Mexico, Guatemala and Belize tour, 21 days

Planet

This 21 day program, modules and all tailor made itineries are offered by an excellent specialist in tailor made travels in Latin America. Although this travel is mainly a cultural roundtrip we can add outdoor activities and excursions in national parks when there is an interest. As a team with all involved operators and local organizations we take care that all excursions are according to the rules of conservation of fauna and flora at these three countries along the Ruta Maya. When visiting archaelogical or cultural sites along this Ruta Maya these sites form part of National Parks, natural reserves or another kind of natural environment. The entry fees at these archaelogical Maya sites are used both to preserve the cultural heritage as well as to preserve the national parks & natural surroundings of the site. A clear example is the Tikal archaeological site in the middle of the rainforest, in the department of El Petén. The site is part of Guatemala's Tikal National Park and in 1979 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Jungle lodge accomodation is located inside this Tikal National Park. The protected area of Tikal National Park spans 576 squared kilometers in which there are national guidelines oriented to the preservation of flora and fauna and archaeological vestiges of this Natural and Cultural World Heritage. Water usage by the guests is limited to take care of the local water supplies, food ingredients come from local suppliers and villages, use of electricity and communication are limited for the benefits of nature. The staff at the hotel and the local guides on your excursions and for instance here at Tikal are well trained to take care of you and the natural surroundings, besides giving you all information you are looking for. By having local guides included in the tour at these Maya sites or Maya villages the income of the local guides contribute directly to the preservation of national parks, reserves and to local families and villages. When staying in nature we use eco-friendly hacienda’s and pousadas and local families that respect nature. Group trips will be guided by a Latin American expert on nature, ecotourism and culture with certification for Tourleading and Mountain Guiding on European level, with a University degree in Geology and post University training in Management. At last but not at least our team in Mexico donates for every booking to an NGO called Reforestamos Mexico, with a mission to reforest and preserve Mexican ecosystems. Part of their activities are education, forming alliances, working with sustainable wood certification and teach how local families can maintain their living in the forest in a sustainable way.

People

All suppliers are small owners along the Ruta Maya route, meaning that the income remains within the country and creates a real economic contribution to its people and country that has started to make improvements in infrastructure and social reforms. We treat our suppliers fairly and with respect, they are an important key to a great vacation which is our success when we succeed. Working together with our Mexico & Ruta Maya partners is an ongoing relationship and our shared affection for this marvellous country benefits everyone involved. They have a certification of Travelife. Travelife is a fair and affordable system that helps tour operators and travel agencies to manage and improve social and environmental impacts by complying with sustainability criteria. Traveling along this Ruta Maya route will be an enriching experience and it won’t stay with only one travel in South America for sure.

This operator empowers a womens coffee cooperation Madre Solar and NGO in the Andes of Venezuela. Their vision is to provide solidarity to the entire coffee community in the area, striving to improve the quality of the life of children and families of the coffee communities. With this vacation and all our tailor made travels in Latin America you support local families on your destination of travel and you make it for us possible to support mothers and children in the Andes of Venezuela through this cooperation and NGO. Through their different programs the cooperative aspire to offer training technique in administration, management, accounting, among others and offer scholarships to students and subsidies to primary schools in rural coffee communities, as well as inspire to new forms of community economic organization.