Mayan Encounter
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
From AUD $2285 Was AUD $2539
Small Group
Light
Rating
(20 reviews)
Mayan Encounter
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
12 days
Small Group
Budget
Light
English
Experience Overview
Trek through jungles to Mayan ruins and relax on white-sand beaches. Get an authentic taste of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico with an adventure that combines the mystery of ancient ruins with the crystalline waters of the Caribbean.
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Caribbean Gastronomic Experience "El Manglar", Lívingston Your G for Good Moment: Belize Bike with Purpose Tour, Caye Caulker Your G for Good Moment: El Hongo Mexican Community Restaurant & Youth Art Program, Playa del Carmen Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: San Ignacio Your Discover Moment: Caye Caulker Your Discover Moment: Playa del Carmen
- Scenic boat ride to Livingston
- Tikal guided tour
- Free time in San Ignacio, Caye Caulker, and Playa del Carmen
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (10 nts), jungle lodge (1 nt).
- 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
- Public bus, private vehicle, boat, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Highlights
- Listen to howler monkeys from the top of Temple IV at Tikal
- Revel in Caye Caulker sunsets
- Sway to reggae beats wafting through the Belizean air
- Wander the colonial streets of Antigua
Trip Details
12 days
Public bus, private vehicle, boat, walking.
English
Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Budget
Classic, Budget
Light
Itinerary
Day 1: Antigua Guatemala
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting. We recommend booking pre-accommodation to fully experience this charming city.
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Hotel Bucaros Express
Day 2: Antigua to Rio Dulce
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle during this long travel day.Free_time - Enjoy free time to explore the town.Accommodation - Hacienda Tijax
Day 3: Rio Dulce/Flores
Meals included: Lunch
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Take a boat down the Rio Dulce toward the Caribbean Sea passing through El Golfete and El Canyon before arriving to Livingston. Float past mangroves and lily pads and the Boquerón Canyon, where a sheer limestone cliff rises 122m (400 ft) out of the river, covered in vines, trees and moss. Arrive at the small fishing village of Livingston known for its unique Afro-Caribbean Garifuna population, with their unique art, music and delicious coconut seafood soup, “tapado”.Activity - El Manglar Restaurant in Guatemala is a women-led community tourism initiative founded by the Cayo Quemado Women's Committee with the aim of creating new job opportunities within the community. During your visit you will begin with a welcome given by the women of the committee and receive a brief introduction to the workshop. Then, there will be a short walk around the property, including a full explanation of the project, it's impact, and culture before you all sit down for lunch at the restaurant. Every traveler that visits Cayo Quemado has a direct impact on their community.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Petén
Day 4: Flores
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Enjoy the ride out to Tikal and return the same way in the afternoon (1-1.5 hrs one way).Activity - Put on your walking shoes and prepare for a tiring but memorable day walking through history at the impressive site of Tikal. The Mayan site is set in the heart of the jungle, in Tikal National Park, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Along with our bilingual guide, see some of the temples, plazas, carved stone monuments and public squares, more than 3,000 buildings in all, dating from as far back as 600 BC. Climb to the top of Temple IV, catch your breath, take photos, and then sit and contemplate the magnificence of the site and the tropical rainforest beyond. Look for monkeys, anteaters, armadillos, and deer, as well as macaws and eagles, snakes, and spiders.Free_time - Explore the area anyway you like.Accommodation - Hotel Petén
Day 5: Flores/San Ignacio
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Head out to start exploring this fun town. There's a full free day tomorrow for anything you can't get to this afternoon.Accommodation - Midas Resort
Day 6: San Ignacio
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy a full day to head out and explore.Accommodation - Midas Resort
Day 7: San Ignacio/Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a relaxed and easy going island with friendly and welcoming local residents. There are dozens of activities around the island and surrounding coral reefs. Try your hand at fishing and barbecue your catch on the beach.
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Transport - Jump in the back and tell the driver to step on it, just like they do in the movies.Activity - Take a leisurely bike tour around Caye Caulker with a guide from the G Adventures for Good supported Bike with Purpose project. See the island through the eyes of a local on this two-hour tour, and live the island's motto of 'Go Slow'. Feel the island breeze in you hair while knowing you're supporting a program that helps youth from Caye Caulker build skills for tourism jobs upon graduation from high school.Accommodation - Enjoy Hotel
Day 8: Caye Caulker
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Spend two full days exploring this area any way you like.Accommodation - Enjoy Hotel
Day 9: Caye Caulker
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Spend two full days exploring this area any way you like.Accommodation - Enjoy Hotel
Day 10: Caye Caulker/Playa del Carmen
With plenty of options nearby, Playa is an excellent hub for exploring.
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Jump in and cross the water to the next stop.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery as you journey to your next destination.Accommodation - Hotel Nautilus
Day 11: Playa del Carmen
Meals included: Dinner
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Do as much or as little as you want.Activity - El Hongo (which means 'The Mushroom') is a volunteer-run restaurant started as a means to create income to support a youth art program in the 'real' Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Across the highway from the commercial beach strip is where most locals live – cross onto the unpaved roads and enjoy a delicious home-style meal at the restaurant, while learning more about this much-needed program for the community.Accommodation - Hotel Nautilus
Day 12: Playa del Carmen
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
- Flights to and from origin and destinations
- Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
- Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
- Recommended gratuities/tipping
- Optional activities/tours
- Personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.
You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
This tour requires an average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.
Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.
If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling.
If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.
Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.
- It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
- Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
- Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
From
AUD $2539
Duration: 12 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Light
Trek through jungles to Mayan ruins and relax on white-sand beaches. Get an authentic taste of Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico with an adventure that combines the mystery of ancient ruins with the crystalline waters of the Caribbean.
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 03 Jun 2026
Customer Reviews
12/31/2023
Is I good way to travel if you don't have time and energy to plan everything by yourself. And you feel very safe on the tour. The minus is that you don't know what type of people the rest of the group is, and what age.
12/31/2022
Great prices, itineraries and small groups
Tour Operator
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
12/31/2023
Is I good way to travel if you don't have time and energy to plan everything by yourself. And you feel very safe on the tour. The minus is that you don't know what type of people the rest of the group is, and what age.
12/31/2022
Great prices, itineraries and small groups
12/31/2023
I have done two tours with G Adventures and both have been excellent experiences. I would definitely recommend G Adventures to my family members and friends. However, group traveling in general is probably not 100 % suitable for everyone, which is why I didn't give 10/10.
12/31/2023
Way too much time spent in buses and very little time actually spent in the locations we visited. There were times when our CEO did not have control of the group, schedule and his temper.
12/31/2023
I loved the places, But too much travelling and being on a bus for my liking
12/24/2023
The tour was an excellent pace and geared towards the style of travel we enjoy most. Safe, interesting and off the beaten path.
12/24/2023
The trip was not planned well, it wasn't inclusive beating in mind non Americans and it was discriminatory against vegetarians. Horrible experience
12/24/2023
I've already recommended it several times! This was my second time joining a G tour and I have to say they',re well organized, well thought out in terms of how long we stay somewhere, what the optional activities are vs. those built into the program, and how we get from place to place most efficiently. The tour leader I had on the Mayan Experience (shout-out to Salvador!) was wonderful - he was knowledgeable, kind, funny, and had an incredibly calm demeanour - he did everything he could to ensure we had a good experience, and he delivered.
12/24/2023
it's an amazing way to travel that takes the guesswork out of seeing local culture, and it makes the most of your time without wearing you out.
12/24/2023
Excellent itinerary, full of culture and history!
12/24/2023
I felt safe with my group and received so much information it was great!
12/17/2023
Activities were great, tour guide was excellent, good travel group.
12/17/2023
I was completely satisfied as this is the way of travelling that I like and I recommend to others
12/17/2023
Mostly, the tour was fantastic, but, the first 2 days amount of travelling and accommodation are just not ok after everyone has travelled from far away.
12/17/2023
The like-minded groups and the excellent CEOs, who make the experience of travelling more fun.
12/17/2023
I always recommend G, but it depends on the person I'm speaking to - G isn',t for more laid back travelers with 4 or 5 star accommodation
12/17/2023
I generally enjoy the way G does travel - small groups, international, free time and optional activities
12/17/2023
Because the trip make change people lives
12/17/2023
I like this type of travel, it suits my lifestyle.
12/17/2023
Amazing guide (CEO), itinerary, focus on history and local customs and culture, purpose built tours giving back to the local community and the size of the tour (max 16 ppl is perfect size)
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