This trip follows the traditional Guatemala Highlands trip but with an extra 4 days added for a visit to Copan Honduras. The town of Copán Ruinas is a beautiful little village paved in cobblestone and lined with white adobe buildings with red-tile roofs. You’ll end the trip at the amazing Maya Temple site of Tikal. Here huge Mayan temples rise above the jungle canopy and monkeys and tropical birds are abundant in the surrounding rainforest.  
Day 1- Arrival & Transfer to Antigua
On arrival to Guatemala City, you will be met by our bi-lingual driver for your 1 hour transfer to Antigua.  Surrounded by majestic volcanoes and green-clad mountains that border the highlands of Guatemala, Antigua is an excellent base from which to travel. There are also plenty of activities to do, from the colorful markets to the interesting museums, all deserving a visit. The climate is mild, warm in the days and fresh in the evenings. Stay in Antigua at the Aurora or a similar hotel.
Day 2-Chichicastenango Market
Today guests transfer approx. 2 hours to the famous market at Chichicastenango. Chichicatenango is a small stucco-white town, lying on the crests of mountaintops. The town is home to what is said to be the most colorful native market in Central America. This town has been, since pre-Hispanic times, one of the largest trading centers in the Maya area. The famous handicraft market draws not only the K’iche’ peoples of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala. They represent many of Guatemala's linguistic groups. Each person hawks his or her products in a cacophony of color, dialects, costumes, smoke, and smells. Hand-woven and hand-embroidered textiles in traditional Mayan colors and designs are among the most outstanding items, from skirts and blouses to tablecloths and wool blankets. After spending time shopping, you’ll have an opportunity to see Maya rituals being performed in the Catholic Church. Transfer to Lake Atitlan where you will stay at the Dos Mundos Hotel at Lake Atitlan or a similar hotel. (B,L)

Day 3- Lake Tour & Visit to Santiago
This morning guests will take a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan to the Village of Santiago where they have lunch in a local hotel and tour the village. You will visit the Maya God Maxi Mon and learn about the spiritualism & beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. While in Santiago de Atitlan, get a glimpse of how the Tzutujil Maya live, almost oblivious to the fact that the Conquistadors arrived five centuries ago. No trip to Santiago is complete without a visit to Maxi Mon (ma-shee-món), the smoking-and-drinking Mayan-Catholic deity. Stay at the Dos Mundos Hotel at Lake Atitlan or a similar hotel.  (B,L)

Day 4- Solola Market & Iximche  
Guests will be transferred to visit the colorful authentic market at Solola and enjoy a tour of the market. Solola is the capital of the department of Solola, an area that includes 19 municipalities around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.  The majority (approximately 90%) of the city's inhabitants are Cakchiquel Indians who proudly retain their heritage.  It is one of the few municipalities where both men and women routinely wear their traditional Mayan dress. 
Women often carry their wears in the traditional Mayan market basket, balancing a few vegetables from their garden, tortillas, textiles or even a couple chickens that they hope to sell at market. The common blue plastic pans are scales used to compare the weight of different products.
Lunch will be in a traditional restaurant on route back to Antigua. There will also be a short tour of the small Maya Archaeology site at Iximche. The site's name, Iximché, dervives from the mayan words ixim (maize/corn) and ché (tree), resulting in "Place of the Maize tree." Iximche is known to have an elaborate market set aside in it during the Postclasic Era. It was made of a square plaza area for the market with installed government officials to collect taxes, enforce rules, and to settle disputes. Here, the pyramids still sleep under a blanket of vegetation. Stay in the Aurora in Antigua or a similar hotel for 2 nights. (B,L)

Day 5- Architecture & History Tour
Guests will take a half day tour of Antigua. A beautiful city, the streets are lined with cobblestones and an abundance of authentic colonial buildings.   It has been given the rare World Heritage title by UNESCO preserving the charming and unique atmosphere.  Visitors come and enjoy all the court cafes with flourishing gardens and fountains. The tour takes in the main square, palace, Cathedral, La Merced Church, Capuchinas Convento, St. Clara & San Francsico Church.  All entrances are included. Free afternoon.Stay in the Aurora in Antigua or a similar hotel.(B)

Day 6, Copan (Honduras)
Today guest transfer across Guatemala to Honduras. Just across the border, about 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) you are in the pretty colonial village of Copan Ruinas. Copan - known as Xukpi to the Maya - was the dominant Mayan city in the south of their territory. Its rich stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs make Copan a feature attraction along "La Ruta Maya". At its height in the late classic period Copán seems to have had an unusually prosperous class of minor nobilities, scribes, and artisans, some of whom had homes of cut stone (some of which have carved hieroglyphic texts) built for themselves at the site, when, in most sites such a privilege was reserved for the rulers and high priests.

Archeologists have consolidated and restored many structures at the site.

Free afternoon to relax or explore this town. Dinner included at the wonderful Hacienda San Lucas Copan. You will stay two nights in Casa de Café in Copan or a similar hotel. (B,D)

Day 7, Copan & Bird Park
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the Maya Site of Copan.
Enjoy a private guided tour of Copan Ruins site with its famous hieroglyphic staircase, ball court and tunnels. Copán has been renowned for its magnificent Maya Ruins a designated World Heritage Site believed by archeologists to be the cultural center, the “Paris”, of the Maya world. Lunch is in the tropical bird park where guests can also enjoy a visit of this beautiful facility caring for rescued tropical birds & working to educate people about conservation. Stay in Casa de Café or a similar hotel in Copan. (B,L)

Day 8, Transfer to Rio Dulce
Transfer across Guatemala through the central desert region to the lush tropical area at Rio Dulce. (5 hours). Rio Dulce or "Sweet River" goes from Lake Izabal to the Atlantic Ocean. Visit the beautiful, UNESCO protected small Mayan Temple site at Quirigua along the way. Once at Rio Dulce you will board a boat for a scenic trip along the river to your riverside hotel. Going upriver, one passes through a spectacular steep walled canyon lined with jungle vegetation and wildlife. The river then widens into a small lake, El Golfete, the shores of which are lined with beautiful locations, Mayan settlements and a manatee reserve. You will stay in Villa Caribe at Rio Dulce or a similar hotel. (B)

Day 9, Rio Dulce
Cruise the Rio Dulce River through the central canyon and down to the Garifuna town of Livingston on the Coast. Explore Livingston on a guided walking tour then journey back downriver to Rio Dulce for a chance see the elusive Manatee. Livingston is an extremely fun and interesting town populated by the Garifuna people of African origin. They have a laid-back attitude and their own language (though they tend to speak Spanish and English as well), and a style of dancing known as punta that requires the hips to move faster than lightening. Once back at Rio Dulce board your transfer to the Tikal area. You will stay at the Maya International at Tikal, or a similar hotel, for the next 2 nights.(B)

Day 10, Yaxha Tour
After breakfast guests will transfer to Yaxha National Park (approx 1 hour travel time) to explore this atmospheric lakeside site. Guests will have lunch at El Sombrero. Climbing the highest temple at the end of the day will reward you with a spectacular view over the lakes and jungle of Yaxha National Park. Stay in Maya International at Tikal or a similar hotel.  (B)

Day 11, Tikal
Today guests will transfer to Tikal National Park (1 hour travel time) to explore the amazing UNESCO protected Mayan Temple site of Tikal. Huge Mayan temples rise above the jungle canopy and monkeys and tropical birds are abundant in the surrounding rainforest. You can climb Tikal’s highest pyramids to enjoy spectacular views over the vast Mayan jungle. You will see abundant wildlife like toucans, coatis and monkeys. In the afternoon catch a flight to Guatemala City. You will stay overnight in Guatemala City in the Biltmore Express or a similar hotel. (B,L)

Day 12, Transfer Out

Today guests are met at their hotel by their driver for an unguided transfer to the airport in time for their international flight out.(B)