Belize and Tikal
March 15 – 25, 2025
$3,995 per person ($995 single supplement)
Explore the southern reaches of the Maya Empire – from the ancient cities found along the coast of Belize to Tikal, located deep within the Guatemalan rain forest. An expert on the region’s archaeology will accompany us throughout the tour.
Tour Schedule
Saturday, March 15
Join us at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza. in Belize City for a welcoming cocktail party and orientation discussion. We’ll spend the next two evenings in Belize City at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza.
Sunday, March 16
We’ll spend the morning touring Belize City. In the afternoon, we’ll explore the ruins of Altun Ha, a city that once covered three square miles.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Monday, March 17
We’ll travel to the inner region of Belize where we’ll also explore the ruins of Xunantunich, which can only be reached by hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River. We’ll spend the next two nights at the charming San Ignacio Hotel in San Ignacio del Cayo.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Tuesday, March 18
We’ll visit Caracol, where the incredible stelae and inscriptions tell tales of bloody wars in which Caracol triumphed over its nemesis Tikal, as well as Naranjo and other Maya cities.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Wednesday, March 19
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Thursday, March 20 – Friday, March 21
We’ll spend two days exploring the extensive ruins at Tikal, a magnificent city that may have covered more that 25 square miles and had a population exceeding 75,000.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Saturday, March 22
We’ll visit the vast ruins of Uaxactún, located just 23 km north of Tikal. In late preclassic times, Uaxactún was Tikal’s political and military rival, until Tikal’s King Great Jaguar Paw conquered the city in the 4th century.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Sunday, March 23
We’ll return to Belize City where we’ll be spending two nights at the Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza. On the way, we’ll have an opportunity to shop at the Guatemala border. We’ll visit the mountaintop palace of Cahal Pech in San Ignacio, Belize. We’ll also visit the world famous Belize Zoo.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Monday, March 24
Traveling by boat up the New River, we’ll see the lowlands of Belize, home to turtles, monkeys, and tropical birds. At the end of the trip lies Lamanai, a vibrant Maya trading center established 1500 B.C. and occupied until A.D. 1700. A finely carved monument commemorates Lord Smoking Shell’s rule over the area.
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Tuesday, March 25
Participants depart for home.
Meals included: Breakfast
Belize and Tikal
Tour Details
Cost includes first-class hotel accommodations based on double occupancy (single supplement is $995), meals included as indicated, happy hours, admittance fees, tours and orientations, background reading, and surface travel via tour bus.
Not included are meals other than those specified and travel to and from Belize City.
Belize has a tropical climate, but weather should be warm in March with an occasional tropical shower. A modest amount of walking is required. Ruins have rubble, undeveloped trails, and steep stone stairs. Climbing these stairs is necessary in order to see some of the ruins. The Best Western Belize Biltmore Plaza offers a paid shuttle service to and from the airport in Belize City.
