Tour Code: 28GUA
Tour Manager: Patrick Cross
Tour Leader: Patrick Cross
Group Size: 8 - 12
Activity level: Moderate

Maya culture. Jungles. Ruins. Colorful colonial streets. Beautiful landscapes. A breathtaking lake. Guatemala has it all! 

Learn about Maya culture as we visit the old colonial city of Antigua Guatemala, the colorful artistic towns of Lake Atitlán, and the island of Flores. Experience a coffee farm from seed to shelf and learn about the production of chocolate. Admire volcanos and other incredible views, explore ancient Maya ruins and temples, walk along brightly colored streets covered with cobblestones, and shop for fabrics and souvenirs in artisan markets.

Please note that this is an active cultural tour with frequent walking on cobblestones, uneven paths, hills and steps.  Archaeological visits include extended walking in warm conditions.  Temple climbs and the sunrise hike are optional, but the main tour still requires comfort walking on uneven ground.  Many locations have limited or no wheelchair access.  Please discuss your mobility needs with us before booking.

Sunday, March 5
Meet at the Guatemala City airport and transfer to the colonial city of Antigua Guatemala. After checking into our hotel, we will go for an orientation walk and see the Cerro de la Cruz viewpoint for an amazing view of Volcán de Agua; there's no better way to have a "welcome to Guatemala" beginning!  Welcome group dinner. 4 nights in Antigua Guatemala.

Monday, March 6
Visit LAVOSI in nearby Jocotenango for an opportunity to connect with the local Deaf school community. Continue on to Finca Azotea, an old coffee farm, to have lunch and explore its exhibits about Maya culture and the colonial era.

Tuesday, March 7
Who’s ready for some super-fresh coffee? After breakfast, we’ll visit a coffee farm and discover the work behind every cup, from growing and harvesting to roasting and brewing. Sample some freshly-made coffee and bring some home. After, we’ll take a tuktuk to Caoba Farms to savor a delicious organic, farm-to-table lunch and explore the farm grounds and gardens. Visit nearby San Juan del Obispo to learn about handmade chocolate production and sample amazing flavors.

Wednesday, March 8
Find out why jade has an important place in Maya culture, understand the history of jade in Guatemala, and take part in a carving workshop. Learn about the Maya calendar and the meaning of nahuales (humans transforming into spirit animal shapes). Free time the rest of the day to rest, shop or explore the city.

Thursday, March 9
Travel into Guatemala's highlands, with a stop for lunch and exploration at the famous Chichicastenango Market, , a huge open-air K’iche’ Maya market. Transfer to the colorful Tz’utujil Maya town of Santa Catarina Palopó on the shores of stunning Lake Atitlán.  After check-in at our hotel, enjoy a nice dinner and evening walk around the colorful town. 2 nights in Santa Catarina Palopó.

Friday, March 10
Visit Santiago Atitlán, a place rich in ancestral history, and meet textile artisans from the community. Try on traditional Maya clothing and watch a demonstration of traditional weaving and natural dyes.  We then travel to San Juan La Laguna for lunch at Café y Restaurante Alma de Colores, a social enterprise that employs people with disabilities, and shop shop at a Deaf-run textile store next to the restaurant.  Free time the rest of the afternoon to explore the many colorful murals, galleries, shops and cafés along the main street leading to the waterfront docks.

Saturday, March 11
Wake up at sunrise for a mind-blowing view of the volcanoes by the lake. After breakfast to regain our energy, we'll have a last opportunity to check out the umbrella-lined streets before we say goodbye to the lake and return to Guatemala City. Take a short domestic flight to Flores in the northern region of Guatemala, an area deeply rooted in Mayan history and culture.  3 nights in Flores.

Sunday, March 12
Enjoy a relaxed morning to get our bodies settled in after the previous day's travelling, explore Flores' colorful streets and lakeside cafés. Browse small local shops and smile while posing in front of the "Yo Amo Petén" sign. We then travel to Yaxhá, a Mesoamerican archaeological site with ancient plazas and temples. Explore with our local guide, and pause to watch the changing colors of sunset high above the forest overlooking the temples.

Monday, March 13
Explore Tikal's monumental temples, broad plazas, and forest paths, discovering the history of one of the great cities of the ancient pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Enjoy the impressive structures from ground level, with an opportunity to climb some of the temples.

Tuesday, March 14
Say goodbye to Petén and return to Guatemala City. Visit the historic center around the colonial-era Plaza de la Constitución in Zona 1. 2 nights in Guatemala City.

Wednesday, March 15
After breakfast, visit the Relief Map, a massive, ground-level 3D topographical replica of Guatemala. See the National Palace, an important landmark. Lunch at Ciudad Cayalá. Final chance to pick up unique Guatemalan artifacts at the Mercado de Artesanias La Aurora. Celebrate our amazing journey with a farewell group dinner.

Thursday, March 16
Transfer to Guatemala City’s La Aurora Airport for your flight back home.

Updated as of 10/22/2026

Patrick has been an Academic Upgrading professor at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario for over 25 years. He also teaches a General Education elective, “The Holocaust: Perspectives of the Deaf and the Disabled,” in ASL with interpreters for an all-hearing audience. A strong advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, Patrick is passionate about ensuring everyone has equal opportunities to achieve their goals.

An experienced traveler who has visited 55 countries, Patrick has led faculty trips to Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala, as well as student and Hands On Travel groups, including a Holocaust-themed tour to Poland, Czechia, and Germany.

At home, Patrick and his wife Barbara enjoy planning future adventures while supporting their four children as they navigate young adulthood. Their busy household also includes two cats, Mara and Kiro, and three dogs, Leia, Bean and Mishka.

• 12 nights in 3 or 4-star accommodations.

• 14 meals: Breakfast (12), Dinner (2)

• Services of a deaf Tour Leader on call 24 hours a day.

• Services of local deaf guides.

• All transportation expenses.

• All city and/or tourist taxes. 

• Airport transfers at beginning and end of tour.

• All admission fees for attractions and museums mentioned in the itinerary.

• Informative travel preparation packet.

• $100 Repeat Customer Discount per person on your next regular tour.

• Domestic and/or international airfares are not included.

  Approximately $200 for domestic flights (roundtrip: Guatemala City > Flores > Guatemala City).

• All other meals not mentioned in the itinerary and personal expenses.

• Travel Insurance.

• All types of transit and tourist visas (if applicable) - e.g. ETIAS.

• Tips for your Tour Leader, Tour Assistant(s) and/or Local Guides

• Tour begins and ends in Guatemala City.

• Tour will be confirmed when we meet the minimum number of participants.

• When the tour is confirmed, additional deposits/payments may be required.

• Significant walking expected during the tour.  Moderate physical fitness is required. All participants will be expected to be able to carry their own luggage.

• Please note that this is an active cultural tour with frequent walking on cobblestones, uneven paths, hills and steps.  Archaeological visits include extended walking in warm conditions.  Temple climbs and the sunrise hike are optional, but the main tour still requires comfort walking on uneven ground.  Many locations have limited or no wheelchair access.  Please discuss your mobility needs with us before booking. 

• Hands on Travel recommends that you purchase a travel insurance plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected.

We're here to help you plan the perfect adventure! For any inquiries or assistance, feel free to reach out:

Email: patrick@handson.travel

With this tour confirmation, your $500 deposit is now non-refundable in any event you need to back out. However, it may be transferable to a future tour.