5-Day Journey - $919

Day 1 USA/GUATEMALA CITY/ANTIGUA Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to La Antigua Guatemala. The afternoon is free to explore on your own the cobblestone streets and discover shops and buildings of this charming old town. Hotel Casa Encantada or similar.

Day 2 ANTIGUA Today you will have a walking tour of Antigua that includes the architectural & historical highlights of this colonial city, with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the many ruined churches, convents, and cathedrals. Entrances are included to the San Francisco Church, the Cathedral, Central Park, and La Merced Church. This tour is flexible and if you have specific sights that you wish to see please notify your guide. At the end of the tour your guide can accompany you back to your hotel or take you to a place of your choosing. B

Day 3 ANTIGUA/ CHICHICASTENANGO /LAKE ATITLAN (Thu. & Sun.) Depart in the morning for a 1hr transfer out to the town of Chichicastenango. Along the way you will pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives - working in the fields, collecting firewood, traveling between markets, selling their wares. Upon arrival at Chichicastenango your guide will take you to explore this famous market both the local areas of the fruit & vegetables & everyday items as well as the craft area where you can find endless variety of beautiful textile, wooden & ceramic crafts. You can also visit the famous St Tomas Church where local Maya people come to perform Maya rituals within the Catholic Church - demonstrating the interesting way the two faiths have combined in recent times. If you want to you can also hike up the hill to the Pascaul Abaj ritual site to see if any local shaman are performing rituals and/or to the cemetery on the outskirts of town. Lunch is provided in the Hotel St Tomas. We then continue to Lake Atitlan for accommodations at the Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajchel. B/L

Day 4 LAKE ATITLAN This morning you will be taken on tour to Santiago Atitlan arriving on local vessel. Upon arrival at Santiago you will walk with your guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximon is living. Each year a different "brotherhood" has the privilege of taking care of their God so his location changes. Once with Maximon you may see local shaman performing rituals for local people and if you wish you can ask your guide to help you hire the services of a shaman for you to have a personal ceremony performed. After visiting Maximon you can visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town and also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and primitive art that is famous from this area. Take a ride in a local "flete" to get to Hotel Posada Santiago for lunch. B/L