Guatemala Belize and Yucatan, our central American travel

BELIZE Guatemala MEXICO

Of Daniel and Rosanna

January February 2005 --

27 / 1 G FLIGHT AND ARRIVAL IN THE CITY 'OF MEXICO BY NIGHT
28 / 1 V START FOR Guatemala CITY AND TRANSFER TO Antigua accommodated by DON TONO 90 q. (7.50 x 1 c.ca doll.)
29 / 1 S VISIT TO CICHICASTENANGO Antigua AND RETURN TO
30 / 1 D TRANSFER A Panajachel (Lake Atitlan) MORE 'BOAT FOR San Marcos. housed at the posada PANABAJ 50 q.
31 / 1 L San Marcos
1 / 2 M Panajachel Antigua AND RETURN TO
2 / 2 M Antigua
3 / 2 G TRANSFER BY BUS TO 18 FOR S. Elena
4 / 2 V ARRIVAL TO 5 S. Elena AND ACCOMMODATION TO POSADA SANTANDER 60 q.
5 / 2 S VISIT Tikal
6 / 2 D DEPARTURE FOR BELIZE Caye Caulker-HOUSING TO TROPICAL PARADISE HOTEL paid 294 doll. Beliziani for 4 nights (for payment by credit card there is a fee of 5%) ($ 1 = 0.5 belizii us $)
7 / 2 L Caye Caulker
8 / 2 M Caye Caulker
9 / 2 M Caye Caulker
10 / 2 G DEPARTURE FOR RIVIERA MAYA PALACE HOTEL Mayan SITE A 22 KM. Playa del Carmen TO STAY WHERE TO 15 DAYS

 

E 'come on to me so feared 27/01/05 starting at 4 with alarm, travel good (KLM) and arrive in Mexico City in time. Hence the bitter discovery that at airports and borders in Central America there is no concept of luggage cart, you get the feeling of completion of a claim: you pay money so you and me prostrates poor performer stamps (official frustrated). Transfer to Monte Real (low) and knowledge with a fun couple of Bologna just before an opportunity to go to Guatemala City. In our trip we used the Holy Bible constantly (Lonely Planet) helpful but not always true! And so 'we directed immediately by taxi (70 q.) plus Chichen bus (q. 20) to the beautiful city Antigua Guatemala's former capital and a destination for many tourists both European and North American Australians. Upon arrival, thank God we were able to count on the help of a responsible person as propostas by the municipality to help the tourists here and I will open a duty brackets clarifying: I spoke to during the day so afraid because I am a transplanted kidney of 53 years and the thought of hygienic conditions by the third world, lack of health specialists, water pollution and so I literally terrorized, proof of the facts then the thing that I have suffered the most were on the move with all baggage, too many and too heavy, a real nightmare!
This nice person and kind to us and then collected from the bus station and the convenience of a chest pik-up led us into the city center where we found a decent accommodation "POSADA DON TONO" first organized and our following days later. Costs: la posada a double room with shared bathroom and hot water at 90 q., transfer by bus from Antigua 10-Chichi / Chichi-Panajacel / Panajacel-Antigua/Antigua-Guatemala City-Flores (night bus journey from first class) for all q. 704 The first night in Antigua at the restaurant dinner specialties antiguegna ate well, various meats and vegetables watered with beer and agua pura (obviously not drinking anyone make an effort to understand that I wanted in the closed bottle and ice and gas well ', I discovered that you must ask "agua pura al tiempo") 110 q. The day after visiting the market in Antigua, everything's beautiful, but above all the fruit of which are particularly delicious, the market is at the heart of its neighbors, but mostly lots of people lots of children.

The day after for Chichi where my wife and I, we started shopping, but I pity rather than negotiate, I did soften and gave these girls the tip. Very interesting churches and rituals that take place there, and have a better pay or suffer much of the Mayan traditions.

Grains left in the afternoon and found disorganization (sold more seats than available!) Panajacel come to the lake Atitlan where following the advice of an Italo-Australian boy known by Don Tone, we had a boat (30 q.) for a village name of San Marcos to stay at the posada PANABAJ for 50 q. per day, hot but beautiful half bathroom large and sunny room in a house run by the new children of Lucas, gentilissimo maya with which we could make a nice chat. Dinner at restaurant Paco Real in an Italian and his companion, and ate plenty of good q. 110 Day after visiting the country, take the sun at the lake where there are also those who do the bathroom, for example, a Mayan with a white wife and their child (the first example of a mixed couple of this kind, we have seen more below) and in the evening as the Paco Real is closed for rest to eat "I Marduensita" 50 q. site next to the playground. The day after we take the coffee I Marduensita growing local good! (Q. 30) and then descend back to the landing Panajacel. The day and the beautiful calm lake allow us to make nice photos.

A Panajacel buy cards, costing from 2.5 to 3.5 q. so be careful or contract, which can not be done with the stamps q. 8. To 14 in perfect time we return to Antigua, well we had already nostalgia. There are still two days, we visit the various cathedrals, the Merced, San Francisco and many others. The characteristic they have in common is the destruction, here you really see why all the houses are single storey, earthquakes follow each other with unremitting continuity over time, so there is a profluvio ruins of churches and some of the city center ricostruita.Nel c 'is a beautiful place where there are banks and cafes restaurants literally life bustles in the evening and where we play musical and theatrical events. Here I hit the shoeshine, are children, the youngest will have 5-6 years and the last day despite my sandals I gave something to the least of them who promptly spent to buy an ice cream, I made a immense tenderness see this child all full of shoe polish from clothing to enjoy the ice cream face sitting blessed as a normal child of that age. Of this square, I remember well because I made a nice photo of two girls maya small for small q. 5, the first and last because they do not like to be photographed and I do not like to override their habits and customs.

Is again in the evening, transfer to eighteen hours Guatemala City, arriving to the winds and start to twenty-two with first class bus for Santa Elena - Flores point where we arrive there at 5 in systemic posada Santander 60 q. double per night, which is mentioned in Lonely Planet, well forget it is a shame, take a taxi there are also at that and go to Flores for charity! We stop here two days, so it is advisable to see Tikal in the early morning. First day visit to Flores and attempt to exchange euros into the bank, no, all day, there are a thousand people lined up to pay the taxi licensing. Invite us to come back Monday, we were on Friday, dropped and then I tried with cash "and weight of Taconeando buso" veneto clear in saying no? We are therefore of the trip to Tikal for the following morning, the agency has advised the San Juan Travel, but do not in time to stop there before (with the same sell tagliandidell'agenzia but then find out) and there convinced to buy from them for 40 q. travel per person and 50 q. per person for entry to the park. (The guide is $ 10 but optional). Well agency change if only you can save the slow and dirty horrible bus that happened to us. For the record they manage single bus (the first class but it is not!) Aimed at Chetumal via Belize City will cost $ 20 or 150 or q. more 10-to-head q. charges for leaving the country. Morning at five o'clock we gather in front of the posada, and partly as a turtle with the lower bus and slower than all, left for first come last. However then the park with its flora and fauna and with all its temples ampliamente repaid us all.

Ends with Tikal one of the most beautiful and interesting days of our trip. To bed early because we expect the alarm at 4 or at least we thought! Conversely to the two strong male voices we awake undeterred and continue to make conversation to sound the alarm. You must know that the posada Santander there are no windows, and guests are also local and do not seem to ever sleep. Weapons now awake and ready at five baggage confidently expecting the arrival of the bus which will be repaid to the six and a half, when our hopes were lost. At the end, the floor plan with several stops to wait for those who do not, rerouting to gather those who must go with another carrier (line dorada competitor) and crazy roads! But in the end we arrive at the border, if you think you have done the worst we remain disappointed, the worst coming hours? All off the bus including baggage you must carry logic by hand for about half a Km There are taxes to be paid in a one-stop, from completing the paperwork for immigration all surrounded by a bestial confusion and that in addition to luggage be heavy are all those tarnished because of the place not to have thought of powder to wet the ground hallucinating! After a Forced Km course on foot, you can access the bus and finally streets drinking but still travel Consequently three are in fact due to the stop control of the police to check which one by one all the passports, and thank goodness we had just past the border, a torment! In the end we get to Belize City, ghost town is almost noon. All the way, there is no soul alive, thank goodness that there is a taxi that takes us to the landing caje Caulker, $ 5 for beliziani hundred meters but did not take longer. Immediate shipment and after forty minutes of fast come race in this beautiful island. Here, fortunately, an enterprising young boy we load the luggage on his bike and taxi takes us to our new accommodation which he recommended the "Tropical Paradise" where you enjoy a beautiful bungalow with three beds bathroom with hot water to $ 294 fine. For four nights. (remember that paying with a credit card charge is 5%). This island has the particularity to be long, 6 km wide and up to 600 m. But the hurricane has split in two, causing a cut that has isolated the living area (c.ca 800 pers.) from the declared natural reserve, which was almost completely deserted kingdom of varied wildlife, mangroves and palm trees throughout its territory. The inhabited part is made of gravel roads traveled only by electric vehicles and bicycles or on foot as we have done that we have traveled far and wide. Beautiful houses, very green, hotels and restaurants in the right ratio to accommodate the tourists. On this island lives a community of "rasta" the followers of Bob Marley, and good people living Pacios of jobs and crafts and listening to music brings joy to those around them. Of course the best thing here is that the reef is the second largest in the world after Australia. It is 290 Km long dotted the Cayes (islands) where there are agencies and boats to reach the reef and do various activities such as snorkeling and diving watersports. After two days of beach, sun and relaxing readings we have done our trip to Hol Chan Reserve and Shark Ray Alley on a sailing boat accompanied by reggae music, a true spectacle of corals and fish from the incredible colors. The two boys who accompanied us in other marvels they took us to see the races and cow sharks a unique experience to swim in their midst so close you can touch! (price of the tour $ 85 fine. From 10:30 to 18 almost all day with lunch and drinks included). Another trip that I recommend, but we have not been able to do is "Blue Hole" according to whom there has been a marvel unspeakable. To crown the beautiful day in the evening we went to dinner in our restaurant-based course, delicious lobster and we only spent $ 45 fine. X 2.
Last melancholy days devoted to photos, some taken n and beautiful walks favorite from this hot and windy climate typically Caribbean, and then start with the usual fast boat ($ 20 fine) and then waiting by the landing of the Flores 'Dorada bus ($ 10 fine up to Chetumal) by ending the unlikely and unsustainable given that their journey depends on too many factors (roads, customs, police, stops to view and anything !!!!). Around noon departure, arrival in Chetumal two hours after completion of the complicated customs formalities (with the classic unloading luggage to carry on your shoulder across the border!) And finally the arrival at a bus station in "civil" here we have last refresh, bathroom, air conditioning and armchairs appropriate services. Here to make your luggage you check in and the coach of Ado and restart for Playa del Carmen where we arrived around 21 and for 170 pesos a taxi takes us to the "Mayan Palace" about 25 km of road connecting 307 Playa del Carmen in Cancun in turn a total of 66 km is very similar to our highways do not pay.

We arrive at our hotel really deserve 5 stars, huge, luxurious, friendly and helpful staff, swimming pools and other galactic say too much for our needs for the poor tourists until that moment "saccopelisti" and I can say our first reaction, we already missing the Guatemala and Belize! Here however we have moved many times with ease to reach from time to time our goals. In fact, thanks to frequent public transport fast and cheap mobility is guaranteed. For the record-Majani Palace Playa del Carmen is 25 km with the collective Majani bus is 10 pesos. Majani Cancun Palace 42 Km 20 pesos and stop all raising their hands! In this way we have organized trips to Cozumel $ 30, at Chichen-Itza $ 35, on Isla Mujeres 200 pesos to Tulum while we paid 36 pesos for entry to the site and the transport we went with the bus. Of course the same trips provided by the hotel would cost double.
Of these places you recommend:
Cozumel has not affected that much because for $ 30 we took a boat trip with a glass (not you see almost nothing) made three quick swim with the sea in a snorky not exceptional ne 'in terms of wildlife will 'than the transparency of the water (we regret caje Caulker). The island is only then the tourist restaurants and souvenir nothing characteristic that could distinguish it from any tourist destination.
Isla Mujeres on the contrary, many brightly colored fish including the barracuda, coral reefs and interesting to a very cuddled and to visit. We have booked the boat trip from there and was much more beautiful it is to serve as places for visas, including lunch at a nice restaurant with fish cooking on the grill always the boy of the boat, delicious. (200 pesos).
Chichen-Itza transfer bus air conditioning and comfortable almost 300 Km guided tour in Italian is really cool this site, incredible that a distance of thousands of years these men could do anything with your arms without the aid of anything else is Sights! Good lunch in a restaurant along the road, stop for a refreshing bath in a cenote (underground caves are with clean water because the ground filtered Caldine but enough to be able to take a quick bath) and last stop in Valladolid, colonial-style country nice but not exceptional. From 7 to 19 for $ 35 used.

Tulum is a great site worth visiting because besides being very nice, the castle is a peak on a beautiful sea and white sand with the possibility of access to the bathroom, bring the costume! This tour we have arranged with the bus for 52 pesos Mayab to same and equal to the return. Entry 36 pesos to the site (to be specified which is not true that the sites in Mexico are free, we were able to verify in person since we went to Tulum on Sundays!)

Our releases will stop here, the rest of the time we spent in the luxury of our hotel to rest between swimming and sun until the February 24 departure day at 11. Transfer over an hour waiting on the track sull'airbus A319 of Mexican Airlines, so we discover that there is also traffic at airports, seven aircraft to be precise. Arrival and processing formalities in Mexico City, also here one hour and twenty overcrowding because of a delay in the track and finally returned to Amsterdam and then to Venice, 25 Feb 21.35. Long!
I hope my diary will be useful as they were for me that I consulted.
What I can say is that for us was the first experience of travel "do it yourself" but that if the health will allow him will not last ...