value belize: mayan mountains and caribbean caye - trip
TRANSCRIPT
We are the UK’s No.1 specialist in travel to LatinAmerica and have been creating award-winningholidays to every corner of the region for over fourdecades; we pride ourselves on being the mostknowledgeable people there are when it comes totravel to Central and South America andpassionate about it too.
As our name suggests, we are single-mindedabout Latin America. This is what sets us apartfrom other travel companies – and what allows usto offer you not just a holiday but the opportunity toexperience something extraordinary on inspiringjourneys throughout Mexico, Central and SouthAmerica.
A passion for the region runsthrough all we do
All our Consultants have lived ortravelled extensively in Latin
America
Up-to-the-minute knowledgeunderpinned by 40 years'
experience
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On your side when it matters
Book with confidence, knowingevery penny is secure
Our insider knowledge helpsyou go beyond the guidebooks
We hand-pick hotels withcharacter and the mostrewarding excursions
Let us show you the LatinAmerica we know and love
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An economical holiday where you choose to visit Mayan ruins swathed in jungle, go abseiling, river or cavetubing, hiking, horse riding or biking along woodland trails; or just relax in your jungle lodge watching birds andcurious mammals.
Continue by light aircraft to Ambergris Caye, a stunning coral island of chalk white, palm-shaded sands in theCaribbean. Life here is totally laid back, but you can be as active as you like with fantastic snorkelling at theBlue Hole and other water-sports available from your beach-side resort.
Arrive in Belize City, transfer to your forest lodge, CassiaHill Resort, at San Ignacio, a journey of about 2.5hrs. Theproperty is nestled in a low lying area close to the Mayanmountains of the Cayo District, a region of profusebiodiversity with a multitude of birds, mammals and speciesof tropical trees, shrubs and flowers.
The Mayan peoples have had a presence in Mexico andCentral America since well before the birth of Christ. Theircivilisation, which was at its height in the 1st-9th centuriesAD has left a legacy of remarkable buildings, sculpturesand artefacts featuring their hieroglyphics and reflectingtheir artistic creativity and knowledge of astronomy andmathematics.
You are free to plan your day according to your interestsand enthusiasms. There are plenty of outdoor activitiesavailable for you to book at the resort, including horse-riding, caving, tubing or canoeing down the nearby river.
If you prefer you can relax and observe the prolific birdlifein the luxuriant grounds.
We recommend a visit to the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves(often referred to as ATM caves though you can’t withdrawany cash there!). There you hike into the caves, cross overunderground rivers and enter a giant chamber which waslong ago the setting for Mayan religious ceremonies and isstuffed with relics including ceramics and, rathergruesomely, skeletons.
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You wake up to another day at leisure. If you are happy toexplore further afield it would be a shame to miss theopportunity to visit Tikal in neighbouring Guatemala,probably the Mayans most impressive and complex site, itspyramids and temples shrouded by monkey-filled jungle.
Closer to the lodge are the less visited Mayan ruins ofXunantunich, a slightly less ambitious option but rewardingnonetheless.
Deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, 2hrs' drive fromSan Ignacio, Caracol is the largest Mayan site in Belize. Itwas an urban centre which, at the height of its prosperity,had a population of around 180,000.
The temple rises 42m above plaza level and is the largestman-made structure in Belize. Over 70 tombs have beenexcavated and many hieroglyphic texts have been found onaltars and wall façades. Many wildlife species can beencountered in this area which is also known as anexcellent place to observe birds.
Having visited Caracol continue to Gaia Riverlodge in hillyMountain Pine Ridge Reserve, which protects the naturalpine forests, which blanket an area of granite and limestonecut through by waterfalls and peppered with sinkholes.
You have another choice of optional (book locally) outdooractivities at your lodge, which sits in the Reservesurrounded by luxuriant vegetation. A lovely waterfall is inthe landscaped grounds. Explore the trails by mountainbike or on horse-back, or just stroll along them at your ownpace.
Not enough excitement? Try zip-lining, rapelling, orcanoeing down the Macal river.
At the falls there is a display of over 450 species of orchidsand bromeliads, visited by clouds of butterflies.
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Drive to Belize City and fly to Ambergris Caye, a large coralisland where twisted mangroves are framed by pure, chalk-white sandy beaches. The Caribbean waters there are asturquoise as the gemstone and mirror-clear.
There’s only one, laidback town on the island, San Pedro,and it is there that you will find your hotel SunBreezeSuites.
It’s great just to kick back by the pool and enjoy the seaviews, but you may be tempted again by a menu ofactivities. Among these are snorkelling, diving and fishingexcursions.
The undersea life here is a kaleidoscope of colour, withthousands of exotic, tropical fish and other marine creatureson display. You can visit Blue Hole, a premier snorkellingand dive site. Resort dive classes are available from theresort.
The island is not big enough to warrant much vehiculartransport so the main way of getting around this lovely, lazyplace is by golf cart. If you like, hire one to explore thetown, visit the museum and discover the new 16km northroad.
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2 flights (20 mins each); 3 road journeys (longest 2.5hrs).
For this holiday we have chosen a couple of mid-range, countryside lodges which blend into the naturalenvironment with bird- and exotic foliage-filled grounds. There are plenty of adventurous activities andexcursions on offer. The beach resort, suitable for both families and honeymoons, is also mid-range, with 20one-bedroomed suites.
Breakfast daily.
9 days, 8 nights: San Ignacio 3, Mountain Pine Ridge 2, Ambergris Caye 3.
There are no long days of travel on this trip. This holiday is suitable for couples; friends; single people; families,honeymooners; history, wildlife and active adventure enthusiasts.
If you have a disability or other special requirements, please call us. In the summer (Jun-Oct) the weather canbe extremely hot and humid, you might bear this in mind if travelling with small children or elderly persons.
We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praiseby clients on their return.
The best weather conditions are during the dry season December to May. It can be cool in the highlands inwinter, while the jungle areas are hot and humid all year round. There’s a low risk of tropical storms orhurricanes from June to November.
Services of our team ofexperts in our London office
Services of Journey LatinAmerica localrepresentatives and guides
All land and air transportwithin Latin America
Accommodation as specified
Meals as specified
Excursions as specified,including entrance fees
Guided excursion to CaracolMayan ruins
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Bring plenty of light, loose and preferably cotton clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes, trainers or sportssandals. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple oflight layers than one thick jumper, and sensible to have long sleeves for areas where mosquitos or sand fliesmay be.
Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellant are essential and you should bringswimwear. A daypack is useful for carrying sun block, guidebook, water and any extra layers. Binoculars arestrongly recommended.
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very importantand hard to come by in Central America.
• International flights to Latin America.• Tips and gratuities• Meals other than specified.• Airport taxes, when not included in the ticket• Departure tax (US$10.75)• Optional excursions.
The unit of currency in Belize is the Belize dollar which is always 2 to 1 US dollar .(US dollars also accepted).
Cash machines are available Belize City and San Pedro (Ambergris), and so taking a debit or credit card with aPIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip. In each of the hotels, as wellas shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld orblocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds. We recommend that additionally you take areasonable quantity of US dollars cash (no more than is covered by your insurance), which you can exchangeinto local currency, Dollar bills should be in good condition, soiled or torn bills may be refused. You can takesterling, but the exchange rate is not always competitive or even available, restricting the number of placeswhere you can change money.
The Belize exchange rate is fixed at $2 Belize dollars to 1 $US. Both currencies are widely accepted in cash andcredit cards can be used at the hotels.
It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$45 per day should coverthe cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir.
Tips are expected and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotelporters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 - 12% in restaurants.
Travel insurance is essential.
Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
There is an international departure tax of $20 to be paid on departure, also a security tax of about $5 and asmall conservation charge.
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Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You shouldconsult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on yellow fever and malaria tablets. For specificrequirements you must consult your GP.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 monthsafter the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevantconsulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
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