Tour Type
International Tours
DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Lower Mainland
January 11, 2027 – 19 Days
Vancouver Island
January 10, 2027 – 20 Days
BC Interior
January 10, 2027 – 20 Days
Activity Level 3
GROUP SIZE
TOUR SUMMARY
Explore Guatemala with a unique glimpse into Belize
Step into a world of vibrant culture, ancient history, and breathtaking landscapes as you explore Guatemala, with a unique glimpse into Belize. You’ll wander colourful highland markets, discover centuries-old traditions, and stand in awe of remarkable Maya sites, including Tikal National Park. From the colonial charm of Antigua Guatemala to the volcanic beauty of Lake Atitlán, you’ll experience the country’s rich contrasts, while connecting with local communities and artisans along the way. Travel through lush jungles, cruise along the scenic Rio Dulce, and encounter fascinating wildlife in diverse natural settings. Your journey also includes unforgettable moments like witnessing sunrise over ancient ruins, tasting locally grown coffee and chocolate, and exploring UNESCO-listed treasures such as Copán and Tikal. With immersive experiences, expert guidance, and thoughtfully included meals throughout, you can simply focus on taking it all in.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
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Meals
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51 meals
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50 meals
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Transportation
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Accommodation
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Guides & Gratuities
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Wells Gray tour director throughout tour
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Tour Highlights (Included)
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TOUR FARES
| Departure Point | |
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$12,595$14,895 |
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$12,770$15,070 |
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$12,410$14,530 |
- Please add 0.2% GST.
- There is an additional cost to join this tour from Nanaimo or Comox.
- Earn 235 Experience Points
Early Booking Bonus!
$250 discount on first 8 seats; $125 on next 4.
DEPARTURE POINTS & DATES
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Level
High Activity: You are an active traveller who wants to explore wherever you go. You don’t mind a mix of full days, early morning starts, and some late nights. You can walk longer distances, up to 4 km without difficulty which may be over uneven ground, beaches or shorelines, or at higher elevations; and stand for prolonged periods. You can climb three flights of stairs easily and unassisted, can handle altitudes up to 7,600 feet (2,300 metres) with no health issue, and can handle your own luggage in airports or at hotels where luggage handling may not be available. This tour is not appropriate for people with canes, walkers, wheelchairs, or other mobility assistance devices. Walking poles are recommended. Additionally, this tour is not appropriate for those who have cognitive impairments such as memory loss or confusion, difficulty expressing thoughts, repeating questions, or getting lost. The tour director, drivers and local guides have many responsibilities, so please do not expect them, or your fellow travellers, to provide ongoing assistance. If you are not capable of keeping up with the group or require frequent assistance, the tour director may stop you from participating in some activities or some days of the tour. In extreme situations, you may be required to leave the tour and travel home at your own expense; travel insurance may not cover you.
Please note: Prior to accepting your booking, you will be required to sign a declaration that you are capable of travelling on an Activity Level 3 tour.
Tour Size
This tour is limited to 25 participants, making it a more intimate travel experience.
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GUATEMALA & BELIZE — A WINTER PARADISE: Guatemala is the third largest country in the Central American isthmus, bordering Mexico to the northwest, Belize to the northeast, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. The Pacific Ocean lies to the south and the Caribbean Sea to the north. Guatemala City is the country’s largest, and also the largest city in Central America with a metro population of 3.3 million. The country's physical geography divides it into three major zones: Pacific Lowlands, Central Highlands, and the Peten Lowlands in the north. Guatemala has 14 biologically significant and unique ecosystems. It counts 1,246 species of fauna and 8,700 species of flora. National parks, nature reserves, and biological reserves protect the most significant areas. Tourism is growing rapidly and is now Guatemala’s #1 industry with over 2 million visitors annually. There is lots of fascinating history on this tour. Several archeological sites are visited including Iximché, Copán, Yaxhá, and the grandest of all, Tikal which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some were occupied hundreds of years BC and abandoned a thousand years ago, only to be rediscovered in the rainforest jungle in the last century. The enchanting colonial city of Antigua was founded in 1543. The tour also features two boat cruises, colourful indigenous markets, and wildlife or birdlife excursions. Sharing a border and cultural connections to the magical Maya world, Guatemala and Belize are worldrenowned biodiversity hotspots. Colourful markets, smoking volcanoes, an impressive colonial history, mysterious traditions, and warm hospitality describe the Guatemalan highlands and the discoveries you can enjoy during this tour. You will have the opportunity to experience the dramatic environments each country is known for while learning cultural traditions from the people whose lives unfold there. This is a unique journey for the culturally adventurous with numerous highlights! Come and admire the natural and historic wonders of Guatemala with a sample of Belize, and get away from a Canadian winter for three relaxing weeks.
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Documentation: A passport is required, valid for six months after return date, for Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. A visa is not required for Canadians.
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Currency & Expenses: The currency in Guatemala is the Quetzal. As of April 2026, the exchange rate is about $1 Canadian equals Q5.50. However, US dollars are widely accepted, and you probably don’t need to buy or bring any Quetzals. The currency in Honduras is the Lempira, but for a one-night visit, US dollars are the most convenient to have on hand. The currency in Belize is the Belize dollar which is officially tied to the US dollar at a rate of 1 US$ = 2 BZD. It is recommended that you use US dollars for the two-day visit. You cannot use Canadian dollars in any country. Credit cards are accepted in many shops, but cash is needed for the markets. Gratuities have been included for all group meals and for local guides, naturalists, and drivers. As this tour has been planned and priced nine months before departure, it is possible that exchange fluctuations could affect the fare, in which case you will be notified of the increase or decrease. Three meals are included every day from January 12 to 27.
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Flight seating: We are unable to take requests for window or aisle seating on the planes. The airlines will not accept them, as group seating is assigned as a block. If this is important to you, we suggest you take the “No Flight” option with a fare reduction (amount available in May 2026) and book your own flight which allows seat selection. Note that these flights are on different airlines. Please refer to our Terms & Conditions for more information on taking the “No Flight” option.
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Flight upgrades: Please enquire about current prices for upgrades on the flights to Guatemala City and return from Belize City. Premium economy and business class may be available.
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Flight delays or cancellations: In the event flights are delayed or cancelled by airlines due to weather or other reasons, there may be additional costs to you. Wells Gray Tours will not pay for hotel rooms and meals during the delay. Most travel insurance policies cover expenses incurred for weather delays.
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Explanation of flights: Maybe you are wondering why we have booked two different airlines instead of a round-trip on one. It is difficult to fly to Guatemala City as it is, and almost impossible to do so conveniently without making a connection in the US. Air Canada only flies twice a week from Montreal to Guatemala City, but it is not possible to get from BC to Montreal and connect to that flight. Further, WestJet does not fly to Guatemala at all. Therefore, we do have to make a connection in the US for our southbound journey. On the return, we have prioritized the convenient non-stop flight with WestJet from Belize City to Calgary.
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Health Clinic: Visit a travel health clinic two months before departure to discuss possible inoculations for this tour. Bring this itinerary. There are currently no required inoculations, but you may want to discuss Hepatitis A/B and tetanus.
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Food Allergies: You must notify us no later than at final payment if you have a food allergy. This tour goes to some remote places where restaurants probably cannot satisfy all food allergies. An allergy causes medical distress, a preference does not. For some allergies, please consider bringing your own snacks or food items so you are not dependent on what restaurants are able to serve.
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Triples: Triples are not available on this tour.
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Payments: A deposit of $800 per person is requested at the time of booking and balance is due October 1, 2026. By paying the deposit, you agree to the Terms & Conditions, Activity Level 3 Declaration, and Cancellation Policy outlined. Payments can be made by online banking or cheque (3% discount on tour fare), or by Visa or Mastercard.
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Early Booking Bonus: Receive a $250 discount on the first 8 seats and $125 on the next 4 seats for booking early with deposit. The discount is not offered after October 1, 2026.
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Cancellation Policy: Up to September 1, 2026, the cancellation charge is $100 per person. From September 2 to October 1, the cancellation charge is $300 per person. From October 2 to November 2, the cancellation charge is 40% of the tour fare. From November 3 to December 1, the cancellation charge is 80% of the tour fare. After December 1, there is no refund.
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Itinerary and Fare Changes: Our many suppliers may notify us about changes to the itinerary prior to departure and sometimes during the tour. We do our best to substitute a similar service if something cancels, but occasionally the only alternative is to provide a refund for the missed activity. Please note that if we are forced to cancel a tour component due to an issue beyond our control, the current penalties still apply if you choose to cancel the entire tour. Fuel surcharges and changes to taxes, currency exchange rates, or other tour costs can occur at any time, therefore Wells Gray Tours reserves the right to increase fares due to such changes up to departure.
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Travel Insurance: A Comprehensive Insurance policy is available through Wells Gray Tours and coverage is provided by Travel Guard. Policies purchased at deposit include a waiver of the pre-existing condition clause for medical and cancellation claims, otherwise policies can be purchased no later than at final payment. Medical questionnaire is not needed. Please contact us for details. If you have your own travel insurance, please read the policy carefully to be sure that you are adequately covered for medical, cancellation, interruption, and luggage. Please do not travel outside of Canada without medical insurance as a minimum.
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Photo Credits: Adobe Stock (Antigua Guatemala, Lake Atitlán) and Wikimedia (Tikal National Park).
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Experience Points or E-points: This tour earns 235 e-points. Each time you travel on a Wells Gray tour, you earn e-points that are added to your account after the tour returns. One e-point equals $1. Redeem your earned points on select tours or accumulate enough points to earn a free tour! Redemptions offered until October 1, 2026.
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Consumer Protection BC Licences: Kamloops 178, Vernon 655, Kelowna 588, Penticton 924, Victoria 65842