Mon 4/9/12 – Depart USA and Arrive Guatemala; Guatemala City to Antigua (45 minutes driving time on the bus)
Fly TACA (or LACSA) from Los Angeles, arriving in Guatemala early around 6 or 7 am
Drive 45 minutes to Antigua, old colonial capital, located below Volcan Agua (volcano)
Antigua is one of the most pleasant towns of Latin America
Pleasant temperatures (5000’ elevation)
Beautiful colonial-era buildings and cobblestone streets
Good restaurants and shopping with very good prices
Walking tour of Antigua
One night in Antigua
Tue 4/10/12 – Antigua – Panajachel on Lake Atitlan (3 hours on the bus)
Morning in Antigua to enjoy the wonderful atmosphere or to do some shopping
Depart for Lake Atitlan mid-morning
Lake Atitlan is a caldera lake (like Crater Lake in Oregon or Lake Taupo in New Zealand)
Surrounded by volcanoes and villages with traditional Mayan culture
Oftentimes called one of the world’s most beautiful lakes
Pleasant temperatures due to 5000’ elevation (mid-70s)
Atitlan Nature Reserve
Nice trails with forest, waterfalls, and monkeys
Option to go zip-lining ($25)
Two nights in Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan
Wed 4/11/12 – Panajachel & Lake Atitalan (No driving today)
Take a boat (15 minutes) to village of Santa Cruz
Hour walk along the lake to Jaibalito
Great views across the lake to 3 volcanoes
Boat from Jaibalito to Santiago Atitlan
Visit the local shrine for Maximon, the “evil saint”
Night #2 - Panajachel, on Lake Atitlan
Thu 4/12/12– Panajachel – Chichicastenango –Flight to Tikal
Depart Panajachel in morning for Chichicastenango (1 hour)
Thursday is market day in Chichicastenango
One of the most famous and colorful markets in Latin America
Drive back to Guatemala City for 6 pm flight to Flores (Tikal)
One night in El Remate, near Tikal
Fri 4/13/12 – Tikal – Belize; 6 hours on the bus
Morning visit to the ancient Maya city of Tikal with English-speaking guide
One of the greatest ancient cities of the Americas; we will walk about 2 miles
Cross the border to San Ignacio, Belize
Two nights in San Ignacio
Sat 4/14/12 – San Ignacio, Belize
Full day in Belize for nature, culture, and adventure
Optional excursions from San Ignacio (additional cost):
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave – fascinating cave with Mayan artifacts
Barton Creek Cave – spectacular underground river trip
Green Hills Butterfly Ranch and Botanical Collections
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Thousand-Foot Falls, Rio On Pools (for swimming), and Rio Frio Cave
Rainforest Medicine Trail, Blue Morpho Butterfly Breeding Centre, Belize Botanic Gardens
Night #2 in San Ignacio
Sun 4/15/11 – San Ignacio to Belize Airport
Morning departure from San Ignacio to Belize City
Time permitting, visit the excellent Belize Zoo
See up-close the birds and animals of Central America
Depart Belize City mid-day; arrive LAX in the evening
