2020 GeoEx Catalog

DROKEBYT / ALAMY

Guatemala Family Journey

FROM MAYAN RUINS AND MARKETS TO LAKES AND VOLCANOES

TOURING · DAY HIKING · KAYAKING · BIKING | 9 DAYS · CUSTOM

A relative hop, skip, and jump away from the United  States, Guatemala is a treasure trove of culture and adventure that’s perfect for families. We’re welcomed to the cobblestone streets, art galleries, and markets of Antigua, a fetching, UNESCO World Heritage Site– listed town not far from the much bigger, bustling capital. In addition to Antigua’s comfortable size and delicious cuisine (both traditional and contemporary), its setting among sentinel volcanoes is stunning. Nearby are invit- ing hiking and mountain biking trails, coffee farms, and

their ancestors. Uaxac- tun, a sacred space of the ancient civilization, is only partially unearthed and restored; it’s remark- able to behold up close. And in Tikal National Park we find the largest, most stupendous Mayan city. Thousands of temples

SERGIO PITAMITZ / ROBERT HARDING

villages, where we get to know country life. During harvest season (November through March), farmers show us the coffee trade firsthand, from picking and sorting to roasting and tasting. Next comes a visit to the world-famous market in Chichicastenango, or “Chichi”

comprise a six-square-mile complex surrounded by the rain forest and jungle of Petén. We base our wild explora- tions—bird-watching, zip-lining, and more kayaking— from a fine boutique hotel on a lagoon within the private nature reserve.

Not traveling with family? We’d be pleased to craft a private journey for you in Guatemala and beyond.

offered year-round from $5460 adult; from $4875 child (11 and younger)

in local speak. A rainbow of fresh vegetables, fruits, and textiles makes this animated gathering a thrill for travelers of all ages. Then it’s on to Lake Atitlán for tailor-made outdoor excursions—perhaps kayaking, hiking, and horse- back riding. In the rural highlands, we’ll witness the efforts of a nonprofit working to improve village life through education and sustainable development. After meeting the Mayans—they didn’t completely disappear after all—we explore the marvelous ruins of

Day 1  arrive in Guatemala City, drive to Antigua ✦  2 & 3  Antigua exploring ✦  4  Chichicastenango, on to Lake Atitlán ✦  5  Lake Atitlán ✦  6  return to Guatemala City, fly to Flores ✦  7  Mayan ruins of Tikal ✦ 8  Ixpanpajul Nature Park; fly to Guatemala City ✦  9  depart. TOP  Mayan ruins of Tikal. UNESCO writes that “Tikal National Park is one of the few World Heritage properties inscribed according to both natural and cultural criteria for its extraordinary biodiversity and archaeological importance.”

89

CENTRAL AMERICA

TO CUSTOMIZE ANY OF THESE ITINERARIES, CALL 888-212-0003