Private Journeys
Signature Guatemala and Belize: Culture and Caribbean
15 days from £3,800pp
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Essentials
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Tour info
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Country info
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What's included
Tour info
Transport
3 flights (longest 1hr); 4 scenic road journeys (longest 4hrs).
Accommodation
This tour uses small or medium-sized properties with plenty of local colour and special features, some considered by many to be first class, others very comfortable but not necessarily offering all the facilities of a top-of-the-range property.
Meals
Breakfast daily, lunch day 7.
Guides
We carefully select our local partners, some of whom we have worked with for over 25 years. Their English-speaking guides understand the expectations of our clients very well, and are consistently singled out for praise by clients on their return.
Summary Of Nights
15 days, 14 nights: Antigua 2; Lake Atitlán 3; Antigua 1; Tikal 2; Belize interior 3; Ambergris Caye 3.
Optional Excursions
There are a number of half-day, full-day or longer excursions or activities you may wish to consider in order to customise your holiday to cater for your interests. Please contact us to discuss these further or to add them to your itinerary before you depart. A selection of these:
• Biking and kayaking, Tikal.
• Xunantunich Mayan temples, in Belize’s interior.
• Diving or snorkelling, Ambergris Caye, Caribbean Sea.
Currency
The unit of currency in Guatemala is the quetzal. In Belize it’s the Belize dollar.
How To Take It
Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. However, since cards can get lost, damaged, withheld or blocked, you should not rely exclusively on a card to access funds.
In Guatemala, the exchange rate of the quetzal against the $US is variable. In Belize the rate is fixed at $2 Belize dollars to 1 $US, and $US are widely accepted in cash.
Daily Spend
It is very difficult to give a guideline for essential expenses but a budget of around US$35-45 per day should cover the cost of meals not included in the holiday itinerary, drinks and the odd souvenir. Eat at the best restaurants and you will pay considerably more.
Tipping
Tips are expected and local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income.
Tipping guidelines can be found in our Briefing Dossier.
Insurance
Travel insurance is essential.
Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.
Airport Taxes
If you have purchased your flights through Journey Latin America, the international departure tax is usually included in the ticket.
Trip Suitability
There are no long days of travel on this trip. This holiday is suitable for all, including families. However, if you have a disability we should be aware of, or other special requirements, please call us. In the summer the weather can be extremely hot and humid, you might bear this in mind if travelling with small children or elderly persons.
Visas
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
Climate
Travellers on May to October should encounter high temperatures (around 35°C) and high humidity in the lowlands. There are likely to be some short bursts of heavy rainfall during these months. From December to April visitors will still encounter high temperatures in the lowlands, but cool evenings in the Guatemalan highlands, with temperatures falling to around 5°C. Rainfall and humidity will be lower at this time.
Clothing And Special Equipment
Bring plenty of light cotton clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. Some warm items and good waterproof jackets are also necessary. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper, and sensible to have long sleeves for areas where mosquitoes may be hovering around.
Please get in touch with the office before departure if you have any doubts. Good equipment is very important and hard to come by in Central America.
Vaccinations
Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on yellow fever and malaria tablets (unlikely for this holiday). For specific requirements you must consult your GP.
You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website.
Country info
When is the best time to visit Guatemala?
The best weather conditions in the upland areas are during the dry season Dec - May. It can be cold in the highlands in winter, while the jungle areas are hot and humid all year round. Culture lovers may opt to spend Easter in Antigua.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
What is the official language of Guatemala?
The official language spoken in Guatemala is Spanish and indigenous indian languages mainly derived from Maya.
What is the official currency of Guatemala?
The official currency in Guatemala is Quetzal. Notes can be withdrawn using a UK credit or debit card from the many ATMs. There’s at least one in most main towns. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK and each transaction is limited to about £100.
What is the time difference between the UK and Guatemala?
The time difference between the UK and Guatemala is GMT-6 hours.
Do I need a visa for Guatemala?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
What vaccinations do I need for Guatemala?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
Which other countries combine well with Guatemala?
A visit to neighbouring Belize, where there are luxury eco-lodges, superb diving and snorkelling all embraced in British Caribbean cultural heritage; Copán, the ruined Mayan City of northern Honduras with its intricate carvings, accessible from Guatemala by road.
What are the festivals, cultural and sporting events in Guatemala?
Semana Santa, Easter. Celebrations throughout the country; especially impressive in Antigua.
Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, 1-2 Nov. Celebrated throughout the country.
Traditional fiestas: There are many festivals in Guatemala from giant kite flying near Antigua to wild horse racing in remote Todo Los Santos.
When is the best time to visit Belize?
The best weather conditions are during the dry season Dec-May. It can be cool in the highlands in winter, while the jungle areas are hot and humid all year.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
What's the official language of Belize?
The official language of Belize is English but many of the population also speak a creole patois.
How do I get local currency in Belize?
The Belizean dollar is the currency in Belize. Notes can be obtained from money exchanges and also from banks which will supply advances on a debit or credit card. There are ATMs in Belize City where you can use a UK credit or debit card. You may have to get authorisation from your bank first, and withdrawal amounts may be limited.
What's the time difference between Belize and UK?
The time difference between the UK and Belize is GMT -6 hrs
Do I need a visa to visit Belize?
Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.
If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
What vaccinations do I need in Belize?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
What places combine well with Belize?
A visit to neighbouring Guatemala, with its Latin and Maya cultural heritage, is good to pair with a Belize holiday as there’s a road link to the Mayan ruins at Tikal in the Petén jungle. Southern Mexico is also easy to visit from Belize, as you can cross the land border at Chetumal.
What are the festivals and cultural and sporting events in Belize?
Belize Carnival, (Feb/Mar). Lively celebrations especially in San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye.
Belize Independence Day: throughout the country, 21 Sep. Parades, processions and parties.
Garifuna Settlement Day, Dangriga, 19 Nov. Includes parades, live music, drumming, dancing, and prayers in celebration of the first Garifuna Afro-Caribbean settlers.
How long is the flight to Belize from UK?
There are flights via US and European hubs, the journey from London taking around 15.5 hours.
Inspired by this trip
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