Ages 18-29
Mexico, Belize and Guatemala – three very tight amigos. Play like a player in Playa del Carmen and take it nice and easy in Tulum. Delve into island life and the pristine underwater worlds in Belize. Check out the temples of Tikal, the markets of Chichicastenango and the lake vistas of Santa Cruza La Laguna.
Kick things off in Playa del Carmen, which is a pretty cool place to begin a trip. Today is free to spend however you want. Maybe have your own snorkelling or cycling expedition, or simply stroll along the sandy playa (beach). Then meet with your group leader and fellow travellers at 6 pm. In the evening, head out with your group leader for an included dinner at a local taquisa (taco restaurant) for a selection of tacos. To improve your lingo, your group leader will conduct an informal Spanish lesson between bites, so that you can understand your burritos from your banos. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Included Activities: Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson, Playa del Carmen - Taco dinner at a local Taquisa; Meals Included: Dinner
Today, hop on a local bus along the Caribbean coast to Tulum (approximately 1.5 hours) where it's all about laidback life and the white sands of the Yucatan Peninsula. Once you're settled and got your bearings with a leader-led orientation walk around Tulum, there's the chance to visit one of the best-looking and located Maya sites around. In the evening, perhaps kick back and watch the waves roll in at a beachside bar - with a margarita, of course. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Included Activities: Tulum - Leader-led orientation walk; Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
With a free day to relax in Tulum, consider the optional activities on offer, and most importantly, relax into the laidback Mexican vibe. Two wheels are a good way to tackle the day, so rent a bike as Tulum is relatively flat. The town is heaving with hip cafes and restaurants and many vegetarian and vegan options, as well as places to relax the mind and body with yoga and meditation. There's also the option of exploring Dos Ojos (two eyes): one of the most famous cenotes (freshwater rock pools) in the area – an underwater world full of stalagmites and stalactites. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
New day, new country. Adios Mexico, hello Belize. Much of today will be taken up with travel, driving by local bus to the border, then on to Belize City (approximately 8 hours in total). Let the wind and sea spray wash the travel away with a 1-hour speedboat ride to the palm-fringed island of Caye Caulker. If your idea of paradise is white sand, blue waters and palm trees then you’re going to dig this place, and with a few days to explore, relax and get active, you’re set for an idyllic stay. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Included Activities: Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk; Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Your time in Caye Caulker is all about taking it easy. The pace of life is so incredibly slow it's almost backwards. If being underwater is your thing then head out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, home to Shark Ray Alley and the world's second longest barrier reef. Snorkel among the colourful corals and see tropical fish, sharks and manta rays. You can also take day trips to other Cayes nearby - each island has its own particular character, but all of them have that unmistakable Caribbean pace and charm. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America, which will make chatting with locals much easier. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Today is another free day to take up any other optional activities or to simply pull up a towel and relax along the beach with a book. Maybe continue the marine exploration with a manatee tour. These huge, peaceful creatures are beautiful in their own way, and are quite curious to meet their visitors. Get more active with sea kayaks and stand-up paddle boards or just chill out. The island's famed for its lobster and super tasty meals cooked on the side of the road. How about some grilled shrimp and a rum and coke made with the local fire water? Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Leave the island paradise behind and return to Belize City by boat (approximately 1 hour), before taking a local bus to San Ignacio via Belize’s capital, Belmopan (approximately 3 hours). The local buses here are a little more basic than in Mexico but this is a great opportunity to mix with Belizeans and get a feel for local life. San Ignacio is a lively town surrounded by fast-flowing rivers, waterfalls and Maya ruins, making it the best base for exploring the region. After you arrive, the rest of the day is free, so perhaps choose to visit the Chaa Creek butterfly garden and, at night, try one of the barbeque street stalls for a char-grilled chicken leg. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Today is free for you to explore and there is a heap of optional activities in San Ignacio. The cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal is a living museum of Maya relics, and you can wade through its waters until you reach a whole bunch of 1400-year-old crystallised skeletons. You could take a day tour to the Mountain Pine Ridge area to visit waterfalls and swimming holes, or go down the Macal river in canoes or tubes. Or, for a slower pace, take a trip out to Xunantunich, an impressive Maya ceremonial centre with panoramic views. In the evening, walk down Burns Avenue and join the locals for a chat in one of the many restaurants, or at a street side stall. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Time to go jungle – Guatemala-style. Leave San Ignacio, cross the border, and get dropped at Tikal National Park by private vehicle (approximately 4 hours). You'll set up camp on the grounds of a hotel near the national park entrance before exploring the super-huge and crazy-cool Maya ruins of Tikal. Pass through the lush jungle vegetation, and if you've got the energy, climb Temple IV to take in the epic canopy views. While here, there's also the option to check out more of the area with a guided tour, or to fly through the canopies like a toucan with a memorable zipline experience. Accommodation: Camping (with facilities) (1 night); Included Activities: Tikal National Park - Archaeological Site Tour (Entrance fee, Transport & Guide); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
From the jungle to the lake this morning, as you’ll head to the lakeside town of Flores (approximately 1 hour). Here there's time to grab some lunch and have a quick explore around the town. Then it's back on the private vehicle to Rio Dulce (approximately 5 hours). On arrival in Rio Dulce, transfer to the hotel by boat. The easiest way to get back into town is also by boat, which can be organised through the hotel, or you can take a short walk through the jungle. Take some time to absorb the atmosphere of this laidback Caribbean town, which feels quite different from the inland communities. A highlight for many guests is the 'Casa Natural' - an open-air accommodation with screened-in rooms, shared bathrooms and a lounge looking out to the surrounding jungle. Accommodation: Multishare lodge (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
There is a load of activities to choose from today. Take a scenic boat trip down the river to Livingston, a laidback town on the Caribbean coast that offers a unique experience of local Garifuna culture. Go boating on the lake, relax in the thermal hot springs or explore the nearby San Felipe fort in Livingstone. You could hike through the dense forest of the surrounding Chocon-Machacas Natural reserve and go out to spot the protected manatees of the area. Today, you decide what’s on the agenda. Accommodation: Multishare lodge (1 night); Meals Included: tThere are no meals included on this day.
Travel by private vehicle to the city of Antigua (approximately 8 hours). You'll spend the night here, before heading to Lake Atitlan tomorrow. Take some time for a stroll and tuck into some tasty tamales (a local dish served in a corn leaf) or a dish called Pepian: a spicy meaty stew of chicken, beef and pork in a dark sauce. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Meals Included: there are no meals included on this day.
Today you'll get a seriously special Guatemalan experience. Start the day by travelling by private vehicle to the famous market in Chichicastenango (approximately 2.5 hours). This is the most colourful market in the country, where on Thursdays and Sundays locals come from the surrounding villages to sell their wares, and the streets are lined with stalls where you can stock up on cool trinkets. After visiting Chichi, head towards San Jorge La Laguna: a small Maya village overlooking Lake Atitlan (approximately 1.5 hours). Here you'll meet a Guatemalan family, and it'll be time to bust out your best Spanish to break the ice with these super friendly but shy locals. The group may be split in twos or threes, depending on the group size. The mother of the family will cook you basic but filling dinner early in the evening and provide you with an insight into Guatemalan family and culture. Bid the family adios before spending the night multishare glamping on the shores of Lake Atitlan. Accommodation: Glamping (Multishare) (1 night); Included Activities: Chichicastenango Market, San Jorge La Laguna - Dinner at Traditional Maya Family Home; Meals Included: Dinner
Lake Atitlan is all yours to explore today when you wake up on the banks of its shimmering blue waters. There will be time to enjoy the other sections of the lake, so hire a kayak, or book in for a volcano hike or a mountain bike tour for a different scenic experience. After a day of exploring, you deserve a relaxing family-style dinner, which is all included on your return. By now, you may have realised that the Spanish name of your glamping experience, ‘Free Cerveza’, means free beer. Enjoy 2 hours of unlimited cervezas with your set menu, including soup, a main dish and dessert. You definitely won’t go hungry (or thirsty, for that matter). To sweat off the day’s activities (and food), be sure to enjoy the free sauna. Accommodation: Glamping (Multishare) (1 night); Included Activities: Santa Cruz La Laguna - Guatemalan Family style dinner with unlimited beer; Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
After an included breakfast, hit the road back to Antigua (approximately 3 hours). With three nearby volcanoes dominating the horizon, you won't have been to many places quite like Antigua. Experience a leader-led walking tour to orientate yourself around the World Heritage-listed city full of cobblestones, leafy town squares and ornate churches. Explore hushed museums and lively markets, or go cycling with amazing views of mountain peaks and deep valleys. If you're into salsa dancing, or you'd like to learn some moves, Antigua is the place to be as many dancing schools offer hourly lessons. This is also a city that knows how to party, so bring your best dance moves, shout a round of mojitos and get down with the locals. Accommodation: Hotel (1 night); Included Activities: Antigua - Leader-led walking tour; Meals Included: Breakfast
While there are no activities planned for today, Antigua has so much to offer, from its vibrant colonial-style buildings and curved archways, all the way out to the puffing volcanoes of Pacaya, Agua and Jumaytepeque. The number one stop for any chocoholic should be the ChocoMuseo, where you’ll get a history lesson and, more excitingly, participate in a chocolate-making workshop. Or, you can go on a coffee tour, visit the plantations, do some tasting and even buy some to take home. Meals Included: here are no meals included on this day.
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