DAY 6 - SAILING IN THE PATH OF THE PIRATES - (B,L)
After breakfast, you will set off on a boat tour of Lake Izabal (Lago Izabal), the largest body of fresh water in Guatemala (30 miles long
& 15 miles wide). The first stop is the historic Castillo San Felipé which was built in the 1600s by
the Spaniards in a vain attempt to stop the maurading British pirates from stealing the gold and other treasures collected by the Conquistadors.
This beautiful little fort, in a tranquil setting on the banks of the lake, was restored to it's former glory in the 1950s and is the only one of
its kind in Guatemala. It is an exciting place to explore with its maze of dark chambers.
Next is another highlight of the trip. Your boat continues down the dramatic Rio Dulce including a stop at the Chocón Machacas Wildlife
Reserve, home of the shy and endangerd Manatees..
The Rio Dulce river flows through spectacular deep gorges with tropical vegetation and vines clinging to sheer cliff faces before reaching
the Bay of Amatique on the Caribbean Coast of Guatemala.
Along the banks are a strange mix of the luxurious homes of wealthy Guatemalans and the simple huts of the local families who by night fish the
river that is their only link with the outside world. Civilisation seems a long way away...
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Views of the Rio Dulce. Click on photos for larger images |
Whilst admiring the tremendous beauty of the Rio Dulce, the canyon, the wild animals, the birdlife and the tropical rainforest, it should be remembered
that hidden behind this beauty is more poverty than any other region of Guatemala.
More than 6,000 Kek'chi (Mayan) Indians live in over 50 isolated villages in the mountains along the river. Most have been displaced by politcal
violence from their homes in the highlands. They now suffer lack of medical care, education facilities and opportunities to support their families.
Project Ak Tenemit is a community development project dedicated to empowering indigenous communities through grassroots programmes in health,
education and income generation.
Tell your boat captain if you wish to visit to see for yourselves the wonderful work they are doing. You can
admire the local handicrafts that are made by the older children. In a small way, you too will have helped to contribute to the area you are visiting.
Anyone wishing to take along items to donate are encouraged to do so and we have a list of suitable things that would be most welcome.
Your destination is Livingston, which can only be reached by boat. Tonight will be spent at Villa Caribe Hotel (ex Tucan Dugu)
with its fabulous bay views.
A lovely way to enjoy the sunset at the end of the day is a relaxing swim in the huge swimming pool which has an amazing view of the bay.
Dinner is on your own so you can choose to eat at the hotel's restaurant (be sure to check to see if they have Garifuna Dancers & Drummers performing)
or why not take a short walk to Casa Rosado to have dinner out in their excellent restaurant on the edge of the riverbank?
Note: On arriving in Livingston it is important to visit the Customs and Immigration office which is directly over the road from the hotel entrance and let them know you are departing
Guatemala tomorrow. They will need your passport and departure tax to complete the formalities.
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DAY 7 - BACK TO BELIZE - (B,L,D)
This morning you have to be up bright and breezy for the early morning boat which departs at 7.15 am to Punta Gorda in the far south of Belize.
You will be met at the dock on arrival. It is a 20 minute drive to Big Falls where you will spend the next three nights at the beautiful
Lodge at Big Falls.
The Lodge offers elegant accommodation, fine food and relaxation in a peaceful riverside setting. An unforgettable holiday experience.
After settling into your cabana it is time for a relaxing afternoon dory trip upstream from the lodge with the on-site guide. Observe the bird and animal life as the sun sets and the shadows fall across the river.
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DAY 8 - MAYAN MYSTERIES - (B,L,D)
Keen bird watchers can join an "optional" early morning guided bird walk. The lodge’s property offers a range of bird habitats from forest
to riverside to orchard and therefore attracts a wide variety of species. Many nesting birds can be observed during the spring.
After a healthy breakfast you will set off to visit the fascinating Late Classic Mayan site of Lubaantun ("Place of Fallen
Stones"). Lubaantun is situated on a tall ridge above a valley cut by the Columbia River and is the largest Maya site in Southern Belize. This ancient city is unique within the Mayan World in that the temples were built with no mortar binding
together the thousands of masterfully hand-cut, carved and fitted limestone block. stones. Eleven large structures tower above five main plazas and three ball courts. A few burial tombs are also present.
The famous yet controversial crystal skull was supposedly discovered on New Year's Eve 1926 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges,
adopted daughter of archaeologist, F. Mitchell-Hedges. It was her seventeenth birthday and they were on an expedition to Belize (then British Honduras) seeking the lost City of Atlantis. This perfectly shaped human skull carved from an 8 inch block of solid
pure rock crystal is still possessed by Anna who lives in Canada. The origin of the crystal skull remains a mystery. It is estimated the skull may be up to 12,000 years old.
It is believed that the skull was shaped by a succession of Mayan priests. It is thought it may have taken over 150 years of man
hours to complete the skull and it is said to bring a curse on those who mock it. Observers have reported sounds, odours and amazing light effects. Recent laboratory tests that were carried out by Hewlett-Packard Company, Santa Clara, California reveal
the skull has optical properties which would be virtually impossible to duplicate with modern day equipment so the mystery lives on.....
Continue by travelling through several Mayan villages with a stop to visit a Mayan home in Blue Creek Village where you will see how various crafts are carried out and the processing and use of corn and cacao. Over thirty Mopan and Kekchi Maya villages are scattered throughout Southern Belize. They lie along riverbanks and creeks and are surrounded by beautiful mountains and rainforests. Most Mayas use the land for subsistence farming and their way of living is primitive compared to western standards. They bathe and do their washing in rivers and their lives revolve around the daylight hours rather than any modern alarm clocks. Lunch is a picnic at a natural swimming pool with waterfalls in beautiful jungle surroundings. Relax, frolic in the water and enjoy the peace and tranquility before returning to the Lodge. |
DAY 9 - BEAUTIFUL ISLANDS IN THE BAY OF HONDURAS - (B,L,D)
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A twenty minute drive into Punta Gorda on the coast, then into a motor boat to begin this idyllic tour through some of the most beautiful of Toledo’s offshore cayes (islands).
The Port Honduras Marine Reserve is one of the newest conservation areas in Belize and you will visit the ranger station on tiny Abalone Caye. |
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Climb the observation tower for a magnificent view of the Bay of Honduras and it’s many emerald cayes. You will also visit Wild Cane Caye, a small island of coral and coconuts which was once a Mayan trading post. The ground is strewn with ancient pieces of pottery and obsidian knife blades.
As you make your way out to the Snake Cayes, keep your eyes open for Manatee, Dolphins, Magnificent Frigate Birds and Brown Boobies.
In the afternoon, your guide will undoubtedly suggest a bit of fishing on the way home. People in Toledo love to fish and these are, after all, some of the best fishing grounds in the Caribbean. You may catch your own dinner of snapper, barracuda, mackerel or kingfish. However you may choose to let others do the work and just lie back and enjoy the late afternoon breeze over the water. When the boat docks, you’ll be driven back to the Lodge in time for dinner.
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DAY 10 - DEPARTURE - (B)
Unfortunately, it is time to pack your bags and head for home. Departure flights from Punta Gorda to Belize International Airport. will be scheduled to be most convenient for your homebound flight.
If you have a little more time to spare, perhaps you would like to consider a few days on one of the islands or beachfront
locations? Please let us know if you would like to extend the tour.
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An Escape You Will Always Remember... To a Place You Will Never Forget. A
Place of Yesteryear's History, Today's Hospitality and Tomorrow's Hope.
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