Mexico Guatemala Playa del Carmen Caye Caulker Belize City Livingstone Flores Tikal San Ignacio Rio Dulce Chichen Itza Merida Antigua Panajachel Totonicapan San Cristobal Palenque Lacandon Jungle CentralAmericanAdventure CENTRALAMERICAMEXICO  BELIZE  GUATEMALA 138 " Book with Imaginative Traveller! This was my second trip and I'm planning another one later this year. It's the way to travel ' properly' without lifting a finger in organising." Alexandra Marsland central america Mexico Guatemala Playa del Carmen Caye Caulker Belize City Livingstone Flores Tikal San Ignacio Rio Dulce Chichen Itza Merida Antigua Panajachel Totonicapan San Cristobal Palenque Lacandon Jungle Central American Adventure © Imaginative Traveller Mexican children are given both their father's last name and their mother's maiden name. amazing fact ... We can also offer Extra Accommodation, Adventure Travel Insurance& Flights

Imaginative Facts Tour code: LACA • Activities: Extensive walking at sites, Peten jungle trek, many optional activities in Caye Caulker and San Ignacio, hiking in the Lacandon jungle. Trek grade - Moderate • Accommodation: 18 nights simple hotels, 2 nights cabins, 3 nights camping/ hammocks, 1 night homestay, 1 night simple multi- share cabin, 2 nights overnight bus • Transport: Private and public bus, boat, foot • Fully Escorted: By Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local guide and crew on jungle trek in Peten, local guide in Lacandon jungle DAY 1: PLAYA DEL CARMEN- Arrival day. DAY 2: PLAYA DEL CARMEN- Free day to relax on the beach or visit the ruins of Tulum. This Mayan temple complex overlooks the Atlantic Ocean in a dramatic setting. In the evening we board the overnight bus to the Belizean border. DAYS 3 & 4: CAYE CAULKER- We head on to the tiny country of Belize, stopping in colourful Belize City before taking a boat ride to Caye Caulker, an idyllic island fringed with palm trees. Free time to relax. From here you can arrange a variety of excursions, including snorkelling and boat trips out to the endangered manatee. DAY 5: CAYE CAULKER - SAN IGNACIO-Today we travel back to the mainland and head inland to San Ignacio, a small town situated within the Belize jungle, where we stay in simple wooden cabins. DAY 6: SAN IGNACIO- A free day in San Ignacio. The town is a great base for exploring the surrounding area and there are plenty of options to choose from, including horse- riding, jungle trekking, caving, canoeing and visiting some of the excellent Mayan sites in the area, such as Caracol. DAY 7: SAN IGNACIO - FLORES- We take the bus to Flores, a pleasant island town on Lake Peten Itza in Guatemala, where we spend the night. DAYS 8- 10: PETEN JUNGLE TREK- We embark on our trek into the thick jungle of the Peten region, spending our nights camping near little- visited Mayan ruins. On Day 10 we arrive at Tikal and spend the night in the national park, watching the sunset over the jungle from the top of one of the pyramids. ( Day 8 - LD, Days 9 - BLD, Day 10 - BL) DAY 11: TIKAL- We visit Tikal, perhaps the most impressive of all the Mayan sites, set amidst thick jungle. We spend the morning exploring the ruins before returning to Flores. DAY 12: FLORES - LIVINGSTON- We leave the jungle behind and drive to the Rio Dulce, boarding a boat to Livingston, home to Guatemala's Garifuna population. DAYS 13- 15: LIVINGSTON - ANTIGUA-Combine ' Mayan Explorer' and ' The Mayan Road' • Relax on the idyllic sandy beachesof Caye Caulker and Playa del Carmen • Take a three day trek through the dense Peten jungle, full of exotic wildlife • Tour the impressive Mayan sites of Tikal, Palenque and Chichen Itza • Hike through the rainforest to overnight at a remote Lacandon settlement • Visit Chichicastenango's market, colonial Merida and picturesque Antigua Mexico Belize Guatemala Central American Adventure Drive to Antigua, one of the most beautiful of Central America's cities. Surrounded by volcanoes and full of picturesque colonial architecture, Antigua is a delight to explore. The energetic can take a hike up one of the nearby volcanoes for fantastic views over the city. ( Days 14 & 15 - B) DAY 16: ANTIGUA - PANAJACHEL- Drive to Panajachel, a relaxed village on the shores of the impressive Lake Atitlan. On the way we stop to visit Chichicastenango, home to Guatemala's most colourful market. ( B) DAY 17: PANAJACHEL - A free day in Panajachel. There's the chance to take an optional boat ride to visit some of the fascinating nearby villages, and find Maximon, the mysterious Mayan God that lives in one of the houses. DAY 18: PANAJACHEL - TOTONICAPAN-Today we travel to the village of Totonicapan, a wonderful place to find artisan workshops for all different kinds of crafts. This evening we enjoy the privilege of staying with a local family. ( LD) DAY 19: TOTONICAPAN - SAN CRISTOBAL- We bid farewell to our host family before moving on. We cross the border into Mexico and head to the town of San Cristobal, home to a large proportion of Mexico's indigenous population and with a character all of its own. ( B) DAY 20: SAN CRISTOBAL- A free day in San Cristobal. You can visit the nearby Sumidero Canyon, a series of cliffs that reach an impressive 1,500m in height. Alternatively, you could take a horse ride into some of the nearby villages. DAY 21: SAN CRISTOBAL - PALENQUE-We take a bus to the modern day town of Palenque. Day 22: PALENQUE - YAXCHILAN - BONAMPAK- We head into the jungle early in the morning. A boat ride take us to Yaxchilan ( Place of the Green Stones), one of the few Mayan cities where women have ruled as well. In the afternoon we visit Bonampak, a site that is known for its well preserved frescoes. The Lacandon Indians are the original inhabitants of this part of the jungle, and we spend the night at an original Lacandon settlement in a simple multi- share cabin. ( BLD) Day 23: LACANDON JUNGLE - PALENQUE-After breakfast we take a walk through the Lacandon jungle with an indigenous Indian guide. Along the way we stop at small waterfalls to take a swim. Later this afternoon we drive back to Palenque. ( BL) Day 24: PALENQUE- A free day to visit the amazing and little visited Mayan ruins at Palenque, set amidst stunning rainforest. We also have the option of visiting Agua Azul, an area of beautiful jungle scenery and superb waterfalls. In the evening we take an overnight bus to Merida. Day 25: MERIDA- We arrive in Merida, capital of the Yucatan state and packed full of markets and old colonial buildings. Nearby are the ruins of Uxmal and the Celestun National Park, home to huge flocks of flamingos. A free day to enjoy the city. Day 26: MERIDA - CHICHEN ITZA- In the afternoon we drive to Chichen Itza. We have plenty of time to visit the magnificent Mayan site and spend time exploring its temples and pyramids. Day 27: CHICHEN ITZA - PLAYA DEL CARMEN- After a last visit to the ruins before the crowds arrive, we then head to the lively coast town of Playa del Carmen. Day 28: PLAYA DEL CARMEN- Tour ends. Single Supplement £ 315 ( optional) Voluntary Carbon Offset £ 18.59 * Price includes tour price of £ 1099and local payment of US$ 400All prices are subject to currency fluctuations £ 1310pp Land Only * adventurer Tour duration 28 days MEXICO  BELIZE  GUATEMALA 139 CENTRALAMERICA Starts SatEnds Fri Playa delPlaya del CarmenCarmen 2009 ( 28 days) 24- Jan- 0920- Feb- 09 21- Feb- 0920- Mar- 09 21- Mar- 0917- Apr- 09 13- Jun- 0910- Jul- 09 11- Jul- 0907- Aug- 09 08- Aug- 0904- Sep- 09 31- Oct- 0927- Nov- 09 28- Nov- 0925- Dec- 09 26- Dec- 0922- Jan- 10 Starts SatEnds Sat AntiguaAntigua 2010 ( 29 days) 09- Jan- 1006- Feb- 10 06- Feb- 1006- Mar- 10 06- Mar- 1003- Apr- 10 03- Apr- 1001- May- 10 26- Jun- 1024- Jul- 10 24- Jul- 1021- Aug- 10 16- Oct- 1013- Nov- 10 13- Nov- 1011- Dec- 10 11- Dec- 1008- Jan- 11 Trek grade - Moderate Save up to 15% on your tour - see page 243