The Ultimate Adventure Through Guatemala

This trip with MBA was my first but won't be my last! The trip was very well organised and the guides Pepian Christa and Erika and very experienced. They were very accommodating when we gave suggestions to go souvenir shopping or get some gelato and would always come with us, and we were always in safe hands. The guides and Old Town Outfitters were also very responsive when we had an unexpected loud wedding reception at our hotel, and after we told them they were able to get us to another hotel in about 20 minutes which we were grateful for!

This is a premium trip and the amenities/benefits reflected that - we could climb on private farmland and avoid the 100s of other people queuing up Acatenango, and our local guide to Semuc Champey had a secret route down the viewpoint too. The hotels were all lovely with pools and views, very good breakfast options including lots of pancakes and the glamping was super luxurious.

My group agreed that this was a tightly packed and well organised adventure across Guatemala, with a great variety of activities. Some people would have wanted more time or to stretch out the travel time, but personally I only have so much annual leave so the 11 days was perfect for me - ultimate adventure indeed!

The range of experiences in this tour is amazing and each one shows you a different side of Guatemala. It’s full-on and action-packed but honestly so much fun, and there were so many unreal moments throughout. I had the best time.

The Acatenango hike deserves all the praise it gets. Watching the eruptions from base camp under the stars was honestly magical. Just wow. We had a fire at base camp and some great food (shoutout to Christa!) which kept the energy high. Our guides Pepian and Christa made the hike really fun - i really didn't expect to be laughing so much while running down a volcano.

Semuc Champey was an unexpected highlight! The caving is pretty wild and swimming there afterwards was beautiful - we didn't want to leave. Bring sandals that you’re happy to wear in the water. . . there are ladders and rocky sections where I was really grateful to have mine.

Other reviews have mentioned the travel days — don’t let them put you off. The van is comfortable, there are regular stops for food and coffee, and the scenery through Guatemala’s smaller villages is worth paying attention to. They're also a good opportunity to catch up on some sleep (take a neck pillow!).

This was my first MBA trip and it exceeded all of my expectations. I met some really cool people from around the world and got to see and do incredible things every day. Guatemala is such a beautiful country, and this tour is a really fun way to experience the best of it.

Big love for our main guide, Pepian —he brought such a great energy through the whole trip and always made sure everyone felt safe, supported and happy. Thank you to him, Christa and all of our other guides who made everything so special!

Had a fantastic time on this trip through Guatemala! Obvious highlights were the Acatenango volcano hike, kayaking on Lake Atitlan and visiting Tikal. It's a busy trip (which I enjoyed!), it is all laid out clearly in the itinerary.

The guides Pepian, Christa and Erica were amazing - they helped and supported us through the activities, were very communicative each day, brought us to great restaurants and gave us some autonomy. They made the trip very enjoyable and hassle-free.

In addition, all accommodation and sports equipment provided were of high quality.

The absolute highlight for me was the volcano. Watching it light up at midnight was just incredible and something I’ll never forget. Staying at base camp was also a fantastic experience. The hike itself is definitely not easy, I would highly recommend doing some hill or stair walking beforehand to prepare.

Another unforgettable moment was seeing Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal. I didn’t realise how large and colourful they are - absolutely beautiful.

Our guides were excellent throughout the trip. They were knowledgeable about the local area, and if they didn’t know something, they always made the effort to find out. The food prepared at camp was also really good, and the accommodation overall was great.

There was one small issue during the trip where the hotel hosted both a wedding and a birthday party on the same evening. The music was extremely loud to the point where the beds were vibrating, which wasn’t ideal after hiking Acatenango and needing rest. However, Eduardo, Pepian and Christa handled the situation really well. They weren’t informed in advance by the hotel, but they acted quickly and arranged alternative accommodation for us that same night, which we really appreciated.

One thing to be aware of is the amount of time spent travelling by road. There’s quite a bit of time in vehicles, and the roads can be windy. That said, this is unavoidable if you want to see all the incredible places included in the itinerary. I was aware of this before booking, so it wasn’t an issue for me, but it’s worth noting for others.

Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and I’d highly recommend it.

IN GENERAL

This was my first “book a group trip with other solo travelers. ” As a gay man, I was worried the group would not be accepting or welcoming, but everyone was amazing. I am INFINITELY glad I took the plunge, have made friends for life, and am still on cloud nine even 5 days after getting back…I can’t wait to book my next trip.

I am already actively looking for my next “book as a solo adventurer into a group” tour. Will I go with MBA? I’m not sure. I absolutely loved my experience, but several folks in my group have done tours with other companies and said they offer better value for the money, so I will likely shop around next time.

WHAT I LOVED

Guatemala is a gem. I am convinced it is going to blow up as an adventure and eco-destination like Costa Rica and Iceland in the next 5 years. The sights, people, and adventure will stay with me for the rest of my life. Get there before it is overrun with tourists.

I adored our guides and learned so much about Guatemala – both its history and what life there is like today.

The Acatenango hike is absolutely the highlight. This was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done and I feel so accomplished.

Since only two of us summitted Acatenango and there were two guides to take us to the top, we lucked out and each got a private guide. I am infinitely grateful to Oscar for being patient with me needing to stop and catch my breath every 20 feet, encouraging me to keep going, and practicing Spanish with me. I would not have made it to the top without him.

COULD BE BETTER

Justify and show why you have a higher price than competitors. For example:  (1) We had access to a private trail for the first part of the Acatenango climb. This enabled us to hike on an open trail, while the majority of hikers were forced into a path wide enough for 1. 5 people - with barbed wire on each side - but where folks coming up and down had to squeeze past each other. (2) Our trip covered the access fee for lunch on the lake at a GORGEOUS Instagram-worthy resort.

You don’t need to show an itemized bill with a line item for everything, but a bit more transparency might help convince folks of the value for the price.

Two of the hotels were next to very loud venues: (1) Hotel Casa del Parque in Antigua was charming. The staff were friendly and helpful. And the pool frames Volcán de Agua gorgeously. That said, as many of this hotel’s Google reviews note, it is right next to a bar that blares music until midnight or 1am, with many loud, drunk patrons spilling out into the street right outside the hotel’s windows. (2) Similarly in Flores, the Hotel Isla de Flores was next to a loud venue. The hotel is charming with a great rooftop pool. But after having gotten up at 3:30am the night before for the Tikal sunrise hike, I just wanted to go to bed early but was kept up by the loud music next door.

Normally this would not bother me as a night owl, but on this trip you are waking up at 3am, 4am, 6am, etc. after doing a lot of physical activity (or anticipation of it, where you want a good sleep the night before). The noise was just too much for this type of trip. Strongly recommend MBA find similar accommodations in quieter locations.

Confusion around tips. This was a HUGE issue on our tour. I see that the tip guide under the “Not Included” section here has been updated, which is great. The week before I left, it did not include any guidance for porters, which caused a huge scramble and was a massive source of confusion for our group. What is posted now is much better. That said, I would recommend MBA amend the amounts for the guide and driver from the entire trip to per day. We had a different driver each day, and some guides who were with us for 1 day or 2 days or 4 days, and one who was with us all 10 days.

Itinerary (1) The afternoon in San Juan La Laguna (one of the towns on Lake Atitlán) was just fine, but ultimately felt like a tourist trap. I appreciate that the town’s tourist economy was devastated after covid and the mayor made some smart moves zhuzhing up the town with art from local artists and bringing in local cocoa, honey, and weaving cooperatives, but while I enjoyed the cocoa-grinding and honey-making demonstrations, the whole afternoon ultimately felt like we were stuck in a sales pitch. (2) The last day is really just a travel day with a couple of stretch breaks thrown in. The itinerary makes this sound like more active of a day than it really is. The caves are a 5-minute walk from the glamping site, so something you do before hitting the road. The quetzal forest is very easy and more of a nature walk than a hike. It’s very unlikely you will see a quetzal if you are not there during their peak in this part of the country (which is December). We did not see one. (3) I keep debating if all the van time was worth seeing Lanquín/Semuc Champey. I LOVED the glamping site though. . . the tents are adorable (especially falling asleep in them as the rain pitter pattered down) and the common indoor/outdoor space let our group finally relax and play games drinking wine together.

WHAT I WOULD DO THE SAME NEXT TIME AROUND

I came in a day early to acclimate to the elevation and explore Antigua a bit on my own, and I am so glad that I did.

WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY

Earlier flight out; maybe even very late the last day. I booked the 3pm flight out to avoid the 5am flight. But after a week of waking up at 3, 4, and 6am, a 5am flight would have been fine and gotten me home at a reasonable hour after a very exhausting trip.

WOULD I BOOK AGAIN?

Absolutely. I am already actively looking for my next “book as a solo adventurer into a group” tour. Will I go with MBA? I’m not sure. I absolutely loved my experience, but several folks in my group have done tours with other companies and said they offer better value for the money, so I will likely shop around next time.

This was my first group tour and I was very pleased. Small group (6) of like-minded, outdoor enthusiasts. Our guides were engaging, knowledgeable, and flexible. The front end of the trip was very physically challenging, the latter half more relaxing. Would have prefered to spread out the pace, but given the geography, it was necessary in order to get to all the places we wanted to visit. That said, our guides from Old Town Outfitters were very helpful in setting up alternatives, when I wanted to take a break from certain activities.

Guatemala is spectacularly beautiful and we got to see so much of it, as well as sampling the cuisine and learning about the cultural and economic activity in each region. Our guides--especially our main guide, Esmeralda--were always ready with dinner recommendations and answers to questions about the country and culture. The highlights were Acatenango (obviously) and Tikal (I'd love to spend an extra day there) and the lake visits and Semuc Champey were also beautiful (and welcomely relaxing).

Recommendations to others booking: 1) Get to Antigua early, so you have time to wander and enjoy at your own pace. 2) Take your time ascending Acatenango and know that the first four days will be very challenging, but it will get easier. 3) If you find the ascent difficult, stay up watching Fuego's fire and then enjoy the sunrise from camp (instead of the very early summit). 4) Definitely take the hike to the overview of Sumac Champey, for a view of the pools from above. 5) Take a late flight on the last day and book yourself a massage at Barcelo and/or enjoy the pool and hot tub before you head home!

Having Much Better Adventures/Old Town Outfitters handle all of the details (transportation, lodging, itinerary) was absolutely worth it for visiting Guatemala, especially since the focus was on outdoor activity. Highly recommend!

PS I turned 60 just after booking this trip (a birthday treat) and can assure you that if you are reasonably fit and have an adventurous attitude, this trip is fine for you (our group was early 40's and up)!

I recently returned from a trip to Guatemala, and overall, I truly loved the country and the experiences themselves. The landscapes, culture, and activities were incredible, and the guides were genuinely kind and welcoming.

That said, I don’t feel the trip delivered the value expected for the price. The included meals and some of the accommodations fell short, and in several cases, the places we stayed were not what had been advertised. Much Better Adventures does an excellent job marketing these trips, but the reality didn’t quite match what was promised, which felt misleading.

One of the biggest challenges was the itinerary. A significant amount of time was spent driving between locations, which limited our ability to actually enjoy the destinations. The final two travel days were especially difficult—one of them lasted nearly 10 hours, which was exhausting and took away from the overall experience. Because of this, we had very little free time to explore the towns we visited.

Communication during the trip could also have been clearer. Daily plans weren’t always well explained, and at times answers to questions were inconsistent or contradictory, which created confusion. They could benefit by sharing the next day's itinerary in the WhatsApp group they create vs telling everyone at the very end of the night when we are all tired (in hopes we remember everything).

In comparison, I’ve taken multiple trips with G Adventures—which are more affordable—and found their accommodations, inclusions, and overall delivery to be much more consistent with what’s advertised (and I liked them better!). They also operate their tours directly, which seems to make a difference. Since Much Better Adventures outsources their tours, there appears to be a disconnect between what’s sold and what’s delivered. This is not always the fault of the 3rd party operator but it's not good business.

At the end of the day, Guatemala itself is ABSOLUTELY worth visiting and the people I met were FANTASTIC and I enjoyed the activities we did. But based on the experience vs what was advertised, I wouldn’t book another tour with Much Better Adventures.

Whilst we covered off the main tourist attractions of Guatemala, it was quite a rushed trip. An extra 2 nights within this trip would have made a big difference. A lot of time was spent on the minibus. Highlights, the sunshine every day! The volcano hike was really amazing, camping at base camp was fantastic. The hike was hard, despite being in good shape, a day or two of acclimatising first would have helped a lot. The 2 guides here were good and looked after us well. The rest of the trip was not very active (for someone who does 1hr/2hr exercise each day) so the rating should be hard to start, then easy imo. The lake was lovely, and the jungle was good too. The hotels were good and the camp in Lanquin was a particular highlight.

We did all the big tourist spots, and that was ticking the box, but as such, were surrounded by tourists most of the time (!). It was busy, especially the volcano hike. I left feeling I didn't get a particularly good feel of the place, partly because it was so rushed, partly because our main guide didn't really explain a lot about the country which was a shame and partly because we only did the tourist mega hot spots. Lowlights: Getting bitten by a dog in Lanquin. (Get a rabies course before coming). Beware at night the street dogs in side streets. Food- we were sometimes forced to buy meals at specific places (or get a poor quality and expensive packed dinner) when not included - more agency and choice suggestions would have been better. Or just include in the price. Eg. lunch at the lake, the hotel food was expensive, with slow service and small portions, even though we could have gone to a sandwich shop nearby, this wasn't allowed as an option. Furthermore, despite asking a few times to stop when travelling between places for fresh fruit/produce or local food, this was largely ignored. The early (3am) start for the Mayan ruins followed by a tour and waiting till 9am for breakfast was a bit too much and imo, I would have preferred a day tour since you're shattered and can't really take it in as you arrive late the night before. Also, Be prepared for a lot of rubbish on the streets sadly.

Hearing howler monkeys at sunrise was awesome at Mayan ruins! The caves and pools - and bats -were really good and the guide Javi was very engaging. Caving isn't for everyone but I liked it, if youre adventurous and dont mind enclosed dark spaces, I'd recommend. Would have liked an actual walk in the quetzal reserve as promised but we were rushed getting back to the city. The local guide team were helpful in sorting the medical needs of the trip and we were grateful for that.

Guatemala is such a beautiful place to visit and this trip has plenty of high points. I came to the Acatenango hike with the dreads (was decidedly less prepared than planned). However, the journey - and the experience with Joel and Willy - absolutely exceeded my expectations. It wasn’t a pleasure in every single moment - but a total joy overall. Our group of 11 naturally broke into two groups early on during the hike to base camp and the pacing was excellent with lots of mini rests. Camp experience was A1 (food, tents, set-up). Jogging/running down (for those that chose to) was a blast. The other destinations were fab (Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Semuc Champey) and while there is a lot of travel time, watching the world go by from the window was an unexpected highlight. Wide mix of ages in our group and the banter was top-notch by the end. This is a marketed as an adventure holiday but the participants (including me) had a broad range of interests. Offering optional experiences/extras (e. g. nature expert for nighttime at Tikal, deeper dive on local history, more cultural experiences) would enhance the tour. The itinerary changed from what was advertised on a number of occasions, most disappointingly with the Lake Atitlán accommodation (the alternative hotel was not to the standard of La Casa del Mundo). Better communication pre-joining (e. g. ATMs, where to change currency, more timely pre-joining details) and throughout would help the trip run more smoothly. Logistics could be improved in places (e. g. bus size/comfort for last long trip, clarity and coordination regarding tipping, briefings before kayaking and caving for the less experienced people in the group, summary texts with the details of the next day’s timings/pack list in addition to the briefings). Overall though, an amazing holiday.

Itinerary and accommodation looked amazing on paper…. . unfortunately the trip was out sourced to a company who did an extremely poor job. Our group was fantastic which really made the holiday for us. The stand out rustic hotel at Lake Atitlan was substituted for a terrible chain hotel similar to a “premier inn”. This change was not communicated to the group, i think they thought we wouldn’t notice! I took this us with guatamalan agent who assured me this was the only change. Unfortunately not, we then arrived in Tikal, again not communicated, to the worst hotel I have stayed in with no electricity in a very poor state of repair and was advertised at half the price of our original hotel. Would advise anyone on this trip to get in writing where they will be staying. The main guide was poor and didn’t integrate with the group and had no knowledge of guatamalan wild life, fauna and basic history. No help with getting our laundry done after coming of the volcano covered in black dust, no help changing money up. The guide took us to several chain style restaurants including McDonald’s despite much better adventures promoting local cuisine and experiences. He didn’t organise our transfer on the last day and our last evening was spent at his favourite restaurant “strikes” an American food outlet in the airport hotel with 10 x TV’S showing guatamalan football. Highlights:- climbing the volcano and watching the eruptions as the sun rises. Unforgettable. Enjoyed the camping and food in this unique location. Fun caves experience. The temples at Tikal watching the sun rise and seeing the birds. I’ve been on several trips with other adventure companies so waiting a response from much better adventures before deciding whether to give them a second chance and this is just a bad experience down to Eduardo the and his team that the trip was outsourced to. It’s a shame as this is my first trip with MBA, would like to think it wont be my last!! Could be improved fairly easily as the itinerary is good.

Guatemala is a beautiful country and I enjoyed parts of the trip, but the execution was subpar. Tipping was constantly requested with no guidance, the lead guide provided almost no facts or cultural context, and the itinerary was repeatedly inaccurate. Drive times were far longer than stated, routes changed often, and participant feedback during the trip was not addressed. Food choices were disappointing, with frequent fast-food stops, and the “favorite local restaurant” for the final dinner was an American bar inside the hotel—which the host admitted was not actually his favorite.

One of the main reasons I booked this trip was the Tikal Jungle Lodge, yet the website never stated we would not be staying there. Instead, we stayed elsewhere and arrived extremely late, which did not match the itinerary. On the final day, there were no transfers provided, and this was never communicated—I had to figure it out myself and arrange a hotel shuttle. This was my fifth MBA trip; if it had been my first, I would have been very dissatisfied. I will travel with MBA again, but this trip felt misleading and poorly coordinated, and the local partner clearly needs improvement. Some acknowledgment or credit for the cumulative issues should be considered.

An amazing but full on trip. Seeing the volcano was the star of the show but waking up to hear Howler Monkeys at Tikal, seeing Mayan ruins, swimming through caves via candle-light and swimming around Semuc Champay were all fantastic. Some long driving days but they weren't so bad. Overall, though the trip is full on and I feel could do with 1 or 2 extra days to space things out. Not much time to relax

Do not book this tour. Major safety issues. Unprofessional/antagonistic guides. Poorly treated all around. Cross contamination on food for highly allergic individuals. Gear provided was broken or insufficient. Poor communication from guides, itinerary was loosely followed, all travel time was double or triple noted in the itinerary. Extremely overpriced for lodgings and travel. Almost everyone got horribly sick, took multiple days before being taken to get medicine. Partial refund given, even though this company has a happiness guarantee. Will never travel with MBA, all trust broken. Avoid this trip at all cost.

This trip was a busy, action-packed trip through Guatemala! There was never a dull moment. The hikes were tough but rewarding, and the activities were great. All of our guides were fantastic, and I look forward to future trips with MBA!

I've traveled quite a bit with a solo travel company and was hoping to find a small group travel company that would meet my expectations. With the attention to detail, unique active experiences and organization MBA exceeded them. The volcano hike was challenging but the guides were upbeat and supportive (shout out to Joel and Pepian) and the reward was unbeatable. I chose this trip for that highlight but discovered that there is so many other reasons to visit Guatemala including the friendly people, the yummy food, the affordability, and the utterly gorgeous landscapes. And with volcanos, cloud forest, lakes, jungle, Mayan ruins, island time, AND rivers and caves this adventure covered a LOT in a short amount of time.

This was our first MBA trip acd we loved it.

A brilliant tour around a beautiful country, with a great mix of culture (Tikal, weaving, etc), relaxation (Lake Atitlan, Antigua) and activity. We have had a lot of trips to a lot of countries - but I'd honestly say that this was one of the very best.

The volcano trek was amazing: Fuego erupting is one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen, seeing dawn from a 4000m volcano is definite bucket list, and it was a true achievement to have done the walk. But it is very tough! Do pay attention to the packing list and I'd say poles were essential.

The caves at Semuc Champey were another "once in a life time" and were magical.

The tour leaders were brilliant: funny, informative and supportive.

What an opportunity to experience this seriously beautiful and varied country with our amazing guides, Joel and Pepian who were absolute solid gold 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. They make a tough volcano climb very accessible with their amazing encouragement, suppport and teamwork, not to mention those views that push you on! And oh my word the views - once in a lifetime experience! The guides really were second to none and Guatemala does not fail to deliver - highlands, volcanoes, jungles, sublime tiered pools, subterranean adventures, Latino culture, cuisina muy deliciosa, I’m not sure what more you could need from one trip. Just book it - you’re not going to regret!!

A brilliant trip from start to finish. Challenging, fun, energetic, and informative.

This trip has everything you want from an “Ultimate” adventure. There was such a diverse range of activities and experiences. The highlight was hiking up Acatenango with perfect views of the eruptions and a stunning sunrise. Tikal was also another highlight for me There is minimal downtime but 100% worth it! Get yourself to Guatemala

Guatemala should be on everyone’s list to visit! The highlights from this trip for me was the volcano hike (challenging but oh so rewarding!), sunrise at Tikal with all the jungle sounds and lake Atitlan. The last part of the trip involved a couple of long drives but this gave an opportunity to watch the village life through the window as well as beautiful landscapes. I wouldn’t change much in terms of itinerary but some aspects of the trip could do with some slight improvements. However, nothing took away from the experience I had, which was unforgettable!

The overall trip was absolutely amazing! The one major thing that I was disappointed in was not having a 2nd guide on the volcano hike to watch the backend of the group.

My partner and I just returned from an amazing 11-day trip to Guatemala – easily one of the best vacations we’ve ever taken. It was action-packed with diverse activities and minimal downtime, perfect for adventurous travelers. Highlights included a challenging but rewarding hike up Volcán Acatenango, with stunning views from one of the most picturesque base camps imaginable. We then relaxed at a gorgeous hotel on Lake Atitlán, surrounded by lush gardens and vibrant flowers overlooking the volcanoes. A short flight north took us to the rainforest, followed by a scenic multi-day bus journey back to Guatemala City with stops at dramatic caves and beautiful rivers for swimming and exploring. What truly made this trip unforgettable were our incredible guides, Joel and his brother Uriel. They were simply outstanding – warm, patient, genuinely kind, and deeply knowledgeable about Guatemala’s history, culture, wildlife, and geography. Their expertise and storytelling brought every location to life. They were highly skilled in leading hikes and activities, always prioritizing safety while giving us the freedom to enjoy the experience as capable adults. Their positive energy, sense of humor, and thoughtful attention to detail made every day more enjoyable. Joel and Uriel went above and beyond in every way – they are truly exceptional guides and wonderful people. The bus drivers and local guides were also professional, friendly, and reassuring; I never felt unsafe on roads or boats. If you’re looking for an immersive, adventurous experience showcasing Guatemala’s volcanoes, lakes, and jungles, I can’t recommend this trip highly enough!

This trip was an amazing introduction to the culture, landscapes, and people of Guatemala. The combined variety of active adventure, stunning wildlife and nature experiences, and opportunities to sample local cuisine and culture was well-balanced. It was the type of itinerary I wanted to add a day to each location because I enjoyed them so much, but I wouldn’t take away from anything to do so. Even the longer days on the bus allowed for an opportunity to get out of the touristy areas and see the countryside and pace of local life. There were large highlights like perfect weather conditions for sunrise at Acatenango and Tikal, and there were also small moments like the chorus of howler monkeys pre-dawn and morning light on the streets of Antigua that made this trip memorable.

Sights were fantastic. Joel was knowledgeable and entertaining.

Short 10 days, we covered everything — live volcano, Lake Atitlán, Tikal Mayan ruins, caving…The absolute highlight is a hiking up Acatenango for the best view of fabulous Volcano Fuego show, is demanding physically. It shoots up steep from get go, no relief. But the up close view of Fuego, so worth it!

Previous reviews have summed up this trip very well, so I don't need to repeat how fabulous the trip is, but I have a few things to add!

I would recommend arriving early to Antigua as it is amazing and nice to have extra time there.

I would have also added two extra days to this trip - one more night in Aticlan lake to enjoy the lake, sun and fabulous hotel and one more night at Tikal to get a second chance to catch the sunrise and to just enjoy being there.

Guatemala in November was colder than I expected! so pack jeans and a jumper for the evenings.

The hotels were excellent. The Casa del Parque hotel in Antigua, is, however, quite noisy [check google reviews!!] but we were fine with earplugs plus jetlag, so it wasn't a problem for us.

I would have loved a welcome dinner, even if the guide couldn't make it. Also, generally, it would have been nice to have suggestions for group dinners and maybe even have those booked, even if the guides didn't come. We had a bit of faffing trying to decide where to eat.

We also had a shared kitty for the many and various tips, and that worked excellently.

Take painkillers up the mountain for altitude headaches!

Speaking of the volcano trek, yes, it's challenging. I decided not to summit for the sunrise, and this was a great decision, as we had the MOST AMAZING sunrise from the camp.

The cycle ride was ok. I loved the places we visited, but it's a lot on very busy main roads with loads of exhaust fumes and traffic.

A surprise highlight was the caving, which was crazily amazing. That was followed by the trip to Semuc Champey which was also incredible.

The things we saw and did were basically wonderful.

For me, this trip was a once in a lifetime kind of adventure. Watching an active volcano erupt at night is like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Lake Atitlan is a slice of paradise and Tikal and the caves brought us closer to the Mayan culture. The activities were the right level of challenging - we mostly split into smaller groups so no one felt pressure and you can often opt out of activities (although I suggest you do them all!). Our main guide Joel, who was with us throughout, was fantastic. He ensured we all felt safe, answered any doubts we had and most importantly made sure we enjoyed ourselves. All our guides (Willy, Rolando, Javi y Joel) really went above and beyond to make this a magical trip. I’m already thinking of when I might go back to Guatemala.