Exploring Holidays In Guatemala

Guatemala Holidays is a trading name of Beyond The Ordinary, a UK based tour operator specialising in travel to this beautiful and fascinating country. All our Guatemala holidays offer 100% financial protection through our ATOL bond and membership of ABTOT.

Private Tours of Guatemala with an English speaking Driver / Guide

All our holidays to Guatemala are arranged on a private, tailor-made basis with expert, English speaking Driver / Guides. For larger parties, we can arrange both a Driver and a Guide while we are also able to arrange non-English speaking guides on request.

Luxury travel in Guatemala…..is it even possible?

While not traditionally regarded as a luxury holiday destination, and with large parts of the country offering limited options in terms of accommodation and dining, it is still possible to enjoy many of Guatemala’s key highlights without compromising on luxury.

The beautiful colonial town of Antigua, the stunning natural beauty of Lake Atitlan and parts of the northern Peten region around Flores all boast hotels that are both luxurious and atmospheric.

Antigua is a destination in its own right as well as a great base from which to explore surrounding villages. It is also the starting point for the volcano hikes of Mounts Pacaya & Acatenango.  Hotels like San Rafael, Pensativo House and El Convento offer intimate accommodation with a very personal touch.

Lake Atitlan is another destination in its own right as well as a base for visiting the world-famous market at Chichicastenango and much closer Solola market. Overlooking the lake, Casa Palopo has long been considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Guatemala.

In the north of the country, vast Peten province is home to numerous Mayan sites such as Tikal, Yaxha, Mirador, Aguateca & Ceibal.

Tikal and Yaxha are the most visited of these sites and luxury hotels are again on-hand just outside Flores at a selection of beautiful lakefront hotels – Las Lagunas, Bolontiku & La Lancha. 

Is Guatemala suitable for a family holiday?

Guatemala is a great family holiday destination. Not every family of course, but for those families seeking a couple of weeks of fun and gentle adventure, Guatemala ticks many of the most important boxes.

First off, it is a safe country in which to travel and, because all our holidays are private tours with English speaking Driver / Guides, getting around is a breeze. From the minute you arrive, to the minute you depart, you will also be in the care of our local agents with 24hr emergency contact cover.

What is there to do for families in Nicaragua? Well, even the most culture-phobic children will find it hard not to be bowled over by beautiful Antigua, Guatemala’s colonial-era gem of a town.

Kids of all ages also seem to love exploring Mayan ruins as much as we do, clambering over boulders and vast tree routes and imagining what was once there.

Culture aside, Guatemala is also a land of magnificent lakes and rivers with multiple opportunities to have fun on the water, be it travelling down the majestic Rio Dulce by speedboat or bobbing along the River Cahabon at Semuc Champey in an inflatable tube.  

Last, but not least, are Guatemala’s countless volcanoes. Come on, who isn’t impressed by volcanoes, especially those spewing out molten lava?

Thinking of a honeymoon in Guatemala?

If your idea of a honeymoon is gazing lovingly into your partner’s eyes over a revolving selection of exotic cocktails for 2 weeks, Guatemala probably isn’t for you.

However, if your idea of a romantic getaway is exploring jungle strewn Mayan ruins, clambering up volcanoes, pottering about beautiful colonial towns, shopping in colourful markets and floating along picture-perfect rivers, Guatemala might very well be the ideal honeymoon destination for you.

As with all our travel arrangements, our Guatemala honeymoons are entirely bespoke and tailor made to clients’ individual requirements, tastes and budgets. No two couples are the same so we begin every enquiry with a blank canvas and an open mind.

Getting off the beaten track and exploring roads less travelled.

Many holidays to Guatemala seem to offer the same destinations with very similar routes and activities, ie Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Chichicastenango, Flores & Tikal.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that and we offer them all too. If you’ve never been on holiday to Guatemala, it would be crazy to not visit all / most / some of its magnificent highlights.

However, there is far more to Guatemala then these key attractions and getting off the beaten track and exploring the roads less travelled will not only provide you with many more possibilities, it will also allow you to get away from the crowds (not that Guatemala is particularly busy) and visit parts of the country that are even less developed and untouched by tourism.

Perhaps nowhere is this more true than on the backroads route from Flores to Guatemala City where you will be one of the only visitors to the Mayan cities of Ceibal & Aguateca, relaxing on your own while looking out over serene Laguna Petexbatun, exploring the vast cave systems of Candelaria, floating down the river by at beautiful Semuc Champey, tasting world class coffee in Coban, visiting traditional Mayan villages within the Ixil Triangle and, if you’re lucky, witnessing Guatemala’s national bird, the Quetzal at the Biotopo de Quetzal.

For some initial ideas and inspiration, we suggest visiting our Itineraries pages. Do please remember though that all our Guatemala holidays are entirely bespoke and can be tailored to clients’ individual requirements.

Guatemala has a broad range of accommodation options with the best quality hotels found in the key visitor destinations