Arrive at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City where you will be greeted and privately transferred to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua. Set in a scenic valley surrounded by spectacular volcanoes, Antigua is a cosmopolitan city with a rich colonial past. After checking in to your boutique accommodation, explore cobblestone streets lined with pretty, pastel-hued homes and ornate churches.

This morning the scenic Antigua valley awaits, home to indigenous villages, small-scale coffee farms and three imposing volcanoes. Exploring by bicycle, you ride on back roads and trails through tranquil villages, coffee plantations and fields and experience authentic local life in Guatemala. This afternoon, immerse in coffee culture with a visit to a working coffee farm. Work side-by-side with the coffee farmers in their daily coffee processing - pick, pulp, ferment, wash, dry, trilla, sort, and grade the coffee. Then roast coffee over an open fire and grind by hand before sampling your own handiwork.

A grumbling, smoke-belching spectacle, Pacaya Volcano beckons with its breathtaking display of nature’s raw power. As you begin your steep hike through a lush pine forest, a widening panorama unfolds, offering views of northern volcanoes, the Pacific lowlands and all the way to El Salvador. At the base of the peak itself, a barren moonscape of loose rock and pebbles greets you. Steam rises from numerous vents, which sometimes yield a view of bright orange magma deep inside. Feast on a sumptuous picnic lunch and savour final views of the summit.

Today you transfer to the famous Maya archaeology site of Iximché to explore this fascinating site with your private guide. Towards the back of the site is a lesser known yet extremely important Maya spiritual, ceremony site. Immerse in an ancient culture as a local Shaman performs an authentic Maya ceremony in a local Maya language. From here, begin your hike to Lake Atitlan. Walking through glorious Maya mountain villages and beautiful remote highland countryside, take in magnificent views of Lake Atitlan and her three surrounding volcanoes.

Described by Aldous Huxley as “too much of a good thing”, you’ll marvel at incredible scenery, colourful indigenous locals and stunning flora in bloom all around the magnificent Lake Atitlan. Experience the splendour of the lake by kayak, paddling across sparkling waters and encountering local fishermen. Next hike Cerra de Oro, the Hill of Gold, to be rewarded with spectacular lake and volcano views. After a visit with Guatemala’s favourite indigenous saint, Maximón, in Santiago, cruise on the lake back to San Juan to visit local artists, weavers and medicinal herb gardens before arriving at your boutique hotel in time for sunset drinks.

En route back to Antigua, you pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress, then stop in the highland town of Chichicastenango for a visit to its famous market. Explore the colourful market and take in rows of beautiful textile, wooden & ceramic crafts. Then head to St Tomas church to witness locals performing ancient Maya rituals.

Savour your final Guatemalan breakfast before your private transfer returns you to Guatemala City for your departing flight.