What are the highlights of this 12 day adventure:
- Tikal Ruins guided tour
- El Hongo Mexican Community Restaurant & Youth Art program
Itinerary:
Day 1: Antigua Guatemala. Arrive at any time.
Accommodation: Hotel Bucaros Express (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Meet your CEO and group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Please note that Antigua's nearest airport is Guatemala City, Guatemala. Don't get caught flying into the Caribbean island nation of Antigua— it's nowhere near the start of this tour!
Day 2: Antigua to Rio Dulce. Travel to Rio Dulce and enjoy free time to explore.
Accommodation: Hacienda Tijax (or similar) - Jungle Lodge
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Antigua Guatemala - Rio Dulce, 6 hours and 30 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle during this long travel day.
- Free Time: Enjoy free time to explore the town.
Day 3: Rio Dulce/Flores. Travel to the Caribbean town of Livingston by scenic boat ride from Rio Dulce. Enjoy a visit to El Manglar Restaurant for an explanation of the women-led community initiative project here. Then, walk around the grounds before a sit-down lunch of delicious local flavours. Continue on to Flores. Located on Lake Petén Itzá, this is an excellent home base for exploring nearby Tikal.
Meals included: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel Petén (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Scenic Boat Ride to Livingston: Take a boat down the Rio Dulce toward the Caribbean Sea passing through El Golfete and El Canyon before arriving to Livingston. Float past mangroves and lily pads and the Boquerón Canyon, where a sheer limestone cliff rises 122m (400 ft) out of the river, covered in vines, trees and moss. Arrive at the small fishing village of Livingston known for its unique Afro-Caribbean Garifuna population, with their unique art, music and delicious coconut seafood soup, "tapado".
- Caribbean Gastronomic Experience 'El Manglar': El Manglar Restaurant in Guatemala is a women-led community tourism initiative founded by the Cayo Quemado Women's Committee with the aim of creating new job opportunities within the community. During your visit you will begin with a welcome given by the women of the committee and receive a brief introduction to the workshop. Then, there will be a short walk around the property, including a full explanation of the project, it's impact, and culture before you all sit down for lunch at the restaurant. Every traveler that visits Cayo Quemado has a direct impact on their community.
- Private Vehicle: Livingston - Flores. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Day 4: Flores. Enjoy a guided tour of the nearby Mayan ruins of Tikal. In the afternoon, opt to relax on the lake or hang out at a café in town.
Accommodation: Hotel Petén (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Flores - Tikal, 1 hour. Enjoy the ride out to Tikal and return the same way in the afternoon (1-1.5 hrs one way).
- Tikal Ruins Guided Tour: Put on your walking shoes and prepare for a tiring but memorable day walking through history at the impressive site of Tikal. The Mayan site is set in the heart of the jungle, in Tikal National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Along with our bilingual guide, see some of the temples, plazas, carved stone monuments and public squares, more than 3,000 buildings in all, dating from as far back as 600 BC. Climb to the top of Temple IV, catch your breath, take photos, and then sit and contemplate the magnificence of the site and the tropical rainforest beyond. Look for monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, and deer, as well as macaws and eagles, snakes, and spiders.
- Free Time: Explore the area anyway you like.
Day 5: Flores/San Ignacio. Cross the border to Belize. Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal, explore the Mountain Pine Ridge area, or see the lesser-known Mayan ruins of Xunantunich.
Accommodation: Midas Resort (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Private Vehicle: Flores - Melchor de Mencos, 2 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Border Crossing (Guatemala - Belize): Melchor de Mencos - Benque Viejo del Carmen. Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
- Private Vehicle: Benque Viejo del Carmen - San Ignacio, 30 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Free Time: Head out to start exploring this fun town. There's a full free day tomorrow for anything you can't get to this afternoon.
Day 6: San Ignacio. Enjoy a free day to explore. Opt to check out nearby caves, some more Mayan sites or a local conservation project.
Accommodation: Midas Resort (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Free Time: Enjoy a full day to head out and explore.
Day 7: San Ignacio/Caye Caulker. Travel to Belize City and catch a high-speed water taxi to Caye Caulker. Later, explore Caye Caulker on a 'Bike with Purpose' tour. Spend a few days enjoying this island paradise.
Accommodation: Enjoy Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Local Bus: San Ignacio - Belize City, 3 hours. Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
- Taxi: Belize City - Caye Caulker, 45 minutes. Jump in the back and tell the driver to step on it, just like they do in the movies.
- Belize Bike with Purpose Tour: Take a leisurely bike tour around Caye Caulker with a guide from the 'Bike with Purpose' project. See the island through the eyes of a local on this two-hour tour, and live the island's motto of 'Go Slow'. Feel the island breeze in you hair while knowing you're supporting a program that helps youth from Caye Caulker build skills for tourism jobs upon graduation from high school.
Day 8: Caye Caulker. Spend time enjoying this island paradise. Opt to go on a sailing trip to snorkel with stingrays, nurse sharks and green turtles at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. If the boats aren't your thing, just relax, Belizean-style.
Accommodation: Enjoy Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Free Time: Spend two full days exploring this area any way you like.
Day 9: Caye Caulker. Jump for joy that you get another full day to explore Caye Caulker! Do what you didn't get to yesterday or take the day to just lay on the beach!
Accommodation: Enjoy Hotel (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Free Time: Spend two full days exploring this area any way you like.
Day 10: Caye Caulker/Playa del Carmen. Say farewell to Belize, and travel by boat and private vehicle from Caye Caulker to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
Accommodation: Hotel Nautilus (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Water Taxi: Caye Caulker - Belize City, 45 minutes. Jump in and cross the water to the next stop.
- Private Vehicle: Belize City - Chetumal, 2 hours and 30 minutes. Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
- Border Crossing (Belize - Mexico): Chetumal to Chetumal. Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
- Transport: Chetumal - Playa del Carmen, 4 hours. Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.
Day 11: Playa del Carmen. Enjoy a free day to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm, or visit one of the many cenotes. Enjoy dinner at a community restaurant with a youth-focused art program.
Meals included: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Nautilus (or similar) - Hotel
Today's activities:
- Free Time: Do as much or as little as you want.
- El Hongo Mexican Community Restaurant & Youth Art Program: El Hongo (which means 'The Mushroom') is a volunteer-run restaurant started as a means to create income to support a youth art program in the 'real' Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Across the highway from the commercial beach strip is where most locals live - cross onto the unpaved roads and enjoy a delicious home-style meal at the restaurant, while learning more about this much-needed program for the community.
Day 12: Playa del Carmen. Depart at any time.
Today's activities:
- Departure Day: Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
Next Steps
Ready to go? Simply request a spot via your MyIVHQ profile, and our team will reach out with availability and seasonal pricing details.
This tour can be completed before your volunteering experience in Mexico, we'll help with recommendations to bridge any gaps between your volunteer program and the tour. These arrangements are your responsibility and we can provide you with personalized transit and accommodation advice to make your travel straightforward.
Best of all, you’ll be in great hands with our trusted partners who have led sustainable, community-first travel for 30 years. Your adventure makes a real, positive difference every step of the way.
Please note that exact activities and timing can vary depending on the season and availability. Don't worry, your tour provider will share your final, confirmed itinerary once your dates are set!
Let’s get your journey started!
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