Columbus Guatemala Travel

We have to echo what all the other reviews are saying…our trip to Guatemala far exceeded our expectations. Truly, in every way imaginable. From the very beginning, Catherina at Columbus Guatemala Travel was incredibly responsive, thoughtful, and intentional with every detail. She asked all the right questions to make sure our itinerary was perfect for us, and she absolutely delivered. The entire planning process felt effortless.
 
On the ground, everything was seamless. Every driver and guide was phenomenal — on time, easy to find, friendly, and deeply knowledgeable.
 
We had a full seven-day itinerary — flying to the rainforest one day for Tikal, then exploring the volcanic beauty of Lake Atitlán the next, and finishing in the colonial magic of Antigua. It was full, rich, and truly unforgettable… yet never rushed. Everything flowed so smoothly that we could just relax and enjoy every moment.
 
Benedicto at Tikal was amazing! We spent most of our time with our guide, JJ, who instantly felt like an old friend from the moment we met him. He is knowledgeable, fun, attentive, and always one step ahead with great recommendations. It was clear he genuinely cared about our comfort and whether we were having a great time. He constantly checked in behind the scenes to make sure everything flowed smoothly. We could feel how much heart and intention went into every moment. And let me say, after experiencing Guatemala’s adventurous driving style, I have never been more grateful to have JJ behind the wheel! I felt safe the entire time and appreciated his calm confidence navigating every twist, turn, and surprise the roads offered.
 
The whole team is amazing. We were genuinely touched by the small surprises, thoughtful gifts, romantic dinner, and all the extra care we never expected. They made us feel celebrated and cared for.
 
One thing that truly stood out is how deeply this company lives its mission and values. Their promise to be “your local compañero - your trusted companion” isn’t just a slogan — it’s something you feel every single day. It’s obvious they created their mission with intention, and they live it with heart. Nothing about it feels like publicity or marketing; it feels real, authentic, and woven into every interaction. We appreciated that more than anything.
 
We absolutely love these people and cannot wait to return with our son. We recommend Columbus Guatemala Travel 1000%.
 
We originally connected through the KimKim platform, which was smooth and easy. For future trips to Guatemala, we will definitely book directly with Columbus Guatemala Travel, because they were outstanding, but we’ll absolutely use KimKim again for other countries (including our upcoming Vietnam trip) in hopes of finding another team as incredible as this one.
 
Hands down, one of the best travel experiences we’ve ever had.

Activity Reviews

Tikal Mayan Civilization

Guatemala

Benedicto was amazing!! He was always checking in to make sure we were okay and had great suggestions for food. We appreciated not just his incredible knowledge of Maya history, but also his knowledge of the plants and animals in the region as well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Villages Around Lake Atitlán by Boat

Guatemala

JJ was fantastic!! He knew just where to take us to learn and experience the best of the villages.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in Lake Atitlán

Guatemala

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pacaya Volcano Hike

Guatemala

Loved our local guide up the volcano!! He was so friendly! Appreciated that JJ was also there to help interpret when needed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Walk Antigua Like a Local

Antigua

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Romantic Dinner For Two

Antigua

Food was delicious. View was amazing. The surprise music, flowers, and photos blew our minds ❤️❤️❤️

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We met the KimKim team online. The vibe & the communication was instantly there. So, we were off.
From the port of entry to Belize, drivers, tour guides, & constant communication from Catherina & her team, we were lead through our Belizean trip with ease. The biggest surprise was our daily guides, Leo & Jeronimo. They both filled the silence with history, interest, and favorite food stops. We fell in love with the classic Belize cuisine, so we were taken to a grocery & guided to select local spices for back at home.

Our favorite hotel was the Ka'ana Resort in San Ignacio. The grounds were a traveler's paradise, the restaurant was carefully curated, the rooms were comfortable & beautiful and the staff gracious beyond expectations. This I would rate 10/10.

We were driven to the ruins at Caracol, the baboon sanctuary, and after taking a water taxi to the island of San Pedro, the Searious Adventures guide took us snorkeling at Hoi Chan. After snorkeling we were driven to Shark Ray alley for shark feeding and a bit more history of the reef and the animals that live there. All of these experiences were chosen by KimKim. All of these adventures were memorable, and irreplaceable.

On our free day, we drove our golf cart one hour away to the Secret beach on San Pedro. We were told by one or 2 travelers not to bother, but this is a MUST go! Secret beach has walk in swimming, bar service on lounge chairs under palms and umbrellas. tables to dine IN THE water! Shopping, music. It was the perfect way to wrap up our trip.

All in all, we are very happy! We will meet again, KimKim. Happy travelling!

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.

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.