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Mayan Immersion Cultural Tour – Belize Itinerary
7 Day/6 Night Itinerary
December 4 - 11, 2009
Friday, December 4th
Travel day from No. America to Belize City. When you arrive in Belize City you will be met by a Red Lotus Tour guide.
From Belize City we will depart to Punta Gorda via domestic flight and will be transported to our jungle lodge.
Saturday, December 5th
Today we will visit a Mayan harp maker at his home and workshop. After meeting him, his family and enjoying his music and craftsmanship we will have lunch at the lodge before departing for the Lubaantun Ruins.
These ruins are famous for being the place where the controversial Mitchell-Hedges crystal skull was discovered.(http://www.mitchell-hedges.com/)
For those who are joining us in March and are of a mystical sort, we plan to be at the ruins on the spring equinox so you can meditate or do a ritual at this sacred site.
The antiquities of the Mayan culture are fascinating on every level.
Sunday, December 6th
After breakfast at the lodge we will hike or drive to Santa Ana village for tortilla making in a local home. You will meet local villagers and have time to discuss village life, local politics, Mayan traditions of courtship, etc. If you are a photographer be sure to bring your camera to capture authentic village images.
Lunch at the lodge.
Afternoon you will have the opportunity to do a medicinal plant walk through the organic gardens and jungle areas of the property with a local herbalist.
Our evening presentation will be on the Maya Atlas Project. This project is a window to both the ancient and modern Maya world, and will discuss indigenous rights, environmental issues, Latin America, arts, ethnography, traditional knowledge and community-based conservation.
Monday, December 7th
After breakfast we will visit a local farm to learn about sustainable harvest and the practices in this region of Belize. We will join their volunteer project they have at that time and enjoy lunch with the local Mayan families. (http://www.sustainableharvest.org)
Afternoon is at leisure at the lodge... there are river kayaks available if you want to venture out, as well as horseback riding with a guide, or just kicking back in a hammock
enjoying peace and quiet and maybe a good book!
Tuesday, December 8th
Breakfast at the lodge.
Today we offer a tour of Eladio’s Jungle Farm (organic cacao) and chocolate making
demonstration. We will have lunch with a local family and plant your own cacao tree when you return to the lodge… (optional: there is even an “adopt a cacao tree” program which allows you to track your trees progress over time).
Free time at the lodge for relaxation, swimming in the river, horseback riding or journaling.
Wednesday, December 9th
Today we will visit the Belize Indigenous Training Institute. (http://www.consilium.ca/profiles-common/belize-indigenous-training-institute.htm)
This is still in planning stage and itinerary may change for this day.
Thursday, December 10th
A really fun trip to Blue Creek Cave and village. Beautiful water, swimming through the cave with a life vest provided, the cave is open and inviting, not claustrophobic at all.
If you choose not the swim through the cave there are ponds and waterfalls to enjoy in warm fresh water or lounge on the banks in the sunshine with a good book. We will also visit the village of Blue Creek.
* For those who may choose not to come on this trip it may be possible to arrange a trip to the Nim Li Punti Ruins and San Antonio Falls subject to available transport and staff from the lodge.
Our last evening together we will enjoy a campfire on the banks of the river with authentic Mayan storytellers to enchant us and send us off with sweet dreams.
Friday, December 11th
After breakfast you will check out of your Belizian jungle lodge and begin the journey
home.
We will transport you to the airport, fly with you back to Belize City where we will say our good-byes and you will fly home according to your flight arrangements made from home.
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