Guatemala Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trip Packages

Guatemala Small Ship Cruise Tours & Trips

111 Guatemala trips. Tours from 58 tour companies. 350 reviews. 4.6/5 avg rating.

1 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise
Rose Parade and Panama Canal Cruise
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.2/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Cartagena, Los Angeles, Miami, Santa Barbara

Highlights

  • Enjoy an exclusive private viewing of the Rose Parade floats and the parade from reserved grandstand seats
  • Travel along the Southern California coast through Santa Barbara to Solvang and Pismo Beach
  • Enjoy an included guided tour of Hearst Castle
  • While cruising, visit ports in five countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Colombia
  • Witness the Panama Canal transit in daylight

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Tour is advertised as an "active" tour. However, YMT sold the tours to seniors and others who were unable to walk more than 1/8 mile, unable to navigate stairs or had to walk with the aid of walkers. As a result, 80 percent of the "explorations" were to visitor centers, look out points, stores or washrooms, that were within 100 feet or less of the bus. This tour should be categorized as "relaxed". A big disappointment! The bus driver was friendly and accommodating and drove us safely from one site to another. He sold water to the guests in small bottles for $1 each. I think YMT should be more conscientious of the environment and at least offer bottle refills, especially since the guide practically demanded that each person drink one gallon of water per day. The tour guide was marginally knowledgeable about the area and spent too much time telling us about her private life and friends. She led one hike, but talked mostly about how the rains had changed the landscape. One day she left two guests at the hotel and wanted the people on the bus to take responsibility for not letting her know that people were missing. We were encouraged to find hikes to take on our own, which I felt compromised safety, especially when we had an hour or so to "explore" - there was no safety or backup plan, especially if something untoward happened on a hike. She opted out of taking us to the sunset tour of the Grand Canyon telling us that it was raining and we wouldn't be able to see anything. So a couple of us went to the site on our own and it was possibly one of the best experiences I had on the entire tour (and not a drop of rain!). I often felt bullied into purchasing lunches or meals "offered" by the guide, who made it sound like there were no other options. It was difficult to listen to her brag about how well she was doing and how happy everyone was, when many people were complaining that the tour was not what they expected - mostly because it was too active!!! The accommodations were mostly good - a couple of anomalies (one with a plugged sink and no hot water for a shower, another with a pervasive bad odor). The excursions offered at the time of booking were mostly unavailable later (except for the over-priced meals). Another disappointment because I booked the tour partly because of one of the excursions offered at the time of booking. I would not recommend this tour, because I don't think it is advertised correctly."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Other trips you may like [sponsored]
Guatemala: See & Experience it ALL in 8 Days, 1st Class Custom Tours
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
By Charlie The Traveler
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
Travelers report that traveling with CharlieTheTraveler is a life-changing experience, in the best possible way.
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Antigua, Chichicastenango, El Mirador National Park, Flores, Pacaya National Park, Panajachel, San Marcos, Santiago, Santiago Atitlan, Tikal

Highlights

  • A Helicopter Ride Over Ancient Temples Found Deep in the Jungle
  • Watching an Active Volcano Erupt in the Middle of the Night (optional)
  • Hanging Out with Hippies in the Village of San Marcos
  • A Visit to the Country’s Biggest Indigenous Market
  • A Full-Day & Private Tour of Guatemala’s Showcase City, Colonial Antigua
Show more

Themes

Family Friendly, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Thank you guys for setting up this trip. We spent 7 days in Palawan and Coron island and enjoyed every day. The remote coordinator worked very well for us through Whatsup, and the daily itineraries were exactly what we expected. Not too much and not too short. We recommend this tour for every one who wants to explore these locations"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety

More
Guatemala to Belize
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.8/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Antigua, Caribbean, Caye Caulker, Central America, Flores, San Ignacio, Tikal, Tikal National Park

Highlights

  • Gaze in wonder at the jungle-shrouded limestone temples of Tikal, one of the most impressive Mayan sites in the whole of Central America, as howler monkeys call from the canopy.
  • Relax and recharge on the white sands of Caye Caulker, a tiny Belizean island made for beach BBQs, snorkel trips and lazy afternoons spent swinging in a hammock.
  • Explore Livingston: a one-of-a-kind riverside town where the local culture is heavily influenced by the Afro-Caribbean Garifuna population.
  • Walk along cobblestone streets and shop for local handicrafts in the tiny inland island town of Flores.
  • Dig deeper into Mayan history – visiting lesser-known ruins and a mystical Mayan cave complex – around San Ignacio, a vibrant market town near the Belize-Guatemala border.

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety +

More
Central American Journey: Rainforests & Ruins
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
1.3/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Antigua, Cancún, Caribbean, Caye Caulker, Copan, Flores, Granada, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, La Fortuna, Lake Nicaragua, Monteverde, Ometepe, Playa del Carmen, Roatan, Salvador, San Ignacio, San José, San Juan, Split, Tikal

Highlights

  • Relax on white-sand beaches
  • Explore the mayan ruins of copán and tikal
  • Bargain at the local markets of colourful colonial antigua
  • Meet some local friends at a local homestay in guatemala
  • Visit seven countries in a month

Themes

Cultural

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Belize Reef & Ruins
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Caye Caulker, San Ignacio, Tikal

Highlights

  • Explore the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, home to birds, crocs and monkeys
  • Hop over to Guatemala to tour Tikal, a wonder of the ancient Mayan civilisation
  • Float along the Caves Branch River to see the Mayan underworld
  • Snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a vital underwater habitat
  • Enjoy the laid-back island life of Caye Caulker

Themes

Birding, Cultural, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"Discover Costa Rica is a great itinerary, covering varied habitats around the country and staying 2 nights each at 6 centres. Their birdwatching specials are led by local experts who really know their stuff."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety +

Generous cancellation

More
Guatemala & Belize in 11 days - Essence of Central America - Charm
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
By Exoticca
preferred
4.4/5 Great
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
Although they’re cheaper than other brands, they still make sure all parts of the trip, like hotels, meet a high minimum standard.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Acropolis, Antigua, Bar, Flores, Panajachel, Santiago, Tikal

Highlights

  • Antigua Guatemala
  • Chichicastenango
  • Dulce River
  • Flores
  • Livingston
Show more

Themes

50 plus, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"The trip was well laid out. Tour guides were friendly and knowledgeable. The only complaint is some of our travel documents that were sent out were not in English. If your sending documents out correspondence should be in both the native language and the language of the people the correspondence to. Other than that a great first time experience."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
Land of Belize
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Caribbean, Caye Caulker, Central America, San Ignacio, Tikal, Tikal National Park

Highlights

  • Laze on the sandy shores of Caye Caulker off the coast of Belize. Swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean and snorkel through shallow reefs and atolls surrounding the cayes.
  • Join a group of local women at a co-operative in San Ignacio, where they’ll show you how to cook up some traditional recipes and talk about the organisation they founded.
  • Discover the remains of a once thriving Mayan city at the Lamanai Archaeological Site, reached by a boat trip that reveals some of Belize’s most colourful birdlife.
  • Take a day trip to the impressive Tikal National Park, just a hop, skip and a jump across the border into Guatemala. These Maya ruins have become one of the most important archaeological sites in Maya history.
  • Uncover the secrets of crystallised skeletons and crumbling palaces near San Ignacio that have been preserved in their natural glory.
Show more

Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list

Health Safety +

More
Classic Belize & Tikal
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Blue Hole, Caye Caulker, Flores, San Ignacio, Tikal

Highlights

  • Spot tropical sea life while snorkelling the world's second-largest barrier reef
  • Explore the jungle-set ruins of tikal
  • Listen to reggae music as you walk down caye caulker's sandy main street

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
3 Day Multi-Sport Easy or Technical
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
4.7/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Vacation / Holiday Package
Why we love them
They offer something for every kind of traveler and their excellent customer service is available throughout the whole process.
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

  • Drop 2000 vertical feet on Guatemalas best Single track Or choose a back country cruiser road
  • Swim in our secret swim hole, or dive from the cliffs
  • Add the 3rd day of hiking Volcan San Pedro or more mountain biking

Themes

High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Rafting, Kayaking, Canoeing, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"We completed the three day tour with the glacier hike today! It was awesome and the sub vendor, Troll Expeditions, is definitely worthy of staying on the vendor list. 3 Day Blue Ice Cave + Golden Circle + Northern Lights"

Trip dates & details
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
More
1 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Small Ship Cruise

Guatemala Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
350  Reviews
See all Guatemala tour reviews
Excellent
133
Great
54
Average
1
Disappointing
1
Terrible
2
K

Kelly E.

Feb 2023

Written on

CharlieTheTraveler has all positive reviews online, which made it an easy choice to book my Guatemala trip through them.

CharlieTheTraveler has all positive reviews online, which made it an easy choice to book my Guatemala trip through them. They ensured I was safe throughout the trip ...

J

Jon H.

Feb 2023

Written on

The Guatemala trip through CharlieTheTraveler had so much packed into 6 days.

The Guatemala trip through CharlieTheTraveler had so much packed into 6 days. I had such a good time on each daytrip and going to each attraction. I was intrigued by...

T

Tom Walker

Feb 2023

Written on

CharlieTheTraveler balanced nature and culture in this Guatemala trip.

CharlieTheTraveler balanced nature and culture in this Guatemala trip. It was awesome to go on the exhilarating excursions. I could not believe all of this way for o...

S

Susan T.

Feb 2023

Written on

CharlieTheTraveler did an amazing job keeping me busy with interesting and exciting activities on this trip.

The entire time I was in Guatemala, I seemed to forget about the stresses and worries of homelife, which is exactly what I wanted out of a trip. CharlieTheTraveler d...

B

Brianna M.

Feb 2023

Written on

The company was well-organized and I enjoyed every activity they planned for this trip!

Although I have a friend from Guatemala who has told how magnificent the country is, I had never gone. One night I was doing research when I came across CharlieTheTr...

Write a Review

Guatemala Tour Selection Trips

  • Unless you’re truly ready for some driving adventures, don’t even think about renting a car in Guatemala, where rules of the road are virtually non-existent. 
  • Local public buses – typically crowded and accident prone -- are also highly problematic for getting around.
  • Taking a guided tour of Guatemala is the best guarantee of safety against road accidents and street crime, which is common in certain parts of the country. 
  • Since Guatemala is relatively compact, you can combine most of the top attractions in a well-run week-long tour. 
  • If one of your goals is to spot the elusive quetzal, a resplendent but reclusive tropical bird, your best chance is to find a tour that specializes in birding.

Additional details

The most prominent language spoken in Guatemala is Spanish. The major cities do have English speakers but it is always a good idea to carry with you a translation book or app. It is also advised that you use the “usted” conjugation when speaking to locals as a form of respect.

Guatemala has a very diverse and expansive history that can be seen prevalently throughout the country. There are several historic Mayan sites in Guatemala, Tikal and El Mirador being the most popular. The city of Antigua exhibits Guatemala’s Spanish influence during colonial times with many of its building dating back to that era.

Ways to Travel in Guatemala 

There are a variety of ways to travel Guatemala. If you’re trying to get a genuine feel for the country, exploring Guatemala over land is probably your best bet. Guided tours take care of the hassle of figuring out navigation and let you focus on the scenery. Guatemala bus tours are generally more affordable, though it is advisable to book with a reputable group tour company for safety reasons. 

Many travelers try to get a feel for Central America by visiting Guatemala, Belize, and Mexico in tandem. Or, visit one of Guatemala’s islands, such as Antigua, on your way to the French Guadeloupe from the British Virgin Islands.

Another way to experience Guatemala’s natural beauty is to go on an eco tour. On this environmentally friendly style of tour, you're sure to see the lush greenery that surrounds the country. Lago de Atitlán is a great place to see Guatemala’s colorful shrubbery and crystal clear waters.

Guatemala also has many volcanoes, many of which are still active today. The most popular volcano to visit is the active volcano Pacaya because it is only an hour away from Antigua and is relatively easy to hike compared to the other volcanoes with a higher elevation.

Guatemala Travel Safety

There are certain safety precautions that should be taken into account when visiting Guatemala.

Before your trip, make sure you know where your country’s embassy is in case of an emergency. If you are a citizen of the United States, then you should enroll in STEP which sends you safety notifications while on your trip.

When traveling around Guatemala, always be aware of your surroundings. In the cities, especially Guatemala City, be extra careful at night. It is also advised that you refrain from traveling between destinations at night. Traveling with a tour company is always recommended to ensure your safety.

What to do in Guatemala at night?

Because of safety concerns, visitors staying outside of resorts are also concerned about what they can do safely at night. Tourists are particularly cautious about what to do in Guatemala City at night.

Zone 10 is the nightlife center of the city, though it is recommended to only take cabs called by your hotel or restaurant for getting around the city. 

Always Find the Best

On Travelstride you can find 111 trips to Guatemala and more than 20,000 trips worldwide ranging from budget to luxury and private guided to group tours and everything in between. Only on Stride can you find and compare expert-planned trips from 1,000+ tour operators, cruise lines and local experts. Read traveler and professional reviews so you can confidently find your perfect trip.

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!