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Private Journeys

Signature Guatemala and Belize: Culture and Caribbean

15 days from £3,660pp

(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)

Guatemala / Belize

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Overview & Highlights

This highlights tour to Guatemala and Belize can’t be beaten for variety.  Combine arty Antigua, Lake Atitlán and the jungle-clad Mayan ruins of Tikal  with the tropical forest and coral island Ambergris Caye, near the dive sites of the Belize Barrier Reef.

This highlights of Guatemala and Belize trip combines two very different countries in one experience-packed holiday. Guatemala is steeped in native Mayan and Spanish colonial tradition; you'll be introduced to both, including Antigua and Lake Atitlán. Belize, a truly Caribbean country, is laid-back and English-speaking. Here you stay at the remote  Chaa Creek eco-lodge, and can go diving or snorkelling at Blue Hole on Ambergris Caye.

Start off in Antigua, Guatemala’s colonial masterpiece, and continue to the serene setting of Lake Atitlán, encircled by volcanoes, handkerchief-sized fields and tiny indigenous villages. Continue to Tikal, the vast ruined Mayan city where ancient temples and pyramids emerge above the rainforest canopy. Crossing the border into Belize, stay at Chaa Creek, an award-winning lodge surrounded by tropical foliage rich in wildlife, where you can enjoy the thrills and spills of outdoor activities, or just relax. Round off the holiday on the coral beaches of Ambergris Caye in the turquoise Caribbean Sea, home to the world-renowned Mesmoamerican Reef.

Read More
  • Walking tour of Antigua
  • Boat excursion to Santiago de Atitlán and San Antonio Palapó
  • Chichicastenango market
  • Guided tour of Tikal ruins

THE UK’S NO. 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Hannah

Hannah Donaldson

Travel Expert

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Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

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What our clients say

  • Chile is such a beautiful country, with an extraordinary range of landscapes.  It was a wonderful journey.
    This was my first experience of Latin America and I fell in love with it. Chile is the most beautiful country, and JLA's Penguin journey provided a superb insight into its diversity of landscapes. The tour leader and the office support were outstanding.  Thank you very much.

    DW, Wells-next-the-sea
    Mar 2016
  • The fact that we were blessed with exceptionally good weather meant that we could make the most of every day, to the full, bar one day on Lago General Carrera. Patagonia is so beautiful -  and it would have been so different if the weather had been poor or the tour leader/driver hadn't been so good. We feel very lucky to have had it all!

    RD, Amersham
    Feb 2019
  • This was my first tour with JLA, and I would certainly have it as my first choice for tours in South America in the future.

    The two journeys from Cajamarca to Leymebamba and Arequipa to Chivay had such spectacular scenery.

    MK, Hassocks
    Jul 2013
  • “One of my favourite moments on the trip was in Trinidad, listening to the music and dancing with the locals – with the tour leader’s guidance or walking around Havana, just taking everything in.”

    KSM, Luxembourg
    Feb 2014
  • Jam packed itinerary with so many great places and sights in such a short time! Iguacu Falls, Rio, La Paz, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu- it really had it all. We had a great tour guide; informative, knowledgeable and extremely personable, with a wealth of knowledge and a genuine passion for South America. Logistics were seamless- first time travelling to South America, first time travelling solo- highly recommend it!

    LM, London
    Sep 2017
  • Everything was memorable, a part of the world we've wanted to travel to for a long time. Views of Torres del Paine from the flight between Santiago and Punta Arenas were unexpectedly fantastic as the weather was so good and the tour leader had managed to get us all seats of the right side of the plane so we could enjoy them. Simply travelling over these vast expanses of land was amazing.

    DD, St Albans
    Nov 2019
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Our expert's view

Hannah
Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

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Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
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Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

  • Mary
    Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Expert

    Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tour sales team.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Millie
    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

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