8 Days • 7 Nights
Guatemala Honeymoon: Colonial Antigua & Lake Atitlan
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- Candlelit colonial Antigua, ringed by volcanoes, is a beautifully romantic start to your honeymoon. Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the loveliest colonial cities in the Americas, is made for romance, with its cobbled streets, flower-filled courtyards, pastel houses and grand ruined churches, all beneath three great volcanoes. You wander hand in hand through its lanes and plazas, take in the famous yellow arch and the ruined convents, toast the volcanoes from a rooftop bar at sunset, and dine by candlelight in beautiful courtyard restaurants. Staying in an exquisite restored colonial house adds to the romance. The beauty and atmosphere are captivating.
- A boutique retreat on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan is a magical, romantic highlight. Lake Atitlan, a stunning volcanic crater lake ringed by three soaring volcanoes and traditional Maya villages, is one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the Americas. You retreat to a beautiful boutique hotel set above the water, with lake and volcano views from your room, terraces and gardens for two, and the deep calm of the crater lake all around. You spend long, unhurried days gazing across the water as the light shifts on the volcanoes from dawn to dusk. The beauty and serenity are captivating.
- Private boat rides between Maya villages and sunset cruises are a romantic highlight of this journey. On Lake Atitlan you explore the lake together by private boat, crossing the deep blue water between traditional Maya villages such as artistic San Juan La Laguna and the Tzutujil town of Santiago Atitlan, each with its own colour and character, at your own gentle pace. Best of all, you take a private sunset cruise on the calm evening water, glass of wine in hand, as the sky turns pink and gold behind the volcanoes and the lake falls still. The romance and beauty are captivating.
- Couples spa treatments and gentle, indulgent days are a relaxing, romantic highlight. This honeymoon is designed for indulgence and relaxation. You enjoy couples spa treatments, perhaps a traditional Maya-inspired massage or a temazcal steam ceremony, unwind in beautiful gardens and infinity pools with lake and volcano views, take gentle walks together through coffee groves and cornfields, and linger over long breakfasts and lazy afternoons. There is nothing to rush, only time to relax and enjoy being together in beautiful surroundings. The indulgence and calm are captivating. Enjoying couples spa treatments, infinity pools and gentle.
- Romantic dining, from candlelit courtyards to lakeside terraces, is a delicious highlight of this journey. Guatemala offers wonderful romantic dining, and this honeymoon savours the best of it. In Antigua you dine by candlelight in beautiful colonial courtyards, sampling refined Guatemalan cuisine and fine wines; on Lake Atitlan you enjoy intimate dinners on lakeside terraces as the sun sets behind the volcanoes, and can arrange a private dinner for two under the stars. Superb highland coffee, tropical fruit and artisan chocolate add to the pleasure. The flavours and settings are captivating. Enjoying romantic dining.
- Above all, this journey offers an intimate, romantic honeymoon through the most enchanting corners of Guatemala. Guatemala is a wonderfully romantic destination, and this honeymoon is designed for two to savour its beauty at a gentle, indulgent pace. Over eight days you enjoy candlelit colonial Antigua, a boutique retreat on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan, private boat rides and sunset cruises, couples spa treatments, romantic dining and long, unhurried days together, with private guides and thoughtful touches throughout. The combination of colonial beauty, a stunning crater lake, volcanoes, indulgence and romance makes this honeymoon enchanting.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Your romantic journey through Guatemala begins as your flight arrives at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City, where you are met and transferred to Antigua, the exquisite colonial city ringed by volcanoes, less than an hour away. Guatemala is a wonderfully romantic country, and the warmth of the welcome is felt from the moment you arrive. Settle into your beautiful hotel, an exquisite restored colonial house with flower-filled courtyards and volcano views, and spend the rest of the day relaxing together after your journey, perhaps taking a first romantic stroll along the cobbled streets beneath the volcanoes. This evening, a romantic welcome dinner introduces you to refined Guatemalan cuisine and to the beautiful honeymoon ahead in Antigua and on Lake Atitlan. Rest well, ready to explore romantic Antigua together tomorrow.
Today you explore romantic, colonial Antigua together at a gentle pace. With your private guide you wander the grid of cobbled streets, lined with pastel houses, flower-filled courtyards and grand ruined churches, taking in the central plaza and fountain, the famous yellow arch of Santa Catalina framing Volcan Agua, and beautiful ruined convents such as Santo Domingo. You visit a jade workshop, browse for beautiful crafts, and perhaps take a chocolate-tasting or a private rooftop lunch with volcano views. The afternoon is free to relax at your hotel or explore hand in hand. As the day ends, you climb to a rooftop bar to toast the volcanoes at sunset. The beauty and romance are captivating. This evening, dine by candlelight in a beautiful colonial courtyard. Rest well, ready for a relaxed day in Antigua tomorrow.
Today you enjoy a relaxed, romantic day in and around Antigua. You might take a gentle tour of a beautiful highland coffee farm on the volcanic slopes, strolling the plantation and tasting superb fresh coffee together, or explore more of Antigua's boutiques, cafes and hidden courtyards at your own pace. The afternoon is free for indulgence, perhaps a couples treatment at a colonial spa, relaxing in your hotel courtyard, or simply wandering the romantic streets. As the day ends, you find a rooftop or a viewpoint to watch the sun set over the volcanoes, glass in hand. The relaxation and romance are captivating. This evening, savour another candlelit dinner in one of Antigua's beautiful restaurants. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to your boutique retreat on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan.
Today you journey from Antigua to your boutique retreat on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan. You drive up through beautiful highland scenery, perhaps pausing at a viewpoint or the market town of Solola, and descend to the shore of this stunning volcanic crater lake ringed by three soaring volcanoes and traditional Maya villages. You transfer by private boat across the deep blue water to your beautiful boutique hotel, set above the lake with volcano views from your room and terraces and gardens for two. You spend the afternoon relaxing together, gazing across the water, swimming, or enjoying the hotel's serene setting. The beauty and serenity are captivating. As the day ends, you watch the sunset paint the volcanoes and lake. This evening, dine on a romantic lakeside terrace. Rest well, ready to explore the lake together tomorrow.
Today you explore the stunning crater lake of Atitlan together by private boat, ending with a romantic sunset cruise. You cross the deep blue water, ringed by soaring volcanoes, to visit the artistic village of San Juan La Laguna, with its weaving cooperatives, natural-dye workshops and painters galleries, and perhaps the Tzutujil town of Santiago Atitlan, at your own gentle pace, meeting weavers and browsing beautiful textiles. You take in the scenery, the living culture and the lakeside cafes. In the evening, you board a private boat for a romantic sunset cruise, glass of wine in hand, as the sky turns pink and gold behind the volcanoes. The romance and beauty are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your boutique hotel. This evening, enjoy an intimate lakeside dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you relax and indulge by the lake.
Today you enjoy a gloriously indulgent, relaxed day together on the stunning crater lake. You might begin with a couples spa treatment, perhaps a traditional Maya-inspired massage or a temazcal steam ceremony, then relax by an infinity pool with lake and volcano views, or take a gentle guided walk together through coffee groves and cornfields along the shore. There is time to swim in the calm water, kayak in a quiet bay, read on your terrace, or simply gaze across the lake as the light shifts on the volcanoes. There is nothing to rush, only time to relax and enjoy being together. The indulgence and calm are captivating. As the day ends, you watch another beautiful sunset over the lake. This evening, perhaps arrange a private dinner for two under the stars. Rest well.
Today you enjoy a final, unhurried day together on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan. You might take a boat to a village you have not yet seen, such as peaceful San Marcos with its lakeside walk and calm bays, or bustling Panajachel for its craft market and cafes, or simply relax at your beautiful hotel, savouring the lake and volcano views one last time. There is time for a final swim, a last spa treatment, a gentle walk, or a lazy afternoon on your terrace, gathering your memories of this beautiful honeymoon. The beauty and romance are captivating. As the day ends, you toast your journey together as the sun sets over the volcanoes. This evening, enjoy a final romantic lakeside dinner, reflecting on the enchanting places you have shared. Rest well ahead of your departure tomorrow.
After a final romantic morning by the stunning crater lake, you transfer by private boat and road back through beautiful highland scenery to Guatemala City and La Aurora International Airport for your onward international departure (we time the journey comfortably around your flight). You leave having shared an intimate, romantic honeymoon through the most enchanting corners of Guatemala, candlelit colonial Antigua ringed by volcanoes, and a boutique retreat on the stunning crater lake of Atitlan, with private boat rides, sunset cruises, couples spa treatments and romantic dining. The images stay vivid long after you land, the flower-filled courtyards of Antigua, the volcanoes mirrored in Lake Atitlan, the sunset cruise, and the long, unhurried days together. Guatemala offers beauty, romance and relaxation in abundance, and you depart hand in hand, already dreaming of a return to this beautiful and enchanting land, with memories to treasure for a lifetime.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation, plus a romantic welcome dinner and a private sunset cruise
- Daily breakfast
- Airport and land transfers in comfortable private vehicles
- Touring and sightseeing as per itinerary with expert local guides
- Entrance fees to ruins, sites and reserves as per itinerary
- boutique and luxury accommodation, private touring with expert local guides, an Antigua city tour, a private Lake Atitlan boat tour of the villages, a private sunset cruise, a couples spa treatment, and all entrance fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Some lunches and dinners not specified
- Additional spa treatments and premium wines, and tips for guides and drivers
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most nationalities (including the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand) do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in Guatemala, which shares a CA-4 border agreement with El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua; a passport valid for at least six months is required. Requirements can change, so we confirm the exact process for your nationality before travel
- Currency: The currency is the Guatemalan Quetzal (GTQ), named after the country's beautiful national bird; US dollars are sometimes accepted in hotels and tourist areas, but you will need Quetzales for markets, small shops, tips, boats and rural areas. Cards are accepted in hotels and larger establishments in Antigua and Guatemala City, and ATMs are available in towns and cities
- Best time to visit: November to April is the dry season and ideal, with warm, sunny days perfect for Antigua, Lake Atitlan, the highlands and the Peten jungle; the famous Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions in Antigua fall in March or April and are spectacular. May to October is the green, rainy season, lush and beautiful, with warm mornings and afternoon showers
- Language & etiquette: Spanish is the official language, but Guatemala is the heart of the Maya world, and more than twenty Maya languages (such as Kiche, Kaqchikel and Qeqchi) are spoken in the highlands. Some English is spoken in tourism. Guatemalans are warm and courteous; in Maya villages and markets, always ask before photographing people, and dress modestly at churches and ceremonies
- Getting around: Touring is by comfortable private vehicle with your guide and driver, with some long but scenic mountain drives; Lake Atitlan is explored by boat between its villages, and for Tikal we usually fly from Guatemala City to Flores to save a long overland journey. Roads wind through beautiful highland scenery, so we build in comfortable timings
- Health & altitude: The highlands sit at altitude (Guatemala City and Lake Atitlan around 1,500m), so take it easy on arrival and stay hydrated; the Peten lowlands and Caribbean coast are hot and humid. Drink bottled or purified water, bring sun protection and insect repellent, and consider travel insurance. We use trusted guides, drivers and vehicles throughout
- Culture & markets: Guatemala has one of the richest living indigenous cultures in the Americas, famous for its dazzling handwoven textiles (each village has its own patterns), colourful markets such as Chichicastenango, and Maya traditions blended with colonial Catholicism. Bargaining is normal and good-natured in markets; buying directly from weavers supports local families and communities
- Safety & guides: We plan itineraries around the safe, well-travelled regions of Antigua, Atitlan, the highlands and Peten, using private transport and trusted local guides, and we monitor conditions and follow official advice. Sensible precautions apply as anywhere, and the genuine warmth of the Guatemalan and Maya people greatly enriches every journey through this beautiful country
- Power & practicalities: Power is 120V with US-style type A and B plugs, so many travellers need only a voltage-compatible adapter. Mornings in the highlands can be cool, so bring layers, along with sturdy shoes for ruins and volcanoes, sun protection and a light rain jacket. Spanish and the Maya languages give Guatemala its wonderfully rich cultural character
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guatemala a good honeymoon destination?
Guatemala is a wonderfully romantic and distinctive honeymoon destination, combining candlelit colonial Antigua, a stunning volcanic crater lake and beautiful boutique hotels with genuine warmth and few crowds. This honeymoon is designed for couples, with romantic accommodation, private touring, sunset cruises, couples spa treatments and plenty of unhurried time together, at a gentle, indulgent pace. It suits couples who want beauty, romance and relaxation with a sense of culture and adventure, rather than a purely beach honeymoon, though we can add Caribbean or Pacific beach time if you wish.
Can you arrange special romantic touches?
Absolutely, and we love to. We can arrange thoughtful touches such as room decorations, flowers, a bottle of sparkling wine on arrival, a private candlelit dinner for two, a couples spa treatment or temazcal ceremony, and a private sunset cruise on Lake Atitlan. Just let us know if you are celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary or special occasion, and any preferences you have, and we will tailor the romance, comfort and pace of your journey to make it truly special and memorable.
What meals are included?
Daily breakfast is included, along with any meals named in the itinerary (typically a welcome dinner and some dinners at lakeside or jungle lodges). Guatemalan cuisine is delicious and varied, from pepian (a rich spiced stew) and hearty tamales to fresh tropical fruit, handmade tortillas and superb highland coffee, and we usually leave other meals free for you to explore, recommending the best local restaurants and comedores at every stage of your journey.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Your journey is private by default, with your own expert local guide and comfortable private vehicle, giving you flexibility, depth and a pace tailored to you; small-group options can be arranged if you prefer. Guatemala's knowledgeable guides bring the Maya ruins, colonial cities, markets, villages and volcanoes vividly to life, greatly enriching every visit, and private transport makes the winding highland journeys comfortable and relaxed.
Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
Most nationalities, including citizens of the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand, do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, entering under the regional CA-4 agreement. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality and advise on the best option, so entry is smooth. A passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates is required.
Is Guatemala safe to visit?
Guatemala is a warm and welcoming country, and we plan every itinerary around its safe, well-travelled regions, Antigua, Lake Atitlan, the highlands, Chichicastenango and Peten, using private transport and trusted local guides. We continuously monitor conditions and follow official guidance at all times. Sensible precautions apply as anywhere, and the genuine warmth of the Guatemalan and Maya people is among the great joys of a visit.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April is the dry season and ideal across most of Guatemala, with warm, sunny days perfect for Antigua, Lake Atitlan, the highlands and the Peten jungle. The famous Semana Santa processions in Antigua fall in March or April. May to October is the green, rainy season, lush and beautiful, with warm mornings and refreshing afternoon showers. We advise on the best timing for your interests.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of colonial Antigua, Lake Atitlan, the highland markets, the Maya ruins of Tikal, volcano hikes and Semuc Champey, add nights at a luxurious lakeside or jungle lodge, include the Caribbean coast at Livingston, extend market or textile experiences, and tailor the pace, comfort and focus to you. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point for your ideal journey through beautiful Guatemala.
More Honeymoon Journeys
Honeymoon
Customizable
Zimbabwe Honeymoon: Victoria Falls & Safari in Style
Zimbabwe Honeymoon: Victoria Falls & Safari in Style
Zimbabwe
Honeymoon
Customizable
Zambia Honeymoon: Victoria Falls, River & Bush Luxury
Zambia Honeymoon: Victoria Falls, River & Bush Luxury
Zambia
Honeymoon
Customizable
Uganda Honeymoon: Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi
Uganda Honeymoon: Gorillas & Lake Bunyonyi
Uganda