Guatemala Tours; All-Inclusive Vacations Include Tikal & Copan Ruins

Frequently Asked Questions

What is included in the tour price?

Prices do not include air travel, country entry or departure fees, airport porters, visas, phone calls, valet, laundry, all items of a personal nature, extra food and beverages not on the regular menu, and tips to the Caravan Tour Director and Driver. General fees and taxes are additional and listed separately beneath each tour's price.

What is not included in the tour price?

Can your tours be enjoyed by all age groups?

Usually, you find a mix of different age adult travelers on a Caravan Tour. Most tours will be joined by adults of all ages. Children age five (5) and over are welcome, and children usually join tours offered during Christmas holidays, summer vacation and spring break vacation.

What clothing should I pack for my Guatemala trip?

Caravan suggests clothing for warm and hot weather during the day: 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of shorts, 3 changes of shirts, a rain poncho, a swimsuit, and a sweater or jacket for the air conditioned bus. Caravan recommends footwear that has a bit of a tread and will not slip on wet surfaces. Walking shoes, hiking boots, sneakers and sandals are all acceptable. Caravan also recommends packing a sweater or light jacket to wear at night in the higher elevations (around 5,000 feet high ) of Guatemala City, Antigua and Lake Atitlan. Quick dry clothing (especially a pair of convertible pants that zip at the knee to convert into shorts) is recommended for your visit to the tropical areas. A pair of convertible quick-dry pants and aquick-dry shirt can be purchased from clothing manufacturers such as Travelsmith.com (1-800-950-1600) and ExOfficio.com (1-800-644-7303), and Columbia (at Sportmart). And for all tropical tours, don't forget the sun block, bug spray, a flashlight, a sun hat, a lightweight packable raincoat or poncho, anti-diarrheal medicine, plenty of wet wipes and a travel alarm clock.

What vaccinations are required to enter Guatemala?

No vaccinations are required to enter Guatemala.Caravan does not have any doctors on staff and cannot give medical advice, so please consult your doctor before deciding whether or not to receive a vaccination. You may also check the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov/travel for Guatemala travel advisories and disease updates. Please note that many Central American pharmacies sell the 500 mg. Vitamin B-1 pill as an anit-mosquito pill, and these pharmacies suggest that people take the pill daily starting two weeks before arrival in the tropical areas. Caravan does not endorse any products, but most Caravan staff take the Avon Expedition repellent to the tropical areas. Caravan staff also avoid eating bananas, because this smell attracts mosquitoes.

Preparing for the Tropics

It is recommended to bring at least one pair of quick-dry pants and one quick-dry shirt. The quick-dry pants that zip at the knee to convert into shorts are particularly popular. Be sure to also bring a sweater or jacket for the cooler night temperatures in Guatemala City and Antigua. It is also recommended to prepare for the mosquitoes that are sometimes present in the tropical low lands of Copan and Tikal. Caravan does not make product endorsements, but many Central Americans feel that Avon Skin So Soft oil (not cream), or Avon's Expedition anti-mosquito spray is effective protection against mosquito bites in the jungle. Caravan does not endorse any vitamin, but please note that Central American pharmacies sell 500 milligram Vitamin B-1 tablets, a non-prescription vitamin, as "anti-mosquito" pills. Many Guatemalans take Vitamin B-1 pills and eat garlic for about two weeks prior to and during their visits to the jungle because they believe that the smell of Vitamin B-1 and garlic repels mosquitoes. If you believe this may be of value, consult your doctor for further information on Vitamin B-1 and garlic. Guatemalans also avoid eating bananas in the rainforest, as it is believed that this smell attracts mosquitoes. Also, it is wise to wear light-weight quick-dry long-sleeved pants and shirts in these tropical areas.

Are meals included?

Included meals for each tour are listed at the end of each day. Meals are shown by B (breakfast), L (lunch) and D (dinner). Full, buffet, or deluxe continental breakfasts are included everywhere. Coffee and tea are provided at all meals. In Latin America, bottled water is provided free on the motorcoach and purified water is provided at the meals. Alcoholic beverages are not included unless specified.

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Customer Reviews of our Guatemala, Tikal & Copan tour

"The hotels were very good. This was my third trip to Guatemala, my first being with Caravan Tours and I did not realize they had such nice hotels."

Mr. G.C., Hudson, Wisconsin

"Enclosed is a copy of my food column for a small newspaper in Montana, close to Kalispell, Montana ( Bigfork, Montana). I thought you might be interested in reading one of my favorite impressions of Guatemala. We also had an outstanding tour guide. It was a great trip! Thanks!"

Ms. M.S., Sun City West, Arizona

"Our tour director was truly the heart of Guatemala! He was very knowledgeable, caring, entertaining and accommodating. He truly represents the BEST of his country. We loved him! Keep him, he's a jewel!"

Ms. D.B., Albuquerque, New Mexico

"We thought it was a great tour. Costa Rica with Caravan Tours was good but this one was better. Are there any thoughts about doing Panama or Honduras in more depth? We would love to see both countries by tour."

Mr. & Mrs. J.S., Bloomfield, Ontario Canada

"It was a wonderful tour! It was my very first trip out of the country. I plan to go with Caravan Tours next year."

Ms. C.T., Albuquerque, New Mexico

"I LOVED the meals at all the hotels. Delicious when the choice was given as well as when we could choose. There was always enough to eat and drink. I especially enjoyed the fruits, vegetables and soups. You have our confidence! We will take another Caravan Tour. We may even go back to Guatemala again just to see our tour guide! We most certainly will tell friends and family about Caravan Tours and pass on the catalogs to interested folks. I am going to try to organize a group of our friends to join us on the Copper Canyon Tour! Happy Trails! See you around!"

Mr. & Mrs. G.W., South Glastonbury, Connecticut

"I owned a travel agency for years and conducted tours all over the world. Our tour director was the best, caring and most knowledgeable ever. She was so well organized in every aspect. She kept friends together and made such an effort to pre-order meals, rooms, etc. I would do this very tour again with her!"

Mrs. R.S., Sacramento, California

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Guatemala with Tikal and Copan

11 Days from $995

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2010 Departure Dates

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2010 Price Per Person - $U.S.

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Hotels - listed by day

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Day 1 - Guatemala City, Guatemala

Day 2 - Ixchel, Guatemala City

Day 3 - Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan

Day 4 - Lake Atitlan Boat Cruise

Day 5 - Lake Atitlan, Copan, Honduras

Day 6 - Copan, Honduras

Day 7 - Petenchel, Guatemala

Day 8 - Tikal

Day 9 - Tikal, Antigua

Day 10 - Antigua, Coffee Plantation

Day 11 - Antigua, Guatemala City