Advice on trip through Guatemala/Honduras/Belize

You'll want 2-3 nights in Copan, great town, easy 5 hr shuttle from AntiguaCalakmul is NOT a side trip from Bacalar, would recommend the water taxi from Caulker, which you'll want a couple nights as well!, to Chetumal then bus to Xpujil. Calakmull is really a full day, its about 1.5 hours from Xpujil to the ruins, huge complex and well worth it. Beautiful jungle and lots of wildlife. There is a place that provides set up tents with bedding for about 15 each a night in the jungle about a half hour from Calakmul, nice hiking trails and wildlife. I would set aside at least 2 nights.
Becan, just outside Xpujil is very cool.

Todos Santos is an interesting place, the getting there more so. One must cross a high limestone plateau of stark beauty, it is one of the most scenic places in Guatemala. The drive up the escarpment from Huehuetenango and back down is an experience in itself.

There is a village on the flank of the volcano Agua called Santa Maria de Jesus that is worth visiting when you are in Antigua. It is a 50 cent ride back in time from the corner of 5th south and 9th in Antigua by mini bus.

Well, one option is to leave on the 23rd in the afternoon and make your way to Quiche... it's a few hours and while it's not a touristic town at all, there are some nice hotels and it's an interesting place to take a walk in. The ruins of Q'umarkaj / Kumarkaj (there are many spellings) are right outside of the city and while they are not too impressive in themselves, the setting is pretty amazing. From Quiche, getting to Pana is a bit less of an epic journey... quick collectivo to Chichi, collectivo/bus to Los Encuentros (a couple of hours), then down to Pana, another hour or so.

Pretty much anywhere you find yourself on Christmas eve will be magical, but I think the lake is a great place to spend it.

I do like Antigua as well. Just wandering around. Beautiful buildings, markets (I like to have breakfast or lunch there) and yes, all the ruins which I love to wander through as well (La Recoleccion is one of my favourites and a bit off the beaten track). As for Pacaya... if you have not been close to an active volcano it is a fun trip with great views and old lava flows. Just realize you can't go to the top any more and you won't see lava. I do like volcanoes and love Acatenango, Santa Maria, Tajumulco... but those (especially the first two) are hard climbs.

I loved the Nebaj area. We hiked to Acul and Cocop. One remark though. You are doing the same long travel day twice, Chichi to Nebaj and Nebaj back to Chichi and on to Pana. Maybe you could go to Xela after Chichi and use your three extra days for that. Even if you don't want to climb a volcano there is also good hiking (for example to crater lake Chicabal and the Santiaguito (active volcano) lookout), there are Maya villages and markets (actually close to Xela there is the San Francisco El Alto Friday market which is amazing but I am not sure if it would be happening December 25) and there are scenic hot springs (Fuentes Georginas). Then go from Xela to the lake.

I have been to Todos Santos and liked it (very traditional village) but we did do more hiking there and it is quite a long trip to get there (scenic though) and then back to the lake.

If you do go to the lake from Nebaj normally on Friday there is the great Solola market (near Pana) but again, I don't know if it is happening on December 25. Three days at the lake is great.

Your day 21 is a long day if you still want to spend the morning in Tikal (if that is your only morning there).

If you do spend more time in Rio Dulce I can also recommend El Hotelito Perdido.

I have 2 nights on my itinerary in Copan but maybe I'll add a night to give me a little extra time to do the Macaw Bird Park and be less rushed, thanks for the tip.
Was planning on getting the water taxi to Caulker and straight from there to Bacalar. My friends who stayed there last year managed to arranged Calakmul from there with an early start and to see the bat caves before coming back. I know it would be an extremely long day so will read a bit more into the other options you suggest. Thanks!

Thank you Kwallek. Was reading about that trip to get to Todos Santos, sounds amazing. I am just a bit worried about adding more distances, it is a pretty hectic trip as it is but will have another look.
Santa Maria sounds lovely too and they maybe Volcano Agua, need to decide which one to do. I am reading about overnight trips to climb Agua, do you know if it can be done as a day trip instead?

sounds like a good option!

I just wanted to add that we saw lots of macaws at the ruins in Copan as that is where the birds from the bird park are being rehabilitated.

I believe Volcan Agua is having security problems again. OX is not doing any hikes there right now because of safety issues. There are also more scenic volcanoes if you are going to make the effort. With only one day you could look at Acatenango (from Antigua) but I prefer the overnight as at night you have a good chance of seeing lava when Fuego erupts and the sunrise is amazing too. Tajumulco (from Xela) can be one day too but again, the sunrise is so spectacular that I prefer the overnight trek. Santa Maria is a one day hike though from Xela (with views of active Santiaguito). Those are hard climbs and harder if you are not acclimatized.

I'm in reasonable good shape so I hope I will be able to do one of the volcanoes. I haven't seen an active volcano and I always have been fascinated by lava since I was a child so need to do a bit more research on which one would be better.
Was definitely planning to do the hikes to Acul and Cocop. I realise I am backtracking to and from Nebaj to go back to Atitlan so use those days to spend it in the area around Xela was one of the other options I was considering. Would it work to do Chich-Nebaj and then go to Xela via Huehuetenango. Must read a bit more on that. At the same time I was thinking that maybe I'm already going to too many places and it would be better to do more time to some of the places I have in the itinerary. I also had my mind set in being in Late Atitlan for Christmas so would only give me 1 or maximum 2 days for the area around Xela. I will definitely check the Solola market if is on.
On day 19 I'd say I'll be arriving around noon to Flores, I have the rest of the day and then the next full day for Tikal.
On day 21 I have to get to Caye Faulker so I think staying in Flores and leaving early for Faulker will be better. Wii likely stay the 2 nights in Flores and visit Tikal from there. I think I deserve a good dinner for my 40th :)

Thanks a million for all the tips, will check El Hotelito perdido too

Thank you Kwallek. Was reading about that trip to get to Todos Santos, sounds amazing. I am just a bit worried about adding more distances, it is a pretty hectic trip as it is but will have another look.
Santa Maria sounds lovely too and they maybe Volcano Agua, need to decide which one to do. I am reading about overnight trips to climb Agua, do you know if it can be done as a day trip instead?

It is my understanding that climbing Agua is not advised, hold ups and what not, the little town on its flank is safe enough. Have you considered the ferry from Puerto Barrios Guatemala to Punta Gorda Belize for your route to Tikal? Punta Gorda has a terminal for the James Bus Line, walking distance from the ferry dock. There are a number of clapboard hotels across from the ferry for resting up and getting an early start for the trip to Tikal. The express bus leaves at 6AM for Belize City, one gets off at the Belmopan stop and takes a local to San Ignacio. San Ignacio runs tours to Tikal, I talked to a man last winter in San Ignacio who went over to Tikal on a day trip-it is pretty close.
Both the Guatemala route and the Belize route are interesting. I like Punta Gorda, Puerto Barrios, not so much. San Ignacio is worth the effort, it really is.