Columbus Guatemala Travel

We were very pleased with how you used the information you obtained about both our general and
specific goals for the trip, as well as our travel “style” and physical abilities and applied them to your
detailed knowledge of the country. We felt it worked very well. We were delighted with what we saw of
the country and very happy with the accommodation arranged (one exception below). The information
provided re: climate, tipping etc. was very practical and comprehensive.

We were very happy with Roberto with whom we spent hours of almost every day. He was unfailingly
punctual and always enthusiastic. His driving was always sensible, which was very important to us. He
was knowledgeable across a range of subjects from history and volcanoes to birds. He frequently
checked in to make sure we were doing OK. On multiple occasions he raised the suggestion of
additional activities, whether a hike down to the waterfall at Ram Tzul or a swim at another site, but
without creating any kind of expectation (we did pretty much all of these activities) or hinting in any way
that it would be an extra strain for him. He arranged much appreciated extras such as a walk to Santa
Catherina from Antigua and watching the release of the baby turtles on the last day. His English was
satisfactory; in my case I particularly appreciated the chance for extended conversations in Spanish.

Carlos, the guide for Tikal was also very knowledgeable, personable, resourceful and an excellent driver.

Smaller points: 1) wifi at Quinta May Hotel was totally useless. 2) the hotel on the last night was the
kind of place we would rarely if ever. The smaller, often family owned places we enjoyed on the rest of
the trip were much more our style.

I should point out that it wasn’t entirely clear when communication switched over from Kimkim to
Columbus Tours. I understand the logical hand over to local expertise, but there were times we weren’t
sure to whom we should be talking.

Our Belize trip with Lesbifriends Travel was beyond amazing! From start to finish, everything was perfectly curated, thanks to our knowledgeable travel expert, Caterina.

The itinerary struck the perfect balance of culture, history, beach vibes, and relaxation. We explored ancient Mayan ruins, learned about Belizean history and culture, and soaked up the sun on pristine beaches. We loved cooking and drumming with the Garifuna people and be welcomed into their lovely community; we truly enjoyed this cultural immersion. The trip also included plenty of downtime, which allowed us to truly unwind and enjoy the serene beauty of the destination.

Our guide, Rene was also another highlight. He was very knowledgeable, patient, funny, and a joy to be around. He also did double time as our driver and kept our group safe.

Rene’s expertise and warm personality made every activity more engaging, and Caterina ensured every detail of the trip was seamless. Their teamwork brought everything together, creating an experience we’ll never forget.

If you’re looking for a trip that blends adventure, relaxation, and cultural exploration, this Belize trip is it!

Activity Reviews

Belize City Tour

Belize

The Belize City Tour was the perfect way to kick off our adventure. Our guide Rene shared fascinating insights about the city’s history, architecture, and culture, making the streets come alive with stories. We visited historical landmarks, vibrant neighborhoods, and even got a glimpse of the bustling local life. It was the ideal introduction to Belize, setting the tone for the rest of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Xunantunich

Belize

Exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Xunantunich was a true highlight. The trek to the top of El Castillo rewarded us with panoramic views of Belize and neighboring Guatemala, a sight that took our breath away. Rene’s storytelling brought the site to life, weaving tales of Mayan civilization and its rich history. This experience was not only awe-inspiring but also deeply educational, leaving us with a profound respect for Belize’s ancient roots.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maya Cacao Belizean Experience

Belize

Who knew chocolate-making could be so much fun? The Maya Cacao Belizean Experience was a sensory delight from start to finish. We learned about cacao’s historical significance, roasted cacao beans, and ground them by hand to create our own chocolate. The taste was heavenly, and the experience gave us a deep appreciation for the hard work behind every bar of chocolate.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Early Morning Yoga Class

San Ignacio

Starting the day with an early morning yoga class amidst Belize’s natural beauty was incredibly rejuvenating. Surrounded by lush greenery and the sounds of nature, the session was both grounding and energizing. The instructor guided us through poses that were accessible for all levels, ensuring everyone felt comfortable and at peace. It was the perfect way to connect with ourselves before diving into the day’s adventures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Ignacio Market

San Ignacio

The San Ignacio Market was a feast for the senses! The vibrant stalls overflowed with fresh fruits, vegetables, and local spices, while vendors greeted us with warm smiles and stories about their products. We sampled tropical fruits and discovered unique handmade crafts. The market offered a genuine taste of Belizean life and culture, and it was an absolute joy to explore.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Garifuna Drumming Class

Hopkins Village

The Garifuna Drumming Class was an unforgettable cultural immersion. Our Garifuna instructors were not only talented musicians but also incredible storytellers, sharing the history and significance of drumming in their culture. We learned basic rhythms, danced, and even joined in a group performance. The energy was contagious, and by the end of the session, everyone was smiling, laughing, and feeling deeply connected to the Garifuna spirit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kalipuna Island Farm to Table Cooking Class

Hopkins Village

The Kalipuna Island Farm to Table Cooking Class was a foodie’s dream. We harvested fresh ingredients straight from the farm and worked together to prepare an authentic Belizean meal. The chef guided us step by step, sharing cooking techniques and local traditions. The best part was enjoying the delicious meal we had created, surrounded by the stunning views of the island. It was an intimate and enriching experience that showcased Belize’s culinary and agricultural heritage beautifully.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you to Catherina and the team for planning my trip to Guatemala and making it an unforgettable experience. My tour guides Bobby and Luis were professional and knowledgeable about the culture, history, foods and terrain, that I was taking it in through all my senses. The most challenging activity was hiking up Acatenango, but it was so worth it because of the spectacular views. There was a point when I had some issues towards the end of my trip, but Catherina and her team resolved the issue as soon as possible, I was so grateful for their help.
Guatemala is a beautiful and underrated country, the people were friendly and so welcoming that I would definitely return. I highly recommend you book through Colombus Guatemala Travel because they helped create such a unique experience.

Activity Reviews

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

I learned a lot about the culture, how the people make their clothes, the different types of crops that they grow, the foods that they eat.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Going on the boats (lanchas) was a fun way to get around

DAY 2 Acatenango Hike

Guatemala

The views of Acatenango were incredible, with the lava flowing and sunsets at night to sunrises in the morning.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kudos! To all the team members of Columbus Guatemala travel! They are always there from the beginning of our journey til the end it was perfect! I will recommend this travel agency to al travellers they are very reliable, and trustful. All the team effort they did makes you feel comfortable in every way of the journey. They will create our journey memorable! I would like to thank all the team members from the drivers, tour guides and especially the group of the Columbus Guatemala travel. I really wanted to give you all 10 stars!!! Till we meet again , Muchos Gracia’s!!!

Hotel Reviews

Maya Internacional

Flores

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Utzjay Hotel

Panajachel

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Naif Boutique Hotel

Antigua

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

El Recreo

Lanquin

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from San Ignacio to Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Semuc Champey

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano visit

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Thank you

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tikal Maya Ruin

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Esteban our tour guide for the week was not only professional, engaging, and knowledgeable, but also very attentive to all our needs. Our group included 4 middle aged adults, a young adult and an older teenager, with various activity levels. Esteban accommodated all our individual needs/interests with ease, so that we all had a marvelous time.
We also went on several different tours, such as the walking tour of Antigua with Street Food, Altamira, chicken bus tour of the surrounding villages, Pacaya volcano, and a trip to El Paredón on the Pacific coast. Would definitely go back to Guatemala as there’s so much more to see & experience!

Our guide Esteban was absolutely amazing. He was with us in Antigua and Lake Atitlan, and was great with the kids and with the grandparents. The whole KimKim team was very accommodating. They were attentive to our initial requests and put together the perfect itinerary that wasn't too overwhelming and allowed for some flexibility. We were a relatively difficult group, as initially we had a party of 5, then a couple of weeks before the trip we added 2 more people. The team repsonded quickly, found bigger accommodations for us where necessary, and upgraded the vehicles used to transport us everywhere. Even during the trip, we encountered an issue with one of our accommodations in Lake Atitlan, and the team mobilized quickly to rectify all issues we had identified. I got sick on one of our days in Antigua, and Esteban and the KimKim team accommodated a last minute change to our itinerary for the day, providing us with alternate options for experiences, and also being kind enough to fetch me some electrolyte drinks to keep me hydrated thru my sickness. They even offered to connect us with a local doctor.
Esteban gave plenty of recommendations for places to eat and visit during our spare time, continuing to send us recommendations via WhatsApp even after we had parted ways. KimKim was the ideal tour company for us in Guatemala, and we would absolutely recommend them again.

This was a seamless and wonderful trip! It was easy to plan and communicate through KimKim. Catherina and all of Columbus Guatemala Travel was prompt at getting back to me and answered all my questions and were flexible with our interests. Our tour guide throughout the week as JJ. He was amazing! My Spanish is intermediate so I appreciated being able to practice speaking Spanish, but it was very comforting to have a bilingual local as our guide. My daughter and I were hesitant to travel alone, but having an excellent guide eased any anxiety we might have had. Even when we explored on our own, JJ gave us advice on where to go and checked in on us from time to time. We learned so much about the culture and history from talking with JJ, that we never would have learned on our own. He even helped teach me Spanish slang/phrases that were specific to Guatemala. Columbus Guatemala Travel even welcomed us with a small party so we could meet in person the people who had helped plan our trip!

All our locations we visited were wonderful as well as the hotels. Some highlights: Antigua is a beautiful and amazing city and we loved exploring it and the surrounding towns. We went out at night on our own and I went on a solo run through the city early one morning and never felt unsafe. I normally hate to shop, but I bought souvenirs from all the shops/artisans we visited because there were amazing items I wouldn't be able to find in the States, I wanted to support the local people, and everything was very affordable.

Lake Atitlan and the surrounding towns were amazing as well! Casa del Mundo was the absolute best and most unique hotel I'll probably ever see. It was an entire experience and I could see myself bringing the rest of my family just to see the lake and stay at Casa del Mundo again. Our hike to see the sunrise was the most beautiful view I've ever seen and was totally worth the struggle with the high altitude!

The locals were very friendly and would start conversations often! Knowing some Spanish was definitely helpful, but if you have a bilingual guide and use a translating app while alone, only speaking English would not be a huge problem. Seeing how people live off the land in a developing country is very worthwhile. I could go on and on about this trip, but I will end saying I'm grateful for JJ and the entire travel company. I'm a public school teacher and I have to save up for awhile before leaving the country, and I can definitely say this trip was worth every penny!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel San Jorge

Antigua

This was a small, beautiful hotel that has a peaceful courtyard, excellent breakfast, nice views of the mountains from the balcony, and a perfect location for exploring Antigua. The staff was helpful and friendly and we felt safe enough to sleep with our window open. I appreciated all the filtered water throughout the hotel so I didn't have to buy plastic water bottles, and the availability of coffee throughout the day. Beautiful experience!

Authenticity & Character

The courtyard and decorations.

Location

Very easy to walk to everywhere in Antigua.

Staff

Friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Dos Mundos Monterrico

Monterrico

The grounds and buildings were beautiful. The pools were relaxing and clean. The food and service was excellent. The individual cabins were charming and relaxing. For spoiled Americans like myself, it's good to know that there is AC but not hot water. HOWEVER, I'm not complaining, because after learning about the area I understood that running water is hard to come by anyway, and it was very refreshing to take a cold shower because Monterrico is the warmest of all the places we visited. The beach has beautiful black sand, but was a little dirty. I'm not blaming this on the hotel but on people who litter. And it might have been dirtier because storms came through a few days before we did. It was very relaxing to lay by the pool or eat a wonderful meal and listen to the waves. We also booked relaxing massages and an early morning Mangrove tour, both of which were excellent.

Authenticity & Character

Location

It was a perfect location for relaxing, but not if you wanted to explore the area on foot.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa del Mundo

Lake Atitlán

This is a place like no other. Absolute paradise. If I could have brought my entire family, I would want to live there! The grounds and views were amazing, the staff was friendly and helpful. This was very valuable when trying to carry large bags up all those stairs when you aren't used to the altitude! The restaurant was wonderful. I loved explored all the gardens and seeing how environmentally conscious the owners are. The traditional Mayan decorations in the rooms and throughout the property were absolutely amazing. Anyone who is interested in this hotel should look at pictures and remember that it's even better in person. My only complaint is that I was only able to stay 2 nights. I almost cried when we left. My daughter and I are athletic and in good shape, but keep in mind if you are not, or have balance issues, getting around the hotel grounds might be a little difficult!

Authenticity & Character

The decorations were amazing!

Location

You have to take a boat to get to this hotel and the surrounding towns but it adds to the experience.

Staff

Very helpful and polite. I was amazed at how strong the young men were at carrying our bags up all those stairs.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Perfect

Activity Reviews

Thank you

Guatemala

JJ made sure we go to the airport on time and we were sad to leave!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit San Juan La Laguna

Guatemala

This is an absolutely beautiful city. We had a lovely and relaxing breakfast. We visited several shops in the area and saw demonstrations by Mayan women or locals. I was able to buy many things for my family and learn about the culture at the same time!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Guatemala

Guatemala

JJ was our guide and picked us up on time and we immediately felt comfortable with him!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

JJ was an amazing guide!

Transport

Villages Around Antigua By Chicken Bus

Antigua

This was fun and informative! JJ taught us a lot about the history and culture of the area. The land and weather was beautiful. And the people were friendly. I loved visiting the local shops/artisans and learning about how the different items were made!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Antigua Street Food Tour

Antigua

This was a walking tour, which is the best way to learn about Antigua! We learned about the food and culture and history of the area. We were so full of wonderful food that we didn't have to eat for quite awhile! JJ, as always was a great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike Rostro Maya or Indian Nose

Guatemala

Indian Nose: This was a very early morning hike and absolutely worth the lost sleep! I'm very athletic but the hike was challenging, especially for those of us who live at sea level and aren't used to the altitude. But I love challenges and the view at the top was the best I've ever seen! Watching the sun rise over Lake Atitlan was an amazing experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport