Belize/Guatemala
Hike and Snorkel to Find the Mystery of the Maya in Guatemala and Belize
Program No. 20813RJ
Experience the diverse wonders of Central America as you hike and snorkel with experts, learn about ancient Mayan culture and discover local wildlife at the Caye Marine Reserve.
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
26 meals (
9B, 8L, 9D
)
1 expert-led lecture
10 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
An experienced Group Leader
9 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Arrive Belize City, Check-in, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Location:
Belize City
Meals:
D
Stay:
Black Orchid Resort
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner. Participants must book flights that arrive into Belize City, Belize no later than 4:30 p.m. on this day if they plan on attending the program orientation. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon:
Hotel check-in and room assignments. Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will learn from the Group Leader as well as local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Unless otherwise specified, transportation during the program will be provided by air-conditioned bus. Our buses do not include onboard toilets, so we have scheduled stops during drives for bathroom breaks. Meals on our program feature local cuisine. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
2
Boat Ride on the New River, Exploring the Lamanai Ruins
Location:
Belize City
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Black Orchid Resort
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 102 miles, approximately 2.5 total riding time. Getting in/out of a motorboat; navigating about 62 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. This is a very full day of activities; walking in hot/humid conditions, unpaved paths, ascending/descending stone steps without guardrails. Hat, sunscreen, repellent, lightweight clothes, walking shoes with closed-toe/heel suggested.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will transfer to the New River dock and embark on a scenic boat ride of about 31 miles upstream to the Mayan ruins at Lamanai. While navigating the calm waters of the New River, we’ll try to find and identify some of the many bird species found in the area, including black-collared hawks, mangrove swallows, olive-throated parakeets, and American pygmy kingfishers, to name a few. If lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the rarely seen Jabiru Stork! As we get close-up views of mangroves and virgin forests flanking the narrow waterway, let’s try to spot the colorful orchids that grow along the river banks. We’ll disembark at Lamanai for a walking exploration of the more than 50 impressive structures found at the archaeological reserve. This large Mayan ceremonial center is set in a tropical forest on the banks of the New River Lagoon in the north central region of Belize. Some of the site's highlights include the Jaguar Temple, the High Temple, and the Mask Temple. A beautiful panoramic view of the lagoon and surrounding jungle can be seen from the top of the High Temple. It is believed that the ancient center was occupied during more than 3,200 years, and as recently as in the 18th century.
Lunch:
At the ruins, we will enjoy a lunch of local creole food like Belizean chicken, rice and salad.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue exploring the archaeological complex. In addition to protecting many fascinating Maya buildings, the reserve at Lamanai provides shelter to a large number of animals. Visitors are sometimes caught off-guard as the rainforest comes alive with the loud, guttural calls of howler monkeys perched high in the forest. Other animals occasionally spotted at the site include agoutis, jaguarundis, woodpeckers, toucans, aracari, trogons, and armadillos. We’ll transfer back to Belize City by boat and bus to return to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for check out the following morning.
Day
3
Belize Zoo, Transfer to Guatemala, Tayasal
Location:
Tikal/Peten Region
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Villa Maya
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 140 miles, approximately 4.5 hours total riding time. Walking over mostly flat terrain; paved and unpaved surfaces, slopes, stairs with railing, surfaces that become slippery when wet. Walking shoes with lug soles, repellent, hat, sunscreen, and trekking pole suggested. Getting in/out of a motorboat; approximately 1/2 hour roundtrip.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
After check out, we’ll board our bus and head in a southwesterly direction in preparation for our field trip to the Belize Zoo. Upon arrival we’ll accompany our Group Leader on a walking exploration of the zoo and its education center, located on 29 acres of tropical savanna. The Belize Zoo was founded in 1983 as a safe haven for rescued animals representing more than 40 different species native to Belize. Afterwards, we’ll begin our transfer to the Peten region in Guatemala, with a brief stop at the Belize/Guatemala border for an examination of group documentation.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will reboard the bus and continue our transfer to Flores. En route to our hotel we will pay a visit to the Tayasal Archaeological Park, located on the Itza Peninsula across from Flores Island. Once we disembark in Flores, we will walk to the dock on Lake Peten Itza and board a motorized boat that will take us on a short scenic journey to San Miguel. We'll disembark at the San Miguel dock and walk to the park entrance to begin our expert-led explorations of the archaeological site. A long concrete staircase with railings leads to a mirador (lookout point) set atop a pyramid mound. From that elevated spot it is possible to enjoy views of Lake Peten Itza and Flores. It is believed that the Itza Maya who established Tayasal descended directly from the Itza who left Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula following power struggles between Chichen Itza and Mayapan. Recent technological advancements, including LiDAR, were instrumental in helping to locate structures at Tayasal and many other unknown sites buried in the extensive jungles of the Peten region. Ongoing excavations continue to reveal interesting clues to Tayasal's past including bullets from Spanish guns, burial grounds, ceramics, and buildings. At the end of our visit we will backtrack to the dock and return by boat to Flores. Then we will climb aboard our bus and ride on to our hotel for check-in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
4
Tikal Ruins, Views of Lake Peten Itza
Location:
Tikal/Peten Region
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Hotel Villa Maya
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 76 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Tikal activities include climbing steep stone and wooden staircases, and walking on irregular forest trails. Participants should wear sturdy walking shoes with good rubber tread, lightweight pants and t-shirt that are comfortable and allow freedom of movement. Also bring insect repellent/sunscreen. See packing list for more handy items.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll board the bus and ride to the ruins at Tikal. Once there, we'll accompany a local expert and our Group Leader in a walking exploration of the archaeological park. This site, with its massive temples rising above the rainforest canopy, conjures images of an Indiana Jones adventure. Once swallowed by the rainforest, Tikal is one of the largest excavated Mayan sites, with more than 4,000 structures. It also features some of the tallest temples in the Mayan world. An impressive network of causeways, aqueducts and canals, which not only served as an irrigation system but also provided drinking water for the city, are displays of some masterful engineering. Underground tunnels and new structures are still being discovered and excavated.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll learn more about Tikal and its mysteries as we continue our visit after lunch. Afterwards, we’ll transfer back for a late afternoon arrival to the hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for our check out tomorrow morning.
Day
5
Transfer to Cayo District, Cahal Pech Ruins
Location:
Cayo Disrict
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Jaguar Creek
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 110 miles, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time. Walking approximately 2 hours; mostly flat terrain, unpaved, grassy paths. Ascending/descending stone steps with and without guardrails.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Check out and begin transfer to the Cayo District in Belize. Our journey will include an immigration stop at the border post between Guatemala and Belize. En route to our hotel in the Cayo District we'll stop at the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech, located outside San Ignacio town. We'll disembark at the archaeological park, then accompany our Group Leader on a walking exploration of the Mayan ruins and the on-site museum. The ancient ceremonial complex contains 34 structures including ball courts, stelae, temples, and palaces. Archaeological findings point to Cahal Pech as being one of the earliest Maya settlements in the country—thriving through the Classic Maya Period (250 - 900 C.E.) and possibly beyond. Human bones and corn, cacao, and anato seeds were found at nearby caves; strong indicators that the site may have been used for ritual sacrifices and food offerings to Maya deities.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will climb aboard the bus and ride to the hotel for check-in. We'll have a chance to settle into our rooms and freshen up before attending an expert presentation on the history of Belize.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure. Get a good night's rest in preparation for tomorrow's activities.
Day
6
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Adventure, Free Time
Location:
Cayo Disrict
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Jaguar Creek
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; about 32 miles, approx. 2 hours total. Jungle and river walk/hike about 45 minutes. At cave entrance swim a short distance through the mouth of the cave to enter site. Cave floor mostly wet/rocky. Some wading in ankle-to-shoulder-deep water required. In fragile sections, participants will need to remove shoes so as not to damage the cave floor and/or artifacts. Wear bathing suit under comfortable, older clothing, closed-toe shoes, and old socks that can get wet/dirty.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
After breakfast, we’ll ride to the starting point for our exploration of Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. This arduous but rewarding activity will begin with 45 minutes of hiking that includes river crossings and wading in knee-high water. Once at the cave entrance, we will swim through the opening and start a 3.5-hour journey in the cave. This activity will require endurance, strength, agility and balance. The “ATM Cave,” Actun Tunichil Muknal, is an important archaeological wonder of the Mayan world. This living museum full of important artifacts is a fragile system which requires strict instruction for the preservation of this site and for the safety of all participants.
Lunch:
On site, we will enjoy a self-serve meal; select from a variety of ingredients to create your own kind of burrito.
Afternoon:
We will return to the lodge. Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner:
At the lodge.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
7
Black Hole Hiking & Rappelling Adventure
Location:
Placencia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Umaya Resort
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a bus; driving about 132 miles, approximately 3 - 3.5 hours total riding time. Black Hole requires high level of physical fitness; 2 hour uphill hikes on dirt trails, repelling 300 feet into a sink hole, rock climbing and ladder climbing. Hot/humid weather, potentially muddy trails. Sturdy walking shoes with lug soles, lightweight hiking pants, t-shirt that allows freedom of movement, repellent and sunscreen suggested.
Breakfast:
At the lodge.
Morning:
After check out, we will start the day with a transfer to Cave Branch for a full day of hiking and rappelling activities at Black Hole. Upon arrival at Cave Branch, we’ll take part in an instructional session before driving to the base camp and starting our 1.5-hour hike. The hike comes to an end at the hilltop at the edge of an enormous sink hole. After donning harnesses and receiving the necessary instructions, we’ll rappel into the 300-foot sink hole. Once at the forested bottom, we can reward our efforts with a well-deserved break for lunch. Those who do not wish to take part in the Black Hole hike/rappelling will have the option to participate in a moderately strenuous river cave expedition. The cave activity begins with a 15 minute drive to a drop off point at the river's edge. Sit in a rubber inner tube and float through the entrance to the cave. Continue floating through the dark chambers, enjoying views of the sparkling mineral formations overhead with the aid of headlamps. Once the water becomes too shallow, put aside the inner tubes and set off on foot. The cave floor is rocky and wet and at times it will be necessary to climb over rocky formations.
Lunch:
On site, we will enjoy a meal of self-prepared burritos with many options for ingredients.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue to explore the sink-hole floor as we make our way back to the camp site. The hike takes approximately 45 minutes. Once at the camp site, we will have the opportunity to clean up before we begin our transfer drive to the Caribbean coast. We will arrive at the hotel by late afternoon for check-in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
8
Belize Barrier Reef, Free Time
Location:
Placencia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Umaya Resort
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a motorboat; approximately 2 hours total riding time. Snorkeling equipment will be provided on-site.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a boat from the Placencia Pier and enjoy a 45-minute ride out to Belize’s Barrier Reef in preparation for a snorkeling field trip at a protected caye. The morning will be spent snorkeling around reef patches to view multicolored formations and thriving marine life. Belize’s impressive barrier reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of an even larger coral system, the Mesoamerican Reef System that runs for hundreds of miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Reefs are important living organisms that provide shelter and food to fish and other marine life such as algae, sea turtles, mollusks and crustaceans.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue snorkeling among the reef in search of tropical fish and interesting coral formations. At the appointed time we will navigate back to shore and return to our accommodations to freshen up and enjoy some free time until meeting for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
9
Belize Barrier Reef, Free Time
Location:
Placencia
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
Umaya Resort
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a motorboat; approximately 2 hours total riding time. Snorkeling equipment will be provided on-site.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We’ll board a boat from the Placencia Pier and enjoy a 45-minute ride out to Belize’s Barrier Reef in preparation for a snorkeling field trip at a protected caye. The morning will be spent snorkeling around reef patches we didn’t explore the day before.
Lunch:
Aboard the boat.
Afternoon:
We’ll continue snorkeling among the reef in search of tropical fish and interesting coral formations. At the appointed time we will navigate back to shore and return to our accommodations to freshen up and enjoy some free time until meeting for dinner.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we’ll talk about our week with new friends during a farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure.
Day
10
Flight to Belize City, Program Concludes
Location:
In Flight
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 7:50 a.m. The 30-minute flight to Belize City is expected to arrive at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport at approximately 10:30 a.m. Participants making their own international flight arrangements should book flights departing after 1:00 p.m. to ensure good connection times.
Breakfast:
Early, at the hotel.
Morning:
After an early check out, we’ll ride to to the Placencia airstrip and catch a short flight to Belize City's Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to like our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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Please Note:
This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.