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HIGHLIGHTS
A quick look about this trip!
DURATION
7 DAYS
COMFORT
LANGUAGE
RATING
  • See the Kite Festival and how people traditionally celebrate the Day of the Dead.
  • Visit the famous St. Tomas Church, where locals come to perform Mayan rituals within the Catholic church.
  • Visit the famous Maya archaeology site of Iximche for a tour of this fascinating site.
ACTIVITIES ON THIS TRIP
Primary: Festivals, Walking Tour
Other: Hiking, Arts & Crafts, Historical Sites, Volcanoes, sightseeing, church, Urban Exploration, Local Markets, museums, boating
$2598USD
Prices vary by date. Make sure to pick your departure date.
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ONGOING PROMOTIONS
"Get 5% off when you book with AdventureLink before May 31st, 2012!"
SAVE 5%
Applies to Departures Between:
4/25/2012 and 1/1/2013
Promotion lasts :
From 4/25/2012 To 6/1/2012
TRIP MAP
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Guatemala Kites and Crafts: Day of the Dead kite festivals, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan

There are no better locales in Guatemala -- or perhaps in all the Americas -- to meet the color and crafts of indigenous cultures and experience the blending of pre-colonial tradition with post-colonial influences than Antigua and Lake Atitlan.
There are no better locales in Guatemala -- or perhaps in all the Americas -- to meet the color and crafts of indigenous cultures and experience the blending of pre-colonial tradition with post-colonial influences than Antigua and Lake Atitlan. And there is no better way to become comfortable in these places than to stay in cozy, small, lovingly-run jewels of hotels like the two that have offered us discounted rates for this fall. Join a small group at the end of October for a trip that will encompass the Day of the Dead and the remarkable Kite Festivals that allow the souls of departed loved ones to soar home.

Note: Small group surcharge may apply with group less than 6.
Day 1: Arrive Colonial Antigua
Upon arrival in Guatemala City, you will be met and transfered about an hour to the colonial city of Antigua. Nestled in a mountain valley and surrounded by evergreen forests, Antigua is one of the most idyllic destinations in the world. With painstakingly-restored Spanish colonial architecture, manicured parks, stylish hotels, superb international cuisine, and a horizon shaped by three spectacular volcanoes, Antigua is easily one of the most charming cities in all of the Americas.

Meals: None
Lodging Palacio de Dona Leonor
Description Hotel Palacio de Doña Leonor luxury boutique hotel in Antigua Guatemala.  Experience the history of Antigua Guatemala in just one place. 
Day 2: Kite Festival / Santiago / Antigua
On November 1 each year, Guatemala's families honor their departed loved ones during Day of the Dead festivities. Besides the traditional visit to the cemetery, Day of the Dead in Guatemala is marked with Kite Festivals and dining on Fiambre, which is made and eaten only once a year as the traditional dish of Day of the Dead. Served cold, Fiambre contains a mix of cheese, meat, eggs, and vegetables cured in vinegar. Some recipes call for as many as 50 different ingredients.

This morning, you will transfer to Santiago Sacatepequez, where you will walk to the cemetery to see the Kite Festival and how people traditionally celebrate the Day of the Dead. Santiago Sacatepequez holds one of the largest and most well-known festivals, with thousands of kites flown by families, locals, and religious groups to honor the dead. The elaborate kites span several feet and are constructed almost entirely of bamboo and tissue paper. At day's end, return to your Antigua hotel for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging Palacio de Dona Leonor
Description Hotel Palacio de Doña Leonor luxury boutique hotel in Antigua Guatemala.  Experience the history of Antigua Guatemala in just one place. 
Day 3: Colonial Walking Tour of Antigua
You will be met at your hotel reception by your private guide to begin your half day walking tour of Antigua. Your tour will cover the architectural and historical highlights of this colonial city with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the many ruined churches, convents, and cathedrals. Entrances are included to the Iglesia San Francisco, the Cathedral, Central Park, and La Merced Church. This tour is flexible, so if you have specific sights you wish to see, please notify your guide. (If you wish to visit other monuments, you will need to pay the entrance fees directly.) At the end of the tour, your guide can accompany you back to your hotel or take you to an afternoon destination of your choice. The afternoon is free to relax or explore.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging Palacio de Dona Leonor
Description Hotel Palacio de Doña Leonor luxury boutique hotel in Antigua Guatemala.  Experience the history of Antigua Guatemala in just one place. 
Day 4: Iximche / Lake Atitlan Area
This morning’s transfer is about three hours to the town of Chichicastenango, near Lake Atitlan, which is surrounded by three imposing volcanoes. On the way, visit the famous Maya archaeology site of Iximche for a tour of this fascinating site. Towards the back of the site is a lesser-known yet extremely important Maya spiritual and ceremonial site. Here you will meet a local shaman who will perform an authentic Maya ceremony in a local Maya language. After the ceremony, enjoy a traditional lunch in a local restaurant before continuing on to Chichicastenango, where you will spend the night. Along the way, you'll ride through the central highland region and see Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives -- working in the fields, collecting firewood, traveling between markets, and selling their wares.

Meals: Breakfast
Lodging Mayan Inn
Description "The Mayan Inn is located in the heart of Chichicastenango, within a block of one end of the famed market. It has been welcoming guests since 1932 when the late Alfred S. Clark first opened the Inn. Mr. Clark searched the country for colonial chests, figures, mirrors, chairs and benches creating a museum of Spanish art for its guests to enjoy."
Day 5: Chichi / Lake Atitlan / Nature Reserve
Famous for its large craft market, Chichicastenango market is a colorful sight.  Craftsmen and villagers from all over the highlands converge on this small town to sell their wares.  It is also one of the easiest places for travelers to experience the strange way that Mayan and Catholic faiths have merged in Guatemala. Upon arrival at this famous market, you will have time to explore, including the local areas with fruit, vegetable, and everyday item vendors, and also the craft area, where you can find endless variety of beautiful textile, wooden, and ceramic crafts. You can also visit the famous St. Tomas Church, where locals come to perform Mayan rituals within the Catholic church, demonstrating the interesting way the two faiths have combined in recent times. You may want to  hike up the hill to the Pascaul Abaj ritual site to see if any local shaman are performing rituals and/or to the cemetery on the outskirts of town.  After the market, travel to nearby Reserva Natural Atitlan, a former coffee plantation that has reverted to nature and is now home to many plants and creatures, including coati, spider monkey, and more. At the end of the day, transfer to your lovely hotel on the shores of Lake Atitlan.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging Hotel Atitlan
Description The Hotel Atitlan is among the finest hotels in all of Guatemala. It is a luxury getaway along the shores of Lake Atitlan outside the town of Panajachel.
Day 6: San Juan La Laguna and Santiago Atitlan
Take a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan to visit the villages of San Juan La Laguna and Santiago. Lake Atitlan is a natural marvel like no other, 50 square miles of deep, crystal blue water surrounded by three lofty volcanoes. Formed by a volcanic cataclysm 100,000 years ago, the lake shimmers in a mountain valley, overlooked by a dozen quaint villages whose residents proudly wear traditional dress that distinguishes each town from the next. Savor the intoxicating tranquility of this unique natural wonder. Visit the women’s textile cooperative to see hand weaving and the natural dye process. Also visit the studios and homes of the celebrated naïf painters. From here, you will continue to the village of Santiago, where you will have lunch in a local hotel. Tour the village, visiting the Maya God “Maximon” and learn about the textiles, spiritualism, and beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. Have lunch in Santiago, then return to the hotel in Atitlan for the night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Lodging Hotel Atitlan
Description The Hotel Atitlan is among the finest hotels in all of Guatemala. It is a luxury getaway along the shores of Lake Atitlan outside the town of Panajachel.
Day 7: Free Time in Antigua / Onward
After breakfast at your hotel, you may either be transferred directly to the airport for your flight home, or you may have some free time before your flight to relax and explore on your own. Ask us if you are interested in spending more time in Antigua, visiting the working coffee farm and museums of Mayan musical instruments and Mayan dress at Azotea, or hiking up Pacaya volcano, a one-hour drive from the city.

Meals: Breakfast
TRIP INCLUDES
  • Meals as noted
  • Each night in double occupancy accommodations
  • Land transfers between components
  • English speaking guides
  • Park or site entry fees
  • Surface transport
  • Equipment other than personal gear
  • Government tax
  • Airport transfer assistance
  • In-country ticket reconfirmation and check-in assistance (where permitted)
  • Complete pre-departure packet
  • Toll-free pre-departure phone assistance
TRIP DOES NOT INCLUDE
  • Meals not noted as included
  • Gratuities
  • Beverages (except tea or coffee at meals)
  • International or domestic airfare unless specified
  • Airport departure taxes not included with air tickets
  • Visas
  • Itinerary changes after confirmation
  • Any services not included in itinerary
  • Any costs incurred due to canceled or delayed flights
  • Acts of nature or other happenings beyond our control
  • Other costs as are more fully described in JOURNEYS Terms & Conditions
CANCELLATIONS: 20% cancellation fee applied if cancelled 60 days prior to departure. Cancellations within 60 days are 100% non-cancelable

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