Apr 14, 2015 - Rio Dulce

up this morning for some coffee, it is self serve so can have more then one cup, lol some breakfast then off on a boat ride across Lake Lago de Izabal to go to a hot waterfall, there is a small river of cold water passing under the waterfalls so when you first get into the river it is cold then make your way to the waterfalls it warms up. The water in the falls is very hot so can only spend a short time under it. When we got to edge of the lake was to have a drive meet us and take us to the falls about 1 1/2 km away but the driver hade been...

Apr 13, 2015 - On the road to Rio Dulce

This morning we are off at 7:00 heading to Rio Dulce a stop for breakfast at a small road side restaurant back on the road with a hour stop in Flores on Lake Peten Itza, back on the bus for a 4 hour trip to Rio Dulce, where get a small boat to our hotel on the river, nice place where the rooms are bungalows. We all meet there for a brief meeting and some lunch, spent the rest of the afternoon just kicking back, relaxing. with a cold Gallo beer.

Jan 18, 2015 - Tikal

The ancient Mayan Empire dominated Central America from the Mexican Yukatan to Nicaragua from 5 Centuries before Christ until 9 centuries after. The largest city of the Mayan people was Tikal, and it is just across the border from San Ignacio, Belize. Of course, we had to go. We were offered a bus trip directly from San Ignacio to the Tikal National Park. Not including the $20 needed to get out of Belize and into Guatemala. Or the $20 to get into the park. It just sounded like too much money to me. So, Basilio and I said no to the easy, if...

Mar 17, 2014 - Rio Dulce

Back in the mini bus for about four hours today. Stopped at a private park mid afternoon for a late picnic lunch. We had bought some groceries, fruit etc before departing Flores and made up the food next to a thermal waterfall. Went for a refreshing swim in the water under the falls. Seems there are a few thermal pools in this area. Another half hour bus ride and then a 5 minute boat ride to our accomodation for two nights. This is the best sleeping place we have had so far. Vicki and I are in a bungalow, hard to explain you will have to...

Dec 24, 2012 - Sunrise over the jungle

Wow, wow and more wow. I have no other way of describig the amazing experience of sitting high on Temple IV at Tikal and watching the sun rise directly over Temple III. It was worth getting up at 4.30am just to see it. As the sun rose more, we watched the jungle come alive and even spotted tucans. The Tikal complex can only be decribed as expansive and was the main reason I was on this trip. And I can gladly say that it didn't disappoint. I can't put it into words and the pictures say a bit but doesn't capture it all. Let's just say it...

Nov 6, 2012 - Rio dulce

Rio dulce Another day, another shifty entry through a Guatemalan border. The 10am boat from Punta Gorda to livingstone was like crossing the Atlantic in a hollowed out water melon. With some heavy heavy tropical rain and rough seas the crew ( some men that happened to be in control of a boat) had us flattened to the seats covered in tarpaulin. So again , chances are we entered Guatemala illegally as part of a human trafficking scam. Livingstone was cool, crumbly and courful but we only stopped for lunch then the James bond style boat trip...

Sep 12, 2011 - Paradise in Rio Dulce

Hi all! Please excuse the delayed updates, we're pretty much caught up now. At the last few places we stayed at there was wi-fi but no actual computer access, and typing all these updates on my iPhone screen is beyond even me :) Today we're chilling out at Hacienda Tijax, our eco-lodge perched on the edge of the Rio Dulce river, near Lago de Izabal in central-eastern Guatemala. The lodge is really nice, with cute little cabanas out in the jungle for us to sleep in, raised boardwalks over the river/jungle (depending on the water level it...

Jul 13, 2011 - Rio Dulce

Hola! Apres Flores, on se dirige vers Rio Dulce ou l;on est loge dans des ecolodges! Cest definitivement notre hotel prefere du voyage! Pour sy rendre, on doit prendre un petit bateau qui nous amene dans la jungle! Plusieurs voiliers sont acostes sur le bord de nos lodges! Toutes les habitacions sont des petites hutes sureleves sur leau! Pour se promener partout sur le site, on emprunte des passerelles et des petits ponts reliant les differentes installations! En tout temps, il y a de l;eau sous nos pieds!!! Notre chambre est vraiment...

Jun 27, 2011 - Rio Dulce

While I was staying in Rio Dulce, I stayed on a very small island hotel about 100 metres from Rio Dulce. It was a very nice place to stay but there wasn't much to do so I signed up for a boat tour that went all of the way to a place called Livingston which is about an hour or so away from our tours hotel. It was a nice day tour even if it was a bit dull in Livingston. The boat tour brought us to some rather scenic places and the fast boat ride was nice as it was quite hot that day. Pictures of the boat trip can be found here.

Mar 21, 2011 - Between oceans epic

N.B. This particular entry should not be read by the faint-hearted or by those thinking of investing in ventures within developing countries. Stress levels were reasonably high at 2am coming into a strange, major port with a motor that periodically stopped due to dirty fuel, a weariness after 4 nights at sea dodging literally hundreds of fishing boats and a plan to ship Chirpy overland that held a great deal of unknown. But the port captain was good, he held 60000 ton ships and tugs at bay and we tied to a safe haven of a quay. We now...

Nov 8, 2010 - Ever wondered what the best way to roast a marshmallow is?

Step 1: 15 minutes before the only on time shuttle in the whole of central America arrives, run to find some marshmallows -not the easiest thing to describe with limited spanish! Step 2: Bundle in a van with a bunch of other gringos and bounce your way along dirt roads to Volcan Pacaya Step 3: Convince the small children at the volcano that no you do not want to buy a stick from them (or more marshmallows, the american's got it covered -oh yeah we're now travelling with an american guy alex who's a helicopter pilot, sadly he doesn't travel...

Oct 18, 2010 - magical Tikal

ola amigos muchos gracias per el email! c est super d avoit tout vos messages desolee pour le temps ... il fait superbe ici, hihihi ;-) bon me revoila pres encore 2 superbes journees lundi nous sommes alle a Tikal, le plus beau et grand site Mayen difficile a decrire ce aue j ai vu ... c est tout simplement magestique ... vraiment epoustouflant on est arrive la le midi ou on a manger un petit pick-nick et ensuite on est parti vers les temples. faut s iñaginer auon est au plein milieu de la fort vierge et quie tout d un coup on tombe sur des...