We have just updated our tour page, with exiting new itineraries that include visits to main destination as well unique out of the ordinary destinations. Each tour has been especially designed to experience the greatest variety of Guatemalans nature and culture.

Future tour:  Two- 8 day Round trip in Guatemala

Main Destinations:

Flores, Tikal, Candelaria Caves, Coban, Semuc Champey, Coban, Biotopo del Quetzal, Antigua Guatemala & Chichicastenango

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival in Guatemala City

Day 02: Flight to Flores, Visit Tikal & Island town of Flores

Day 03: Drive towards Caves of Candelaria to do tubing in the cave. Continue to City of Coban.

Day 04: In Coban visit a unique Orchid Nursery, continue to Semuc Champey. In the afternoon drive towards San Cristobal Verapaz

Day 05: In the morning visit a Marimba Carpentry. Afterwards hike on a private nature reserve neighboring the Biotopo del Quetzal. In the afternoon continue towards Antigua Guatemala

Day 06: Antigua Guatemala City Tour

Day 07: Take a day trip to Chichicastenango, to visit the largest indigenous market in Latin America.

Day 08: Departure Day

Hotels:

Vista Real – Master Suite in 4 stars Hotel

La Casona del Lago – Standard Room in 3 stars Hotel

Mansíon Santo Domingo de Guzman – Standard Room in 3 stars Hotel

Park Hotel – Junior Suite in 3 stars Hotel

Camino Real Antigua – Delux Room in 4 stars Hotel

Price per Passenger in Double Room: USD 1’950.-

Group Capacity: maximum 12 People, minimum 8 People

Departure Dates:

Trip A: April 9^th, 2012

Trip B: July 16^th, 2012

Trip C: July 31^st, 2012

Trip D: October 30^th, 2012

You can download the complete itinerary here. Or contact us for more information about this tour.

Visit out tour page to see other tour examples.

The road show “Service Summit 2011″ was organized by AGEXPORT and it’s department for sustainable tourism COMITUR. We where happy to participate not only for the new contacts we made, but also for having had the opportunity of presenting so many new and out of the ordinary destinations we are proud to offer. The show took place in late September, 2011.

To visit the websit of COMITURS follow this link.

The Guatemalan Tourism Board INGUAT also just published actualized phone numbers and names of the delegates from their PROATUR program. The delegates are located in strategic location around the country and offer assistance to any tourist going though an emergency.
To get the compleate documente please click here. Spanish version available only.

Visit ASISTUR at Facebook to see actualized road reports as well as other useful information follow this link.

New Life School

This is an extract form the NGOs Blog:

“NEW LIFE SCHOOL was established for children who can’t gain an education in the overcrowded Guatemalan school system. Some of the children have severe hearing or vision deficits, learning disabilities, spina bifida, cerebral palsy Down syndrome, or attention disorders.

In January 2000 our school, NUEVA VIDA, was founded after learning that those with different abilities were not allowed into public schools. It started in one room with one Guatemalan teacher and eight students. Three of those students had spina bifida, the others with muscular dystrophy, autism, Down syndrome, mental retardation and dwarfism. They were all studying on a kindergarten or first grade level.

New Life has always been a licensed primary school and now has grades pre-kinder through sixth. The children are out in the street headed to school instead of hidden in their homes. Some reasons for they’re impaired learning are the ridicule of other students, severe hearing or vision deficits, learning disabilities, or attention disorders. In NEW LIFE SCHOOL they are placed in classes of not more than ten students per teacher, some classes as few as four. There are two kindergartens and three first grades due to their varied abilities. Any child who cannot gain an education in public school may attend New Life. Most graduates of sixth grade are continuing to study.”

Visit New Life Schools Blog

Saint Patrons Day Celebration at Chajul, El Quiche

Visit our new up-loaded album at Picasa with pictures from their Saint Patrons Day. The pictures where taken by Israeli travel agent and tour guide Danshu Arnon during his trip to Guatemala in 2008. Danshu organizes trips throughout Europe and is a specialized guide in Israel. Chajul is one of my favourite Mayan Villages in Guatemala. Hope you enjoy.

-Roberto

Antigua & Volcanoes

The Central American Travel Market (CATM) fair is a technical and professional encounter, during which the most important tourism providers of the Central American countries establish commercial relationships with tour operators and the wholesalers of the main tourist issuing markets.

This year the 7th CATM fair will be hold in Antigua Guatemalas luxury hotel and Convention Center, Casa Santo Domingo, starting the 18th of October, 2010.

For more information visit the CATM site by clicking here.

Parrilleras, also known as "Chicken-buses"

Downloadable road report published by ASISTUR, a department of the Guatemalan Tourism Board (INGUAT) that assists tourist and tourism related companies on security issues among others.

Spanish version PDF File available only.

On May 27, 2010, the Pacaya volcano erupted. At approximately 20:00 hours there was a strong eruption ejecting debris and ash columns up to 1500 meters. Ash rained down in many Guatemalan cities to the northwest of the volcano, including Guatemala City forcing the authorities to close up the International Airport, La Aurora, in Guatemala City for several days. The tube by ITN News Chanel shown above visualizes the the magnitude of the eruptions. A week after the eruption the more than 2000 evacuated locals started to return home. The airport is now operating normally and tours to the Pacaya volcano are allowed again, though with the proper precautions.

More info about the Pacaya Volcano at Wikipedia.

J.Crew choose La Antigua for their July Catalog editorial!! It was nice to find out that some of the things used to style the editorial was bought at the local market (like the woven straw hat or the sepia toned belt from the last picture). A great collection in super charming hues with lots of inspiration (I am totally trying tying a bandanna with the belt on top).

Read the entire story…

Antigua in Guatemala grabbed the Top City accolade, beating Luang Prabang in Laos, winner for the previous two years. (source: Wanderlust Magazine)