Quetzal Highway (Antigua to Cancun)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Antigua

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Antigua is one of the most delightful colonial towns in Central America. You may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here. The local indigenous population line the cobbled streets and plazas in their colourful costumes, selling their crafts and textiles. As the cultural centre of Guatemala, Antigua is an ideal place to experience the traditional music, architecture and art of the country. Rich in ornate churches, convents, parks, plazas, cafés, restaurants, bars and colourful street markets and surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanoes, Antigua is one place you will never forget!

Day 2 to 7

Rio Dulce - Flores - Tikal - San Ignacio - Caye Caulker

On day 2 we depart Antigua by minvans to the river town of Rio Dulce. We stay in cabins right on the water, and have the option to take a boat tour to Livingston, experiencing some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable along this 23-kilometre stretch of waterway. Livingston is situated at the mouth of the Rio Dulce, where it joins the Bay of Amatique, and is inhabited by the Garifuna people. This lively little town has a Caribbean atmosphere different to the rest of Guatemala and is a great place to try the delicious local specialty tapado (seafood coconut soup) and listen to the local African-style punta music. From Rio Dulce we continue to the charming island-town of Flores, situated in the centre of Lake Peten Itzá, which was the last town to be conquered by the Spanish. Flores is our base for exploring the breathtaking Maya jungle site of Tikal, is regarded as the greatest city of the Maya world. This complex is one of the biggest Maya sites discovered, and you will have the day to explore and learn about the flora, fauna, and amazing Mayan history with our knowledgeable local guide. Today the main centre covers an area of approximately 2½ square kilometres, but at its pinnacle the city stretched for nearly 100 kilometres. As you wander the site, you will see several tall mounds which are temples that have not yet been excavated, and you will have the opportunity to climb some of the tallest Mayan temples. The emphasis was on height when creating these imposing structures because the Maya believed the higher the building, the closer they were to the gods. Tikal has much animal life, and if you’re lucky, you will have the chance to spot the noisy howler monkeys, pizotes (a racoon-like animal), exotic birds such as toucans, and much more! A short drive takes us to the Belize border and one of the smallest and most diverse countries in Central America. Formerly known as British Honduras, the official language is still English, but most people also speaks Spanish. First stop is San Ignacio. Known as “Cayo” by the locals, this agricultural centre is also known to be the ‘adventure' and ‘nature' capital of Belize. The surrounding jungle, wildlife, waterfalls, rivers and caves, have created the ideal location for the numerous optional excursions that are available, from canoeing downriver and tubing through caves, to visiting the famous caves Actun Tunichil Muknal, where they found untouched Mayan ceremonial and sacrificial remains. Leaving San Ignacio, we take a local bus through the centre of Belize to Belize City, where we catch a water taxi out to the Cayes (mangrove islands). Belizeans know how to relax, and hopefully the locals’ expertise on relaxation will be contagious during your stay on Caye Caulker. If not, there are signs to remind you to “Go Slow”, “Take it easy”, and even “No shirt, no shoes, no problem”. We spend a couple of very laid back nights on Caye Caulker, where you can throw away your shoes to wander the sand filled streets, spend the evenings eating seafood, drinking cocktails, and listening to reggae music in one of the bars. During the day we can organise a range of different optional snorkelling trips for you, such as to Shark and Ray Alley, where you can swim within a few feet of nurse sharks and majestic sting rays, or in their mating season, you may have the opportunity to swim with sea-cows! Another optional snorkelling tour takes you out to Hol-Chan Marine Reserve where you are guaranteed to see lots of colourful fish and interesting reef formations. Qualified divers can explore the so-called bottomless "Blue Hole", made famous by the explorer Jacques Cousteau (please note: this optional excursion does not go every day, check locally for availability). Other options include sunning yourself, riding a bike around the island, or trying your luck at fishing. If you are lucky, you can take your catch to one of the local restaurants so they can BBQ it for you.

Day 8 to 9

Playa del Carmen -Cancun

Crossing into Mexico we travel up the coast to the beautiful beach resort of Playa del Carmen. Relax on a white sand beach or take advantage of one of the several interesting optional activities available in the area such as visiting the island of Cozumel or the amazingly located Maya/Toltec ruins of Tulúm. There are also many ‘cenotes’ in the area. Cenotes (se-note-tays) are fresh water swimming holes connected to underground limestone cave systems once sacred to the ancient Maya. From Playa del Carmen it’s only a one hour bus journey to Cancún. Until 1970 Cancún was just a small fishing village with one lone coconut plantation, but now, due to its beautiful beaches, it attracts over 2 million visitors a year. Relax on one of the beautiful beaches, swim in the turquoise waters or take a ferry out to the relaxing island of Isla Mujeres, where you can organise snorkelling or drive around the island in a golf-cart.

Day 10 to 10

Depart Cancun

Our tour concludes after breakfast on day 10.