Within the space of 100 square miles we discover two distinct countries and traverse a medley of geographical zones, some fluid and others firm. On this journey through the tropics we’ll travel along Belize’s remote southern coast, navigate limestone caves in an underground river system and stand steady from a towering perch that rises from the rainforest floor. Along the way we witness two ancient cultures – one thriving in Belize’s secret south while the other, silent for over ten centuries, can only whisper its history to us through empty temples, fragile ruins and vacant plazas.

We begin our journey in Belize and before long descend into a series of underground waterways, carefully ducking beneath luminous crystal formations that appear to drip from the limestone ceiling above. Soon, we’re back on terra firma and travelling west to Tikal, an ancient metropolis that not long ago was concealed entirely from view by Guatemala’s dense tropical rainforest. Here we explore the vast ruins, monuments, temples and tombs of a city-state that at its height in the Classic Period was home to at least 60,000 Mayans.

Descending from the tree canopy of the forest and leaving the mysteries of Tikal behind we steer south to Belize’s last frontier, the seldom visited south where the Garifuna people thrive. Modern-day descendents of shipwreck survivors in the 18th century, the Garifuna have settled in this quiet corner of Belize and today enliven the air with their song, dance and dialect. Here we relax at the luxurious Machaca Hill Resort, a private retreat balanced on the hills above the Caribbean Coast. Swimming, boating, and a moonlit safari for a rare glimpse at the nocturnal fauna of jaguar, tapir and coati will fill your journey’s final days.

Day 1: arrive in Belize City; drive to Barton Creek for canoeing through limestone caves • Day 2: visit Mountain Pine Ridge National Park and the Mayan site of Caracol • Day 3: cross the border into Guatemala for a visit to Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site • Day 4: fly by private charter to Southern Belize, and check into the luxurious Machaca Hill Resort • Day 5 & 6: days are spent biking, snorkeling, boating, caving, and hiking through Belize’s final jungle frontier • Day 7: scenic flight back to Belize City in time for international flights home

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