2014 exclusive journeys - central america

ExclusivE JournEys

2014

D iscover a region where ancient civilizations have left their indelible marks, where modern-day villages feel anything but and

where extreme natural beauty abounds.

Guatemala has become one of Central America’s hottest destinations for dis-cerning travelers, offering stunning natu-ral scenery, enchanting historic towns and cities and centuries’ worth of Mayan history. Of course, Belize is well-known for its tropical beach destinations and un-paralleled reef—the second-largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, in fact. And you’ll experience its coastal charm and underwater wonders while reveling in the lap of luxury.

amEricacEntral

Guatemala & Belize

The ancient Mayan ruins at Tikal, in northern Guatemala’s tropical rainforests, are some of the most extensive and best-preserved in Latin America.

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Day 1

a n t i g u a, g u a t e m a l a

a lthough you will fly into Guatemala City, your Central American experience will truly begin in Antigua. A private driver will transfer you from Guatemala City to El Convento Hotel in Antigua, only a short 45-minute drive away.

Once here, your Expedition Leader will welcome you and your fellow members with a pri-vate cocktail reception and a gathering with a representative from Heifer International—the nonprofit Exclusive Resorts has partnered with for this experience, and an organization that is doing some incredible work in the region. While in Antigua, you will also enjoy a guided private tour of the city’s many highlights, including the cultural exhibitions of the Santo Domingo Convent, which houses pre-colonial and colonial artifacts.

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after your morning in Antigua, you will drive the two-and-one-half hours to Lake Atitlán, the deepest lake in Central America. The luxurious Casa Palopó

Hotel lies on the shores of the lake, waiting to welcome you with breathtaking views of the water, three dramatic volca-nic peaks and the stunning natural scenery of the Guatema-lan Highlands.

Lake Atitlán is rich in ancient Mayan history and more mod-ern Mayan traditions, as you’ll discover for yourself while sharing cocktails with Vincent Stanzione, an American scholar who has lived among the Maya for more than 25 years, hear-ing firsthand his insights into the history of the Mayan people who have called this region home for thousands of years. The following day, you’ll travel across the lake by private boat, on your way to visit local vil-lages hand-selected by Vincent to offer you a unique range of perspectives on the life of the Maya today. You’ll enjoy leisure time to explore the lake and its surroundings at your own pace, perhaps on a kayaking excur-sion. And you’ll try your hand at preparing traditional Guate-malan cuisine during an interactive cooking demonstration.

The Maya of TodayIn today’s Guatemala, indigenous people

of Mayan descent make up approximately 40% of the population. And despite

centuries of change and development around them, many long-standing

Mayan traditions have been retained and are still practiced today. But traditions vary from village to village, as was the

case throughout history (the Maya was something of an umbrella civilization, comprised of dozens of unique ethnic

subgroups throughout Central America). Some groups still practice ancient

agricultural techniques, while others perform ancient musical ceremonies. All are known for their brightly colored yarn-

based textiles, including fabrics from which they weave their traditional clothing. And

interestingly, each village or community has its own distinctive traditional fabric pattern, identifying the wearer by their hometown.

l a k e a t i t l á n, g u a t e m a l a

Days 2-3


t i k a l (via flores), g u a t e m a l a

t he trip from Lake Atitlán to Flores, the gateway to Tikal, is sure to be a highlight of your journey. Rather than driving, you’ll travel back

to Guatemala City via helicopter, enjoying breathtaking aerial views of the lake itself and the three volcanoes before arriving for your commercial flight to Flores.

Your home for your time here will be Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel, resting on the shores of the Quexil Lagoon. And on the day after your arrival in Flores, you will join your fellow members for an early morning drive to Tikal. Arriving before any of the typical tourist crowds (and before the hottest heat of the day), you’ll enjoy the ancient wonders of Tikal, a UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site. Described by some as “living ruins,” Tikal is generally believed to be even more remarkable than its celebrated counterpart, Chichén Itzá, and offers a more personal experience with fewer crowds. Wildlife abounds, you can climb to the top of the highest temples for sweeping views of the terrain, the jungle seems to be one with the structures themselves and the Maya hold festivals and celebrations on its grounds still today.

Days 4-5


Days 6-8

p l a c e n c i a , b e l i z e

a fter days spent immersing yourself in Guatemala’s rich Mayan and colonial cultural history and exquisite natural beauty, your journey will come to a close on Belize’s

tropical coast. But not before you’ve had a chance to unwind and enjoy the Caribbean at its best.

Arriving in Placencia via a private charter flight, you’ll be escorted to the chic, luxurious Turtle Inn, where you’ll be free to relax and make the most of the resort’s many amenities and, of course, the beach. The following day, your Expedition Leader will escort you

and your fellow members on a private boating excursion out to a secluded caye (island) on the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a morning spent snorkeling the reef, you’ll surface for a picnic lunch served on the caye before return-ing to Turtle Inn for an afternoon at your leisure. And you’ll do it all again the next day before saying farewell to your journey over a gourmet private seafood BBQ at the resort. The following morn-ing, you will depart Placencia for your return to Belize City, where you can either catch your flight home or venture elsewhere in the region on your own.


Because each Mayan village has its own distinctive fabric pattern, an individual’s hometown can be determined by the unique design incorporated into their traditional brightly colored clothing.


With wildlife roaming the trees and the rainforest land-scape encroaching into and around the ancient ruins at Tikal, it’s easy to see why this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been described by some as housing “living ruins.”


a n t i g u a

One Night

You will begin your experience in Guatemala at the ideally located Hotel El Convento, a boutique

property featuring contemporary décor alongside traditional

architectural elements like brick vaulted ceilings, exposed stone

walls and hand-carved doors, each of which sports a unique design. In keeping with its unique style, each suite at El Convento is one-of-a-kind. But no matter which

you call home, you’ll find yourself surrounded by ultra-fine finishes, a spa-like atmosphere and extras

like a private courtyard with a hot tub, a private sauna and more.

l a k e a t i t l á n

Two Nights

Casa Palopó awaits, offering spectacular views of Lake Atitlán and the surrounding volcanoes,

along with luxurious amenities like in-room massage treatments and a gorgeous pool. And much like El Convento in Antigua, each room at Casa Palopó is unique. But all feature spectacular views of the

lake and bright, colorful décor—as is typical of the region—as well as original works by some of Latin

America’s finest artists.

t i k a l (via Flores)Two Nights

While staying in Flores, the gateway to Tikal, you will call Las Lagunas Boutique Hotel home. The hotel is nestled in the jungle and perched overlooking the Quexil Lagoon, comprised of several individual

buildings all connected by elevated walkways. Your bungalow-style

Waterfront Suite offers a modern bath, a private deck complete with a hot tub and breathtaking views

from sunrise to sunset.

p l a c e n c i a

Three Nights

A Francis Ford Coppola-owned property, Turtle Inn features everything you’d expect of a

tropical retreat dreamed up by a Hollywood icon. The resort rests on an undisturbed stretch

of sand and offers luxurious amenities including two pools, a spa specializing in traditional

Thai massage techniques, a gelato bar and more. And you’ll find your beachfront cottage-style

accommodations complete with everything from a private garden and outdoor shower to authentic

Balinese furnishings, hand-selected in Bali by Mr. Coppola himself.

a c c o m m o d a t i o n s


t r i p l e n g t h 9 days, 8 nights

2014 d a t e s o f t r a v e l

January 15-23 • January 25 - February 2January 28 - February 5 • February 6-14February 9-17 • February 18-26February 21 - March 1 • March 2-10 March 5-13

i d e a l f o rActive, adventurous adults or families with older children looking for an experience that blends outdoor adventures with historic sightseeing and some cultural immersion. Accommodations are luxurious throughout. The minimum age for this experience is 12.

t r a v e l w i t hUp to four people with two reservations (double-occupancy accommodations only).

g e t t i n g t h e r eFly into La Aurora International Airport (GUA) in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Fly out of Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, Belize.

w h y y o u’l l l o v e i t Your Central American experience combines Guatemala’s rich—and varying—cultural heritages and diverse natural landscapes with Belize’s celebrated Caribbean coast. Expert private guides will reveal the secrets of the ancient Maya, and their modern-day descendants and will introduce you to the aspects of Guatemalan art, architecture and daily life still influenced by the Spanish Colonial period. You’ll explore the ruins at Tikal. You’ll find yourself surrounded by some of the most striking scenery you can imagine, from Guatemala’s Lake Atitlán to Belize’s vibrant barrier reef. And you’ll enjoy a combination of helicopter transportation and charter and commercial flights to ensure that you spend your time exploring these intriguing destinations, rather than traveling through them.

r e s e rva t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s1 Advanced Reservation

8 Plan Days (per double-occupancy accommodation unit)

Priority Holiday Reservation (Peak) for travel on the February 18 (President’s Day) departure

d a i ly f e e$695 per person

f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o nFor more information about this 2014 experience, including a day-by-day itinerary, detailed information about what’s included in the program cost, and more, visit the Central America: Guatemala & Belize experience overview page on ER Compass.

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south pacific ocean

Area of detail

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3 4 placencia

antigualake atitlÁn

tikal

caribbean sea

south pacific ocean

guatemala

belize

caribbean seamexico

2014 exclusive journeys - central america

Documents

ancient mayan history

mayan people

lake atitln

longstanding mayan traditions

deepest lake

central american experience

guatemala city

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