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Mayan Sun Southbound: Boat Rides & Ruins
16 days, Playa del Carmen to Antigua Guatemala
Find your paradise somewhere between the blazing Mexican sun and the cool Guatemalan highlands on this 16-day odyssey. Wander Antigua’s cobblestone streets and its local markets before experiencing the diverse beauty of Lake Atitlán and its Indigenous villages. Geared to the adventurer wanting to capture some of Central America's finest highlights, this trip will ensure that you really pack some punch into those postcards home.
Is this tour for me?
Travel Style: 18-to-Thirtysomethings
Fast, fresh, and fun adventures that never slow down, made for young, budget-minded travellers.
Service Level: Basic
Simple and clean hotels and hostels; affordable public and private transport; lots of optional activities.
Physical Rating: 2 - Light
Light walking and hiking suitable for most fitness levels. Nothing too challenging.
Trip Type: Small Group
Small group experience; Max 18, avg 14.
Age requirement: 18-39
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View our Entry Requirements toolAlternative Trips
16 days
Playa del Carmen to Antigua Guatemala
From$1162USD
was
$1549
Valid on
May 4 2024
Trip Code: CMCA
Special Offers
Expires on May 01, 2024 03:59 UTC
Promo Code G24SDQ010CAM04
See how your trip uplifts communities
In a number of impactful ways, your adventure directly benefits the local people and places we visit.
100
Ripple Score
Want to create ripples that change lives? The higher the Ripple Score percentage, the more money stays in the local communities you visit.
Ripple Score for this trip: 100
More from Mayan Sun Southbound: Boat Rides & Ruins
Itinerary
Day 1Playa del Carmen
Arrive at any time. Head out tonight with your fellow travellers to 12th Street, where there’s tons of bars and clubs to choose from. Say cheers to new adventures with new friends!
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your Welcome Moment Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group| Your First Night Out Moment Connect With New FriendsDay 2Playa del Carmen
Enjoy free time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm or take a ferry to nearby Cozumel. Or just play in the waves and enjoy the beach.
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your Discover MomentDay 3Playa del Carmen/Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Days 4–5Caye Caulker
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your Discover MomentDay 6Caye Caulker/San Ignacio
Travel by boat and bus from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio. Enjoy an included pottery demonstration and local lunch at a G Adventures-supported women's pottery cooperative.
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your G for Good Moment San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local LunchMeals included:
LunchDay 7San Ignacio
Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.
Day 8San Ignacio/Flores
Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of the ruins of Tikal.
Day 9Flores/Rio Dulce
Travel across the country towards the coast to Rio Dulce, on the shores of Lake Izabal.
Day 10Rio Dulce
Travel to the Caribbean town of Livingston by scenic boat ride from Rio Dulce. Enjoy a visit to the G Adventures–supported El Manglar Restaurant for an explanation of the women-led community initiative project here. Then, walk around the grounds before a sit-down lunch of delicious local flavours.
Meals included:
LunchDay 11Rio Dulce/Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy an orientation walk of Antigua's cobblestone streets, then opt to take a salsa lesson and practice new moves out at night.
Day 12Antigua Guatemala
Enjoy a free day in Antigua. Opt to relax with a massage, climb a volcano, soak up the culture in one of the city's many cafés, or explore the nearby hills and towns by bike.
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your Discover MomentDay 13Antigua Guatemala/Panajachel
Travel to beautiful Lake Atitlán and enjoy the views.
Day 14Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna
Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings at the lake's markets.
Meals included:
DinnerDay 15San Juan La Laguna/Antigua Guatemala
Return to Antigua, and enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.
Exclusive Inclusions:
Your Big Night Out MomentDay 16Antigua Guatemala
Depart at any time.
What's Included
- Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch, San Ignacio
- Your G for Good Moment: Caribbean Gastronomic Experience "El Manglar", Lívingston
- Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna
- Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
- Your Discover Moment: Playa del Carmen
- Your Discover Moment: Caye Caulker
- Your Discover Moment: Antigua Guatemala
- Your Big Night Out Moment: Antigua Guatemala
- Guided tour of Tikal
- Orientation walk in Antigua
- Beach time in Playa del Carmen and Caye Caulker
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodations
Simple hotels/hostels (14 nts, most multi-share), local homestay (1 nt).
Meals
2 lunches, 1 dinner
Allow USD400-520 for meals not included.
Transportation
Local bus, ferry, boat, private vehicle, taxi, walking.
Staff & experts
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)
Antigua Cooking Class - From $60.00
Learn the tips and tricks to Guatemalan cuisine while joining a local cooking class. Try whipping up local staples before digging in to the fruits of your labour. Hope you're hungry!
Hol Chan Marine Reserve Day Tour - From $100.00
Explore the oldest marine reserve in Belize with a full-day tour filled with snorkelling and sightseeing. The tour includes stops at three popular snorkelling destinations – the Hol Chan Channel, Shark and Ray Alley, and Coral Gardens. Stop at two additional viewing spots to marvel at tarpon and manatees. Expect to see an abundance of angelfish, blue-stripped grunts, schoolmaster snappers, and hundreds of other varieties of species in their natural surroundings. Keep your eyes peeled to see green moray eels poking out from their tiny caves. Tour Includes: snorkeling mask, fins/flippers, lunch, assortment of tropical fruit, water, and other snacks.
Pacaya Volcano Hike - From $59.00
Departures
Make it a private tour
Book this tour as a private departure, with your own CEO and all the benefits of a G Adventures group tour.