I’m a long time user of Tripadvisor but never got around to posting much, but wanted to write about this tour because it was my favorite tour in Antigua! There... read more is so much history, culture, and wonderful visits to villages packed in to this tour and it didn’t feel rushed. Felix was our tour guide and he is top notch making it so informative, interesting, and enjoyable. He’s one of the best tour guides in all my decades of traveling. We had a multi lingual group and Felix made sure everyone got all the information and no one was left out. We were able to tour longer than advertised because our group enjoyed all the sites, and Felix asked if anyone needed to go and would accommodate to our schedule. The Guatemalan people are so friendly and welcoming and this tour is great because you get to see different villages around Antigua and learn about their rich history. Don’t miss out on this tour it’s so worth it!

  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 had the best experience with JJ. He catered as best he could to what would interest me and was very knowledgeable and fun throughout the entire tour. It was... read more a wonderful learning experience and I saw places I otherwise would not have been exposed to or found myself. I recommend this tour if you wanna get a good introduction to Antigua.

  Chicken bus and local walking tour!  - We took a half day bus tour and a half day walking tour and found it extremely informative and entertaining. We covered a lot of ground and learned history we... read more hadn't gotten on our own just walking around. JJ and ET are local Antiguains and had great energy and pride for their home and country. I highly recommend this company and experience!!!

  This was the most breathtaking experience of my life. Yimer was an excellent guide & the horses were lifesavers (Champion and Pancho we miss you!) My friend and I had... read more a picnic in the craters of an active volcano and we shared with our guides and learned about cheese leaves and rode the horses up and down (I am from the American south so the altitude killed me during the hike.) The pictures our guide took of us are going to be framed in my home. I am so happy. They were THAT good.

  The Chicken bus tour was awesome!
Stephen was an excellent guide - very knowledgeable, comprehensive, informative and fun to spend 4 hours with. The Chicken Bus experience was cool.... read more Driver and son were prompt, professional and a pleasure to be with. We covered alot with multiple personal tours of boutique, family run small business' where everyone takes great pride in their work. I learned a ton. Chocolate (cacao) tour and tasting seeing how the process works - all by hand. Wine tour and tasting was nice. The macadamia nut farm was enlightening. The indigenous townspeople were all very friendly, personable and humble. Overall, a great experience!

  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!

  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!

  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.

  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!

  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.

  Nice to have a change of scenery - Nice to get out of the main bit of Antigua and see some different things. Estephan our guide was friendly and knowledgable. The driver (sorry I forgot his name) was... read more super friendly and knowledgable too! A lot of the tour was focussed around visiting family run places that sell things more than seeing what Guatemalan village life is like. The macadamia farm was good and they gave a lovely face massage. Overall it was enjoyable.

  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!

  Amazing Guide of Antigua  - One of the best tour experiences I’ve had. Our guide took us over all of Antigua and he was so truly knowledgeable that it really enhanced every story he told.... read more I highly recommend this guide

  Guatemala Experience - I had the pleasure to work with Columbus - Guatemala on my entire 2 week trip. Everything went as smooth as possible and Katherine was always available to help... read more and adjust anything I needed. My Antigua walk (along with rides around Guatemala) was provided by Esteban. That guys sure knows Guatemala - what a wealth of information along with being an all around good person. He showed me around Antigua, took me to a great place for a local lunch, drove me to a few small towns (which were amazing), and helped me practice my Spanish. I would highly recommend using Katherine and her crew to set up a vacation. Mine also included Semuc Champay, Tikal, Lake Atitlan and an overnight hike to the Volcano Acatenango. All were done through Katherine and Columbus, Guatemala - and all were a major success. I look forward to working with them again. Such a beautiful country with kind and generous people.

  Excellent tour, lovely villages, friendly people and history. Amazingly supporting local people. Felix made our tour extremely interesting, we really enjoyed it.

  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!

  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!!

  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