Best of Belize & Guatemala

On the first day, we depart the UK and begin our journey to Belize for the trip of a lifetime! If you are travelling ‘Land Only’ we will see you very soon!

If you have booked a transfer with us, or have booked group flights, you will be met at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport and taken to your accommodation.

If you are arranging your own travel, we will meet you at the accommodation.

After a hearty breakfast, you’ll be picked up for today’s cave exploration. Prepare to be amazed by Actun Tunichil Muknal, one of the most sacred caves in Belize and Central America. This cave boasts chambers filled with ancient Mayan pottery and human remains; remnants of sacrificial rituals from Belize’s ancient Mayan civilisation at its peak. This full-day adventure includes lunch, water, entrance fees, a knowledgeable tour guide, and all the necessary equipment.

Today’s adventure takes you to “The Mother of all Caves”… Actun Loch Tunich!

The day kicks off with a vigorous hike into the foothills of the Maya Mountains, leading to the mouth of the cave. The edge of the Actun Loch Tunich sinkhole looms over 300 feet above the basin below, and 200 feet above the rainforest canopy; despite its name, the sinkhole isn’t actually black, but its depths are initially obscured from view.
Fully trained caving guides will rig a system of abseiling ropes for your descent into the basin. The initial 10 feet will get your adrenaline pumping, the next 200 feet will provide an unforgettable experience and incredible sights, and the final 100 feet will take you down through the rainforest canopy. Once you reach the bottom, you’ll enjoy a well-deserved picnic lunch.

The next challenge? Climbing back out, of course!

After your adventure, you’ll be transferred back to your hotel.

Note: This adventure isn’t for the faint-hearted and requires participants to be reasonably fit, starting with a steep 90-minute uphill hike to the sinkhole’s edge.

Today, you’ll be temporarily leaving Belize.

After breakfast and check-out, you’ll be transferred to the Belize Western border. After the standard immigration process, a Guatemalan driver will be waiting on the other side to continue your journey to Tikal.
A knowledgeable tour guide will accompany you and share with you the rich history and beauty of Tikal. At its zenith, Tikal was one of the most powerful ancient cities, a fact evident in the sophisticated glyphs and structures left behind. After a long day of exploration, you’ll be transported to your accommodation on Flores; a small island on Lake Petén Itzá, connected by a causeway back to the mainland.

Note: A departure tax of $20 US per person must be paid on leaving Belize by land.

Lake Petén Itzá is the second-largest lake in Guatemala, and after breakfast, you’ll experience a boat ride on it.

You’ll then visit the ARCAS Project, a rescue centre founded in 1989 to help combat the illegal wildlife trade in the Petén region. The centre treats and rehabilitates trafficked wildlife, for example macaws and monkeys. The centre is located on the edge of The Mayan Biosphere Reserve (MBR), a crucial part of Mesoamerica’s Maya Forest; the second largest remaining tropical rainforest in the Americas, stretching across Belize, northern Guatemala, and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

Following your visit to the ARCAS project, you’ll enjoy lunch with your guide before heading to El Mirador Rey Canek for picturesque views and a chance to catch a beautiful sunset, before returning to your hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll depart from the beautiful Flores Peten and return to the Belize Western border. Upon arrival, your driver will assist with your luggage and begin the transfer to Belize City’s Water Taxi Terminal. At the water taxi terminal, you’ll check in with the tickets provided by your driver and then wait for the next available boat to Caye Caulker. The boat ride takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes, and upon arrival at the dock, a representative will be there to help you locate and check in to your accommodation for the last 4 nights of your trip.

Get ready for some aquatic exploration! You’ll be picked up and taken from the resort to the dive shop to get kitted out with your equipment and meet your crew for the day. The first stop is Hol Chan (meaning “little channel” in Mayan), a marine reserve located approximately 4 miles south of the town of San Pedro on the neighbouring Ambergris Caye. Hol Chan boasts an incredible array of marine life, including over 160 species of fish, nearly 40 species of corals, various sponges, algae, sea grasses, 3 marine mammals, and 3 species of sea turtles.

Your next adventure is at Shark Ray Alley, just a 3-minute journey from Hol Chan. Here you’ll be greeted by nurse sharks and stingrays.

You’ll have the rest of the day and evening at leisure in Caye Caulker. Maybe visit the Iguana Reef Inn for the stingray feeding?

Note: It is against the law to touch or hold any marine life while snorkeling or scuba diving; do not touch or attempt to feed.

Today, you’ll witness one of Belize’s most magnificent wonders: the world-famous Blue Hole. This giant marine sinkhole is located near the centre of Lighthouse Reef, roughly 43 miles from the mainland and Belize City. The best way to truly appreciate this phenomenon is from above, and that’s precisely what you’ll be doing. You’ll be transferred to the airstrip for your flight over the Blue Hole and then back to your hotel.

This evening, we’ll join a shared Sunset Sailing Tour; we’ll depart Caye Caulker late afternoon for our 5 pm  sailing (sailing tour duration approximately 2 hours 30 minutes)

We’ll depart early for a boat ride to the dock in Ambergris Caye, from where our manatee-spotting adventure departs. After a short twenty-minute boat ride you’ll have an hour to snorkel with these gentle creatures before heading to Coral Gardens for a second snorkel stop, where you can admire the “dancing fans” of coral and the vibrant tropical fish.

You’ll have the rest of the day and evening at leisure in Caye Caulker.  Maybe rent a bike, take the ‘split to split’ ferry, and explore the north side of Caye Caulker?

Note: To ensure the well-being of the manatees, please remember not to touch or attempt to feed them.

Alas, the hardest part of the journey has arrived…going home.

The day begins with breakfast, and after checking out, you’ll be transferred to the Water Taxi terminal. Upon arrival at the Belize City water taxi terminal, you’ll head to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport for your international flight.

Note: If you are booking your international flights yourself, please ensure you book a late evening flight from Belize City to allow for the transfer from Caye Caulker.