Guatemala Family Adventure: Volcanoes, Lake & Jungle

Today the family explores colonial Antigua, one of the loveliest cities in the Americas, at a relaxed pace. With your guide you wander the grid of cobbled streets, lined with low pastel houses, flower-filled courtyards and grand baroque churches, many left as romantic ruins by past earthquakes, and take in the central plaza, the fountain, and the famous yellow arch of Santa Catalina framing Volcan Agua. Children enjoy climbing to a rooftop viewpoint for volcano views, visiting a jade workshop to see the Maya's precious stone carved and polished, and browsing colourful craft stalls. There is time for ice cream in the plaza and a relaxed family lunch. The beauty and fun are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a family dinner in a courtyard restaurant. Rest well, for tomorrow you hike an active volcano.

Today the family takes on a real volcano, active Pacaya, for a thrilling day of adventure. You drive out from Antigua to Pacaya and hike (younger children can ride a horse part-way) up through pine forest onto vast fields of black, hardened lava, crunching across the surreal moonscape with spectacular views over the surrounding volcanoes. On active days you feel the warmth of the ground and see steam from vents, and, the highlight for children, your guide roasts marshmallows over the natural volcanic heat. Returning towards Antigua, you might stop at a farm to see how coffee or macadamia nuts are grown. The adventure and wonder are captivating. As the day ends, you return to Antigua, full of stories. This evening, relax over a family dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to the crater lake of Atitlan.

Today the family journeys into the highlands, taking in a colourful Maya market and the stunning crater lake. You drive up through beautiful mountain scenery to Chichicastenango, where (on Thursdays and Sundays) one of the most famous indigenous markets in the Americas fills the town with dazzling colour; children are wide-eyed at the labyrinth of stalls piled with textiles, masks, toys and produce, and you visit the whitewashed church of Santo Tomas, fragrant with incense. You then continue to Lake Atitlan, descending to the shore of this stunning volcanic crater lake ringed by three soaring volcanoes and traditional villages. As the day ends, you settle into your family-friendly lakeside hotel, with the deep blue water and volcanoes before you. This evening, savour the beauty and calm of the lake. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore the lake by boat.

Today the family explores the stunning crater lake of Atitlan by boat, with hands-on fun. You cross the deep blue water, ringed by soaring volcanoes, to the artistic village of San Juan La Laguna, where you meet a womens weaving cooperative and watch skilled weavers work the ancient backstrap loom, learning how threads are dyed with natural colours from plants and insects. At a cacao workshop, the whole family grinds roasted cocoa beans and makes its own chocolate, a delicious, messy treat. You visit another lakeside village, browse craft markets and enjoy the volcano views. The fun and living culture are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your lakeside hotel. This evening, enjoy the sunset over the volcanoes and a relaxed family dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you enjoy a fun, flexible day on the lake.

Today the family enjoys a flexible day of fun and relaxation on the stunning crater lake. You might kayak or paddle in a calm bay, swim in the warm water, or take a gentle guided walk through coffee groves and cornfields with volcano views. Active families can try a lakeside nature reserve with its butterfly garden, monkeys and a canopy zipline (optional), while others relax at the hotel pool or explore the craft market and cafes of Panajachel. There is time to simply play and enjoy one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The fun and beauty are captivating. As the day ends, you gather the family's stories from the lake. This evening, enjoy a final lakeside dinner before the jungle. Rest well, for tomorrow you fly to the Peten jungle and the temples of Tikal.

Today the family journeys from the highlands to the tropical Peten jungle. After breakfast by the lake, you transfer to Guatemala City airport and take a short, exciting flight north to Flores, gateway to Tikal. Flores is a charming little island town on the turquoise Lake Peten Itza, its red-roofed pastel houses and cobbled lanes crowded onto an islet linked to the mainland by a causeway. You settle into your hotel and, as the tropical heat softens into evening, explore the island's pretty streets, swim or take a boat trip on the warm lake, and watch the sunset over the water from a waterfront restaurant. The change from cool highlands to steamy jungle is thrilling for children. As the day ends, you enjoy the laid-back charm of Flores. This evening, dine on the waterfront. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore the jungle temples and monkeys of Tikal.

Today the family explores Tikal, a real-life adventure story deep in the jungle. You drive from Flores into Tikal National Park and, with your expert guide, walk jungle paths between the towering grey temple-pyramids of one of the greatest Maya cities, climbing to a lofty viewpoint where the crowns of pyramids break through an endless green canopy. All around, the jungle comes alive with wildlife children love, troops of howler monkeys roaring overhead, acrobatic spider monkeys, coatis crossing the plazas, and colourful toucans, parrots and ocellated turkeys. Your guide brings the ancient city and its jungle to life with stories and games. The adventure and wildlife are captivating. As the day ends, you return to Flores, full of wonder. This evening, enjoy a final family dinner by the lake. Rest well ahead of your journey home tomorrow.

After a final morning in charming Flores, perhaps a last swim or boat ride on the turquoise lake, the family flies back to Guatemala City and connects with your onward international departure (we time the flights comfortably). You leave having shared a wonderful family adventure through Guatemala, toasting marshmallows on active Pacaya, exploring the crater lake of Atitlan by boat and kayak, making chocolate, meeting weavers, and discovering the jungle temples and monkeys of Tikal. The images stay vivid long after you land, the marshmallows over the lava, the volcanoes mirrored in Lake Atitlan, the chocolate-making, and the howler monkeys roaring above the temples. Guatemala offers adventure, wildlife, culture and fun for the whole family in abundance, and you depart with memories to last a lifetime, already dreaming of a return to this beautiful and welcoming land.