Silversea Expedition Cruises To PUERTO QUETZAL

Explore the Old World beauty, architecture and artefacts of the restored city of La Antigua during this memorable visit to Casa Santo Domingo. Spend time at your leisure inside the Casa Santo Domingo premises, and then proceed for lunch at the Casa Santo Domingo Hotel. After lunch, continue on to the Central Plaza, then visit a jade factory, museum, and shop to admire and browse the beautiful jewellery made from colourful jade.

Casa Santo Domingo

After Guatemala's Independence of 1821, the plots of land on which the convent and temple of Santo Domingo stood were divided and sold. Later, these plots were acquired by a company with a goal of rescuing the vestiges of the convent and temple, which were buried under tons of debris. The project was designated Casa Santo Domingo, and restoration of the area began in 1989.

Local Tour

Upon arrival at Casa Santo Domingo, explore the Guatemalan architecture dating from the 17th century during visits to the Cultural Centre at Santo Domingo. It houses the Chamber Theatre, the Carlos Merida Museum/Gallery of Modern Art, the Colonial Arts Museum, the Handicrafts Museum, and the interesting Glass Museum, which that compares modern glass pieces with Mayan art. Following your visit, proceed for lunch at Casa Santo Domingo Hotel Restaurant.

Central Plaza

After lunch, continue on to the Central Plaza for a short visit and then visit a jade factory, museum and shop. Upon arrival, admire and browse the beautiful jewelry made from many colours of local jade.

Following your visit, re-board your coach for the approximately 1.5-hour drive back to the pier.

Enjoy a half-day tour to Filadelfia Coffee Estate and learn about the coffee process from its beginning journey from plant to cup and enjoy a scenic drive by the highlights of La Antigua. Drive through lowland pastures, sugar plantations and cattle farms; passing between Agua, Fuego and Acatenango volcanoes, and unique landscapes.

Filadelfia Coffee Estate

The Filadelfia Coffee Estate is located in La Antigua Guatemala, in the central zone of the country, one of the best coffee producing regions in Guatemala. Guests will have the opportunity to experience two of the greatest coffee classifications, their aromas, body, acidity and their differences. A guided tour of the estate will be followed by a coffee tasting and refreshment.

La Antigua Panoramic Drive

Enjoy a glimpse of the city of Santiago de los Caballeros, known today as La Antigua Guatemala, founded in the Valley of Panchoy in 1543; it became the third capital in the New World after those in Mexico and Peru. In 1979 UNESCO declared it World Cultural Heritage. Cobblestoned streets, colourful facades and tiled roofs, as well as restored and un-restored churches, palaces, convents and mansions covered with vegetation and colourful bougainvillea make this colonial city a favourite for visitors from all over the world.

Depart the La Antigua area for the approximately 1.5-hour drive back to the port area.

Explore the City of La Antigua at your own pace during this round-trip transfer and self-guided visit to the city.

This convenient transfer to-and-from the city is ideally-suited for guests opting to visit La Antigua and sightsee at their own leisure.

You will board the bus for a guided transfer to a jewel of the colonial urban development and architecture.

Our driver and guide will welcome the guests, distribute maps of La Antigua city and will give information and instructions along the way.

La Antigua preserves its original features and because of its immense historical and cultural value, it was declared "world Heritage" by UNESCO in 1979. Located in a valley surrounded by mountains and by towering volcanoes, today is a pleasant city of cobbled stone streets, houses and businesses with colonial style facades and tile roofs and of restored and vegetation-covered ruins of churches, palaces, convents and mansions. In La Antigua, guests will witness the charm of this former capital of the "Kingdom of Guatemala" in its three-century old churches, convents and plazas.

Following your visit, re-join the coach at the pre-designated time for the return drive to the pier in Puerto Quetzal.

Experience the most exciting geo-adventure tour in Guatemala during this memorable, full-day trek to the Pacaya Volcano.

The Pacaya Volcano is one of the few active volcanoes in America that can be trekked, and offers an opportunity to observe volcanic activity up-close. It stands 8,372 feet (2,552 metres) in height, and has an average temperature of 59-68 degrees Fahrenheit (15-20 Celsius) with 80% humidity. Depending upon the light exposure and other weather-permitting factors, lava rivers can be spotted up-close. If clouds are not present, three other volcanoes, Agua, Fuego and Acatenango, and the Guatemala City valley can also be seen from the trail and plateau, offering ideal photo opportunities.

Depart the pier for the approximately 1.5 hour drive north along the highway towards the town of San Vicente Pacaya. Upon arrival, meet your certified guides and after a briefing begin your hike up the volcano. En route, see coffee and corn plantations, along with cedars, bamboo, pines and other tropical vegetation. Weather and safety permitting you will reach a platform where you will be met with incredible views, which you can capture on camera.

Due to the nature of hiking on an active volcano, the tour can be cancelled at any time, either before departure or during the tour to guarantee your safety at all times. Trail is not shaded, so please wear sun protection, hat and some extra water.

Total hiking time is about 2.5 - 3 hours (round trip) covering between 2.5 and 3.2 miles (4-5 km) round trip with both uphill and downhill terrain to negotiate in reaching the sightseeing area at the Pacaya Volcano's crater. Stops are made to take photos, regroup, take a light snack and catch your breath.

Following your descent, re-board your coach for the approximately 1.5 hour ride back to the pier. En route, a stop is made at a local restaurant for lunch and a comfort stop.

Explore the beautiful colonial city of Antigua, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, during this picturesque, full-day sightseeing excursion.

La Antigua

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 90-minute drive to La Antigua. Nestled in the shadow of the spectacular Agua Volcano, La Antigua was founded in 1543, and remains one of the best preserved colonial cities in Spanish America. The city features exquisite churches and convents, facades and a Main Plaza. Highlights include the beautiful, 16th-century Metropolitan Cathedral Metropolitana, stunning curves of the Palace of the Captains, and the Palacio del Noble Ayuntamiento, which houses the city's municipal offices and two museums; the Museo de Armas de Santiago and Museo del Libro Antiguo. At the very centre of the square is the impressive Fountain of the Sirens.

Rum-Tasting

Upon arrival in La Antigua, proceed for a rum-tasting at Casa del Ron, where an expert bartender and rum connoisseur guide you through a tasting of two of Guatemala's, and the world's, finest rums. .

Lunch, Casa Santo Domingo and Jade Museum & Workshop

Next, take a guided stroll through the most famous Colonial city in Central America. Walk to Casa Santo Domingo and visit its Museums and Cultural Center. Lunch will be served at Casa Santo Domingo Restaurant. After lunch, your walk continues to the Jade Museum. Learn about and see some of the most famous and authentic Mayan treasures, including jewels, masks, sculptures and more. Following your visit, re-board your coach and commence the approximately 90-minute drive back to the pier.

Experience the ancient wonders of the Maya civilization during this memorable, full-day to picturesque Tikal National Park. During your guided walking tour, stroll along ancient dirt roads and pathways en route to the Maya ruins. Visit the Pyramid of the Great Jaguar, Central Plaza, Palace of the Masks, Lost World Complex, and Pyramid IV. Lunch is included.

Journey to Tikal

Upon ship's clearance, depart the pier for the transfer to the airstrip at the military base in Puerto San José, and a 1.5-hour flight via chartered plane to the vast northern region of El Petén. Upon arrival at the Mundo Maya Airport, board a bus for the one-hour drive through the tropical forest to Tikal, a World Heritage Site and one of the greatest Maya cities known and studied to date.

Tikal National Park

Upon arrival at the entrance of the 231-square-mile (598-square kilometer) Tikal National Park, leave your bus and commence your 2.5-mile (four-kilometer) walk along ancient dirt roads and pathways en route to the Maya ruins. A mysterious realm unfolds upon entering the forested surroundings that encompass the ruins, where your guide will explain the theories of life in the time of the Maya. Visit the Pyramid of the Great Jaguar, the Central Plaza, the Palace of the Masks, the Lost World Complex, and Pyramid IV, the tallest of all pre-Columbian structures in the Western Hemisphere.

Following your guided tour of Tikal, proceed by bus to Flores Island for lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, transfer to Mundo Maya Airport for a 1.5-hour return flight to the military base at Puerto San José. Upon arrival, transfer back to the pier.

Discover how the macadamia nut industry helps the environment and economy of Guatemala during this memorable, half-day excursion to the Valhalla Organic Macadamia Nut. An added benefit of encouraging farmers to plant macadamia trees is that it prevents the use of slash-and-burn agriculture, which is prevalent here, depleting the soil of nutrients and the expense of short-term crop gains. Macadamia trees also supply ample firewood, making them even more attractive to locals.

Macadamia Nut Farm

Depart the pier for the scenic, approximately 75-minute drive north to the Valhalla Organic Macadamia Nut Farm. En route, pass through the Pacific Coastal lowlands of Guatemala and take in spectacular views while driving between the Acatenango, Agua and Fuego volcanoes.

Upon arrival, take a guided tour of the Valhalla Organic Macadamia Nut Farm. This picturesque farm is a sustainable agriculture development project and Ecological Tourism destination that provides a source of employment, food and fuel for the farmers' families. In 2002, the project was awarded the Golden Fete D'Excellence in Geneva.

Macadamia nuts have become one of the most important export products in Guatemala, which ranks seventh among the world's largest producers of macadamia nuts.

At the conclusion of your tour, some free time is made available to purchase macadamia goods produced on the farm before commencing the approximately 75-minute drive back to the pier.