ColumbusGuatemala Travel
Unforgettable Landscapes. Charming Colonial Towns. Vibrant Cultures.
Experience It All In An Unforgettable Way.
Unforgettable Landscapes. Charming Colonial Towns. Vibrant Cultures.
Experience It All In An Unforgettable Way.
We want to show you the heart of the Mayan world from our own hearts. The breathtaking volcanoes and colorful street markets. The vast lakes, dense jungles and ancient ruins – and everything in between. After all, we know it best. And we’re thrilled to bring you along for the ride.
Connect with us on Instagram to discover more about our curated experiences and love for Guatemala.
Of course, we know that traveling with Columbus Guatemala Travel offers an unparalleled Guatemala experience, but you can’t just take it from us. See what our fellow travelers have to say.
"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%
street food tour - We did a street food tour, 55$ seems first like a lot but the whole day you pay anything, food/drinks/chickenbus-transfer etc. is included. Our guide Esteban was really nice and... read more very informative. Not only trying some street food (which was delicous) but also you will get a lot of culture and history information, we went to the local market aswell. We would highly recommend it 10/10.
The guide had a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm about one of the nicest cities I ever has visited. Very good experiences. We walked around in the city, visited different... read more highlights.
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!
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
Chicken bus the best - Amazing half day tour! Esteban was very kind, knowledgeable and with a good vibe. We loved every place we visit and we were entertained with the fun facts, interesting things... read more and culture tips Esteban told us.
This was a great tour to see more of the surrounding towns of antigua! I especially loved how much explanation and history our tour guide gave us. He was very... read more friendly and helpful with our questions- I highly recommend!
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!
Great insight and some nice street food and coffee! Learned a lot about the city and about Guatemala as a whole. Would recommend
Please do yourself a favor and do this ! - This was definitely a highlight of my vacay. What a great way to start off the trip! I mean c’mon how often do you get to hike up an active... read more volcano, eat pizza cooked by its heat & warm up marshmallows up there too? Everything about this experience was just awesome! We wanted to do it for sunset and there were no issues; they were very accommodating!
We were picked up by JJ from our bnb at the exact time we were told; extremely punctual. The entire ride there was very educational; JJ was really good at sharing his knowledge of certain areas/ towns we drove by which we really appreciated. Once there, we were met by our LOCAL guide, Yimer, which in my opinion is absolutely awesome! Not only are we getting a locals insight but also contributing to the local families there. It’s a win win! The trail itself isn’t too bad; I’d say it’s more of an elevation issue that makes it hard. Yimer was super funny and friendly which made the hike harder because it was nonstop talking and laughter. Additionally , he is a great photographer! He will take however many pictures you’d like and some of his own, which turn out to be better than yours. Lol
We were up at the top in no time and had tons of time to enjoy our pizza, marshmallows & beverages . The views from up there are just stunning! We made it back down safely and met up JJ to drive us back to town. There were 0 issues/ hiccups during the tour everything from booking all the way to ending was so seamless. I also got the chance to chat with Caty and Milind regarding my travels in Guatemala and they were both very nice and had great recommendations. It really does not matter who you interact with , the entire team is great ! Thank you all! Definitely 11/10
Wow. Esteban is an amazing tour guide and his English is perfect. I really love that he is actually FROM Antigua as well. When others didn't show up, I ended... read more up having a private tour! He tailored the tour to my interests and provided so much detail about Antigua, he is a book of knowledge! We walked the streets and he pointed out many subtle details about the city which I thought was absolutely perfect. We also ended the tour with a complementary beer from one of the establishments, I'm not a beer drinker but it was tasty! He also gave me pointers about his favorite coffee shops and restaurants in Antigua. The tour lasted about 3 1/2 hours. I HIGHLY recommend this tour!
We took this tour with our two toddlers and all of us had a blast. All staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We visited spots we would have never visited... read more by our own. We learned about coffee, chocolate, textiles, and lots of history . It was a unique/authentic experience Definitely recommend this tour for all ages.
I was lucky enough to be the only tourist on my tour, so I had a personalized experience, but nonetheless I believe it would've been just as good with other... read more guests. Esteban was professional, enthusiastic, and flexible in delivering his wealth of information and tailoring the walk to my pace, questions, and interests. His English was fantastic, and his familiarity with the city is evident by how many locals said hello to him throughout the 3.5 hours. The tour is a great way to see the city and understand it's rich history. I recommend taking the tour on your first day in Antigua so you can have a better awareness of all of the city has to offer with which to personalize and maximize your stay.
Ask for JJ. He is super knowledgeable and has so many fun facts about the city. It's a long tour, but doesn't feel like it when you're on it. 10/10... read more experience; I highly recommend this walking like a local tour with JJ.