24 <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>Suggested itineraryTraditional highland villages of <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>MARK HEALEYOcelotlSundays from the UK12 days, 10 nightsAntigua 2 nights, Panajachel 2n,Quetzaltenango 1n,Huehuetenango 1n, <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>City 1n, Tikal 2n, <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>City 1n.MEXICOFlores• • TikalGUATEMALATodos Santos•• HuehuetenangoQuetzaltenango • Chichicastenango•Lake Atitlán • • • <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> CityAntiguaDay 1 Depart from the UK, arrive same evening in <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City.Continue by road to Antigua. Day 2 City tour and time to relax in oneof the charming hotels converted from colonial mansions. This was thecapital of <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773.Reconstruction over the years has created of Antigua the baroque jewelwe see today. Days 3&4 Drive to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlán,which fills a collapsed volcanic cone. Boat trip to lakeside Santiago deAtitlán, famed for its colourful textiles and mélange of religious rituals.Day 5 Drive to Chichicastenango – its market is one of the mostimpressive spectacles in <strong>Latin</strong> <strong>America</strong>. In the afternoon, drive 100kmthrough the highlands to Quetzaltenango. Day 6 Visit Almolonga, setamong the orchards and vegetable gardens of a gorgeous fertile valleythen continue to Huehuetenango (2hrs). Day 7 Full day excursion tothe mountain-top village of Todos Santos Cuchumatán, where men aswell as women still wear traditional dress. Drive to <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City.Days 8&9 Short flight to Flores, stay in basic accommodation with easyaccess to the Mayan city of Tikal, with steep, narrow pyramids datingbetween 650-800 AD. You have a guided tour of the ruins and time fora further visit at dawn which is particularly spectacular at Tikal: thesurrounding jungle erupts with a cacophony of bird sound. Day 10 Flyto <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City. Day 11 Flight to the UK arriving day 12.Prices from £910pp based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights.How about?›› Taking a side trip from <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City to visit Rio Dulce (p26).Top: The temperate highland climate is perfect for strolling around <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>’s vibrantmarkets and it’s also good for growing oversized vegetables.Above: Purple clad penitents parade past a carpet of coloured sawdust during SemanaSanta (Holy Week).Below: Cobbled streets and a colonial church in Antigua – one of Central <strong>America</strong>’s mostatmospheric towns.RAFE STONE GUATEMALAN TOURIST BOARD
<strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> & <strong>Belize</strong> 25Suggested itineraryHighlights of <strong>Belize</strong> and <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>MARK HEALEYMargaySaturdays from the UK16 days, 14 nightsAntigua 2 nights, Panajachel 2n,Chichicastenango 1n, Antigua 1n,Tikal 2n, Chaa Creek 3n, AmbergrisCaye 3n.MEXICOAmbergris Caye•Tikal•<strong>Belize</strong>Flores•••San CityIgnacioBELIZEChichicastenangoGUATEMALA•<strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City•Lake Atitlán • •Antigua HONDURASDays 1&2 Fly from the UK to <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City arriving the same evening.Transfer to colonial Antigua, set in the shadow of three majesticvolcanoes. Day 3 Drive to Panajachel (2½hrs) on the shores of LakeAtitlán. Day 4 Relax and enjoy the lake’s panoramic views. Day 5 Driveto the atmospheric Mayan town of Chichicastenango, still an importantcentre for trading and religious ceremonies. Day 6 Spend time at theworld-famous produce and artisan market; return to Antigua. Days 7&8Fly to Flores, and stay in a simple jungle lodge well located for exploringthe Mayan ruins at Tikal within dense rainforest. Days 9-11 A 3-hourdrive across the border into <strong>Belize</strong>. Spend 3 nights at the rural Lodge atChaa Creek beside the Macal River, where you can ride to the ruins atXunantunich on horse-back or kayak to the nearby town of San Ignacio.Days 12-14 Drive to <strong>Belize</strong> City, and fly to Ambergris Caye, (20 mins) acoral island offering diving and snorkelling. Unwind at the whitewashedVictoria House resort (p30) overlooking the Caribbean Sea.Day 15 Fly to <strong>Belize</strong> City arriving in the UK on day 16.Above: Tikal has the tallest pyramids in the Mayan world (64m). At the height of its powersin the 8th century this huge city housed 100,000 people and covered 30 km 2 .Tikal and the Mayan highlands of <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong>Prices from £1,367pp based on two sharing, excluding transatlantic flights.How about?›› Extending your stay to visit the ruins at Copàn (p26) ›› Extra time in<strong>Belize</strong>? Chan Chich Lodge (p29) Blancaneaux Lodge (p27), LamanaiOutpost Lodge (p28).Below: Lake Atitlan is flanked by three towering volcanoes and is renowned as one mostpicturesque in the world.Bottom: <strong>Belize</strong> is a mecca for birding enthusiasts. Toucans, trogons, tinamous, woodpeckers,hawks and hummingbirds, to name but a few of the numerous species you may well spot.CHARLIE DOGGETT / ISTOCKPHOTO.COMDAVID PLUMMERCity of TikalDaily from Flores3 days, 2 nightsFrom £133pp based on two sharingDrive to the vast Mayan City Tikal,where a network of steep sky-scraperpyramids pierce the remote forestcanopy. If you rise at dawn, you willexperience the tropical jungle fi llingwith the agitated scream of parakeetsand the haunting roar of howlermonkeys. This is one of the mostatmospheric of all the mist-shroudedcities of the Maya. You spend 2 nightsat a basic jungle lodge at the templecomplex itself, or at La Lancha –a group of cosy, smart thatchedcottages 45 minutes from the ruins.Following a guided tour, you have awhole day at leisure to explore beforereturning to Flores airport on the thirdday.How about?›› Combining this week with a stayin the highlands or on the beach of<strong>Belize</strong> (pp29-30).A week in thehighlandsSundays or Wednesdays from<strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City7 days, 6 nightsFrom £476pp based on two sharingAs you leave the capital and headinto the highlands, you see womenin their distinctive traditional blousesand men sporting thick woollentunics, the unique designs andcolours identifying their home villageor district.Days 1&2 Collection from hotel orairport in <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City, and driveto Antigua where preservation ordershave ensured that this magnifi centtown has retained its colonialcharacter. Day 3 Drive to Panajachelon the shores of Lake Atitlán, fl ankedby fuming volcanoes casting everchangingshadows over the water.Day 4 Excursion by launch to thelakeside village of Santiago Atitlán.Day 5 Drive to Chichicastenango’shuge handicraft market; crowded,chaotic, a pageant of brightly-dyedtextiles, of bells and incense.Day 6 Return to <strong>Guatem</strong><strong>ala</strong> City.Day 7 Return to airport.How about?›› Visiting Mexico for a week in theYucatán (p15), fl ying via Tikal (left).›› A few days on a Caribbean beachin <strong>Belize</strong> (p30).
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