Personalized trips to Guatemala
for independent travelers

Amazing trip to Belize and Guatemala. Alex was very communicative and helpful during the entire planning process and while we were on the trip. We have been on many trips through kimkim with local companies in different companies. There seemed to be a disconnect with this trip. Typically we have one guide for each region that spends each day with our family (from airport pickup to the last day). This guide gives us local history and lots of information. They typically provide water for our family, local snacks and keep an eye on the schedule for stopping to eat (which is important for us as we have five children). This wasn’t the case in Belize or Guatemala. The guides we did have were great! The trip was wonderful but not as seamless as we are used to with kimkim trips.
There was more than one instance where we arrived at a location (ferry, airport, etc) and the driver was no where to be found. Alex took care of things very quickly but there seemed to be a lack of communication or understanding of pick up expectations between Alex and the drivers. I would highly recommend visiting Belize and Guatemala, they are both beautiful countries.

Hotel Review

Porta Hotel Antigua

Antigua Guatemala

I stayed at the Porta Hotel Antigua during my trip, and it was especially good. It brought back nostalgic memories since I had stayed there before many years ago. The experience was as satisfying as I remembered.

Activity Reviews

Day Hike to Pacaya Volcano

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Tikal National Park

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I booked the trip to the Antigua region at sort of the last minute, but once again Kimkim and Alex at Oldtown Outfitters came through brilliantly. Alex arranged an amazing short trip that packed in an astonishing variety of wonderful experiences in a short period of time, including a visit to Lake Atitlan, the Mayan ruins at Iximche, a cooking class, a visit to a coffee coop, and a walking tour of Antigua. Throughout the planning process, he was really responsive to my questions, and flexible in arranging the trip. The airport transfers were seamless, and the hotels were excellent. Nery, my guide, was so knowledgeable, professional and nice, and overall, I just strongly recommend both visiting Antigua and working with Alex!

From my first email with Catherina to our last day with our personal guide JJ, and everything in between on our week-long trip was amazing and personal – truly. You can’t go wrong with this amazing and caring team. Some highlights: 1. I needed to book the trip quickly as we’ve never traveled internationally as a family. My husband was concerned about the State Department warnings. So, I knew I needed help. Of the 4 online companies I contacted, Columbus (Catherina) was the only one who replied quickly – and kept replying quickly to create the ideal trip for us. I felt like I was talking to a friend who truly cared, rather than a bot or bored office worker. She stuck with me until the itinerary was ideal – and we were also able to make changes on the fly during the trip. 2. We visited Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan, Antigua, and several places in between that had personal meaning to us. JJ was with us the entire time, expertly navigating the busy roads and easing the way with his translating and friendly personality. We felt safe and cared for the entire time, and were thrilled with the charming and delicious roadside restaurants JJ recommended. 3. This team is as good on the ground as they are at planning. The dedicated behind-the-scenes logistics team checked ahead to ensure things would go smoothly, alerting JJ to potential road blockages. We couldn’t have felt in better hands than this amazing group of caring people.
4. We are so glad that we made this trip. We found Guatemala to be a stunning country filled with incredible history and kind people. The first look at Lake Atitlan gave me goosebumps and will stay with me forever, as will so many of the memories we made on this trip. Thank you Columbus Guatemala Travel for making this happen for our family!!! I'm sure I left things out, because every single day was filled with beauty, wonder and learning. I highly recommend Guatemala as a destination and this amazing team as your guides.

Hotel Reviews

Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel

Panajachel

Posada de Don Rodrigo Panajachel had amazing food and a beautiful rustic charm. The breakfast was fantastic and the people were incredibly nice. However, it was a bit loud due to open air concept and lacked air conditioning which might not suit everyone's comfort level. Nonetheless, the views were gorgeous, and I would stay there again despite the minor issues.

El Carmen

Antigua

El Carmen was super comfortable and all-round really good. It turned out to be our favorite accommodation during the trip. The rooms were a perfect size for our family, making it a relaxing place to stay.

Hotel Barcelo

Guatemala City

One of the best things about this hotel is the extremely comfortable beds/bedding -- great for a good night's sleep. The buffets offered an amazing array of options, just wish some of the dishes had been warmer - or maybe that's a cultural difference. We especially enjoyed the breakfast buffet. Seems to draw a mostly business crowd, with just a few other tourists like us.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Villages Tour on Chicken Bus

Antigua

The Villages Tour on the Chicken Bus was just thrilling. Visiting the women's collective was a standout experience, providing an incredible insight into local culture. The views on the way were breathtaking. Overall, every bit of it was enjoyable and truly an amazing part of the trip.