October 25 - November 2, 2025 Guatemala Tour
Explore, Experience, Empower
*Classic Tour*
ALDEA offers a unique, eye-opening, 8-day/8-night tour of the western highlands of Guatemala, the “Land of Eternal Spring.”
The mission of ALDEA and its partner organization, ABPD, is to promote integrated development programs that improve the well-being of families with limited resources, especially in rural Mayan areas. For over 50 years, we have been working to change the trajectory of peoples’ lives and empower them to create lasting solutions to the persistent problems of poverty and inequality that are inherent in Guatemala’s large indigenous population.
This 8-day/8-night tour provides the rare opportunity to be welcomed into Mayan villages to experience ALDEA’s life-changing work and understand how you can be a part of making a meaningful difference. In addition, this glimpse of Guatemala will leave you amazed by the country’s incredible beauty, warm, gracious people, vibrant culture, and breathtaking landscape around Antigua and Lake Atitlán. Tour participants form strong bonds and a shared commitment to improving the lives of rural Guatemalans.
Tour Highlights:
- Learn about ALDEA’s community development projects with Mayan partner villages.
- Discover daily activities of rural Mayans in their homes, learn their stories first-hand, and meet community leaders.
- Experience Guatemala’s thriving Mayan heritage and amazing legacy.
- Explore Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site, and learn of its rich history.
- Experience the spectacular Sumpango Giant Kite Festival held on All Saints Day.
- Relax surrounded by the mesmerizing beauty of volcano-ringed Lake Atitlán.
- See Lake Atitlán’s rich and fertile hills, fishermen, artists, traditional weaving, and daily activities of residents.
- Walk the Mayan ruins of Iximché and possibly witness a Mayan ritual.
- Enjoy delicious Guatemalan food and some of the best coffee in the world.
- Take advantage of shopping opportunities in Antigua, Santiago Atitlán, and San Juan La Laguna.
what’s included
- Extensive pre-tour information, trip coordination assistance, welcome packet, souvenir gifts.
- Pick-up and shuttle to/from La Aurora Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City.
- Five nights at Hotel Aurora in Antigua, one night at Hotel de Montaña in Tecpán, and two nights at Hotel Bambú at Lake Atitlán.
- Seven breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners (including a special farewell dinner).
- Air-conditioned, chauffeured coaster bus for in-country trips; water and some snacks.
- Bilingual guides, all excursions and entrance fees during group activities.
- Gratuities for meals, chauffeurs, local on-site guides, and hotel service.
what’s not included
- Round-trip air transportation.
- Items of a personal nature, e.g. souvenirs, laundry, extra snacks and drinks.
- Meals on Saturday, October 25.
- Cost of optional activities during free time.
- Travel medical insurance.
Deposit/Payments/Cancellations:
$500 deposit is due at the time of registration and the remaining balance ($1,600 per person for double occupancy and $1,900 for single occupancy) is due by June 30, 2025. If a participant cancels by June 30, 2025, they will receive a full refund. No refunds will be made for cancellations after June 30, 2025, unless the vacancy can be filled with a participant of equivalent occupancy.
Participation Details: The activity level for this trip is moderately difficult due to walking up to three miles at a time on cobblestones and uneven surfaces; walking up and down slopes; standing for periods of time; getting in and out of boats; and riding on bumpy roads. Tour is limited to 15 participants who are 21 years or older. Participants are required to sign a liability waiver, test negative for COVID on the first day of the tour, and have travel medical insurance coverage.
Travel Documents: A current U.S. passport is required. No visa is required for Guatemala visits of fewer than 90 days.
Climate: Daytime temperatures in 70s F, nights in the 50s. The tour takes place at the end of the rainy season, so some rain is possible 50s.
Brief Day-by-Day Itinerary (Subject to Change)
- Arrive at Guatemala City airport (GUA).
- Shuttle to Antigua, UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Check in at Hotel Aurora.
- Antigua walking tour followed by tour orientation.
- After lunch, explore Antigua on your own.
- Pre-dinner discussion of Guatemala’s social, political, and economic context with former U.S. Consul General and ABPD board member at a historical Antigua home.
- Continue exploring Antigua in the morning.
- Enjoy typical lunch/cooking and weaving demo/product display at local family home in San Antonio Aguas Calientes.
- Pre-dinner discussion of ALDEA’s history and current program with tour leaders
- Program update in Chimaltenango by Executive Director of ABPD (ALDEA’s Guatemalan partner organization).
- Travel to two rural Mayan villages – one village with ALDEA-sponsored environmental and empowerment projects completed and one without projects.
- Overnight stay at rustic Hotel de Montaña in Tecpán – the best local accommodations.
- Guided visit of the pre-Columbian ruins of Iximché en-route to Lake Atitlán.
- Check in at Hotel Bambú.
- After-lunch tour of Santiago Atitlán, including church and rectory where the first US-born priest beatified was murdered in 1981.
- Shopping opportunities.
- Possible “Maximón” encounter.
- Optional early-morning bird watching hike to spot quetzals, Guatemala’s national bird.
- Mid-morning boat ride to San Juan La Laguna.
- Witness the natural dye process at local weavers’ cooperative.
- Learn about coffee production by touring a local small plantation; lunch at plantation.
- See a demonstration of San Juan’s unique painting style by a local artist.
- Free time in afternoon to relax at Hotel Bambú’s pool, or shop in Santiago Atitlán.
- AM boat ride to Panajachel to meet our bus which will take us to visit another rural ALDEA village.
- Participate with villagers in typical daily activities.
- Return to Antigua in time for dinner.
- Morning visit to the Sumpango Giant Kite Festival.
- Early afternoon free time in Antigua.
- Late afternoon guided tour of the historic Casa Santo Domingo monastery and its museums followed by special dinner finale at the hotel’s exquisite restaurant.
- Shuttle to Guatemala City airport for flight departures OR plan additional post-tour activity, e.g. famous Chichicastenango market, overnight to Tikal or Copan, Spanish language school, or visit more of Antigua.
"June and I are very experienced travelers, and this trip was one of our best. It is completely different to be a tourist versus truly experiencing a country and getting to know its people, history, and uniqueness. We got to understand how people in Mayan communities live and the transformation in their lives through the help of ALDEA and ABPD. I will never forget the side by side look at villages - before and after stoves, latrines, and clean water systems were installed. Our sensory input was flooded by smoking volcanos, jungles, challenging roads, native crafts, old Spanish churches, and beauty of Antigua and Lake Atitlan, and we shared these experiences with a fantastic group of people. The accommodations were beautiful and very comfortable. June and I are foodies and loved our meals at some very special restaurants and the typical Guatemalan food served during activities. We strongly recommend this tour."
June and Brian Strunk, Recent Tour Participants