Day
01
Depart from UK and arrive in Guatemala City - Antigua
Arrive in Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua for your hotel. Rest of the evening, at leisure.
[x] Breakfast [x] Lunch [Y] Indian Dinner
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Day
02
Antigua - Lake Atitlán
After breakfast travel to Antigua, the most important and enchanting city of colonial Guatemala. Founded by the Spaniards in 1543, nowadays Antigua is a beautiful blend of ruins, restored colonial buildings, and new buildings in colonial style. Visit the Central Plaza that is surrounded by the antique Cathedral, the Municipal Government Building, and the Palace of the Captains General; colonial churches and monasteries, primitive foot-looms where colourful textiles are woven, and a jade factory where this stone is worked into beautiful jewellery. The city is filled with colonial buildings and considered the country’s cultural capital. It’s beautiful backdrop consists of three looming volcanoes that tower over the cobbled streets and colourful houses below. In the afternoon proceed to Lake Atitlán, one of the most beautiful in the world, with its crystalline-azure waters in the crater bowl below. Surrounded by Twelve Indian villages the Lake and their inhabitants are descendants from the great Quiché, Cackchiquel, and Tzutuhil nations. Rest of the evening at leisure.
[Y] Breakfast [Y] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
03
Lake Atitlán - Santiago Atitlán - Lake Atitlán
After breakfast, today we cross the lake on a boat and head to picturesque Indian village of Santiago Atitlán, one of the twelve lake-shore villages surrounding the lake. Spend the rest of the day in the village enjoying this bustling Indian community, where weavers work the colourful textiles. Head back to Lake Atitlán in the evening. Overnight accommodations at a Hotel in Lake Atitlán.
[Y] Breakfast [x] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
04
Lake Atitlán - Chichicastenango - Guatemala City - Flores
After breakfast we head to Chichicastenango. You will get a chance to see the most colourful and picturesque Indian open-air market in the country. Hundreds of Indians from the surrounding countryside gather to barter their goods and products. This is also an opportunity to witness the captivating religious ceremonies held on the steps and inside the 400-year old Church of Santo Tomás. After a very exciting morning we head towards Guatemala City and guide you around landmarks like the Avenue of the Americas, Constitution Plaza and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Learn more about the city’s rich history and heritage as you admire the murals and mosaics of the Bank of Guatemala, browse for handicrafts at the bustling Central Market, then explore the vast Paseo Cayala shopping complex. After lunch take a flight to Flores. Dinner and overnight at hotel.
[Y] Breakfast [Y] Lunch [Y] Indian Dinner
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Day
05
Flores - Tikal National Park - Mayan City
Today transfer to the Mayan City of Tikal located in the centre of the National Park, where some 3,000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. Not only you will enjoy a fascinating tour of this impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, but you will also experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys, that live in the jungle canopy. Once home to an estimated at 50,000 residents or more, Tikal flourished from 800 BC to 900 AD. You will follow in the footsteps of Maya royalty and commoners as your guide leads you to such sites the Twin-Pyramid Complexes “Q” and “R”, Lost World Complex where the Great Pyramid and Temple 5C-49 are the most important, the Temple III and the Palace of the Windows, the Great Plaza, squared off with the pyramids of the Grand Jaguar and the Masks, the Palace of the Nobles, and Pyramid IV. This one is the highest of the Mayan pyramids, from its top a complete view of Tikal and its surrounding jungle can be enjoyed. At the end of this exciting long day we head back to the hotel to digest all this ancient civilization.
[Y] Breakfast [Y] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
06
Belize - Cayo District and Barton Creek Cave Adventure
After breakfast meet your local guide, transfer to Cayo District through the Mennonite Community of Upper Barton Creek river. The Barton Creek Cave Tour is a low intensity adventure trip which is great for couples and families, offering something for everyone. Equipped with canoes and high powered lights guests gently paddle along the river into the cave system known as Xibalba (she-bal-ba), Maya for under world. Stalactites hang high overhead as you float past impressive calcite crystal formations. Knowledgeable guides discuss the relevance of the cave to the ancient Mayan people and the archaeological significance of this 7.5km limestone cave system which was used for ceremonial purposes and as a burial site by the ancient Maya people. In the evening return back to the hotel.
[Y] Breakfast [Y] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
07
Caracol - Full day with Rio Frio Caves and pools - Chiquibul forest reserve
After breakfast today we visit an area of sub-tropical rainforest in the Maya village of San Antonio. Here you'll have an opportunity to see the Mestizo culture which is the mix of Maya and Spanish people. Two indigenous tribes live in San Antonio, the Mopan and the Yucatec Maya. San Antonio is also a famous village because it was the home of Dr Elijio Panti, one of the last Shaman in Belize. From here you'll continue up to the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve which is a 106,000 acre, protected national park. In the 1950's, 60's, and 70's, many Belizeans were employed as timber cutters in this area and on our journey we will see testament to that history. Unfortunately, this forest was affected by the Southern Pine Beatles in 1999 and so some areas are rather barren but it is interesting to see and learn about the reforestation programs taking place. After the Mountain Pine Ridge you start to see that the mountain change from Pine Forest to Tropical Rainforest and you'll enter the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. About 1 hour drive from the Pine Ridge you will arrive at the beautiful Maya site of Caracol (which means the Snail), named by the archaeologists because they found lather of the snails on site. The original name is "Oxwitza" which means the sky place. Caracol is the largest archaeological site located in the tourist-friendly Cayo District of Belize. It is located about 25 miles south of the town of San Ignacio in the foothills of the Maya Mountains within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in western Belize near the border with Guatemala, covering 30 square miles of thick, high canopy jungle, and includes five plazas, an astronomic observatory and over 35,000 buildings that have been identified. The loftiest among them, a massive pyramid (Caana) capped by three temples and rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor. You will enjoy a private guided tour of the site.
[Y] Breakfast [x] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
08
Culture Village Tour - San Ignacio
After breakfast today transferred to San Ignacio to visit a Maya family for an interactive chocolate making workshop. The demonstration starts with the peeling of the roasted cacao beans, then crushed on a grinding stone and turned into a chocolate paste. Guests then will mix a chocolate drink with the pure chocolate paste and then add sugar and honey, they also have the option of adding ground cinnamon, all spice or ground pepper to the mixture. Finally, the leftover chocolate paste is added sugar and moulded into heart or square shaped bars which you can take back home as souvenir. Afterwards continue to San Antonio village to visit the home of a local women's cooperative and experience the lifestyle and culture of the villagers. After a brief introduction, we enter the kitchen, grind corn on a grinding stone and make tortillas, where you can participate in a pottery workshop and make clay figures either by hand or using a spin wheel for making vases and pots. A typical village style lunch is served after the workshops. Our tour concludes with a visit to Sak Tunich, a place to meet local Mayan artists, famous for their handmade slate carvings; we also visit their workshops and exhibits before returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
[Y]Breakfast [Y] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
09
Cave Tubing - Baboon Sanctuary
After breakfast get transferred to Jaguar Paw where they begin a short jungle hike upriver. At the "put in point" they begin their scenic & tranquil journey down river floating on inner tubes and enjoying the views of the surrounding rainforest and the river cave formations as they pass into and out of several different cave systems. After lunch in the afternoon more adventure waits to continue a guided tour of the Baboon Sanctuary. At the Baboon Sanctuary you will learn about their work to protect the Howler Monkey (called baboons in the local Creole dialect) and where you can get up close and personal with these fascinating animals. Rest of the day at leisure.
[Y]Breakfast [x] Lunch [Y] Dinner
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Day
10
Belize City - UK
After breakfast depending on your flight time transfer to the airport for your flight home.
[Y] Breakfast [x] Lunch [x] Dinner
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Day
11
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