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Catherina Tittaferrante

I create personalized tours based on our travelers' passions to show them the real Guatemala. I take care of logistics, organizing and confirming every single detail needed to make your experience easy and memorable. I look always for details that transform that experience into an unforgettable memory.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Guatemala: Adventure, architecture, culture, archeology, history"

How did you get involved in travel?

"Since I was a child, I spent 80% of my time traveling. My parents took me through South America and Central America, which turned my interest into passion, by sharing with people and learning from them and their cultures, my world was bigger and better. Guatemala where I was born, inspires me every single day due to its beauty and its warm people. Professionally I developed my skills and I thought it was great to invest my energy in what makes me happy."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"A local community between Panamá and Colombia, received my family and I with a whole festival, full of food, music and their best energy and their biggest smiles. They were so happy to introduce us to their lifestyles, culture, rhythm. That meant everything to me, I got a little piece of their heart in mine, I saw myself repeting the experience with others to make them feel as part of a big family as I felt that day. "

Catherina is part of the following groups: Guatemala Travel Agents
See Agua volcano looming behind iconic Santa Catalina Arch, a landmark in Spanish colonial Antigua & UNESCO World Heritage Site
Highlights of Guatemala & Belize: Ruins, Reefs, Volcanoes & Lakes - 13 Days

Explore the highlights of Guatemala and Belize on this action-packed 13-day tour. Start in Guatemala, where you'll explore Spanish-colonial Antigua and lively Guatemala City, hike to the blazing peak of Pacaya volcano, and sail across Lake Atitlán to waterfront villages. Wander the ancient Maya ruins of Tikal National Park before crossing the border to Belize, where white-sand islands and diving adventures on thriving barrier reefs await.

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Guatemala Landscapes & Culture - 15 Days

Discover Guatemala's diverse landscapes and culture on this comprehensive 15-day tour. The journey will take you from historic cities like Antigua to the forested Maya ruins of Tikal and soft-sand beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts. You'll sail down the Río Dulce, hike to the fiery peak of the Pacaya volcano, and kayak across Lake Atitlán. Along the way, delve into Guatemalan culture with cooking classes, food tours, market visits, and handicraft workshops.

The Agua volcanoe rises above Antigua's colonial Santa Catalina Arch
Guatemala's Natural Wonders & Local Culture – 9 Days

Explore Guatemala's diverse landscapes on this nine-day tour of its cities, ruins, lakes, and volcanoes. Touch down in vibrant Guatemala City and then escape to Tikal National Park, where you'll discover ancient Maya temples and pyramids. Head on to Lake Atitlán for kayaking and scenic hikes, then tour the UNESCO-listed streets of Antigua. The adventure ends with a day hike to the top of the mighty Pacaya volcano.

A colorful mural in the Lake Atitlán village of San Juan La Laguna
Glimpse of Guatemala: Flores, Lake Atitlán & Antigua - 9 Days

This nine-day adventure will give you a taste of Guatemala's nature, culture, and food. Start off with some fascinating workshops in Guatemala City, then head to Flores to visit the Tikal Maya ruins. Your next stop will be the picturesque Lake Atitlán, where you'll tour local villages by boat. Afterward, get to know historic Antigua as you explore the town on foot, then hike the Pacaya volcano (and even roast marshmallows on its petrified lava). Cap off your adventure with a relaxing hot springs visit.

Sunrise in the Cuchumatanes, Huehuetenango
Hidden Delights of Guatemala: Huehuetenango, Quetzaltenango & Lake Atitlán - 10 Days

This 10-day adventure will take you off the beaten path to some of Guatemala's spectacular lesser-known wonders. Enjoy several fascinating workshops in Guatemala City and visit the Maya ruins at Tikal National Park, then head to Huehuetenango for horseback riding or a cenote tour. Move on to Quetzaltenango, where you'll explore traditional villages and visit a hot spring. Next, participate in a Maya spiritual ceremony at Lake Atitlán, before finishing your journey in historic Antigua.

Discover jungle kingdoms and rare wildlife in northern Guatemala
Guatemala for Young Explorers: Temples, Jungles & Caves - 7 Days

Unleash your inner explorer on this week-long family trip that draws you and the kids into the heart of Guatemala's ancient history and natural wonders. Against a backdrop of Maya ruins, stunning scenery, and exotic wildlife, you'll venture into the jungles of the north, uncover mighty temples, and glide through underground rivers and caves by inner tube.

Recent trip reviews for Catherina

Guatemala Trip
Guatemala | Feb 18 - Feb 28, 2023

Victoria
Victoria C.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Mar 05, 2023

If I could give a 10 star I would. The Columbus Guatemala tour team deserves that and much more. They went above and beyond to ensure our trip and experience was memorable, and they succeeded. Starting with Catharine managing the logistics of our trip and selecting beautiful hotels for us. She showed such care for our needs and was flexible to our requests.
Our trip involved a visit to Tikal, Antigua Guatemala, Atitlan and Chichicastenango, and our goal was to learn our Mayan history... read more

If I could give a 10 star I would. The Columbus Guatemala tour team deserves that and much more. They went above and beyond to ensure our trip and experience was memorable, and they succeeded. Starting with Catharine managing the logistics of our trip and selecting beautiful hotels for us. She showed such care for our needs and was flexible to our requests.
Our trip involved a visit to Tikal, Antigua Guatemala, Atitlan and Chichicastenango, and our goal was to learn our Mayan history and culture. Our tour in Peten was awesome due to the knowledge of our guide Carlos. He shared so much information about Tikal history and surrounding ruins. Our visit to Antigua and Iximche with our guide JJ was terrific and fun. He was the best! He really made us feel at home. JJ was very attentive, offering tips and asking for our food preferences and took us to great restaurants. We enjoy great food and love the coffee. Thanks JJ!
Our trip to Atitlan and Chichicastenango was very interesting and full of history. We have traveled to different countries in Europe and Asia and although we have enjoyed each trip and learned a lot, our trip to Guatemala was very special due to all the care and attention Columbus team provided us. From the drivers to the guides and logistics team, we felt safe and were able to focus on enjoying our trip. I HIGHLY recommend Columbus Tour team.

Activity Review
Tikal Maya Ruin
Guatemala

Tikal was beautiful and the month of February offered the perfect weather. To my surprise, no mosquitoes and low humidity. The time spent with our guide in the park was sufficient and the food at the restaurant in the part was outstanding. The restaurant was situated in an open area where we were able to enjoy the nature while enjoying the food.

Quality of Experience
We loved everthing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was awesome
Transport
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2023

Victoria!!!
Mi querida Victoria THANK YOU! We are greateful for sharing time and such wonderful experiences with you, we will always be here for you remember you have extra family now and Guatemala will always welcome you with tons of love.
We wish to see your smiles soon and share great coffee again.

Deeply appreciate you.

3 weeks visiting Guatemala
Guatemala | Jan 21 - Feb 13, 2023

Solomon
Solomon F.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2023

Our driver/guide Esteban did a great job bringing us safely from destination to destination while explaining what we would do and see at the various places we visited. Highlights of our trip were:
Semuc Champey
Tikal
Rio Dulce
Antigua
Pacaya Volcano
Lake Atitlan
All in all it was a great vacation, We did a lot of walking hiking and sightseeing. Getting to understand the Mayan culture is something we really appreciated. We were happy to see how weaving is still very much part of the... read more

Our driver/guide Esteban did a great job bringing us safely from destination to destination while explaining what we would do and see at the various places we visited. Highlights of our trip were:
Semuc Champey
Tikal
Rio Dulce
Antigua
Pacaya Volcano
Lake Atitlan
All in all it was a great vacation, We did a lot of walking hiking and sightseeing. Getting to understand the Mayan culture is something we really appreciated. We were happy to see how weaving is still very much part of the Guatemalan culture. As my wife is an amateur ceramist, she was very happy to visit a Ceramic production studio in the Lake Atitlan area.

Hotel Reviews
Casa Q'eqchi'
Cobán

We had a fabulous experience at this hotel. We were greeted by the owner who was very kind and made sure we had a great experience. The room was very clean and comfortable. Breakfast was great - we felt like we were at a friends house on vacation.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Santo Tomás
Chichicastenango

our room facing the courtyard was a bit humid and dark. Not a great experience for us.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Pensión Bonifaz
Quetzaltenango

Hotel is in a great location, comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hyatt Centric Guatemala City
Ciudad de Guatemala

Modern hotel in a good, safe location.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Candelaria Lodge
Coban

Beautiful property with excellent location near caves. One of the hotel gardeners served as our guide to the caves we were able to walk to from the hotel. The caves were quite impressive and definitely worth visiting. As many other places we visited in Guatemala we were the only tourists doing the tour and had the place to ourselves. Staff were all very friendly and food was good. Room was adequate.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Jungle Lodge Tikal
Peten

Food was very good as well as the service and staff. We were quite comfortable considering you are in the jungle.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nanajuana
Rio Dulce

Very nice property but a bit dated. Staff was very friendly and food was good.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa Encatada
Antiigua

We had a very nice room and staff was excellent but we ended up asking to move to a sister hotel because the room we were given was facing the street and too noisy for our liking. We moved to the Pensativo Hotel as an upgrade which was around the corner from the Casa Encantada. We were very happy there.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Casa Palopo
Panajachel

Very nice hotel with great staff and very good food. The only problem we found was that the price was excessive for Guatemala.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa del Mundo
Lake Atitlán

This was a great hotel with an impressive location, great staff and good food. You need to be in decent shape to handle all the stairs at this hotel built on a cliff. Lots of character and great atmosphere.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Guatemala City Tour
Guatemala

We visited several parts of the city and got a good feel of its character.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Ram Tzul Trekking
Guatemala

We enjoyed having a chance to get out and hike to a very nice waterfall. I would recommend this hike.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Semuc Champey
Guatemala

This is a beautiful location and well worth the visit. We brought our bathing suits and enjoyed the water.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Aguateca Mayan Site
Guatemala

This is a nice site but maintenance could be better. It was a hard trek to get there. We did the longer harder round trip from the river, but saw that other people used a more simple route.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tikal Maya Ruin
Guatemala

Site was very well maintained and impressive.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uaxactún
Guatemala

After seeing Tikal we were surprised to see the lack of tourists here. Certainly not as impressive in size or maintenance but nonetheless worthwhile seeing. Near the Uaxactun site we visited a small village which was interesting to see.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rio Dulce Boat Tour
Guatemala

We enjoyed this boat tour. Spectacular nature and lots of birds.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Quiriguá Archaeological Site
Guatemala

Very interesting site to visit.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Leisure Time in Antigua Guatemala
Antigua

We liked the feel and character of Antigua. Safe walking around. We visited local markets and had a nice lunch at a cafe.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
As this was our own leisure time, there was no guide, drivers or staff.
Transport
Actually we walked on our own.
Walk Antigua Like a Local
Antigua

Antigua is a charming, clean and safe city with lots of character. Our guide gave us a great tour by foot.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Pacaya Volcano Hike & Picnic
Guatemala

Hiking to the volcano was a lot of fun and impressive as the site and views keep changing as you get closer. Amazing to see all the lava rivers and stone formations.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Natural Hot Springs Santa Teresita
Guatemala

We enjoyed the spa, massage and sauna and pools. Great experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tecpán Trekking Downhill
Guatemala

Our guide Alex was great. We visited his family and enjoyed his grandmothers baked buns. We also got a chance to watch local women weaving. This hike is a spectacular way to see the magnificent Lake Atitlan.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat
Guatemala

We enjoyed seeing San Juan La Laguna with its colourful arts scene. We walked up to the viewing platform with impressive views. Lots of tourists and locals visiting here. We then went to San Pedro La Laguna where we had a nice lunch.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kayaking in Lake Atitlán
Guatemala

It was fun kayaking on Lake Atitlan. It was a relatively calm day and we enjoyed the experience paddling around the lake for an hour.

Quality of Experience
Family Cooking Class
Guatemala

We had a great experience learning how to cook a traditional Mayan meal, called Pepian. This was done on a wood stove which brings added flavour to the food.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Maya Sauna
Guatemala

It was quite a different type of experience compared to a what you know of modern saunas. First a wood fire is started to heat the side wall and then once inside you add water to the hot surfaces to get the heat and steam going. Afterwards we got to use a shower which was next to the sauna. We were supplied with clean towels as well as soap.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Chichicastenango Maya Market
Guatemala

This is quite a colourful and very large market. Few tourists compared to all the locals shopping.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Francisco el Alto
Guatemala

This was a worthwhile market to visit. Interesting to see all the animals being sold. Also had many previously owned items as well as new items you would see in a local market.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Villages Around Quetzaltenango
Guatemala

Visited an interesting colourful cemetery where you can also see Mayan traditional ceremonies. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the sites.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Georginas Hot Springs
Guatemala

Site was very interesting to see and use the hot spring facilities. Main restaurant was under renovations but we were able to have a nice meal at the smaller cafeteria.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San Andrés Xecúl
Guatemala

We walked from the town to the Church which is extremely interesting as it is unique being decorated on the exterior with naive art.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2023

Dear Sol & Celine,

Sharing our Culture and Worldview with you was definitely fantastic and extraordinary. We appreciate your time and your energy, as our goal has always been to exceed expectations we deeply appreciate every feeling and thought expressed, we will be redesigning some of the activities described that need it.

The Team of Columbus Guatemala Travel wishes the best of the best since life to us is an enless journey and learning process. We hope to see you soon and be your local... read more

Dear Sol & Celine,

Sharing our Culture and Worldview with you was definitely fantastic and extraordinary. We appreciate your time and your energy, as our goal has always been to exceed expectations we deeply appreciate every feeling and thought expressed, we will be redesigning some of the activities described that need it.

The Team of Columbus Guatemala Travel wishes the best of the best since life to us is an enless journey and learning process. We hope to see you soon and be your local companion throughout Belize, Costa Rica or very soon Mexico, Colombia, Argentina. Simply choose the next destination.

They were simply amazing. What a great trip
Guatemala | Oct 28 - Nov 7, 2022

D
Dana C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Feb 08, 2023

They were simply amazing. What a great trip

Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Feb 09, 2023

Dear Dana,

Thank you so much, what a way to describe us! You are amazing too, we are extremely grateful for meeting you guys. We will always keep in touch, you have friends and family forever in Guatemala.

Catherina and her team were very welcoming, h...
Guatemala | Dec 26 - Jan 1, 2023

E
Elena G.
Brandon, FL | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023

Catherina and her team were very welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a fantastic time and felt completely at ease with their guidance. Every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend Catherina and Columbus Guatemala Travel. They made our vacation run smoothly from transportation to guides, to tours, everything was perfect! read more

Catherina and her team were very welcoming, helpful, knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a fantastic time and felt completely at ease with their guidance. Every aspect of our trip exceeded our expectations! I would highly recommend Catherina and Columbus Guatemala Travel. They made our vacation run smoothly from transportation to guides, to tours, everything was perfect!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Colonial
Antigua
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Lomas de Tzununá
Tzununá
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Jan 04, 2023

My dear Elena, we are very grateful for being able to share time with you. We only wish the best for you and your lovely family.
Columbus Guatemala Travel will always be with wide-open arms and I will be more than happy to give you a huge hug again.
Our purpose in life is to make your experience extraordinary and all of our team members are very excited to read your kind words, thank you.

AMAZING EXPERIENCE PROVIDED BY THE STELLAR TEAM
Guatemala | Nov 19 - Nov 27, 2022

M
Mili s.
Santa Clara, CA | Reviewed on Nov 28, 2022

Hello...Let me start off by saying that we had the best time. I was very apprehensive about going to Guatemala and had a bad experience with the transfer I had booked. And so i decided to look for a service that will give me end to end experience and I found Catherina. She was amazing in understanding my requirements as we were a family with 2 young kids. she understood the requirements and also our dietary needs and planned an itinerary that will work perfectly. We went back n forth on the... read more

Hello...Let me start off by saying that we had the best time. I was very apprehensive about going to Guatemala and had a bad experience with the transfer I had booked. And so i decided to look for a service that will give me end to end experience and I found Catherina. She was amazing in understanding my requirements as we were a family with 2 young kids. she understood the requirements and also our dietary needs and planned an itinerary that will work perfectly. We went back n forth on the requirements and once the itinerary was nailed down I booked it. When we landed in hotel, the next day our Guide JJ arrived and picked us at the hotel for the wonderful flower festival. I must say that our trip would not be half as successful if we didnt have JJ as our guide. He was very prompt, always on time, helped interact with kids, made sure we enjoyed the activity we were doing, always gave recommendations that were perfect. Also all our transport were private...be the chicken bus, the boat or the car...all to our ourself :) which made the whole expereince very private and personal. Thank you to Columbus Travel, Catherina and JJ for your awesome service ! Bravo !!!!!

Activity Reviews
Pacaya Volcano Hike & Picnic
Guatemala

The hike to Pacaya is a must. The hike is steep , but we all could do the hike. The lunch provided was so yum and added to the whole experience.

Walk Antigua Like a Local
Antigua

We had the lovely flower festival on this day and so it added to the whole experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Nov 30, 2022

My dear Mili, thank you so much for your kind words.
We all appreciate you so much, we wish you only the best and hope you can come back soon.
We trully believe in the power of traveling so please keep exploring, discovering, enjoying!
And always remember you will have a family in Guatemala that will always be for you.

Exploring Guatemala
Guatemala | Oct 5 - Oct 13, 2019

Maddie
Maddie K.
Venezuela | Reviewed on Oct 14, 2019

Everything was so great! Upon arrival Catherina called us to check in which was extremely thoughtful. Esteban, our overall guide was absolutely fabulous! He was so knowledgeable and kind. He was a great driver and tour guide. We loved our time in Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Tikal. I would highly recommend Esteban for any other tour. Pablo, our driver in Tikal was really kind too. We found out he was a Audubon member for birding! We loved the Cacao boutique hotel, the service was fabulous and... read more

Everything was so great! Upon arrival Catherina called us to check in which was extremely thoughtful. Esteban, our overall guide was absolutely fabulous! He was so knowledgeable and kind. He was a great driver and tour guide. We loved our time in Antigua, Lake Atitlan and Tikal. I would highly recommend Esteban for any other tour. Pablo, our driver in Tikal was really kind too. We found out he was a Audubon member for birding! We loved the Cacao boutique hotel, the service was fabulous and the breakfast was amazing. We also really liked the facilities at the Tikal Inn. Honestly everything was wonderful and we would definitely come back to Guatemala or recommend all of this to any friends or family!

Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Reviewed on Oct 14, 2019

We loooooooove been part of your memories! is an honor to know we made true our commitment, we will be always here to serve you! Keep exploring and enjoying life