🇬🇹 Fit is Freedom 2025 Guatemala Trip: Beyond the Postcard. 🇬🇹
Imagine standing atop a volcano at sunrise, gazing across ancient Maya cities hidden deep in the jungle, and soaking in the vibrant colors of colonial Antigua. What about conquering the majestic Acatenango volcano, exploring legendary ancient Maya cities like Tikal and Uaxactún, and experiencing the magic of Lake Atitlán’s villages? Don’t just imagine it – this is YOUR invitation to an authentic Guatemalan experience!
Escape with us from December 1-8, 2025, for an unforgettable journey through the heart of Guatemala!
Itinerary
Day 1 (Dec 1) – Enjoying Antigua
🚗Departure
Aeropuerto La Aurora
Welcome to La Aurora. Here we’ll pick you up and drive you to Antigua on a Private group transfer.
It’ll take between about an hour and a half to get to Antigua, so this is a good time to decompress a bit from the flight.
Arrival to the wonderful city of Antigua
La Antigua Guatemala is one of the most idyllic destinations in the world, with painstakingly restored Spanish colonial architecture, manicured parks, stylish hotels, superb international cuisine and a horizon shaped by three spectacular volcanoes.
Nestled in a mountain valley and surrounded by evergreen forests, Antigua retains the aura of the 17th century capital that it was, while blending modern amenities that make it an internationally appealing getaway.
Walking along cobblestone streets, you’ll find high-end art galleries, fascinating museums, luxurious shops with international treasures, and traditional markets packed to the rafters with locally made textiles and woodcrafts.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979, with its architecture, culture and unique setting, Antigua, quite simply, is the most charming city in all the Americas.
🛌 Check in at Camino Real Antigua Guatemala
Location – Perfect for guests who appreciate a stylish ambience, this historic hotel is situated on a main road just a few minutes’ walk from the center of Antigua.
Category – High – Camino Real Antigua is a large 100 room luxury hotel in a great location only a few blocks away from the Central Park.
The hotel is part of the chain which also has hotels in Guatemala City and close to Tikal in the northern rainforest. The hotel offers visitors the comfort of a high-end hotel with the charm of colonial style decoration. The rooms are located around 5 lit and airy patios and there is also a restaurant, bar, jacuzzi, and conference & meeting facilities. There are 3 different room styles: Master Suites, Junior Suites and the Standard Deluxe rooms.
Facilities – 100 Rooms, Jacuzzi, Restaurant, Bar, Spa, Gym, Conference Facilities.
🍽 Meals Included
Welcome Dinner at Local Restaurant in Antigua
ℹ️Additional Information
The stay at Camino Real Antigua includes luggage handling, maid service, and a Deluxe Room (2 queen beds)
Day 2 (Dec 2) – Hike The Acatenango Volcano
🚗 5:00 am – Departure, Private Minibus Transfer
Acatenango Volcano Day Hike
Your volcano adventure starts early when a private guide meets you at your hotel around 05:00 for a minibus transfer to the trailhead of Acatenango, Central America’s third highest volcano at 3,976 metres (13,045 feet). NOTE: the trailhead we start at is about 1/2 up the volcano so we are not trekking the entire height!
You’ll be thrilled by this hike with its technical trek through four environmental zones and its elevation change. The end-of-hike-reward? Spectacular panoramic views of five volcanoes, including Fuego – one of Central America’s most active volcanoes – just 4 km (2.5 miles) away.
With luck, we may witness ash rising from the crater during one of Fuego’s frequent eruptions.
NOTE: If you do not want to hike the volcano we have local, cultural tour options, you don’t need to start with a serious hike unless you want to!
After a picnic lunch spent gazing across 360-degree vistas of Guatemala’s sweeping countryside, you will hike back to the trailhead, returning to Antigua.
👣 Activity Includes
- Experienced adventure guide
- Transportation to/from the trailhead
- Park entrance fees
- Water
- Picnic lunch, Lunch, & Dinner
💡 Recommended
- Good hiking shoes
- Windbreaker
- Hat
- Sunscreen
Best to dress in layers as the weather can be unpredictable.
Day 3 (Dec 3) – Iximché Tour & Maya Ceremony En route to Lake Atitlán
🍽 American Breakfast (6am – 8am) at Camino Real Antigua
🚗 9:00 am – Departure – Central Standard Time, Private Transfer
Iximché Tour & Maya Ceremony En route to Lake Atitlán
Explore well-preserved temples, ball courts, and remnants of ancient palaces of the compact but important Maya site of Iximché. A fascinating stop en route from Antigua to Lake Atitlán, Iximché once served as the capital of the Kaqchiquel Mayas.
Surrounded by steep slopes and pine trees, the ceremonial centre thrived from 1470 to 1524 A.D., until Spanish conquerors declared it as their first capital in Guatemala.
Modern-day shamans, chanting in a local Maya language, still use part of the site for rituals. Often incorporating fire, candles, and mysterious potions, the ceremonies can have any number of intentions, including health, fertility, protection, safe travels, or success. To participate in a ceremony, just let your guide know. It’s an incredible experience and goes a long way toward better understanding traditional Maya beliefs.
After the ceremony, enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant and resume the drive to Lake Atitlán.
👣 Activity Includes
- Private guide & driver
- Iximché entrance fee
- Maya ceremony
- Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Lake Atitlan
With its sparkling waters watched over by three majestic, dormant volcanoes, Lake Atitlán is Guatemala’s highland jewel, which motivated author Aldous Huxley to say, “It really is too much of a good thing”.
Surrounded by Mayan villages, the lake’s timeless beauty is only equaled by the exquisitely embroidered clothing worn by the local T’zutujil and Kaqchiquel Maya people. Each lakeside village has its own character: the ceramic arts of San Antonio Palopo, San Juan’s natural dyes and handwoven textiles; San Pedro’s backpacker vibe; San Marcos’ yoga and wellness centres; Santiago Atitlan’s busy markets and shops; and Panajachel’s hectic-eclectic mix of shops, hotels, and restaurants.
All have one thing in common: the shimmering lake and dramatic countryside, where you can kayak and canoe, swim, fish, watch birds or just swing in a hammock.
🛌 Check in at Hotel Atitlán Hotel & Jardines
Location – Centrally located in Panajachel, this hotel is right on the beach.
Facilities- The hotel has an elevator and features 62 rooms, including 6 suites and 24 single rooms. The friendly staff at the reception desk are happy to answer any questions. Services such as a baggage storage service, a safe and a currency exchange service ensure a comfortable stay. Wireless internet access in public areas allows guests to stay connected. The tour desk offers assistance with booking excursions. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. Everyday necessities can be purchased at the supermarket. Guests in search of the perfect souvenir are sure to find it in the gift shop. A garden provides extra space for rest and relaxation in the open air. Additional facilities include a newspaper stand. Guests arriving by car can park their vehicles in the parking lot. Further services and facilities include a 24-hour security service, a babysitting service, a childcare service, a transfer service, room service, a laundry service and a hotel shuttle bus.
Day 4 (Dec 4) – San Juan & Santiago Villages Visit
🍽 Breakfast a La Carte (07:00 – 9:00 AM) at Hotel Atitlan
🚗 9:00 am – Departure, Pick Up
San Juan & Santiago Villages Visit
Although more than a dozen fascinating towns and villages overlook majestic Lake Atitlán, Santiago and San Juan La Laguna top the must-see list.
In San Juan, watch indigenous weavers mix natural dyes from locally grown plants and flowers, and then see the women use a back-strap loom to create intricate textiles, thread by colourful thread.
From there, peruse a workshop of art naïf painters before boarding the boat for the cruise to Santiago. After a delicious lunch, head out with your guide to find the house of Maximón, the Maya folk saint who moves annually with the selection of his new caretaker.
A Maya priest may be performing a ritual for a follower or two gathered at Maximón’s candle-lit altar.
Afterward you can visit the church, learn about the town’s vivid history and explore the thriving market.
Be sure to check out more of the distinctive textiles and local art, both famous from the lake basin.
👣 Activity Includes
- Private guide
- Private boat transfers
- Entrance fees / donations
- Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 5 (Dec 5) – Heading to Uaxactún & Tikal Adventure
🍽 Breakfast a La Carte (07:00 – 10:00 AM) at Hotel Atitlan
🚗 Departure – 4 hours, Private Group Transfer to Guatemala City Airport
✈️ Departure – 1 hour, Unguided Domestic Flight to Flores
Uaxactún & Tikal Adventure
Camp Among Ancient Temples. It’s one thing to visit Guatemala’s stunning ruins, but wait until you spend the night at one in particular, Uaxactún, one the longest-occupied Mayan cities.
After your nighttime arrival at Uaxactún from Flores, you’ll drop your belongings in your tent at the campsite near the jungle-shrouded temples.
But don’t even think about settling into your bed yet! First, you’ll set out along jungle trails in search of nocturnal wildlife, such as owls, opossums, and spooky-looking insects.
Uaxactún’s many structures include an elaborate, thoroughly accurate astronomical cluster, where you’ll gaze up at a twinkling blanket of stars and luxuriate in the jungle mystique.
The Uaxactún camping getaway, a Viaventure Signature Experience, uniquely combines jungle, cultural, and archaeological encounters.
🛌 Uaxactún Camping
Nestled between the sprawling, jungle-shrouded temples of the Uaxactún archaeological park and a small, present-day Mayan village lies a unique lodging experience for those who appreciate the road less travelled.
Eight ample tents, raised off the ground on solid, covered platforms, surround you with the sights and sounds of the jungle while keeping you comfortable. Each tent feels like its own bungalow, with one king bed or two cozy twin beds, a night table, a rug, reading lamps, and even a small porch and garden. Stone-paved paths lead to shared bathrooms with unheated showers just a few steps away.
Nearby, you can explore Uaxactún, one of the longest-inhabited cities in the pre-Columbian Maya world; enjoy a traditional lunch in the local village; and take a 45-minute drive to see Guatemala’s archaeological crown jewels, Tikal National Park. At night, you can close your eyes, listen to the exotic serenade of the Petén rainforest, and imagine the lives of the ancient peoples who made these lands their home.
ℹ️ Please note – Due to the remoteness of the location, there is no Wi-Fi, nor phone coverage. Electricity is a limited service in this village; please make sure to bring your phone and devices fully charged. The camp showers do not have hot water, though in the steamy jungle, that’s one amenity rarely missed.
🍽 Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 6 (Dec 6) – Uaxactún Maya Site & Community Tour
🍽 Breakfast (Included in Camping Adventure Package)
🚗 8:00 am – Departure, Minibus
Uaxactún Maya Site & Community Tour
In the morning, you’ll embark on a guided tour of the Uaxactún ruins, stopping at partially restored temples that align perfectly with the sun on key dates of the calendar. In the village, you’ll learn about the natural gum, allspice, and xate (exported globally for floral arrangements) that locals collect.
For lunch, you’ll savour a traditional dish prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
You can rest or explore at your leisure in the afternoon.
At dusk, you’ll climb a lookout tower for sunset drinks, followed by a delicious, locally made dinner before another overnight in the jungle camp.
👣 Activity Includes
- Private guide & transfers
- Community guide
- Entrance fees / donation to Uaxactún community
🍴 All meals
Day 7 (Dec 7) – Tikal Archeological Experience
🍽 Breakfast (Included in Camping Adventure Package)
🚗 8:00 am – Departure – 45 minutes – Central Standard Time, Minibus
Tikal Archeological Experience
Today starts with breakfast and a last look around this fascinating place. A 45-minute ride through the deep jungle will take you to Tikal National Park, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor.
You will enter Tikal through the forest, an area most visitors never get to see. Not only will you enjoy a fascinating tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you’ll also experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys.
Following in the footsteps of Maya royalty and commoners, you will visit the majestic Great Plaza and its Temple of the Jaguar (44 metres / 144 feet), Temple of the Masks (38m / 125ft), Acropolis, and much more.
You will end your tour with lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to Flores airport.
👣 Activity Includes
- Private guide & transfers
- Park & onsite museums admission fees
- Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
🚗 Departure – Transfer to Flores Airport
✈️ 5:00 pm – Departure – 1 hour – Central Standard Time, Unguided Domestic Flight to Guatemala City Airport
🚗 Departure – 15 minutes – Central Standard Time, Private Group Transfer to Guatemala City
Guatemala City
With the largest population in Central America, Guatemala City (known as Guate) is a big, bustling capital set in a valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. In addition to being the country’s financial, commercial, and transportation hub, Guate is also home to a handful of great museums and cultural landmarks, as well as some excellent hotels and restaurants.
There’s the Ixchel Museum of Indigenous Dress, showcasing examples of the exquisite artistry found in traditional Maya clothing; the Popol Vuh Museum right next door, with its extensive collection of Maya pre-Columbian and colonial-period art; the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, featuring Maya costumes, masks, jade, pottery, and jewelry; the Guatemala City Railway Museum, where you can see and even walk around inside antique trains; and the national palace and stately cathedral at central park.
🍽 Farewell Dinner at Local Restaurant in Guatemala City
🛌 Check in at The Westin Camino Real, Guatemala
Location – Situated on a main road, this urban hotel is ideal for business travelers. It is located right in the heart of Guatemala City.
Facilities – The hotel has an elevator and features 273 rooms, including 10 suites and 100 single rooms. The friendly staff at the reception desk are happy to answer any questions. Amenities include a baggage storage service, safe, currency exchange service and ATM. Wireless internet access allows guests to stay connected while on vacation. The tour desk offers assistance with booking excursions. The hotel has a range of facilities for guests with disabilities. Wheelchair-accessible facilities are available. A number of shops, including a supermarket and souvenir shop, are great for shopping or just browsing. The grounds of the hotel feature a playground and a lovely garden. Parking facilities available to guests include a garage (no extra charge) and a parking lot (no extra charge). Further services include a 24-hour security service, a babysitting service, a childcare service, a car rental service, medical assistance, a transfer service, room service, a laundry service, a hairdresser and a coin-operated laundry. A bicycle rental service provides all the necessary equipment for exploring the surrounding area. The business center is on hand for guests’ business requirements and provides a fax machine.
ℹ️ Additional Information
The stay at the Hotel includes a Standard Deluxe Room (2 Queen Beds).
Central Location in Zone 10, a short walk to nightlife and 10 minutes’ drive to the airport.
Day 8 (Dec 8) – Flying Home
🍽 Breakfast Buffet (06:00 – 10:00 AM) at Westin Camino Real
🚗 Departure – 15 minutes, Private Group Transfer to Guatemala City Airport
Breakfast is included depending on flight time.
💰Pricing: $2999 / person based on double occupancy
✅ What’s included?
- Meals as indicated in the main itinerary
- All ground transportation in air-conditioned vehicles
- Accommodation throughout as indicated in the main itinerary
- Tours and activities as mentioned
- All park entry fees
- Airport & hotel porters
- Domestic flights as mentioned
- Local taxes
🚫 What’s NOT included?
- Alcoholic beverages or additional beverages with meals
- International flights
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities for drivers and guides
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary
➡️ Cancellation Policy
If flights are included in trip fare then flights are non-refundable.
NOTICE 91 DAYS OR MORE: 90% of the trip fare refunded
61 – 90 DAYS NOTICE: 75% of the trip fare refunded
46 – 60 DAYS NOTICE: 50% of the trip fare refunded
0 – 45 DAYS NOTICE: 0% of trip fare refunded
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
**What are the fitness requirements for this Trip?
This Trip is designed for all fitness levels.
**How many people will go?
This Trip has a limit of 12 Ladies.
**What should I pack?
A full packing list will be sent upon registration, but here are a few essentials: sturdy hiking boots, clothes for hiking, and comfortable activewear for varying weather conditions.
** What’s the weather like?
December has some of the best weather of the year in Guatemala, with warm, dry days and little to no rain. It does get down to around freezing at night, especially in the Highlands, but with great visibility at this time of year, it’s an ideal time to go hiking and climb Acatenango Volcano. There are very occasional downpours on the Caribbean coast, but the rest of the country is pretty dry, with average daily temperatures between 70°F in the mountains and 85°F in the tropical lowlands.
** What are the roommate details if I’m not getting a private room?
We’ll send a questionnaire to help secure you the best possible roommate ever (we’re all the best:). Snore, don’t worry, we’ll find the right room for you! Don’t snore? You’ll be connected with a roommate who also doesn’t snore.
How to book:
Questions? Email Support@FitisFreedom.com
Or, call or text Kelly directly @ 713-256-4698
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Your host, Kelly Howard, is the Fitness Consistency Expert with a touch of Adventure.
Kelly is the author of the bestselling book, “FIT: Active & Ageless for Life.” With over 25 years of experience, Kelly has empowered thousands of women to prioritize their fitness, enabling them to feel fantastic and embrace a world of exciting experiences in the second half of life.
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Questions or need assistance?
Reach out to Kelly at support@fitisfreedom.com. We’re here to help you on your fitness journey! 📧
Adventure is a great addiction – we call it – Empowerment – this Women-Only Retreat is for you if you want to try new things, see places you have always dreamed of, be active while traveling, and make lifetime friendships with women just like you!
FIF Adventure Details in Nutshell – Women only, small, intimate trip size. You are cared for from the moment you land to when we take you back to the airport, BUT don’t expect a cushy, bonbon-tasting party…we’ll be hiking, playing hard and laughing the nights away on this spectacular, remote adventure!
Questions about traveling with us? Worried about keeping up? Getting in shape for these adventures?
Email Support@FitisFreedom.com
Call Kelly directly @ 713-256-4698