Travel to Belize, Guatemala: Guatemala and Belize Family Vacation

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Guatemala and Belize Family Vacation

			DAYS: 9 GRADE: I, easy going family adventure define PRICE: From $2995 per person (Includes Local Air) HIGHLIGHTS: Tikal Belize Barrier Reef Lake Atitlan Chicchi Market Mayan Culture ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] SEASON: Year-round Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

Discover Guatemala and Belize on a family vacation loaded with authentic cultural experiences, dramatic scenery, relaxing beach time and Maya ruins that bring ancient civilization to life. Learn about the strong living Maya culture and its rich heritage while enjoying a traditional meal in a highland home, witnessing the art of back strap weaving, interacting with local people visiting indigenous markets and exploring the vast ruins of Tikal. Savor views of beautiful Lake Atitlan ringed by volcanoes and explore the mountainous forest above the lakeshore on horseback or foot. Fly to the Belize coast to kick back on a white sand beach and snorkel among a myriad of tropical fish which inhabit the longest unbroken barrier reef in the world. This is the perfect recipe for an enriching, relaxing, fun family adventure.

	Antigua, Guatemala

DAY 1 :  BIENVENIDOS A GUATEMALA
Met and warmly received after your international flight touches down in Guatemala City, a 45 minute drive brings you to Antigua, Latin America's premier colonial city. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this former capital of Guatemala is a strikingly beautiful city, rich in history. Early arrivals have the option (not included) to begin to soak in Antigua's culture and history on a short tour walking along cobblestone streets lined with terracotta roofed churches, monasteries, old haciendas, museums and small shops. Visitors and locals alike casually congregate in the central plaza sitting and strolling, watching the world go by. Your lovely hotel integrates luxurious comforts with antiques and archaeological relics and is set amid the remains of the Santo Domingo monastery. Relax in the large inviting swimming pool or the lush surrounding gardens. Overnight Casa Santo Domingo or similar. [D]

DAY 2 :  CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET
An early morning drive takes you to Chichicastenango, a magical and some times misty highland town surrounded by valleys and looming mountains. The setting is captivating but it is the lively (Sunday and Thursday) Kiche indigenous market with craftsmen and villagers from all over the highlands, which draws our attention. The market is not only the main economic focus of this highland village but an important social and cultural event. Immersed in the colorful 'Chichi market', interact with the local people bartering, buying, and selling produce, hand woven blankets, tapestries and clothing, hand carved masks, small nativities and musical instruments. You may have the chance to witness a procession by the cofradia (Maya religious brotherhoods) near the colonial church of Santo Tomas. Before the bustling market begins to wind down, we continue driving 90 minutes west to Lake Atitlan, a caldera lake whose crystal blue waters are flanked by three spectacular volcanoes. Settle into your charming hotel near the Tzutujil Maya village of Santiago Atitlan on the scenic south shore of the lake. The Posada is surrounded by coffee trees and features individual volcanic stone cottages and suites which are perfect for families as well as a lakeside swimming pool, canoes and an excellent restaurant which emphasizes fresh food. Overnight Hotel Posada de Santiago or similar [BLD]

Local Tzutujil women of Santiago Atitlan pose infront of the San Pedro vocano.

DAY 3 :  SANTIAGO ATITLAN
Options for the morning include either horseback riding or hiking. Choose to mount your horse for a morning ride in the nearby Mirador de Tepepul cloud forest. Under the guidance of an expert who knows the area intimately, follow a trail which takes you through corn and coffee fields before zigzagging up the mountain pass. On a clear day you can expect a great view of the lake and you may even be able to see the Pacific Ocean. No riding experience is necessary as horses are available for all levels of riders. The other option is to cross the lake by ferry to the village of San Pedro La Laguna and walk up through the forest to the lookout point to view the San Pedro volcano. The viewpoint gives you a new perspective and the chance to learn more about the complex of volcanoes surrounding Lake Atitlan and how the lake itself was formed by a collapsed volcano.

Following either morning option, return to the picturesque village of Santiago Atitlan and glimpse daily life as you explore the narrow streets encountering native women wearing their traditional huipiles (cloaks) and headwear. Stop by the Catholic Church founded over four centuries ago to see the saints draped in cloth. Visit the local Mayan-Catholic deity, Maximon and learn about the unusual gifts and rituals offered by local people in hopes of bringing good luck. Afternoon free time can be spent relaxing by the pool, soaking in the hot tub, biking near the lake, enjoying a siesta in a hammock, or canoeing on the lake. Overnight Hotel Posada de Santiago or similar. [BLD]

DAY 4 :  COMALAPA VILLAGE VISIT
Leaving Lake Atitlan behind, drive to the traditional village of Comalapa to visit a Mayan family and witness the ancient art of back strap loom weaving. This technique is passed down through generations and is still widely used today to make textiles. Explore the village and enjoy a traditional lunch in the home of a Mayan family observing the kindness, generosity, hard work and family values displayed by your hosts. We continue back to the airport in Guatemala City and leave the highlands to catch a late afternoon flight (included) to Flores, the gateway to the Maya ruins of Tikal. After landing a boat takes us across Lake Peten Itza to our eco-lodge set in a private reserve featuring casitas with rock walls and thatched roofs decorated with original paintings and beautiful indigenous textiles and carpets. Kids love the array of resident animals, the family friendly atmosphere and the delicious homestyle cooking. Overnight Nitun Private Reserve or similar [BLD]

Temple in Tikal's central plaze.

DAY 5 :  TIKAL
Catch a little more sleep on the early morning (hour and fifteen minute) drive to the majestic Mayan ruins of Tikal. Rising out of the jungle canopy where Howler monkeys swing through the trees and parrots are frequently heard squawking, a visit to Tikal is unforgettable. Once the most powerful city in the Americas, this huge complex of temples, altars, pyramids, plazas and palaces, includes more than 3,000 structures. The Maya were one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world producing many works of literature, philosophy and architecture as well as a precise calendar. Keeping in mind the interests and attention span of children, your knowledgeable guide brings this ancient civilization to life as you explore some of the most interesting sites. Keep your eyes out for a chance sighting of jaguar, puma, tapir, anteaters and many species of birds as you walk the less traveled paths. After soaking in the great history of Tikal and its mysterious decline, kids can pretend to be a Howler monkey and fly among the trees on a zipline canopy tour before heading back to your lodge and a refreshing dip in the lake. Overnight Nitun Private Reserve or similar. [BLD]

DAY 6 :  OFF TO BELIZE AND THE BEACH
Time for some carefree beach days! Cross the border on an early morning flight (included) from Flores to Belize City with a short connection on to Dangriga, located on Belize's central coast. Your lodge is located on a six hundred acre peninsula with seven miles of pristine white sand beach and surrounded by acres of reef and rainforest. Kick off your shoes, unpack and settle into your beach cabana or suite. The lodge features hardwood, traditional materials such as bay leaf thatch, ceramic tiles, wonderful ocean views and pristine white sand at your doorstep. Take a dip in the gentle ocean water or one of the swimming pools, simply relax in a hammock under the swaying palms and let your cares drift away, or indulge in a spa treatment at the newly opened, full service Butterfly Spa (not included). Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD]

Get your snorkel gear on and take a close up look at the many different types of reef fish and coral in the azure waters off Belize's barrier reef.

DAY 7 :  BARRIER REEF SNORKELING
Check out the strange coral formations and swim amongst a variety of brilliantly colored tropical fish as you explore the marine environment on a half day snorkeling and swimming adventure. Boat through a string of mangrove cayes, home to an impressive variety of marine life including angel and parrot fish, sergeant major, barracuda, eel and the occasional stingray or harmless nurse shark. Continue out to the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the world. Your guide will swim along with you pointing out the dazzling array of tropical fish and brain and hydrocorals, sea fans, feather plumes, sponges and sea cucumbers. Return to the lodge for lunch. Dont forget the sunscreen! Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD]

DAY 8 :  FREE BEACH DAY
The last full day of vacation is yours to plan as much or as little as you like! Sleep late, lounge on the beach, swim in the pool, borrow one of the complimentary kayaks and paddle the blue waters off shore. Hop on one of the lodges bikes and pedal into the nearby village of Hopkinsto witness the Garifuna culture. Or bike 10 minutes to Iguana Lodge, Jaguar Reef's new outpost on the Sittee River. Explore the pristine river water by kayak looking for iguanas, manatees, crocodiles, turtles, parrots and parakeets. Or try your luck with the complimentary spin casting gear and fish the Sittee for grouper, snook, snapper, or tarpon. Complete the afternoon with a family game of bocce, badminton, cards or dominos (included). Those wishing to discover more of Belize may chose to join one of the day trips offered by your lodge (not included). Lodge excursions include floating and walking through a cave system to witness evidence of ancient Maya ceremonial sites or hiking through the tropical forest in the Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve seeing Howler monkeys, tapir, numerous reptile and bird species and if you are extremely lucky the elusive jaguar. Overnight Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD]

DAY 9 :  DEPARTURE
Pack the night before so that you have time for one last swim before boarding your flight from Dangriga back to the Belize International airport in time for your international departure. (Local flight included.) [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Jeff Stivers 1(800)345-4453