President's Club Itinerary to Guatemala & Belize

Day One Saturday, February 6, 2010 Guatemala City

Depart SLC at 1pm. Arrive to Guatemala City via Houston at 10pm. Upon Arrival to Guatemala City, transfer to the Westin Camino Real for overnight. (Casual Wear)

Day Two Sunday, February 7, 2010 Flores, Guatemala B

Meet in the lobby at 5:30am. Transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Flores. Depart Guatemala City at 6:50am and arrive to Flores at 8:00am. Meet and greet, breakfast at traditional restaurant. Flores is the capital town of the District of Peten, located on an Island in the Lake Peten Itza. Transfer to the La Lancha for check-in. Late afternoon meet in the lobby for an Evening Yaxha Sunset Tour - an important Maya site and recent location of the US ‘Survivor’ TV series. End the tour atop temple 216 to view the jungle and lakes of Yaxha and Sac nab. Overnight at La Lacha. (Jungle Wear, layers for evening tour)

Day Three Monday, February 8, 2010 Tikal, Guatemala B,L

Full American Breakfast. Meet in the lobby at 9am. Full Day tour to Tikal with lunch. Perhaps the most visually stunning and impressive of all Maya sites, Tikal’s five monolithic temples pierce the jungle canopy (Temple IV reaching a height of almost 230 feet) and ancient plazas, stelae and ball courts tell of a rich and powerful history when Tikal’s population reached almost 100,000. By the beginning of the Classic Period (AD 250) Tikal was competing for regional domination with Uaxactun and Calakmul, and later Tikal was briefly conquered and subjugated by a powerful alliance of Caracol and Calakmul between AD 562 until AD 682. From AD 682 onwards Tikal flourished again under Lord Ah Cacau and continued to dominate the region into the 9th Century. Today the site is justifiably recognized as one of the archeological wonders of the Americas. Its unspoiled jungle setting within the Tikal National Park makes it a paradise for birders, nature lovers and amateur archaeologists. Overnight at La Lancha. (Jungle Wear, good trekking shoes)

Day Four Tuesday, February 9, 2010 Blancaneaux, Belize B

Full American Breakfast. Meet in the lobby for check-out and departure at 9am. Transfer to Blancaneaux with tour of Xunantunich. Driving back down the mountain and through the town of San Ignacio, we head to the village of San Jose Succotz, where we take a hand-cranked ferry over the Mopan River to the site of Xunantunich (Maiden of the Rock). Xunantunich flourished during the Classic-period and appears to have survived the Maya ‘collapse’ to remain an important population centre until around AD 1000. The site has 5 main plazas, although only 3 plazas are evident to visitors today. Dominating the site is El Castillo, rising to over 120 feet. A steep, but short climb to the top is highly recommended. This vantage point provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding Mopan and Belize River valleys, as well as Guatemala to the west. You will also get a close look at the restored portion of two unique stucco friezes. The visitors centre and small museum are excellent and there are many small restaurants in the area serving authentic local food. Overnight at the Blancaneaux Lodge. (Jungle Wear)

Day Five Wednesday, February 10, 2010 Blancaneaux, Belize B

Full American Breakfast. Meet in the lobby at 8am for departure. Full day tour of Caracol & Caves. Situated high on the Vaca Plateau deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the most extensive Mayan site in Belize and was only re-discovered as recently as 1936. The site of Caracol covers over 80 square miles with 30,000 structures, and at its peak supported a population in excess of 150,000. Situated at 1600 feet above sea level (one of the highest located sites of the southern uplands region) with no natural water body close by it remains a mystery why such a huge population centre like Caracol evolved where it is However, the close proximity to both extremely hard stone and copal, two commodities highly prized by the Maya may help explain this enigma. At the heart of the site lies the massive pyramid of Caana (Sky Palace) which is now almost fully restored and reaches a height of over 135 feet. From the top you can enjoy breath taking panoramic views over the forest clad mountains. The drive to the site in the early morning occasionally allows guests to glimpse tapir, jaguar or ocelot as they break their forest cover to cross the road. The sprawling site contains huge ceiba, mahogany and sapodilla trees and is superb for birding (the rare Keel-billed Motmot is a resident of the site). Wildlife such as howler and spider monkeys, Oscellated Turkey, coatimundi, gibnut and grey fox are often sighted while quietly wandering along the site’s causeways or along trails connecting the plaza groups. Overnight at the After picnic lunch at Caracol, we drive back towards the Lodge, stopping at the Rio Frio Cave, and finishing our tour at the Rio On Pools, just as you are ready for a wonderful dip in the cooling pools of the Rio On. Overnight at the Blancaneaux Lodge. (Jungle Wear, swimsuit underneath)

Day Six Thursday, February 11, 2010 Ambergris Caye, Belize B

Full American Breakfast. Meet in the lobby after check-out for departure at 9am. Transfer to the Belize Municipal Airport. Flight to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. Arrive to the Island by flight at 1pm. Meet and Greet with transfer to the Victoria House. Afternoon at leisure to enjoy Ambergris Caye. Overnight at the Victoria House. (Casual Wear & Beach Wear)

Day Seven Friday, February 12, 2010 Ambergris Caye, Belize B,D

Full American Breakfast. Meet in the lobby at 9am for Excursion to Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley for Snorkeling. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are the most popular diving and snorkeling sites in all of Belize. This is due to the close proximity of San Pedro, the large amount of fish life found with the Hol Chan "cut" accessible by snorkelers and beginning divers, the diversity of marine life encountered throughout the 4 zones of the park and the excitement and novelty of swimming with large numbers of nurse sharks and sting rays. Meet at 7pm for Closing Party and Dinner for the Spillman Group. Overnight at the Victoria House. (Beach Wear, Final party is Caribbean Casual – flip flops required)

Day Eight Saturday, February 13, 2010 Ambergris Caye, Belize B

Full American Breakfast. Morning and Afternoon at leisure. After check-out, meet in the lobby at 1:30pm for transfer to San Pedro Airport for flight to Belize City International Airport. International flight departs at 5pm on Continental Airlines. Connection via Houston and arrive to Salt Lake City at 11:33pm. (Casual Wear)