Photo: Doug Hindman Mayan Mysteries: Jungles, Ruins, and Reefs, Belize and Guatemala Highlights:
Includes:
Trip Number: 09525A Price: Deposit: $200 Capacity: 16 Leader: Barry Morenz
The Trip  Photo: Na Bolom As you stand on top of a temple and hear the howler monkeys roar and see brilliantly colored parrots flying in to their evening roosts at sunset, you’ll be transported to another time, and a world that is a source of mystery and awe. Belize is home to an amazing variety of scenery, flora, and fauna. This small English-speaking democracy is well known for its commitment to environmentalism and the conservation of its precious natural and cultural assets. The tropical rainforest of the interior is home to more than 300 species of birds, exotic plants, flowers, and animals. Offshore lie the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and the 150-mile-long barrier reef --second largest in the world -- dotted with beautiful islands called cayes. In these crystal waters are fantastically colored fish, dolphins, manatees, sea turtles, and ornate coral formations. Belize, formerly British Honduras, is largely covered by tropical forests, and the country teems with wildlife: jaguars, pumas, ocelots, tapirs, iguanas, manatees, howler monkeys, hundreds of species of birds, including Jabiru stork, toucans, herons, macaws, parakeets and more! Though only 8,800 square miles, Belize is a place of rich and diverse heritage; Mayan, African, Hispanic, Caribbean, and European. Located in Central America, Belize and Guatemala are both part of the Yucatan Peninsula and the region called "La Ruta Maya," which has been home to the Maya for 3,000 years. In neighboring Guatemala we find a colorful, dynamic country reemerging from a long political struggle into a bright and optimistic future. In the easternmost area of Guatemala is found the greatest Mayan religious center yet uncovered, the mysterious ruins of Tikal. Situated in El Peten, a wild, remote, low-lying lush jungle province, Tikal is the most awe-inspiring site in the entire country, and the least visited by tourists. It is also home to a wondrous variety of exotic animals, particularly birds. Our visit to Belize and the Tikal area of Guatemala will combine learning
about the many different cultural groups of the region with hiking, swimming,
canoeing, bird watching, visiting Mayan ruins or just relaxing in one of the
most pristine corners of the world.
 Photo: Doug Hindman Day 1: You will be picked up at your hotels in Belize City at about 1 p.m. and transported to the Hill Bank Station of the Programme for Belize, the country's premier environmental organization. Hill Bank is a working field school for environmental studies. We will be staying at their on-site lodge. This is a superb place to hear about the local studies that Belizean environmental scientists are currently involved in. After dinner, an evening presentation about their program will give us a fine overview of this organization that has achieved remarkable success in protecting a corner of pristine lowland jungle. The evening will end with nighttime animal spotting.  Photo: Doug Hindman Day 2: We'll start with an early morning birding walk before breakfast with our expert local birders. We'll then take boat trip to Lamanai, an ancient Mayan site. There are 700 buildings in this complex that is believed to have supported at least 35,000 people at its peak around A.D. 200 to 900. Only five percent of these buildings have been excavated. On the river trip we may see many different birds, orchids, and other flowering plants. We will enjoy a picnic lunch before returning to our lodge at Hill Bank. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for swimming, hiking, or watching wildlife. After dinner, the Hill Bank staff will provide a conservation presentation. Day 3: We'll start with a birding walk before breakfast. We'll then drive to visit the Community Baboon Sanctuary, a pioneering new concept in environmental conservation. "Baboon" is the local name for the black howler monkey, native only to this region.. After lunch we will visit the unique Belize Zoo. This zoo is an important environmental education institution in Belize, teaching thousands of students a year about the wildlife of Belize. Later in the afternoon we will travel to the Macal River area nearer the Guatemalan border where we will spend the next two nights.
 Photo: Doug Hindman Day 4:In the morning we will take a guided canoe tour down Macal River where we will see Green Iguanas in the treetops and many different and spectacular birds. Later we will visit intriguing butterfly exhibits and have lunch. If time allows, some tubing in the Macal river or late afternoon birding will round out our day. Day 5: After breakfast, we'll cross the Guatemalan border to Tikal and stay at a nearby lodge. Tikal was a powerful, large Mayan city for about a thousand years. Stunning Mayan temples and hundreds of other stone structures rise from the middle of this tropical forest. Tikal was built between A.D. 250 and 900 and is the best embodiment of the extraordinary accomplishments of the Maya. After lunch we will tour the site with a guide who is well versed with the archaeological and natural aspects of the area. Day 6: We will take a dawn walk through the grounds of Tikal and climb a pyramid to greet the sun and the morning birds and jungle animals and then return to our lodge for breakfast and rest. After lunch we will tour the local museum documenting the history of this special area and look at other displays in the area. The remainder of the afternoon will be free for shopping or relaxation. Day 7: After breakfast we will leave Tikal to cross back into Belize. We will travel the Hummingbird highway as we head towards the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve. In the afternoon we will check into our isolated rustic jungle cabins near the preserve in Bocawina Mayflower National Park. Before and after dinner we can hike around the grounds looking for birds and animals and enjoying the relaxed ambience of this jungle preserve. There is a healthy population of jaguars in the area, and if we are very lucky we might get a rare glimpse of one. Day 8: Following breakfast, we will drive to the tropical rainforest of the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve. We will hike along trails with our guide, enjoying and learning about the incredible web of life in a rainforest ecosystem. Our destination will be a spectacular waterfall and pool for those who want to swim. We will enjoy a picnic lunch at the preserve, and then continue our hike. Day 9: After breakfast we will leave the jungle and travel to Dangriga on the coast. Along the way we will stop at the Garifuna ethnic museum and Marie Sharp’s Habanero Sauce factory. After lunch we take a boat ride to pristine Southwater Caye where we will spend the next two nights. This, half-mile-long sand atoll sits directly on top of the Barrier Reef and offers superb snorkeling. Our accommodations for the two nights are eco-efficient and simple, yet quite comfortable and have wonderful views. Day 10: After breakfast we will take a boat excursion to the Smithsonian Research Station on a nearby caye and learn a little about island ecology. We will also do some snorkeling from the boats. After lunch we can snorkel right from the shore or curl up with a book on the beach or in a hammock. Day 11: After breakfast we will take a boat to Belize City. During the journey we will make a stop in Southern Lagoon near Gale’s Point and if we are lucky see some manatees. The boat will drop us off near our starting point in downtown Belize City.
Our rustic accommodations are completely screened with rain proof roofs; offering a comfortable, dry and bug-free environment, while remaining wide open to the symphony of the many creatures that inhabit the jungle. Hot showers and bathrooms will be available each night but we will sometimes have to share. The food can be very good but is basic with rice, beans, chicken and fish in addition to many tropical fruits. Vegetarians can be accommodated but most of the places we will be eating don’t typically have vegetarian offerings.
We will be walking and hiking virtually every day but the hiking is not hard and we will not be covering long distances. Nevertheless the better shape you are in the more you will enjoy the trip. We will do some snorkeling and swimming so comfort with the water is desirable but not necessary. You don’t have to get in the water if you don’t want to.
The climate in Belize is mild and pleasant in February, with daytime temperatures
in the 70s and 80s. Offshore on the cayes, moderate trade winds usually blow.
With evening temperatures in the 60s, a light jacket or sweater may be needed.
Since we'll be on the cusp of the rainy season, please bring some rain gear.
The tropical sun is always strong, so bring sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses.
Insect repellent is also a must. Good walking shoes or lightweight hiking boots
are needed, as well as water or Teva type sandals. You'll also want to have
swim-fins, a mask, and snorkel, or you may rent them on the caye. A snorkeling
vest offers added security and comfort for people who are not good swimmers.
A good pair of binoculars is a must for this trip, as we will do quite a bit
of bird watching. A more detailed packing list will be sent each participant
before the departure date.
Conservation Belize is struggling to balance environmental protection and development, especially tourist development. Our visit to Belize will provide economic support for its ecotourism industry, thereby helping to support local conservation efforts. We will learn about the history and success of the voluntary conservation project of the Community Baboon Sanctuary, the Programme for Belize, and about the environmental issues affecting the health of the coral reef. We will experience how development necessary to house visitors can be achieved with minimal impact on the environment.
This trip requires a $200 per-person deposit. An additional payment of $300 per person is due six months prior to trip departure. International trip prices are subject to change and are based on double-occupancy or group accommodations as described above. Single rooms may not be available or may cost more than the listed price. If you have any questions regarding double occupancy, please contact the trip leader. See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy. The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips
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Barry Morenz has lived in Tucson for over 25 years and loves to travel in the nearby mountains and canyons, as well as throughout the American West. He has led Sierra Club trips for many years, and travels regularly to the Caribbean where he enjoys the varied cultures, Mayan history and magnificent coral reefs of the region. A lifelong student, Barry enjoys studying the natural and cultural history of the areas he visits, and experiencing with others the wild and historically significant places of the world. The camaraderie of sharing adventure travel with other Sierra Club trip members is especially rewarding, as it provides a way to educate people about the need to protect these fragile corners of our planet and leave an environmentally-sound legacy for generations to come.