Recommend March 2011 - (Page 53)

MEXICO BELIZE Belmopan Belize City GUATEMALA Guatemala City San Salvador San Pedro Sula Tegucigalpa HONDURAS Roatan EL SALVADOR Managua Liberia NICARAGUA San Jose Barranquilla Pta. Gallinas Maracaibo MAYAN WORLDS Between A.D. 250 and 900, a vast network of powerful Maya city-states grew up in the tropical rainforests of Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as Mexico. The legacy of this brilliant civilization is monumental: pyramids, palaces and royal tombs, which today share the COSTA RICA PANAMA Panama City Medellín ena Caracas VENEZUELA G oc Or in o Cabo Corrientes dal Cali Mag Guayaquil ECUADOR Mar a nón Chimborazo Quito Ne Put gr o umayo J apurá Manaus Br Punta Galera an co Huila COLOMBIA Bogota U Or I A N A o GUYANA Georgetown Pa in oc H I G H L A N D S SURINAM Am S J uruá E L V s ru A S M Punta Aguja ad e ir a T a p a jó s Nevado Huascarán A Pu N Lima D E S Ar N PERU T A I SI ER M in RA DO Gu os O S PA R EC IS apo ré U Mamo N Lake Titicaca S P ré La Paz ATA CAM M P A C I F I C O C E A N S Lake Poopó BOLIVIA C H A C O R A N A I N Today’s combination of good air routes and roads make it easy to travel from country to country along La Ruta Maya. Santiago S Mar Chiquito D E ARGENTINA Rosario N Co lor ad o P A Ne M BELIZE Chu bu t This is a country whose ancient history is marked by a sizeable inventory of at least 600 recorded Mayan sites, but it’s best-known for its offshore attraction, the second longest barrier reef in the world. But increasing numbers of visitors also head for rainforests ﬁlled with tapirs, pumas, peccaries and more than 300 species of birds. The best two-country Maya route is from San Ignacio in Belize to Tikal in Guatemala. Gateway to English-speaking Belize is the country’s largest city, BELIZE CITY, whose attractions range from St. John’s Cathedral—the oldest Anglican Church in Central America—to a wonderful assemblage of Victorian houses. + From Belize City, nature lovers visit the BELIZE ZOO, with habitats for some 125 animals native to the country; the COMMUNITY BABOON SANCTUARY, sheltering black howler monkeys; and the CROOKED TREE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, a 3,000-acre reserve of lagoons and marshes, whose most famous resident is the jabiru stork. + Onsite at ALTUN HA, the Mayan ceremonial center closest (30 miles) to the capital, the largest carved jade piece in Middle America was found in the Sun God temple. + Continue farther on to ORANGE WALK, departure point for the New River boat ride to LAMANAI, a spectacular ceremonial center tucked into the rainforest. + Head west from the capital to the MAYA MOUNTAINS to stay in one of the lovely highland lodges in and around San Ignacio. Day trips here include a visit to XUNANTUNICH, a major ceremonial center of some 25 temples and palaces; canoeing in the MACAL RIVER; horseback riding in the pine forests; and tubing through caves whose walls bear Mayan cave drawings. + It’s a day-long excursion from San Ignacio to CARACOL, Belize’s premier Maya site, covering 65 sq. miles. The main temple, Canaa, affords grand views from its 140-ft. heights. + The Caribbean Sea calls visitors to AMBERGRIS CAYE, known for its lovely resort inns, and informal restaurants and cafes in the town of San Pedro. The 175-mile-long barrier reef lies just offshore, drawing divers to watery habitats for 430 species of ﬁsh, communities of sea turtles, and 70 species of hard coral. The HOL CHAN MARINE PARK is a special draw for snorkelers. + Nearby, CAYE CAULKER is Ambergris Caye’s laid-back cousin— smaller and quieter, and accessible by ferry from Belize City. P A gr o S Buenos Aires URUGU A U Sa lad o FALKLAND/MALVINAS ISLANDS West Falkland Strait of Magellan Tierra del Fuego C. San Diego Cape Horn East Falkland ru Kayaking in Honduras. + Outside the reef, world-class diving (as well as ﬁshing) continues off three major atolls: TURNEFFE ISLAND, GLOVER’S REEF and LIGHTHOUSE REEF, itself the gateway to the famous 480-ft. Blue Hole dive site. + Farther south along the coast, PLACENCIA has its own bevy of upscale lodgings that cater to divers, anglers and those who just want a place in the sun on Belize’s best beaches. Vacationers also go exploring in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Preserve, the world’s only reserve for jaguars, and they visit the Mayan ceremonial center of Lubaatun. + Offshore between Placencia and the ﬁshing town of Punta Gorda are the SAPODILLA CAYES, a cluster of islands and islets offering primetime sea kayaking; from April to June, divers ﬂock here for whale shark season. HOTEL HIGHS: MACHACA HILL LODGE occupies a luxury, ecoconscious lodge with 12 suites tucked into the rainforest amidst a spectacular setting in the highlands above Punta Gorda. TOUR SAMPLE: AUSTIN LEHMAN TRAVEL (AUSTINLEHMAN.COM) offers a 7-night Maya to Maho Caye multi-sport adventure, exploring Mayan ruins, tropical rainforests and the barrier reef by hiking, biking, kayaking, and 4x4 overland; priced at $3,150 pp dbl. ➤ L27 g u Mon a y landscape with well-preserved colonial towns and wildlife reserves beckoning nature lovers. CHILE Nevado Ojos del Salado T Volcán Llullaillaco U Sala N M O G ALT IPL AN O A DESERT ilc om PARAGUAY ayo P Asunció do http://www.AUSTINLEHMAN.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend March 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Disney Dream
Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico
Baja Airventures
Central Gems of Japan
2011 Guide to Latin America
The Tastier Side of Central Japan
Ireland With Brian Moore International Tours
Exploring Antiquity: Egypt, Israel & Jordan
Sailing Into Antiquity on the Nile
Florida's Ever-Changing Hotel Landscape
Riding North America's Rails
Small Ships in the Old South
Turks & Caicos Keeps Expanding
St. Lucia—Beyond the Pitons

Recommend March 2011