I included my itinerary, so you can check out where I am and what I'm doing. I will love and miss y'all, but I'll be back on May 21.
Mesoamerica 2011: Itinerary Detail
Day # | Day of week | Date | Schedule of Activities | Spend Night in (City: Hotel) |
1 | T | April 26 | BUS from Rexburg to SLC airport, 2:30 a.m. MEET at Delta desk at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast (BYO in Airport) DEPART on Delta Flight 0513 to MEX, 9:58 a.m. Lunch (BYO for Flight) ARRIVE in Mexico City at 2:54 p.m. BUS to Basilica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe EXPLORE Basilica and La Villa BUS to Hostal Catedral CHECK IN @ Hostal Catedral Dinner (restaurant) EXPLORE Latin American Tower | Mexico City, Mexico: Mundo Joven Hostal Catedral Travel Tip: No shorts today; bring a lunch for the flight and some snacks. Dinner will be late. |
2 | W | April 27 | Breakfast (Hostal Catedral roof) EXPLORE Zocalo, Tenochitlan, Catedral , Nat. Palace METRO to Chapultapec Park Lunch (Chapultapec Park) EXPLORE Anthropological Museum BUS back to Hostal Catedral via Reforma Dinner (restaurant) Ballet Folklorico Performance at Bellas Artes 8:30 | Mexico City, Mexico: Mundo Joven Hostal Catedral Travel Tip: No shorts today; concert dress required for the Ballet Folklorico. |
3 | Th | April 28 | Breakfast (Hostal Catedral roof) BUS to Teotihuacan EXPLORE Teotihuacan Lunch (restaurant) BUS back to Hostal Catedral (BYO lunch for tomorrow’s bus ride; change clothes) BUS to Mexico City Temple (Bring your recommend) EXPLORE temple grounds and visitors center Baptisms at 6:00 p.m. Dinner (MTC cafeteria) BUS back to Hostal Catedral | Mexico City, Mexico: Mundo Joven Hostal Catedral Travel Tip: Shorts, hat, and sun block, recommended for Teotihuacan (am), Sunday dress for Temple (pm); BYO lunch for tomorrow. |
4 | F | April 29 | Breakfast (Hostal Catedral roof) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Oaxaca (8+ hours) Lunch (BYO, on bus) CHECK IN @ Casa de Arnel Free time/class time Dinner (restaurant) | Oaxaca, Mexico: Casa de Arnel Travel Tip: enjoy the views; watch for volcanoes, cactus, and canyons. |
5 | Sat | April 30 | Breakfast (Casa de Arnel roof) BUS to Monte Alban EXPLORE Monte Alban BUS back to Casa de Arnel Lunch (restaurant) EXPLORE Santo Domingo, Zocalo, and Market Dinner (restaurant) | Oaxaca, Mexico: Casa de Arnel Travel Tip: It’s Fast Sunday tomorrow; buy food for the bus if you need to break your fast before dinner. |
6 | Sun | May 1 | (No tour breakfast – fast Sunday) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) WALK to Church in Oaxaca BUS to Villahermosa (12+ hours) CHECK IN @ Hotel San Juan Dinner (restaurant or pizza) | Villahermosa, Mexico: Hotel San Juan Travel Tip: Long Fast Sunday bus ride today; good day for hymns, reading, writing. 3 Nephi 13:16-18. |
7 | M | May 2 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to La Venta Olmec Archaeological Park EXPLORE La Venta BUS to Palenque CHECK IN @ Hotel Kashlan Lunch (money for groups) Free time/class time Dinner (restaurant) (BYO lunch/snacks for tomorrow) | Palenque, Mexico: Hotel Kashlan Travel Tip: Palenque’s little town is a fun place to explore and shop; if you get hot, try a licuado (smoothie); I recommend melon con leche. |
8 | T | May 3 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) BUS to Palenque ruins EXPLORE Palenque and rain forest BUS to grocery store Lunch (money for groups) (BYO lunch/snacks for tomorrow) Free time/class time Dinner (restaurant) | Palenque, Mexico: Hotel Kashlan Travel Tip: choose footwear for hiking pyramids and rain forest today; bring water; watch for howler monkeys. |
9 | W | May 4 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Miso-Ha waterfall EXPLORE waterfall BUS to Agua Azul SWIM at Agua Azul Lunch (BYO) BUS to San Cristobal (5+ hours) CHECK IN @ Hotel Real del Valle Dinner (restaurant) | San Cristobal, Mexico: Hotel Real del Valle Travel Tip: We’ll be swimming today! Wear your suit beneath your clothes or change there; hike the path up river for good views; bring dry clothes for the bus ride afterwards (5+ hours). |
10 | Th | May 5 | Breakfast (restaurant) BUS to Zincatan, San Lorenzo, Weavers BUS to San Juan Chamula, Church of San Juan BUS to Zocalo Lunch (money for groups and tomorrow’s BYO) Free time/class time Dinner (restaurant) ***Pack a small bag for your two-night’s stay with your host family including church clothes and carry it onto the bus; once luggage is loaded tomorrow you won’t be able to get to it until Sunday night*** | San Cristobal, Mexico: Hotel Real del Valle Travel Tip: Subdued behavior is best for our visits to Maya villages today; no photography allowed in Church at San Juan Chamula. At night, pack a small bag for your stay with LDS host family. |
11 | F | May 6 | Breakfast (restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) ***Carry two-day pack onto bus; don’t put it below*** BUS to Grijalva river BOATS through Sumidero Canyon Lunch (BYO on bus) BUS to Tuxtla Zoo EXPLORE Tuxtla Zoo BUS to Tuxtla LDS Stake Center/Temple Meet LDS host families at church Dinner (with host families) | Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico: LDS host families; directors at Hotel Regional San Marcos. Travel Tip: Bring your binoculars on the boat and watch for wildlife; be sure to see the Quetzal birds at the zoo. |
12 | Sat | May 7 | Spend day with host families | Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico: LDS host families; directors at Hotel Regional San Marcos. Travel Tip: Be grateful |
13 | Sun | May 8 | Meet at Tuxtla Stake Center/Temple at 7:30 a.m. LOAD two-day packs onto bus. ATTEND Sacrament Meeting 8:00 a.m. BUS to Guatemala border (5+ hours) Lunch (on bus) ***BORDER CROSSING: MEXICO TO GUATEMALA*** ***HAVE YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU ON THE BUS*** BUS to Panajachel (7+ hours) CHECK IN @ Hospedaje Jere Dinner (restaurant) | Panajachel, Guatemala: Hospedaje Jere Travel Tip: Be prepared for a long bus ride today; directors will bring groceries for today’s lunch. |
14 | M | May 9 | Breakfast (restaurant) WALK to Zip Line ZIP LINE tour of canopy WALK to Lake Atitlan Lunch (restaurant) BOAT to Santiago Atitlan EXPLORE Santiago Atitlan, Weavers, Maximon BOAT back to Panajachel Dinner (restaurant) | Panajachel, Guatemala: Hospedaje Jere Travel Tip: Avoid bargaining unless you intend to buy; don’t make an offer unless it’s a price you’re willing to pay. |
15 | T | May 10 | Breakfast (restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Solola Market EXPLORE market Lunch (money for groups) BUS to Antigua CHECK IN @ Casa Santa Lucia No. 4 Free time/class time Dinner (restaurant) (BYO lunch/snacks for tomorrow) | Antigua, Guatemala: Casa Santa Lucia No. 4 Travel Tip: Take the Maya market challenge—buy something weird and see what you can trade it for. |
16 | W | May 11 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) BUS to Guatemala City Centro BUS to LDS Temple grounds BUS to Picaya Volcano Lunch (BYO, on bus) EXPLORE volcano BUS back to Antigua Dinner (restaurant) (BYO lunch/snacks for tomorrow) | Antigua, Guatemala: Casa Santa Lucia No. 4 Travel Tip: Shoes required for volcano hike; stay together, follow guides. |
17 | Th | May 12 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Rio Dulce Town (5+ hours) CHECK IN @ Hotel Hacienda Tijax Lunch (BYO) Visit Casa Guatemala Orphanage Dinner (restaurant) | Rio Dulce, Guatemala: Hotel Hacienda Tijax Travel Tip: Love the kids. |
18 | F | May 13 | Breakfast (hotel lobby or restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BOATS to Livingston EXPLORE Livingston Lunch (money for groups) BOATS back to Rio Dulce BUS to Finca Ixobel CHECK IN @ Finca Ixobel Dinner (Finca restaurant) | Peten, Guatemala: Finca Ixobel Travel Tip: Imagine being among the first explorers to pass through this verdant paradise. |
19 | Sat | May 14 | Breakfast (Finca restaurant) WALK to cave (2 hours) Lunch (sack lunches at cave) Cave Hike (2 hours) WALK back to Finca Ixobel (2 hours) Dinner (Finca restaurant) | Peten, Guatemala: Finca Ixobel Travel Tip: Closed-toe sandals or sneakers that can get wet required for cave hike; don’t be afraid to lend a hand or take a hand. |
20 | Sun | May 15 | Breakfast (Finca restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Church in Poptun Sacrament Meeting 9:00 a.m. BUS to Remate Lunch (sack lunches on bus) CHECK IN @ Gringo Perdido Sunday School Groups Dinner (restaurant) Poetry Reading (prepare a poem to share) | El Remate, Guatemala: Gringo Perdido Travel Tip: “Can we swim on Sunday?” Don’t ask me. Ask the Lord. |
21 | M | May 16 | Breakfast (restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BUS to Tikal EXPLORE Tikal Lunch (sack lunches) BUS to Guatemala/Belize Border ***BORDER CROSSING: GUATEMALA TO BELIZE*** ***HAVE YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU ON THE BUS*** BUS to San Ignacio CHECK IN @ Venus Hotel Dinner (Restaurant) | San Ignacio, Belize: Venus Hotel Travel Tip: Be very careful when climbing pyramids. Falling isn’t funny. |
22 | T | May 17 | Birding at Cahal Pech Breakfast (restaurant) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) Green Iguana Conservation Project Lunch (money for groups) BUS to Belize Zoo EXPLORE Belize Zoo BUS to Belize City port BOAT to Caye Caulker CHECK IN @ Tom’s Hotel Dinner (restaurant) | Caye Caulker, Belize: Tom’s Hotel Travel Tip: Once we get to the port, stay there please. Wandering out into Belize City isn’t safe. |
23 | W | May 18 | Breakfast (restaurant) BOATS to Belize barrier reef Snorkeling BOATS back to Caye Caulker Dinner (restaurant) (BYO breakfast/lunch for tomorrow) | Caye Caulker, Belize: Tom’s Hotel Travel Tip: Snorkeling tip will last all day. Sun block is good, a t-shirt or rash guard is even better; don’t bring anything you don’t want wet. |
24 | Th | May 19 | Breakfast (BYO) CHECK OUT/LOAD LUGGAGE (Where’s your passport?) BOAT to Belize City BUS to Belize/Mexico Border Lunch (BYO on bus) ***BORDER CROSSING: BELIZE TO MEXICO*** ***HAVE YOUR PASSPORT WITH YOU ON THE BUS*** BUS to Tulum CHECK IN @ Hotel La Vita e Bella Dinner (restaurant) | Tulum, Mexico: Hotel La Vita e Bella Travel Tip: Our last long bus ride and border crossing; remember to bring some lunch/snacks. |
25 | F | May 20 | Breakfast (hotel restaurant) BUS to Chichen Itza EXPLORE Chichen Itza Lunch (Chichen Itza food court) BUS to Hotel La Vita e Bella Free time/beach time Dinner (restaurant) Testimony meeting Pack (we leave tomorrow) | Tulum, Mexico: Hotel La Vita e Bella Travel Tip: Can you find the bearded Quetzalcoatl at Chichen Itza? Enjoy the beach! |
26 | S | May 21 | Breakfast (hotel restaurant) Free time/beach time BUS to Cancun airport 11:30 Lunch (money for groups at airport) DEPART Cancun on Delta flight 0464 at 4:20 p.m. ARRIVE in SLC at 8:11 p.m. BUS from SLC airport to Rexburg | Travel Tip: bus will arrive in Rexburg about 1:00 a.m. Sunday morning. |
