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Journey Guatemala & Belize

Travel itineraryPriceRequest travel proposal

14 days - from € 3,995 per person

family trip - ancient civilizations - jungle - beach

This beautiful trip takes you to the beautiful and colorful Guatemala and relaxed Belize. In Guatemala you will visit the highlands with its colorful houses and colorful markets and the dense jungle in the north of the country. Here you will learn more about the ancient Mayan culture. In Belize you will enter the pristine nature and you will end your trip by the beach.

Travel itinerary

Day 1: Amsterdam - Guatemala - Antigua

Your journey through Guatemala and Belize starts today. You will depart from Amsterdam to Guatemala City. Upon arrival at the airport, you will be welcomed by our local staff and you will be taken to your hotel in Antigua. You will stay at the hotel Meson de Maria, a cozy boutique hotel located in a restored mansion.
Overnight stay: Meson de Maria | bed & breakfast

Day 2: Antigua

This day is scheduled off. In Antigua there are many things to see within walking distance, where the cobblestone streets give a characteristic image of the town. Around Antigua there are three volcanoes that provide a beautiful sight at any time of day. There are numerous restaurants serving delicious Guatemalan dishes as well as various international dishes. In the evening there is plenty of atmosphere around the central square, there are many bars open where you can have a drink or possibly dance the salsa. TIP! The banana bread of Bakery Doña Luisa Xicotencatl (4a calle oriente #12) is highly recommended and loved by both locals and tourists. Every day around 2 p.m. the freshly baked breads, which are more like cake, are sold. If you are there on time today, you can buy it warm and eat it in the park!
Overnight stay: Meson de Maria | bed & breakfast

Day 3: Antigua

Today you will make a spectacular climb! You will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the foot of the Pacaya volcano. This volcano is about a 1.5 hour drive from Antigua and the ride to it will take you along narrow mountain paths and will give you beautiful views over the valleys and volcanoes of Guatemala. It is a climb of about 1.5 hours where good walking shoes are a must. The first part of the tour you will climb through the dense forests on sandy paths. After walking for about half an hour you will reach an open plain where the grass and sand suddenly change into black solidified lava. Here you will also get your first view of the flowing lava and the impressive volcano. Walk on over the lava rocks and be aware, because it will literally get hot under your feet! On a clear day you also have a beautiful view over Guatemala City, the capital. On the volcano you will enjoy a picnic lunch and after that you will be brought back to your hotel in Antigua.
Overnight stay: Meson de Maria | bed & breakfast

Day 4: Antigua - Flores

Today you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport of Guatemala City, where you will board your domestic flight to Flores. Upon arrival in Flores, you will be welcomed and taken to your hotel. La Lancha is beautifully situated at Lake Peten and in the rainforest. The casitas have views over the lake or look out over the beautiful greenery. Don't be surprised if during your stay you get a visit from a friendly inhabitant of the rainforest; a howler monkey.
Overnight stay: La Lancha | bed & breakfast

Day 5: Flores

Today you will be taken on a very special excursion. You will travel with your guide to the National Park of Yaxha, the third largest Maya town in Guatemala, located in the jungle. In this park you can enjoy the beautiful nature, where you will see monkeys and tropical birds along the way. Of course you will also visit the ancient Maya temples of Yaxha. After this you will travel by boat to the island located in the Lake of Yaxha. Here are the pre-Columbian temples of Topoxte. Your guide can tell you fascinating stories about the Maya era and the temples they built in their heyday. By dusk, you will go to the largest pyramid of the complex. From here you have a spectacular view over the jungle and Lake Yaxha. The setting sun is right in front of you and  it slowly but surely disappears on the horizon. A very special place for an unforgettable sunset. Afterwards you will be brought back to your accommodation.
Overnight stay: La Lancha | bed & breakfast

Day 6: Flores

Today you will go with a private guide to the Tikal National Park. Tikal or Tik'al was one of the largest cities of the Maya at the time of the Classical Period. It was not until 1848 that it was rediscovered by a team of Guatemalan explorers. First large-scale archaeological excavations began in the 1950s. In 1979 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Here you will visit the ancient Maya city with your guide and you will learn a lot about the history of the Maya people of Guatemala. Although Tikal is considered to be one of the most famous Maya temples of Guatemala, you will still have the feeling that you are almost one of the few people walking around here. The large buildings and the beautiful views from the temples are very impressive. You have lunch in a restaurant in the park. Afterwards you will be brought back to your hotel.
Overnight stay: La Lancha | bed & breakfast

Day 7: Flores - Cayo District

Today you will be picked up and taken to the border crossing between Guatemala and Belize. Here you will complete the usual customs formalities and then continue towards the Cayo District. This region has some beautiful landscapes, from wild rainforest to rolling hills farmland with plantations, surrounded by many rivers and caves. The lodge where you will stay is located in a very beautiful nature reserve, on the Macal river. For lovers of wildlife and birdwatchers, this place is an absolute must. You can go out every day, even in the evening, to discover the surroundings with the enthusiastic and very knowledgeable guides of the accommodation.
Overnight stay: Black Rock Lodge | bed & breakfast

Day 8 and 9: Cayo District

These days are scheduled off. From your lodge you can undertake various activities, such as horseback riding, mountain biking, tubing (going with a rubber inner tube over the river), canoeing on the Macal river, cave tours and various walks, where there is a good chance that you will encounter three different types of toucans. This is the only place in Central America where that is possible. Night trips are also possible. It is also recommended to visit the Maya site of Caracol with a guide. You will be taken from the lodge to the nature reserve Mountain Pine Ridge, a huge protected national park, consisting of rainforest, caves, waterfalls, Mayan ruins and rivers. You arrive at the beautiful and largest Maya city of Belize; Caracol. This city covers more than 48 km² of rainforest, contains  20 plazas, an astronomical observatory and over 35,000 identified buildings. Many hieroglyphs have been found that have made it clear that Caracol was a very powerful city that even dominated Tikal in Guatemala. The largest pyramid, the Canaa, is about 42 meters high and is the tallest man-made structure in Belize. You can enjoy an extensive tour. On the way back to the lodge you can choose to make a stop at the Rio Frio Caves or Rio On Pools to take a swim in the water.
Overnight stay: Black Rock Lodge | bed & breakfast

Day 10: Cayo District - Placencia

In the morning you will be picked up at your hotel and brought to Placencia, located on the Caribbean coast. The route today is beautiful. Via Belmopan, the capital, you will travel to the peninsula of Placencia. The route runs through a hilly and green area. You will stay at a very special place surrounded by white beaches. However, it is also a perfect base to explore the beautiful surroundings. Chabil Mar, where you will stay, is surrounded by lush vegetation and via the sandy beach you can walk to the village in twenty minutes. In the village you will find a lot of good restaurants with a nice atmosphere.
Overnight stay: Chabil Mar Villas | bed & breakfast

Day 11 and 12: Placencia

These days are for leisure. Enjoy the Caribbean coast and discover the underwater world of Belize. The clear and calm waters, combined with an abundance of fascinating coral and fish make Placencia an excellent place for snorkeling. There is much more to experience here. Although Placencia really has an island atmosphere, it is still located on the mainland. The advantage of this is that from your hotel, you can easily undertake various activities that will allow you to get to know other parts of Belize. In the fishing village, you can see the Mayan culture as well as the culture of the Garifuna. The Garifuna is an ethnic group descended from a mixture of Indians and Africans. In the town you will find several souvenir shops, nice beach bars and restaurants for a delicious meal from the Caribbean cuisine. The beach at Placencia is the longest and most extensive beach in Belize and while your accommodation is located directly on the beach, you are on the other side near the Placencia Laguna which is home to the rare manatee. In addition, Placencia is surrounded by mangroves. When you go to the inland, you can visit one of the many special limestone caves or various Mayan temples such as Nim Li Punit or Lubaantun.
Overnight stay: Chabil Mar Villas | bed & breakfast

Day 13: Placencia - Belize - Amsterdam

Unfortunately, your unique journey is coming to an end today. You will be taken to Placencia airport from where you will fly to Belize with a domestic flight. Upon arrival in Belize, you will transfer to your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 14: Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.

“ We compensate all our trips through the reforestation project of the Black Jaguar Foundation ”

Price

From € 3,995 per person

Based on 2 persons traveling together
Depending on time of booking, availability of the flights and the period of travel

Included:

  • domestic flights, economy class
  • 12 hotel overnights, meals as stated
  • all transfers and excursions as stated
  • our backup 24/7; locally and in The Netherlands
  • extensive travel documents package with small attention

Not included:

  • international flights, if you wish, we reserve these for you
  • early check-in / late check-out, based on availability, this is sometimes provided by the hotel. If you want to be sure that you have this, ask us about the additional cost.
  • (Dutch) public contribution Calamity fund; € 2.50,- per booking
  • SGR contribution of € 5,- per person per booking
  • travel and cancellation insurance

Request travel proposal

Would you like to go on this journey ? We can arrange the itinerary for you, but we are also happy to put together a programme based on your wishes and ideas. Do not hesitate to contact us. Send an e-mail to info@sapapanatravel.nl, call us on +31 73 610 62 04 or ask us to plan your trip. We are happy to help.

Request travel proposal

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