We were on the same tour as Christine (see Feb 18 review) Echo many of her comments and those of... rhod tibbles, 2018 See more reviews
We were on the same tour as Christine (see Feb 18 review) Echo many of her comments and those of... rhod tibbles, 2018 See more reviews
Well if you are expecting a relaxing holiday forget it! Full on from the minute we arrived in... Sally Jones, 2018 See more reviews
Amazing discovery of an ancient culture. Well balanced mix of activities and personal times but... Christine Holyhead, 2018 See more reviews
As described and we started off from Antigua, Guatemala on Easter Sunday. Then on to Lago Atitlan... Gyan Fernando, 2017 See more reviews
A great trip to soak in the Mayan culture across different regions and to see the ancient Mayan... Richard Muia, 2016 See more reviews
I could not have asked for a better introduction to the countries visited in the itinery. The... Mandy Davis, 2016 See more reviews
This trip is an excellent way to learn about the Mayan ways from the Pre-Classical period in... Stephen Brierley, 2016 See more reviews
This was an excellent trip with a good balance of activities. ... Peter Woolley, 2016 See more reviews
Itinerary Include flights Expand all Day 1 Fly to Guatemala City; transfer to Antigua. Day 2 City tour; to Panajachel. Many travellers agree that Antigua is one of the most attractive cities in Latin America. Rightly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the colourful, colonial city attracts visitors from all over for its unique history and renowned Spanish language schools. Above the tiled roofs of pastel houses there are impressive views of the Agua and Fuego volcanoes, standing in excess of 3700m above the city. Antigua was the capital of the Spanish empire in Central America from 1543 to 1773, a highly religious period that left the city with an abundance of convents and churches packed with religious art. Unfortunately many buildings are now in ruins from centuries of earthquake damage - our guided walking tour of the city will bring its fascinating history to life. In the afternoon we drive for approximately 2.5 hours into the highlands to the ancient market town of Chichicastenango, where centuries-old economic and cultural traditions of the Kaqchikel people continue to thrive. A further drive of 1.5 hours brings us to Panajachel, a small town on the shore of Lake Atitlan. Guatemala's largest lake is dominated by three volcanoes and was formed following an ancient eruption. Many of the villages that exist around the lake are only accessible by boat.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 3 Boat trip on Lake Atitlan. Today we will explore some of the area surrounding Lake Atitlan. A 60-minute scenic boat ride on the lake takes us to the village of San Juan La Laguna, where we will visit the home studios of local painters and a textile cooperative where women are engaged in hand weaving and natural dyeing processes. We continue by boat to Santiago Atitlan where we can learn about the Mayan traditions and beliefs from our local guides.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 4 To San Cristobal de las Casas. Today we begin early and drive north, crossing the border into Mexico's southern state of Chiapas. The road takes us through rugged mountain scenery before we come to the old capital of the region, San Cristobal de Las Casas. This is one of the most attractive colonial towns in Mexico, with many old churches and squares amongst a lively café scene. It is also a major centre for the Tzotzil Indians, each group having different, colourful costumes. The extensive market has some good handicrafts for sale and plenty of interesting foodstuffs on offer! San Cristobal has a very pleasant climate because of its altitude. . Today is a full day drive of around 11 hours including stops for lunch in a simple restaurant in a small town (not included) and the border crossing.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 5 Explore San Cristobal de las Casas and nearby villages. We visit the nearby Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan this morning. These small communities are very traditional and many of the villagers continue to follow ancient religious practices within the Catholic churches. In the main church of Chamula, where locals practice a blend of Catholicism and Mayan customs, people sit on the pine needle covered floor surrounded by dozens of candles, chanting prayers in an ancient dialect of Tzotzil. Our guide will explain some of the local traditions before we enter the church to see this practice for ourselves. Visitors should note that when visiting churches in the villages, photography of the worshippers and the church interiors is expressly forbidden. Your guide will explain the full reasons behind this, but please remember to exercise discretion when taking pictures, always seeking permission before using your camera. In the afternoon, there will be some free time to explore San Cristobal de las Casas at your leisure.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 6 Visit Agua Azul Waterfall; to Palenque. Today we descend from the highlands to the humid forests of north-eastern Chiapas - expect some winding roads but plenty of spectacular scenery en route. We break our journey at the Agua Azul Falls, a glittering series of cataracts which often appear blue due to the high mineral content. In Spanish the name of the falls means 'Blue Water'. (Please note that on the rare occasions where we are unable to visit Agua Azul Falls, we will endeavour to visit the Misol Ha waterfalls instead) Our journey will continue to the small town of Palenque, where the Mayan site of the same name is located just on the outskirts. Enjoy an optional trip to El Panchán for dinner this evening, a nearby bohemian rainforest hangout (dinner not included). The total driving time today is approximately 8.5 hours, including stops.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 7 Tour of Palenque; to Campeche. This morning we have a guided tour of the impressive Mayan site of Palenque. The jungle-covered complex is one of the most famous in Mexico and is located in the low hills of Chiapas. The pyramids, sanctuaries and temples, with their sculptured wall-panels and roofs are remarkably well preserved and are probably the finest surviving examples of Mayan buildings. In the afternoon, we drive for around 7 hours to the historic fortified city of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which boats incredibly well preserved colonial architecture. Most impressive are the city walls, built to protect the city from the constant attacks of English and Dutch buccaneers and pirates during the 16th and 17th centuries. Arrive in the early evening and head out to sample some local cuisine overlooking the Bay of Campeche - seafood is a local specialty and widely available.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 8 To Merida via Uxmal ruins. From Campeche we travel for around 2 hours to reach the fascinating Mayan ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal dates back to the late classic period, having been built by the Xiu tribe. The site is dominated by the Pyramid of the Magician and the Nunnery Quadrangle which consists of long buildings with elaborately carved façades. There are remnants of a ball court used in ritual games that sometimes ended in sacrifice, and the whole site is quite exposed, which is a real contrast to the ruins of Palenque. From Uxmal it is around a 1 hour and 30 minute drive to the bustling colonial city of Mérida. Many of its buildings were constructed using stones from the Mayan city which existed on the site and these are still visible in the walls of the imposing cathedral. The city flourished following the conquest and the 19th century homes designed in French style contribute to the attractive appearance of the historical centre. We arrive in the middle to late afternoon and will enjoy a walking tour of the city; the main square is particularly impressive when lit up at night.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 9 Visit Chichen Itza; to Tulum. We will spend the morning exploring one of the largest Mayan ceremonial centres at Chichén Itza, located approximately 2 hours from Mérida. The impressive El Castillo Pyramid sits in the middle of the site and is surrounded by temples, palaces and ball courts. Nearby, we stop to visit the Cenote Sagrado ('Sacred Well'), dredged in the early 20th century and found to contain precious gold, silver and jade artifacts as well as the remains of sacrifice victims. After the tour we stop in Valladolid to further explore the mix of Mayan and colonial Spanish culture on the Yucatan before driving for around 3 hours to the fantastic beach community of Tulum, where we stay for the next 2 nights. Just outside the town lies one of the most photographed sites in the Yucatan; the ruins of an ancient Mayan city that overlook the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 10 Visit Tulum ruins; swim in a cenote; free afternoon. This morning we have a short tour of the ancient Mayan fortress of Tulum followed by an optional visit to the sacred underground Mayan waters to cool off in a nearby cenote that is suitable for swimming. The most famous buildings in the complex are the ruins that overlook the lapping waves of the Caribbean, but there are also several temples, ritual platforms and houses to be explored. In common with many other Mayan cities, the whole site is surrounded by a huge defensive wall. This afternoon is free to relax on the beautiful Tulum beach.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 11 To Belize city; boat to Caye Caulker. This morning we drive for around 3 hours to Chetumal and cross the border into Belize. We continue another 2.5 hours to Belize city, stopping for lunch en route, where we board the water taxi for the 60 minute transfer to Caye Caulker. This laid-back Caribbean Island is just west of the Belize Barrier Reef and offers fantastic snorkelling and diving opportunities. There will be some border formalities this morning, but once we arrive in Caye Caulker the rest of the afternoon has been left free to relax into island life and understand the meaning of Belize's motto: 'no shirt, no shoes, no problem!' The tiny village of Caye Caulker has only three sandy main streets (Front, Middle and Back Street), but they are full of bars and restaurants, many of which serve excellent fresh seafood.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 12 Free day. Today is a free day for optional excursions and activities, or simply for relaxation. Diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and fishing can all be arranged locally. As the island is small, it is very easy to complete a circuit on foot. As well as the marine activities there is also a forest reserve in the northern part of the island which offers great bird watching in the mangroves.Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 13 Boat to Belize City; to El Remate via Xunantunich. We leave Caye Caulker by boat bound for Belize City (approx. 1 hour) and then drive from the coast into the heavily forested and sparsely populated Maya Mountains, encountering some spectacular scenery en route. We will stop at the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich to explore its temples and palaces. Located on a ridge close to the border with Guatemala, the site has some fine stucco facades as well as several elaborately carved stelae and an impressive 40 metre high pyramid. After looking around the ruins, we cross the border and descend into the humid eastern lowlands of Guatemala. Our final destination is El Remate on Lake Peten Itza, where we have the opportunity to learn more about sacred plants in a traditional Mayan garden and enjoy a group dinner. Total drive time today is just under 3 hours (2 hours between Belize City and the border with an additional 45 minutes to El Remate).Standard Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Dinner Day 14 Visit Tikal; fly from Flores to Guatemala City. We make an early start this morning to reach Tikal, the most famous and probably the most impressive of all Mayan sites (approx. 45 minute drive). Here, in the middle of the jungle are nearly 20 square miles of classic Mayan ruins, surrounded by the dense jungles of Petén. We take a tour of the city, visiting the Q complex, Main Plaza, North and Central Acropolis, Seven Temples and Mundo Perdido (Lost World). Tikal is a superb area for observing wildlife in the jungle environment and visitors regularly see Howler monkeys, Spider monkeys, toucan, Weaver birds, coatimundi and even tarantula (if you know where to look and wish to find one!) In the afternoon, we head to the town of Flores and take a short flight to Guatemala City, where we will spend our final night.Comfortable Hotel Meals included: Breakfast Day 15 End Guatemala City. The trip ends after breakfast for land only passengers. Those on the group flights will be transferred to the airport for their flight back to London. Meals included: Breakfast Day 16 Arrive London. Arrive London.
Belize Holders of British, Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian and most EU passports do not require visas for Belize. However, please note that if flying via the USA, you will have to clear immigration during transit. In this case, you will be required to get an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) prior to flying if travelling via the USA under the Visa Waiver Scheme (as is the case for most UK citizens). Please see www.exodus.co.uk/USVisa for more information. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. For the latest information please visit www.exodus.co.uk/zika‐virus‐q‐a .
Guatemala Holders of British, Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian and most EU passports do not require visas for Guatemala.
Mexico Holders of British, Australian, New Zealand, US, Canadian and most EU passports do not require visas for Mexico. However, please note that if flying via the USA, you will have to clear immigration during transit. In this case, you will be required to get an Electronic Travel Authority (USD14) prior to flying if travelling via the USA under the Visa Waiver Scheme (as is the case for most UK citizens). Please see www.exodus.co.uk/USVisa for more information.
Belize There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Guatemala There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. The above information can change at short notice; as we are not qualified to answer all your questions about travel health we strongly recommend you contact your Medical Professional or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up‐to‐date information.
Mexico There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Typhoid, Hepatitis A. The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your GP or travel health clinic for further advice. Dengue fever and/or Chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. Both are tropical viral diseases spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for either, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Zika fever is a mosquito‐borne viral disease and a known risk in places visited on this trip. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, we therefore strongly recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Hotels You will stay in a variety of colonial and modern properties, all with en suite facilities. Some of the hotels have pools and most have wifi/internet. Some of the accommodation highlights will include: a property on the shore of Lake Atitlan with wonderful views of the lake, a property 2km from Palenque surrounded by forest, a Spanish colonial residence in the heart of San Cristobal de las Casas and a hotel overlooking the beach in Tulum. Single supplements are available on request.
Charlotte Newman Operational Quality Executive (Health & Safety) Cycling Holidays, Self-guided, Belize, Eastern Europe, Italy, Mexico
February 6, 2018 Our Top 10 European Bike Rides Embracing a healthy lifestyle can be a challenge, but if you’re going to keep it up there’s got to be more to it than
January 5, 2018 Our Top Five Sicilian Street Foods Sun-kissed Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean.
January 2, 2018 Your Words, Not Ours: How I Met My Husband "It’s all fifteen years ago now, but it was a fortnight that’s changed my life - in all sorts of unexpected ways, all
October 24, 2017 What’s New: 6 Brand New Treks for 2018 There’s a whole world out there, waiting to be discovered.
Reviewed May 2018 rhod tibbles Trip: La Ruta Maya Exodus rate this leisurely - no... it...... aint........ but fabulous trip ... !!!! We were on the same tour as Christine (see Feb 18 review) Echo many of her comments and those of your April reviewer.. We are in our late 60's/early 70's.... A fabulous trip with a bit of everything , and yes, the only way to have done it was by a minibus with 14 other travellers.. but would not do this sort of tour again... averaging 6 hours daily in a minibus - one day was 15 hours across abysmal pitted roads due to teachers strike and roads being barracaded, was no fun. We are very well travelled and pretty fit for our age - but this was the most strenuous trip we have ever done... but so glad we did it.. On the first day a very frail lady decided it wasn't going to be for her.... and left.... !!!! Just to pick up on one thing from our trip - Feb 18 review - which commented re water.... Having cruised many times and stringent rules against sharing communal water facilities using personal water bottles, we were horrified that most of our group did this - obviously one tour member came with a bug and this was passsed around the group via the communal water dispenser. Obviously this saved money for some, but the cost was at least 75pc of the group had stomach bug issues for several days (NOT HEAT RELATED) - and progressed thru the whole group... We were among the few not affected - because - WE DID NOT USE THE COMMUNAL WATER FACILITIES... Exodus please note - on minibus tours PLEASE DO NOT USE COMMUNAL WATER DISPENSERS - THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH NO-NO.... !!!! Anyway - the tour - a fabulous mix of Mayan sites - in open situation and our favourites - those in jungles. We loved the short beach brak in Tulum with opportunities to body-board - too rough to swim... The towns and cities were colourful, atmospheric and culturally diverse . The cultural and religious mix of Catholicism and Mayan tradition was occasionally uncomfortable given animal sacrifices were part of such ceremonies - but utterly memorable ...... For us wildlife is important and it was terrific to see some wonderful birds and aguti and cotamundi up close and the howler monkeys had to be heard to be believed...... !!!! In Belize it was great to get a snorkelling opportunity and to swim with nurse sharks plus very large stingrays..... The trip had everything - but showed us why we prefer a mixed nationality group..... We get exasperated with our fellow Brits who always have to do everything asd a group and seem incapable , as on our trip, of making decisions for thermselves and allowing dominat individuals to dictate how to use what spare times there was at the expense of giving themselves memorable times as a couple.... We are sociable people but also value our times together as a couple as these are the times you remember..... ah the British herd instinct - it makes you proud.. ??!!?? Fabulous trip ... What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Actually two..... - the visit to a local church with a ceremony merging Mayan and Catholic traditions - disturbing because adnimal sacrifices formed part of the ceremony , but utterly memorable.... - The Mayan site at Tikal - wonderful jungle setting - a 6 hour trek thru jungle around the extensive site , and encountering much wildlife - several species of monkey, many birds including toucan, many eagles soaring on the thermals, the many iguanas, agouti and cotamundi.... The views across the site. What did you think of your group leader? Amando our guide was amazing.. Always keeping a close eye on everyone to make sure they were happy, always there to give advice and suggestions and we really appreciated his enthusiasm during our wildlife discussions...... Do you have any advice for potential travellers? AVOID USING COMMUNAL WATER FACILITIES Be aware that this is a very intensive tour with what is a full minibus with little spare room, and not much spare time outside travelling and sight-seeing...... If you are older and not very fit, consider an alternative ....
Reviewed May 2018 rhod tibbles Trip: La Ruta Maya Exodus rate this leisurely - no... it...... aint........ but fabulous trip ... !!!! We were on the same tour as Christine (see Feb 18 review) Echo many of her comments and those of your April reviewer.. We are in our late 60's/early 70's.... A fabulous trip with a bit of everything , and yes, the only way to have done it was by a minibus with 14 other travellers.. but would not do this sort of tour again... averaging 6 hours daily in a minibus - one day was 15 hours across abysmal pitted roads due to teachers strike and roads being barracaded, was no fun. We are very well travelled and pretty fit for our age - but this was the most strenuous trip we have ever done... but so glad we did it.. On the first day a very frail lady decided it wasn't going to be for her.... and left.... !!!! Just to pick up on one thing from our trip - Feb 18 review - which commented re water.... Having cruised many times and stringent rules against sharing communal water facilities using personal water bottles, we were horrified that most of our group did this - obviously one tour member came with a bug and this was passsed around the group via the communal water dispenser. Obviously this saved money for some, but the cost was at least 75pc of the group had stomach bug issues for several days (NOT HEAT RELATED) - and progressed thru the whole group... We were among the few not affected - because - WE DID NOT USE THE COMMUNAL WATER FACILITIES... Exodus please note - on minibus tours PLEASE DO NOT USE COMMUNAL WATER DISPENSERS - THIS IS A SERIOUS HEALTH NO-NO.... !!!! Anyway - the tour - a fabulous mix of Mayan sites - in open situation and our favourites - those in jungles. We loved the short beach brak in Tulum with opportunities to body-board - too rough to swim... The towns and cities were colourful, atmospheric and culturally diverse . The cultural and religious mix of Catholicism and Mayan tradition was occasionally uncomfortable given animal sacrifices were part of such ceremonies - but utterly memorable ...... For us wildlife is important and it was terrific to see some wonderful birds and aguti and cotamundi up close and the howler monkeys had to be heard to be believed...... !!!! In Belize it was great to get a snorkelling opportunity and to swim with nurse sharks plus very large stingrays..... The trip had everything - but showed us why we prefer a mixed nationality group..... We get exasperated with our fellow Brits who always have to do everything asd a group and seem incapable , as on our trip, of making decisions for thermselves and allowing dominat individuals to dictate how to use what spare times there was at the expense of giving themselves memorable times as a couple.... We are sociable people but also value our times together as a couple as these are the times you remember..... ah the British herd instinct - it makes you proud.. ??!!?? Fabulous trip ... What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Actually two..... - the visit to a local church with a ceremony merging Mayan and Catholic traditions - disturbing because adnimal sacrifices formed part of the ceremony , but utterly memorable.... - The Mayan site at Tikal - wonderful jungle setting - a 6 hour trek thru jungle around the extensive site , and encountering much wildlife - several species of monkey, many birds including toucan, many eagles soaring on the thermals, the many iguanas, agouti and cotamundi.... The views across the site. What did you think of your group leader? Amando our guide was amazing.. Always keeping a close eye on everyone to make sure they were happy, always there to give advice and suggestions and we really appreciated his enthusiasm during our wildlife discussions...... Do you have any advice for potential travellers? AVOID USING COMMUNAL WATER FACILITIES Be aware that this is a very intensive tour with what is a full minibus with little spare room, and not much spare time outside travelling and sight-seeing...... If you are older and not very fit, consider an alternative ....
Reviewed April 2018 Sally Jones Trip: La Ruta Maya What an adventure Well if you are expecting a relaxing holiday forget it! Full on from the minute we arrived in Guatemala. True it is not for the faint hearted travelling wise, a lot of places to get to in a short time but if you want to seen Mayan culture in all it's forms this is the trip for you! A very special mention to our guide Amando - brilliant! Such a considerate guy with a real talent for organisation, diplomacy and truly appeared to enjoy his job, love his smile. Couple of brief periods of down time, loved the snorkeling and white beaches so all in all a great success. We need a holiday now for sure What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Seeing our first Mayan site. What did you think of your group leader? Faultless Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Take plenty of books, music etc for the hours of travelling Is there anything else you would like to add? Nope
Reviewed February 2018 Christine Holyhead Trip: La Ruta Maya La ruta Maya Amazing discovery of an ancient culture. Well balanced mix of activities and personal times but long distances for travel were more tiring than the leisurely code implied. Wonderful scenery seen from our little bus as we jolted along. Guide involved us in all decisions but leaving at 6 am before the heat and crowds was clearly the best option on many days. Our hotels and food mostly exceeded our expectations. The itinerary will always attract those who want to know about the social, cultural, political history of such a hidden group of people. Pack your best grip, lightweight walkers and insect repellent. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Tikal needed bigger time allowance What did you think of your group leader? Well at first I thought he was a joker but later saw a man who looked after us EVERY DAY for food activities. Careful in difficult situations. 2 people shot dead in A village we’d been to ten days earlier! Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Good grip light weight shoes, rubber end stick? Lots insect repellant. Travel sickness tabs for boat and occasional bumpy road. Is there anything else you would like to add? Guide should remind group of need to drink more. Water was always available but we forget how hot it is. Half of us were sick probably due to heat
Reviewed May 2017 Neil Frankum Trip: La Ruta Maya Ruta Maya With all trips where you are visiting lots of temples etc there is the potential to loose interest after seeing too much of the same. Luckily on this trip the sites visited have been carefully chosen to keep the interest because of their differences, each with its own distinct flavour. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Palenque and Tikal for the Mayan history. Snorkelling on the Belize Barrier Reef for the wildlife. Lake Atitlan for the scenery. Seeing Volcan Fuego erupt for a reminder that mother nature is bigger than all of us. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for the long bus journeys. Be prepared for the heat in the lowlands (mid-30s most days, and one day was into the 40s).
Reviewed May 2017 Gyan Fernando Trip: La Ruta Maya Mayan Adventure As described and we started off from Antigua, Guatemala on Easter Sunday. Then on to Lago Atitlan and the colourful Mayan Culture, border crossing into Mexico to visit Palanque and other Mayan sites, cross the border into Belize and back in to Guatemala. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Lots of them but I thought the distant volcanic eruptions were rather inspirational in that they reflected the fragility of life. What did you think of your group leader? Armando Barraza at first did not seem a good leader. Maybe he was rather careful with the new Conquistadors that we were and was very careful with the choice of drinking water, restaurants etc. On the way we came to like him and vice versa and he was with us until the last day. If anybody was at fault in the day to day details it was not him and maybe it was us. He would make sure that our rooms were in good condition, within minutes of us getting into our new accommodation, and with a discrete knock on the door. I was the last in the group to fly out of Guatemala and he made sure that everything was fine. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? It is a very hot country. Do drink a lot of electrolyte fluid not just water. Look up salt depletion etc on "Doctor" Google. There are a lot of re hydration fluids available locally and do take a lot of salt with your food. Our tour leader Armando, in his own way, did persuade us to drink coconut water based fluids. Good shoes, long trousers of a light-weight kind and sensible upper clothing of the non-offensive kind will help with mosquitoes, churches and snakes!
Reviewed October 2016 Richard Muia Trip: La Ruta Maya La Ruta Maya A great trip to soak in the Mayan culture across different regions and to see the ancient Mayan civilisations greatest creations. A good way to see parts of Mexico and Guatemala not on the main tourist trails. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? waking up at Lake Atitlan and wandering down to the lake side; watching the clouds skim the top of the volcanoes. Diving at Tulum and snorkeling in Belize; the reefs are teeming with life. Swimming with nurse sharks and sting rays was an unforgettable experience. Climbing the Mayan temples in the rain forests and upon reaching the top, surveying the dark green canopy backdropped against the bluest sky. What did you think of your group leader? Armando was an excellent leader and very knowledgeable about all the countries we visited and the Mayan civilisations. He would plan ahead to make sure we got to the sites before the coaches arrived and got too busy; as well as making sure everyone was doing ok and had plenty of water, sunscreen, insect repellent etc. All the drivers were great too, especially Javier our driver for the Mexican Leg. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Be prepared for some long days travelling in the bus. It was comfortable but some roads were a little bumpy. Stops were made every few hours. Plenty of mosquito repellent; my ankles were the favourite spots that I got bitten. No need to overpack, washing can be done at a few stops on the way, I got mine done in Belize for a reasonable rate, done same day.
Reviewed May 2016 David Potts Trip: La Ruta Maya La Ruta Maya An excellent adventure ,no hard slogs . My companion had major surgery on her spine four months before tour,and with the help of guide Armando Barraza, she really had a great time. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? All of the trip was inspirational,among the ruins ,swimming in the caye,and the cenote,resting and having a few drinks at Tulum beach. What did you think of your group leader? A great guy,helpful in every way. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? leave half your luggage at home. Is there anything else you would like to add? Exodus ,you did us proud
Reviewed May 2016 Mandy Davis Trip: La Ruta Maya La Ruta Maya I could not have asked for a better introduction to the countries visited in the itinery. The areas we stayed in Guatamala were surrounded by volcanoes, but due to crops being burned there was always a smoggy haze that obscured their beauty. Mexico exceeded my expectations, a beautiful country with the people to match. As we were out of season, many of the visited sites up to Chichen Itza were uncrowded which added to the delight of the group. On the Caribbean coast we stayed at a lovely all inclusive resort for 2 nights which was a bit of a shock as it was only rated as a standard hotel, we all thought it should have been classed a comfortable hotel. Belize again was a stunning country where we stayed on the island of Caye Caulker. I can highly recommend the snorkelling on the island. Alcoholic drinks were expensive on the island though. The trip notes tell you about some of the long drives, the longest was about 11 hours, but there were stops every 2 hours of so, giving time for bathroom stops and stretching of legs which was greatly needed. I also believe that there are more speed humps in Guatamala and Mexico then anywhere in the world. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Learning to swim in some of the hotel pools and going snorkelling in the Caribbean Sea. Watching the sunset as a group also over the Caribbean Sea. What did you think of your group leader? Amundo was an excellent leader, he sorted out a couple of problems that the group had. He ensured my luggage made it back to Guatamala city at the end of the trip when it had been stuck in Florres. He was always smiling and ensured that those wishing to join a group meal every night were made welcome and took us to local restaurants. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? After all the travelling to get to Guatamala, I wish I had booked an extra night at the start to get over the jet lag. Be prepared for the long drives. Weather is very humid, there are places to get laundry done along the way but not every stop. Is there anything else you would like to add? Do it, one of my trips yet!!
Reviewed March 2016 Stephen Brierley Trip: La Ruta Maya Experience the Indigenous Way This trip is an excellent way to learn about the Mayan ways from the Pre-Classical period in antiquity all the way through to the struggles of the Mayan people in today's world. Be prepared to swat up on some amazing history along the way. The tour begins in the UNESCO-listed city of Antigua and then proceeds across various settlements with significant Mayan populations in Guatemala and Mexico . The marks of civil wars of the 1900s are never far away. Our guide Armando seemed to be a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of local life and history. The ruins are well-selected and interspersed with great sights. Highlights for me included swimming in Cascadas de Agua Azul and in a cenote in Yucatan. I loved the groove of Caye Caulker and snorkelling on the reef is a must. Tikal was the climax of the tour with a walk in the jungle accompanied by birds and monkeys. The panorama over the landscape from the highest pyramid was marvellous. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip? Watching the local people in the Indian villages - especially the union of local and Catholic religions into a unique indigenous way of life. What did you think of your group leader? Armando was experienced, generous and kind. It was difficult to believe he could maintain such enthusiasm after 12 years in the trade. Do you have any advice for potential travellers? Despite Exodus advice to take US dollars, ATM's are widely available and efficient. Juggling the different currencies can be difficult. It is not as easy to use US dollars in Mexico as it is in Guatemala and Belize. Is there anything else you would like to add? Some days are very long with very early starts. There is still discontent in Chiapas with the Zapatista movement making frequent nonviolent protests.
La Ruta Maya - Day of the Dead Festival Departure Discover lively colonial towns, active volcanoes and the palm-fringed beaches along with experiencing Day of the Dead festivities. Guided Group Culture 17 days Incl. Flights From £3,599 Add to wishlist
New Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadors Journey through Mexico's pre-Columbian temples, colonial towns, higlands and jungles. Guided Group, Tailormade Adventures Culture 16 days Incl. Flights From £2,999 5 / 5 from 3 reviews Add to wishlist
Highlights of Nicaragua Explore colonial towns, volcanoes and lagunes in the little known gem which is Nicaragua. Guided Group, Tailormade Adventures Culture 12 days Excl. Flights 4.9 / 5 from 15 reviews Add to wishlist
Discover Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama Highlights of Central America from Pacific to Caribbean coastlines Guided Group, Tailormade Adventures Culture 15 days Incl. Flights From £3,539 4.9 / 5 from 9 reviews Add to wishlist