MAYAN TOUR DESCRIPTIONS
EACH VACATION BEGINS LIKE THIS...........
By arriving to the beautiful country of Belize, located in Central America. Where you will enjoy seven days and six nights, on the beautiful island of Ambergris Caye. Once you arrive at the Belize International Airport, you will then board a 15 passenger commuter aircraft (a 20 minute flight to San Pedro), located on the island of Ambergris Caye.
Here you will be greeted by Black Orchid personnel. You will take a short journey through this small seaside town (via taxi) to the Black Orchid Office, where you will complete all required check in paperwork. Here you can enjoy a complimentary cold beverage (of your choice) after a long day of travel, rent a golf cart, a cell phone, and sign up for any tours that you would like to take during your stay.
We will then assist you in getting either back in your standby taxi, or your newly acquired golf cart,. We will provide you with a set of keys and a map, showing how to get to your resort destination and your adventure begins. In some instances, if your travels take you up the coast, we will assist you in getting to the island coast ferry, which will take you to your resort destination.
Here you will be greeted by Black Orchid personnel. You will take a short journey through this small seaside town (via taxi) to the Black Orchid Office, where you will complete all required check in paperwork. Here you can enjoy a complimentary cold beverage (of your choice) after a long day of travel, rent a golf cart, a cell phone, and sign up for any tours that you would like to take during your stay.
We will then assist you in getting either back in your standby taxi, or your newly acquired golf cart,. We will provide you with a set of keys and a map, showing how to get to your resort destination and your adventure begins. In some instances, if your travels take you up the coast, we will assist you in getting to the island coast ferry, which will take you to your resort destination.
ALTUN HA MAYAN RUINS
Your Altun Ha Maya Ruin Adventure takes you to the Belize mainland,where you will visit the Altun Ha Mayan Ruins. In its day, Altun Ha was an important trading, agricultural and ceremonial center to the Mayan people. The temple here focuses on the worship of the sun, and is dedicated to the Mayan sun god. One of the artifacts excavated at this site, is a spectacular round jade carved replica, believed to be the head of Kinich Aha, the Mayan sun god. Archeologists estimate that Altun Ha was occupied from 350 BC to about 95 AD. For bird lovers, this is a great site to do a little bird watching.
ALTUN HA & MARUBA JUNGLE SPA
After your Altun Ha Mayan Adventure, you will be drive to the Maruba Jungle Resort where you will spend the rest of the day. Here you will enjoy a Belizean lunch of stewed chicken, fried plantains, rice and beans (which is included in the price of your tour). After lunch, you can spend the rest of the afternoon lounging around their pool, take a dip in their hot tub, or do something a bit more exotic at your expense (like a jungle mud massage). For the more adventurous, you may go hiking or horseback riding. This tour returns to San Pedro about 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CARACOL MAYAN RUINS
Your Caracol Mayan Ruin Adventure takes you to where Caracol sits high on a plateau, some 500 meters above sea level, on the western edge of the Maya Mountains. It is nestled deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, within the Mountain Pine Ridge Area.
Caracol is one of the most extensive Maya centers in the country. Cutting across the hilly terrain, remnants of this vast agricultural field system, give evidence of an extensive farm industry that once provided sustenance for a large population of Mayan people. Caracol has an internal road system made up of 60 kilometers of Sacrebeob (roads) and causeways, which serve as routes for transportation and communication. This site is home to the tallest man-made structure in Belize, Canna which stands 143 feet above the plaza floor. The discovery of the altar here, indicates that Caracol was once an extremely fierce war like center. It is believed that Caracol defeated Tikal in 526 A.D. The scenic drive to Caracol traverses through the jungle along the Mountain Pine Ridge Area. The road travels over a series of creeks, through lush tropical rain forest, and is the habitat for a variety of bird species. The high canopy rain forest is home to several species of cats, as well as rare birds such as the Keepbilled Toucan, Mot Mot, Crested Guan, Great Curassow and the Oscillated Turkey. Here you will find a wide variety of orchids, vines and trees in this area. |
LAMANAI MAYAN RUINS & JUNGLE RIVER ADVENTURE
Your Lamanai Mayan Ruins Adventure takes you to the Belize mainland, where you will then travel by a private van, along the old Pan American Highway to the Orange Walk District, a norther district of Belize.
Here you will board a boat and take a ride up the New River where the flora and fauna abounds with hundreds of different species of birds, fresh water turtles, green iguanas, insect bats, wild orchids, monkeys, crocodiles, and much more - this is a true wild jungle river ride! After this exciting ride, you will arrive at your final destination - the Lamanai Mayan Ruins. Lamanai's setting, along the New River is one of the few, where the original Maya name is know (which when translated means) "Sub-Merged Crocodile". Hence you will see numerous carved representations of crocodiles at this site. Lamanai's remoteness contributed to its being occupied up until at least 1,650 A.D. Lamanai features the second larges Pre-Classic structure in Maya world and the view across the surrounding forest from the top of the temple is magnificent. In front of the temple stands a 13 foot stone mask of a Mayan King. You will also be given a change to tour the small museum and souvenir shop. XUNANTUNICH MAYAN RUINS
Your Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Adventure takes you to the Belize mainland, where you will then travel in a private van to the beautiful Cayo District; a western district of Belize. Cayo has been referred to by many as Belize's "Tropical Switzerland", with rolling green lawns, palm trees, plantations, and mountains. Here in Cayo, you will be met by the Mopan River, where you Mayan Ruin adventure begins. You will start by crossing a river, drawn by a hand cranked ferry. Only the driver remains in the van for the short 2 minute crossing.
This then brings you to the site of Xunantunich. These are by far the ruins, which have experienced the most archeological significance in Belize. Xunantunich contains one of the tallest Maya structures found in Belize, built on a gradiose hilltop overlooking the Mopan River. Additionally, the sculptures found here at Xunantunich, are the most detailed and intricate of those found anywhere in Belize. TIKAL MAYAN RUINS OVERNIGHT
Your Tikal Maya Ruins Adventure take you through the Belize mainland, where you will cross the border into the neighboring country of Guatemala. Here you will spend the night in Flors, and will rise the next day to take this most magnificent tour of the greatest Mayan Ruins in all of Central America. You will enjoy a guided tour of this site, by a trained local guide, followed by some time to walk the site on your own. We then head back through Belize, back to the island of Ambergris Caye, arriving about 3:00-3:30 p.m. the following day.
|
