Mayan Sun Southbound: Boat Rides & Ruins
16 days from Playa del Carmen to Antigua Guatemala
From $ 1257
Duration16 days
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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.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 16 days
    Service level: Basic
  • Starts in: Playa del Carmen
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: Antigua Guatemala
    Ages: 18+
Mayan Sun–Southbound - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Check into our hotel and enjoy the city.
Arrive at any time. Shuttles and buses from the Cancún airport are easy to find and reasonably priced. You can also take the public ADO bus that has departures every 30 minutes from the airport to Playa Del Carmen for approximately MX 176 ($10 USD).
Day 2: Playa del Carmen
Start your holiday off with some hardcore relaxation. Enjoy a full day of free time to fill as you wish. Get your ruin on with a visit to Tulum perched atop the sea, explore the fish- and coral-filled seas around Cozumel on a scuba dive, go swimming in a cenote or at the beach, and save some energy for a night out on the town.
Enjoy free time to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm or the diving mecca of Cozumel. Or just play in the waves and enjoy the beach.
Day 3: Playa del Carmen/Caye Caulker
Mention Belize and you may conjure up visions of unbelievably clear blue waters, diving and snorkelling along the barrier reef and remarkable marine life. Belize also boasts huge swaths of jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, and above all, friendly, easygoing people. Belize is all this and much more!
Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.

End place: Caye Caulker

Day 4-5: Caye Caulker

Start place: Caye Caulker

Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style.

End place: Caye Caulker

Day 6: Caye Caulker/San Ignacio

Start place: Caye Caulker

From the town of San Ignacio, opportunities abound for exploring Belize’s little known inland scenic beauty. With free time here, choose to explore the area by foot, canoe or horse, take a caving trip, or visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and swim in its inviting pools and rivers.
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.

End place: San Ignacio

Meals: L
Day 7: San Ignacio

Start place: San Ignacio

Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.

End place: San Ignacio

Day 8: San Ignacio/Flores

Start place: San Ignacio

Cross the border into Guatemala and you immediately notice the difference in culture, with its heavy Mayan influence and Spanish language. Here we have entered Guatemala’s northeast jungle Petén region. The descendants of the Maya of Chichén Itzá migrated to the Petén area several centuries after the collapse of the great Mayan cities in the Yucatán.

En route to Flores, stop for a guided tour of the ancient city of Tikal. Arrive in Flores, the capital of the department of Petén, a small island located on the second largest lake of Guatemala, Lake Petén Itzá.
Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of the ruins of Tikal.
Day 9: Flores/Rio Dulce
A travel day from Flores to Rio Dulce which is located in the department of Izabal, home of the largest lake in Guatemala, Lake Izabal was one of the most important water ways of the Spanish crown during colonial times.

We take the road past areas of dense jungle and arrive at Río Dulce, a small town on Lake Izabal and a port stop for boaters around the globe, on their way to/from Livingston and the Caribbean coast.
Opt to visit the coastal town of Livingston by boat, or go for a swim in a natural hot waterfall.
Day 10: Rio Dulce
Opt to visit the coastal town of Livingston by boat, go for a swim in a natural hot waterfall, take a sunrise kayak to visit groups of noisy howler monkeys, or take a horseback ride through the rubber plantations combined with a visit to the Shaman Tower.
Opt to visit the coastal town of Livingston by boat, or go for a swim in a natural hot waterfall.
Day 11: Rio Dulce/Antigua Guatemala
Today is a travel day from Rio Dulce to Antigua, followed by an orientation walk once you arrive. Plan your activities for the next day and enjoy some of the nightlife this beautiful colonial city has to offer.
Enjoy an orientation walk of Antigua's cobblestone streets, then opt to take a salsa lesson and practice new moves out at night.
Day 12: Antigua Guatemala
Get adventurous and pre-book the Pacaya Volcano Hike on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
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.
Day 13: Antigua Guatemala/Panajachel
Travel through the hills and fertile fields of the Guatemalan highlands to the shores of Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. Twelve native villages, blue/grey mountains and three volcanoes line the shores of this lake resulting in a wonderful combination of unusual natural beauty and traditional culture.

The area is also ideal for outdoor pursuits like swimming, fishing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding.
Travel to beautiful Lake Atitlán and enjoy the views. Note: Please dress conservatively when visiting the villages and refrain from photographing religious ceremonies, or individuals who do not wish to be photographed.
Day 14: Panajachel/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: D
Day 15: San Juan La Laguna/Antigua Guatemala

Start place: San Pedro La Laguna

We return to Antigua to spend more time to explore the city, shop, and check out optional activities in the area.

Optional activities include visiting a macadamia nut farm, checking out a coffee plantation, biking around Antigua's surrounding hills or taking a salsa lesson.
Return to Antigua, and enjoy a Big Night Out with the group.

End place: Antigua Guatemala

Day 16: Antigua Guatemala

Start place: Antigua Guatemala

Depart at any time. Please note that Antigua's nearest airport is Guatemala City, Guatemala. Don't get caught flying out from the Caribbean island nation of Antigua; it's nowhere near the finish point of this tour!

End place: Antigua Guatemala

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Inclusions

Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch, San Ignacio Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group 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

  • Transport

    Local bus, Ferry, Boat, Private vehicle, Taxi, Walking

  • Accommodation

    Simple hotels/hostels (14 nts, most multi-share), Local homestay (1 nt)

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