Highlights of Belize and Guatemala

The Real Deal: Fourteen nights' accommodations, six meals, guided sightseeing tours and activities, and local transportation from $695 per person.

When: Depart Apr. 9, Oct. 22, Nov. 12, 19, Dec. 10, 17, 2007; Jan. 7, 14, Feb 4, 11, Mar. 3, 10, 31, Apr. 7, 2008.

The Fine Print: Prices are per person on a twin share basis. Two breakfasts, two lunches, two dinners, transportation--via bus, van, canoe, and motorboat--guided tours, and activities are included. Groups are limited to a maximum of 15 travelers. A cash payment of U.S. $250 is due upon arrival to cover local expenses.

Book By: No deadline; based on availability. There's a $50 late booking fee for reservations made within 30 days of departure.

Contact: Adventure Center, 800/2280-8747, adventurecenter.com.

Why It's a Deal: Consider that Adventure Center's package breaks down to only about $50 per day for accommodation, transportation, sightseeing, and the services of a trip leader. In addition, the company provides the time-saving convenience of organizing the trip for you. A Belize package from LatinDiscover.com, for instance, starts at $1,523 per person for an eight-night stay--almost twice the price for a much shorter trip.

Trip Details: The Hummingbird Highway package includes a total of 14 nights' accommodations: 12 are at simple hotels and bungalows and two are spent camping. The adventure will start and end in Belize City at the Coningsby Inn. The remaining accommodations will be arranged by Adventure Center and are subject to change.

The day you arrive you'll be free to enjoy Belize City at your leisure. Local attractions include St. John's Anglican Cathedral, the oldest Protestant church in Central America, and colonial buildings, such as the Supreme Court Building and the Government House. On the second day, you'll cross the border into Guatemala, where you'll stay though day four. You'll explore the northeast Petén jungle region, admire Mayan ruins and pyramids in the lost city of Tikal during a guided tour of the archaeological site, and visit Flores, a small island 45 minutes from Tikal. During an excursion to San José, situated on the shores of Lago Petén Itzá, you can choose to take a Spanish lesson or visit a local conservation project.

Then it's back to Belize. In San Ignacio, on the banks of the Macal River, activities are optional and range from visiting the Mayan cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal ($30 for a half day) to exploring the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, famous for the Hidden Valley Falls ($35) to renting bicycles ($6 an hour).

Days 7 through 10 will be spent canoeing on the Belize River, guided by local experts--no previous experience necessary! You'll visit either Vaca Falls or the Community Baboon Sanctuary, depending on the season. Two breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included.

The final part of the trip is all about relaxation and fun in the sun at Caye Caulker. Spend a full day snorkeling near the world's second-largest barrier reef, where you might catch a glimpse of nurse sharks, stingrays, and barracudas. Then, it's back, by boat, to Belize City.

Getting There: Airfare is not included in the package. You can add airfare from $554 per person from New York City and from $594 per person from Los Angeles and San Francisco. For these air-inclusive packages, departure taxes and fuel and security surcharges are an additional $241 per person.

If you make your own flight arrangements: A Sidestep search showed that the lowest round-trip airfare to Belize City in April is $467 from Miami(American), $488 from Los Angeles (American), $570 from New York (TACA), and $640 from Chicago (US Airways).

Before you go, check the weather forecast and exchange rate at BudgetTravelOnline.com and visit the Belize Tourist Board for the latest news and updates.

More on Belize:

Ambergris Cay: Beach Bum Central

Dream Trips: The Blue Hole, Belize