Detailed Trip Itinerary *(Tentative dates)                                                                HOME

Mon. June 8th: Leave from the Sacramento Int'l Airport on Monday night.  The flight leaves just after midnight and will take us through Houston, then to Guatemala City.  We'll get to Guatemala City around 11am on Tuesday morning.

Tue. June 9th:  Volcano Pacaya
 

After arriving, we'll unpack at our hostel.  Then we'll travel to Guatemala's only active volcano, Pacaya.  It's about a 75 minute drive to the small village of San Francisco, where tourists can climb the volcano.  Led by an experienced guide, we'll arrive to the base of the Volcanic cone in about two hours.  This is a pretty strenuous hike, so get it shape!  We've never had a student not able to make the climb, though.  There are even horses for rent to carry you most of the way up the mountain (cost is approximately $9).  Each year we go the volcano it's acting differently.  Our first year we were able to climb the cone all the way to the crater, where huge amounts of gas poured out of the crater.  The second year we could only climb to the base of the cone as the crater was much more active.  For the past three years we haven't been able to climb the cone, but there was lava flow at it's base, and we were able to walk across it to a point where lava was flowing only a few feet away.  What an amazing experience for those students.

Wed. June 10th: Old Antigua

In the morning we'll take the 45 minute drive to Antigua Guatemala.  Antigua is one of the oldest (founded in 1543) and most beautiful cities in Central America.  It has cobblestone streets, ruins of old monasteries and convents, and is surrounded by 3 volcanoes.  Antigua was the capital of Guatemala until, in 1776, the capital transferred to Guatemala City because of numerous earthquakes that  continually destroyed the town.  There is a huge market where students can buy many indigenous-made handicrafts and other souvenirs. 

We'll spend the morning visiting some ruins in the city.  We will explore Capuchinas, a convent founded in 1736 by Spanish nuns.  We'll also see the main cathedral on the town square.  The bulk of the day will allow students to practice their Spanish and their bargaining skills at the large outdoor market.  It will be a nice day to relax and take in the beauty of this historic town.

We'll be spending the night at a hotel in Antigua, only a block from the main plaza.

Thur. June 11th: Cerro de la Cruz & Antigua markets

We will spend most of the morning on a trek up a small hill to the famous "Cerro de la Cruz" (Hill of the Cross), where we'll have a breathtaking view of all of Antigua and the volcanos that surround the city.

The rest of the day will be spent exploring Antigua and the artisan markets.  Many vendors still speak Quiché, the original Mayan language.  The Mayan descendants that make handicrafts to sell learn Spanish as a means of communicating with tourists eager to buy their wares. 

Fri. June 12th: Monterrico (Pacific Ocean)
It's a 2 hour drive to the Pacific Ocean and the small town of Monterrico.  We'll be going to a small beach resort called Hotel Utz Tzaba.  There is a large pool right next to the black-sand beach.  Students can swim in the pool, and can play in the surf of the ocean.  We'll stay in two large bungalows.  There is a restaurant at the hotel which serves delicious local foods.  With not much to do buy play and relax, this event has always been one of the student's favorite parts of the trip.

Sat. June 13th: We'll spend most of the day at Utz Tzaba, then will return to Guatemala City in the late afternoon.  We'll be able to visit Miraflores, the largest and most elegant shopping mall in Guatemala- it puts Arden Fair Mall to shame.  We'll probably have time to see a movie while we're there.

Sun. June 14th: Tikal - Center of the Mayan World
Up at 5:00am, we'll leave Guatemala City at 7am on a short flight (45 minutes) to Flores (located in the northern part of Guatemala).  From there it's a 45 minute bus ride (private bus) to Tikal National Park, where we'll spend 3-4 hours with a private guide exploring the ancient Mayan city of Tikal.  Unlike Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Copán and most other Mayan sites, Tikal is nestled in the jungle.  It's many plazas have been cleared of trees and vines, its temples uncovered and partially restored.  As we walk between buildings we'll pass beneath the rain forest canopy.   Howler and Spider monkeys are a common sight.  After a late lunch in the park, we'll head back to the Airport in Flores and will fly back to Guatemala City.

Mon. June 15th: Denny's Beach (Lake Izabal)
We'll leave early on Monday for the country's largest lake, Lago de Izabal.  It's about a 3.5 hour drive to Mariscos, a small town on the edge of the lake.  From there, we spend 20 minutes on a water-taxi that takes us to Denny's Beach.  Owned and operated by Dennis Gulck and his wife, this is a relaxing & secluded beach resort on Lake Izabal, and offers many activities: horseback riding, water skiiing or wake-boarding, hiking, swimming, etc.  These optional activities do cost extra (between $5-$20).  We will stay overnight in the bungalows at the lake's edge.    A Mayan masseuse is available to give 30 or 60 minute massages ($8 and $15, respectively)

Tue. June 16th: We will take a boat across Lake Izabal (30-40 minutes) to Finca Paraíso, where we'll ride a tractor through beautiful cattle ranches, then hike to the world's only Hot-water falls.  Geothermally heated mineral water cascades into a pool of crystalline water.  Students can swim in a perfect swimming hole where the hot water meets a cool stream.  The closer you get to the falls, the warmer the water gets.  During the hike, students will see many native people in their natural environment. 

Wed. June 17th: We'll spend the morning/early afternoon at Denny's Beach, then will drive back to Guatemala City.  We'll go for our good-bye dinner at a very nice restaurant with a beautiful view of the city.

We leave Guatemala City around 2:00pm and arrive back in Sacramento around 11pm.