ANTIGUA - LAKE ATITLAN -  FLORES - TIKAL
8 days - 7 nights
TRIP DESCRIPTION

This adventure yoga escape will introduce you to one of the most fascinating countries in Central America. Start your visit in the beautiful colonial town of Antigua, a place of rare beauty, major historical significance and culture. Next, enter the famous Chichicastenango market filled with locally made handicrafts, textiles, flowers and delicious Guatemalan foods. Immerse yourself in the culture as you meander through the many streets of the market. Your next stop will be Lake Atitlan dotted with small towns and villages each with its own personality. You’ll be taking a short boat ride to your lakefront yoga retreat hidden amongst the lush vegetation and overlooking three stunning volcanoes. Here you will stay for a few nights, a perfect place to unwind, practice and meditate. Enjoy a traditional Mayan fire ceremony and activities like kayaking and hiking too. The last leg of our trip will take you to Flores, a small island town surrounded by a fresh water lake. This is the gateway to the largest Mayan site in all of Central America, Tikal! 
DAY 1: Arrival Day - Guatemala City + Historical Antigua

Upon arrival to Guatemala's Airport, take a taxi or shared shuttle to your hotel in Antigua, where you are free to relax and wander around at your own pace. Depending on the time of arrival, we have plenty of suggestions for you so you can make the most of your first day in this beautiful colonial town. Tonight, if you have made it in time to join the group, we will meet for our first fun group dinner together and head to a mirador with the most impressive views of the city. 

Suggested Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel in Antigua
Included Meals: None
Important Note: Except for days 3, 4, and 5 where brunches and dinners are included we have kept meals extra as food choices are quite varied and inexpensive in Guatemala. You can therefore choose what to eat, share or even skip a meal if you want!  All meals will be held together as a group in wonderful restaurants along the way. In most cases, your breakfast will be included with your stay in the various hotels and lodges that we have chosen for you. Budget between 20-40US per day for food and alcoholic beverages. 

DAY 2: Chicicastenango Market + Lake Atitlan + San Juan La Laguna
This morning we have an early departure. In our private transport we’ll be driving for 3 hours to the famous Chichicastenango market located close to Lake Atitlan. This market is only open on Thursdays and Sundays and is where locals come from all over to purchase everything from handicrafts, textiles, food, flowers, pottery and many other goods. Here we will have some time to shop, photograph and meander through the narrow streets of the market. Lunch is on your own today. You can enjoy local treats in the many restaurants around the market or maybe your adventurous enough to try street food! 
After we return to our private shuttle, we will head to Panajachel a small town located on the shoreline of Lake Atitlan. Once we arrive, we will take a 20 minute boat ride to San Juan La Laguna. This is one of many small Mayan villages on Lake Atitlán in the western highlands of Guatemala. It has become a Mecca for international travellers attracted by its beauty, tranquility and diverse options for spiritual and cultural exploration.
Today we have time to explore this small town full of great local shops filled with hand-made textiles, soaps, chocolates and more. We will stay in a lovely spot for the night and head for dinner together as a group. Depending on a few variables, Anna will likely be offering her first yoga class at sunset! 

Suggested Accommodation: Comfortable Hotel in San Juan La Laguna
Included Meals: Breakfast in Antigua.
DAY 3: Home sweet home away from home

This morning, after a delicious breakfast and a morning yoga session with Anna, we will explore the small town of San Juan La Laguna on foot with our local guide. We’ll start by hiking to one of the most colourful viewpoints in all of the country: el Mirador Xekaqasiwan. We’ll then head back down to the village for an interactive tour featuring chocolate, honey and the beautiful local textiles that make San Juan such a popular spot! Support local artists and weavers with some time shopping or continue meandering through the local streets. 

After our exciting tour, we’ll stop for a delicious lunch before heading to San Marcos just a short boat ride away.

From our meeting point in town, we’ll follow our guides on foot up a short 25 minute route to The Yoga Forest, our home away from home for the next 3 nights. This unique forest lodge is terraced into the side of a cliff and features beautiful grounds, two yoga rooms and accommodations all with stunning views of the lake. Make sure to pack light or you can prearrange for a porter to take your bag there and back for just a few dollars.

At sunset, enjoy another energizing yoga session with Anna followed by dinner and a few extra goodies that we have up our sleeve for you tonight! 


Suggested Accommodation: The Yoga Forest
Included Meals: Breakfasts in San Juan and a vegetarian dinner at The Yoga forest.
Porter service: We can arrange for a porter to carry your bag for $5 each way. This be be arranged in advance of arrival. No matter what you choose, we invite you to pack light! 

DAY 4: An Enchanting day at The Yoga Forest

Today is your day to just be. Anna will offer a rejuvenating yoga session in the morning followed by a delicious brunch at the lodge. You’ll then have the the rest of the day to enjoy a sauna and plant bath or other tours offered at the lodge*. Maybe you’ll be in the mood for a message or doing something more active today! 

Later on, Anna will meet up with you again for another inspiring yoga session where you can enjoy the stunning views of the lake and surrounding volcanos. Dinner will then be served followed by a traditional Mayan Fire Ceremony honouring the Mayan Calendar and each Nahual (Mayan birth signs) while making offerings to the fire. 

Suggested Accommodation: The Yoga Forest
Included Meals: Vegetarian brunch and dinner at The Yoga forest. Smoothies available for purchase pre brunch.
Included activity: Morning and sunset Yoga with Anna as well as an intentional fire ceremony after dark. 
Optional tours: *The lodge offers a handful of really exciting optional tours such as a 4 hour waterfall hike, stand up paddle, Mayan ceremonies, sound meditations and even volunteering with the local community to plant Tul (reeds) which help purify the waters of Lake Atitlan. We will send you a complete list of optional tours to consider closer to departure. 

DAY 5: San Marcos + El Mirador Nariz del Indio
After an energizing morning yoga session with Anna and a hearty brunch, step into your hiking shoes and join us on a fun trek to the Mirador: Nariz del Indio (Rupalaj K’istalin). This lookout is one of the best places to observe Lake Atitlan due to its incredibly high view point. At 2,550 meters above sea level, you can see breathtaking scenery and all 12 villages that surround the lake. Join Anna in some Acro Yoga overlooking the lake and volcanos!

We will then hike back to San Marcos, a hippie heaven. This town is all about yoga, grunge, psychedelics, Reiki, and massages. But even if you’re not a hippie or spiritually inclined, San Marcos is definitely worth a visit. It has a few excellent restaurants and cafes serving delicious Indian curries and herbal teas. It’s also home to a small natural reserve and Lake Atitlan’s iconic 8 meter high cliff jump.

Walk around the village, have a delicious lunch or something simple at a local cafe and meet us again to hike back to our lodge. Make sure you bring a head light or flashlight as we may be hiking back after dark! 

We will return with enough time to relax followed by a restorative yoga session with Anna after dinner. Tomorrow we are off to explore a completely different spot in the country so get packing!

Suggested Accommodation: The Yoga Forest
Included Meals: Vegetarian brunch and dinner.
Included Activity: Hike to a viewpoint and time to explore San Marcos la Laguna 

DAY 6: Private transfer to Guatemala Airport + flight to Flores

Today we have an early yoga practice followed by a lovely breakfast. We then hike back to town and board the boat back to Panajachel where we'll be met by our private shuttle that will take us to the Guatemala International Airport. Today we fly to Flores, a small island town surrounded by a fresh water lake. With its lovely houses cascading down from a central plaza to the emerald waters of Lago de Petén Itzá, the island town of Flores evokes a Mediterranean ambience. A 500m causeway connects Flores to its humbler sister town of Santa Elena on the lake shore, which then merges into the even homelier community of San Benito to the west. The three towns actually form one large settlement, often referred to simply as Flores. Here, on the island of Flores, is where we will spend the night before heading to Tikal tomorrow. 

We may have time this afternoon for a sunset yoga session by the pool or by the Lake. 

Tonight we will take you to one of our favorite restaurants in town for delicious Guatemalan food! We can also enjoy walking around the island which is pretty small and maybe even go dancing in one of the local discotecas...
 
Suggested Accommodation: Comfortable hotel in Flores
Included Meals: Vegetarian breakfast at The Yoga Forest. 
Included Flight: Flores to Guatemala


DAY 7: Guided tour of Tikal National Park

We start the day with a lovely breakfast in Flores and then take a private shuttle to Tikal National Park located only an hour away from Flores. On arrival, you'll notice that you are now surrounded by lush tropical forest, home to howler monkeys and many bird species. 

We will meet our guide and enter the park to discover it’s many wonders. The most striking feature of Tikal is its towering, steep-sided temples, rising to heights of more than 44m, but what distinguishes it is its jungle setting. Its many plazas have been cleared of trees and vines, its temples uncovered and partially restored, but as you walk from one building to another you pass beneath the dense canopy of rainforest amid the rich, loamy aromas of earth and vegetation. Much of the delight of touring the site comes from strolling the broad causeways, originally built from packed limestone to accommodate traffic between temple complexes. By stepping softly you’re more likely to spot monkeys, agoutis, foxes and ocellated turkeys.

Enjoy the park until just after sunset and we'll then return to Flores to enjoy a delicious dinner and unwind under the moon and stars.

Suggested Accommodation: Comfortable hotel in Flores
Included Meals: Breakfast in Flores
Included Activity: Guided tour of Tikal National Park and entrance fees

DAY 8: Return to Guatemala and Departure

Enjoy one last breakfast together in Flores and then we head to the domestic terminal to fly back to Guatemala City. From here, everyone will either be taking their flights back home or will continue on with their travels in the country. It’s time to say our farewells and reminisce over all of the wonderful things we've experienced on this amazing weeklong journey together.

Suggested Accommodation: None. Need extra nights in Guatemala or Antigua? Let us know and we can book this for you at an extra cost. 
Included Meals: Breakfast.
Included Flight: Flores to Guatemala City 

YOUR ACCOMMODATION
Below is a list of all of the possible hotels included in your package. The hotels are subject to availability at the time of booking so the sooner everyone confirms their spot in the group, the sooner we will be able to lockdown our top choices!  If unavailable, similar options will be suggested.
Day 1 - AntiguaHotel El Mesón de Maria  
Day 2 - San Juan la Laguna  - Sabana Resort or Uxlabil Eco Hotel
Day 3 - San Marcos la Laguna  - The Yoga Forest 
Day 4 - San Marcos la Laguna  - The Yoga Forest 
Day 5 - San Marcos la Laguna  - The Yoga Forest 
Day 6  - Flores - Hotel Isla de Flores 
Day 7 - Flores - Hotel Isla de Flores 
Day 8 - Return home
YOUR PACKAGE INCLUDES

  • Airport transfer from Guatemala to Antigua on arrival (based on min 2 people)
  • All accommodations based on double to multiple occupancy with breakfast included in standard hotels. 
  • All dinners at The Yoga Forest.
  • Private bus & boat transfers for the group. 
  • All tours and entrance fees as described in our trip package including your exciting guided tour of Tikal, the most impressive Mayan site in all of Central America!
  • Yoga and AcroYoga sessions with Anna mainly at The Yoga Forest and in other fun locations around Guatemala! Bring your yoga mat!
  • Domestic flights to and from Flores.
  • Basic tip for The Yoga Forest staff.
  • Your very own RR Escape host from start to finish. 
EXTRAS 
  • International flights (we can advise)
  • All lunches and dinners except at The Yoga Forest
  • All alcoholic beverages with meals, specialty coffees, morning smoothies, desserts or any extras not included with meals. 
  • Extras like travel insurance, water and tips while on tour.
COST 
See main invite for cost. Includes taxes. Based on double to multiple occupancy. Single occupancy upgrades may be available upon request and based on availability. 

WHAT'S NEXT...
Contact us for more information on how to join us in Guatemala! Spots are limited to only a few so join now as spaces will fill up fast! Once you sign up, we'll send you a complete packing list and more information on how to prepare for this exciting Yoga Escape!

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