Best Tour Guides Ever - Columbus Guatemala Tours is hands down the best travel tour operator I have ever worked with. I’ve booked through tour groups in countries like Brazil, India, Italy, Germany, and the... read more UK, but have never worked with such an organized group of individuals who truly care about crafting an all around experience for you.

Catherina was responsive, thoughtful, and dedicated to crafting a full trip itinerary that met our travel needs, and did so in a short timeline. She made sure we felt like our needs and ideas were incorporated into the plan, but ultimately, we learned to trust her expert local opinion on what to do and where to eat, and it worked out better than we could have imagined. Not only did she handle the itinerary, she also took care of all of our bookings, making trip planning simple.

JJ, our tour guide for the entirety of the trip, is one of the most friendly guides I’ve ever met. He was extremely thorough about making sure we knew what the plan was, where we were going, and translating all things shared by local guides or merchants - he never made us feel like the language barrier was a limiting factor in our experience. JJ was generous with his time and energy, allowing us to make adjustments to schedule and make detours as needed - he was always on time and never missed a beat. He even came on all of our hikes to make sure we felt safe and taken care of, and brought us a lot of laughs on the way. One thing that also stood out was how generous he was to all of their suppliers and local guides, the folks that drove the tuk tuks, the boats, and even showed us around the volcano. He treated everyone with the utmost respect, and made them feel included and welcome to experience the journey with us.

Overall Guatemala is a wonderful country, full of rich cultural experiences and tremendous nature. We hiked to watch the sunrise at Tikal, the volcano of San Pedro, and Acatenango to see Volcan de Fuego erupt. Each of these activities were magnificent in their own way, and were awe inspiring views to say the least. We also had the luxury to stay at Casa Palopo in Lake Atitlan, which was the perfect hotel to soak in the majesty of Lake Atitlan. In Antigua, we were lucky enough to spend time with the extended Columbus Guatemala tour team, and they made the city feel like home. They hosted a surprise birthday party for my dad and I during a cooking class, and we got to celebrate as if we had been family forever. I will forever cherish the experiences and memories I created in Guatemala, and I’m grateful for the Columbus Guatemala team for making it happen!

  Amazing guide - JJ was an incredible guide. So friendly, personable, knowledgeable, and kind. He really made this tour amazing and unique for us both :D. The fresh chicharron & tacos was a... read more real highlight! Highly recommend!

  Excellent walking tour with our guide Juan. From basic history to little nuances and interesting tidbits about the city, a very enjoyable walk. We did our tour in Spanish,... read more and Juan says his English is "so so" but it's very good! Very nice and engaging guy, highly recommended!

  Great time! JJ was an awesome guide. We live here and got to see a lot of hidden treasures. A lot of nice villages.

  Our guide Joel was very knowledgable about the city and showed us a lot of interesting places. He gave a very good overview of the architecture, history and culture... read more of the city.

  Great sights, and energetic and funny tour guide. Unfortunately, the tour took 8 hours when it was supposed to take 4 hours

  We booked 6 days tour package to Guatemala through Columbus Luxury Travel agent of which we covered seven important highlights and sites in Guatemala (Tikal, Chichicastenango Market, Lake Atitlan, Pacaya... read more Volcano, Antigua & Guatemala cities). I was so impressed and satisfied with their professional feedback in term of time, communication, follow-up and suggestions made to improve our planned itinerary from the moment I contacted the agent up to the ending tour period.
The dedicated guide tour Mr. JJ was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable and helpful to make our trip enjoyable as he can. We loved his escort and explanation and recommendations about the restaurants and coffee shops.
Also, we acknowledge the agent efforts and help to get back our forgotten bag in the car from San Ignacio to Tikal transfer which was a miracle case to have it back given the long-distance crossing.
I am grateful for the agent and the guided tour for this amazing tour in Guatemala which will be memorable all life time and very encouraging to visit this lovely country again.

  JJ was such a knowledgeable and interesting guide. It was definitely obvious that he was passionate about his country and his people. I loved the Macadamia farm tour... read more it was super interesting. A fun half day thing to do while in Antigua. I recommend it highly!

  Unique trip, really delivered. Had a fun half day travelling around the surrounding villages with Stephano (who created the tour) and JJ in the Chicken Bus. Learnt a lot... read more about the area and visited some genuine local enterprises, each with a good sustainability credentials. Thoroughly recommend, it's got to one of the best short trips in Antigua. Columbus staff all really friendly and helpful.

  Esteban and rest of crew were phenomenal in helping us plan our trip. They drove us to our destinations. I can't recommend them enough. Great people!

  Culturally Rich Tour - Had a fantastic tour around the villages south of Antigua - Catherina from Columbus Travel was able to make it happen in the end even when the date I picked... read more originally didn't seem to be available. The tour was incredibly in-depth, and we visited the villages to the south of Antigua, visiting many of the local small farms, artisan shops, and local landmarks in the area.

Everywhere we stopped by didn't feel touristy, it just felt a part of the local neighbourhood. (For those interested, just note that the tour does encompass a few local small businesses showcasing quality Guatemalan products, but that's fairly expected - it's always good to support the local community.) As an added bonus, the personalized "Columbus Chicken Bus" was a funky concept 😉

Carlos the guide was stellar, and he dedicated hours to explaining sites in the villages and everything along the route in such great detail, making sure nothing was lost in translation to help me get the most of the afternoon. The tour never felt rushed, and Carlos bent over backwards to reflect the best of Guatemalan life!

Thanks very much to the entire Columbus Team!

  The entire staff went out of their way to make sure everything went smoothly for me.

The booking was smooth, the guide was super knowledgeable and interesting, the picnic... read more was delicious, the entire Pacaya experience was amazing.

I have dealt with other agencies before and I’ll just say that I highly recommend booking a tour with these guys!

  I really enjoyed the walking tour with JJ. He was very knowledgeable and gave lots of small details to make it entertaining. I would not have discovered many of the... read more places and stories if I was by myself. Highly recommended.

  We had a great time! We visit different villages and experienced their unique way of living. From chocolate making to real jade! The tour guide was very knowledgeable and even... read more gave extra information about things related to Guatemala that we asked about, but it wasn’t part of the tour. We were just curious!

  The Chicken Bus tour is my all time favorite tour in Antigua! From the moment we were picked up by the chicken bus to the last stop having an amazing... read more lunch of pepian with an indigenous family, each stop was filled with discovery, culture, locals, and amazing views of the volcanoes. We were treated to a cacao demonstration and sampled the chocolates, then the nispero honey and onto Fredy’s café for some fabulous dark roasted coffee grown locally by his family and served in his home. Onto the macadamia farm, the only one in Central America, where we experienced a relaxing macadamia facial! We were all smiles for our lunch with a local indigenous family who spent most of the morning preparing the Papillion. We are also treated to a weaving demonstration by the ladies of the house. All in all it was a fun filled day with smiles all around. Our guide Estephen. was knowledgeable and personable, we learned so much from him. Our driver Antonio and his son Fernando managed to get us in and out of some of the small villages on the chicken bus. A skilled driver indeed! I live part time in Antigua and this is the third time I have taken my visitors on the chicken bus tour and I highly recommend it for everyone of all ages!

  This travel agency is a hidden gem!!!

Katy and stefano were one of the most helpful and understanding travel experts i have seen in the past 3 months. They... read more helped me sort out an amazing experience with full of local hidden pearls that you will not find with standard agencies. They have such a long history with travelling and guatamala that they recommend places only that are of extraordinary. Just hop in their office and youll ubderstand what i mean.

Thanks for all the great tips throughout my travel in guatamala!!

  "Awesome experience"

The Chicken bus tour! " 4 hour tour"

We had the opportunity to visit some towns around La Antigua. The coffee farm... read more and shop; where we met a beautiful local family who shared the making of their own delicious coffee. The chocolate factory and all its products and the textile towns.

We visit towns and mingle with the locals. Seeing the daily life of its people was a fun experience. We also visited the common laundries; their church and a story behind each one.

The countryside is beautiful as well as the coffee plantations. The view in general is spectacular!!

Our tour guide was very kind and knowledgeable about the area.

We highly recommended this tour! Top!1 100%

  Incredible & Unforgettable Journey with Columbus Guatemala Travel - Words cannot adequately express the incredible experience our families had with Columbus Guatemala Travel. From the moment we booked our trip to the bittersweet farewell, every aspect of our Guatemalan... read more adventure was meticulously planned and executed to perfection. This tour company, led by the dynamic duo of JJ and Catherina, redefines the concept of world-class travel planning, and they delivered a vacation for our father's 60th birthdays that will forever remain in our hearts and minds.

JJ and Catherina's were with us in every step from the very beginning. Their commitment to ensuring our comfort and satisfaction went above and beyond anything I have experienced in my travels. Their genuine warmth and kindness, coupled with extensive knowledge of the country's history, culture, and natural wonders, allowed us feel immersed in a cultural experience .

The Columbus Guatemala Travel team left no stone unturned in making our journey as comfortable and seamless as possible. They anticipated our every need, be it accommodations, transportation, or dietary requirements, and catered to them with remarkable attention to detail. We felt genuinely cared for and supported, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in the beauty of Guatemala without any distractions or concerns.

As we traversed the breathtaking landscapes of Guatemala, we were in awe of the team's ability to introduce us to the very essence of this magnificent country. Their carefully curated itinerary took us on a captivating exploration of ancient Mayan ruins, vibrant markets, serene lakes, and lush rainforests. We encountered warm-hearted locals, tasted delectable cuisine, and discovered hidden gems, all the while feeling the guiding presence of JJ and Catherina.

It's rare to find a company that surpasses all expectations, but Columbus Guatemala Travel did precisely that. If you're considering a trip to this magical land, do yourself a favor and book with them – it will undoubtedly be one of the best decisions you'll ever make.

To JJ, Catherina, and the entire Columbus Guatemala Travel team, thank you for giving us the gift of an unforgettable, life-enriching adventure. Your passion, dedication, and exceptional service have left an indelible mark on our lives. We cannot recommend you highly enough and eagerly look forward to our next journey with you.

  I had a wonderful time walking around Antigua with Esteban. He was very knowledgeable of the history and culture that laid the foundation of Antigua. We visited many churches... read more and neighbors and he answered all my questions!! Very patient tour guide too. I highly recommend this tour company!!

  I cannot imagine a better tour guide for our day in San Juan Comalapa. We wanted to see this village known for it's local artists and the for the market... read more that was happening on that day. The drive from Antigua to Comapala was great because Esteban explained oh so many things about not only this region - but about the entire country of Guatemala. His vast knowledge of history, agriculture, traditions and the Mayan culture is wonderful. We had been in Guatemala for nearly a week - we had so many questions...he certainly filled us in on the chicken buses and the beautiful clothing we had seen. The mural was wonderful: each panel showed village life from traditions to their history including the horror of the civil war. The market was vibrant...the merchants were wonderful.
Esteban arranged for us to meet Oscar Peren in his Gallery. This was certainly a highlight for us. Esteban translated as Senor Peren spoke of his art.It was a personable experience I will never forget. I am thrilled to own one of his paintings. But I did not feel pressured to buy.
We felt safe in the comfortable SUV . Esteban is an excellent driver. He even provided water and snacks for the drive.