Belize is an anomaly. Peaceful, democratic, English-speaking, it seems in many ways not to belong in Central America at all. And indeed, to an extent, it is more a Caribbean nation than a Latin one, looking out from the coast rather than inland for its trade and alliances. On the other hand it has plenty of distinctively Central American features as well. Above all, it offers a blend of cultures and races that includes, Maya, Mestizo, African, European, and Asian. Spanish runs a close second, as spoken language, with the rich local Creole. Belize consists of remarkable marine life, profuse jungle vegetation, ancient Mayan ruins , and above all, friendly and easy-going people. Belize is this and much more!

Spanish is the official language of both Guatemala and Mexico. A number of Indigenous languages are also spoken. If you are interested in learning Spanish before your departure, evening courses are available in most cities through language schools,
or continuing education programs. Even basic knowledge of the language will not only open doors within the countries you visit, but will also make you feel more confident and at ease in a new environment.

The famous resort of Cancún on the north-eastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula, is a thriving complex and town with skyscraper hotels, and crowded beaches. Prices are higher in Cancún than elsewhere in Mexico because everything must be transported into the city. We use it as a starting and finishing point, and try not to spend too much time in this massive resort area.
The heat and humidity of Cancún may affect you upon arrival, with a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm, it is simply a reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water and do not attempt too much in any given day. We prefer fan-cooled rather than air-conditioned rooms to avoid having to acclimatize to the heat and humidity every time you go outside.

The city of Chichén Itzá, was founded in 432 and taken over by the Toltecs in the 10th century. It houses some of the finest examples of Mayan architecture ever excavated, including El Castillo with a balustrade of 91stairs up each of the four sides, a ball court with a grandstand and towering walls and the famous observatory found in Old Chichén 1/2 km by path from the main clearing. The attention to detail, and fusion of architecture, science and religion within the structures and throughout the city planning, will no doubt impress you.

Mérida, capital of Yucatán State, was founded in 1542 on the site of the Mayan city of Tihoo. It's centre, the Plaza Mayor, or zocalo, is green and shady and is surrounded by the twin-towered 16th Century Cathedral, the City Hall, the State Government Palace, and the Casa Montejo .There are several 16th and 17th century churches scattered about the city, as well as some interesting museums. Mornings are the best time to visit the busy and colorful markets: you can buy traditional crafts, and a good selection of Maya replicas, or try out new and wonderful food items. Be sure and stroll down the Paseo de Montejo, (or take a caleche ride), together with many shops and restaurants, you will see stately mansions dating from the late 19th century. Nearby Calle 65 is the main shopping street. You are sure to find Mérida a fascinating and beautiful city to explore on foot.

The Palenque ruins are impressive indeed, particularly the Pyramid of the Inscriptions, where a large sarcophagus was found, containing the mummified remains of the Lord Pakal, one of the city's last, great rulers. The temples around, with fantastic comb-like decorations on their intact roofs, and the sculptured wall panels, are undoubtedly amongst the most exquisite achievements of the Maya. The surrounding jungle growth and it s riotous birdlife are sure to be as fascinating as the ruins.
The Highlands are a more traditional part of Mexico. The Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the mountains of Chiapas beyond, is a land inhabited by Indians less influenced than elsewhere by the Spanish conquest. Only about 210 km separate the Atlantic and the Pacific at the hot heavily-jungled Isthmus . San Crístobal De Las Casas, the old State Capital, stands in a high mountain valley at 2110m. You will find fine examples of 16th century architecture, including a church whose engraved altar is solid silver, and a crown shaped fountain. Most villagers in this area are members of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal Indigenous groups. The Tenejapans wear black knee-length tunics, the Chamulans white wool tunics and the Zinacantecos multicolored outfits with the ribbons on their hats signifying how many children they have. The people here are as curious about foreigners, as foreigners are about them. Please respect their traditions, dress conservatively when visiting the villages and refrain from photographing religious
ceremonies, or individuals who do not wish to be photographed. Put yourself in their place before you act.

Lake Atitlán is one of the most beautiful spots in Guatemala. Twelve native villages, blue/grey mountains and three volcanoes line the shores of this lake resulting in a wonderful combination of unusual natural beauty and traditional culture.
Panajachel is a relatively modern town with paved streets in its centre, with a great deal of old world flavour and charm. The best way to see Panajachel is on foot, but beware as there aren't any street signs! Visit the old churches, and explore the back streets to see the more traditional side of Panajachel. You'll have the opportunity to visit the villages on the lake by boat, departing in the mornings and returning in late afternoon. Get ready for spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes, and everyday life in a highland village. The people of this area have received tourists for some time, and are friendly and ready to smile at strangers as readily as they will at a life-long friend. Unless you can resist the wonderful handmade items for sale, you should sharpen your communications and bargaining skills - the Chichi market is the best-known, but there are a number of other markets around, where you may wish to purchase any number of handicraft items. There are also a number of community cooperatives that you may wish to visit. The proceeds from the sales return directly to the community and are a significant contribution to the local economy. The area is also ideal for outdoors pursuits like swimming, fishing, wind surfing, hiking, bird watching, kayaking, horseback riding, and for the really adventurous, parapenting!

Once the third largest city in all of Spanish America, Antigua served as Guatemala's capital city for more than 200 years until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773.
Antigua today is a peaceful, partially restored colonial city that is a pleasure to explore. Walk through quiet cobblestone streets past rebuilt stucco homes with heavy, beautifully carved wooden entrances. It is a short 45 km from Guatemala City on a lovely winding road. The trip takes you through many small towns and villages, past red tile-roofed huts, and people in colorful traditional clothing. The natural scenery is some of the most beautiful anywhere with high mountain peaks surrounding deep valleys, every inch of land covered with lush growth. The point of reference for finding one's way around Antigua is the Central Park, which is directly in the center of town and the place to be in the late afternoon/ early evening. You can pick up a map from the tourist office located on the ground floor of the Palace of the Captains-General on the south side of the Central Park. Explore the museums, the colonial buildings and other sites in this delightful town. Antigua offers three specialties that make shopping here very worthwhile. Textiles sold here and in the nearby towns are of the highest quality, beautifully designed and woven on foot looms or the rarer back strap loom. Jade, in carved statues and jewelry, is sold in several factories and shops in town and silver jeweler is sold in the better shops and also in a silver factory in nearby San Felipe de Jesus. The city offers good buys in ceramics and antiques as well. It was to the Lake Petén Itzá region that the descendants of the Maya of Chichén-Itzá immigrated, moving here from Mexico several centuries after the collapse of the great Maya cities in the Yucatán. These descendants founded the city of Tayasal on an island in Lake Petén-Itzá, and lived there for about four hundred years, isolated and forgotten by the rest of the country, including the Spanish conquistadors. It was not until 1697 that this small city was finally conquered by a military expedition led by Martin de Ursúa, who stumbled upon the city by accident.

The city of Tayasal was transformed into the city of Flores, officially founded by the Spanish in 1700. It remained an isolated area, relying on the subsistence farming of corn and beans, and the gathering of chicle from nearby trees, used in the manufacture of gum. Despite the recent growth in Petén, Flores remains the same small island town, with narrow, cobble-stone streets, small, brightly-painted houses and friendly people. The island is now attached to the mainland by a causeway, but many of the local inhabitants still get around by cayuco, or dug-out canoe. Flores remains one of the most scenic and charming towns in the Petén. It is particularly attractive to visitors because of Lake Petén-Itzá, a large lake (12 km long and 3 km wide) offering all sorts of possibilities for fun, including swimming, boating, fishing and bird watching, a small zoo and a nature preserve. The sheer scale of the ruins at Tikal may at first seem daunting. If you make it only to the main plaza or spend an hour relaxing in deep contemplation, you certainly won't be disappointed. The central area, with its five main temples, forms by far the most impressive section. If you start to explore beyond this you can wander endlessly into the maze of smaller structures and outlying complexes hidden in the jungle growth. If your energy levels are high enough to make it to the top of Temple lV, your senses won't be disappointed! Spectacular views of the surrounding jungle canopy will greet you from the top of the highest structure within the complex. Occasionally, you may spot toucans, macaws and other bright birds from this artificial perch within the greenery. Otherwise, you may simply marvel at the engineering and organizational skills needed to construct this city within the jungle! A local bilingual guide will explain the natural and artificial wonders of this site during our foray into Tikal . The Mountain Pine Ridge area is the highlight of the trip for some travelers to Belize. Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve covers almost 500 square km and only controlled logging is allowed. Interesting stops include Hidden Valley Falls, a spectacular waterfall dropping more than a 300m over the granite edge of the jungle. Further along, you will cross the Rio On and a climb over an assortment of worn boulders and rocks that will bring you to a delightful site with waterfalls and several warm water pools.

The area is also renowned for its system of caves, the biggest and most famous being the Rio Frio Cave. With its enormous arched entryway into the kilometer-long cave , this river cave is the largest in Belize. A day trip to the ridge can easily be arranged in San Ignacio. It's best to get together with a small group to split the costs of the guide and vehicle for the day. Budget $20 USD per person for each day. The impressive Maya ceremonial center of Xunantunich is located on a natural limestone ridge and provides a grand view of the entire Cayo District and the neighboring Guatemalan countryside. The tallest pyramid on the site, El Castillo, has been partially excavated and explored, and the east side of the structure displays a unique stucco frieze. The plaza of the ceremonial center houses three carved stellae. You can get a group together and hire a taxi to take you the 14 km to the site. Getting there includes crossing a narrow river by a hand-cranked ferry, which shuttles you across! There is a small fee to enter the grounds, and a guide will explain the site. Total budget for this excursion would be approximately $5.00 USD per person with a group of 4..A third alternative activity is to take a walk on the Pantí Trail. From Chaa Creek, visitors are welcome to take part in a self-guided walking tour set up by the herbalist, Rosita Arvigo, who has been practicing for 20 years. Anyone interested in holistic medicine will be fascinated with Rosita's work at Ix Chel Farm. This can be arranged from San Ignacio, by taking a taxi to the farm. The total budget for the outing is $10 - $15 USD per person. Caye Caulker is a relaxed and easy going island with friendly and welcoming local residents. The main street is a sandy
pathway through the center of town surrounded by small bake shops and seafood stands. There is not much to do on the island except relax and explore the reef. Snorkel and dive boats leave daily for full or half day outings to the reef, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the Blue Hole and for manatee spotting tours. The snorkel trips cost from $10 to $20 USD for the day and you can also rent snorkel gear locally for $5 USD (dive trips start at $60 USD).

The reef is the world's second largest (after Australia) and offers some truly amazing sights including coral canyons and an astonishing range of tropical fish, manta rays, sharks and barracudas, as well as the more mundane and edible varieties of
fish.

Our last stop on the tour is Playa del Carmen, located on the beach just an hour south of Cancún. The town is your last chance to enjoy some night life, buy your last-minute souvenirs and relax and swim in the Caribbean Sea. There is also snorkeling and diving available, as well as long sandy beaches which are perfect for walking and beach combing. The island of Cozumel is located just off the coast and is known for its diving spots. You can go for the day by taking the water jet ferry from Playa del Carmen (it takes from 30 to 75 minutes to cross depending on the boat). If you still want to see more ruins, Tulum is just a 45 minute drive south of Playa.