18-to-Thirtysomethings: Mayan Sun Southbound (CMCA)
Countries Visited: Belize, Guatemala, Mexico
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Basic
Excellent value, amazing prices, quality experiences Simple and clean hotels, guesthouses and hostels chosen for location and character Affordable public and private transport for maximum cultural interaction Plenty of optional activities tailored to your interests and budget
Physical Demands Rating: 1 - You'll have to walk around on your own, climb some stairs and carry your own bag. Easy does it.
Group Size: Max 18, avg 14.
Meals Included: 1 dinner
Accommodations: Simple hotels (12 nts), local homestay (1 nt), rustic ecolodge (2 nts).
Highlights
Relax on white-sand beaches, bask in Caye Caulker sunsets and reggae music, experience a local homestay, explore gorgeous colonial Antigua and its colourful markets.
Description
Find your paradise somewhere between the blazing Mexican sun and the cool Guatemalan highlands on this 16-day odyssey. Wander Antigua's cobblestone streets and its local markets before experiencing the diverse beauty of Lake AtitlAn and its indigenous villages. Geared to the adventurer wanting to capture some of Central Americas finest highlights, this trip will ensure that you really pack some punch into those postcards home.
Trip Style: Information Not available
Service Level: Basic
Physical Demands Rating: 1 - You'll have to walk around on your own, climb some stairs and carry your own bag. Easy does it.
Group Size: Max 18, avg 14.
Meals Included: 1 dinner
Accommodations: Simple hotels (12 nts), local homestay (1 nt), rustic ecolodge (2 nts).
Highlights
Relax on white-sand beaches, bask in Caye Caulker sunsets and reggae music, experience a local homestay, explore gorgeous colonial Antigua and its colourful markets.
Description
Find your paradise somewhere between the blazing Mexican sun and the cool Guatemalan highlands on this 16-day odyssey. Wander Antigua's cobblestone streets and its local markets before experiencing the diverse beauty of Lake AtitlAn and its indigenous villages. Geared to the adventurer wanting to capture some of Central Americas finest highlights, this trip will ensure that you really pack some punch into those postcards home.
Call (409) 866-7022 for more information or to book today! Mention code 13726220
- Tour Operator
- G Adventures
- Duration
- 16 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Playa Del Carmen | Day 1 Playa del Carmen Check into our hotel and enjoy the city. Additional Notes: Shuttles and buses from the CancUn airport are easy to find and reasonably priced. You can also take the public ADO bus that has departures every 30 minutes from the airport to Playa Del Carmen for approximately MX 146 ($12 USD). Included Activities: Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting |
| Day 2 | Playa Del Carmen | Day 2 Playa del Carmen Start your holiday off with some hardcore relaxation. Enjoy a full day of free time to fill as you wish. Get your ruin on with a visit to Tulum perched atop the sea, explore the fish- and coral-filled seas around Cozumel on a scuba dive, go swimming in a cenote or at the beach, and save some energy for a night out on the town. |
| Day 3 | Caye Caulker | Day 3 Playa del Carmen/Caye Caulker Mention Belize and you may conjure up visions of unbelievably clear blue waters, diving and snorkelling along the barrier reef and remarkable marine life. Belize also boasts huge swaths of jungle, ancient Mayan ruins, and above all, friendly, easygoing people. Belize is all this and much more! Included Activities: Border Crossing (Mexico - Belize) Transport: First-class bus (4.00 hour(s), 315km) Local bus (3.00-4.00 hours, 158km) Water taxi (0.75-1.00 hours, 39km) |
| Days 4-5 | Caye Caulker | Days 4-5 Caye Caulker Opt to snorkel with stingrays and nurse sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, go diving or just chill out, Belizean style. |
| Day 6 | San Ignacio | Day 6 Caye Caulker/San Ignacio From the town of San Ignacio, opportunities abound for exploring Belize's little known inland scenic beauty. With free time here, choose to explore the area by foot, canoe or horse, take a caving trip, or visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Area and swim in its inviting pools and rivers. It is possible to do cave tubing or visit the ATM cave on this day however it would require a group decision to do this with minimum numbers. The local operator would pick them up from the water taxi terminal and take passengers directly from Belize City to do one of these activities. Transport: Water taxi (0.75-1.00 hours, 39km) Local bus (3.00 hour(s), 123km) |
| Day 7 | San Ignacio | Day 7 San Ignacio Opt to visit the sacred Mayan cave Actun Tunichil Muknal or check out the seldom-visited Mayan ruins of Xunantunich. |
| Day 8 | Flores | Day 8 San Ignacio/Flores Cross the border into Guatemala and you immediately notice the difference in culture, with its heavy Mayan influence and Spanish language. Here we have entered Guatemala's northeast jungle PetEn region. The descendants of the Maya of ChichEn ItzA migrated to the PetEn area several centuries after the collapse of the great Mayan cities in the YucatAn. En route to Flores, stop for a guided tour of the ancient city of Tikal. Arrive in Flores, the capital of the department of PetEn, a small island located on the second largest lake of Guatemala, Lake PetEn ItzA. Included Activities: Border Crossing (Belize - Guatemala) Tikal Ruins Guided Tour Transport: Taxicab (0.25-0.50 hours, 5km) Private Vehicle (1.50-2.50 hours, 100km) Private Vehicle (1.00-1.50 hours, 65km) |
| Day 9 | Rio Dulce | Day 9 Flores/Rio Dulce A travel day from Flores to Rio Dulce which is located in the department of Izabal, home of the largest lake in Guatemala, Lake Izabal was one of the most important water ways of the Spanish crown during colonial times. We take the road past areas of dense jungle and arrive at RIo Dulce, a small town on Lake Izabal and a port stop for boaters around the globe, on their way to/from Livingston and the Caribbean coast. Transport: Private Vehicle (4.00-5.00 hours, 210km) |
| Day 10 | Rio Dulce | Day 10 Rio Dulce Opt to visit the coastal town of Livingston by boat, go for a swim in a natural hot waterfall, take a sunrise kayak to visit groups of noisy howler monkeys, or take a horseback ride through the rubber plantations combined with a visit to the Shaman Tower. |
| Day 11 | Antigua | Day 11 Rio Dulce/Antigua Today is a travel day from Rio Dulce to Antigua, followed by an orientation walk once you arrive. Plan your activities for the next day and enjoy some of the nightlife this beautiful colonial city has to offer. Your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) will take you on a brief orientation walk to help you get your bearings. While youre here, opt to take a mountain bike ride out into the countryside or explore the fascinating markets, shops and museums within the city. Included Activities: Orientation Walk Salsa Lesson Transport: Private Vehicle (6.00-7.50 hours, 315km) |
| Day 12 | Antigua | Day 12 Antigua Relax with a massage, climb a volcano, soak up the culture of this colonial town's many museums and cafes, attend a chocolate workshop, visit one of the local coffee or macadamia nut plantations, or explore the nearby hills and towns by bike. |
| Day 13 | Panajachel | Day 13 Antigua/Panajachel Travel through the hills and fertile fields of the Guatemalan highlands to the shores of Lake AtitlAn, one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. Twelve native villages, blue/grey mountains and three volcanoes line the shores of this lake resulting in a wonderful combination of unusual natural beauty and traditional culture. The area is also ideal for outdoor pursuits like swimming, fishing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, and horseback riding. Additional Notes: Note: Please dress conservatively when visiting the villages and refrain from photographing religious ceremonies, or individuals who do not wish to be photographed. Transport: Private Vehicle (2.50-3.50 hours, 80km) |
| Day 14 | San Juan La Laguna | Day 14 Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna (1D) Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings at the lakes markets. Included Activities: Posadas Mayas Homestay Transport: Boat (0.50-0.75 hours, 25km) |
| Day 15 | Antigua | Day 15 San Juan La Laguna/Antigua We return to Antigua to spend more time to explore the city, shop, and check out optional activities in the area. Optional activities include visiting a macadamia nut and coffee plantations, biking around Antiguas surrounding hills and salsa lessons. Included Activities: Big Night Out Transport: Boat (0.50-0.75 hours, 25km) Private Vehicle (2.50-3.50 hours, 80km) |
| Day 16 | Antigua | Day 16 Antigua Depart at any time. Additional Notes: Please note that Antiguas nearest airport is Guatemala City, Guatemala. Dont get caught flying out from the Caribbean island nation of Antigua; its nowhere near the finish point of this tour! Included Activities: Departure Day |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
Local Flights: N/A
Dossier Disclaimer:The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
Itinerary Disclaimer: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
