Our August itinerary
Guatemala 2025!
The countdown is on! The best things of Lake Atitlan and Antigua await your families with this great itinerary. We look forward to hosting your three families and showing you around our community that we have come to love so much.
The Full Itinerary
Day 1
SATURDAY AUGUST 16
1:40pm
Shuttle pick up in Guatemala City for Sabeen and Nadia's families.
Arrivals and settling in at San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlan.
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6:00pm
Welcome charcuterie spread, orientation, intentions and vision for the trip discussed between hosts and the 2 families that have arrived. (Please send any dietary restrictions)
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9:40pm Neha's family pickup at airport in Guatemala City. Driver will bring clean pillows and blankets for you to snooze during the late drive. :)
Day 2
SUNDAY AUGUST 17
MORNING
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Breakfast served, 8 - 9:30.
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Owen will review the schedule with you briefly while you eat, catch Neha's family up to speed on orientation.
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First activity: Tuk tuk tour! A great way to get familiar with the town of San Juan, shops and a few brief tours of textiles, cacao demonstrations, apiary.
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AFTERNOON
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1:30
Lunch at accommodations
(For anyone interested, Chayo and Ceci will offer a tortilla making class over the fire in our outdoor kitchen)​
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Free afternoon to walk around town, go to a sandy beach nearby, kayak. Guides will be available for you if desired for translation and suggestions.
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Dinner out, restaurant recommendation list given. ​​​
Day 3
MONDAY AUGUST 18
MORNING
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8am-9am​​
Breakfast
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9:30
ATV tour to a waterfall. Guided by Simon with Xaman tours.
Noon​
Picnic lunch at a scenic spot.
Return to hotel​​
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AFTERNOON
Cultural experience:​
Bracelet Weaving with Abuela Concepcion. A highlight for most our guests you won't want to miss!
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EVENING
Woodfire pizza with sourdough crust, up to 3 pizzas per family included - order options will be sent via group chat.
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Live local music at hotel / instrument demonstration
Day 4
TUESDAY AUGUST 19
MORNING
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4:30am Wake up!
An unforgettable experience, pickup will be ready at pickup spot at the top of the hill to take group to a special lookout point for sunrise. Dress warm in layers.
A campfire pancake breakfast served, photos at iconic swing that overlooks the lake and several volcanos. An optional guided 30 minute hike to the summit available upon request.
Pickup will drive through towns and guide will explain about Guatemalan culture, history and some folklore.
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9:30am
Return to hotel for naps, reading in a hammock. For those interested, a brief Spanish lesson will be available in the classroom and a guided market visit with Spanish teacher Dorly to practice newly learned Spanish phrases.​
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AFTERNOON
1:00pm
Lunch at traditional one-of-a-kind traditional recipe restaurant, "Deleite Ancestral".
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Zip line in San Pedro!
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EVENING
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A special soak and eucalyptus steam at Temazcal and hot pool tucked inside a neighbouring building.
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Return to hotel, bon fire will be waiting for you!
Day 5
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 20
MORNING
8am-9am
Breakfast served.
Prepare for boat tour: pack towels (provided by hotel), swimsuits, sweaters. Wear Teva-style sandals with open toe that you're ok getting wet.
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9:30am
Boat tours around the Lake
Visit Santiago and San Marcos
Picnic Lunch included at San Marcos Nature Reserve. (Amazing swimming!)
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EVENING
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Dinner out in Santiago at one of our favourite restaurants. (Orders a-la-carte, not included.)
Return to hotel - orientation on Antigua and goodbyes with staff and hosts.
Day 6
THURSDAY AUGUST 21
MORNING
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6:30am-7am
Breakfast at accommodations
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7:30
Shuttle leaves with all families and will stop at Iximche Mayan ruins for a walkthrough of the ruins and halfway point rest for kids to run around and burn off some steam.
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We will pack a light lunch for you to eat while you are there to avoid a second stop along the way.
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Arrive at Santo Domingo Hotel, relax, enjoy, (check out recommendations on next day's schedule below).
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5:00pm
Trek Guatemala orientation at office. Location provided via Whatsapp chat group.
Day 7
FRIDAY AUGUST 22
MORNING
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Free to fill as you'd like!​​
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Our Antigua favourite activities:
-Macadamia Farm tour
-Hermano San Pedro Cathedral ruins
-Climbing wall - an amazing facility with great climbing gym, pingpong tables, coffee shop and hangout spot.
-Visit "El Arco"
-Hike to the cross lookout point.
-Visit local market
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Our Antigua favourite restaurants:
-Casa Escobar -ridiculously good steakhouse.
-La Posada de Don Rodrigo Restaurant -enjoy traditional foods like caldo, hilachas, pepian, etc.
-Sobremesa - Don't miss this one if you can sneak out for dessert with your spouses. Stunningly delicious and decadent creations.
-Street food in the evening by the La Merced cathedral.
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​1:00pm
Trek Guatemala will pick you up at your hotel and take you for your 4X4 day tour up Acatenango.​
A picnic dinner you'll never forget!
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Back to Hotel
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What you're in for with Trek Guatemala!
(Itinerary continues below)
Here's a sneak peek preview of the amazing experience you have signed up for. For further info direct from the company, please click HERE.
We will email you the waivers necessary along with a request for the documentation needed 2 weeks prior to your arrival.
...Itinerary continued
Day 8
SATURDAY AUGUST 23
​Breakfast at Santo Domingo Hotel​​
Relax, soak your bones, take some time together to talk about the experience, reflect on the differences with the kids between Guatemala and "Nueva Yoark"! ​
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See Day 7 recommendation lists!​​​
Day 8
SUNDAY AUGUST 24
MORNING
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Breakfast at Santo Domingo Hotel​​
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10:30
Shuttle pickup and drop off at Guatemala City Airport.
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Thank you so much for your visit. We trust you will have had a fantastic time exploring this beautiful Country.​​​
A TRIP YOU CAN FEEL GREAT ABOUT!
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In 2024 over 50% of Culture Chalk's revenues went straight back into supporting their community initiatives: renovating local's properties, housing for single mothers, providing purposeful jobs for local widows and groceries for families in need. This trip will not only nourish your soul, but will be helping local single-mother homes. ​
​SAN JUAN AND SAN PDERO RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATION LIST
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Dos:
Zamboni - Lunch and supper (San Juan)
Idea Connection: lunch, bakery, place to buy butter (San Pedro)
Comedor Doña Érica - Lunch (San Juan)
La Farfalla - Breakfast and Lunch (San Juan)
El Gato Perdido: Lunch and Supper (San Juan) Pita Sabij: Closed Mondays (San Pedro) Tornados Cafe: coffee (San Pedro)
Du Monde: same as idea connection but located close to the market in San Pedro
Al Tempo: sourdough bread, really good pizza (San Pedro)
Don’t:
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El Muelle
Xe Kuku Abaaj
Ristorante Dionisio
Sababa & Sababa bakery
Shanti Shanti
CLOTHES PACK LIST
7-8 Pairs socks and underwear
4 Pants
Comfortable hiking pants
3 pairs of shorts
8 shirts/tops
Toiletries, brush, hair ellastics
Swimwear
Sandals -hiking type recommended for versatility
Sport Bras
Base layer of thermo-wear
Jacket AND sweater
Walking shoes
Teva-style footwear
HOTEL PROVIDES TOWELS - SHAMPOO - TOILET PAPER - CONDITIONER
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Lake Atitlan remains extremely traditional and conservative in nature. Please remember that we are guests and as such we should dress and behave respectfully towards the hosts. Please dress modestly during your time here.
Bringing a small gift is optional but recommended to give to some of the families we support in our community. (Quality socks, a no-longer used smartphone, children's toys or a quality kitchen utensil/gadget.)
We hope you love Guatemala for what it is and don't hate it for what it is not: Come with an attitude of adventure and expect some things to NOT go smoothly at all times. Guatemala is a developing country and amenities and infrastructure are developing. While the accommodations we book and offer during your visit are considered luxury to the local population, they are not immune to occasional water cuts, power outages, etc. Guatemala is a vibrant place and roosters cawking, dogs barking, music playing and fireworks being set off at all times of the day is considered normal. Please bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper.
Our goal as your hosts is for you to leave our place BETTER, in so many ways.
Cultural Immersion Retreats