Day 8 Chaa Creek

After breakfast in the open-sided, conical thatched bungalow, you follow the renowned Pantí Medicinal Trail, that runs through the adjacent property. The trail was established by Dr. Rosita Arvigo and her husband, Dr. Greg Shropshire, in 1987. The healing powers of the jungle plants were well known to the ancient Maya; and their descendents still use herbs and plants to cure diseases. There are hand-painted signs along the path describing a plant or tree’s unique chemistry and its use in traditional Mayan healing. Dr. Arvigo has formed a partnership with the New York Botanical Garden Institute and works with the U.S. National Cancer Institute on a worldwide search for medicinal plants to use in the treatment of cancers.

Join your travel companions on a canoe ride on the Macal River through the jungle. Upon your return to Chaa Creek, relax in the gardens, visit the on-site natural history center and butterfly farm. You have the opportunity to see

 the stunning Blue Morpho butterfly; this is only place in the world where it lives. (B,L,D)

This morning, you return to Belize City and visit the zoo before it is time to board your flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. From the moment you step out of the plane, it is obvious that the rush of modern civilization is far away. The streets are made of sand, and nothing is higher than a palm tree.

A very short drive out of town brings you to Victoria House Resort on a tranquil seafront stretch – a picturesque mix of plantation-style villas and thatched casitas offering casual colonial elegance. Your bright and breezy private rooms, with views of the Caribbean, are set in buildings surrounded by swaying palm trees and luxuriant gardens filled with bougainvillea, hibiscus, and oleander. You have the ideal mix of seclusion and easy accessibility to the village of San Pedro.

This island was once connected to the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico; the Maya enlarged and dredged the channel at the north end to facilitate trading. The 25-mile long, coral sand caye has a lagoon on the west and is protected on the east by a living reef that extends 185 miles down the Belize coast. You enjoy the sun and warmth of the tropics and the cooling trade winds of the Caribbean Sea.

The day is yours to relax at this premiere resort hideaway. Sun on cushioned chaise lounges, or relax under the shade of the palms, overlooking an idyllic sandy white beach. The hotel shuttle is always available for shopping trips into San Pedro.

This morning, you fly to neighboring Guatemala for a day trip to the impressive Mayan ruins of Tikal. The Mayan accomplishments in the fields of medicine, mathematics, and astronomy are a source of national pride as well as universal respect.

The site is located in jungles of the Petén district, in the north of the country, and includes over 3,000 individual ruins. Much is still buried in the surrounding rain forest. At its peak, Tikal was a center with over 100,000 inhabitants; incredibly, the site was forgotten after the fall of the Maya civilization (about 950 AD) until its rediscovery in 1848.

The pyramids rise high above the lush green canopy of the jungle. The undergrowth has been cleared around the buildings; but in the adjacent rainforest, you can hear howler monkeys as they swing noisily from tree to tree, the squawking of colorful parrots, and the croaking of tree frogs. Tikal was built as a monumental ceremonial center; the steep-sided temples rise to heights of over 140 feet. The complex contains plazas, an acropolis, pyramids, temples, and a museum.

You fly back to Ambergris Caye, returning to Victoria House in time for an incredible buffet dinner featuring fresh seafood. (B,L,D)

You have another carefree day to spend sunning, swimming, fishing, or shopping. Relax by the water’s edge in the thatched-roof lounge, with its mahogany and terra-cotta interior, or on the adjacent porch. There is also a dive shop on the premises if you are inclined to explore the fascinating underwater world below you.

In the evening, join your travel companions for a festive farewell dinner. (B,L,D)

Your journey comes to an end as you are escorted to the airport for your return flight to the USA. (B)