Antigua Retreat
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
7 days, planned by Pumice & Pine
Antigua was the capital until a 1773 earthquake, after which the government left and the ruins stayed. It is a UNESCO site because of what was not rebuilt.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Santa Catalina arch |
| Parque Central |
| Ruined convents |
The camp faces Fuego, which erupts every fifteen to twenty minutes, all night, close enough to hear.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Acatenango |
| Fuego |
| High camp |
Almost four thousand metres, minus five at the summit, and Fuego erupting below you in the dark. It is the hardest and best thing in Guatemala.
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| Acatenango summit |
| Fuego eruptions |
| Antigua |
Atitlan fills a caldera about 340 m deep, and each village round it is a different Maya language group.
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| Lake Atitlan |
| San Juan la Laguna |
| San Pedro volcano |
| Weaving co-ops |
The market runs Thursdays and Sundays; the church steps are used for Maya ritual and Catholic mass at the same time, which nobody finds odd.
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| Chichicastenango market |
| Santo Tomas church |
| Pascual Abaj |
Temple IV pushes seventy metres above the forest floor and you look out over unbroken canopy with other temple roofs sticking through it.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Temple I |
| Gran Plaza |
| Temple IV |
| Peten jungle |
Howler monkeys at dawn in Tikal sound like something much larger, and they are the reason to be inside the gate at five.
| LANDMARKS |
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| Tikal |
| Howler monkeys |
| Flores |
Day 1 · Fri, 18 Sept, 2026
Most of these can be added to your booking later — the operator confirms within a day.
Published by the operator. Nights on the ground can move with weather and permissions.
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
Hotel or lodge, twin sharing
6 breakfasts, 1 lunch and 4 dinners across 7 days, at camp. It opens with dinner on day 1 and closes with breakfast on day 7.
11 meal services named in the itinerary. Vegetarian and vegan covered; Jain, gluten-free and allergies on notice at booking
“Andes and Central America, altitude planned properly”
Every itinerary is built around where you sleep rather than where you go, because in the Andes that is the only decision that matters.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb.
Second trek with this operator and they've kept the standard up. Would send friends their way.
Glad you enjoyed it. Hope to see you on another trip.
Well organised from the pickup onwards. The daily distances were honest about what they'd be. Would send friends their way.
Long transfer at both ends that isn't obvious from the listing. Budget a day either side. Whoever planned the days knew what they were doing.
Thank you. We've taken the point about the transfer and are reviewing it.
Did this over 7 days and it was the best walking I've done in years. Hotels were clean and central, which saved a lot of time. Meals were good throughout and the vegetarian options weren't an afterthought. Would book with them again.
Highlands & Peten in the right season is something else, and the team knew exactly where to camp. Worth every rupee.
Appreciate the honest feedback; we're looking at the pacing on that section.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. Accommodation was a notch better than the price suggested. Crew were professional without being stiff about it.
The route is beautiful and the pacing was sensible — nobody was rushed on the climb. No complaints about any of the hotels — all of them well placed. No hesitation recommending them.
Five to six hours up with 1,500 m of gain on loose volcanic scree, carrying your own kit unless you hire a porter, sleeping at 3,600 m in near-freezing conditions, then a 4 AM summit push to 3,976 m. It is the hardest single objective in Central America that ordinary trekkers attempt.
One other operator runs this trail. See all 2 side by side →