Guatemala & Belize Family Holiday

Famed for its magnificent location and colonial charm, UNESCO World Heritage-listed Antigua is a real treat for the culture vulture. Known worldwide as a prime coffee-growing region, you'll enjoy a private coffee tour, before a free afternoon gives you and the family the chance to explore the ancient ruins, yellow-hued buildings and cobbled streets of this volcano-encased city.

You’ll spend two nights at El Convento, a homely colonial treasure in the heart of the old town, before travelling to the authentic Comalapa market in the Guatemalan highlands: its secluded location is set well away from the beaten tourist track.

No visit to Guatemala is complete without a trip to the spectacular Lake Atitlán, situated within a valley of volcanoes. You’ll travel to the bankside village of San Juan La Laguna, where the kids can splash in the shores of the lake and dive off from the jetties. You’ll be zooming along the smooth waters of the lake come afternoon, soaking up the laid-back style of the locals and gazing up at the jungle-covered banks of the encircling volcanoes.

Staying at Hotel Atitlán, spend your evenings in the gardens, accompanied by the surrounding wildlife and tropical birds. The following day, pick up some bargains and those all-important holiday gifts at the vibrant Chicicastenango market, a stopover while en route to your overnight stay in Guatemala City.

Time to get your history hats on for a visit to the ancient Mayan sites of northern Guatemala. After a quick internal flight to Flores, you’ll be thrown into historic times on an afternoon tour of the Mayan Aguateca site, warming you up for the masterpieces of Tikal that await you the following morning.

You’ll stay at La Lancha, Francis Ford Coppola's luxury jungle retreat, which sits on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, and have a full tour of the Tikal site the next day. Climb the steps to the top of the structures and stand on top of the world as you peer over the thick jungle canopy that swamps the site - this is the perfect location for an extraordinary family photo.

George of the Jungle beckons, as you leave Guatemala behind for the wild Cayo District of Belize. Staying at the acclaimed eco-resort, Chaa Creek, you’ll spend three days exploring the surrounding environment, paddling up creeks and creeping through caves. You’ll be treated to Belizean Mayan ruins at Caracol and Xunantunich, before weaving your way through forests to unveil hidden pools and gushing waterfalls to splash in. A visit to Barton Creek Cave will have you canoeing through passageways of ancient rock formations, climbing bamboo ladders, diving from cliffs and ziplining from the cave’s ceiling.

Relax on the final leg of your trip, as you make your way to Ambergris Caye, in the azure waters of the Caribbean coast. En route to the caye, you’ll make a stop at the Belize zoo, where the kids can marvel at over 125 animals native to the country. During your stay on the tropical shores of the coast, there’ll be opportunities to explore the marine life of the world’s second largest coral reef. Snorkel at Shark Ray Alley, search for sea turtles bobbing in the shallows and catch some last minute rays on the glorious white-sand beaches.

Enjoy three nights at Matachica Resort & Spa, which is set on a gorgeous private beach overlooking the Caribbean. After lapping up the sunshine in paradise, your adventure comes to its end. A transfer will take you to Belize International Airport for your return flight home.