Route of the Maya (2012)

El Salvador • Honduras • Guatemala • Belize
  • 14 days
  • from only:
  • $2045
  • $147 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 14 days
  • from only:
  • $2845
  • $204 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Route of the Maya
NEW-Private Departures
Is this Adventure Right for You?
It's Included
Unique Accommodations
Extend Your Adventure
El Salvador: Colonial Suchitoto & the Flower Route
Belize's Glittering Cays
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Grand Circle Foundation
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
LearnMore
Interested in learning more? Our Travel Counselors are ready to assist you
Request A Call Request A Call
CT

Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

Read More Request A Call
CT

Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta

4hrs

Boston, Denver, Detroit, Portland, OR, San Diego

8hrs

Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Newark, New York (JFK), Philadelphia, Washington, DC (Dulles)

9hrs

Miami

3hrs

Phoenix, San Francisco

10hrs

Seattle

12hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to San Salvador, El Salvador. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

ALSO SEE:
Photo & Video Gallery
Solo Friendly Travel
Frequently Asked Questions
View all Trip Leaders, read Insider Tips, and more
Font Size: AAA
Print
Send To a Friend
Request a Call
Add To My Travel Planner

Post-Trip: Belize's Glittering Cays

3 nights from only $595

Belize’s beautiful waters are home to the second-longest barrier reef on Earth, the Belize Barrier Reef, which shelters an astonishing array of marine life, allowing the ancient Maya to flourish here as fishermen—settling on the cays that have formed atop the reef—and drawing modern divers from around the world.

Single Supplement: FREE.

Please note: This extension only available on select departures. Ask your Adventure Specialist for details.

It's Included

  • Ferry from Belize City to Ambergris Cay, plus an internal flight from San Pedro to Belize City
  • Accommodations for 3 nights in Ambergris Cay
  • 4 meals—3 breakfasts and 1 dinner
  • 2 small group activities
  • Services of an expert local guide who speaks English and the native language
  • All transfers
Day 1
Ferry to Ambergris Cay/Walking tour of San Pedro

Today we board the ferry from Belize City to Ambergris Cay, the largest of Belize's 200 islands (at about 25 miles long), with its highest point only ten feet above sea level. As many as 10,000 Mayans are believed to have lived here during ancient times, settling in fishing villages that later became trading centers. Mayan people were still living on the cay at the time of the first European contact in 1508.

Upon arrival, we enjoy a walking tour of San Pedro, the island’s principal settlement, enjoying its picturesque buildings, gorgeous tropical setting, and relaxed atmosphere. We have an opportunity to explore San Pedro on our own this afternoon, before gathering for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant tonight.
Day 2
San Pedro/Snorkel Hol Chan & Shark Ray Alley/Afternoon at leisure

Today after breakfast, we enjoy a half-day tour of Hol Chan (Mayan for "little channel") and Shark Ray Alley, where we'll snorkel in clear waters amid nurse sharks, large rays, and a plethora of tropical fish. This is a protected marine nature sanctuary where the walls of underwater canyons are covered with colorful sponges, and the water is clear, with visibility often more than 100 feet.

Afterwards, we set out on our own, with suggestions from our local guide. You can continue snorkeling, or choose from among many other options, from birdwatching cruises to beach barbecues. Lunch and dinner are on your own today.
Day 3
San Pedro/Day at leisure

Today is yours to explore San Pedro at your own pace. Serving as a base for the island's many attractions, the town offers deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. You could also rent a golf cart to explore the town's quaint cottages, laid out along sand streets, keeping an eye out for charming local restaurants where you can enjoy lunch and dinner on your own.

You could also visit the nearby Marco Gonzalez Maya site, believed to have been an important trading center where the Maya lived for around 1,600 years. Set on the edge of mangrove swamps, this area is covered with shards of Mayan pottery, and has several low platforms and foundations whose building materials incorporate seashells.
Day 4
San Pedro/Return to U.S.

After breakfast this morning, transfer to the San Pedro airport for your return flight home via Belize City.