Belize & Guatemala: Mayan Ruins, Rainforests & Tropical Reefs
March 6 – 13
Join AAVC and Associate Professor of Geography, Mary Ann Cunningham on a weeklong journey through Belize, a small, English-speaking country on the Caribbean Coast. This former British Colony has one of the lowest population densities in the world, leaving lots of room for pristine landscapes and natural habitat. The country's interior features Mayan ruins scattered throughout lush tropical rainforests. Its barrier reef, declared a World Heritage Site in 1997, is second in size only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef and is blessed with powder-white sandy beaches.
Our journey will begin in western Belize, in highlands blanketed with lush jungle, home to exotic wildlife and hundreds of species of birds. Rivers and streams have carved caves and caverns that can be explored on foot or by boat. Our time will be divided between exploring the tropical rainforests and the Mayan ruins. We will also travel into Guatemala to the greatest of all the Maya ruins, Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Staying overnight close to the ruins, we will take in both the sunset and the sunrise over the massive stepped-pyramids, some towering more than two hundred feet.
Then, travel to the coast on the Hummingbird Highway and continue by boat to South Water Caye, a secluded island right on the Barrier Reef. We explore the reef by boat, search for wildlife in the mangrove swamps, and visit the Smithsonian Research Center on an adjacent island. We have plenty of opportunity to swim and snorkel in the clear and warm waters amid an astounding array of corals and tropical fish.
Accommodations:
3-nights at Pook's Hill Lodge - Cayo District, Belize
1-night at Tikal National Park Jungle Lodge - Tikal, Guatemala
3-nights at Pelican's Pouch - South Water Caye, Belize
Trip Details
Duration: 8 days
Activity Level: Moderately Active
Price: $3,495 per person, double occupancy (airfare is additional)
Single Supplement: $795