7-DAY TOUR PACKAGE (Sample package)
Day 1 - Arrival at Aurora International Airport, Guatemala City. Transfer to colonial capital of Antigua.
Day 2 - 6AM: Travel to Petén by airplane and to ARCAS Rescue Center. Hands-on participation in care and feeding of the animals. Presentation by ARCAS staff on the problems of the illegal pet trade and difficulties of rehabilitation and release. Visit to Kinkajou Kingdom Environmental Education Center, quarantine and rehabilitation areas. Accommodation at Rescue Center.
Day 3 - Transfer to Tikal National Park with a stop-off at eco-tourism and handicraft projects being carried out with the communities of El Remate. Accommodation at the Park. Visit to Tikal Museum and short afternoon tour of ruins.
Day 4 - Pre-dawn tour with trained nature guide of Tikal ruins, focusing on wildlife viewing. Mid-day siesta. During the afternoon, visit to hunting and chicle-gathering community of Uaxactun with a presentation on sustainable rainforest extractive industries. (Optional: Overnight stay at Uaxactun eco-tour camping area.)
Day 5 - Visit to Yaxha, a major Mayan site with a temple bordering a large lake and site of the largest watershed in the Mayan Biosphere Reserve. In the afternoon, return to Flores and flight to Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua.
Day 6 - Visit to ARCAS office. Presentation on environmental and social problems facing Guatemala, problem of endangered species trade. Optional: Participation in environmental education activity, visit to projects in some of the most environmentally degraded areas of the city, visit to Pacaya volcano, an active volcano close to Antigua.
Day 7 - Sightseeing and shopping in Antigua. Optional: guided tour of organic coffee plantations.
Please contact us for latest itineraries and prices.
NOTE: A portion of the profits from these eco-tours will go to support ARCAS conservation activities as well as to the various community-based conservation and development associations working with ARCAS such as the Uaxactun Community Cooperative, the Hawaii school, handicraft cooperatives in El Remate and handicraft cooperatives. In addition to sharing with the client their expertise and local knowledge, these projects and cooperatives will offer logistical support and accommodations to visitors.