Guatemala..and Belize.

Transcription

1 Guatemala.and Belize

2 Itinerary Outline: 6 Nights, 7 Days Day 1: Arrival in Guatemala and Transfer to Antigua Day 2: Hike Pacaya Volcano, Afternoon at Leisure in Antigua Day 3: Helicopter Tour and Transfers; Chichicastenango Market Tour, Lakeshore Lunch at Hotel Atitlan, Private Dinner at Casa Santo Domingo Day 4: Charter Flight to Flores, 4x4 Self Drives, World Famous Tikal Tour, Catered Dinner in Uaxactun Day 5: Charter Flight to San Pedro / Ambergris Caye via Blue Hole, Afternoon at Leisure in Ambergris Caye Day 6: Day Trip to Private Island Day 7: Departure Day

3 Itinerary Proposal **Arrival day must be a Tuesday or Friday due to market days** Day 1: Arrival and Transfer to Antigua Antigua, Guatemala Day 1 Overview: Arrival at Guatemala City International Airport Transfer to Antigua (approximately 1 hour) Welcome Drinks and Private Check-In at Casa Santo Domingo Welcome Dinner at Casa Santo Domingo Overnight Accommodation at Casa Santo Domingo Day 1 in Detail: Upon arrival at Guatemala City s Aurora International Airport, guests will be met by local DMC representatives and their tour hosts, whom will accompany them throughout their trip. Guests will be transferred approximately one hour to Antigua s best 5-star accommodation, Casa Santo Domingo. Welcome drinks and a private check-in area will be arranged to facilitate check-in. Following check-in, guests will enjoy dinner at Casa Santo Domingo and the rest of the evening will be at leisure to allow guests to unwind after a long day of travel. Guests will stay overnight at Casa Santo Domingo. Casa Santo Domingo Casa Santo Domingo is a beautiful hotel located in the ruins of a 17 th Century Monastery in downtown Antigua. The hotel has extensive gardens, a pool, a bar, many restaurant areas and offers 125 rooms that are all equipped with a

4 mini-bar, cable TV and safety box. There is also a small colonial museum and a traditional candle factory on the grounds. Day 2: Hike Pacaya Volcano; Afternoon at Leisure in Antigua Pacaya Volcano Day 2 Overview: Breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo Transfer to Pacaya National Park (approximately 1.5 hours) Hike Pacaya Volcano Snacks and Refreshments at Pacaya Transfer to Antigua (approximately 1.5 hours) Late Lunch at Local Restaurant Afternoon at Leisure to Shop and Explore Antigua Dinner at Local Restaurant Overnight Accommodation at Casa Santo Domingo Day 2 in Detail: After breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo, guests will be transferred approximately 1.5 hours to Pacaya National Park. Upon arrival at the base of the volcano, guests and their guides will begin their hour hike to the top of the volcano. Once at the top, guests will have time to relax and snack on fruit cocktail, mini sandwiches and a variety of refreshments as they enjoy the incredible views of the surrounding area. When they are ready, guests will hike back down to their private vehicles for their transfer back to Antigua. This afternoon, guests will enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. The rest of the afternoon will be at guests leisure to shop and explore around Antigua. This evening, guests will enjoy dinner at a local restaurant followed by an overnight stay at Casa Santo Domingo.

5 Day 3: Helicopter Tour and Transfers; Chichicastenango Market Tour, Lakeshore Lunch at Hotel Atitlan, Private Dinner at Casa Santo Domingo Helicopter Tour Antigua and 3 Surrounding Volcanoes Helicopter Transfers Day 3 Overview: Breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo Transfer to Miguel Dueñas (approximately 30 minutes) Helicopter Tour of Antigua and 3 Surrounding Volcanoes; Transfer to Chichicastenango Chicken Bus Transfer to Chichi Market (approximately 15 minutes) Chichicastenango Market Tour Chicken Bus Transfer to Helipad (approximately 15 minutes) Helicopter Transfer to Hotel Atitlan (approximately 15 minutes) Lakeshore Lunch Helicopter Transfer to Miguel Dueñas (approximately 35 minutes) Transfer to Antigua (approximately 30 minutes) Private Dinner at Casa Santo Domingo Overnight Accommodation at Casa Santo Domingo Chicken Bus Transfers

6 Chichicastenango Day 3 in Detail: After breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo, guests will be transferred approximately 30 minutes to Miguel Dueñas where helicopters will be waiting. From here, guests will fly by helicopter to the highland town of Chichicastenango. Upon arrival in Chichicastenango, guests will be picked up and transferred to the Chichi market by a local Chicken Bus (wildly decorated old American school-bus used ubiquitously throughout the Guatemala highlands for local transportation) for a fun and bumpy ride. The drivers will be sure to crank up the Ranchera music at full volume for an authentic experience! In Chichi, guests will have the opportunity to explore this famous market that is full of local fruits and vegetables and everyday items as well as an endless variety of beautiful textiles and wooden and ceramic crafts. Guests can also visit the famous St. Thomas Church where local Maya people come to perform Maya rituals within the Catholic Church, demonstrating the interesting way the two faiths have combined in recent times. Following their tour of Chichicastenango, guests will be transferred by Chicken Bus back to their helicopters for their transfer to Lake Atitlan. Upon landing at Hotel Atitlan, guests will enjoy a special and delicious lakeshore lunch with incredible views of the lake and its surrounding mountains and volcanoes. After lunch, guests can relax by the lake before their 35 minute helicopter transfer back to Antigua. Here, they will have some time at leisure to shower and freshen up. This evening, guests will have a special dinner in a private area of Casa Santo Domingo. Guests will stay overnight at Casa Santo Domingo. Lakeshore Lunch

7 Private Dinner at Casa Santo Domingo Day 4: Charter Flight to Flores, 4x4 Self Drives, World Famous Tikal Tour, Catered Dinner in Uaxactun 4x4 Self Drive Day 4 Overview: Breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo Transfer to Guatemala City Airport (approximately 1 hour) Charter Flight to Flores (approximately 1 hour) 4x4 Self Drive to Tikal National Park (approximately 1 hour) Catered Lunch near Entrance of Tikal National Park World Famous Tikal Tour Oasis Snacks at Temple IV 4x4 Self Drive to Uaxactun (approximately 45 minutes) Catered Dinner in Uaxactun 4x4 Self Drive to La La Lancha (approximately 1.5 hours) Overnight Accommodation at La Lancha Tikal National Park

8 Catered Lunch in Tikal and Oasis Snacks at Temple IV Day 4 in Detail: After breakfast at Casa Santo Domingo, guests will be transferred approximately 1 hour to a private Guatemala City airport where they will board their charter flight to Flores. After 1 hour in flight and upon landing in Flores, guests will hop into their 4x4 s for a 1 hour 4x4 self drive to Tikal National Park. Upon arrival in Tikal, guests will enjoy a private, catered lunch towards the entrance of the park. Following lunch, guests will begin their privately guided tour of this fabulous site. Their world famous tour will lead guests through the jungle set with huge temples rising up through the canopy and a variety of tropical animals and birds on show. Guests can enjoy the sights and sounds of the howler and spider monkeys as well as many colorful tropical birds and other mammals. After their Tikal Tour, a true highlight to any trip and definitely one of the un-officially man-made wonders of the world, guests will have oasis snacks and refreshments near the base of Temple IV. Next, guests will hop into their 4x4 s for an exciting 45 minute off-road adventure through the jungle to the nearby community and ruins of Uaxactun. Upon arrival in Uaxactun, guests will experience an authentic shaman ritual ceremony before their candlelit dinner set at the base of the ruins that make up the oldest complete Maya astronomical complex found. This is truly a once in a lifetime dinner set in a spectacular venue and topped off with the sounds of the surrounding jungle. After dinner, guests will drive their 4x4 s to La Lancha, a creation of Francis Ford Coppola and one of the finest hotels in the area. Here, guests will enjoy private check-in and overnight accommodation. Shaman Ritual Ceremony

9 Catered Dinner in Uaxactun (Archaeological Site) La Lancha La Lancha is the creation of Francis Ford Coppola and offers guests a luxurious stay in the Guatemalan rainforest. The lodge overlooks Lake Peten-Itza and its location in a rainforest setting means there are always tropical birds and monkeys in the area. Rooms are beautifully decorated with Guatemalan textiles and guests can choose between the rainforest cabanas or the Lakeview Casitas. The restaurant is open air with a beautiful thatched roof and allows guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of the jungle as they enjoy traditional Guatemalan dishes with an international flair. Day 5: Charter Flight to San Pedro / Ambergris Caye via Blue Hole, Afternoon at Leisure in Ambergris Caye Aerial View of Blue Hole Day 5 Overview: Breakfast at La Lancha Transfer to Flores Airport (approximately 1 hour) Charter Flight to Belize City International with en Route Aerial Tour of Blue Hole Charter Flight to San Pedro / Ambergris Caye

10 Transfer to Victoria House Lunch at Victoria House Afternoon at Leisure Dinner at Victoria House Overnight Accommodation at Victoria House San Pedro / Ambergris Caye, Belize Day 5 in Detail: After breakfast at La Lancha, guests will be transferred approximately 1 hour to Flores Airport. Here, they will board their charter flight to Belize City International Airport. En route, guests will fly over Blue Hole for an aerial tour of this incredible underwater sinkhole. Upon arrival at Belize City International, guests will be chartered to San Pedro. From here, guests will be transferred to Victoria House for lunch and an afternoon at leisure on the beautiful white sand beaches of Ambergris Caye. Golf carts will be available for those who wish to explore the island. This evening, guests will enjoy dinner and overnight accommodation at Victoria House. Victoria House Victoria House is one of the best beach hotels in Belize and offers guests a variety of room types and villas to choose from. Guests can enjoy the extensive gardens, large beachfront, excellent restaurant, spa and bar. The hotel can also book top quality tours for guests and offers a really top class service in all aspects. The location is just south of San Pedro town so offers guests a more relaxed and scenic setting but still with easy access by road into town.

11 Day 6: Day Trip to Private Island Private Island Catered Gourmet Picnic Lunch on Private Island Day 6 Overview: Breakfast at Victoria House Boat Transfer to Private Island (approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes) Catered Gourmet Picnic Lunch on Private Island Afternoon at Leisure Snorkel, Volleyball, Relaxation Boat Transfer to Victoria House (approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes) Farewell Dinner with Live Music at Victoria House Overnight Accommodation at Victoria House Day 6 in Detail: After breakfast at Victoria House, guests will board their chartered boat for a one hour and forty-five minute transfer to an idyllic, private island rented solely for the group for the day. Upon landing on the island, guests will be greeted with welcome champagne and a delicious catered gourmet picnic lunch in the shade. Following lunch, guests will have the day at leisure. Volleyball and snorkel equipment will be available for those who wish to be active and beach chairs will be set up for those who wish to relax. In the late afternoon, guests will be transferred in their chartered boat back to Victoria House. After some time to shower and clean up after a day on the beach, guests will have a private farewell dinner with a live Garifuna band at Victoria House. Guests will stay overnight at Victoria House.

12 Snorkeling Private Dinner at Victoria House with Live Music Day 7: Departure Day Day 7 Overview: Breakfast at Victoria House Transfer to San Pedro Airstrip Charter Flight to Belize City International Check-In for International Flight Home Day 7 in Detail: After breakfast at Victoria House, guests will be transferred to the San Pedro Airstrip for their charter flight to Belize City International Airport. Upon arrival at Belize City International, guests will check-in for their international flights home. End of Program