ECOTOURISM AND ADVENTURE SPECIALISTS
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HARD TOURS
You will be in the depths of nature: exploring, hiking and climbing... perhaps pushing yourself over your usual level of excertion. You will be combining ecolodges and campsites. You may sleep in rustic facilities provided by locals or by the conservation projects we work with, such as biological stations... The places you will visit will be off-the-beaten-track and you will come into contact with only a few lucky travelers... For information on prices and departures please write us at info@ecotourism-adventure.com
8 days / 7 nights Degree of difficulty: hard/ Type of accommodations: 4 nights in comfortable hotels and 3 nights camping in the cloud forest (including 2 nights at Porject's Biological Station and 1 night rustic accommodations with a Q'eqchi family)/ Focus: Observation of Resplendent Quetzal (Pharumacrus mocinno), Guatemala's National Symbol, Nature Hiking throuhg the Cloud Forest, Trekking, Birdwatching and Visiting a Q'eqchi Maya Community to learn about their way of life, visit orchid nursery to learn about orchids and conservation/ See the Cloud Forest with your Q'eqchi hosts from the Chicacnab ecotourism committee. Learn about efforts to preserve the Quetzal bird. Visit the city of Coban to appreciate a unique orchid collection. Join the indigenous brotherhood or Cofradia of Tactic for a celebration and visit traditional indian markets. Enjoy the impressive colonial city of Antigua... DAY 1 Arrival in Guatemala City Tour and a visit to the Museum of Natural History DAY 2 (B, L, D) Transfer to the Imperial City of Coban, surrounded by Cloud forests rich in biodiversity En route, visit the picturesque town of Tactic, town’s market, and Chi Ixim (church dedicated to the Lord of Corn) Visit the city of Coban
DAY 4 (B,L,D) Full day hiking and birdwatching at its best observing the Quetzal Visit Musgo Colorado Lagoon amid the cloud forest, and a Q’eqchi ceremonial cave Night birdwatch to spot different owls and hear the song of the Whip Poor Will DAY 5 (B,L,D) Early morning bird watch for the ornithology fanatics Lift camp and proceed to Chicacnab to share a day with the Q'eqchi to learn about their culture Special activity DAY 6 (B,L) Return to Coban Visit the beautiful town of San Pedro Carcha or San Juan Chamelco Proceed to the village of Purulha Hike through the cloud forest in the early afternoon in the Quetzal Sanctuary Biotopo Mario Dary Rivera DAY 7 (B,L) Transfer to Antigua Guided tour of the colonial city of Antigua Free afternoon to explore Antigua DAY 8 Transfer to Guatemala City International Airport for your flight back home What’s included? All ground transport, 4 nights in comfortable hotels, 2 nights camping at Biological Station and 1 night with a Q'eqchi family. All meals on Days 2, 3, 4 and 5. Breakfast and Lunch on Days 6 and 7. Soft drinks and snacks throughout the trip, first aid kit permanently at your disposal. Professional guides and biologists, ornithologists and mountain guides. What’s not included? Meals on Days 1 and 8, Dinner on days 6 and 7. International Airfare and airport taxes. Personal and travel insurance. Personal expenses, alcoholic beverages. Tips to porters, drivers, guides and waiters. What to bring? Casual and informal dress is appropriate. Bring light clothes for tropical climate, boots and canvas pants or jeans. Long sleeved shirts and trousers for the cloud forest and a windbreaker or rain gear. Do bring a sweater as it may get cold up in the Sierra by night... Mosquito repellent, a cap, a flashlight, bnoculars, your birdbook and photographic equipment! ABOUT THE FLORA AND THE FAUNA... Here is a short list of some of the animals you will see on these Sierras: Quetzal, Pharomacrus mocinno (between January and September). Mountain trogon, Trogon mexicanus. Black penelopina or cojolita, Penelopina nigra. Garnet throated hummingbird, Lamprolaima rhami. Emerald toucanet, Aulachorhynchus prasinus. We will hear the awesome call of howler monkeys, Alouatta palliata and the sweet song of the Slate colored solitaire, Myadestes unicolor. We will have the privilege of being able to see Quetzal birds in their nests during the nesting season with the project's members. We will be very close, on top of camouflaged observation platforms... ( Top ) THE SCARLET MACAW TRAIL & TIKAL ADVENTURE 5 days / 4 nights Degree of difficulty: moderately hard/ Type of accommodations: camping, ecolodges and hotels/ Focus: Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) Observation, Maya Archaeology and Nature Trekking and birdwatching/ See the Archaeological site of El Peru within the Maya Biosphere Reserve and explore the San Pedro River. Swim in Lake Peten Itza and see the impressive site of Tikal.
DAY 2 Early morning rise for birdwatching Morning spent in the lookout for scarlet macaws Visit some nests and explore El Peru archaeological site Wildlife watch around the main water reservoir DAY 3 Early departure to San Pedro River, continue on to Sacluc River Reach Centro Campesino and departure to Lake Peten Itza Overnight at Ecolodge DAY 4 Shuttle to Tikal National Park Guided tour of the archaeological site of Tikal Wander around this impressive city at your own pace DAY 5 Bird watching at its best in the Tikal National Park Free morning to explore Tikal and visit the Sylvannus G. Morley Museum Transfer to Santa Elena International Airport and fly back to Guatemala City What’s included? Domestic airfare, hotel-airport transfers, camping, all meals while camping, lodge on Lake Peten Itza and hotel in Tikal, permanent availability of purified water, snacks and first aid kit permanently at your disposal. What’s not included? Personal expenses, park fees, alcoholic beverages, tips to porters and drivers, meals in lodges of hotels. ( Top ) Crocodile Adventures are intermediate to hard adventures to seldom visited Maya sites within the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Each adventure is 3 days and 2 nights long. Wildlife observation is highly rewarding on our Crocodile Adventures, departing from the Yaxha Lagoon. Horse back riding, boat trips and wild jungle drives are what sets these options apart from the rest of the tours we offer, as well as the fact that your hostess has had very close encouters with crocodiles... What's included? Hotel-airport-hotel in Guatemala City if starting your tour there. Domestic flight when supplement is added. Ground transfer to and from El Sombrero Ecolodge starting at Santa Elena International Airport. Meals while out on high adventures... Overnight at El Sombrero Ecolodge. Permanent access to purified water and first aid kit. What's not included? Park entrance fees, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, tips to porters and drivers, meals at El Sombrero Ecolodge. ( Top ) CROCODILE ONE: TOPOXTÉ, YAXHÁ AND NAKUM 3 days / 2 nights Degree of difficulty: medium to hard/ Type of accommodations: 2 nights camping/ Focus: Maya Archaeology and Nature Trekking, birdwatching and horseback riding/ See the archaeological sites of Yaxha, Topoxte and Nakum... This tour starts in Tikal or in the Flores airport, alternatively you may also start at the Belize-Guatemala border. DAY 1 Shuttle from Tikal, the Flores airport or the Belize border to our Ecolodge in the Yaxha Lagoon Boat ride to the Island of Topoxté to visit the archeological site Horse ride across "La Justa Lowland" and visit the site of Yaxha DAY 2 Horse ride to the Nakum archeological site Explore the ruins of Nakum Overnight at campsite in Nakum DAY 3 Horse ride back to Ecolodge Shuttle to the Flores Airport or the Guatemala-Belize border ( Top ) CROCODILE TWO: TOPOXTÉ, YAXHÁ, NAKUM & TIKAL 3 days / 2 nights Degree of difficulty: medium to hard/ Type of accommodations: 2 nights camping/ Focus: Maya Archaeology and Nature Trekking, birdwatching and horseback riding/ See the archaeological sites of Yaxha, Topoxte and Nakum... Continue on a wild path to the Tikal National Park, where you may stay and spend more time on your own... This tour starts in Tikal or in the Flores airport, alternatively you may also start at the Belize-Guatemala border. DAY 1 Shuttle from Tikal, the Flores airport or the Belize border to our Ecolodge in the Yaxha Lagoon Boat ride to the Island of Topoxté, visit the archeological site Horse ride across "La Justa Lowland" and visit the site of Yaxha DAY 2 Horse ride to the Nakum archeological site Explore the ruins of Nakum Overnight at campsite in Nakum DAY 3 Continue by horse in a path which connects Nakun and the great city of Tikal Visit the archaeological site Shuttle to the Flores Airport or the Guatemala-Belize border ( Top ) CROCODILE THREE: YAXHA, TOPOXTE, NAKUM & POZA MAYA 3 days / 2 nights Degree of difficulty: medium to hard/ Type of accommodations: 2 nights camping/ Focus: Maya Archaeology and Nature Trekking, birdwatching and jungle drives/ See the archaeological sites of Topoxte and Nakum... Visit the site of Poza Maya... Explore the fabulous Yaxha... This tour starts in Tikal or in the Flores airport, alternatively you may also start at the Belize-Guatemala border. DAY 1 Shuttle from Tikal, the Flores airport or the Belize border to our Ecolodge in the Yaxha Lagoon Boat ride to the Island of Topoxté, visit the archeological site Continue by the Ixtinto river and by horse to the archaeological site which bears the same name Explore the site Return to Ecolodge DAY 2 Shuttle by jeep to the Nakum archaeological site and Poza Maya Explore the sites Back to Ecolodge DAY 3 Visit the Yaxha archaeological site Shuttle to the Flores Airport or the Guatemala-Belize border ( Top ) CROCODILE FOUR: RIO AZUL & KINAL 3 days / 2 nights Degree of difficulty: medium to hard/ Type of accommodations: 2 nights camping/ Focus: Maya Archaeology and Nature Trekking, birdwatching and jungle drives/ See the archaeological sites of Rio Azul and Kinal... This tour starts in Tikal or in the Flores airport, alternatively you may also start at the Belize-Guatemala border. DAY 1 Shuttle from Tikal, the Flores airport or the Belize border to our Ecolodge in the Yaxha Lagoon During the trip we will cross The Tikal National Park, The Dos Lagunas Biotope and The Rio Azul/Kinal National Park Set up camp DAY 2 Visit the Rio Azul archeological site Explore the archeological site of Kinal Back to camp DAY 3 Shuttle to the Flores Airport or the Guatemala-Belize border We may return very late, so a night in a Flores hotel may be arranged for you... ( Top ) |
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