


Guatemala & Belize
From
£6,550.25
£6,895
Summary
Explore the enduring mysteries of a magnificent civilisation, which arose from the impenetrable jungles of Central America. A diverse range of landscapes await us in this mysterious part of the world. From lush jungles to the prolific soils of soaring volcanoes, powerful sunlight and plentiful water have long provided a dramatic habitat for colourful wildlife, the colourful Maya peoples, and, over the past five centuries, Old World settlers too – both conquerors and slaves alike. The region’s dramatic history, its vibrant colonial cities, the archaeological treasures housed in museums, and the stories found among ancient remains and cultures –we get to experience it all.
Tour highlights:




- At daybreak, walk among Tikal's magnificent ancient temples and climb their steps as the sun rises over the horizon
- Observe an array of endemic wildlife, from howler monkeys and macaws to eagles
- Tour the well-preserved buildings of Antigua, a UNESCO-listed city that was largely destroyed by an earthquake in 1773
- Examine an array of ancient artefacts at fascinating regional museums throughout the trip
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Full Price
£6,895
Today's Price
£6,550.25
Saving
£344.75
Benefit from one of these limited time offers:
- Save £344.75 if you pay your full balance today, just £6,550.25
- Pay a low deposit of £99, was £500.
Single supplement: £950
Includes flights
Keeping you safe on your next tour
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FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
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COVID-19 insurance
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Enhanced Health and Safety audits
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Distanced seating on coaches
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'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
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COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
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Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
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COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
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Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
Meet your Experts
Dr Nicholas James
Guide Lecturer
Nicholas James has worked on the history, archaeology and anthropology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas for more than 40 years and he is author of 'Aztecs & Maya'.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - London - Guatemala City
This morning, we depart from London aboard a flight via the USA to Guatemala City. Upon landing, we transfer to our hotel in Antigua and enjoy dinner together as a group.

Hotel | Camino Real Antigua |
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Meals included | Dinner |
Camino Real Antigua
Camino Real Antigua Hotel is located in the colonial city of La Antigua Guatemala. This legendary colonial city with its past rich in culture and tradition has witnessed the passage of time, embraced by the volcanoes of Fuego, Acatenango and Agua. The city also hosts a number of Cathedrals, Baroque facades, museums, handicrafts and culture markets, climbing activities, tours, art galleries,
Part of the Colonial Route and Pilgrim Route, the hotel is surrounded by nearby towns worth visiting such as San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Jocotenango, San Felipe de Jesus, Old City, San Pedro Las Huertas, San Juan del Obispo and Santa María de Jesus.
The Hotel is located four blocks from the Central Plaza of the City, so it is surrounded by culture, history and colonial art.
Day 2 - Antigua
Today is all ours to explore the beautiful city of Antigua, Guatemala’s vibrant capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we receive an exciting introduction to the region – in a city both renowned for its Spanish colonial buildings and encircled by volcanoes. Today’s Antigua is the third incarnation of the city, established on this land in the 16th century after the first incarnation was uprooted by native uprisings, and the second devastated by volcanic mudflow. From markets to churches, with tales of ground-breaking earthquakes in between, we learn all about Antigua’s colourful past.

Hotel | Camino Real Antigua |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Camino Real Antigua
Camino Real Antigua Hotel is located in the colonial city of La Antigua Guatemala. This legendary colonial city with its past rich in culture and tradition has witnessed the passage of time, embraced by the volcanoes of Fuego, Acatenango and Agua. The city also hosts a number of Cathedrals, Baroque facades, museums, handicrafts and culture markets, climbing activities, tours, art galleries,
Part of the Colonial Route and Pilgrim Route, the hotel is surrounded by nearby towns worth visiting such as San Antonio Aguas Calientes, Jocotenango, San Felipe de Jesus, Old City, San Pedro Las Huertas, San Juan del Obispo and Santa María de Jesus.
The Hotel is located four blocks from the Central Plaza of the City, so it is surrounded by culture, history and colonial art.
Day 3 - Antigua - Copán
We leave Antigua this morning for a short and scenic drive east to the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology in Guatemala City. This museum was first founded in the late 19th century, and houses one of the most important collections of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican artefacts in the world – over 20,000 pieces in total, which offer an unparalleled glimpse into Guatemalan history. A permanent exhibit on the development of Maya culture strengthens this fascinating overview of ancient Central America. Next, we drive to Rio Hondo for lunch and then cross the border into Honduras to arrive in Copán.

Hotel | Hotel Marina Copán |
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Meals included | All meals included |
Hotel Marina Copán
The Hotel Marina Copán invites you to live out the history of the fabled Maya. the hotel will make your stay pleasant and comfortable for you as you find your way back through time to the centuries of the Maya, one that has closely guarded its colonial architecture and nurtured its natural surroundings for many years.
The hotel includes Her Royal Highness Queen Sofia of Spain, the President and Vice President of China, Japan’s Princess Sayako, the late John F. Kennedy, Jr., Actor Richard Gere, and several Latin American Presidents as it's guests.
Day 4 - Cópan
Our expedition is well underway now and today we explore the extensive ruined city of Copán. Though initially discovered in 1570, the ruins of Copán were not excavated until the 19th century. They are now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and are much admired for their Hieroglyphic Stairway, upon which the longest inscribed Maya text can still be viewed – not to mention their many incredible sculptures. Occupied for more than 2,000 years, Copán developed rapidly around AD 450, and is thought to have had a population of at least 20,000 at its peak. We wander the extensive stone ruins, viewing ancient tombs, the grand Monument Plaza, and the magnificent ball court, where an early precursor to the modern game of basketball was played – a site of great cultural and spiritual significance.

Hotel | Hotel Marina Copán |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Hotel Marina Copán
The Hotel Marina Copán invites you to live out the history of the fabled Maya. the hotel will make your stay pleasant and comfortable for you as you find your way back through time to the centuries of the Maya, one that has closely guarded its colonial architecture and nurtured its natural surroundings for many years.
The hotel includes Her Royal Highness Queen Sofia of Spain, the President and Vice President of China, Japan’s Princess Sayako, the late John F. Kennedy, Jr., Actor Richard Gere, and several Latin American Presidents as it's guests.
Day 5 - Copán - Petén
Today we head back across the border for a tour of the city of Quirigua, a Maya archaeological site in southwestern Guatemala, best-known for its gigantic carved stelae. Once the vassal state to Copán, Quirigua came to prominence when its ruler, Cauac Sky, captured his overlord, 18 Rabbit. The Great Plaza here is the largest known public space in the entire Maya region. The reason behind the city’s decline remains a subject of much speculation. Later, we drive to Flores and then continue on to Petén.

Hotel | Hotel Casona Del Lago |
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Meals included | All meals included |
Hotel Casona Del Lago
Lago Peten Itza is situated on the shore of the lake of the same name and connected by causeway to Flores. The Casona Del Lago is a modern hotel built on the shore front. It has a small outdoor swimming pool, infinity pool, Jacuzzi, bar and restaurant. Rooms are furnished with TV, WiFi, safe box and air conditioning. The en-suite bathrooms have a shower.
In 2017, the hotel was awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award.
Day 6 - Petén - Tikal
Our focus for today is nothing less than the mighty Tikal, an incomparable Maya metropolis that was occupied continuously from 800 BC to AD 900. For long periods, Tikal was the most powerful political force among the Maya, boasting a lengthy list of dynastic rulers that included the revered Chak Tok Ich’aak I, or Great Jaguar Paw, whose name appears on numerous recovered ceramics and stelae. The Tikal National Park is an enormous site – its central section alone contains over 3,000 buildings – and in this full day's discovery, we cover many of the park’s prized features and also pay a visit to the museum, which offers plenty of extra historical and archaeological insight that will bring this ancient civilisation vividly to life.

Hotel | Hotel Casona Del Lago |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Hotel Casona Del Lago
Lago Peten Itza is situated on the shore of the lake of the same name and connected by causeway to Flores. The Casona Del Lago is a modern hotel built on the shore front. It has a small outdoor swimming pool, infinity pool, Jacuzzi, bar and restaurant. Rooms are furnished with TV, WiFi, safe box and air conditioning. The en-suite bathrooms have a shower.
In 2017, the hotel was awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award.
Day 7 - Tikal
Today, we continue our discovery of Tikal. Toucans and parrots caw from hanging vines, wild turkeys scrub around the bush, monkeys howl from the tropical canopy, and crickets vibrate in unison, while the rest of the forest’s exotic flora and fauna awakes. We take ourselves straight to the heart of this enchanting spectacle, climbing the highest jungle temple. A welcome opportunity to imagine life in the ancient Maya times and to discover the secrets of this glorious natural habitat. We have the afternoon to relax at our hotel.

Hotel | Hotel Casona Del Lago |
---|
Hotel Casona Del Lago
Lago Peten Itza is situated on the shore of the lake of the same name and connected by causeway to Flores. The Casona Del Lago is a modern hotel built on the shore front. It has a small outdoor swimming pool, infinity pool, Jacuzzi, bar and restaurant. Rooms are furnished with TV, WiFi, safe box and air conditioning. The en-suite bathrooms have a shower.
In 2017, the hotel was awarded Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence Award.
Day 8 - Yaxhá - Belize
This morning we drive to the once thriving city of Yaxhá, a former ceremonial centre of the pre-Columbian Maya. The name of this area derives from the Maya word for blue-green water, and this is what we will see from the tops of the temples, as we survey a beautiful vista of rainforest and lakes. After a picnic lunch, we enjoy a boat trip to the important Maya site of Topoxte, first discovered in 1904. We visit the archaeological ruins here, for a Middle Preclassic encounter. After our full day of exploration, we travel across the border into Belize.

Hotel | San Ignacio Resort Hotel |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
San Ignacio Resort Hotel
San Ignacio Resort Hotel was established in 1976 and is a Belizean, family-owned boutique hotel located in the Cayo District of Western Belize. The resort is centrally located on a 17-acre private estate and is a short walk from San Ignacio Town which features a variety of cultural, adventurous, and culinary experiences.
The San Ignacio Resort Hotel has 27 rooms and is renowned for its hospitality. It also features the award-winning Running W Steakhouse & Restaurant (which showcases meats from the family’s ranch), in-room wellness treatments, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court area.
San Ignacio Resort Hotel has been the recipient of numerous awards including “Hotel of the Year” (2016, 2012), “Restaurant of the Year” (2016), and “Hospitality Award” (2015) from the Belize Tourism Board.
Day 9 - Caracol
Today we venture deep into the forests to the Vacau Plateau, where the impressive Maya city of Caracol invites more ancient exploration. There is evidence of life here dating back as far as 1200 BC – with a peak population estimate of 120,000 or more. Caracol is home to some truly awe-inspiring temples, including the ‘Canaa’ or ‘Sky Palace’, the tallest man-made structure in Belize. We get up close to a number of palaces and tombs, and learn about the city’s turbulent history as a rival to Tikal. After a light lunch, we take the scenic route back to our hotel.

Hotel | San Ignacio Resort Hotel |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
San Ignacio Resort Hotel
San Ignacio Resort Hotel was established in 1976 and is a Belizean, family-owned boutique hotel located in the Cayo District of Western Belize. The resort is centrally located on a 17-acre private estate and is a short walk from San Ignacio Town which features a variety of cultural, adventurous, and culinary experiences.
The San Ignacio Resort Hotel has 27 rooms and is renowned for its hospitality. It also features the award-winning Running W Steakhouse & Restaurant (which showcases meats from the family’s ranch), in-room wellness treatments, an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court area.
San Ignacio Resort Hotel has been the recipient of numerous awards including “Hotel of the Year” (2016, 2012), “Restaurant of the Year” (2016), and “Hospitality Award” (2015) from the Belize Tourism Board.
Day 10 - Xunantunich - Belize City
Following breakfast, we travel to Xunantunich – a destination where well-known Maya stucco friezes depict dancing figures and ropes thought to signify those held by women in labour. Our next visit of the day is to the Classic period site of Cahal Pech, by the banks of the Macal River. Cahal Pech is the oldest known site in the Belize River Valley, and is thought to have been a palatial home for an elite Maya family. Its ruins are strategically perched above the nearest town and they offer staggering views of the surroundings. We continue on to Belize City, the country’s only major urban area, where we visit the collections of the National Museum of Belize. Housed in what was once Belize’s main jail, the museum’s exhibitions include stunning examples of Maya jade, as well as a number of recovered sculptures and ceramics.

Hotel | Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina, Belize |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Radisson Fort George Hotel & Marina, Belize
This Radisson Fort George hotel is situated next to the sea and close to the historic city centre. The hotel is a good stopover location. Rooms are of a standard design and include all the amenities one would expect.
Day 11 - Belize City - Lamanai
Our action-packed day begins at Altun Ha, just a few miles from the Caribbean Sea, for a tour of the temples where sacrifices and blood-letting rituals were performed long ago. Traces of Maya mathematics and astrology also remain here for us to discover. After some thorough exploring, we board a motor-launch to Lamanai (also known as the ‘Place of the Submerged Crocodile’), and cruise through acres of luxurious vegetation, teeming with birds and jungle creatures – possibly including a part-submerged crocodile or two! Tonight we stay in the area’s delightful eco-jungle lodges, falling asleep amidst the rumour of howler monkeys and other intriguing forest noises.

Hotel | Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Belize |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Belize
Lamanai Outpost Lodge is situated on the banks of a 28 mile-long lagoon amid the remnants of a major Maya city. The lodge is secluded with the nearest lodge 70 miles away
Lamanai Outpost has featured on shows such as Wild Things, Discovery, Animal Planet, National Geographic Explorer and World Gone Wild. It was voted Belize’s Hotel of the Year for 1999/2000.
Day 12 - Lamanai
We’re in for a real treat today as we wander the remote jungle remains of Lamanai, which spread along the shores of the New River lagoon. The exceptionally long and uninterrupted occupation of Lamanai, from 1200 BC to the time of the conquest, makes it a most unusual site to visit. Highlights here include the extraordinary Mask Temple, decorated by a 13-foot high stone mask of a Maya king, and the High Temple, the summit of which offers uninterrupted views across the landscape. Later on, we enjoy some free time in our jungle lodge and its gardens – the perfect spot from which to reflect on our fascinating day's visits.

Hotel | Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Belize |
---|---|
Meals included | All meals included |
Lamanai Outpost Lodge, Belize
Lamanai Outpost Lodge is situated on the banks of a 28 mile-long lagoon amid the remnants of a major Maya city. The lodge is secluded with the nearest lodge 70 miles away
Lamanai Outpost has featured on shows such as Wild Things, Discovery, Animal Planet, National Geographic Explorer and World Gone Wild. It was voted Belize’s Hotel of the Year for 1999/2000.
Day 13 - Belize - London
We start our day with a last boat ride from Lamanai to Belize City. Back on dry land, we head to the airport and check in for our flight back to London, via the USA.

Meals included | Breakfast |
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Day 14 - London
Today we arrive back in the UK.


Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
- Accommodation
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single Supp. | Offer | Availability |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 November 2021 | ABEL211117 | 17 November 2021 (Wednesday) | 30 November 2021 (Tuesday) | Dr Nicholas James | £6,895 (inc. flights) |
£99 |
£950 |
£6,550.25 save £344.75 |
Book Now |
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