Belize & Tikal, Guatemala
New Year’s
Adventure
December 26, 2008 – January 2, 2009
Download Itinerary
Our Singles Loved this Trip Last New Year’s!
Spend a week in the ecotourism paradise of Belize!
Come join us over the New Year’s holiday on this
wonderful trip to Belize, and we’ve included Tikal too!
Visiting
this small country is always a great and memorable vacation! We’ve
offered it many times and it is always a fun time! Belize, a
uniquely Caribbean state on Central America’s Eastern coast, and
formerly known as
British Honduras, is a
nation that distinguishes itself as a monument to nature, peace,
social harmony and hospitality. Belize has the western hemisphere’s
largest Barrier Reef and is known for its pristine beauty
sculpted in its mountains, tropical rain forests,
ancient Mayan Kingdoms, extensive coves, meandering
waterways, and underwater worlds.
Belize shares borders in the North with Mexico, and
to the West and South with Guatemala. It is graced with beautiful
beaches and islands along the Caribbean Sea and has 174 miles of
unbroken barrier reef. This cherished playground provides extensive
sites for the avid snorkeler, scuba diver or for anyone with a
passion for water sports. Belize has widespread marine life as well
as ancient Mayan temples on the mainland, as it was the center of
the Mayan world.
On
our holiday week’s adventure
to this exciting country we’ll experience
the mainland and jungle as well as the islands. We experience the
jungle on the mainland at our resort lodge for 4 nights. We’ll
explore the unspoiled world of lush tropical rain forests as well as
scenic rivers and a Mayan Temple. We’ll also take a day trip to the
famous Tikal ruins in Guatemala-a must see! Lots of adventure
awaits us here! Then we take a short flight for our 3 night stay on
the island of Ambergris Caye exploring, snorkeling, shopping,
relaxing or taking optional trips to other islands and adventures.
Don’t
stay home for New Year’s! Come have fun meeting new friends on this
vacation to the tropics and the jungle! Early sign-ups are a must
for this holiday trip!
Ø
Transfers in Belize (restrictions on airport arrival transfer-see
under price)
o
On arrival-Belize airport to our San Ignacio area hotel
o
Arrival/departure- airport on Ambergris Caye
o
All transfers as noted in itinerary
Ø
2 Flights within the itinerary
o
Belize City to Ambergris Caye
o
Ambergris Caye to Belize City
Ø
Escorted by a local,
English speaking guide
Ø
Private guided excursions
Ø
7 Nights hotel
accommodations with private facilities.
o
4 nights Cahal Pech
Village
§
a
cultural/wildlife/jungle trip-moderate class property
o
3 nights Ambergris
Caye
§
a tropical beach
vacation-moderate class property
Ø
Local taxes and service charges
Ø
10 Meals total
o
7 Breakfasts
o
3 Lunches
Ø
Included excursions
and activities:
o
Mayan ruins, cave
canoeing and cave exploration excursion
o
Full day trip to Tikal in
Guatemala-One of the major cultural & population centers of the Maya
civilization
o
Cave Tubing and Belize
Aerial Trek
o
Shark Ray Alley & Hol
Chan Snorkel Excursion with entrance fee and snorkel equipment
Ø
New Year’s Eve on Ambergris
Caye
Ø
Evening social hours
Ø
Singles Travel Company Representative
New Year’s in
Belize Itinerary
December 26, Friday
Fly
to Belize
Fly
to Belize; it’s only a short 3 hour flight from the U.S. border. On
arrival in Belize City, clear immigration and customs, and then you
will be met by our tour representative. (Restrictions apply-see
information regarding transfers under pricing). From Belize City we
will be transferred by shuttle to the San Ignacio area and our
hotel, the Cahal Pech Village Resort. After arriving at our hotel
the rest of the day is free for you to get settled or start
exploring on your own until our get together this evening.
The
Cayo District of Belize is
nature's call of the wild, offering visitors a window to the world
of jagged mountain peaks, thick-forested jungle and immense temples
shrouded in mystery. Extending south to Mountain Pine Ridge into the
Chiquibul wilderness and Maya Mountains, and west to the border with
Guatemala, the Cayo District spreads across 2,000 square miles of
verdant landscape. Thousands of years ago, Maya settled the Belize
River Valley, building cities and ceremonial centers. Maya sites
include Caracol, Xunantunich, Pacbitun, El Pilar, Cahal Pech, and
many other smaller sites, some of which excavation has only started
or discovery has only been recorded in the last couple of years.
Endless opportunities for adventure are here including canoeing,
river rafting, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking!
Our Accommodation: Cahal
Pech Village Resort
Located
in the Cayo District of Belize, on a predominant Mayan hillside, is
our hotel- Cahal Pech Village Resort. Our unique hotel offers guests
an invigorating view of San Ignacio and surrounding local sites.
The landscaped gardens provide a setting which will transport you to
another world, a world of tropical sights and enticing sounds.
Hotel amenities include: swimming pool,
restaurant and lounge, canoe
rentals, phone/fax/internet available, laundry service. The hotel
is ideally situated for excursions to Tikal and Caracol
Pyramids, pottery caves, cave canoeing, eco-tours on foot, horseback
or canoeing along with a variety of other activities to assure you
enjoy your vacation in Belize!
December 27, Saturday
Cayo District-
Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
& Barton Creek Cave canoeing
Today our vacation
adventure really begins with the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and Barton
Creek Cave canoeing. This
active trip combines canoeing and cave exploration through Barton
Creek Cave with a visit to Belize's second largest beautifully
excavated Maya City. Our expert guides provide keen insight into the
world of ancient Maya civilization, leading us on an unforgettable
tour. Within the last 5 years, intense archeological work has
revealed and preserved the ancient structures once hidden beneath
the jungle floors. Today visitors have the privilege of climbing El
Castillo, which at 130 ft. above plaza level is the second tallest
man made structure in Belize. 360-degree panoramic views from El
Castillo offer a remarkable vantage point revealing the Ancient
Mopan River Valley and neighboring Guatemala.
After
enjoying a healthy lunch, we continue to Barton Creek Cave in Amish
territory. Equipped with canoes/kayaks and high-powered lights we
gently paddle into Xibalba (she-bal-ba), Mayan for underworld.
Stalactites and Stalagmites hang high overhead as we float past
impressive calcite crystals. Our knowledgeable guides will discuss
the use of this cave by the ancient Maya, while some artifacts can
be seen high above the alcoves. For the free spirited adventurers,
the option for excellent swimming in the far chamber is a treat.
(B,L)
December 28, Sunday
Cayo District Tikal Day Tour
Today we have a full
day tour of the world famous Tikal! Tikal
was one of the major cultural and population centers of the Maya
civilization. Monumental architecture was built here as early as the
4th century BC.
The city was at its height in the Maya
Classic Period, approximately 200AD to 850
AD, after which no new major monuments
were built, some of the palaces of the elite were burned, and the
population gradually declined until the site was abandoned by the
end of the 10th century. The name
"Tikal" means "Place of Voices" or "Place of Tongues" in Maya, which
may be an ancient name for the city, although the ancient
hieroglyphs usually refer to it as Mutal or Yax Mutal,
meaning "Green Bundle", and perhaps metaphorically "First Prophecy".
Scholars estimate that at its peak it had
a population from 100,000 to 200,000. (B, L)
If you are looking for an active, educational, and
adventurous vacation- look no further! Start the new year in a
‘different’ way this year!
December 29, Monday
Cayo District
Today is a
day of leisure…!! However, there is so much to do that you may not
have time to relax by the pool! Use this time to swim, hike, take a
long walk, go horseback riding, or…..! Also, downtown
San Ignacio is 15
minutes walking distance from the hotel. There you will find quaint
open-air cafe's, internet/coffee shops, souvenir stores, a lively
fruit and vegetable market and a number of banking facilities, all
with 24 hr. ATM's. The town is an absolute haven for walking and
exploring the area, as everything is close at hand. You'll find San
Ignacio safe and will be privy to the pulse of a genuinely friendly
small town that gives the first time visitor a warm, welcome
feeling, just the way you imagined it to be. Evening at leisure.
(B)
December 30, Tuesday
Cayo District
Cave Tubing & Aerial Trek
Transfer flight to San Pedro,
Ambergris Caye
Today a fun day of adventure and
activities starting with cave
tubing and a Belize aerial trek before we head to the island
for 3 nights!
On our
cave tubing, explore
the river cave system with only your headlamp to lead the way. Glide
past entrances from above, filtering mists of jungle light, as you
float through underground river caves sparkling with
mica-studded stalactites and stalagmites. Exploration is by inner
tube. The canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another
along a steel cable suspended up to 80 feet above the forest floor.
Later
today we transfer to Belize City for our short flight directly to
San Pedro on the tropical island of Ambergris Caye, where we’ll be
spending the next 3 nights. Get settled in and then start exploring
this unique little island where transportation is mostly by golf
carts! We have an included excursion while here but you will also
have an opportunity to take other optional tours or just explore the
island!
Ambergris Caye is the
largest and best known of all the 200 or so cayes (pronounced keys)
in Belize. Sun-drenched and fringed with coconut palms, Ambergris
Caye stretches north to south for over 25 miles, running just inside
Belize's magnificent barrier reef. The island's eastern side is
fringed with beaches, and faces the nearby reef. The western shore
is laced with healthy patches of mangrove, and is rich with
wildlife. Most of the island’s inhabitants live in the town of San
Pedro, located in the southern part of the caye. San Pedro has the
cozy, laid-back atmosphere of a small village with its wooden houses
and sand streets. Apart from the pleasures of taking it easy and
enjoying life on Ambergris, the Caye has the widest range of
water-sports and is well positioned for day trips to many
attractions in the area. (B,L)
Our Accommodation: The
Coconuts Caribbean Hotel
Our
hotel provides you with sparkling white coral sand, nearly
consistent offshore breezes, aqua-marine Caribbean waters and enough
tropical sun to bring a perfect bronze tan to your skin that is so
often the sign of a well-spent vacation. The hotel provides more
amenities and the most comfortable rooms on the island. All rooms
look out on the private courtyard garden and pool. Hotel amenities
include: magnificent
freshwater pool with swim-up bar, six-person beach Jacuzzi, free
internet service, television, air conditioning in all rooms, daily
maid service, room service, physician available 24 hours daily, lobby business center, lobby
bar/restaurant service, scheduling assistance for golf carts, full
security presence at all times.
December 31, Wednesday
Ambergris Caye-
Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Snorkel Excursion
Today
we begin our exploration of this tropical island! We have a couple
of days to take pleasure in all that this island has to offer!
We’ll start with Shark Ray Alley and
Hol Chan Snorkel Excursion.
At the
southern end of the Caye, located 4 miles southeast of San Pedro,
the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a five mile underwater paradise and
is the most popular destination for snorkelers. The ocean floor
ranges from 5 to 35 feet, so both divers and snorkelers have the
opportunity to swim in what seems like an underwater acquarium,
teeming with colorful tropical fish of all sizes and types and
beautiful coral formations. The "cut" (channel) leading out to sea
functions as a sort of "fish freeway" for many large fish, including
giant groupers, barricuda and nurse sharks, a timid and unaggressive
shark species that you can actually snorkel or swim with along with
southern sting rays. Also you may have a close encounter with a sea
turtle.
Our excursion includes fins, mask, snorkel
and Hol Chan Marine Reserve entrance fee.
Shark
Ray Alley has a maximum depth of 30 feet and excellent visibility.
You can almost always see all species of fish including jacks,
groupers, snappers, parrot fish, angel fish, barracuda, eels, spider
crabs, lobster, and nurse sharks. These creatures have a great
tolerance for divers and seem to enjoy the human interaction. The
rays, which have a 'wing-span' of two to four feet, swim directly
towards the divers, inviting them to reach out and stroke their
wings (although it's best not to touch them). The gentle Nurse
Sharks average four to six feet in length. While the animals show no
fear of humans and will often
swim right up to snorkelers, it is best to keep a distance and not
touch the animals. This is an experience you won’t soon forget!
Tonight
is New Year’s Eve and you’ll be spending it on a tropical island in
the Caribbean with other adventuresome singles!!! Enjoy!!!(B)
January 1, Thursday
Ambergris Caye
Happy New Year 2008!!!!!!!
Today is a day at leisure
on the island to relax in the sun, enjoy the many water sports
available, explore the island
by golf cart, get some last minute shopping done, relax under a
balmy tree or head to the ocean again for one last swim with the
sharks! All of Belize, the reef and the Cayes are close for us to
enjoy. If you like watersports, Belize has some of the best
anywhere including snorkeling and scuba diving along the 2nd
largest reef in the world. Belize is home to some of the most
colorful fish and coral reefs for snorkeling; for scuba divers-
enjoy the treasures of diving the famed Blue Hole. You can arrange
tours for diving, snorkeling, fishing, watersports, and trips to the
mainland to the famous Mayan ruins and excavations as well as the
ecological treasures of the rain forest of Belize.
Tonight, we’ll meet for our social hour before dinner, then enjoy
the local cuisine with friends from the group for dinner and have
fun on your last night in this quaint little town.
(B)
January 2, Friday
Depart for USA
Today we transfer from our hotel to the airport for
our short flight to Belize International Airport. From there we
board our flights to the USA. (B)
***************************************************************
***************************************************************
Belize Facts & Info………..
Belize is
the only
English-speaking
country in Central America.
Belize
was a British colony for more than a century and was known as
British Honduras until 1973. It became an independent nation in
1981. Belize is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and
the Sistema de Integración
Centroamericana (SICA) and considers itself to be culturally both
Caribbean and Central American.
The north
of Belize is covered by a dense rain forest but 80% of the
rainforest is still owned by the government !!
The Maya
civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and
flourished until about
900 AD.
European settlement began with British Jews, privateers and
shipwrecked English seamen as early as 1638.
The local
currency is the Belizean Dollar. U.S. Dollars are widely accepted,
with change being given in Belizean dollars.
The
electric current used is 110 Volts AC, which is the same as in the
U.S.
United
States citizens MUST have a valid passport in order to enter the
country.
Belize
has a very casual life style. Leave your expensive jewelry at home,
because you will not need it.
The dress
code for the beach is basic and relaxed--shorts, T- shirts, bathing
suits, sandals, cap or hat to protect you from the tropical sun, and
sunglasses.
For
travel into the interior of the country we suggest: loose fitting,
light weight pants or shorts, cotton shirts, hiking shoes, boots, or
tennis shoes and a hat with wide brim. A back pack to carry
binoculars, cameras, sun tan lotion, film, insect repellent, hand
towel, water bottle and snacks is recommended.
Adventures, wilderness, jungles, Maya ruins, and the
friendliest people around await you in Belize!
| Itinerary |
 Available:
Download Itinerary Now (PDF)
(Acrobat Reader required - allow up to 20 seconds for file to download completely)
|
|
Price |
PLEASE-deposits
must be in early (by early August but it may sell out before
this) to assure availability as this is a holiday trip!
$1499.00 Land
only, per person, based on double occupancy (remember we can
put you with a roommate!)
$450.00 If
you would like a room to yourself, please add this to the
above price.
Very limited availability.
Airfare
is additional. You’ll need to fly into and out of Belize
City (BZE). We can assist you with airline flights or you
may book your own online for some good rates. Fares are
always based on availability at time of booking. We need
your air schedule with your final payment.
This is a holiday
trip-get
your air reservations early, otherwise it will be sold out
or very high priced!!
Transfers.
Transfers are included as long as you arrive per the
following time guidelines:
You can
arrive into the Belize City airport anytime on December
26, however the transfer for the resort leaves at
approximately 3:30 pm from the airport. Departure
flights can be just about any time on January 2 (except very
early am flights)-make sure we have your flight schedule
with your final payment or as soon as you get your flights.
Any flights scheduled outside of these times may incur an
additional price for transfers.
Travel Insurance
is highly recommended for many reasons but also because this
is an adventure trip. An information packet will be mailed
to you with your deposit invoice receipt. Please read it
carefully & call the insurance company directly to sign up.
Price Does Not Include tips to
drivers and guides,
International departure taxes of approximately $37, bottled
beverages or alcoholic drinks with included meals; items of
a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, incidental
charges at the hotels; border crossing fee into Guatamala
(approx $18.75), airport transfers if not on group flight;
and travel insurance.
Health requirements:
There are no required immunizations to enter Belize,
however, check with your medical doctor or local travel
clinic for any recommended immunizations or meds needed for
travel to Belize. Also you can check the CDC website at
www.cdc.gov/travel/ Phone (404) 639-3534.
Since this is a holiday vacation,
early booking is a must to secure air flights and space!
This trip sold out last year…. |
Fine Print –Belize and Tikal, Guatamala, December 26, 2008-January
2, 2009
Your payment for a reservation
on this trip constitutes consent and acknowledgement of all the
provisions in this Fine Print listed below and in the Singles Travel
Company General Terms and Conditions. Please make sure you read both
of these important pieces of information and call us with any
questions. A trip reservation form, found on our website, is due
when you make your trip deposit. Information on hotels is from the
hotels’ literature and hotels are always subject to change per our
tour operator. This is an adventure trip and by signing up you are
acknowledging that you are aware of the inherent risks of adventure
activities.
Deposit of $200.00 is
due with your reservation by credit card or check no later than
early August.
Final payment
is due 80 days prior to trip, credit card or checks
(made payable to Travel Advisors).
Cancellation Fee and Refunds
All cancellations must be in writing. Cancellations 110 days or more
prior to the trip will receive a full refund of your deposit, less a
$50 cancellation fee applied to your credit card. Any cancellations
within 110 days of departure, no refund will be provided. No refund
on unused portions of the trip. After airline tickets are issued,
airline cancellations are per the airline’s policy.
Travel/Trip
Cancellation insurance is highly
recommended-please consider the purchase it carefully as it covers a
lot of important and unforeseeable issues that may arise before and
during your trip-i.e. illness with you or a family member prior to
or during your trip, lost luggage, medical problems that may arise
during your trip, also, if needed, it includes important assistance
while you are overseas (see insurance pamplet we will send you with
your deposit for the trip).
Download full Terms and
Conditions (PDF)
A Division of Travel Advisors of
Los Gatos
56 North Santa Cruz Ave.
Los Gatos, CA 95030
Toll Free: 888.286.8687
Local: (408) 354-6531
FAX: (408) 354-3871
Email: cruisestoursinfo@aol.com
CST# 1002864-10
All Site Contents Copyright © 2004
Singles Travel Company
All Rights Reserved.
|
