Belize Travel Agents

Kimkim has selected the best Belize travel agents so you'll have a worry-free trip.
With kimkim you will connect directly to a local specialist in Belize who will personalize your trip to your specific tastes. Once we have a sense of who you are and what you're looking for, you'll be matched with the right local travel agent for you. Not everyone wants to get completely off the grid—but even if you want to hit the most popular sites and cities, kimkim ensures a customized experience, including lodging, guides, and transportation.
Learn more: How kimkim Trips Work
Plan your trip to Belize
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.

Eduardo Celada

(56 reviews)
Belize Travel Agent based in Antigua, Guatemala
Eduardo specializes in: Adventure, Culture, Archaeological, Volunteeer, Language students
Recent traveler reviews for Eduardo:
"Eduardo was great at planning with us and very communicative with us during the trip." - by Jeffrey, Sep 6, 2024 · see review
"Eduardo was our Local Expert and he and I chatted on the KimKim platform for months planning the trip." - by Denise, Feb 25, 2024 · see review
"Eduardo was amazing, he listened and arranged everything we wanted and more." - by Tanuja, Feb 13, 2024 · see review

Chris Gwinner

(45 reviews)
Belize Travel Agent based in Antigua, Guatemala
Chris specializes in: Adventure Travel, Trekking, Hiking, Mountain Biking, Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Cultural Tours
Recent traveler reviews for Chris:
"Our local specialist, Chris, was great with communication while planning our trip as well as during it." - by Rebecca, Nov 15, 2024 · see review
"The trip was exceptionally well-organized, with Chris and the team always available to answer any questions or to make suggestions." - by Anne, Jul 24, 2024 · see review
"Thanks to Chris and our guide Joel for putting together a great itinerary and shepherding us through a phenomenal trip." - by Eliot, Jul 14, 2024 · see review
Belize Travel Agent based in Antigua Guatemala
Catherina specializes in: culture, adventure, archaeology, history, architecture
Recent traveler reviews for Catherina:
"Thank you to Catherina and the team for planning my trip to Guatemala and making it an unforgettable experience." - by Kristen, Nov 28, 2024 · see review
"Catherina and all of Columbus Guatemala Travel was prompt at getting back to me and answered all my questions and were flexible with our interests." - by Rebecca, Jul 15, 2024 · see review
"Catherina is amazing." - by Jim, Apr 19, 2024 · see review

Trip Reviews for Belize

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim
4.8
Based on 16 ratings

Mother/daughter trip to Belize
Belize | Jun 11 - Jun 19, 2024

Amy
Amy B.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on Jun 25, 2024
Just returned from an exciting 9 day mother/daughter trip to Belize! This is the second tour that I've booked through kimkim in the past two years, and again, it proved to be a wise choice and an east platform to use. Our local expert, Alex Coronado, with Old Town Outfitters based in Guatemala, was very personable and fun to work with. He listened to my suggestions and concerns, and made appropriate changes to the itinerary as needed. He was then very approachable and helpful while we... Read more

Just returned from an exciting 9 day mother/daughter trip to Belize! This is the second tour that I've booked through kimkim in the past two years, and again, it proved to be a wise choice and an east platform to use. Our local expert, Alex Coronado, with Old Town Outfitters based in Guatemala, was very personable and fun to work with. He listened to my suggestions and concerns, and made appropriate changes to the itinerary as needed. He was then very approachable and helpful while we were en route, making restaurant suggestions along the way.

One of my biggest concerns in advance with this trip was that the ground transportation go smoothly. Alex booked our transfers through the Belize Airport Shuttle Service (BASS), which proved to be wonderful! Lilia, a local BASS representative, met us at the airport upon arrival with a friendly, reassuring face and a big hug. She introduced us to our first driver and went over the itinerary. She then kept in touch with me through Whatsapp to make sure all the pick-up times went smoothly. We loved all of our drivers!

Most of our tours while inland at San Ignacio were booked through MayaWalk tours. They were wonderful to work with, and we thoroughly enjoyed all of our drivers and guides. Our first guide, Richard, to Mountain Pine Ridge was particularly knowledgeable about local flora and animals. Our second tour was a day-trip to the Tikal ruins in Guatemala, which I highly recommend to anyone considering a Belize trip. It's an enticing glimpse into the beauty of Guatemala. On the second part of our trip, out on the island of Caye Caulker, we used Black Hawk Tours for a full-day snorkeling excursion. Those guys were an absolute blast, and managed to find not one, but an entire group of 4 manatees for us!

Finally, the hotels were lovely and exactly matched to our preferences. The Falling Leaves Lodge, our favorite, in San Ignacio, had lovely jungle grounds, and a very warm, welcoming staff. We ate most of our meals at their restaurant, the Obsidian, and enjoyed happy hour cocktails each day from their bar. They have a brand new, absolutely lovely, pool, which we had all to ourselves most evenings.

I will continue to recommend friends and family to the kimkim model, and will also consider another trip to Guatemala through Old Town Outfitters!

Hotel Reviews
Villa Boscardi Belize City
belice

Nice B&B for the final night in the country. Lovely, clean room, and a wonderful breakfast the following morning.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Short drive from the water taxi and the airport. Also within walking distance of a great little restaurant called Smokeez, which one of our BASS drivers recommended.
Staff
Very friendly host for breakfast.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Falling Leaves Lodge
San Ignacio

Loved the small hotel charm, and cute cabanas. Very warm and welcoming staff, particularly the guys running the bar. We loved the food at their restaurant, the Obsidian, and ate most of our meals there. The grounds were lovely and peaceful, especially early in the morning when the birds were waking up. The brand new pool was a delight, and we got to enjoy it by ourselves most evenings.

Authenticity & Character
Very charming. Loved the small size. Staff were very friendly.
Location
Good views, and nice proximity to the Cahal Pech ruins.
Staff
Because of their small size, it was easy for them to get to know people. One of the groundkeepers noticed me bird-watching, for example, and gave me a local map of excellent bird watching sites.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very nice, clean, and comfortably cool room. Loved the large stone shower.
Activity Reviews
Guided Tour of Mountain Pine Ridge - full day
Guided Tour of Mountain Pine Ridge - full day
Belize

Loved our guide, Richard. He stopped at a small road-side bakery on the way and we got freshly made plantain chips. He then told us stories about the Mayan gods en route, and provided excellent tidbits about local flora and animals all day. Lunch that day was one of our favorite meals.

Quality of Experience
Food
We had beans/rice with jerk chicken. The chicken was some of the best we had the whole trip.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Loved Richard. Very knowledgeable guide, and fun to spend the day with.
Transport
Explore Tikal National Park
Explore Tikal National Park
San Ignacio

Wonderful glimpse into Guatemala. The border crossing was easy and fun. The ruins are spectacular. We saw lots of wildlife and beautiful trees as a bonus. Lunch en route was very good.

Quality of Experience
Very knowledgeable guide. There was another family with us on this tour, so it was fun to be part of a group.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Long drive, but a very comfortable and cool van.
Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route
Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route
Belize

Very nice way to break up the drive back to the coast from inland. The cave and the river that ran through it were a wonderful relief from the heat. The water was crystal clear and very inviting to swim in.

Quality of Experience
Easily manageable as an addition to the drive back to the coast.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Juan was fabulous. We had him all to ourselves, so really got the VIP treatment.
Transport
Good timing. He managed to get us to the water taxi with plenty of time to catch an earlier boat.
Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef
Snorkeling Tour in the Belize Barrier Reef
Caye Caulker

The guys at Black Hawk were very fun and very skilled at finding wildlife in the ocean for us to see. We were very fortunate to get to see a group of 4 manatees.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All of the Black Hawk guys were very funny and personable. Our boat driver, John, was very good at finding wildlife.
Transport
Local specialist: Alex Coronado
Alex
Alex Coronado
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Replied on Jun 25, 2024

Oh my god, Amy, Thank you so much for your awesome feedback and pictures. I'm so happy you and Luna got to visit Belize and enjoy the wildlife. I spoke with our partners in Belize and they shared only good positive things about you and Luna. Thank you for making our job easier with your amazing energy, honest feedback, and clarity on what you were looking for.

I hope I get to meet you one day. (maybe in Guatemala) :) Once again thank you for your visit to Belize.

Big hug from Antigua.
Alex

Birds, Ruins and Coral in impressive comfort.
Belize | Apr 5 - Apr 17, 2024

Jim
Jim S.
Bradenton, FL | Reviewed on Apr 19, 2024
Catherina is amazing. From the preliminary agenda until we were on the plane she was on top of everything. When changes were required she made them, was solicitous of our comfort and in every way fabulous. JJ and Renee were equally impressive and did everything to make our trip enjoyable. Renee returned the room key that I forgot in Belize, JJ helped me through a bit of stomach upset. All of the birding guides were extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend that folks our age split... Read more

Catherina is amazing. From the preliminary agenda until we were on the plane she was on top of everything. When changes were required she made them, was solicitous of our comfort and in every way fabulous. JJ and Renee were equally impressive and did everything to make our trip enjoyable. Renee returned the room key that I forgot in Belize, JJ helped me through a bit of stomach upset. All of the birding guides were extremely knowledgeable. I would recommend that folks our age split birding and ruin watching into two days. It was 104 degrees the day we did it and we cooked. The reef in Belize is still beautiful, but showing signs of bleaching, more's the pity. All in all, it was one of our best trips. Kudos to Columbus travel.

Hotel Reviews
Mystic River Resort
San Ignacio

Sited in the jungle with balconies looking down on the river, Mystic River Resort is beautiful. For bird watchers like ourselves, there are over 250 species of birds on the property. The first morning a summer tanager dropped down to the railing when I walked out to claim her share of the banana bread (which hotel staff had brought to our door along with delicious coffee). The rooms are large and comfortable with both a fan and a fireplace. (A little too warm while we were there for the latter.) A very nice outdoor dining room with both hummingbird and platform feeders providing great interest especially in the morning. The staff are pleasant and solicitous of your well being. A thoroughly pleasant stay.

Authenticity & Character
Lovely cabins, decor throughout well done and consistent.
Location
Sited in untouched jungle, birds, birds, birds!
Staff
Way above average in friendliness and helpfulness.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean and comfortable/
Hotel Atitlán
Panajachel

Very different from Mystic River. Sculptured gardens and lots of flowers. Beautiful! Many birds, but not as many as Mystic River. Very comfortable room. Lovely restaurant with excellent choices and food.

Authenticity & Character
Very well done with a great deal of period pieces
Location
Right on Lake Atitlan with boat travel to various cool experiences.
Staff
Very helpful and efficient
Cleanliness & Comfort
Like most Latin hotel very clean, good shower, very comfortable
Azure Del Mar
Placencia

Again a huge switch, since this hotel is literally on the beach. What appears to be a very simplistic hotel turns out to be a very cozy stay with the wind off the Gulf blowing through the room day and night. There was no need of fan or air conditioning although a conditioner was provided. Palapa style office, dining room and cabins. Very intriguing! Thoroughly enjoyed our stay there

Authenticity & Character
Palapa says it all.
Location
Right on the beach, what more could you ask?
Staff
Extraordinarily helpful, efficient and thoughtful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean throughout. Very comfortable the way the cabins are sited!
Activity Review
Welcome to Guatemala
Welcome to Guatemala
Belize

Went off without a hitch. We were met by JJ as we came out of baggage claim, the car was loaded and we were on our way.

Quality of Experience
JJ is friendly, helpful, personable and efficient.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above
Transport
Nice wheels.
Local specialist: Catherina Tittaferrante
Catherina
Catherina Tittaferrante
Local specialist in Antigua Guatemala | Replied on Apr 20, 2024
Oooww Jim, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're so honored to read how JJ, David and Renee made your trip unforgettable with their exceptional personalities, passion and knowledge. We love to pay attention to details as it is our way to get to know you better so it means everything to us when we have the opportunity to develop an extraordinary match as we have done with you. It's wonderful to know you got the comfort and enjoyment throughout your journey. We... Read more

Oooww Jim, thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience! We're so honored to read how JJ, David and Renee made your trip unforgettable with their exceptional personalities, passion and knowledge. We love to pay attention to details as it is our way to get to know you better so it means everything to us when we have the opportunity to develop an extraordinary match as we have done with you. It's wonderful to know you got the comfort and enjoyment throughout your journey.

We appreciate your feedback regarding splitting birding and ruin watching into two days, as well as your observations about the reef in Belize. Your insights are valuable as we strive to continuously improve destinations and activities to keep providing memorable experiences for our friends like you.
And I have to be completely honest, you have a family with us now and forever! Thank you again.

Belize and Guatemala - Great trip
Belize | Mar 30 - Apr 8, 2024

S
Saba D.
Holly Springs, NC | Reviewed on Apr 13, 2024
We had a great time with Tomas and Michael in Belize. The tour guide in Guatemala gave us a good suggestion to do the tour at 4 am instead of later in the day bcoz the temperature was very high ( 101) and that helped us a lot!
Overall a great experience!
Read more

We had a great time with Tomas and Michael in Belize. The tour guide in Guatemala gave us a good suggestion to do the tour at 4 am instead of later in the day bcoz the temperature was very high ( 101) and that helped us a lot!
Overall a great experience!

Hotel Reviews
Black Rock Lodge
San Ignacio

Best experience ever! The staff is fantastic and the hotel is so close to nature- great way to disconnect!

Authenticity & Character
Location
The location is beautiful but the 6/7 mile long road going to the lodge can be improved.
Staff
Best experience ever- everyone was super nice!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ramon's Village Resort
San Pedro

Paradise!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Jaguar Inn Tikal
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Issue with water supply and fan in the summer heat
Jaguar Creek Lodge
Cayo District, Belize
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Staff is good but they can help with lugging the bags to the rooms especially if the room is far away from the reception. No one offered to help us
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves day tour
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves day tour
San Ignacio
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He could have planned for the tubes to be at the cave and not for us to carry it along the way. We saw other guides doing that and even offering to take family pics - he didn’t even ask
Transport
Cacao Farm & Chocolate Making Tour
Cacao Farm & Chocolate Making Tour
San Ignacio

Very enriching experience!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore Tikal National Park
Explore Tikal National Park
San Ignacio
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
He charged us extra money for the 4 am tour
Transport
Canopy Tour in Tikal National Park
Canopy Tour in Tikal National Park
Belize
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Awesome staff
Transport
Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village
Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village
Belize

Dream come true!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Best staff - so helpful and made me and my daughter so comfortable
Transport
Local specialist: Eduardo Celada
Eduardo
Eduardo Celada
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Apr 13, 2024

Thank you for all this feedback, we do not doubt that this will help us to get more folks interested in this impressive route.

Thank you for taking the time to leave us your review !!
I'm thrilled you had a great time on the Program activities you and I built for this unforgettable tour. Knowing that you had a great time with our team guiding you around the country is very helpful. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!

Amazing time in Belize
Belize | Mar 18 - Mar 23, 2024

Kathryn
Kathryn F.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Apr 02, 2024
My 19yo daughter and I had a great time on our trip to Belize. Chris listened to everything I wanted and planned a perfect itinerary. We enjoyed horseback riding to the Maya site Xunantunich. Our guides Jose and Carla were knowledgeable and accommodating. Jose helped me get to the top of the pyramid as I’m afraid of heights. I’m so glad I did it—the view was amazing! We also enjoyed cave tubing en route from San Ignacio to San Pedro. It was beautiful and we saw a family of howler monkeys... Read more

My 19yo daughter and I had a great time on our trip to Belize. Chris listened to everything I wanted and planned a perfect itinerary. We enjoyed horseback riding to the Maya site Xunantunich. Our guides Jose and Carla were knowledgeable and accommodating. Jose helped me get to the top of the pyramid as I’m afraid of heights. I’m so glad I did it—the view was amazing! We also enjoyed cave tubing en route from San Ignacio to San Pedro. It was beautiful and we saw a family of howler monkeys right above us along the riverside. Last, we snorkeled with nurse sharks and rays in Hol Chan. Our guide Carlos showed us a number of cool sea creatures like eels and an arrowhead crab. Our accommodations at Falling Leaves Lodge and Ramon’s Village were comfortable and clean. Thanks to Chris we were able to enjoy an upgrade to an ocean view room at Ramon’s which we appreciated. Last, our driver between sites, Derek, was always prompt and made getting around feel easy and safe.

Hotel Reviews
Falling Leaves Lodge
San Ignacio

Pool and poolside snack bar was under construction but will add a lot to the experience.

Authenticity & Character
The gardens were beautiful . Room was small but comfortable and clean. Shower hot.
Location
Proximity to Cahal Pech Maya site; being at the top of the hill limited dining and activity options
Staff
Paula and Kevin were great. Pointed out plants and a toucan in the garden. Some restaurant staff were not always welcoming
Cleanliness & Comfort
Ramon's Village Resort
San Pedro
Authenticity & Character
A little touristy in character but still beautiful and comfortable. The clean beach and chaise lounges were appreciated.
Location
Right on the beautiful turquoise water.
Staff
Friendly and lots of good suggestions
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bedding and pillows could use replacing.
Activity Reviews
Horse Riding Tour of the Xunantunich Maya Ruins
Horse Riding Tour of the Xunantunich Maya Ruins
San Ignacio

Guides Jose and Carla were great. Horses were well behaved. Site was amazing. Jose helped me with the climb—so kind.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village
Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley - from Ramon's Village
Guatemala
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route
Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City with Cave Tubing Tour en Route
Belize
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Chris Gwinner
Chris
Chris Gwinner
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Thank you for the review Kathryn, we really enjoyed reliving your experiences in Belize through all the pictures. I'm so glad to hear you overcame some personal challenges on the trip and enjoyed the views from atop the pyramid!

It was our pleasure to host the two of you and thank you again for choosing to travel with us in Belize. Our team had a great time with you and we hope to see you again in the future. Spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know the better!

Two wonderful weeks in Belze....
Belize | Nov 28 - Dec 12, 2023

belinda
belinda m.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 21, 2024
We spent two wonderful weeks in San Pedro, San Ignacio and Guatemala with one other couple. Our vacation was arranged by Eduardo. Eduardo took care of everything for us. During our vacation he kept in touch with me to make sure all was going well. He genuinely wanted to make sure we had a good trip. One thing I greatly appreciated was that for most of our tours Eduardo planned them for just the four of us. We were very lucky to NOT be part of the big groups. Being this was our first... Read more

We spent two wonderful weeks in San Pedro, San Ignacio and Guatemala with one other couple. Our vacation was arranged by Eduardo. Eduardo took care of everything for us. During our vacation he kept in touch with me to make sure all was going well. He genuinely wanted to make sure we had a good trip. One thing I greatly appreciated was that for most of our tours Eduardo planned them for just the four of us. We were very lucky to NOT be part of the big groups. Being this was our first time to Belize we were really unsure of where to go and what to expect. Our transportation was all pre-arranged which took a ton of stress off of me. Our first driver, (Cameron) was waiting for us at the airport and took us to the water taxi to get us to San Pedro. He was full of conversation and pointed so many things out on our way. He was wonderful. We started our vacation in Belize on San Pedro. We stayed at Tres Cocos Resort. This is a very clean resort. The staff, be it office or grounds, they were all so nice and went out of their way to help us. We went night snorkeling and also did a whole day snorkel with Inland and Sea Adventure (Eric and Maya). We had a really good time going to Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley, and Caye Caulker for lunch. We were able to see manta rays, sea turtles, mannatees, and lots of different fish. The water was a little rough which made for the water being murky and having to deal with alot of human "trash". The tour company was wonderful. They made sure that we all had a really good time and of course safety was number one. The main transportation to get around San Pedro is a golf cart. Do know that the roads are full of pot holes and very rough. We ate at a couple different restaurants that in my opinion are worth mentioning: 1. for dinner Caramba 2. for breakfast Tres Cocos Waffles and Smokehouse. One thing to be prepared for while on the island: Things are very expensive. For example a pound of butter was $21.95 BZE. After spending 5 days on San Pedro we headed inland. Our next destination was San Ignacio. On our way there we again had Cameron as our driver. We learned so much from him. We made a stop to do a river tubing tour. Our guide for this tour was Victor. He was always talking and sharing his knowledge. I do wish that he had slowed down a little as my husband and I were a tad slower on the walk to the river and we missed out on most of his conversation. We also felt that we were rushed during the tubing part of the tour. Not sure we would do this again, but perhaps the kayaking instead. While in San Ignacio we stayed at the "Falling Leaves Lodge". I can't say enough good about this lodge. I absolutely loved it. ALL of the staff were so friendly and helpful. We ate breakfast there every morning, delish... One of the chefs is Mo. He personally came out of the kitchen at every meal to make sure that we had enjoyed everything. Paula (the manager) is the most wonderful person. She went out of her way to make our stay memorable. She really should be proud of her staff. The grounds are well kept and it is a very beautiful layout. The pool was not finished when we were there (December 2023), but it was being worked on between rainy days. We definitely will be staying with them on our next trip. On a side note there is a ruins that is just a walk from Falling Leaves Lodge: Cahal Pech. This is a self guided tour, but definitely worth it. A most interesting tour was the Cacao Farm and Chocolate making. If you want to know where chocolate really comes from and not a "Willy Wonka tour" this tour is for you. Adrian took us to the small farm where the cacao trees grow and then his family demonstrated how the Mayans make chocolate back in town at their shop. One tour that you do not want to miss is the ATM cave tour! There are many different comments on this tour about it being hard, and what you can bring with on the tour. I am 58 years old, not in the best shape: I did it!! You do have to cross 3 "river spots", but there is a big ol' rope to hang on to. There is a bit of swimming, but most of it is "walking" through the water. There is climbing on and through rocks (water shoes are a must). There is one spot where you have to climb up rocks, but there are so many helping hands in the groups to help, everyone makes it up and also down. Our driver, Hugh, stayed with the van and had a most delicious lunch waiting for us. Now as to what you can bring on this tour: Nothing, no wet bag, water, camera or anything. The guide carries it all in their bag. The one thing that you will need is an old pair of socks that you can throw away. You can bring a change of clothes as you will get wet. But that is left in the van. After you get to the top of the one climbing spot you may NOT wear shoes, that is where the socks come into play. Our guide here was Gonzo. Talk about a great guide, he is the best! Our next couple days were spent in Guatemala, heading to Tikal Lodge. Our driver to the border was again Hugh. As always he is so pleasant and full of knowledge as he is a retired tour guide. He made sure we got into Guatemala without trouble and found our connecting ride and guide. At the border on both sides there are many currency exchangers waiting to make sure you have Guatemalen money. Do make sure you get small bills not just large ones as the small shops aren't always able to make change. On our way to Tikal Lodge we stopped for lunch. Please know that Spanish is the main language in Guatemala so ordering lunch was a bit of a challenge since we don't speak Spanish. After lunch we headed to Yaxha Maya Ruins. This is an out of the way ruins. But boy is it worth seeing. Our guide, Oliver, was hoping that we would be able to see the sunset here, but due to the incoming rain, we missed out on that. This is one place that we got to see the howler monkeys and various birds. One suggestion I have is to leave earlier than 10 a.m. from San Ignacio if you are heading to Guatemala to do this tour. The travel time is a bit long due to ALL the "potholes" and rough road. We stayed at Jungle Lodge Tikal while in Guatemala. This was a clean lodge But... be prepared for no hot water, they shut the lights and electricity off at 11 p.m. (as they are basically off grid) in the rooms, the only internet is at the lodge not in your room, the restaurant is fair (it seemed that they were out of things on the menu and usually things we wanted to order) and again they only speak Spanish which makes things difficult. The staff wasn't overly friendly either. We were scheduled to have a free day in Flores on our own. Had it not been for our guide, Oliver, offering his services for the day it would not have been such a fun day. Again, we don't speak Spanish and it would have been a struggle without him. His helpfulness with the language barrier was most appreciated. He also took us places that we never would have known about, such as a wood carving school where the students are able to sell their projects and get the money, the animal sanctuary (Arca's) and another off the beaten path ruins. Our main reason for going to Guatemala was the sunrise tour at Tikal National Park. The nice thing about staying at Jungle Lodge Tikal is for the sunrise tour you're right there to start the walk to the temple. So with that in mind we would over look some of the down sides and stay here again so that we are right there for the sunrise tour. One thing to bring is a flashlight or even better a head lamp so your hands are free. One thing we wished is that we had allowed a couple days for Tikal, as our guide told us that about 2-3 days is what you need to see it all. We really didn't get to see much of Tikal because we didn't realize it was such a huge ruins. After getting back to Belize the next day we did a horse riding tour of Xunantunich Maya Ruins. This was alot of fun with our guides, Elio and Miguel. You get to see a bit of different scenery off the beaten path . One thing to remember this is a half day tour so there is no lunch provided. We ended our vacation with a Cooking Class in San Ignacio at Marie Sharp's Tourist Center. This was a blast! We were taken to the market by William (our instructor). He shared alot of information about San Ignacio while at the market. We all pitched in and helped prepare our lunch which was very tasty chicken, rice, bread pudding and other tasty things. This was a hands on cooking class. One thing to remember about Belize and Guatemala even though you go during the "dry season" this does not mean it won't rain. We found this out on many days. Our vacation was incredible! Alot of the credit goes to Eduardo for planning things out so well. We can't wait to start planning our next visit to Belize and Guatemala.

Local specialist: Eduardo Celada
Eduardo
Eduardo Celada
Local specialist in Antigua, Guatemala | Replied on Jan 26, 2024

Hola Belinda,
I want to thank for your words. I make feel happy because i know you and I built a great experience and of course that you enjoyed and you will remind this forever. I will be alway happy to assist you with the destinations we promote.
I'm highly glad you had a great time on the Program activities you and I built for this unforgettable tour. Be sure to spread the word to your friends and family, the more people know about Guatemala the better. Hope to see you back again soon, cheers!
Cheers,
Eduardo