The Ultimate Adventure Through Guatemala

I have no words to describe how incredible this experience has been for us thanks to our guides Jossue, Willy, Erica, Oliviero, as well as Eduardo and our driver Lester. Not even delayed flights back home , tummy bugs, long bus trips ( not so long in reality) or loud cicadas can take away from how magical this trip has been right from the start. To say it was a great experience is probably an understatement. Guatemala is beautiful beyond words. I feel that we have got perfect taste of it : from volcanos erupting right in front of our eyes to the incredible energy and wildlife of Tikal and everything in between. We have been so well looked after by everyone , everything was adjusted to make it enjoyable for us. Mr T, Willy and Lester have always been all smiles. We were so lucky to have such a great team on board , not mentioning the brilliant people in the group. Thank you all, for making my trip so memorable! I would be happy to come back and do it all over again :-)

My husband and I had an amazing 10 days travelling through Guatemala with MBA. Our guides Pepian, Willy, Erika and our driver Lester were so welcoming, and were incredible company for our adventure. They made sure that we felt supported and safe throughout the trip, they told us all about the local culture and wildlife, and they were full of recommendations for fantastic things to do and places to eat. The experiences themselves were dreams come true, from the first day's cycle ride from beautiful Antigua onwards. We were lucky to see Fuego erupting day and night, we loved kayaking and learning from local craftspeople on the stunning Lake Atitlan, we marvelled at the pyramids and animals at Tikal, and we enjoyed caving and swimming at Semuc Champey. We'll always treasure the memories from these, and they more than justify the long drives through Guatemala's mountain scenery and colourful villages. The hike up Acatenango to see Fuego erupting was challenging, but as someone without much hiking experience I found it achievable and well worth the effort. We suggest arriving to Antigua a day early if possible to be able to spend more time there (as there's a lot to see which can't be covered in a day) and to acclimatise to the altitude before the hike. We totally recommend this amazing adventure!

Perfect trip for variety of actives and being able to see different regions of the country. Old Town Outfitters did a great job!

This trip with MBA was my first but won't be my last! The trip was very well organised and the guides Pepian Christa and Erika and very experienced. They were very accommodating when we gave suggestions to go souvenir shopping or get some gelato and would always come with us, and we were always in safe hands. The guides and Old Town Outfitters were also very responsive when we had an unexpected loud wedding reception at our hotel, and after we told them they were able to get us to another hotel in about 20 minutes which we were grateful for! This is a premium trip and the amenities/benefits reflected that - we could climb on private farmland and avoid the 100s of other people queuing up Acatenango, and our local guide to Semuc Champey had a secret route down the viewpoint too. The hotels were all lovely with pools and views, very good breakfast options including lots of pancakes and the glamping was super luxurious. My group agreed that this was a tightly packed and well organised adventure across Guatemala, with a great variety of activities. Some people would have wanted more time or to stretch out the travel time, but personally I only have so much annual leave so the 11 days was perfect for me - ultimate adventure indeed!

Had a fantastic time on this trip through Guatemala! Obvious highlights were the Acatenango volcano hike, kayaking on Lake Atitlan and visiting Tikal. It's a busy trip (which I enjoyed!), it is all laid out clearly in the itinerary. The guides Pepian, Christa and Erica were amazing - they helped and supported us through the activities, were very communicative each day, brought us to great restaurants and gave us some autonomy. They made the trip very enjoyable and hassle-free. In addition, all accommodation and sports equipment provided were of high quality.

The range of experiences in this tour is amazing and each one shows you a different side of Guatemala. It’s full-on and action-packed but honestly so much fun, and there were so many unreal moments throughout. I had the best time. The Acatenango hike deserves all the praise it gets. Watching the eruptions from base camp under the stars was honestly magical. Just wow. We had a fire at base camp and some great food (shoutout to Christa!) which kept the energy high. Our guides Pepian and Christa made the hike really fun - i really didn't expect to be laughing so much while running down a volcano. Semuc Champey was an unexpected highlight! The caving is pretty wild and swimming there afterwards was beautiful - we didn't want to leave. Bring sandals that you’re happy to wear in the water. . . there are ladders and rocky sections where I was really grateful to have mine. Other reviews have mentioned the travel days — don’t let them put you off. The van is comfortable, there are regular stops for food and coffee, and the scenery through Guatemala’s smaller villages is worth paying attention to. They're also a good opportunity to catch up on some sleep (take a neck pillow!). This was my first MBA trip and it exceeded all of my expectations. I met some really cool people from around the world and got to see and do incredible things every day. Guatemala is such a beautiful country, and this tour is a really fun way to experience the best of it. Big love for our main guide, Pepian —he brought such a great energy through the whole trip and always made sure everyone felt safe, supported and happy. Thank you to him, Christa and all of our other guides who made everything so special!

The absolute highlight for me was the volcano. Watching it light up at midnight was just incredible and something I’ll never forget. Staying at base camp was also a fantastic experience. The hike itself is definitely not easy, I would highly recommend doing some hill or stair walking beforehand to prepare. Another unforgettable moment was seeing Guatemala’s national bird, the quetzal. I didn’t realise how large and colourful they are - absolutely beautiful. Our guides were excellent throughout the trip. They were knowledgeable about the local area, and if they didn’t know something, they always made the effort to find out. The food prepared at camp was also really good, and the accommodation overall was great. There was one small issue during the trip where the hotel hosted both a wedding and a birthday party on the same evening. The music was extremely loud to the point where the beds were vibrating, which wasn’t ideal after hiking Acatenango and needing rest. However, Eduardo, Pepian and Christa handled the situation really well. They weren’t informed in advance by the hotel, but they acted quickly and arranged alternative accommodation for us that same night, which we really appreciated. One thing to be aware of is the amount of time spent travelling by road. There’s quite a bit of time in vehicles, and the roads can be windy. That said, this is unavoidable if you want to see all the incredible places included in the itinerary. I was aware of this before booking, so it wasn’t an issue for me, but it’s worth noting for others. Overall, it was a fantastic trip, and I’d highly recommend it.

IN GENERAL This was my first “book a group trip with other solo travelers. ” As a gay man, I was worried the group would not be accepting or welcoming, but everyone was amazing. I am INFINITELY glad I took the plunge, have made friends for life, and am still on cloud nine even 5 days after getting back…I can’t wait to book my next trip. I am already actively looking for my next “book as a solo adventurer into a group” tour. Will I go with MBA? I’m not sure. I absolutely loved my experience, but several folks in my group have done tours with other companies and said they offer better value for the money, so I will likely shop around next time. WHAT I LOVED Guatemala is a gem. I am convinced it is going to blow up as an adventure and eco-destination like Costa Rica and Iceland in the next 5 years. The sights, people, and adventure will stay with me for the rest of my life. Get there before it is overrun with tourists. I adored our guides and learned so much about Guatemala – both its history and what life there is like today. The Acatenango hike is absolutely the highlight. This was the most physically challenging thing I have ever done and I feel so accomplished. Since only two of us summitted Acatenango and there were two guides to take us to the top, we lucked out and each got a private guide. I am infinitely grateful to Oscar for being patient with me needing to stop and catch my breath every 20 feet, encouraging me to keep going, and practicing Spanish with me. I would not have made it to the top without him. COULD BE BETTER Justify and show why you have a higher price than competitors. For example:  (1) We had access to a private trail for the first part of the Acatenango climb. This enabled us to hike on an open trail, while the majority of hikers were forced into a path wide enough for 1. 5 people - with barbed wire on each side - but where folks coming up and down had to squeeze past each other. (2) Our trip covered the access fee for lunch on the lake at a GORGEOUS Instagram-worthy resort. You don’t need to show an itemized bill with a line item for everything, but a bit more transparency might help convince folks of the value for the price. Two of the hotels were next to very loud venues: (1) Hotel Casa del Parque in Antigua was charming. The staff were friendly and helpful. And the pool frames Volcán de Agua gorgeously. That said, as many of this hotel’s Google reviews note, it is right next to a bar that blares music until midnight or 1am, with many loud, drunk patrons spilling out into the street right outside the hotel’s windows. (2) Similarly in Flores, the Hotel Isla de Flores was next to a loud venue. The hotel is charming with a great rooftop pool. But after having gotten up at 3:30am the night before for the Tikal sunrise hike, I just wanted to go to bed early but was kept up by the loud music next door. Normally this would not bother me as a night owl, but on this trip you are waking up at 3am, 4am, 6am, etc. after doing a lot of physical activity (or anticipation of it, where you want a good sleep the night before). The noise was just too much for this type of trip. Strongly recommend MBA find similar accommodations in quieter locations. Confusion around tips. This was a HUGE issue on our tour. I see that the tip guide under the “Not Included” section here has been updated, which is great. The week before I left, it did not include any guidance for porters, which caused a huge scramble and was a massive source of confusion for our group. What is posted now is much better. That said, I would recommend MBA amend the amounts for the guide and driver from the entire trip to per day. We had a different driver each day, and some guides who were with us for 1 day or 2 days or 4 days, and one who was with us all 10 days. Itinerary (1) The afternoon in San Juan La Laguna (one of the towns on Lake Atitlán) was just fine, but ultimately felt like a tourist trap. I appreciate that the town’s tourist economy was devastated after covid and the mayor made some smart moves zhuzhing up the town with art from local artists and bringing in local cocoa, honey, and weaving cooperatives, but while I enjoyed the cocoa-grinding and honey-making demonstrations, the whole afternoon ultimately felt like we were stuck in a sales pitch. (2) The last day is really just a travel day with a couple of stretch breaks thrown in. The itinerary makes this sound like more active of a day than it really is. The caves are a 5-minute walk from the glamping site, so something you do before hitting the road. The quetzal forest is very easy and more of a nature walk than a hike. It’s very unlikely you will see a quetzal if you are not there during their peak in this part of the country (which is December). We did not see one. (3) I keep debating if all the van time was worth seeing Lanquín/Semuc Champey. I LOVED the glamping site though. . . the tents are adorable (especially falling asleep in them as the rain pitter pattered down) and the common indoor/outdoor space let our group finally relax and play games drinking wine together. WHAT I WOULD DO THE SAME NEXT TIME AROUND I came in a day early to acclimate to the elevation and explore Antigua a bit on my own, and I am so glad that I did. WHAT I WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY Earlier flight out; maybe even very late the last day. I booked the 3pm flight out to avoid the 5am flight. But after a week of waking up at 3, 4, and 6am, a 5am flight would have been fine and gotten me home at a reasonable hour after a very exhausting trip. WOULD I BOOK AGAIN? Absolutely. I am already actively looking for my next “book as a solo adventurer into a group” tour. Will I go with MBA? I’m not sure. I absolutely loved my experience, but several folks in my group have done tours with other companies and said they offer better value for the money, so I will likely shop around next time.

This was my first group tour and I was very pleased. Small group (6) of like-minded, outdoor enthusiasts. Our guides were engaging, knowledgeable, and flexible. The front end of the trip was very physically challenging, the latter half more relaxing. Would have prefered to spread out the pace, but given the geography, it was necessary in order to get to all the places we wanted to visit. That said, our guides from Old Town Outfitters were very helpful in setting up alternatives, when I wanted to take a break from certain activities. Guatemala is spectacularly beautiful and we got to see so much of it, as well as sampling the cuisine and learning about the cultural and economic activity in each region. Our guides--especially our main guide, Esmeralda--were always ready with dinner recommendations and answers to questions about the country and culture. The highlights were Acatenango (obviously) and Tikal (I'd love to spend an extra day there) and the lake visits and Semuc Champey were also beautiful (and welcomely relaxing). Recommendations to others booking: 1) Get to Antigua early, so you have time to wander and enjoy at your own pace. 2) Take your time ascending Acatenango and know that the first four days will be very challenging, but it will get easier. 3) If you find the ascent difficult, stay up watching Fuego's fire and then enjoy the sunrise from camp (instead of the very early summit). 4) Definitely take the hike to the overview of Sumac Champey, for a view of the pools from above. 5) Take a late flight on the last day and book yourself a massage at Barcelo and/or enjoy the pool and hot tub before you head home! Having Much Better Adventures/Old Town Outfitters handle all of the details (transportation, lodging, itinerary) was absolutely worth it for visiting Guatemala, especially since the focus was on outdoor activity. Highly recommend! PS I turned 60 just after booking this trip (a birthday treat) and can assure you that if you are reasonably fit and have an adventurous attitude, this trip is fine for you (our group was early 40's and up)!

I recently returned from a trip to Guatemala, and overall, I truly loved the country and the experiences themselves. The landscapes, culture, and activities were incredible, and the guides were genuinely kind and welcoming. That said, I don’t feel the trip delivered the value expected for the price. The included meals and some of the accommodations fell short, and in several cases, the places we stayed were not what had been advertised. Much Better Adventures does an excellent job marketing these trips, but the reality didn’t quite match what was promised, which felt misleading. One of the biggest challenges was the itinerary. A significant amount of time was spent driving between locations, which limited our ability to actually enjoy the destinations. The final two travel days were especially difficult—one of them lasted nearly 10 hours, which was exhausting and took away from the overall experience. Because of this, we had very little free time to explore the towns we visited. Communication during the trip could also have been clearer. Daily plans weren’t always well explained, and at times answers to questions were inconsistent or contradictory, which created confusion. They could benefit by sharing the next day's itinerary in the WhatsApp group they create vs telling everyone at the very end of the night when we are all tired (in hopes we remember everything). In comparison, I’ve taken multiple trips with G Adventures—which are more affordable—and found their accommodations, inclusions, and overall delivery to be much more consistent with what’s advertised (and I liked them better!). They also operate their tours directly, which seems to make a difference. Since Much Better Adventures outsources their tours, there appears to be a disconnect between what’s sold and what’s delivered. This is not always the fault of the 3rd party operator but it's not good business. At the end of the day, Guatemala itself is ABSOLUTELY worth visiting and the people I met were FANTASTIC and I enjoyed the activities we did. But based on the experience vs what was advertised, I wouldn’t book another tour with Much Better Adventures.