Itinerary
Day 1: Flores / Guatemala City / Colonial Antigua
After disembarking the National Geographic Quest, depart on our chartered flight to Guatemala City this morning. Upon arrival, join your local guide for a visit to either the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology or the Museum of Textiles (depending on the day of the week, per museum schedules), followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
Then transfer to Antigua, less than an hour's drive away, where you’ll join your guide on a walking tour to see the main highlights of the beautifully preserved Spanish colonial city. Antigua was founded in the early 16th century as the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala. Over the next 300 years, it became one of the most important urban centers in the empire, acquiring a number of superb Baroque-style monuments. While it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. The pattern of straight lines established by the grid of north-south and east-west streets, which was inspired by the Italian Renaissance design, is one of the best examples of Latin American town planning, and all that remains of the original 16th-century city. Most of the surviving civil, religious and civic buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries and constitute magnificent examples of colonial architecture in the Americas, earning Antigua its World Heritage status.
Visit the grand Baroque Monastery of La Merced, the Central Plaza and the 17th-century Santa Catalina Arch, painted bright gold and framing the view of Agua volcano towering over the city. In the late afternoon, you’ll have the option to visit a jade factory and the local handicraft market, with colorful arts, crafts and textiles for sale. Check in to the elegant Camino Real Antigua Hotel, located in the old colonial quarter within walking distance of the Central Plaza. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 2: Coffee Estate Tour / Exploring Antigua
Depart this morning for a tour of a Guatemalan coffee estate. Coffee began being produced in Guatemala in the mid-19th century and is a staple of the economy today. Favored by many coffee aficionados, Guatemalan coffee is acclaimed for its optimal balance: full-bodied, strong and sweet with a gentle acidity and complex flavor notes. Return to Antigua for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time to explore Antigua’s picturesque main plaza, historic buildings, cobblestone streets and lively markets. Dinner this evening at Posasda don Rogrigo is a feast of traditional Guatemalan fare such as plato chapin, puyazo, salimbuco and pepian, followed by a traditional dance performance accompanied by live marimba music.
Day 3: Antigua / Guatemala City / Depart
Transfer this morning to Guatemala City to meet homeward flights.
After disembarking the National Geographic Quest, depart on our chartered flight to Guatemala City this morning. Upon arrival, join your local guide for a visit to either the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology or the Museum of Textiles (depending on the day of the week, per museum schedules), followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
Then transfer to Antigua, less than an hour's drive away, where you’ll join your guide on a walking tour to see the main highlights of the beautifully preserved Spanish colonial city. Antigua was founded in the early 16th century as the capital of the Captaincy-General of Guatemala. Over the next 300 years, it became one of the most important urban centers in the empire, acquiring a number of superb Baroque-style monuments. While it was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. The pattern of straight lines established by the grid of north-south and east-west streets, which was inspired by the Italian Renaissance design, is one of the best examples of Latin American town planning, and all that remains of the original 16th-century city. Most of the surviving civil, religious and civic buildings date from the 17th and 18th centuries and constitute magnificent examples of colonial architecture in the Americas, earning Antigua its World Heritage status.
Visit the grand Baroque Monastery of La Merced, the Central Plaza and the 17th-century Santa Catalina Arch, painted bright gold and framing the view of Agua volcano towering over the city. In the late afternoon, you’ll have the option to visit a jade factory and the local handicraft market, with colorful arts, crafts and textiles for sale. Check in to the elegant Camino Real Antigua Hotel, located in the old colonial quarter within walking distance of the Central Plaza. Dinner is included at the hotel this evening.
Day 2: Coffee Estate Tour / Exploring Antigua
Depart this morning for a tour of a Guatemalan coffee estate. Coffee began being produced in Guatemala in the mid-19th century and is a staple of the economy today. Favored by many coffee aficionados, Guatemalan coffee is acclaimed for its optimal balance: full-bodied, strong and sweet with a gentle acidity and complex flavor notes. Return to Antigua for lunch at a local restaurant, followed by free time to explore Antigua’s picturesque main plaza, historic buildings, cobblestone streets and lively markets. Dinner this evening at Posasda don Rogrigo is a feast of traditional Guatemalan fare such as plato chapin, puyazo, salimbuco and pepian, followed by a traditional dance performance accompanied by live marimba music.
Day 3: Antigua / Guatemala City / Depart
Transfer this morning to Guatemala City to meet homeward flights.
Physical Rating: Easy
Repeater Layout :
vertical
