Frequently Asked Questions

Both. Rose Adventure Tours offers private tours (your own guide and vehicle) as well as small-group / collective departures for travelers who'd like to share the experience and the cost. Just let us know your preference when booking.

Yes. Contact us with your travel dates, interests and group size, and we'll design a private or group itinerary tailored to you.

Yes — see our Guatemala from Belize page for routes and border-crossing information at Melchor de Mencos.

Our guides are bilingual in English and Spanish.

We accept Recurrente (Visa & Mastercard), PayPal (Visa, Mastercard, American Express & Discover) for international payments, and local credit or debit cards from any Guatemalan bank. You'll choose your preferred method at checkout.

Yes — most of our tours include pickup from your hotel in the departure city (Flores, Antigua or Guatemala City). Exact pickup options are listed on each tour's booking page.

Cancel 7 or more days before your tour for a full refund, 48 hours to 6 days before for a 50% refund, or less than 48 hours / no-show for no refund. Some tours (including any involving flights) may not be cancellable — see our Cancellation Policy for full details.

We recommend booking at least a few weeks ahead for popular tours (Tikal, Acatenango) and during high-demand periods like Semana Santa and December, though many tours can be arranged with shorter notice — contact us to check availability for your dates.

Most tours have a reduced per-person rate for children, shown on each tour's own pricing. For larger private groups, contact us directly for a custom quote.

A full day is enough to see Antigua's main highlights — colonial ruins, Central Park, artisan markets — but many travelers stay 2–3 nights to add a coffee tour, a nearby volcano hike, or simply enjoy the town at a slower pace.

Antigua is one of the most visited and well-patrolled towns in Guatemala, and generally considered safe for tourists who take normal travel precautions — avoid poorly lit areas at night and keep valuables out of sight.

Antigua is also known for coffee farm tours, Spanish language schools, artisan markets, rooftop restaurants with volcano views, and as the base for hiking Pacaya or Acatenango.

Yes — Antigua is about 45 minutes to an hour from Guatemala City, making it an easy and popular day trip, though staying overnight lets you enjoy the town without the crowds of day-tour buses.

Public boats ("lanchas") connect Panajachel to the lake's villages and are the most common way to get around; private tours can also arrange boat transfers as part of your itinerary.

San Pedro La Laguna, San Juan La Laguna and Santiago Atitlán are among the most popular, each with a different character — from backpacker cafés to traditional weaving cooperatives and Maya culture.

Yes — Panajachel has the most hotels, restaurants and boat connections on the lake, making it a convenient base for day trips to the surrounding villages.

Most travelers spend 1–2 nights, which is enough time to visit 2–3 villages by boat and enjoy the lake itself; longer stays suit travelers who want a slower pace or activities like kayaking or a coffee tour.

An early-morning departure from Flores is best — arriving close to opening time lets you explore the main temples before tour buses and midday heat arrive.

Yes — Tikal is a popular add-on for travelers crossing between Belize and Guatemala at Melchor de Mencos; see our Guatemala from Belize page for combined routes.

Tikal's surrounding jungle is home to howler and spider monkeys, toucans, ocellated turkeys, and coatimundis — sightings aren't guaranteed but are common, especially early in the day.

Yes — Flores is the closest town with hotels and an airport, about an hour from Tikal, and is also a pleasant colonial island town worth an evening stroll on its own.

Semuc Champey is in a remote part of Guatemala's Alta Verapaz region, reached by several hours of driving on winding roads — the journey is part of the experience, and our tours handle the transportation for you.

Typical visits include swimming in Semuc Champey's turquoise limestone pools, a short hike to the lookout point for the classic postcard view, and sometimes a visit to the nearby K'anba caves.

The stepped limestone pools are generally safe for swimming and popular with visitors of all ages, though currents can be stronger after heavy rain — always follow your guide's instructions on which pools are open.

Acatenango is a genuinely challenging, steep multi-hour hike best suited to travelers with a reasonable level of fitness — see our Acatenango Volcano Experience tour page for the full itinerary and difficulty details.

No prior hiking experience is required — Pacaya is a shorter, more moderate hike suitable for most travelers in reasonably good health, including many families with older children.

Sturdy closed-toe shoes, layered clothing (it gets cold at altitude and after dark), a headlamp or flashlight, water, and a light rain jacket — evenings on Acatenango's overnight trek can drop close to freezing.

Acatenango's summit sits above 3,900 meters (12,800 ft), so mild altitude effects (shortness of breath, fatigue) are common — travelers with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor before booking. Pacaya's lower elevation makes this much less of a concern.

Thursdays and Sundays are the main market days, when the plaza fills with textiles, ceramics and produce from across the highlands — visiting on any other day means a much smaller, quieter market.

Castillo San Felipe is a 17th-century Spanish fort guarding the entrance to Lake Izabal, and boat trips along the Río Dulce river gorge pass hot springs and mangroves on their way to Lívingston — Guatemala's Garífuna-culture town on the Caribbean coast, reachable only by boat. Some of our multi-day journeys include this route.

The dry season (roughly November to April) is the most popular time to visit, with clearer skies for volcano hikes and easier travel on rural roads; the rainy season (May–October) brings lush green landscapes and fewer crowds, with rain usually falling in short afternoon bursts.

Guatemala's currency is the Quetzal (GTQ). US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, but it's useful to carry some local currency for small purchases, markets and tips in more rural areas.

Tipping isn't mandatory but is appreciated and customary for good service — many travelers tip guides and drivers a modest amount per day, though this is entirely at your discretion.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality and change from time to time — we recommend checking directly with the Guatemalan consulate or your government's travel advisory before booking your flights.

Many of our tours (Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Pacaya) are family-friendly, while others (the Acatenango overnight trek especially) are better suited to older children and adults — contact us and we'll recommend the right fit for your family.