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10 Days Mother Nature's Best-Kept Secret -- featuring Timeless Tikal and Glorious Guatemala Tour Package
Touching down in Belize City, we immerse ourselves in the unique culture of this Central American gem of a destination and enjoy its unusual blend of British colonial architecture and small-town ambiance. We explore narrow streets lined with modern stores and dilapidated shacks, mingling with the ever-friendly locals along the way, before making our way across spectacular landscapes en route to some of the best-preserved ancient attractions in the world. Once the heartland of the great Maya Empire, Belize lays claim to archaeological and historic sites by the dozen, from magnificent temples and pyramids, to stone structures dating from 500BC and regions that pinpoint Maya habitation as early as 1500BC. On the outskirts of Caracol, we find more ancient Maya buildings than the total number of modern houses in all of Belize. Getting closer to nature, we have the opportunity to visit wildlife sanctuaries and zoos, trek through lush jungle and swim amid schools of colourful fish in blue-green waters offshore. Tour Itinerary Day 1 Arrive in Belize City Today we arrive to Belize City, an interesting mix of British colonial architecture and small-town ambience. Belmopan may be the de facto capital but Belize City is the cultural and commercial centre. Overnight in Belize City. Dinner if required. Day 2 Belize City, Belize - Tikal, Guatemala Today we take an early flight from Belize City to Flores. Once settled in, we will visit Flores, located on an island in Lake Peten Itza on the site of an ancient Mayan capital. We then make our way to our lakeside hotel. This afternoon is free to enjoy the gorgeous hotel area, take one of several jungle walks in the area, or have a look around Tikal, some of the best preserved Mayan ruins known. (Our guided tour of the site is tomorrow). Also located inside this 370 km/103 sq mile national park is a vast array of wildlife including parakeets, toucans and howler monkeys. Overnight near Tikal. Hotel Camino Real or similar. Breakfast and dinner. Day 3 Tikal, Guatemala - Belize City, Belize This morning ee embark on a guided tour to experience Tikal, possibly the most magnificent of all Mayan sites. Here we discover ancient temples, pyramids and stone structures dating from 500 BC. The five great pyramids of Tikal give this ceremonial centre a majestic grandeur unique among Maya cities. The height of the temples, crowned with tremendous roof combs, the complicated assemblage of the palace structures of the central Acropolis, and the complexity of the chronology of the North Acropolis are staggering to anyone visiting Tikal for the first time. In ancient times Tikal functioned mainly as a ceremonial centre in which the aristocratic elite and their priests ruled, dictated, and directed the activities of the architects, builders, craftsmen, and labourers. All endeavours in the region of Tikal were directed to enhance the city, to glorify the gods, to amass wealth, and to acquire tribute for the ruling upper strata of society. Later this afternoon we fly to Belize City. Overnight in Belize City. Breakfast and dinner. Day 4 Belize City - Crooked Tree - Altun Ha - Orange Walk Today we travel to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Managed by the Belize Audubon Society, this is an exciting bird watching habitat for novice and avid birdwatchers alike. Tens of thousands of migrating birds gather here for the winter, joining numerous resident tropical species including jabiru storks, snowy egrets, boat-billed herons, ibis, and kingfishers. Howler monkeys, crocodiles, and other wildlife are also spotted. The sanctuary is a large reserve covering inland waterways, logwood swamps, and lagoons. We also visit Altun Ha, an important ancient trading centre as well as a religious ceremonial centre. We see a concentration of structures including plazas surrounded by palaces and temples. Over 300 jade pieces have been discovered including the largest Mayan jade carving, Kinich Ahau, the sun god, found in the Temple of the Green Tomb. Overnight in Orange Walk. Breakfast and dinner. Day 5 Orange Walk - Lamanai Archaeological Reserve - Belize City Today we explore one of the many temples or palaces of Lamanai. Travelling via the Northern Highway, we pass through rural villages and lowlands to Tower Hill, where we board a riverboat and head up the New River. While traversing the many little creeks and lagoons, it is easy to encounter birdlife including hawks, kites and falcons. Dainty Jacanas lightly walk on the lily pads while the elusive crocodiles bask in the morning sunlight. The river is lined with hardwood trees with lots of orchids and bromeliads. At the entrance to the New River Lagoon, the ruins of Lamanai (Mayan for submerged crocodile) rise into view. Once at the site we tour the small museum which features many ancient relics found at Lamanai. This ancient archaeological site reveals a civilization that is known to have occupied Belize as far back as 1500 BC. Among the most spectacular of these archeological wonders is the ruins of one of the Maya's largest ceremonial centers and home to several large temples located on the banks of the New River Lagoon. The Lamanai Archeological Reserve also contains a museum, the remnants of two 16th century Spanish churches and a colonial sugar mill from 1860. We then return to the river boat for cruise back to Tower Hill and continuation tour bus drive to Belize City. Overnight in Belize City. Breakfast and dinner. Day 6 Belize City - Belize Zoo - San Ignacio Early this morning we we visit the world famous Belize Zoo. A highlight of any visit to this little country, the zoo allows us not only to see some of the rare creatures of Central America but the zoo is actively involved in conserving habitat for these species and part of our entrance fees go towards ensuring that the wild relatives of these now caged animals can live free. We move on to San Ignacio, via Guanacaste Park, to take a pleasant nature walk through the forest and view the oldest and largest Guanacaste tree in the country. San Ignacio is an agricultural area nestled in rolling hills of forest and valleys with clusters of houses scattered throughout. After arrival at our hotel, we will spend several hours at the recently excavated site of Cahal Pech. Located just a short walk from our hotel, this remarkably well preserved site has a small but very informative museum where we will watch a video outlining the complexity of Mayan civilization in the lands that are today part of Belize (NOTE: We may visit Cahel Pech tomorrow if timing does not allow today.) Overnight in San Ignacio. Breakfast and dinner. Day 7 San Ignacio - Caracol - San Ignacio We have a full day excursion to Caracol, the largest site in Belize and once the most densely populated site in Mesoamerica. This is the largest site in Belize and once home to over 150,000 Mayans. This extensive site is one of the most interesing to visit in Central America; after all, Caracol once ruled over the mighty city of Tikal. The number of Mayan houses found in the countryside around Caracol is greater than the number of modern houses standing today in all of Belize. Overnight in San Ignacio. Breakfast and dinner. Day 8 San Ignacio - Xunantunich - Belize City - Cay Caulker This morning we visit Xunantunich, a Classic-period ceremonial centre. Its name means "stone maiden." Perhaps the best part of a visit to Xunantunich is the spectacular view of the surrounding forest from the top of El Castillo, the largest structure in the complex and the second tallest human-made building in Belize at 40 m/132 ft. The frieze on the side of El Castillo is a recreation in stucco. Not much is known about the history of Xunantunich except that it was abandoned after being hit by a massive earthquake around AD 900. As with most Mayan buildings, the architecture here is layered, with new buildings erected on top of old ones. We continue to Belize City to connect with our 45 min water taxi or short flight to Cay Caulker. Overnight in Cay Caulker. Breakfast and dinner. Day 9 Cay Caulker On early British maps the island's name is spelled "Cay Corker." Known historically for its plentiful supply of exposed fresh water at La Aguada, one theory holds that this island was a favourite stop for sailors to replenish and cork water bottles. The Spanish name of the island is Cayo Hicaco, which means "the island of the cocoplum." "Caye Caulker" could be an anglicized pronunciation of Cayo Hicaco. Another theory is that boats were caulked in the protected bay, La Ensenada, on the western side of the island leading to the "Caulker" name. Despite the growth of tourism, Caye Caulker remains a small village with a distinct cultural flavour not necessarily found in large-scale tourist development. Almost all the businesses are locally owned, vehicles larger than golf carts almost never roam the streets, and lodging is small scale compared to many other tourist destinations, including neighbouring Ambergris Cay. Today is at leisure to enjoy the barrier reef, located just off shore, or to just sit and relax in the tiny island's legendary tropical atmosphere and friendliness. Your Tour Leader can you help you plan your day. Overnight on Cay Caulker. Breakfast and dinner. Day 10 Cay Caulker - Belize City - Departure Today we fly to Belize City to connect with our onward flights. Departure from Belize City. LAND ONLY CLIENTS: Your flight out of Belize City, the tour end point, should take into account the trip from Cay Caulker. Those with morning flights may have to overnight in Belize City at an extra cost. Breakfast. BON VOYAGE!! Save time, money and stress! For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Belize vacation specialist. Contact : Travelwizard.com Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252 12/09 |
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