Columbus Guatemala Travel

Just returned from Belize and had an amazing adventure. Juan and Catherina put together an action packed trip which is exactly what I wanted.
Even though my first flight was delayed by Delta and I arrived a day late I was still able to get to all my tours except one because they rearranged my itenary @10pm the night before when I notified them after receiving an email from Delta that my early morning flight was delayed and I would miss my Belize connection and have to spend my day and night in Atlanta! Bummer!
The Belizean hotels they picked were very nice, inexpensive and not touristy. I appreciated
that.
The guides they selected for all my tours were professional fun and extremely knowledgeable.
I spent 3 days in the jungle and 4 days in San Pedro. I also spent 2 part days on Caye Caulker which is a laid back island 30 minutes from San Pedro and has a cool vibe.
While in the jungle I did the ATM cave tour which was incredible and I also did a cool hike to a beautiful waterfall which I was able to swim under.
On San Pedro I did the Hol Chan marine reserve tour and swam with Sharks, Sting rays turtles and Barracudas which have very gnarly teeth!
They also arranged a fly fishing lesson with Marco who is very patient. By the end of the 8am-12pm experience I was able to catch two bonefish.
All my arranged connections between tours and travel to the different islands went seamless.
I could have never planned such a great trip on my own.

Our trip to Belize and Guatemala was amazing!

All the logistics were taken care of by the KimKim team and Columbus Guatemala Travel. The entire trip was effortless, and we got to spend all of our time and energy exploring and experiencing the amazing culture, nature, and people of the region. The team just told us when they were picking us up, and everything else was taken care of. Transportation, lodging, entrance fees and national park permits, lunch, everything. Communication from the team was great: we always knew what to expect and we had an easy path for asking questions. The vehicles were new, comfortable, had great AC, and all the drivers were excellent.

All the local guides were wonderful, but one guide truly stood out. Selwin was the best guide I've ever experienced on any trip, anywhere. The Isla de Flores hotel was a local gem! And the ATM Cave tour was spectacular!

Thank you!

Hotel Review

Isla de Flores

Ciudad Flores Petén-Flores

This hotel was wonderful. The location was perfect, the hotel was beautiful, the staff were friendly, it was comfortable and best of all, filled with local charm!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

ATM cave - Actun Tunichil Muknal

Belize

This tour was spectacular. It combined the fun and thrill of swimming and spelunking, the natural beauty of the cave, and awe inspiring ancient Mayan artifacts. I still can't believe this cave is open to the public, providing access to these ancient artifacts in their original environment.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The transport is good, but be forewarned: the road to the cave is very rough and takes a while. Get comfortable, and enjoy the ac in the van.

Catherina, Esteban and their team did an almost superhuman job of organizing an incredible day trip from San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, to Guatemala's ancient Maya centers of Uaxactun and Tikal. Knowing that we were staying so far away and that we had only a day, they put together an itinerary that maximized the time we had on the ground by deploying planes, (almost trains), and automobiles...and a helicopter!!! Our chartered plane took us to the Belizean border, we were driven to customs, crossed over on foot, picked up by car and flown by helo to Tikal. Our plane pilot team--Trevor, Constantine, and Duane--were amazing. But best of all was our incredibly knowledgeable and personable guide, David Reyes. Able to speak to Maya history, archaeology, birding, ecotourism, and everything in between, it was a true pleasure to spend an afternoon with him at one of the most extraordinary places on earth. To stand on top of one of Tikal's pyramids and see temples piercing the jungle canopy, accompanied by forest sounds was something I'll never forget. Thank you!!!! It was a dream come true.

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.

The team did an amazing job proposing itineraries based on our interests, timeframes and budget. The trip was incredibly! The guides were very friendly and knowledgable. The accommodations were wonderful.