Magnificent Maya Ruins of Belize & Tikal Tour

10 Days, 9 Nights | February 1–10, 2027

Belize is a country rich with ancient Maya ruins. It is a smaller Central American country that has a certain Caribbean feel to it today. Almost 1,500 years ago, it was home to some of the most powerful Maya city-states that waged war among themselves and with their powerful neighbor to the west, Tikal.

On our tour, we will be covering the entire country and visiting some of the most important archaeological sites along the way. Actually, we will see more Maya sites in Belize than most other tours offer. I believe that it is just as important for us to see the smaller, lesser-visited, but just as interesting and important, sites scattered throughout the country.

Most importantly, these sites are vital not just to the history of this Maya region, but also to understanding its connections and influence, which can be traced to the farthest corners of Mesoamerica. We will be visiting 8–10 archaeological sites just in Belize.

After a few rewarding days in Belize, we will cross the border into Guatemala for a visit to two remarkable Maya cities: Yaxha and Tikal. Tikal, of course, is one of the grandest Maya cities of all time and one that everyone should visit. It is enormous and impressive. Yaxha, just an hour or so away, was an ally of Tikal, and the two sites had deep connections. Much less visited than Tikal, Yaxha is a hidden gem to include on our tour.

This tour begins with your arrival in Belize and ends in Guatemala after our time visiting Tikal. You will be using two different airports.

Highlights of the Trip

• Twelve magnificent Maya ruins in Belize and Guatemala. Our driver will be waiting for us when we arrive in Belize City, and off we will go on an adventure through Belize. Sites include Lamanai, Altun Ha, Cerros, Nim Li Punit, Caracol, Xunantunich, and more, before crossing the border into Guatemala to visit Tikal and its ally, Yaxha.

• Boat ride down the New River to visit Lamanai

• Visit the Belize Zoo, which also serves as a rescue center. It's a good cause to support, and we will be able to see many of the animals that live in the jungle but are now, more than ever, threatened in their natural habitat. We'll have lunch there because it's on our way to our jungle lodge!

• Sleep in beautiful, remote jungle lodges

• Guided tour of Caracol with a box lunch, deep in the Maya Mountains

• Border crossing into Guatemala

• Visit the Maya necropolis of Topoxte on Lake Yaxha and the great site of Yaxha

• Guided tour of the ruins of Tikal

• The trip starts in Belize City

• The trip ends in Guatemala, and we will fly home from Guatemala City

Tour Day by Day

Day 1: Arrival in Belize City. Most international flights arrive in Belize City by 2 p.m. Our van and driver (and box lunch) will be waiting for us, and we'll hit the ground running by visiting the site of Altun Ha on our very first day. We will then continue to our hotel in Orange Walk, where we will spend our first two nights. Sleep in Orange Walk.

Day 2: On our first morning, we will travel more than twenty miles upriver to visit Lamanai. It is much easier to access by boat, so we can enjoy and take in the sights and sounds as we travel upriver. The site is just as amazing as the ride. Time permitting, we will also visit Cuello, a small Preclassic site. Today, Cuello is located on private land, and we will need to obtain permission to see the site. Sleep in Orange Walk.

Day 3: Today, we will visit two smaller sites in the northeast corner of Belize: Cerros and Santa Rita. Cerros reached its apogee during the Late Preclassic period and is the only larger Maya ruin in Belize located on the Caribbean coast. Santa Rita is just below Chetumal, Mexico. Both of these coastal sites were active participants in ancient Maya seaborne trade routes. After our exploration of these fascinating places, and on our way to our next beautifully appointed jungle lodge, we have planned a visit to the Belize Zoo in Belmopan. The zoo is an important recovery center for many of Belize's animals that have been illegally captured and rescued, as well as animals and birds that have been injured and are recovering. Either way, this is a great opportunity to see up close many of the animals that are usually well hidden in the jungle. Sleep at Jaguar Creek Lodge, south of Belmopan.

Day 4: With our packed lunches, we will visit the sites of Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun.

At Nim Li Punit, one of the largest inscribed jade pectorals from the ancient Maya civilization was discovered. Nearby Lubaantun is interesting for its form of construction. No mortar was used! We will return to Jaguar Creek for our second night there. Sleep at Jaguar Creek Lodge.

Day 5: It's going to be the midpoint of our journey, so in the morning we will take it a bit easier and catch our breath. We'll move on to San Ignacio to visit the charming, small site of Cahal Pech, which overlooks the town of San Ignacio. We'll eat lunch at a local restaurant and visit one more site: Xunantunich. In the afternoon, we'll arrive at Mystic River Resort for our next two nights, surrounded by the jungle in our bungalows. Sleep at Mystic River Resort.

Day 6: Caracol is one of the grandest Maya cities of its time. It is believed that, at its height, Caracol had a population of around 150,000 inhabitants. This is an all-day adventure. As we drive into the protected forest area, we'll be accompanied by a local guide, with our box lunch, ready to see another rarely visited site. Sleep at Mystic River Resort.

Day 7: After breakfast and a short drive, we will cross the Belize-Guatemala border. We will be staying at El Sombrero Eco Lodge, located on Lake Yaxha, just across from the great site of Yaxha! Upon arrival, we should have time before lunch to take a short boat ride across the lake to visit the small site of Topoxte, which was a necropolis for the ancient Maya. We'll return to the lodge for lunch, and then in the afternoon, we can visit the nearby site of Yaxha. Sleep at El Sombrero Eco Lodge.

Day 8: We are going to our last Maya site, and one of the finest to visit: Tikal.

It is magnificent and a "must-see site" for any Maya traveler. We'll spend the day exploring with our guide and then sleep very near the ruins at Jungle Lodge.

Sleep at Jungle Lodge.

Day 9: In the morning, we can return to the ruins if anyone wants to explore a little more. In the afternoon, we will move on to Isla Flores. We have a charming hotel on this little island that was once an ancient Maya city. Our hotel has a rooftop bar area with a great view of Lake Petén. We'll have our last dinner together and celebrate the end of our adventure. Sleep in Isla Flores.

Day 10: Fly home from Guatemala City by way of a short flight from Isla Flores.

Almost Everything Is Included

As with our group tours, we take care of almost everything so you can concentrate on experiencing the ancient Maya world of Belize and Guatemala.

Included: transportation during the tour, lodging, guides, meals, entrance fees, and tips.

Not included: airfare to Belize City, return airfare from Guatemala City, airfare between Isla Flores and Guatemala City, alcoholic beverages, souvenirs, and personal expenses.

Travel insurance is strongly recommended.

Join Us in Belize & Guatemala

February 1–10, 2027 | 10 Days, 9 Nights

Travel across Belize in search of magnificent Maya cities, journey by boat to Lamanai, venture deep into the Maya Mountains to Caracol, and cross into Guatemala to experience Yaxha and the extraordinary ruins of Tikal.

For pricing, availability, and more information, contact Dan Griffin at xtobodos@hotmail.com.