1 PLAN THE PERFECT GETAWAY WITH THE PERFECT ACTIVITY GUIDE FOR ALL… The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 2 MAYAN RUINS (ALL ON MAINLAND OF BELIZE) BELIZE HAS SEVERAL MAYAN RUINS THAT ARE A MUST FOR EVERY TRIP. THINK OF HOW THE MAYAN CALENDAR WAS CREATED 1000’S OF YEARS AGO. MUCH OF OUR ASTRONOMY TODAY WAS DISCOVERED AND INFLUENCED BY THE MAYANS. EACH OF THE MAYAN RUINS OFFERS SOMETHING UNIQUE IN ARCHITECTURE AND ARTIFACTS. THE RUIN SITES ARE SCATTERED ACROSS THE MAINLAND OF BELIZE AND HAVE VARIOUS LEVELS OF DIFFICULTY FOR TOURISTS. MANY OF OUR GUESTS COMBINE A RUIN TOUR WITH A VISIT TO THE BELIZE ZOO, OR CAVE TUBING AND/OR ZIP LINING FOR A FULL DAY OF ADVENTURE. SINCE THERE ARE SEVERAL OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM, PLEASE LET US HELP YOU DECIDE WHICH IS BEST FOR YOUR VACATION. CARACOL CARACOL IS BELIZE’S PREMIER MAYA SITE. THE MAIN TEMPLE IS THE TALLEST MAN-MADE STRUCTURE IN BELIZE. CANNA, (‘SKY PLACE’) STANDS 143 FEET ABOVE THE PLAZA FLOOR. IN ADDITION TO SPECTACULAR VIEWS FROM THE TOP OF THE STRUCTURES, THE ACOUSTICS ALLOW A NORMAL SPEAKING VOICE TO BE HEARD. THIS AMAZING ARCHITECTURE ALLOWED THE MAYAN PRIESTS TO ADDRESS THEIR TRIBE WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF MODERN DAY MICROPHONES AND AMPLIFIERS. IT’S A SCENIC ALBEIT A BIT RUGGED JOURNEY TO GET TO CARACOL, BUT WELL WORTHY OF A DAY TRIP ON YOUR VACATION. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 3 CAHAL PECH THE ROYAL ACROPOLIS-PALACE OF AN ELITE RULING FAMILY, CAHAL PECH IS STEEPED IN HISTORY AS YOU TOUR AND LEARN ABOUT THEIR ELITE WAY OF LIVING. CAHAL PECH WAS ONCE USED AS PASTURELAND AND THE AMAZING ARCHITECTURE HAS BEEN WELL PRESERVED AT THIS SITE. XUNANTUNICH XUNANTUNICH, ‘MAIDEN OF THE ROCK’ CONSISTS OF 6 MAJOR TEMPLES WITH THE LARGEST BEING EL CASTILLO (THE CASTLE). EL CASTILLO IS 130’ TALL AND HAS ORNATE CARVINGS ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDES OF THE LIMESTONE PYRAMID. THE GROUNDS ARE BEAUTIFUL WITH OVER 25 TEMPLES AND PALACES INCLUDED. ATM CAVES ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL, ALSO KNOWN AS ATM, IS A CAVE IN BELIZE NOTABLE AS A MAYA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE THAT INCLUDES SKELETONS (NOT FOR THE FAINT-OF-HEART), CERAMICS, AND STONEWARE. THERE IS A 40 MINUTE HIKE TO THE CAVE ENTRANCE. YOU’LL BE SWIMMING AND WADING THROUGH WASTE DEEP WATER UP AND DOWN INCLINES. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WORK-OUT WHILE TOURING A HISTORIC MAYAN CIVILIZATION, YOU’LL LOVE THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND LANDMARK. “AN INDIANA JONES TYPE ADVENTURE”. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 4 ALTUN HA ALTUN HA, ‘WATER OF THE ROCK’ IS ONLY 30 MILES FROM BELIZE CITY MAKING IT THE CLOSEST TO VISIT IF YOU’RE SHORT ON TIME. IT IS THE CEREMONIAL CENTER AND DISCOVERY SITE OF THE FAMOUS JADE HEAD. WEIGHING 9.75 POUNDS AND STANDING ALMOST 6 INCHES HIGH, THE JADE HEAD REMAINS THE SINGLE LARGEST CARVED JADE OBJECT YET DISCOVERED IN THE MAYA AREA. TWO MAIN PYRAMIDS AND 13 TEMPLES HAVE BEEN EXCAVATED HERE. LAMANAI IT’S AN EXCURSION JUST TO GET TO LAMANAI. PLANES, SHUTTLES AND BOATS! START THE DAY WITH A SCENIC RIDE FROM SAN PEDRO TO THE MAINLAND. ENJOY THE TROPICAL WATER AND THE JUNGLE CANOPY VIEWS. A SHUTTLE BUS ESCORTS YOU TO YOUR BOAT. ON YOUR 1+ HOUR BOAT RIDE UP THE NEW RIVER NOTE THE ABUNDANT ORCHIDS, AND YOU’LL LIKELY SEE AMERICAN CROCODILES ALONG THE SHORELINE AND A VARIETY OF BIRDS AS WELL. LOOK FOR HOWLER MONKEYS AS YOU LEAVE LAMINAI. LAMANAI IS LOCATED AT THE EDGE OF A LUSH FOREST RESERVE. THE WALK FROM ONE STRUCTURE TO THE NEXT IS SHORT AND NOT STRENUOUS. YOU HAVE THE OPTION OF CLIMBING TO THE TOP OF A COUPLE OF THE STRUCTURES FOR SOME NICE VIEWS OF THE RIVER AND LANDSCAPE. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 5 CAVE TUBING (MAINLAND BELIZE) IF COMBINING A LEISURELY FLOAT WITH HISTORIC SITES AND NATURE’S ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS SOUNDS INTRIGUING, CAVE TUBING IS A MUST. CAVE TUBING WAS INVENTED IN BELIZE AND REMAINS THE NUMBER ONE MAINLAND EVENT FOR TOURISTS. YOU WILL TOUR THE CAVE BRANCH RIVER VIA A TUBE. CAVES TELL THE HISTORY OF BELIZE. THEY WERE AN INTRICATE PART OF THE MAYA RELIGION AND CULTURE. YOU WILL SEE EVIDENCE AND RELICS OF CEREMONIAL ACTIVITIES OF THE MAYANS. THE STALACTITES AND STALAGMITES (STILL GET THEM CONFUSED!) ARE AMAZING AS YOU NAVIGATE THEM ON YOUR TUBE. SIGHTSEEING WHEN YOU LAND IN BELIZE CITY, WHY NOT SPEND THE AFTERNOON TOURING THE BELIZE MUSEUM, BABOON SANCTUARY OR ALTUN HA RUINS. ALL ARE LESS THAN AN HOUR DRIVE FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. DURING HIGH SEASON, THERE ARE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING FLIGHTS TO AMBERGRIS CAYE. OR PLAN A MORNING OR DAY TRIP TO BELIZE CITY BEFORE YOUR DEPARTURE. WE SPECIALIZE IN HELPING YOU SEE AND DO AS MUCH OR AS LITTLE AS YOU’D LIKE DURING YOUR VACATION. ZIP LINING (MAINLAND BELIZE) YOUR THRILLING ZIP LINE EXPERIENCE BEGINS WITH A GUIDE OUTFITTING AND INSTRUCTING GUESTS ON HOW TO TRAVERSE WITH ULTIMATE SAFETY FROM PLATFORM TO PLATFORM. THE ZIP LINE ADVENTURE CONSISTS OF 8 ZIP LINE PLATFORMS EACH STRATEGICALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE RAINFOREST CANOPY. THE PLATFORMS ARE AS HIGH AS 85 FEET INTO THE CANOPY AND AS FAR APART AS 250 FEET. THE BIRDS AND HOWLER MONKEYS FOUND ON THE SITE WILL BE AT EYE LEVEL AS YOU SOAR ABOVE THE JUNGLE CANOPY. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 6 BELIZE MUSEUM (BELIZE CITY) ENJOY FOLLOWING THE HISTORY OF BELIZE FROM ITS EARLY MAYAN SETTLERS TO THE BRITISH CROWN. BUILT MORE THAN 150 YEARS AGO BY THE BRITISH COLONIAL GOVERNMENT TO HOUSE PRISONERS. THE MUSEUM IS IN CENTRAL BELIZE CITY AND ITS EXHIBITS DOCUMENT THE MORE THAN 3000 YEARS OF HISTORY IN THE AREA. SINCE BELIZE WAS ONCE THE HEARTLAND OF THE ANCIENT MAYAN EMPIRE, VISITORS CAN SEE A RICH ASSEMBLY OF MAYAN CEREMONIAL OBJECTS, CARVINGS, PAINTINGS, AND OTHER CULTURAL ARTIFACTS. A TOUR OF THE MUSEUM ALSO INCLUDES THE CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE AN AUTHENTIC PRISON CELL, AS WELL AS LEARN ABOUT THE DEVASTATION THAT HURRICANE HATTIE WREAKED ON THE NATION IN 1961. PROBABLY THE MOST EVOCATIVE EXHIBITION IS ON THE BOTFLY AND HOW IT USES DECAYING HUMAN FLESH TO FEED ITS LARVAE. MARCO GONZALEZ MAYAN SITE (AMBERGRIS CAYE) LOCATED AT THE VERY SOUTHERN POINT OF AMBERGRIS CAYE IS A SMALL MAYA ARCHEOLOGICAL SITE. DO NOT EXPECT TEMPLES AND STRUCTURES OF THE SITES ON THE MAINLAND. IT’S RIGHT ON AMBERGRIS AND IS AN ACTIVE DIG SITE FIRST DISCOVERED IN 1984. BIRD WATCHING WE ADMIRE THE INCREDIBLE BIRDS INCLUDING THE LARGE- BILLED PELICANS THAT FLY OVER OUR PROPERTY. WHILE WE HAVE NOT SPOTTED THE TOUCAN WHICH IS THE NATIONAL BIRD OF BELIZE, WE HAVE SPOTTED HUMMINGBIRDS, WOODPECKERS, CRANES, HERONS AND EGRETS THAT GRACE OUR SHORELINE. IF YOU’RE A BIRD-LOVER, YOU’LL BE EDUCATING US! UNTIL THEN, WE’LL KEEP SNAPPING PHOTOS LIKE THIS ONE OF THE YELLOW-BELLIED ORIOLE. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 7 FISHING (ALL FROM AMBERGRIS CAYE) - DEEP SEA FISHING GO BIG OR GO HOME WITH THE GOAL OF FUN TO CATCH BARRACUDA, MAHI MAHI, DORADO OR TUNA. GUIDES CAN ACCOMMODATE EITHER A FULL DAY, HALF DAY (MORNING OR EVENING). OUTSIDE THE REEF INTO THE CARIBBEAN YOU’LL TROLL ALONG AMBERGRIS CAYE. IT’S FISHING, SO YOU NEVER KNOW AND YOU MAY EVEN HOOK A MARLIN OR SAILFISH. IF YOU ARE AN AVID FISHERMAN WHO LIKES TO RELAX WITH A MIX OF EXCITEMENT, THEN THIS IS THE WAY TO GO. A COOLER OF COLD BEVERAGES (DID SOMEONE SAY BELIKIN BEER?) WILL BE FULLY STOCKED. AND, AT THE END OF YOUR TRIP, BRING YOUR FRESH CATCH TO AJI TAPA AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO PREPARE IT FOR YOUR SPECIAL DINNER. DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT? REEF FISHING WANT MORE OF A LEISURELY FISHING DAY ON SMOOTHER WATERS? STAY INSIDE THE REEF AS WE CATCH OUR OWN BAIT FISH AND TROLL AROUND TESTING OUT SEVERAL FISHING SPOTS. SNAPPER, BARRACUDA, GRUNTS AND GROUPERS ARE COMMON. AND, IF THE FISH AREN’T BITING AND YOU WANT A SURE THING, OPEN THE COOLER AND GRAB A COLD BELIKIN BEER OR A RUM PUNCH FOR A SURE CATCH. IT’S TYPICAL TO HAVE YOUR GUIDE SPOT SOME RAYS OR EVEN DOLPHINS ALONG THE COAST OF AMBERGRIS CAYE. BRING YOUR FRESH FISH TO AJI TAPA RESTAURANT AND HAVE IT PREPARED TO YOUR LIKING FOR DINNER. THE END TO A PERFECT DAY! FLY FISHING OR FLAT BOAT FISHING ONE OF THE PREMIERE FLY FISHING AREAS IN THE WORLD AS YOU AIM TO CATCH THE BIG 3 - TARPON, PERMIT AND BONEFISH. COME SEE THE SERENITY OF AMBERGRIS CAYE AS YOU FISH THROUGH THE BACKWATERS INTERTWINED WITH MANGROVES AND SMOOTH CLEAR WATER. NOT TO SET UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS, BECAUSE AFTER ALL, IT IS FLY FISHING, BUT EVEN IF YOU GET SKUNKED, THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL. The award-winning Bella Vista Resort ([email protected]) Contact us today to book the tropical vacation of your dreams! 8 FISHING AND BEACH BBQ HOW ABOUT ENJOYING A DAY FISHING AND HAVE YOUR GUIDE PREPARE LUNCH FOR YOU WITH YOUR FRESH CATCH ON A DESERTED BEACH.