GUATEMALA & BELIZE
GUATEMALA & BELIZE
Guatemala & Belize Group Tour For Solos 30s & 40s !
Our 10-day Guatemala & Belize group tour starts in the highlands and slowly shifts into something warmer, wilder, and more Caribbean as the days unfold. It’s a trip that moves from Antigua’s streets and volcano views to the shores of Lake Atitlán, through ancient Maya landscapes in Iximché and the jungle depths of Tikal, before crossing into Belize for island time in San Pedro. You’ll explore living indigenous culture, hike to sunrise viewpoints over volcanic lakes, drift across jungle-framed waters, swim in turquoise Caribbean seas, and snorkel through coral reefs alive with marine life. By the end, you’ve crossed countries, climates, and completely reset your sense of time.
Antigua + Lake Atitlán + Flores + Tikal National Park + Ambergris Caye!
Highlights
- Explore colonial ANTIGUA GUATEMALA beneath volcano backdrops
- Get a feel for local life on a guided WALKING TOUR
- COOK traditional Guatemalan PEPIÁN in a hands-on class
- CRUISE through villages on LAKE ATITLÁN
- Join a traditional MAYA FIRE CEREMONY at IXIMCHÉ
- HIKE up INDIAN NOSE
- Discover ancient jungle ruins at TIKAL NATIONAL PARK
- SNORKEL coral reefs at HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE, BELIZE
- Unwind on the beaches of SAN PEDRO, AMBERGRIS CAYE
Included
- 10-days / 9-nights: 3 Antigua, 2 Lake Atitlán, 2 Flores, 2 San Pedro
- Accommodation in hand-picked 4-star hotels (based on sharing twin room)
- Meals – All breakfasts, 6 lunches & 4 dinners
- Airport pickups and drop-offs
- All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
- 2 internal flights (Guatemala City – Flores, and San Pedro – Belize City)
- A trip host plus various local experts
- Note – international flights not included (we can recommend best options)
Highlights
- Explore colonial ANTIGUA GUATEMALA beneath volcano backdrops
- Get a feel for local life on a guided WALKING TOUR
- COOK traditional Guatemalan PEPIÁN in a hands-on class
- CRUISE through villages on LAKE ATITLÁN
- Join a traditional MAYA FIRE CEREMONY AT IXIMCHÉ
- HIKE up INDIAN NOSE
- Discover ancient jungle ruins at TIKAL NATIONAL PARK
- SNORKEL coral reefs at HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE, BELIZE
- Unwind on the beaches of SAN PEDRO, AMBERGRIS CAYE
Included
- 10-days / 9-nights: 3 Antigua, 2 Lake Atitlán, 2 Flores, 2 San Pedro
- Accommodation in hand-picked 3 & 4-star hotels (based on sharing twin room)
- Meals – All breakfasts, 6 lunches & 4 dinners
- Airport pickups and drop-offs
- All transportation & activities within itinerary (excluding optional activities)
- 2 internal flights (Guatemala City – Flores, and San Pedro – Belize City)
- A trip host plus various local experts
- Note – international flights not included (we can recommend best options)
Our Route Through Guatemala & Belize
Itinerary
Day 1
HOLA GUATEMALA!
Touchdown in Guatemala City, where your private transfer will take you to Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (around 1.5 hours, depending on traffic). As you leave the capital behind, volcano silhouettes begin to shape the horizon, your first quiet reminder that you’re somewhere new. By the time you arrive, the pace has softened. Luggage drops, shoulders relax, and the rhythm of the trip starts to settle in. This evening, we gather for our welcome dinner: a relaxed introduction over bold Guatemalan flavors and that first-night buzz when strangers turn into travel companions.
Day 2
ANTIGUA + COOKING CLASS
We start the morning where real life happens: the local market. Stalls stacked with tropical fruit, spices, and fresh tortillas set the tone as we taste our way through Antigua’s everyday flavors. From there, our guided walking tour winds through cobblestone streets lined with pastel façades, baroque churches, leafy courtyards, and the iconic Santa Catalina Arch framed by volcano views. After lunch, you’ll have some free time to wander or recharge. Later, we attend a cooking class, learning to prepare Pepián from scratch: roasting spices, blending sauces, and afterwards enjoying the dish together.
Day 3
COFFEE IMMERSION
Today we head to San Miguel Escobar for a sustainability-focused coffee immersion at a family-run finca. Here, coffee isn’t rushed: it’s grown, picked, roasted, and brewed with generations of knowledge behind it. You’ll walk through coffee fields, learn about earth-friendly growing methods, and even try your hand at cherry picking and traditional roasting techniques. The experience ends the right way: seated together for a small-batch tasting, fresh cup in hand, hearing stories directly from the family who made it possible. It’s less about caffeine, more about connection.
Day 4
LAKE ATITLÁN
We leave Antigua and drive about three hours into the highlands, where volcanoes frame the deep blue waters of Lake Atitlán. On arrival, we take a scenic boat ride across the lake to San Juan La Laguna, a village known for strong community roots. We visit women-led textile cooperatives, learn about natural dyes, and meet local artists. Later in Santiago Atitlán, step inside the 16th-century St. James Church, witness rituals dedicated to Maximón, a powerful Mayan spiritual figure, and finish by wandering Calle de los Sombreros. By afternoon, we return across the water and settle into our lakeside stay.
Day 5
INDIAN NOSE HIKE
Early start, but worth every minute. Before dawn, we cross Lake Atitlán by boat and continue by 4×4 to the trailhead for Indian Nose, also known as The Mayan Face. The hike is manageable (1.8 km / 1.1 miles one-way distance and 173 m elevation gain), and by the time we reach the viewpoint, the sun rises, and the lake glows below: easily one of Guatemala’s most rewarding panoramas. In the afternoon, we cool off at Cerro Tzankujil Nature Reserve in San Marcos. Wooden platforms, clear water, and time to swim or simply float. Afterwards, we return to our hotel for a well-earned rest.
Day 6
FIRE CEREMONY AT IXIMCHÉ
We say goodbye to Lake Atitlán and drive toward Guatemala City, stopping at Iximché, a powerful pre-Columbian Maya site tucked into the highlands. Walking through its ancient plazas and temples offers an intimate look at Maya history. Here, we join a traditional Fire Ceremony led by an indigenous guide, a ritual of candles, incense, and gratitude rooted in the Maya cosmovision of balance and the four elements. Later, we continue to the airport for a short flight to Flores (around 45 minutes). By evening, we arrive on this tiny island town, gateway to the Petén jungle.
Day 7
FLORES + TIKAL NATIONAL PARK
The morning is yours to enjoy Flores Island at your own pace: pastel houses, lakeside cafés, and slow island energy before the jungle calls. Around early afternoon, we drive into Tikal National Park, one of the most powerful cities of the ancient Maya and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rising above rainforest canopy, its temples feel monumental and mysterious. We explore the Grand Plaza, Temple IV, and the Lost World Complex, hearing stories of royal dynasties and celestial alignments. As the sun sets, the jungle shifts: howler and spider monkeys call, birds sweep overhead, and the stone temples glow. By evening, we return to Flores.
Day 8
CROSSING INTO BELIZE
After breakfast, we begin our journey east toward the Belize border, driving about 1.5 hours to Melchor. Border formalities are straightforward, and before long, Spanish gives way to English with a laid-back Caribbean rhythm as we enter Belize. We continue to Belize City before boarding a water taxi to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (around 45 minutes across bright Caribbean waters). Along the way, we stop for lunch at a local Belizean spot: fresh, simple, and full of flavor. By afternoon, the pace shifts. Turquoise water, sandy streets, and island air. The rest of the day is yours to swim, or simply settle into Caribbean time.
Day 9
HOL CHAN & SHARK RAY ALLEY
Today we head out on our private boat charter into the turquoise waters off Ambergris Caye. First stop: Hol Chan Marine Reserve, one of Belize’s most celebrated underwater ecosystems. With snorkel gear on, we drift through vibrant coral gardens alongside local guides who know every corner. Next is Shark Ray Alley, where gentle nurse sharks and southern stingrays glide through shallow water just below you: surreal, calm, and unforgettable. Between snorkels, we enjoy a relaxed lunch on Caye Caulker, before returning to San Pedro for a farewell dinner.
Day 10
THAT’S A WRAP!
Depending on your departure time, your transfer begins with a short domestic flight from San Pedro to Belize City Airport (approximately 10–15 minutes flight which is included), arranged to connect smoothly with your international flight. A car or golf cart will take you to the airport, where you’ll board this quick hop across the reef. From above, the cayes fade into brilliant shades of turquoise one last time. On arrival, continue your journey home, or, if you’re not quite ready to leave, Belize makes it easy to stay a little longer and keep the story going.
Trip Price
We have guests join us from all over the world but predominantly from the UK, US, Canada, Europe, Australia & New Zealand. As standard we sell in both GBP and USD – however if you prefer to switch to your local currency you can do so during the checkout process.
United Kingdom
- Includes all items mentioned in “Included” above.
- Deposit = £200, to reserve your spot.
- Remaining balance due 70 days before departure.
- Private room = + £900
- Payment plans possible – get in touch to arrange.
USA + Rest of World
- Includes all items mentioned in “Included” above.
- Deposit = $250, to reserve your spot.
- Remaining balance due 70 days before departure.
- Private room = + $1200
- Payment plans possible – get in touch to arrange
- Convert to local currency (inc CAD, EUR, AUD) during checkout.
Dates & Booking
Select your preferred departure date, currency and pay your deposit now to reserve a spot!
13 – 22 Feb 2027 * (Inaugural Trip)
Notes:
*Inaugural Trip Discount: This is our first official time running this trip with a group. We put a huge amount of effort into research and planning every trip and consider ourselves experts in launching into new destinations (we’ve done this many times across multiple countries and continents with great success). However, since this is our first trip to Guatemala & Belize, we’re offering guests a special £200/$250 discount in return for you being open to any possible teething issues along the way (this discount will be subtracted from the advertised prices and you can use the discount codes listed above). It is also possible we will send an OWR photographer on this trip to help us build out our content (some of these photos may appear on our website/socials so you should be comfortable with this). If you have questions on this, please get in touch.
Hotels
We know that accommodation is important to you and it’s important to us too. We’ve therefore carefully hand-picked a selection of our favourite 4-star hotels for this itinerary. These are the hotels we typically use (please ensure you are comfortable with them before booking).
Hotel Camino Real, Antigua
Hotel Atitlan, Lake Atitlan
Villa Maya, Flores
Ramon’s Village Resort, Ambergris Caye
Hotel Camino Real, Antigua
Hotel Atitlan, Lake Atitlan
Villa Maya, Flores
Ramon’s Village Resort, Ambergris Caye
Customer Reviews
FAQs & Important Notes
Below are some of the common questions we tend to get asked – we’ve answered both in video format (general across all OWR trips) and written format (specific to this particular trip).
SPECIAL NOTES ABOUT THIS TRIP !
1. Arrival Transfers
Note that the arrival transfer for this trip is slightly longer than typical as you will land into La Aurora International Airport (in Guatemala City) and our transfer will take you to Antigua where our tour begins. This normally takes around 1 – 1.5 hrs drive.
2. Departure Transfers
This trip finishes a little differently from most.
Because our final nights are spent on Ambergris Caye and Belize’s main international airport is located in Belize City, we include a short domestic flight from San Pedro to Belize City on departure day (this is the most common route to get to the airport).
The flight takes approximately 10–15 minutes and operates on small regional aircraft. This doubles as a scenic fly by over the islands of Belize.
FAQ video timestamps
The above video takes just under 40 minutes. If you prefer to navigate to a specific topics then you can see the timestamps below.
00:00 Intro
00:33 How It Works
03:00 Demographics
07:25 What’s the Price?
08:04 What’s Included?
10:42 Which Hotels?
12:10 Are Airport Transfers Included?
13:31 Room Sharing / Private Rooms
16:02 Booking & Cancellation Terms
20:30 “I Found the Same Tour for Cheaper”
23:37 I’m an Introvert!
24:54 Is Every Activity Mandatory?
26:02 What Happens After Booking?
27:58 Can I Bring a Friend?
30:50 Are You a Good Fit for OWR?
32:42 Where Is OWR Based?
33:31 Why Should I Choose OWR?
37:35 More Questions?
Am I a good fit for an OWR trip?
We know it’s important to you to choose the right tour company for you.
And equally, for us, it’s super important that we get the right people joining our trips (people who are likely to get the most out of it).
We’d therefore appreciate if you could please read the following page carefully before signing up: OWR Trip Style
How does it all work?
For an overview of how it all works, you can go to this page here: How It Works
Are international flights included?
No.
International flights are not included in the price of our tours. This is something you would book yourself separately.
Which airports should I fly into?
Our trip starts in Antigua, Guatemala and ends in Ambergris Caye, Belize. So you should fly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA) to start the trip, and out of Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). You should organise your own flights accordingly.
Ideally you should arrive at the hotel by 6pm on the first day. This is when we have our welcome meeting and afterwards go for dinner (although if you arrive later it’s fine to catch up).
You can leave at any time on the last day. There are no activities scheduled for that day.
If you need help researching flights, contact us at [email protected] or fill out the contact form on this page.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, they are included at both the start and end of every trip.
As we mentioned in the “SPECIAL NOTES” above, the arrival transfer is a little longer than average (1-1.5hrs) since the airport is in a different city from where the tour starts and the departure transfer will be via a small regional aircraft as tends to be the most common route to leave Ambergris Caye in Belize.
Notes
- We only do transfers between airports and our selected hotels. No other locations.
- For those tagging on extra days, we will endeavour to include transfers up to 2 days outside of official tour dates.
Can I book a private room?
Yes.
Our standard prices are based on sharing a twin hotel room with one other person of the same gender.
However, if you prefer a private then you can select this option for £900 / $1200 extra.
You can select this option at the time of booking.
(Note – we have limited availability of private rooms, these will be allocated on a first come, first served basis).
Can I book pre and/or post accommodation?
Yes, we can book you in for extra days at either our arrival hotel or departure hotel.
This is up to a maximum of 2 days on either side. If for longer, we suggest you book directly with the hotel.
As you book your trip spot through our website, during the checkout process you will be given the option to “add-on” the pre or post accommodation. You can also do this at a later point through our guest portal (you will have access to this after booking).
I’m traveling solo, will I be the only one?
No.
Our trips are specifically designed for solo travelers so you will fit in perfectly.
Some people may bring a friend but the majority will always be traveling solo.
How do I book?
On this page you will see a “Book Now” button next to each trip departure date. Simply click this to start the checkout process and reserve your spot.
You will need to pay a £200 / $250 deposit upfront and then the remaining balance must be paid by 70 days before the trip.
If your booking is within 70 days, then you must pay the full balance at that point.
What happens after I book? (next steps)
This is what you should expect in the lead up to your trip.
- Book trip (secure your spot with a deposit)
- Book international flights (these can be booked at any point after we’ve confirmed your spot – don’t leave too late as price will go up closer to trip)
- Purchase travel insurance (this will cover for issues leading up to trip as well as during)
> 70 Days Before Trip (cancellation penalties kick-in beyond this point)
- Full balance must be paid
- OWR sends survey: requests flight information, dietary requirements, health conditions, emergency contacts etc…(must be returned within 7 days)
> 10 Days Before Trip
- OWR sends day-by-day schedule, optional activity recommendations & some final info to prepare you for trip
> 3 Days Before Trip
- WhatsApp group created with all trip attendees + Tour Leader
> Trip Start Date
- Welcome meeting is typically scheduled for 6pm on first day. This is where you will meet your Tour Leader and other guests (note – we may change this time depending on overall group arrival times. If it changes we will notify you).
Is the deposit refundable?
No, the deposit is non-refundable.
However, if you can no longer make the trip you can transfer that deposit onto any other future trip.
Do you have payment plans?
Yes.
We can either split your balance into even monthly payments, or we can set it up so you can pay any smaller amounts as and when you like.
You can go ahead and book your spot through our website as normal and then afterwards email us at [email protected] to request we set up your payment plan.
Visas, vaccinations & packing lists?
Two months before your trip you will receive a comprehensive pre-trip pack which tells you everything you need to get prepared for the trip (including info on visas, vaccinations & packing lists).
In general, most of our guests don’t need a visa to come to Guatemala or Belize.
Do you cater for special dietary requirements?
Yes.
We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and other dietary requirements. We will always make sure there are options available to you in the restaurants we visit.
Please be aware though that there will not likely be the same range of options as you have available in your home country.
Will I get to meet other members of the group before the trip?
Yes.
3 days before the trip we will create a WhatsApp group with all the people joining the trip. This is a great opportunity to connect ahead of the trip.
Are the hotels listed on the website the actual hotels you use?
Generally yes, it will be these hotels.
From time to time we may need to change a specific hotel if for example it’s not available on those given dates. But in such situations, we will always replace with another hotel at the same quality and notify you in advance.
What’s the cancellation policy?
The £200/$250 deposit is non-refundable. However, if you need to cancel at any point, you can put this towards any future trip you book with us (in any location).
The rest of the balance is refundable up until 70 days before the trip. From that point we have to start committing funds to local suppliers and so:-
> 30-70 days before trip – 50% refund
> 0–30 days before trip – 0% refund
But, we also recommend that you take out travel insurance to cover you for any unexpected last-minute cancellation.