Hemmed in by the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans, Guatemala is peppered with volcanoes, jungles, colorful villages and world class Mayan ruins. This tour celebrates the natural beauty and cultural heritage of Latin America’s most diverse country while exploring the challenges locals face today. We’ll learn about the 36 year Civil War from those who witnessed it, visit coffee farms and learn first-hand of heroic efforts to help Guatemalans escape the cycle of poverty. We’ll also spend a full day exploring the Mayan ruins of Tikal, explore dreamy Lake Atitlán and savor the colonial capital city of Antigua. Guatemala is Imprint's charity tour. All proceeds from every Guatemala tour go to Global Visionaries and Safe Passage, two excellent charities working there.

· Antigua – UNESCO world heritage town of pastel colored buildings with volcanoes on the horizon

· History & Culture – stories of the Civil War, a visit to a coffee plantation and cacao farm, Mayan weaving and folk art cooperatives

· Lake Atitlan – breathtaking vistas across the lake to multiple volcanoes

· Tikal – the greatest collection of Mayan ruins in Central America

· Guatemala City – a visit to Safe Passage, one of the charities we support

· Charities – all proceeds from our Guatemala tours go to support Safe Passage and Global Visionaries

Visa Requirements:  U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Guatemala for short-term stays of up to 90 days 

Registration and Deposit

Q: What should I expect after registering and paying the deposit for the tour?

A: You will receive a confirmation email welcoming you to the tour. This email will include a link to a 'Manage Booking' page where you can view and edit all your trip details. Also included is your deposit receipt, payment schedule, and information for purchasing travel insurance through Travelex. Imprint Tours STRONGLY recommends purchasing trip insurance.

Q: Is my deposit refundable?

A: Your deposit is refundable for 30 days, after which it is non-refundable for any reason.

Flight Information

Q: Are flights included?

A: International Flights to/from the tour are NOT included. Internal tour flights (RT - Guatemala City to/from Flores) are included.

Q: What airport do I use to join/depart the tour?

A: You should plan to fly round trip to Guatemala City (GUA). The tour begins in Antiqua but we will pick you up at GUA.

Q: If I want to arrive a day or two early, will you still provide transportation to Antiqua?

A: Yes. We will ask for flight arrival information a few weeks before tour commencement.

Q: Should I arrive early for the tour?

A: When you arrive is entirely up to you. Most Imprint travelers arrive 1 day early.

Q: Can I skip breakfast on the final day and depart early that morning?

A: Yes, you are not obliged to partake of the final breakfast, nor will you miss any tour activities.

Q: Does Imprint provide or arrange airport transfers?

A: Generally no, airport transfers to join or depart the tour are the traveler's responsibility to arrange. Basic information is included in the 8-Week Letter. This tour is the only exception. We will pick you up at the airport. But if you continue to travel with Imprint, you should not expect this service.

Q: Does Imprint provide advice about airlines, routing, or booking?

A: No, Imprint does not provide these services.

Q: When should I book my flight?

A: Avoid booking flights before July 8, 2025 unless you confirm the tour status.

Q: Do I need to check the tour status after July 8?

A: No, if you have not received a cancellation notice from Imprint by July 8, you may assume the tour is a go.

Tour start/end

Q: What time will the tour start on Nov 8?

A: About 17:00 (5:00PM)

Q: What time will the tour end on Nov 16?

A: After breakfast

Q: Can I skip breakfast on the final day and depart early that morning?

A: Yes, you are not obliged to partake of the final breakfast, nor will you miss any tour activities.

Payment

Q: Is there an Early Pay Discount (EPD) on this tour?

A: No

Q: Can I pay with a Credit Card?

A: Yes, you can opt to pay via Credit Card. However, you must pay the Credit Card fees, which are non-refundable in the case of cancellation.

Q: Can I avoid the Credit Card fees?

A: Yes, you can pay via ACH transfer without fees.

Q: When is final payment due?

A: Final payment is due by July 8, 2025.

Q: What if I have to cancel after July 8?

A: After July 8, 2025 all payments are final and non-refundable for any reason.

Pre-Departure Information

Q: What should I do to prepare for the tour?

A: About 8 weeks before departure, you'll receive a detailed email with a packing list, sightseeing suggestions, and other important information. Meanwhile, ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your intended departure date and has two clean pages for visa stamps. 

Pre- and Post-Tour Hotels

Q: Since Imprint is unable to assist with pre- and post-tour hotel bookings, how do I book non-tour hotel nights?

A: For pre-tour nights, the first tour hotel in Antigua is Hotel Eterna Primavera. For post-tour nights, the final tour hotel in Guatemala City is La Inmaculada.  Tour bookings are made under "Guatemala DMC". Standard rooms. Final hotel bookings with roster names will be made about 60 days prior to the tour start.

Q: If I want to book pre-tour nights in the Eterna Primavera, can Imprint assist in making sure I stay in the same room when the tour begins?

A: No, Imprint is unable to assist with this. You must deal directly with the hotel to make any special arrangements.

Q: What if the first and/or last tour hotels are fully booked for the pre- and/or post-tour nights I am interested in?

A: You must make your own alternative arrangements. We suggest using your favorite hotel booking engine to choose an accommodation with the location, price, and standard of your choice.

Tour Hotels

Q: If I need a complete list of tour hotels, where do I find that?

A: On the Guatemala Tour ITINERARY page on the Imprint website or the Itinerary description here on the We Travel registration portal. 

Important Reminders

Q: Are there any critical things I need to keep in mind?

A:

• Print and keep the confirmation letter for reference.

• If your passport will expire between now and 6 months beyond your intended departure from Guatemala, it is your sole responsibility to update your registration information in We Travel. You can use the link in your confirmation email to return to your account to make edits. Imprint Tours is not responsible for reminding you to update your information nor for any problems with booking delays or mistakes due to incorrect passport data.

• Add reid@imprinttours.com to your email address book.

• Download & activate Whatsapp for essential on-tour communications.

• Check your bank’s policy on international ATM withdrawal or Credit Card fees.

Health and Safety

Q: What health precautions should I take?

A: Visit the CDC website or your local travel medicine clinic for suggested inoculations for Guatemala. We cannot advise on inoculations due to liability concerns.  This tour involves moderate to demanding physical activity, including walking tours, climbing steps, and excursions to natural sites with uneven terrain. Participants should be in good health and capable of handling such activities.

Tour Member Expectations

Q: What mindset should I have for the tour?

A: Be flexible, independent, and personally responsible. Expect challenges and surprises, especially in less-developed areas. Positive, flexible attitudes contribute to a better group experience.

Travel Insurance

Q: Why is travel insurance important?

A: Travel insurance protects your investment against unforeseen events like flight delays, baggage loss, or sudden illness. We recommend Travelex.

Travel Insurance

In case you haven’t read our Terms and Conditions carefully, we would like to repeat the importance of purchasing trip insurance. We have partnered with Travelex, a leader in the travel insurance industry. We have chosen Travelex for their very high rating, their record and reliability of processing claims, and their excellent customer service. Travelex is proud to offer you a variety of travel protection plans to fit your travel needs. We understand your plans can change quickly and unforeseen events could impact your travel plans. We feel it’s important to consider purchasing a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment.

Travel protection plans help provide coverage for:

- Trip Cancellation

- Trip Interruption

- Emergency Medical Expenses

- Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation of Remains

- Travel Delay

- Baggage & Personal Effects

- Baggage Delay and more.

TRAVEL ASSISTANCE SERVICES*: With a Travelex Travel Protection Plan, emergency assistance and travel services are just a phone call away from virtually anywhere in the world. For more information on the recommended plans or to enroll, CLICK HERE or contact Travelex Insurance Services at 800-228-9792 and reference location number 06-0252.

Please Note:  Travelex Insurance Services plans are only available to U.S. Residents. To be eligible for a waiver of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion, the Ultimate protection plan must be purchased within 21 days from the time you make your initial trip deposit. However, plans can be purchased any time up until the day prior to departure.

*Travel Assistance Services are provided by the designated provider as listed in the policy. The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries and may be changed without notice. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc. CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by individual member companies of Zurich in North America, including Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC #16535, state of domicile: New York), 1299 Zurich Way, Schaumburg, IL 60196. Certain coverages not available in all states.  

Day 1  Welcome to Guatemala
You’ll be met at the airport in Guatemala City and shuttled to our hotel in lovely Antigua, Guatemala’s historic capital city (about an hour from the airport). We’ll meet at our hotel in the afternoon, go for an orientation walk and have dinner together.

Day 2  Walking Tour Antigua
We’ll devote our day to exploring beautiful Antigua, a UNESCO world heritage site of pastel colored buildings where volcanoes loom around every corner. Our day begins with a guided walking tour during which we’ll explore the town’s Spanish colonial architecture and learn about Antigua’s tragic history and unlikely rebirth. You’ll be free this afternoon and evening to explore on your own.

Day 3  Market; Coffee; Civil War stories
Our day starts with a visit to Antigua’s huge and colorful farmer’s market. From here we’ll board the local “chicken bus” and ride to the nearby village of San Miguel Escobar where we’ll take a ride up the side of the Volcan Agua to meet with coffee farmers and learn about the process of coffee farming and production. We’ll have a picnic lunch, try our hand at roasting coffee and hear about the 36 year Civil War from a few  participants. Dinner this evening will be at the home of a Guatemalan family.

Hotel Eterna Primavera (3 nights) https://hoteleternaprimaveraantigua.com-hotel.com/en/

Day 4  School Visit
We’ll bid farewell to Antigua and take a short bus ride to visit a rural school where we’ll share a snack and conversation with locals and understand the importance of education to end the cycle of poverty in countries like Guatemala. We’ll then set our sights on Guatemala’s highlands where Mayan culture and volcanoes rule. We’ll have dinner and sleep in a lovely hotel fronting glorious Lake Atitlán.

Day 5  Lake Cruise; Weaving Coop; Chocolate; Civil War & Current Issues
Let’s devote this day to exploring the magnificent lake and its villages. We’ll take a 30 minute boat ride to the lively town of San Juan La Laguna, where we’ll visit a weaving cooperative and learn about the importance of this Mayan art. We’ll also learn about the art of chocolate at a cacao producer. After free time to explore this picturesque village and have lunch, we’ll return to our hotel with time to savor its lush gardens, view terraces and pool. We’ll meet before dinner to learn about the particularly heavy impact the Guatemalan Civil War had on this region from friends who worked for the United Nations during the conflict and discuss current politics in Guatemala.

Hotel Atitlan (2 nights) https://www.hotelatitlan.com/

Day 6  Travel; Lake Cruise
Today is primarily a travel day. We’ll drive over the hills and through valleys to Guatemala City’s airport where we’ll catch an early afternoon flight to the scenic island city of Flores in northern Guatemala. This afternoon we’ll take a boat ride around our island, then have dinner together.

Day 7  Tikal
Today is devoted to exploring the magnificent ruins of Tikal. A local guide will join us as we drive into the jungle to Tikal, home to the most spectacular Mayan temples in the Americas. Our guide will explain the howler monkeys and other fauna we’ll encounter on our walk to the astonishing site of Tikal, once the most important city in Mayan civilization. After a guided walk among the ruins, you’ll have ample free time to explore and photograph on your own before we return to our hotel in Flores.. You’ll have free time to explore our island town and have dinner on your own.

Hotel Isla de Flores (2 nights) https://hotelisladeflores.com/

Day 8  Safe Passage School Visit
A morning flight returns us to Guatemala City. We’ll view (from a distant overlook) the city’s infamous garbage dump from which thousands of people make a living through scavenging. Here you’ll witness some of Central America’s worst poverty, then be inspired with a visit to Safe Passage school, funded in part by the University of Washington, for the scavenger’s children. We’ll return to our hotel for some free time before celebrating our experiences at a final dinner together. 

Day 9  Tour over after Breakfast Imprint will assist with airport transfer arrangements.

La Inmaculada (1 night) https://www.inmaculadahotel.com/