The Jaguar Temple, Tikal, Guatemala

The mystery and power of Mayan civilization is embodied in the jungle-draped temples of Tikal. Our journey includes an overnight at Tikal Jungle Lodge, just a 10-minute walk from the temples of this royal city, as well as nature walks in the Chan Chich rain forest.

Photo by Christian Ziegler / Danita Delimont Agency

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Belize and Tikal route-map

Trip Details at-a-Glance

Cost From: $2995   see pricing
Length: 8 days
Arrive: Belize City, Belize
Depart: Guatemala City, Guatemala
Lodging: 7 nights in wildlife lodges describe
Meals: All meals included
Activity: Snorkeling, Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Archaeology
Trip Level: Rainforest hikes, night walks, river swims, snorkeling, kayaking
2p explain

Highlights

  • Enjoy nature hikes and terrific snorkeling at Punta Gorda
  • Explore the ruins of Xunantunich and the forests of the Maya Mountains, with their secret Mayan caves
  • View the towering pyramids of Tikal


Great trip. Loved the variety with the jungle, the reef, and the Maya ruins.Judith A.—Hillsdale, NJ

Choosing the Right Trip

We work hard to help you choose the right trip for you, paying attention to your individual interests, abilities, and needs. If you have questions about the level of comfort or any of the activities described in this itinerary, please contact us.
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References

We are proud to have an exceptionally high rate of repeat travelers. For more information, we would be happy to put you in touch with a client who has traveled with us.

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Departure Notes

Once you have signed up on the trip, we send a complete packing list, relevant health information, and required travel documents.

Resources

Our active journey in beautiful Belize showcases a bounty of natural history adventures: we snorkel the azure seas of the Caribbean and explore lush rainforests at Punta Gorda; hike, wade, and climb through an ancient ceremonial cave in the Maya Mountains; and experience the wonder of spectacular Tikal, where giant pyramids soar out of a vast jungle reserve alive with the calls of birds and monkeys. Hand-selected lodges place us in incredible settings deep in the midst of an utter abundance of rare birds and tropical wildlife. Our pre- and post-trip extensions include the chance to experience even more magnificent snorkeling from a beautiful atoll on Belize’s famed barrier reef and explorations in the Guatemala Highlands, including the lovely colonial town of Antigua and the fantastic K’iche’ Maya culture of Chichicastenango.

Itinerary at a Glance

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Days 1-3
Belize City / Punta Gorda

Arrive in Belize City, and fly to the seaside town of Punta Gorda. From our comfortable jungle lodge nestled between the rainforest and the banks of the Moho River, we head out for birding walks, rainforest hikes, and kayaking on the tranquil river. We also enjoy snorkeling the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean at Snake Cayes in the Port of Honduras Marine Reserve. The shallow waters surrounding these small islands swirl with colorful fish, turtles, conches, and corals.

Days 4-5
Maya Mountains / Actun Tunichil Muknal

We head to our lodge in the subtropical forests of the Maya Mountains for nature walks, swimming, and tubing on the Roaring River. At nearby Actun Tunichil Muknal, we hike, swim, and wade as we follow a clear turquoise stream deep into a mystical cavern with walls of river-sculpted rock that were once spiritual centers of the ancient Maya.

Days 6-8
Xunantunich / Tikal

En route to Tikal, we stop at Xunantunich, a Classic Period ceremonial center perched on a ridge overlooking the Mopan River. The next day we explore Tikal, whose sheer scale is extraordinary, with steep-sided pyramids towering 20 stories above a vast jungle reserve. We climb the central stairways of the pyramids, explore the ball courts and great plazas, and search for toucans and monkeys in the treetops. Our lagoon-side lodge is in a serene setting in a private nature reserve. Depart on Day 8 via Guatemala City, or join one of our extensions.

For a more complete description, Download Full Trip Brochure

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

What the Trip is Like

The trip is Level 2+, easy to moderate, according to our trip grading system, but for your own enjoyment of the trip, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. We enjoy moderate nature hikes of two to three hours on several days (the exploration of Actun Tunichil Muknal on Day 5 is more challenging). There is easy snorkeling on Day 3, and on the Barrier Reef extension, both novice and experienced snorkelers will enjoy the snorkeling excursions. There is plenty of time for swimming and relaxing on both snorkeling options.

Explanation of Trip Levels

 

Departures & Leaders

Nov 17-24, 2012  Federico Munoz
Feb 16-23, 2013
Mar 23-30, 2013
Nov 23-30, 2013

Tour Costs

Prices are for 2012
$2995 (10-12 members)
$3395 (6-9 members)
Single supplement: $325
Forced single supplement: $162
Internal airfare: $295 (subject to change)
more on pricing

Extension Costs
Guatemala Highlands Extension
   from: $1150
Turneffe Island Resort Extension
   from: $1350

Tour Cost Includes:

  • Expert leadership of a Wilderness Travel Trip Leader and local guides
  • Accommodations as noted
  • All meals included
  • Sightseeing, tours, and airport transfers as indicated in the Full Trip Brochure

Tour Cost Does Not Include:

International airfare, internal flights, transfers for independent arrival or departure, any meals not specified after each itinerary day in the Full Trip Brochure, airport departure taxes, optional tipping or gratuities to leaders or staff, additional hotel nights that may be necessitated by airline schedule changes or other factors; pre-trip expenses of medical immunizations (if any), travel insurance, and other expenses of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc.).

Trip Payment Schedule

At time of reservation: $500
120 days prior to departure: 20%
60 days prior to departure: Balance

Cancellation and Transfer Fee Schedule*

Minimum fee: $500
60-90 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost
59 days or less: 100% of tour cost

*Please note that this differs from our regular catalog departures.

Cotton Tree Lodge

Cotton Tree Lodge

Days 1 to 3 (3 nights), Punta Gorda, Belize

Countless species of birds are everywhere you look on the grounds of Cotton Tree Lodge, a remote retreat nestled between unspoiled rainforest and ...
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Pook’s Hill Lodge

Pook’s Hill Lodge

Days 4 to 5 (2 nights), Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, Belize

Pook’s Hill Lodge, set on the edge of a 9th century Maya complex, is located within a private 300-acre reserve of primary rainforest bordering ...
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Villa Maya

Villa Maya

Days 6 to 7 (2 nights), Flores, Guatemala

The Villa Maya is a quiet retreat located on the shores of Petenchel and Monifata lagoons in a private natural reserve just 45 minutes from Tikal. ...
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Extension Accommodations

If you would like to view the accommodations offered with our extensions options:

Note: Listed above are our signature accommodations for this trip. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.

Federico Munoz

Federico Muñoz of Costa Rica is the founder of Finca Terra Viva, a campus in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve that combines education, conservation, and agro-ecology. This is also Federicos’s home when he’s not leading trips. He received his master’s degree from the University of Costa Rica, where he later taught, and is now a leading herpetologist and author of the Complete Field Guide for Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica. Federico has led trips for Wilderness Travel since 1987. He currently guides our Belize adventure and helped us created this wonderful program. “I am always fascinated by Belize’s awesome coral reefs, the Maya ruins, and the rainforest, all so close together. There are so many things to see there that turn the experience into one that combines spirituality and facts for the brain.”

Upcoming Trips:

Belize and Tikal, November 17-24, 2012

Client Testimonials:


Federico Munoz is wonderful. His knowledge of the area and its wildlife was astounding. I was particularly impressed when he called a quetzal and it actually came. He went way beyond the call of duty when dealing with participants, and even volunteered his ranch as the setting for the wedding of two trip members. I would follow him anywhere. Pamela Reaville, Costa Rica Wildlife

Optional Extensions

If you would like to continue your adventure, we offer the following extensions:

Belize

Turneffe Island Resort Extension

Snorkeling Belize’s Barrier Reef

Snorkeling
5 days  -  Level 2

Guatemala

Guatemala Highlands Extension

Antigua, Chichicastenango, and Lake Atitlan

Cultural Adventures
5 days  -  Level 1

Client Comments

Great trip. Loved the variety with the jungle, the reef, and the Maya ruins. Judith A., Hillsdale, NJ I enjoyed the trip immensely and saw and experienced things I couldn’t had I tried to do this trip on my own. Debbi K., Eugene, OR
A wonderful trip! We were very pleased and recommend WT highly. Marcie H., Westfield, NJ