| Cost From: | $3195 |
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| Length: | 8 days |
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| Activity: | Snorkeling, Wildlife & Natural History, Walking, Archaeology |
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Great trip. Loved the variety with the jungle, the reef, and the Maya ruins.J. Atchison—Hillsdale NJ
By adding trips to your “Wish List” (above), you can easily make a side-by-side detailed comparison of as many trips as you like.
Enjoy challenging hiking in an aery realm of grand glacial cirques, crystalline lakes, snow-capped summits, mighty waterfalls, and magnificent beech forests. Along the way we fuel our hikes with hearty mountain fare from cassoulet to Roquefort cheeses.
Our active journey in Belize showcases a bounty of natural history adventures: we explore the rainforests of legendary Chan Chich, haunt of the elusive jaguar, 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 within walking distance of Mayan ruins and deep in the midst of an utter abundance of rare birds and tropical wildlife. Our trip extensions include the chance to experience unbelievably rich snorkeling in the wondrous underwater universe of Belize’s famed Barrier Reef and explorations in the Guatemala Highlands, including the lovely colonial town of Antigua.
$3195 (9-12 members)
$3495 (5-8 members)
Single supplement: $650
Internal airfare: $395 (subject to change)
Turneffe Island Resort Extension from: $990
Guatemala Highlands Extension from: $1030
Prices are for 2010 dates
Nov 20-27, 2010
Dec 18-25, 2010
Reading list, click here.
After an overnight in Belize City, we boat along the New River to Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, with its “lost city” atmosphere. Lamanai’s massive Late Pre-Classic temple, the tallest known Pre-Classic structure, rises ten stories out of the forest, offering phenomenal views across the ancient Maya world. In the afternoon, we head to Chan Chich, one of the most delightful rainforest retreats in the world, encircled by 130,000 private acres of prime forest.
A famed birding location, Chan Chich has an avian list that tops 350 species. All five species of jungle cat—jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay, and jaguarundi—are here, with jaguars seen at the rate of about one per week, a record unmatched anywhere else. We explore on foot and by 4WD vehicle, with evening walks to look for nocturnal animals.
We head to our lodge in the subtropical forests of the Maya Mountains for nature walks, swimming, and tubing in 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 used for centuries by the Maya for ceremonies.
The sheer scale of Tikal is extraordinary, its 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 bungalows adjacent to the ruins allow us to savor the dusk and dawn serenade of the Petén rainforest surrounding us. Depart on Day 8 via Guatemala City, or join one of our extensions.
This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure
If you would like to extend your adventure, we offer the following options:
Day 1 (1 night), Belize City, Belize
Set on the Caribbean coast, the Radisson Fort George Hotel has an excellent location—it’s close to everything! With two swimming ...
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Days 2 to 4 (3 nights), Chan Chich, Belize
Chan Chich, one of the most delightful rainforest retreats in the world, is encircled by 130,000 private acres of Central America’s prime ...
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Days 5 to 6 (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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Day 7 (1 night), Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Ideally situated within Tikal National Park, this lodge offers the closest accommodations to the temples and pyramids—it’s just a ...
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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.
