Go ahead - Mayan my day: Belize and Guatemala get away

[RooFlyer]

People reading my occasional doodlings here may have gathered I'm back in the cold in Calgary . A gap opened up in my work next week and it didn't require much consideration to conclude that I 'deserved' some time away... somewhere warm!

I'm not a sun-and-sand person, so the Caribbean was out. Been to Cancun, and not impressed with Mexico in general (people being robbed, assaulted and raped even in 5 star hotels!).

I am interested in ancient cultures, so a quick bit of research found Belize and Guatemala with various Mayan sites. Next check: Aeroplan for possible *Alliance miles flights (not suitable); Alaskan? Too difficult. Finally: AA site for SAAver miles flights; OK a bit tricky, as usual they prefer to bounce you round the country, but at least none of the flights were overnight. I have a bunch of cheap AA miles courtesy of the last bonus sale, so its a reasonable use. Do-able.

Next: Contact a couple of tour arrangers in Belize I got out of Lonely Planet (that was today, Friday morning). A couple of calls to get their attention and to get the ball rolling. I need to know tour do-ability before booking flights.

First lesson: Internet to Belize seems bad. Turns out neither of my e-mails arrived (or so they said - I believe them). I call my preferred operator in the mid afternoon and after some back-and-forth it seems that I can get tours to sites I want to visit. E-mails from them take about 10 minutes to arrive. Cost naturally more than I wanted to pay, but manageable. Hotels seem good value, especially out of Belize City.

Not sure if I'll do the trip Report 'live' - internet in the boonies may be a challenge, but my intention and so far agreed with the tour operator is:

Day 1: Arrive Belize City in the pm.
Day 2: Belize City - maybe a cruise to the reefs (I'm not a diver ). To San Ignacio in the late afternoon.
Day 3: Tour to Carocol Mayan site; also Xunantunich if time. Overnight San Ignacio
Day 4: Tour to Tikal Mayan site in Guatemala. Overnight San Ignacio
Day 5: To Belize City; half day trip to zoo on the way back. Fly out late afternoon.

Flights booked - with un-expected US$75 'prompt' internet booking fee on AA. That's really bad! But I'm in - in J/F .

Reason for posting now is to ask anyone who has been there: any tips or warnings for Belize and/or Guatemala? I have 2/3 of a day in Belize City unallocated.

 

[janelarm]

Not sure if you have time but look at a tour to the Mayan ruins of Lamanai which is accessed via a boat.

 

[LadyC]

I did a tour of southern mexico, guatemala and belize in 2009. I loved guatemala but found belize fairly disappointing. Tikal is fantastic, I hope you enjoy it. I stayed in San Ignacio for 2 nights. Did some cave tubing there which was fun. Belize felt a bit like being caught in the 1960's. Internet and phone were restricted there if I recall correctly. Would go back to Guatemala in a heartbeat but not Belize. However, I hope you enjoy it more than I do!

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks both. Yes, I've heard that about Belize LadyC. I'm mainly up-country so hoping it'll be OK. Where did you stay in San Ignacio; what were your impressions of the town (I have 3 night there!!); and what are the roads to Tikal like?

 

[LadyC]

San Ignacio was pretty basic. I stayed at the casa blanca guest house which was in the main part of town i think. I went there as part of an intrepid tour. I wasn't driving but i can't recall the roads being particularly bad. I did think the drive was a few hours though. It was a while ago so I am scratching my memory a little!

 

[Bindibuys]

Purchased my latest diamond ring at Belize 2012 - does that help?
Will go searching for where we went. BRB

 

[Bindibuys]

We went to Altun Ha ruins out of Belize, which were Ok.



I was confusing locations with Tulum - out of Cozumel - which was stunning.

 

[doctau]

I'm looking forward to hearing how the area is, since mrsdoctau and I will be there next year as part of a longer trip.

 

[kevrosmith]

Subscribed. Always enjoy your TR RooFlyer. Look forward to this one...

 

[Major]

Subscribed. Always enjoy your TR RooFlyer. Look forward to this one...

Same...always a good read

 

[Mark3000]

Reason for posting now is to ask anyone who has been there: any tips or warnings for Belize and/or Guatemala? I have 2/3 of a day in Belize City unallocated.

We spent a week in Belize and Guatemala on our honeymoon. Gorgeous! My favourite part was Ambergris Caye. This is the island Madonna sings about in La Isla Bonita. Every time I hear that song it brings back wonderful memories.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks for the various comments. Its been a rush to organise but other than AA's ridiculous US$75 fee for Award bookings less than 21 days before flight :evil:I don't think I'm going to be paying anything more than if it was organised further in advance.

Significant downer is that my flight out of Calgary to DFW has scheduled departure of 6am, this Tuesday. Remember that I do US immigration pre-clearance at Calgary, which means to the airport 2 hrs before departure - 4am - so up at 3am, cab at 3:30am ; no lounge either! YYC is absolutely pathetic for lounges. At least its J and I'll be having gin and tonics overlooking the Caribbean at Belize City by sun-down .

Booked at the Radisson at BC - would have preferred one of the 'mansion' hotels, but all booked.

Completed my tour arrangements via a couple of phone calls over the weekend. Confirmed Carocal and Tikal tours, and transfers, but decided not to organise any more activities. Will be easy to do in-country.

Windy Hill Resort at San Ignacio. Cheaper than the other 'resorts'; looks good and decent TR reviews from the more likely looking reviewers. Its a cross fingers on this one.

Telstra doesn't do roaming in Belize. Its sorts funny; there are only a relatively few countries round the world where they don't but in the past 12 months I've copped 3 of them : Bahamas, Myanmar and Belize.

 

[love_the_life]

Looking forward to reading more - the area has sort of been on our travel list for ages!

 

[RooFlyer]

So it begins with a 20 min cab ride to YYC, from 4:00am. A dark, cold and bleak morning. I checked in on line (HLO) and so straight to US pre-clearance, which opens at 4:30am.

All booths open, so the line moves quick. I have TSA Pre Check for both my flights today, but totally useless, as the security after US immigration at YYC is Canadian, so no pre check line. I've always thought that odd. And at DFW, I'll stay airside. No matter, security also goes pretty quick and after 40 mins in through immigration and security; pretty quick for Calgary.

At 5;30, 15 mins after boarding was supposed to start, the pilots turn up, but the plane isn't ready so they hang about at the gate lounge for 5 mins. Another 5 mins after that and we start boarding.

We eventually taxi to departure about 20 mins late, but there is plenty of fat built into the journey time, I notice.

It's one of AA's new 737s, 2 rows of 2-2 in Business. New IFE, pretty swish. I'm in 1D.



I had pre ordered main breakfast dish on line ( quiche) and there was also fruit, croissant, scone/ biscuit and sausage slices and asparagus. Pretty nice, albeit a bit dry.




Flight is uneventful, but oddly, coffee is NEVER offered, although it was available. Go figure.

Land at DFW on time and then to the Admirals Club at Terminal D. I love the runway views from here.

 

[RooFlyer]

Flight to Belize is an older 737, no personal IFE. But crew are great.

This time I'm in 1A, nice wide seat.



Out of Dallas, I know many won't appreciate this sight, but the grass does grow back





Posting this live via Gogo inflight wifi ($2 for 30 mins), and now going across the Gulf coast.



Wifi stops at USA border, and so will I.

 

[Mattg]

Looking forward to your trip report. Did you pass through DFW today? I was there about 3 hours ago - I think we may have crossed paths!

 

[RooFlyer]

I was in the Term D. AC from about 11am to noon, local

 

[robd]

Subscribing.

 

[RooFlyer]

Arrived. Posting will be light until I get back as I haven't brought my laptop and photographs will be on proper camera

 

[RooFlyer]

Forgot to add the important bit.