Not at all. Antigua Legends is designed to be equally engaging for disabled and non-disabled travelers alike. In fact, the ideal group is a mix of both. Sighted family members, friends, and travel partners are warmly welcome. The multisensory itinerary — storytelling, cooking, tasting, hiking — is rich and immersive for everyone.

Yes. At Blind Pilots, we use “blind” the way Spanish uses “no vidente,” incorporating anyone at any stage of site loss. Whether you’re completely blind, have recently started changes in your vision, or are anywhere in between, Antigua Legends is for you. Our team adapts to your needs to keep things safe, flexible, and engaging.

Antigua is one of Guatemala’s safest and most visited cities. Scott has lived there for over 15 years and knows the area intimately. All transportation is private and pre-arranged, activities take place with trusted local partners, and you are accompanied by bilingual, trained guides throughout the trip. Safety is the highest priority — and it’s built into every detail.

Antigua Guatemala sits at 5,029 ft. (1,533 mts.) above sea level. It’s location in the Guatemlan highlands gives it the proud nickname as the Land of the Eternal Spring. The months from November until May are the dry season.

Note that there is also an island called Antigua. Antigua Guatemala and the island of Antigua are two separate places. It is a common mistake. Antigua Legends is in Antigua Guatemala and the closest airport is Guatemala City (GUA).

Antigua is a colonial city with cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks. It is not considered an “accessible” destination by conventional standards. However, Scott has navigated Antigua blind for years and has designed every element of this trip with that reality in mind. Local, bilingual sighted guides are available for every traveler who wants one, and guides communicate throughout every experience. You won’t be figuring it out alone.

Guide dogs are welcome in Guatemala and permitted at the hotel and all Antigua Legends activities except the volcano hikes. There is a trusted dog daycare in Antigua (El Chucho Feliz) that can accommodate dogs during hikes at the owner’s expense. Scott’s team can arrange the required export paperwork for your dog. This paperwork costs approximately $200.

Pacaya is a moderate hike of about two hours each way, bottom to top and top to bottom. Every participant can choose whether to hike or go by horseback ($20 extra). Guides are with you the entire way. If you opt for the Acatenango extension, every blind hiker is required to have their own dedicated guide for safety and pacing. All mountain guides have been personally trained by Scott to work with blind hikers. Porters carry backpacks so you can focus on the climb.

Antigua’s infrastructure is not friendly to wheelchairs. Manual wheelchairs are a possibility, if the user is experienced with navigating various types of terrain and through tight spaces. Blind Pilots does collaborate with Transitions, an Antigua organization that supplies wheelchairs, and they have offered guidance and assistance where they can. They did suggest that a wheelchair user would be best advised to travel with a partner who has helped move the wheelchair in the past. This is especially important on the rough cobblestone streets that make up Antigua’s historical center. Please contact Scott if you want to discuss your specific situation.

Note that electric or power wheelchairs cannot be accommodated in Antigua.

Scooters and electric carts are not available in Antigua. If mobility aids are needed, we recommend walking or hiking poles, with rubber tips for balance. Because of Antigua’s unforgiving sidewalks and streets, walkers are not recommended. You can contact Scott to talk about your specific circumstances before you pay your deposit.

This trip is about you, not us. If you’d like to opt out of any activity, rest at the hotel, or simply take some time for yourself, that is always supported and encouraged. Note that your trip price includes all scheduled activities and the trip price does not change if you opt out of any activity.

Antigua is a busy, small town, but should be more calm in January. It is important to note, however, that there are many fireworks and loud bangs, called bombas, that go off at unpredictable times. These noises can be upsetting to anyone. We recommend carrying noise-cancelling headphones with you. The holiday crowds have dissipated by late January, but weekends can still be attract lots of people. If you want to talk about your specific circumstances, please contact Scott.

Absolutely — this trip was designed with them in mind. One of the core ideas behind Blind Pilots is that when you travel with someone, they shouldn’t have to spend the entire trip guiding you. With trained local guides handling that role, your travel partner gets to genuinely enjoy the experience alongside you rather than feeling responsible for you. Everyone gets their own adventure.

Groups are between 6 and 10 travelers. This keeps the experience personal, ensures everyone gets individual attention from the guides and hosts, and makes logistics smooth.

Hotel rooms are available in double or single occupancy, and the rate is the same either way. You can indicate your preference when you book. Please note that the luxury cabins at San Cayetano are based on double occupancy.

You can choose someone from the group to share the cabin or, if preferred, we can place you with someone. If you prefer to have you own cabin, you must pay the rate of a double occupancy (USD $520). If there is an odd number of people on the trip and you are traveling by yourself, you will be given a cabin at the single rate. In this case, you will not be charged anything extra

Your Antigua hotel room is yours throughout your time in Guatemala. Even for the night at the luxury cabins, your hotel room is yours. This means that you can leave anything you don’t bring to the cabins in your hotel room and all of your things will be right where you left them when you get back to Antigua. 

This includes the Acatenango extension. Bring your hiking gear with you to the volcano and everything else will be safe in your Antigua hotel room.

The base itinerary is moderate. The most physically demanding day is the Pacaya volcano hike (Day 4), which is about two hours of uphill walking with a horseback alternative. The Acatenango extension is significantly more challenging — a six to seven hour ascent to 13,402 feet — and is optional. All other days involve comfortable walking, cultural activities, and plenty of built-in rest.

Blind Pilots strongly recommends travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. Note that blindness is considered a pre-existing condition by most insurers, so look for policies that cover pre-existing conditions. Your credit card company may also offer travel protection. Scott’s team can recommend reputable policies if needed.

Travelers from the US, Canada, and European Union countries receive a free 90-day tourist visa on arrival — no advance application needed. If you’re traveling from outside these regions, check with your foreign ministry about visa requirements before booking.

A deposit of $550 (USD) is due to reserve your place on Antigua legends. This deposit is non-refundable. There are also options to pay the full amount for the regular itinerary at one time and another option to pay for the Antigua Legends tour + Acatenango extension. The Blind Pilots team will be in contact about final payments for those who select the deposit option.

Scott’s team will send a detailed packing guide after booking. The essentials: comfortable walking shoes (sturdy hiking boots if doing Acatenango — rentals are available in Antigua), layers for cooler mountain evenings, sunscreen, and a sense of adventure.

Scott and his team are available at every step of planning. Reach out through the contact form, and they’ll get back to you personally.