rleslie:
After your great advise and a lot of time on the internet, we have come up with:
Costa Rica(6 nights): Arenal Valcano - WW rafting on the Pacuare - Monteverde Cloud Forest
Tikal(3 nights):
Diving(7 nights): We're leaning towards Ambergris Caye. Any thoughts?
Thanks for all the help!!!!
April can't get here soon enough!!!
Roger
We were in Costa Rica in 2004 and in Tikal and Belize (Amergris Caye) in September, 2006. A few comments on your tentative plan are:
1. It's certainly easiest to stay at Tikal Park, particularly if you plan to do the "Temple 4(?) dawn tour" or the night tour. As I recall, staying elsewhere means about an hour drive to-and-from the park. We stayed at Tikal Lodge, which was fine, as long as you remember that they turn off the electricity at about 10pm each day, and that also turns off the ceiling fan.
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
And while in the park, don't worry about all the guys with shotguns or machine guns -- they're for your protection.
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
And the zip line canopy ride outside of the park is great -- I thought it better than the one we did in Costa Rica.
2. I think that it's a bother to drive from Tikal to Belize (we did) -- roads are very poor. But, you can fly from Flores to Belize City fairly easily; the planes are small, but the flight is fun. I think that the airlines are Tropic Air and Mayan Air.
3. Belize has an exit tax, at least from the airport in Belize City, of $30(?)US per person. This tax seems to apply each time you leave from Belize to another country. Consequently, do NOT do as we did, and fly to Belize City and then change planes to Flores when you plan to return to Belize after Tikal, or you'll pay two exit taxes from Belize.
4. Costa Rican roads also are less than ideal. Thus, do not equate short distances with short travel times. There's a very nice resort near Arenal.
5. You certainly won't go wrong with Protech -- I used them and was quite pleased. There's not a lot to do in Ambergris Caye, other than doing nothing. But, it's fun to rent a golf cart and drive around the town. There are a number of inland attractions that can be reached on tours from Ambergris Caye. The diving is excellent, and requires only a short boat ride (unless you go to Turneffe or Blue Hole).
You should have a great time.
Bill