Belize Highlands, Islands & Tikal 7 Nights 8 Days
On this 8-day, 7-night tour of Belize, you’ll have an action-packed, family-friendly itinerary that takes you to see the highlights of the Maya world as well as some of the most beautiful parts of the landscape. This trip covers a variety of territory, allowing you to cover most of the tiny country of Belize in just one week. With the help of your knowledgeable guide, you’ll leave the jungles of the mainland behind to explore the Caribbean and the island of Ambergris Caye, and then return for a side-trip to Tikal National Park in Guatemala, which is home to one of the most well-known and breathtaking Maya sites in the world.
Note: Because this tour takes you to Guatemala, please make sure you have a double-entry visa for Belize. Breakfast is included each day, and some days also come with a stop for lunch.
- Duration:
- 23 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 3:30 PM
- Inquire for Transportation
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Day 1: Arrive
Land at 3:30 PM and meet your guides at the airport. Then, your group will board a shuttle to a hotel in San Ignacio, where you’ll spend two nights.
Day 2: Maya Temples and Rio On Pools
Your day begins with a visit to Caracol, which reached its height of influence around the 8th century. Excitingly, this site is also home to the tallest structure in Belize, a 143-foot (42.5 m) temple where archaeologists have discovered royal burials.
On the way to the site, you’ll hike through lush, primary rainforest – land that has remained undisturbed since the time of the Maya. You’ll see and hear lots of birds and monkeys, making the walk an excellent introduction to Belizean wildlife.
In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, where you’ll make stops at the Río Frio Cave and the Rio On Pools. The Rio Frio River created the limestone cave, and creates a series of pools that make for lovely natural swimming holes.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Day 3: San Ignacio - Flores, Peten (Guatemala)
After breakfast and check-out, you’ll take a short drive to the Belize-Guatemala border. You’ll go through immigration and then make your way to Santa Elena, a small town on the island of Flores. This is where you’ll spend the next two nights.
Once you’ve checked in to the hotel you’ll have a bit of free time to check out the town. At handicraft stores, you’ll see artistic traditions passed down from the Maya, whose descendents account for most of the population here. Flores also has a good selection of bars and restaurants for you to experience.
Meal: Breakfast
Day 4: Tikal National Park
Today, you’ll spend the day hiking through the jungle and exploring Tikal. During your 4-hour tour of the site (which includes a stop for lunch), you’ll see the most important monuments and learn about the history of the site – including the war Tikal waged with Caracol. You’ll cover a huge swath of the site, including the famous roofcomb structures of Temple III and Temple IV.
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 5: Flores - San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Check out of the hotel and then take a short drive to the Mundo Maya International Airport, where you’ll find the Tropic Air Ticket Counter and check in for your 8:30 AM flight. The flight lands in Belize at 9:30 AM, and then you’ll take a connecting flight to bring you to San Pedro, a small town on Ambergris Caye.
Check in to the hotel where you’ll spend the following 3 nights.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Snuba Adventure
“Snuba” combines the east of snorkeling with underwater exploration – a tether connected to the boat supplies you with air so you can dive a little deeper and get a good look at coral and tropical fish. You might also see rays, sea turtles, and small sharks.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Free Day
On your last full day on the island, you can choose from an impressive list of optional activities. If you want to see more of the Caribbean, consider signing up for a tour of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, an impressively biodiverse reserve on the southern end of the island. You might also spend the day reef fishing or snorkeling. If you have the proper certification, you could also go scuba diving at one of the many stunning reefs and atolls in the area.
Alternatively, you could also spend the day relaxing, shopping, or exploring the island in a golf cart.
Meals: Breakfast
*Day 8: Farewell Belize *
Check out of your hotel, and then transfer to the airport, where your flight will bring you back to the Belize International Airport in Belize City.
Meals: Breakfast
Attractions Visited
When you visit the Caracol ruins, you’ll get to see over 30 structures built by the Mayans, including the tower of Caana, the tallest structure in all of Belize. To reach Caracol, you’ll visit the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in western Belize, at the foothills of the Maya mountains.
Read more:Caracol Ruins
Set aside in 1944, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is Belize’s oldest and largest protected area, spanning 300 square miles (777 square km). Unlike other parts of Belize, where tropical vegetation dominates the landscape, the reserve consists of primarily Honduras pine, a Caribbean species of pine tree. The reserve is characterized by deep ravines, large granite outcrops, rivers, and vistas.
Read more:Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
Set within the northern reaches of Guatemala’s Petén department is the incredible Mayan site of Tikal. With its massive Mayan temples, steep limestone pyramids and thick green jungles, Tikal is undoubtedly one of the top attractions in Guatemala. The ruins and surrounding forest are located within the Tikal National Park.
Read more:Tikal National Park
What to Bring
Money for Gratuities; Meals not mentioned; Bar items with included meals; Items of personal nature; Belize Border Crossing fee of $18.75 US per person; Guatemala Border Crossing fee of $4.00 US per person; Guatemala Airport Exit Fees of $33.00 US per person.
What's included
Airport Reception; Two (2) Full Day Excursions with Lunch; 1 Half Day Excursion (No Lunch); Professional English speaking guides; Park fees to sites visited; 1 Regional flight (Guatemala to Belize), 2 domestic flights (Belize City to Ambergris Caye to Belize International Airport); Hotel transfers; Government Taxes.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
On this tour, you’ll get to see two very different Maya sites. The first, Xuanantinuch, is the ruins of a compact but impressive Maya city. Here visitors can stroll around multiple plazas and temples. At the nearby Barton Creek Cave, you’ll see a cave that served as an entrance to Xibalba, the Maya underworld.
This tour will bring you to the top of a Maya temple, and then to the entrance of the Maya underworld. The temple is inside the Maya city of Xunantunich, which is located near the border of Guatemala. Its name translates to “Maiden of the Rock.” After you ascend the walls of its temple, you’ll continue the tour to the Cave Branch River, where you’ll follow the river into a series of caves that had intense spiritual significance for the Maya.
Touring Xunantunich and the Belize Zoo will give you the opportunity to some of the best natural and cultural destinations Belize has to offer.
