Overview
Indigenous cultures, coffee haciendas, bustling markets filled with handmade crafts and textiles, a visit to a local school and more—this is your introduction to one of Central America’s most intriguing countries.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Guatemala City
Meet your Tour Director
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure.
Travel to Antigua
Day 2
Antigua city walk
Step back in time with a visit to Antigua, declared by UNESCO as “Cultural Heritage of Humankind.” A full day of exploration begins with a visit to historic monuments, starting at the Main Plaza.
San Antonio Aguas Calientes visit
Head to the village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes, famous for its textiles and handcrafts.
Santiago Zamora visit
Then continue to the Indigenous village of Santiago Zamora to learn about Maya- Kaqchiquel culture and enjoy a typical lunch prepared by local women artisans.
Lunch
Centro Cultural La Azotea & coffee tour (optional)
Coffee tour, Casa K’Ojom visit at Centro Cultural La Azotea
Day 3
Pacaya volcano hike
Lunch
LEAP Buen Provecho!
This afternoon, return to Antigua to create and enjoy traditional Guatemalan cuisine in Buen Provecho!
Day 4
Visit of Chichicastenango, Indigenous Market & Santo Tomás Church
Head to Chichicastenango to shop in the most colorful and picturesque market in Guatemala, where locals buy and sell fruits, vegetables, grain, animals, flowers, textiles and handicrafts. Visit Santo Tomas Church, where the Maya- K’iche’ pray to their gods according to the old Maya traditions.
Travel to Lake Atitlán
Day 5
Lake Atitlán Boat Cruise
San Juan La Laguna visit
Hop aboard a boat to the village of San Juan La Laguna. Learn more about its cultural and artistic traditions when you interact with associations and cooperatives from the local community.
Day 6
Santa Catarina Palopo Tour Director-led sightseeing
Your Tour Director leads you through the village of Santa Catarina Palopó, well-known for the colorful (aqua-blue) costume worn by the locals.
LEAP Guatemalan School Visit
Visit a Guatemalan school to meet local students, practice Spanish and see the differences between schools there and schools at home.
Travel to Guatemala City
Fly to Flores
Day 7
Guided tour of Tikal National Park
Fly to Guatemala City
Day 8
Return home OR Extend your stay
Board your flight home or choose to spend two days in San Ignacio.
Already Included
Transportation to & from your destination
Hotel accommodations
Admissions to top attractions (details in itinerary)
Meals (unless otherwise noted on your itinerary)
WorldAssist staff members available 24/7/365 should your group need extra help
Free high school credit for students who choose to complete WorldStrides free online coursework post-program
Professional development credits (CEUs) for educators
Guided sightseeing tours & city walks (details in itinerary)
Tips for local guides and drivers
Health & Safety
Additional health and safety measures may be available within your respective destination. Refer to your program-specific materials for complete details.
Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance
WorldStrides provides over $2.5 million in financial assistance each year to thousands of families. Families with annual adjusted gross incomes of less than $85,000 may qualify. One simple call to Customer Service and you’ll know how much may be available for your trip even before signing up. Please note: financial assistance is given on a first-come, first-served basis.
Payment Plans
Advantage Payment Plan
At program sign-up you can opt to pay in full, or break up the cost of your trip with the Advantage Payment Plan. This plan allows you to pay a small initial deposit, then have your remaining payments spread out into affordable monthly amounts.
EZPay
We offer an EZPay option, which is a simple way to pay for your WorldStrides program by scheduling hassle-free, automatic drafts from your checking account. With EZPay, you'll never be late or miss an installment.
Fundraising Tools
Our easy-to-use tools put students in the driver's seat of their own fundraising efforts. Students can send e-cards, share links on social media, and even send out printed letters through WorldStrides' Gift of Education program. In one click friends and family members can make a direct donation to the trip - with 100% of the money raised going to offset their trip price. Thousands of students pay for their entire trip each year through the Gift of Education.
Also, WorldStrides makes program-specific scholarships available as well as other scholarship resources. Ask your Account Manager for more information about scholarships and fundraising tools.