Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrive in Guatemala City
Upon arrival at the Guatemala City airport you will be met by your Emerald Planet (MEA member) guide. We will then transfer to the Hotel Mansion Imperial.
Overnight: Hotel Mansion Imperial, Guatemala City
DAY 2: Guatemala City - Panajachel
We will have our trip orientation over breakfast. After breakfast we will visit the Guatemala National Museum of Archaeology, which contains a vast collection of Maya artifacts. Afterwards meet with The Nature Conservancy staff from Guatemala for lunch. After an overview of the country programs we will depart the capital city for the Sierra Madre Highlands. Thirty-seven volcanic peaks, some reaching heights of 12,500 feet above sea level, stretch the length of Guatemala's southern border from El Salvador into Mexico. Isolated and rugged, the Sierra Madre harbors many rare plants and animals. The slopes of the Sierra Madre form a textured green mosaic that provides a habitat for rare and endemic species including the resplendent quetzal, horned guan, and azure-rumped tanger. At the same time, the largest indigenous population in all of Central America lives among these mountains. We'll check into our hotel in the late afternoon in the lakeside town of Panajachel. Before dinner, we'll have an overview of the conservation work being done in the region by TNC's partner organization, Vivamos Mejor. Vivamos Mejor is leading immediate relief efforts in the region after the devastating impacts of Hurricane Stan (2005); and together with the Guatemalan government, the Nature Conservancy and other local NGOs, have helped to bring medicine, food, water and other basic supplies to the region.
Overnight: Hotel Atitlan
DAY 3: Lake Atitlan / Sierra Madre Highlands
Over the course of the next two days, we will visit some of The Nature Conservancy's project sites, as well as enjoy the relaxing qualities of the lake's crystal clear waters. Surrounded by three 10,000-ft volcanoes, Alodus Huxley once called the lake "the most beautiful in the world".
After breakfast we will travel by boat in the early morning from Panajachel to the town of San Pedro La Laguna. In this area, the Conservancy and other partners have assessed the hurricane's ecological impact and are formulating an action plan for recovery of the key watersheds. Working together, they hope to help local farmers reestablish crops like organic coffee, and establish community-based ecotourism - a key source of income. Upon arriving, we will hike a short ways up the San Pedro volcano to a scenic overlook. Here the Conservancy and Vivamos Mejor have helped to establish trails and a visitor's center, in addition to one of the first municipal parks in the area. After our hike, we will have lunch in San Pedro, and experience some of the town's developing tourism aspects, such as a small museum and local craft shops. We'll have time to relax and enjoy the peaceful lake before dinner.
Overnight: Posada Schumann
DAY 4: Lake Atitlan / Sierra Madre Highlands
After our early morning bird walk (optional) and breakfast, we will set out to learn more about the work that The Nature Conservancy is doing in the Sierra Madre. The lush forests of the volcanic slopes surrounding the lake are increasingly being impacted by hurricane damage and mudslides, leading to the loss of forest cover and compromising plant and animal diversity. Poorly planned use of these forests has also left them fragmented, thereby deteriorating drinking water supplies for surrounding communities and causing additional erosion and siltation downstream. We will have the opportunity to witness and discuss the execution of these projects with local partners in the field. In the morning we will visit a tree nursery in San Marcos and a reforestation site in Santa Clara La Laguna Municipal Park. We'll have a traditional lunch and visit a coffee farm and processing plant in the afternoon, returning to our hotel with time for a swim in lake to freshen up before dinner.
Overnight: Posada Schumann
DAY 5: Los Tarrales / Sierra Madre Higlands
We will travel again by boat to the town of Santiago, where we will visit a local war museum that highlights the town's forefront involvement in the confrontation between the guerrillas and military. Our land transportation will meet us mid-morning to take us to Los Tarrales. Los Tarrales encompasses a private nature reserve, an ornamental plant production facility, and a coffee plantation. Its owner, a second generation Guatemalan, will show us how his property is serving as a model for private land conservation. Named for its abundant bamboo plants, Los Tarrales is also home to the endemic and endangered horned guan and the azure-rumped tanager. As part of two distinct biomes, it protects the important watersheds that provide surrounding communities with drinking water. The reserve provides employment for its native Maya residents as park rangers, coffee harvesters, and ecotourism guides. They have recently developed a small hotel and restaurant with excellent local cuisine, where we will spend the night.
Overnight: Los Tarrales
DAY 6: Antigua
After early morning birding for those interested, we will travel along the south coast road to the colonial city of Antigua. Declared a World Heritage site in 1979, this early 16th century city famous for its Spanish New World Baroque architecture was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773, but its principal monuments are still preserved as ruins. At almost 5000 feet above sea level and surrounded by volcanoes, the city's cool, refreshing climate compliments its charming architecture and ample shopping opportunities to attract tourists from around the world. We will have a tour of the historic and cultural wonders of the city in the afternoon after lunch.
Overnight: Quinta de las Flores or similar
DAY 7: Antigua to Tikal National Park
After a leisurely morning in Antigua, we will return to Guatemala City for our domestic flight to Flores in the northern part of Guatemala. We will spend the night in the Jungle Lodge, at the edge of Tikal National Park.
Overnight: Jungle Lodge, Tikal National Park
DAY 8: Tikal National Park
We'll have an early start for those who are interested in the spectacular birding (410 registered species) in Tikal National Park. Afterwards, we'll spend the day exploring this ancient temple complex dating from about A.D. 300 to A.D. 900, the Classic period of Mayan civilization. There are more than 3,000 structures, and the dramatic magnitude of these ruins is especially impressive considering the Mayans did not know the use of the wheel nor did they use beasts of burden. All the rock and rubble needed to build the complex was carried on the backs of individual laborers. A hike up the steep stairs leading to the top of one of the high temples is highly recommended; from here one can see the tops of several other enormous temples that are yet to be unearthed from the lush jungle and the vast expanse of the Maya Forest canopy. Tikal is also a national park and World Heritage Site where native flora and fauna still flourish relatively undisturbed. As we walk through the dense growth of mahogany, chicozapote, cedar, ceiba, and palm trees, we will see many birds, including toucans and macaws easily visible for their size and bright colors, as well as howler and spider monkeys that scramble among the treetops.
Overnight: Jungle Lodge, Tikal National Park
DAY 9: Tikal/Flores/Return to Guatemala City
There is an optional early morning birding walk in Tikal National Park. We will return in time for a late breakfast. Spend time independently exploring the archaeological site, taking photographs, and looking for wildlife in the lowland tropical rainforests surrounding Tikal. Afterwards we will return to the town of Flores - a slow-paced village with a Caribbean sentiment, pastel-colored buildings and friendly people. It is situated on an island in Lake Petén Itzá, 45 minutes by road from Tikal National Park. The Itza left the Yucatán region in the 13th century and built their capital city here, called Noh Petén, or literally "City Island". It was here on this island that the last independent state of the Maya civilization held out against the onslaught of the Spanish conquerors. From the ruins of Noh Petén later arose the modern city of Flores. After a late lunch and some time to tour the city, we will have a 4 PM flight from Flores back to Guatemala City. Check into our hotel and have a final trip discussion and wrap up with TNC staff.
Overnight: Hotel Mansion Imperial, Guatemala City
DAY 10: Departure
We depart in the morning from the Guatemala City international airport.
Logistical Details
Natural and Cultural Wonders of Guatemala
April 12-21, 2007
Trip Details:
This trip covers a wide variety of activities. We will be both on foot and in boats, and the possibility of rain always exists. We are, however, visiting during the dry season and we hope for good, quite warm weather throughout the trip. The accommodations will have showers and ceiling fans, sometimes air conditioning.
Financial Arrangements:
The fee for the tour is $3,250 per person based on double occupancy. Single rates are an additional $799. This price includes: a detailed pre-trip packet including a reading list, country bird list, packing suggestions, and background reading and conservation project information; all food, three meals per day, from dinner on Day 1 to breakfast on Day 10; all lodging for 9 nights during the tour; ground and boat transportation; in country airfares; and guide services provided by the tour leader and local expert guides. The tour fee does not include international airfare, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, passport fees, airport departure taxes or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the group does not have sufficient registration a small party supplement may have to be charged. Flight arrangements (not included) for this tour can be made through your local travel agent.
Tour Size:
This tour will be strictly limited to a maximum of 16 participants and a minimum of 8 participants. Sign up early in order to secure your space.
Tour Registration:
To register for the tour, complete the enclosed registration form and return it with a deposit of $500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due ninety days prior to the tour departure (January 22, 2007). If you have any questions please contact Katherine King of Emerald Planet (970-231-4890 or toll-free, 888-883-0736).
Travel Documents:
A US passport valid beyond your anticipated date of return to the US and tourist card (available on flight) is required. Currently no visas or immunization certificates are required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Guatemala for details.
Cancellation Policy:
Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made ninety days or more before departure date, the deposit less $150 is refundable. If cancellation is made between eighty-nine and seventy days before departure date, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made sixty-nine days or less before departure date, no refund is available except for amounts recoverable through our agents. We recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself. Trip cancellation insurance can be arranged through Travel Insured International by calling 1-800-243-3174 or by visiting www.travelinsured.com. Insurance can also be arranged through CSA Vacation Guarantee by calling 1-800-645-5926 or by visiting www.csatravelprotections.com.
Responsibility:
Emerald Planet, The Nature Conservancy, and/or their Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of the tour. Baggage is at owners risk entirely.
Health Precautions:
For comprehensive health information, please contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-877-394-8747 (traveler's health hotline). The CDC information is a comprehensive listing of any disease reported in a particular region or state. We have not had any problems with diseases; however, you may need to discuss with your physician what is best for you individually. If you have any questions please consult your physician. For general information about Guatemala please refer to the Consular Information sheet: : http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1129.html . Please check with your medical insurance provided to make sure that your insurance covers you while you are abroad. Several companies can provide additional international insurance as well as emergency evacuation insurance. See MEDEX for an example of one such provider: http://www.medexassist.com/ or 1-410-453-6300.
For more information about this trip contact:
Katherine King
Emerald Planet Tours
1706 Constitution Court
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Phone: 970-231-4890
Toll-free: 888-883-0736
E-mail: katking@emeraldplanet.com
Website: www.emeraldplanet.com
To sign up for an experience of a lifetime, please fill out and return the registration form.
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