Luxury Guatemala and Belize: Tikal and the Caribbean

Day 1

Arrive in Guatemala and transfer to your hotel in Antigua.

You will be met by our local representative and taken to your hotel in the old colonial capital, Antigua. It’s a journey of about one hour along a winding paved road.

Day 2

Guided walking tour of Antigua.

Antigua is a colonial work of art, with cobbled streets, overhanging tiled roofs and a beautiful, leafy central plaza. There’s an abundance of huge ruined churches, convents and monasteries, testament to a time when Antigua was the country’s capital and its main religious centre. You’ll have plenty of time to absorb this fascinating city, including on a walking tour of the historic centre. It seems that every doorway opens onto a fragrant tiled courtyard.

A dramatic backdrop of smoldering volcanoes and ruined churches and convents surrounded by parkland bears witness to the city’s destruction by a volcanic eruption in 1773: but much has been painstakingly restored.

Day 3

Transfer across the Guatemalan highlands to Lake Atitlan

Travel along the scenic mountain highway to the Mayan community of Santa Catarina Palopó, on Lake Atitlan. The landscapes in the highlands west of Antigua are dominated by watchful racing-green and tawny volcanoes and compact farming villages. The lake is one of the most captivating in the world and its beauty has been eulogised by poets and travellers.  On a sunny day, the closely forested volcanic cones are reflected in cobalt waters. Traditional villages and indigenous agricultural settlements skirt its fertile shores, each with its own character and identity, its own dialect and often a unique costume still worn by the proud inhabitants. Before the final winding descent to Lake Atitlán, stop at the traditional town of Solola where there’s an impressive market on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Day 4

Boat trip on Lake Atitlan

Take a motor launch across the lake to Santiago Atitlán, cruising over the calm and silent morning waters with the volcanoes towering above. You’ll have wonderful views of the various shoreline hamlets and pocket-sized cultivated fields alongside some grand houses, and beyond to the gently sloping bottle-green volcanoes that encircle the water. The town is an excellent place to buy brilliantly coloured textiles.

Although it’s the largest and most visited of the lakeshore towns, Santiago remains a place of deep-rooted traditions, where many men continue to wear traditional dress (increasingly rare in Guatemala). Local people may offer to guide you to the current resting place of the smoking, drinking, be-hatted and roguish local idol, Maximón, who is moved to a different house each year, and looked after by a diligent entourage. He’s certainly not politically correct but he will help you with your problems in exchange for a suitable financial donation.

After time at leisure to explore, it’s time to retreat from the non-stop hubbub of Santiago to your hotel on the opposite shore of the lake.

Day 5

At leisure by Lake Atitlan

Today you may welcome the chance to unwind and appreciate the gorgeous views from your hotel. If you’re keen to explore, the village of Santa Catarina is less than 20 minutes’ walk away. Santa Catarina remains a rustic and traditional community. Deep blue huipil tunics – some of Guatemala’s most beautiful – are woven by the women here.

We can also arrange optional excursions to other communities on the lake. If your visit coincides with a Thursday or Sunday, consider a visit to Chichicastenango, the largest and most celebrated Mayan market of the highlands, a 2-hour drive away.

Day 6

Fly to Flores in the jungle Petén region.

Transfer to Guatemala City airport (3 hours) for an hour-long flight to Flores, in the sticky jungles of northern Guatemala, and from here continue to your lodge, arriving in the evening.

Day 7

Guided tour of the archaeological site at Tikal.

Steep-stepped and vertiginous temples emerge high above the rainforest canopy; the views over the site from one of these ancient skyscrapers are unforgettable. Spend the day wandering through the palace complexes.

Tikal was one of the largest and most important Mayan city states, reaching its peak around AD800 prior to its mysterious demise. The pyramids and temples seem frozen in time, but you’re brought back to the present by the roar of curious howler monkeys and lithe spider monkeys as they swing through the trees; and by flashes of colour as toucans and parrots take flight.

Back at the lodge and soak up the impressive views, taking a dip in the inviting swimming pool or making use of the complimentary canoes and paddle boards to explore the lake. Or take part in a tortilla making workshop and learn how to make a staple of Guatemalan cuisine.

Day 8

By road to the Belize border and over to your Lodge.

The drive across the border into Belize to the lodge takes about three hours. The first part of the journey is on the well paved Western Highway, the last section is mainly on dirt track heading to Mountain Pine Ridge to the Lodge, another ideal base to explore the surrounding forest, waterfalls, rivers and caves.

Day 9

Excursion to Barton Creek Cave

Barton Creek Cave was an ancient Maya Indian burial site and to this day it remains accessible only by canoe. It’s about an hour by road to the put-in point, a scenic drive which passes through the Barton Creek Mennonite community. Upon arrival at the cave complex, you will embark on canoes and glide through the darkness, armed with spotlights. The stalactites and stalagmites inside the cave are beautiful and original Mayan pottery as well as 2000-year skeletal remains can still be found. You will paddle for about a mile through the various chambers of the cave, your guide pointing out various magnificent formations and ancient relics and explain some of the beliefs and rituals of the ancient Maya. After the canoe trip, you may take a dip in the crystal-clear waters of Barton Creek before returning to your hotel. Being canoe-based, Barton Creek is considered a more easy-going alternative to the adrenaline-fuelled expeditions to the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Caves. This is still an option if you’re up for the challenge. Or if you’d rather remain well above ground, we can organise something else entirely.

Day 10

Day at leisure or optional excursions

There is a range of excursions available to pre-book, such as exploring horse riding to Big Rock Falls, hiking or visiting the Mayan ruins of Caracol. Alternatively, just relax at the lodge, treat yourself to a spa treatment or take a dip in the infinity pool or nearby natural pools.

Day 11

Transfer to Placencia on the Caribbean coast.

This 3-4 hour journey takes you from the lush highlands to the coastal tropics. From a dirt road you join the Western Highway to the country’s capital, Belmopan where you turn onto the Hummingbird highway with some outstanding views of the Maya Mountains and Victoria Peak in the Cockscombe reserve. The vegetation thins out as you approach the coast and your journey ends surrounded by water and driving down the peninsula to Placencia.

The village is a friendly and low-key beach resort typified by its ramshackle and colourful wooden houses built on stilts, linked by paths weaving under swaying palms. With some of Belize’s finest beaches and one or two top notch hotels, it is developing into an increasingly popular tourist retreat. The nearby Monkey River and Placencia Lagoon provide good opportunities for spotting wildlife including the rare manatee.

Day 12

Manatee spotting expedition.

Board a boat in search of the shy and elusive West Indian manatee. You’ll slowly cruise Placencia Lagoon looking for neat trails of sea grass, the tell-tale sign that manatees have been munching their way along the bottom of the lagoon. The boat heads stealithy to where the manatee congregate at the mouth of a freshwater creek. If you’re lucky you’ll also spot Morelet’s crocodiles or the bottle-nosed and Atlantic-spotted dolphins which frequent the lagoon.

Days 13 - 14

At leisure on the beach.

Placencia Lagoon, fringed by stifling mangrove forests and wild orchids, embraces a range of marine, estuarine and freshwater aquatic habitats providing various ecosystem services in which literally thousands of species can thrive. Over 70 species of fish are present and two types of crocodile. Kayak on the calm waters with an eye out for manatees on an optional adventure.

Alternatively just relax at the lodge, or choose another activity: there’s complimentary use of bikes and kayaks, the dive shop (at extra cost) can organise scuba diving, snorkelling and fishing excursions, and a variety of land-based trips.

Day 15

Fly to Belize City.

It’s a 25-minute hop by Cessna to the international airport in Belize City. Every flight in Belize feels like an panoramic adventure as you fly over the forest, mangroves and coast.