Hike and Snorkel to Find the Mystery of the Maya in Guatemala and Belize

This program is not for the faint-of-heart, but it is well-guided and I always felt safe. Participants should be prepared for hot and humid weather. Hydration is critical! The ATM cave experience was more challenging than I expected, but very well guided such that only on a few occasions was I nervous about a situation with either scrambling over rocks or moving between rocks while in water.

Had a wonderful time and all my expectations were met. Got a great introduction to the history of the Mayan civilization. Saw some amazing and beautiful sights. Damion did such a great job sharing his knowledge and passion for Belize, Guatemala, plant & animal life, and kept us safe and happy!

We learned much and made memories that already are appreciated as we return to our daily routines.

The program was great. Don't believe the 2 out of 3 hiker activity rating. It's a 4 out of 3! But if that's you, go for it! You won't be disappointed. An experience of a lifetime.

This program offers a variety of activities from trekking through dense jungles to snorkeling in one of the best reefs in the world. It offers an authentic look into the Mayan world and the people and culture of Belize and Guatemala.The program is fast paced but offers appropriate breaks.

This was an interesting and fun program. When the weather back home was cold and rainy we enjoyed beautiful weather in Belize and Guatemala. Visiting the ruins, hiking, snorkeling, caving and repelling all were fun and got your heart pumping. I would recommend that you be in good physical shape to take this trip. the excursion into the cave and the rappelling were taxing.

A physically active and varied program blending hiking, exploring, snorkeling, rappelling and learning experiences that challenge you and provide flexibility to accommodate your physical level.

This was an excellent trip with jsut the right amount of activity for me. The guides were great. flexible, on time, accommodating, resourceful, personable. The expert lectures were great. ATM Cave was a once in a lifetime treat.

My wife and I had an amazing time on our two cave outings, along with wonderful birding and snorkeling experiences.

Another great trip. This trip had it all…Belize and Guatemala, jungle, Tikal, rain forest, hanging bridges, hiking, snorkeling with beautiful fish and coral, ancient Mayan culture, local wildlife. Road Scholar did a great job with my travel arrangements. Thank you!! I had plenty of time in Miami (getting to Belize) and in Dallas (flying home).

If you want your own National Geographic Experience, this is it.

For me, this trip was a wonderful introduction both to Belize and the ancient Mayan civilization. Conditions in Guatemala forced RS to substitute a visit to Caracol instead of Tikal, but the program did not suffer at all for this change. Accommodations were very nice without exception, and the daily adventures, though challenging, were rewarding beyond all expectations.

This was the trip of a lifetime. I call it the Best of Belize. River Speedboats and rocky backroad treks to Mayan sites, rock climbing deep into a cave to experience a sacred place, rappelling into a cenote for lunch, seeing birds, insects, snakes and monkeys. Staying at 5 Star hotels and eco-lodges. Snorkeling at beautiful marine sanctuaries and visiting a local coffee grower. If you like being active and wish for adventure, this trip is for you. Our guide, Israel, was so entertaining every step of the way with his enthusiasm, knowledge and personal stories. Thank you for such wonderful memories!

This is a great trip for anyone who wants to have variety, adventure and learn about the country!

I had such a good time! The activities and locations we stayed were varied and active and fun. Every guide we had was knowledgeable about their topics, which helped make it educational and interesting. I didn’t rappel because I found hiking in the heat more challenging than I expected, but the cave tubing I opted for was wonderful. The ATM cave was my favorite part. The size of our group was perfect, and everyone got along really well, which made it even more enjoyable. Israel is an amazing leader. He is so knowledgeable on so many topics, and his patience seemed endless. He kept us very well-informed, which for an information junkie like myself, was much appreciated. I definitely recommend this trip!

This program has it all! Ruins, rivers, caves, sink holes, jungle hikes, boat rides, and snorkeling. The rappelling was really fun and the hike in and out for that trip was great. Great leaders,birds, monkeys, and a variety of activities make this a GREAT trip!

I thoroughly enjoyed this trip and highly recommend it. The activities were fun, at times challenging but always rewarding, and educational. Our group leader, Israel Canto, was one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He was incredibly organized, very attentive, flexible, and just fun to be with. Israel’s knowledge and passion for Mayan culture, birds, nature, etc. came through every day. I was impressed with nearly all of the guides we had during the trip, especially Pablo in Guatemala. This is definitely a very active trip but we started at a slightly slower pace the first few days to acclimate. That said, it would have been nice to have a more leisurely day somewhere along the way before getting to the beach. The ATM cave was definitely a highlight (note: you will not bring anything with you into the cave, many of us had wondered about this and brought waist packs but did not use them). Rappelling was another highlight for me but be warned 300 feet really is high up! I did not appreciate the height until I saw it. Some reviewers noted they didn’t think the difficult hike was worth the short time spent rappelling but I disagree. The hike was definitely challenging (especially coming down in the rain) but for me it was part of the experience and I liked it and found the entire day personally rewarding. There were 15 of us on the trip and we were a very cohesive group which added to the experience. All in all it was perfect!

This is an informative and active program that requires a participant to be in good health and able to climb over 300 steps and hike for relatively long period over rough terrain. The effort is totally worth it as you engage in activities that you never or rarely have the opportunity to do; like repelling and caving. The trip is made even more enjoyable due to our guide Israel who provides clear guidance, personal stories, and a appreciation of Mayan culture.

Excellent, highly active trip. Israel is a great trip leader and took extra care to make certain every detail was taken care of. Site lodging locations were varied and very accommodating. I highly recommend this trip to explore Belize and participate in an active excursion.

I wholeheartedly recommend this trip for anyone interested in visiting Belize and Guatemala. Our leader Israel provided a seamless trip that allowed us to experience every activity to its fullest. Thank you road scholar for providing this exceptional experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed my 1st RS trip. The hotels were unique and in beautiful locations. Our leader, Nathan Forbes, was knowledgeable and patient and kept us informed of upcoming meal options and activities. The ATM cave trip was very challenging and the highlight of the tour. All of the excursions were fun and educational, but some of us in the group thought the arduous hike to and from the Black Hole sinkhole was not worth the exhilarating 1.5 minute rappel down. I think the river cave expedition would have been more fun. The food options were good to great at all locations, with the exception of The Colonial at Jaguar Reef. The portion sizes there were tiny, and coffee and drinks were served after meals were almost finished being eaten. The hotel and beach were beautiful, though, and made up for the mediocre meal experiences.

This was a wonderful course with a great itinerary that included both Belize and Guatemala--great to learn about both countries. The pyramids were wonderful--preparing ahead for seeing them by reading up helped immensely. The caving trip was my highlight, but it and the walk up to the sinkhole for the rappel were the most challenging part of the trip for others. Our guide did early morning birding: bring your binoculars!

Wonderful in every way! Leader Israel was excellent in organizing all logistics and corralling the group; he made it all seamless. The sites were varied and interesting, and were well explained by the local guides. The ATM Cave was more challenging than I had expected, but the guides were attentive to each person’s abilities, and ensured we all completed the visit, and were injury-free. The tubing experience was a lot more active and fun than anticipated. Excellent choice of sites, and a nice mix of hands-on and free time. Highly recommended!

This was our first group trip outside the U.S. since Covid. Knowing we were with Roads Scholar gave us the confidence to travel and my husband and I very much enjoyed visiting Mayan sites, especially the ATM Cave. Venues in Belize and Guatemala were terrific and our group leader and various guides shared their love of their heritage, as well as their expertise. Spirited yes, but all staff helped us rise to the challenge or provided alternatives when we thought it made sense.

This trip was an incredible experience. I have done over 10 RS programs and this is by far one of my favorites. The trip leader (Israel Canto) was outstanding and made the trip for us. His knowledge and his passion for his country and the Mayan history made the trip for me.

This is a very active program with a wide variety of activities. The ATM cave is not to be missed.

This is a wonderful mix of learning about the historical Mayan world, and enjoying the beauty of these areas.

The activities were so much fun, especially the repelling! The people are all wonderful and I enjoyed meeting some locals in Hopkins using a bike from the hotel.

Best trip EVER! I am still amazed that one trip was able to so completely satisfy so many of the things I was looking for in one program. Both of our guides, Israel Canto and Pablo Najarro, were remarkably knowledgeable and professional. The activities were a perfect blend of educational and physically challenging. I’ve taken numerous great trips to neat places with terrific people, but this will forever stand out as one of the absolute best!

As a 71 year old woman this program was absolutely exhilarating. I did go to the gym beforehand to try to be in the best shape possible. The guides are so helpful and I felt safe and cared for the entire time. If you want some adventure and incredible memories this is the trip for you.

Israel was an absolutely amazing guide. Knowledgeable, personable and able to beautifully manage a variety of physical abilities as we challenged ourselves in some of the most spectacular places and diverse terrain I have ever experienced. Each day was a new adventure and the guides that were used to move us through the various events were all local to the area and skilled with unique backgrounds and areas of expertise. This was truly the trip of a lifetime. Be aware this is a physically challenging trip but they are careful to warn of any specific dangers and give options to those who might not be able to do all of the activities. Wear shoes with good tread and you will be able to enjoy the hikes completely.

This was our ninth Road Scholar trip, and definitely one of the best. Israel Canto is an engaging and knowledgeable leader, we had a exciting and varied adventure, spending three days in Belize and then Guatemala exploring premier Mayan ruins (especially Tikal), undertaking two incredible adventures: the exploration of ATM cave, followed the next day by hiking and rappelling into and out of a 300-foot deep sinkhole, and finally spending two days enjoying the beach and snorkeling on the reef. We had to take three Covid tests during the trip--one to enter Guatemala, one to return to Belize, and one to return to the US, and fortunately all went smoothly. The ATM Cave exploration, which takes 5-6 hours, involves swimming across a river, swimming into the cave, climbing steep and slippery rocks, and finally walking through rooms filled with Mayan artifacts including pottery and human skeletons. It was probably one of the most exciting and challenging experiences we have ever had, and requires a high level of fitness and agility. Despite the difficulty, our entire group did it, and then 11 of the 12 members of our group also did the strenuous hike and rappelling activity the next day. This was truly the adventure of a lifetime.

This was an exceptional experience. The guides were enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable, attentive, and eager to make the trip superb. The education and scenery were wonderful and the physical challenge level was good. The adventure overall surpassed my expectations!

This program was indeed an adventure. We learned so much about the Mayans. I was not well informed before our visit to Belize and Guatemala but now feel I have a basic understanding of when and how they lived. The visits to the ruins, climbing up to the top of a number of monuments, trekking to the underground places of worship were all very enlightening. The last days at the beach were wonderful. I really enjoyed the snorkeling, just like I thought I would. The accommodations were all so different from each other! From a city hotel, to a modern jungle resort and then a eco-focused cabin resort and finally a beach resort, each one was so distinctly different from the others. It was truly remarkable. We won't be confusing any of them any time soon! The cave guides made it possible for a group of senior citizens to get in and out of the ATM cave without injuries. Many of the younger cave explorers around at the time were probably impressed that we did so well.

My husband and I had an amazing time in Belize and Guatemala. It was our first Road Scholar trip, and we are already looking for another one! We

If you like a variety of adventurous exploration in different settings of sub-tropical natural beauty, this is a must trip. Road Scholar must be commended with applause. Our guide Fidelio was extraordinary in his daily selection of activity and learning to provide our group history and culture and many incredible and often thrilling experiences. The eleven of us were elated and interactive. Insight, fun humor, and great questions and discussions were the norm. One thousand plus years of Mayan history, populations, and their accomplishments! Amazing, and done so in parallel but independent of development in Europe, Asia, etc. Moving on, during our reasonably-paced week, exploration included caves, rivers, green forests, birds, animals, tasty local-culture foods, and was highlighted at the Caribbean ocean’s sandy coast with resort relaxation and boat journeys to snorkel very clear water shallow reefs. The corals and fish observed were exhilarating for snorkelers both novice and experienced. Underwater beauty most outstanding in comparison to many of the ocean regions I have previously snorkeled. The daily supporting guides who joined our group were very helpful and knowledgeable. Overall a five-star experience and most satisfying. Thank you Road Scholar!

A wonderful adventure, a great trip with a lot of variety in activities, I learned so much not only about the Mayan's but also about Guatemala and Belize. Great trip leader who made it that much better. This is my ninth road scholar trip and it rates up there as one of the best, great for learning, adventure and fun. Beware it is very active, the better shape you are in the better the experience.

It was a great trip, good guides, interesting and challenging activities. good food.

A very interesting and educational program that provides an excellent overview of Mayan history and culture. The Black Hole rappelling and ATM Cave exploration activities are challenging and rewarding experiences. The accommodations are very nice. Overall, an excellent travel program.

An exceptional, active, adventure with amazing variety. You do something different almost every day. The group leader also created a very positive experience for everyone.

I just went on my first Road Scholar trip. It was the Hike and Snorkel to Find the Mystery of the Maya in Guatemala and Belize. It was fantastic! I had so much fun, met wonderful people, and stayed in the best lodgings. I highly recommend this program and plan to take another Road Scholar vacation soon.

This was an energetic engaging adventure with high level activities. Learning and experiencing the Mayan culture was educational and rewarding. This was my first Road's Scholar experience and I am definitely coming back.

This was a beautifully calibrated trip that balanced historic sites, scholarly content, birds and wildlife and fun, sometimes rigorous activities like cave treks and rappelling. The extraordinary guides made it all work.

This was my first Road Scholar program. Our guide, other instructors, activities and experiences, educational opportunities, were all fantastic. I would highly recommend this program!

Hike and Snorkel to Find the Mystery of the Maya in Guatemala and Belize was a wonderful experience. Israel Canto, our leader, did a great job and thoroughly prepared us for each activity. The Maya sites of Yaxha, Lamanai, and Tikal are fabulous. The ATM cave hike was strenuous, but the site is spiritually powerful. Truly an amazing experience to see it. The Black Hole hike is even harder, but I loved the challenge. And the view is great. On the snorkel excursions, we saw purple fan corals, sting rays, spotted eagle rays, and lots of beautiful fish. Don't forget the sunblock, though. Most of us wound up with sunburned legs. All in all, a fabulous experience.

Strenuous but rewarding, excellent adventure, Mayan ruins fascinating, jungle beautiful, snorkeling excellent, beach peaceful

A challenging program that successfully "pushed the envelope" on my physical abilities. First time rappelling was awesome! Hotel Villa Maya, the Jaguar Creek Lodge and the Jaguar Reef Lodge were outstanding; nothing like sleeping in the jungle listening to howler monkeys. Group Leader Israel Canto is a gem!

A physically strenuous educational program which challenges one both mentally and physically! Really enjoyed the other participants, the tour leader, and subject matter experts/activity leaders (and even the drivers!) Great experience--highly recommend!