chichicastenango
Chichicastenango is known for its traditional K'iche'
Maya culture. It is a large indigenous town, lying on the
crests of mountaintops at an altitude of 1,965 m (6,447
ft).
Chichicastenango is well known for its famous market
days on Thursdays and Sundays where vendors sell
handicrafts, food, flowers, pottery, wooden boxes,
condiments, medicinal plants, candles, pom and copal
(traditional incense), cal (lime stones for preparing
tortillas), grindstones, pigs and chickens, machetes, and
other tools.
The manufacture of masks, used by dancers in
traditional dances, such as the Dance of the Conquest,
have also made this city well-known for woodcarving.
Next to the market is the 400-year old church of Santo
Tomás. It is built atop a Pre-Columbian temple
platform, and the steps originally leading to a temple of
the pre-Hispanic Maya civilization remain venerated.
K'iche' Maya priests still use the church for their rituals,
burning incense and candles. Each of the 18 stairs that
lead up to the church stands for one month of the Maya
calendar year. Another key element of Chichicastenango
is the Cofradia of Pascual Abaj, which is an ancient
carved stone venerated nearby and the Maya priests
perform several rituals there.
Mayan Archeological Site of Iximche
1
Notes
Date
Sunday
Route
Antigua - Chichicastenango - Antigua
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
Antigua Guatemala to Chichicastenango
145 km
3h
Chichicastenango to Iximche
80 km
1h 30m
Iximche to Antigua Guatemala
100 km
1h 45m
Iximche is a Pre-Columbian Mesoamerican
archaeological site, former capital of the Late
Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470 until
its abandonment in 1524. The architecture of the site
included a number of pyramid-temples, palaces and two
Mesoamerican ballcourts. Excavators uncovered the
poorly preserved remains of painted murals on some of
the buildings and ample evidence of human sacrifice.
The ruins of Iximche were declared a Guatemalan
National Monument in the 1960s. The site has a small
museum displaying a number of pieces found there,
including sculptures and ceramics.
Meals Included
Breakfast & Lunch
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Overnight
Camino Real Antigua
2
Ativos Tours
O. (502) 4003 9377
[email protected]
www.ativos-one.com
Itinerary
Date
Monday
Route
Antigua - Guatemala City Departure
Time
Activity
Location / Distance
Notes
45 km
1h 15m
Departure according departure time (you will leave
your Hotel three and a half to four hours before your
flight time)
Meals Included
Breakfast
Approximate kilometers and time driven
Antigua Guatemala to Guatemala City
End of Services
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