For a Central American honeymoon that’s a heady mix of adventure, romance and total escapism, look no further than Guatemala and Belize.
Start in Antigua’s cobbled streets, the sight of volcanoes on the horizon. Sail across the mirror-like waters of Lake Atitlán then head to Tikal to camp overnight in the jungle, waking to see the temples emerge from the mist and wander through the ruins before the crowds arrive.
Then it’s across the border to Belize for wild swims, cave expeditions, and hidden Mayan cities, ending on a private Caribbean island just for two. Along the way, there are lakeside breakfasts, sunrise volcano hikes, wild swims, cave expeditions, staying at a collection of characterful boutique hotels and eco-lodges.
Every adventure we design is bespoke, built around your interests and preferred travel style; consider this itinerary as merely a starting point to inspire your own.
WHEN TO TRAVEL
November – April
SUGGESTED LENGTH
13 nights
DAYS 1 – 3
Antigua
Step off the plane in Guatemala City and hop straight into a private car to begin your honeymoon in the colonial city of Antigua. Here, you’ll be staying in Villa Bokéh, a secluded colonial-style hacienda set in six acres of tropical gardens, ten minutes from Antigua centre.
Walk the city’s cobbled streets taking in its seventeenth-century colonial architecture and pastel-hued houses, dip into local markets to pick up handcrafts, or duck through heavy wooden doors into some of our favourite artisanal coffee shops. Antigua has plenty of excellent restaurants and cocktail bars, many set in flower-draped courtyards or on enchanting roof terraces.
The next day, head out on a guided bike ride through the lush coffee plantations that surround the city, visiting coffee cooperatives and meeting farmers to see the process from bean to cup. Early risers can head on a sunrise hike up Pacaya Volcano, stopping along the way to toast marshmallows over volcanic rocks.
DAYS 4 – 6
Lake Atitlán
Leave Antigua behind and journey west to Lake Atitlán. The drive is scenic, but it’s infinitely more spectacular from the air – lift off from Antigua by helicopter and soar over coffee fincas and canyons before touching down above the lake. Check into Casa Palopo, overlooking the lake, with just a handful of rooms, each awash in rich hues and handwoven textiles.
A private boat takes you skipping across the lake to the villages that dot its shores, each with their own character. Visit small communities and learn their distinct crafts, including back-strap weaving, beading and pottery – it’s a wonderful place to pick up handmade goods. The village of Santa Catarina Palopó is particularly striking, painted with colourful murals.
DAYS 7 – 8
Tikal and Uaxactun
Fly north to Flores and explore Guatemala’s deep jungle to uncover a cornucopia of ancient Mayan ruins. Explore the sites of Tikal and Uaxactun, where spectacular temples, pyramids, tunnels and chambers have been incredibly well-preserved. Some have been painstakingly excavated, their intricate carvings still visible after centuries; others remain cloaked beneath earthen mounds. Scaling the highest pyramid, you can imagine what early explorers must have felt, stumbling upon these colossal structures deep in the wilds of Guatemala.
By late afternoon, retreat to La Lancha, Francis Ford Coppola’s refuge on the banks of Lake Petén Itzá, with bungalows filled with hand-painted furnishings. For a real adventure, spend a night sleeping out in a luxury safari-style tent pitched deep in the jungle among the ruins. We’ll organise a guided night to spot the jungle’s nocturnal inhabitants – owls, possums, howler monkeys – followed by a delicious campfire feast of Guatemalan fare. Then it’s into a proper bed in your tent, to fall asleep to the lull of the jungle. In the morning, before the crowds descend, you’ll have the ruins entirely to yourselves.
DAYS 9 – 11
Cayo
Cross the border into Belize’s Cayo District, an adventure playground of thick forests, cave systems and lost civilisations. First stop: Xunantunich, a once-mighty Mayan stronghold where the ruins of an ancient citadel still stand. Spend a leisurely morning strolling the Grand Plaza, scrambling over rocks and picturing the rituals that once played out here.
Afterwards, check into Gaia Riverlodge, a remote jungle lodge beneath the treetops. Its cabanas, built from local hardwood and thatched with palm leaves, overlook the waterfalls tumbling over rocks below. Take the hand-cranked hydro tram down to the river for a morning swim in the natural pools, before setting off on a canoe journey along the Macal River or a horse ride through the rainforest. For an intimate cultural experience, spend an afternoon cooking with a local Maya family, rolling tamales and pressing corn tortillas by hand.
The most extraordinary experience here lies below ground in the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, a portal to the Mayan underworld. With nothing but headlamps to guide the way, wade through waist-deep rivers and squeeze through limestone passages to reach the heart of the cave, where ancient relics and the calcified remains of sacrificial victims lie.
DAYS 10 – 13
Placencia
No honeymoon is complete without some beach time. Placencia, with its laid-back Caribbean spirit, delivers just that – a dazzling coastline of powdery sand, peaceful fishing villages and countless unspoilt islands off-shore. The second largest barrier reef in the world is just a short boat-ride from the mainland, as is the world-famous scuba-diving site, The Blue Hole.
Rest your head at Itz’ana, where uber-chic villas spill onto sugar-white beaches, or take things up a notch at Gladden Private Island for the ultimate grand finale. Floating just 20km off the coast, this tiny patch of paradise is yours alone – nothing but sea, sky and your own private chef on call, this is honeymoon escapism at its finest. The staff remains on a nearby island, appearing only when needed.
Stay A Little Longer
For those with a little more time, these countries are extraordinarily diverse, with many more beautiful regions that deserve further exploration. We can arrange wildlife tracking, bird-watching, and medicinal plant walks deep in the jungle, deep-sea fishing off the coast of Punta Gorda, and homestays in rural Mayan settlements in Toledo.
If the history of the Mayan World is of particular interest, visit the Copan archaeological site on the border between Guatemala and Honduras. Our local expert historian privately guides our guests through the vast complex of ancient temples, altars, tunnels, and hieroglyphs, bringing the sacred site to life.
Our Approach
Crossing from Chile’s Atacama Desert into Bolivia is one of South America’s great journeys. We’ve travelled it ourselves and understand the practicalities of exploring such a remote and high-altitude region: how to choose the right guides and drivers, which lodges to stay at, how to pace a trip to allow for acclimatisation, and striking the right balance between time on the road and time to explore.
All of our trips are built from the ground up, designed around how you like to travel. We take care of everything behind the scenes, including your driver, expert local guides, accommodation and all logistics along the route, and our team is available round the clock while you travel to ensure the journey feels seamless from beginning to end.
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