Belize & Guatemala 2 weeks itinerary suggestions??
 

Hi all,
Me & hubby are planning a 2 week trip for Christmas and New Year's to Belize and Guatemala. We would appreciate some itinerary suggestions!

For some background: First time in Central America but we have traveled a fair bit in South America; our favorites so far have been Galapagos and the Amazon jungle. We mostly enjoy wildlife (be it land or marine) but would also like to see some Mayan ruins and to get a taste of the local culture. We're not resort/party people, would much rather spend time on hikes, or doing things of cultural interest. Also, can people help us get a sense of how much to budget? We usually don't mind splurging on wild-life expeditions (i.e. a whale watching trip), but otherwise try to be rather austere.
Thanks a ton!!!

If you're interested in ruins, you'll definitely want to put Tikal on your list. We saw some nice wildlife there as well - monkeys, wild turkeys, aracaris. The ruins are incredible. We did it as a day trip from Belize with PACZ tours.

We also loved the Lamanai Outpost Lodge - nice wildlife there and located on a beautiful river.

If you like marine life, we loved snorkeling at Hol Chan - saw huge rays, nurse sharks, lots of sea turtles, and colorful tropical fish. We really liked staying on Ambergris, but it might be too busy for you; Caye Caulker is popular with folks who want something less busy.

A lot of people like the San Ignacio area for jungle time. We stayed at Chaa Creek and enjoyed it. Kind of expensive.