Terra Guatemala: Local Travel Agency Specializing in Tailor-Made Tours in Guatemala
Location: Antigua, Guatemala
Founded: 2018
Founders: Tristan and Fernanda
Website: terra-guatemala.com
Terra Guatemala is a locally-based travel agency headquartered in Antigua, Guatemala, specializing in customized tours throughout Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras. Founded in 2018 by Tristan and Fernanda, the agency operates as part of the Terra Panamerica network, an alliance of six local travel agencies focused on sustainable tourism across North and Central America.
Terra Guatemala background
Before establishing Terra Guatemala, founders Tristan and Fernanda spent over six months extensively exploring Guatemala to develop comprehensive knowledge of the destination. Tristan previously managed Terra Maya in Mexico, where he gained expertise in the tourism industry and developed a passion for the Mayan world. The couple settled in Antigua in 2018 to launch their agency, leveraging their combined experience in tourism and deep understanding of Central American culture.
Network Affiliations
Terra Guatemala is part of Terra Panamerica, an alliance of 8 local agencies specializing in tailor-made travel across North and Central America. The network emphasizes sustainable tourism practices and coordinates multi-country itineraries across the region. As of 2024, all of Terra Panamerica agencies are pursuing Travelife certification, a recognized standard for travel agencies and tour operators committed to sustainability.
Services and specializations of the travel agency
Terra Guatemala creates fully customized tours in Guatemala based on individual traveler preferences, budgets, and travel styles. The agency specializes in several tour categories:
Cultural and Historical Tours: Visits to major Mayan archaeological sites including Tikal, Yaxha, El Mirador, and Quiriguá, as well as colonial heritage experiences in Antigua Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Adventure Tourism: Volcano hiking experiences including overnight camping on Acatenango volcano to observe eruptions from nearby Fuego volcano, exploration of cave systems such as Semuc Champey and Lanquín caves, and outdoor activities throughout Guatemala's diverse landscapes.
Nature and Eco-Tourism: Excursions to Lake Atitlán and its surrounding indigenous villages, coffee plantation tours in regions like Antigua and Cobán, and biodiversity experiences in Guatemala's rainforests and natural reserves.
Luxury Travel: Curated experiences featuring boutique accommodations, exclusive access to sites, and personalized service.
Multi-Country Tours: Combined itineraries connecting Guatemala with neighboring countries including Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia, facilitated through the Terra Panamerica network.
A volcanic eruption
Team and local expertise
The agency's team consists of travel designers who live in Guatemala and possess extensive destination knowledge. Team members include Axel, who joined after interning with Terra Guatemala following studies in sustainable tourism and previous work in Peru, and staff members from various backgrounds including France and Guatemala who regularly explore the country to discover new experiences for clients.
The founders emphasize continuous field research, regularly traveling throughout Guatemala to identify new excursions, exceptional hotels, and authentic experiences to incorporate into their itineraries.
How to book a trip with Terra Guatemala?
Terra Guatemala's booking process follows ten defined steps:
Initial request receipt and assignment of dedicated travel advisor
Collaborative itinerary building with destination expert (up to two weeks)
Detailed itinerary proposal with day-by-day schedule
Hotel booking (with alternative options if selections are unavailable)
30% deposit to confirm trip
Pre-departure information and travel tips
24/7 assistance during travel
Regular check-ins from travel consultants during trip
Post-trip feedback collection
Review integration for service improvement
Response time for initial inquiries is typically within 48 hours.
Sustainable Tourism commitment
As part of the Terra Panamerica network's sustainability initiative launched in 2020, Terra Guatemala is pursuing Travelife certification. The agency emphasizes responsible tourism practices that support local communities, preserve cultural heritage, and minimize environmental impact. This includes partnerships with indigenous communities, promotion of local employment, and selection of partners based on sustainability criteria.
Contact Information
Email: contact@terra-guatemala.com
Phone: +33 1 89 70 50 39
WhatsApp: +502 3993 4526
Office Location: Antigua, Guatemala
What to see in Guatemala?
Key destinations featured in Terra Guatemala itineraries include:
Tikal: Major pre-Columbian Mayan archaeological site in northern Guatemala's rainforest
Antigua Guatemala: Colonial city with Spanish Baroque architecture, central market, and volcano access
Lake Atitlán: Highland lake surrounded by volcanoes and indigenous villages
Chichicastenango Market: One of Central America's largest indigenous markets
Semuc Champey: Natural limestone pools and cave systems
Pacaya Volcano: Active volcano offering accessible hiking experiences
Cobán Region: Coffee plantations and natural attractions in Alta Verapaz
The agency also facilitates access to lesser-known sites and arranges cultural immersion experiences with local families and communities.
Terra Guatemala operates through partnerships with established travel platforms and maintains visibility on international travel booking sites. Customer reviews highlight the agency's responsiveness, attention to detail, and ability to create authentic experiences beyond typical tourist routes.
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Why Travel to Guatemala with Terra Guatemala
Choosing Terra Guatemala offers several distinct advantages for travelers seeking an authentic Central American experience. As a locally-based agency with founders and staff residing in Guatemala, Terra Guatemala provides insider access to experiences and locations that international tour operators cannot match. The agency's on-the-ground presence means immediate support and problem-solving capabilities during travel, as demonstrated by their ability to navigate unexpected challenges such as road blockades through local knowledge and connections.
No intermediaries
The elimination of intermediaries results in better value pricing while maintaining direct communication with destination experts throughout the planning and travel process. Terra Guatemala's membership in both Terra Group and Terra Panamerica networks provides the resources and support infrastructure of an international organization while preserving the personalized service and local expertise of a boutique agency. This combination enables seamless multi-country itineraries across Central America when desired, coordinated through partner agencies who share the same commitment to quality and sustainability.
Direct field knowledge
The agency's continuous field research ensures that itineraries incorporate current information about destinations, newly discovered sites, and emerging accommodations that haven't yet appeared in guidebooks. Their relationships with local communities, indigenous families, and small-scale tourism operators create opportunities for cultural immersion that larger operators cannot access. For travelers prioritizing responsible tourism, Terra Guatemala's Travelife certification process and commitment to sustainable practices ensure that tourism spending supports local economies and cultural preservation rather than extracting value from communities.
Personalized approach
The personalized approach extends beyond itinerary design to encompass traveler motivations and preferences. Rather than offering pre-packaged tours with minor modifications, Terra Guatemala builds each journey from the ground up based on individual interests, whether those center on archaeology, adventure sports, wildlife observation, photography, culinary experiences, or cultural understanding. This level of customization, combined with 24/7 support during travel and regular check-ins from travel consultants who know each client's itinerary intimately, creates a travel experience that balances independence with security and authentic discovery with logistical ease.
