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"GUA-LIZE": Guatemala with
Optional Belize Extension
July 6-12, 2008 (Guatemala only)
July 6-16, 2008(Guatemala and Belize combined)
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Guatemala's charms are as varied as the riotous colors woven into its famed fabrics. Our journey incorporates the fantastic Maya ruins of Tikal and the colonial splendor of Antigua -- both exquisitely preserved through the centuries -- as well as the breathtaking natural beauty of Lake Atitlán ringed by volcanoes. And then, for those who have a little more time, we cross the border into Belize, journeying through lush rainforest and mountains, observing the wildlife and fauna, and eventually reaching the coast where we can relax in a beautiful beach environment and enjoy this wonderful part of the Caribbean Sea. Throughout our journey we stay in charming, unique first-class lodgings and enjoy fine meals. |
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ITINERARY Day 1, July 6, 2008 - You will be met
at the Guatemala City airport for your transfer to
the colonial city of Antigua, a one-hour drive. We have selected a lovely
hotel spread over extensive grounds that include the colonial-era ruins
of an old convent, a working chapel, several museum-quality display
areas, and a large amphitheater. After checking in to the hotel the
rest of your day is free until we meet for our welcome drink and dinner.
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Day 2 - After breakfast we’ll
set out on a walking tour to explore some of Antigua’s more interesting
churches, monuments, and ruins. Antigua was Guatemala's capital from 1543
until 1776. It was originally christened La Muy Noble y Muy Leal Ciudad
de Santiago de los Caballeros de Goathemala (The Very Noble and Very Loyal
City of Santiago of the Knights of Guatemala), it was for centuries perhaps
the New World's finest city. Antigua flourished throughout the 17th and
on into the 18th centuries, with the massive wealth generated by the Spanish
conquest being poured into the construction of churches, government buildings,
universities, convents and monasteries, private homes, and military garrisons.
In 1944, Antigua was declared a National Monument by the Government of
Guatemala, and in 1979, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site. One of our stops will be La Merced Church. In a city awash in churches, convents, and monasteries, Iglesia La Merced reigns supreme. The ornate baroque facade is painted bright yellow and white, and the interior is full of art and sculptures. We also visit Convento de las Capuchinas. Life was pretty difficult and austere for the nuns at this Capuchin convent, but today the grounds and buildings are some of the most pastoral and picturesque in all of Antigua. The large and sprawling complex was abandoned in the wake of the 1776 earthquake, but the damage was relatively minor. The view from the rooftop is wonderful. The Cathedral of San José, the city’s central plaza, and one of Antigua’s notable palaces are other stops on our route this morning. After our lunch you are free to venture out further in this lovely city. There are some interesting museums worth popping into, and the shopping options are excellent. There is a massive indoor space with a soaring ceiling that houses a local craft and textile cooperative warehouse. Textiles, woodcarvings, and ceramic wares from across the country are available. There are several high-end jewelry stores selling locally produced wares. Or you may wish to allow some time to wander through the many rooms of art in a contemporary gallery, set up in the rambling space of a converted colonial-era home where more than a hundred Guatemalan artists are represented. For a more active option, the Cerro de la Cruz, a hill north of the city with a big cross mounted on it, offers the best view of Antigua. You can climb the hill on foot (20-30 minutes from the Plaza Mayor), or get there by taxi. Overnight in Antigua. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch |
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Day 3 - Leaving Antigua this morning we’ll
travel about one hour to reach the colorful authentic market at Comalapa
and enjoy a tour of the market, the famous galleries of naïve painting,
a local bakery, and the town mural. After lunch we continue on to beautiful
Lake Atitlán, about a two-and-a-half hour drive.
Whether or not you agree with Aldous Huxley that Atitlán is the
"most beautiful lake in the world," you would be hard pressed
to not be at least slightly impressed. Formed thousands of years ago in
the crater of a massive volcano, Lake Atitlán is stunning. It sits
at nearly a mile high in altitude, and is surrounded on all sides by steep
verdant hills, picturesque Maya villages, and massive volcanoes with striking
pointed cones. The road that circumnavigates much of the lake actually
follows the rim of the extinct crater, and the views from the lakeshore,
the hillsides above the lake, and the boats plying its waters are all
fabulous, and seemingly endlessly varied, as the light and cloud cover
shift constantly throughout the day. Our accommodations for two nights
are at a beautiful lakeside hotel. Dinner this evening will be a special treat, where the food, service, ambience, and views all line up to provide a memorable experience. Overnight at Lake Atitlán. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 4 - This morning we will enjoy a scenic
boat ride (about 30 minutes) across the dazzling lake to the village of
San Juan La Laguna where we will visit the women’s textile cooperative
to observe hand weaving and the natural dye process. Also here we will
stop in to the studios and homes of celebrated naïve painters. Afterwards
we continue to picturesque Santiago village where we’ll have our
lunch and then a tour to visit the Maya god Maximon, a pre-Columbian god
of the underworld. Maximón symbolizes male sexual virility and
brings rain to fertilize the earth. He's known as the saint of gamblers
and drunkards and is thought to give wealth and worldly success to his
followers. We also learn about the textiles, spiritualism, and beliefs
of the Tz’utujil Maya people. Our return to our lakeside hotel is
by way of Santa Catarina village. Overnight at Lake Atitlán. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
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Day 5 - Today we leave Lake Atitlán
and head first to Chichicastenango (also known as "Chichi"),
the home of a very impressive — and certainly the most famous
— open-air market in Guatemala. Today is a market day, and the
town is filled with a cacophony of Mayan dialects, mixed with Spanish
and the bargaining banter of foreigners. Maya craft sellers from across
the highlands set up makeshift booths around the central plaza, spilling
over on to sidewalks, the church steps, and up various side streets.
A broad selection of Guatemalan handicrafts is available, including
carved-wood masks and religious figures, ceramic wares, and an immense
selection of the country's amazing native textiles. In addition to the
craftworks, vendors sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, medicinal herbs,
and more. We will also have a chance to see how Maya traditional beliefs
have mixed with the Catholic faith in rituals performed in the church. |
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Day 6 - Today we explore the amazing UNESCO
World Heritage site of Tikal where the ruins of huge
Maya temples rise above the jungle canopy, and monkeys and tropical birds
are abundant in the surrounding rainforest. Tikal is the greatest of the
surviving classic Maya cities, comparable to Mexico’s Chichén
Itzá, and is estimated to have once supported a population of about
100,000 people. The site is massive and has been meticulously excavated
and restored. Archaeologists have identified more than 3,000 structures,
and in its heyday, the city probably covered as much as 25 square miles.
Unlike the grand cities and excavations in Mexico, Tikal rises out of
dense jungle. The pyramids here are some of the most perfect examples
of ceremonial architecture in the Maya world. Standing atop Temple IV,
you are high above the rainforest canopy. The peaks of several temples
poke through the thick vegetation, toucans and parrots fly about, and
the loudest noise you'll hear is the guttural call of howler monkeys. For those who are not continuing on to do the Belize extension, after freshening up at the hotel you will fly back to Guatemala City in the early evening where you will be transferred to your deluxe hotel for the night. Overnight in Guatemala City (for guests not doing Belize extension). Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch in the National Park Overnight at Lake Petén Itzá (for guests doing Belize extension) Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch in the National Park, Dinner |
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will have a private transfer to the Guatemala City airport (about 10 minutes)
where you will catch your homeward-bound flight. Meals included: Breakfast BELIZE EXTENSION Day 7, July 12, 2008 - Today we leave Guatemala and venture overland into Belize. Before reaching our boutique lodge in the Cayo District we will stop at Xunantunich in Belize. The Cayo District is in the heart of the Mayan highlands, with several major ruins and cave systems used by the ancient residents of this region. Xunantunich is an impressive, well excavated, and easily accessible Mayan site. The name translates as "maiden of the rocks." The main pyramid here, El Castillo, rises to 127 feet. The view from the top is impressive. Xunantunich was a thriving Mayan city in the Classic Period, about 600 to 900. To reach the ruins, we cross the Mopan River aboard a small hand-cranked car-ferry, and we might be able to see colorfully dressed women washing clothes in the river as we are cranked across by the ferryman. Later we move on to our lovely lodge where we spend two nights. Overnight in Cayo District. Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 8 - We set out for the Mountain
Pine Ridge Reserve, which is a protected park. One probably doesn't
conjure up pine trees when thinking about the tropics -- but you'll see
plenty of them in these rugged mountains. This area is a natural wonderland
of spectacular waterfalls, wild orchids, parrots, keel-billed toucans,
and other exotic flora and fauna. The highlight is the beautiful site
of Caracol, the largest of the Belizean Maya ruins. This
city rivaled and frequently battled Tikal. The main pyramid, at 140 feet,
is the tallest manmade structure in Belize. There is great bird watching
and the chance to see other wild fauna out here. Additional possibilities for the day include hiking to the beautiful waterfalls at the Río On Pools, exploring the Río Frio Cave, and stopping in at an interesting butterfly ranch and botanical collection. Overnight in Cayo District. Meals: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 9 - Today we’ll head for the
coast, but on the way we’ll stop at the Cockscomb Basin
Wildlife Sanctuary. This is a 150-square-mile protected area
comprised of rugged forested mountains. The sanctuary was designed to
protect and help researchers study the largest new-world cat, the jaguar.
In fact, it has the greatest density of jaguars on the planet. The park
is also home to Belize's other four wildcat species, as well as tapirs,
coatimundis, tayra, kinkajous, deer, peccaries, anteaters, and armadillos.
There are some 300 species of birds, including the large and loud scarlet
macaw, as well as several toucan species, and the imposing king vulture.
Inside the park is also Victoria Peak, which, at 3,700 feet, is the country's
highest mountain. After a picnic lunch we can enjoy a refreshing tube
float down the river. We then hike to a waterfall for an invigorating
swim in its cool mountain waters if you’d like and end by descending
down to the river for some "rock sliding" on smooth rocks. It’s
all great fun. Late in the afternoon we’ll arrive at the Caribbean coast where we’ll check into our lovely accommodation right on the sea where we spend our last two nights. Overnight on the Caribbean coast of Southern Belize. Meals included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 10 - Our seaside setting is a long,
narrow, gently curving swath of white sand beach that is usually quite
calm and good for swimming. The picturesque village itself is a midsize
Garífuna community with colorfully painted raised clapboard houses,
and it’s also a good place for getting a true taste of and some
direct contact with this unique culture. This is a great place to wander
around talking with children, fishermen, and elderly folks. Fishing
is still the main pursuit of many of the villagers, although tourism
is rapidly becoming the main source of employment and income. |
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| Day 11, July 16, 2008 - After breakfast
you will be transferred to the Dangriga airport where you fly to Belize
International Airport for your homeward-bound flight. Meals: Breakfast |
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| PRICING (Guatemala only) $2395 (14-16 participants) $2495 (11-13 participants) $2595 (8-10 participants) Single Supplement: $285 |
PRICING (Guatemala & Belize
combined) $3395 (14-16 participants) $3495 (11-13 participants) $3595 (8-10 participants) Single Supplement: $640 |
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Pricing includes: * All accommodations in beautiful, charming, upscale properties * All meals except for 3 dinners * Welcome drink * Non-alcoholic beverages * Tour escort traveling with the group for the duration of the tour * Ground transportation in comfortable minibuses * Ground transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua on Day 1 * Flight from Guatemala City to Petén region on Day 5 * All entrance fees for sights visited as a group |
Pricing includes: * All accommodations in beautiful, charming, upscale properties * All meals except for 1 lunch and 2 dinners * Welcome drink * Non-alcoholic beverages * Tour escort traveling with the group for the duration of the tour * Ground transportation in comfortable minibuses * Ground transfer from Guatemala City airport to Antigua on Day 1 * Flight from Guatemala City to Petén region on Day 5 * All entrance fees for sights visited as a group * Ground transfer from hotel to Dangriga airport on Day 11 * Flight from Dangriga to Belize City |
| Pricing does not include: * International airfare to Guatemala City and return from Guatemala City or Belize City * Transfer from hotel in Guatemala City to airport on Day 7 for those who are not doing the Belize extension * Extra hotel nights that might be desired or needed * Wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages at most group meals * Personal expenses such as laundry, phone calls, minibar, etc. |
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ACCOMMODATIONS - Guatemala ANTIGUA: The grand hotel we’ve selected is practically a tourist attraction in and of itself, spread over massive grounds that include the colonial-era ruins of an old convent, a working chapel, several museum-quality display areas, and a large amphitheater. The rooms are all top-notch with stately decor and nice amenities. The grounds and facilities are impressive, and they have a sunset terrace with a perfect view of the nightly setting behind Volcán de Agua. As night falls the whole place is transformed into a beautiful candlelit scene. The restaurant is excellent. |
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LAKE ATITLAN: Beautiful and luxurious rooms, fabulous grounds, impeccable service, and an excellent restaurant make this a winning hotel. The property is packed with colonial-era and local art, sculpture, and religious iconography. The rooms are all distinct and come with a private balcony or garden-front patio. The extensive botanical gardens and aviary are real treasures, and the lake-view pool and infinity-edge Jacuzzi are added treats. | |
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LAKE PETEN ITZA / TIKAL: This modern resort, set on a hillside above the lake, has bungalows set in a long line along a ridge over the lake, and all have wonderful lake views. Inside, the rooms are spacious and feature contemporary and tasteful decor, as well as a range of modern amenities. Every room has a private balcony or porch. There are two restaurants and a lovely outdoor pool area, while down by the water there's a dock out into the lake, a sandy beach area for swimming, and a wood-fired sauna. | |
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ACCOMMODATIONS - Belize CAYO DISTRICT / MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE: We have chosen one of Belize’s newest high-end boutique resorts offering luxury accommodations, world-class dining, spa facilities, swimming pool, and just 15 beautifully appointed cottages. It’s nestled in the Maya Mountains and surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Rooms are spacious and highlighted by customized modern decor with peaceful verandas. |
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CARIBBEAN COAST: This well-run, small-scale resort offers quite comfortable rooms in an intimate setting. The beachfront rooms are housed in a couple of ocean-facing two-story buildings. There is also a series of "treehouses," spacious individual bungalows set on stilts 12 feet high in the midst of the hotel's tiny coastal forest, just a few yards behind the main operation. These offer up a lush sense of tropical isolation. There are wonderfully artistic tile and woodworking touches in all rooms, which have quite high ceilings. Meals are served either in the main dining room or outdoors on an open-air deck. The name of the hotel means "almond" in the local Garífuna language, and there are plenty of the namesake trees growing around the grounds. Not a true almond, the tree does have an almond-shaped fruit. | |
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