Central American Travel Specialists
BELIZE & GUATEMALA
Rainforest & Atoll Adventure Tour
( 12 nights / 13 days )
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| Tropical Rainforests, Ancient Mayan Temples, Fascinating Caves, Caverns and Underground Rivers. This exciting tour combines all these miracles of nature with a relaxing beach vacation or superb scuba diving during your stay on an idyllic tropical island on the Belize Barrier Reef, immortalised as Fox TVs "Temptation Island". |
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Day 1 - Off to the Tropics! - (D)
Meet & Greet at the Belize International Airport on arrival and transfer to the beautiful rainforest area of San Ignacio near the Guatemalan border. Stops along the way include the small and informal Belize Zoo and the famous "J.B.'s Bar" - "The British Forces' Pit Stop". 3 night stay at the cozy Cahal Pech Village located on a hill overlooking the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Accommodation is in comfortable thatched cabanas with private bathrooms, electricity, ceiling fans and a private porch with hammocks. Home-cooked meals served in the open-air restaurant with views of the surrounding countryside. |
Day 2 - Wonders of the Rainforest - (B,L,D)
Todays exciting day trip starts with a ride to the nearby village of San José Succotz where we have to cross the Mopan River by hand-cranked ferry to the Mayan site of Xunantunich. There will be a guided tour and time to explore and climb the ruins which are great for panoramic photographs - the views from the top are incredible!!Next is a visit to the Panti Medicinal Trail at Ix Chel Farm, to learn about the medicinal properties of rainforest plants. After lunch, it is time to head down to the river where your canoe will be waiting for the journey down the Macal River where you will see iguanas sunning themselves on the overhanging branches along the river banks. Tropical birds populate the treetops, and villagers still wash clothes along the river's bank. Day 3 - Tues 26 Feb - Temples of Tikal - (B,L,D)  One of the main highlights of this tour is a fabulous day excursion over the Guatemalan border to the magnificent Mayan Temples and Pyramids of Tikal set in the incredible jungle scenery of the Tikal National Park.Of the park's 222 square miles only 10 square miles of central Tikal has been mapped and over 3,000 separate buildings have been revealed: temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, residences, ball courts, terraces, causeways and plazas.
Listen carefully and you will hear the still-beating heart of a dying Civilisation . . . |
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Day 4 - Rest in the Rainforest / Hummingbird Highway - (B,L,D)
This morning is free to explore the nearby twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. Or you can do some optional horseback riding. Or you may just feel like lazing in a hammock after your busy day yesterday. 
After lunch you will transfer to Ian Anderson's Caves Branch & Jungle Lodge for a two night stay in a comfortable jungle cabana. The Lodge is situated on a privately owned 58,000 acre Caves
Branch Estate beneath the 100 foot rainforest
canopy and alongside the turquoise waters of the
Caves Branch River where pristine jungle, wildlife
and adventure surrounds you.
Ian Anderson was the pioneer of caving trips in
Belize. |
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Day 5 - Choose Your Jungle Adventure - (B,L,D)
1. RIVER OF CAVES TUBE FLOAT 
This is where it all started! Ian Anderson's first and still Belize's
longest and most spectacular river cave tube float ... over 7 miles
underground.
Enter the exciting world of rivers disappearing into the underworld as you float on inner-tubes with only your headlamp to light your way. 
Floating past side windows that filter the jungle light through
the mist as you swirl around stalagmites jutting from the river and
stalectites looming from above. Float past underground waterfalls then
into the crystal cathedral, a spiritual centre to the ancient Maya. Marvel at the amazing formations inside the huge cave believed by the Maya to be the Underworld, "Xibalba", (pronounced SheeBALba) the Kingdom of their Gods. Float under stalagtites, see ancient skeletons and pottery and prepare to be awstruck by cathedral-like caverns with 5 million year old crystalline structures over 50 feet in length.
2. THE BLACK HOLE DROP After 4 years of planning and two years of dry runs, Its now tried and tested and the results .. SPECTACULAR, INCREDIBLE, A RUSH LIKE NO OTHER !!! The "Mother of all Caves" .. Actun Loch Tunich ! This expedition starts off with a vigorous hike into the foothills of the Maya Mountains. The edge of the Actun Loch Tunich sink hole sits over 300 feet above the basin below, 200 feet above the rainforest canopy that grows out from the sink hole basin. Fully trained caving guides then rig a system of ropes for your drop to the basin below. 
The first 10 feet provides the adrenaline, the next 200
feet provides an unforgettable experience and sights to behold, the last
100 feet takes you down through the rainforest canopy. But before you start
it all .. you might just throw up! The sink hole is not actually black, but
you cant see the bottom from where you start.
Once you're at the bottom, the question is .. How do we get you out ???? Then a return hike out of the foothills and a well deserved cold beer at camp. |
Day 6 - Barrier Reef Bliss
It is time for some very well earned R&R (Rest and Relaxation!). After breakfast transfer by road to the Municipal Airport in Belize City for the short commuter flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye - made famous by Madonna in her song "La Isla Bonita" ("The Beautiful Island"). Relax and unwind during your 7 night stay at the Sunbreeze Beach Hotel.
We have not included meals (except on overnight trip when all meals are, of course, included) so that you can have the freedom to choose from the many excellent island restaurants. Enjoy a Belikin Beer in any number of beachfront hang-outs and thatched roof bars or a gourmet dinner in a first class restaurant |
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Non Divers:-
Relaxing is what vacations are all about. Or you can you can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, shop, or read a good book in a hammock! Do it all or do nothing at all on this sun-drenched island where even the palm trees sway to the beat of Punta Rock and Reggae music! |
Dive Package A:-
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Day 13 - Departure Unfortunately, it is time to pack your bags for the short flight back to the International Airport to connect with homebound flights. |