Mayan Encounter: Self-Launched Guatemala, Belize & Mexico
12 days · Guatemala, Belize & Mexico
G Adventures charges £1,095
No-markup version: ~£675 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 12-day Mayan Encounter, running from colonial Antigua through the jungle ruins of Tikal and the Belizean cayes to Playa del Carmen. You'll book your own beds (hostels and budget guesthouses), take public shuttle buses and water taxis instead of a private vehicle, and book Tikal, Hol Chan and Tulum directly or via GetYourGuide/Klook. Same route, same highlights — expect to spend roughly half of the operator's sale price. All costs are approximate and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Antigua Guatemala
Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Fly into Guatemala City (La Aurora, GUA) — not the Caribbean island of Antigua — then take a shared shuttle or Uber to Antigua (~45 min, £8–12 / Q90–130). Settle into a hostel in the grid of cobbled streets around Parque Central. Spend the late afternoon wandering the Santa Catalina arch, the ruined convent of La Merced and the craft market at Nim Po't, then eat pepián or a plate of grilled meat at a comedor for under £5.
🚌Airport shared shuttle from Guatemala City (£8–12)
🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room in Antigua centro (£9–16/night)
- →Self-guided walk of Parque Central and the Santa Catalina arch
- →La Merced church and convent ruins
- →Nim Po't craft market
- →Comedor dinner in the centre
Antigua to Rio Dulce
Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Early shuttle from Antigua to Rio Dulce on the Caribbean lowlands (~5–6 hrs, £18–25 with a shared minibus booked through any Antigua hostel or Guate2Go/Litegua). Antigua's morning light on the volcanoes is worth the early start. Arrive mid-afternoon, take a lancha across the water to your guesthouse, and swim or kayak among the mangroves at sunset. Rio Dulce town itself is scruffy — the appeal is the river and the Castillo de San Felipe fort (£2 entry).
🚌Shared shuttle Antigua–Rio Dulce (£18–25); local lancha (£2–3)
🛏Riverside guesthouse or hostel in Rio Dulce / Fronteras (£10–18/night)
- →Sunset swim or kayak in the Rio Dulce mangroves
- →Castillo de San Felipe de Lara fort
- →Floating restaurant dinner on the river
Rio Dulce to Livingston by boat, then Flores
Livingston & Flores, Guatemala
Take a public lancha from Rio Dulce down the gorge to Livingston, the Garifuna town reachable only by boat (~2 hrs, £18–25 return or one-way as part of the route). Walk the wooden-boardwalk town, try tapado (coconut seafood stew) at a Garifuna-run spot — this is the community experience the tour packages as 'El Manglar', and you can eat there independently and support it directly. In the afternoon continue by boat/shuttle via Puerto Barrios or Morales toward Flores (~4–5 hrs, £15–20). Flores is a tiny island of pastel houses on Lake Petén Itzá — climb the mirador for sunset.
🚌Public lancha Rio Dulce–Livingston (£9–12); onward boat/bus to Flores (£15–20)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel on Flores island (£12–20/night)
- →Boat ride through Rio Dulce gorge
- →Self-guided walk around Garifuna Livingston
- →Lunch of tapado at a local Garifuna restaurant
- →Sunset from the Flores island mirador
Tikal ruins day trip
Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Book a shared Tikal day tour through your Flores hostel or on GetYourGuide/Klook (£22–30 including entry, Q150 park fee roughly included depending on operator). Leave around 6am to beat the heat and the crowds. Climb Temple IV for the howler-monkey soundtrack over the canopy, explore the Great Plaza, Temple I and the acropolis, and keep an eye out for coatis and spider monkeys. Back in Flores by late afternoon — swim off the dock at the lake or settle into a café on the waterfront.
🚌Shared minibus Flores–Tikal–Flores (~1.5 hrs each way)
🛏Budget hotel or hostel on Flores island (£12–20/night)
- →Guided or self-guided Tikal ruins visit (Temple IV, Great Plaza)
- →Wildlife spotting — howler monkeys, coatis, toucans
- →Lake Petén Itzá swim and waterfront cafés
Flores to San Ignacio, Belize
San Ignacio, Belize
Cross the border at Melchor de Mencos / Benque Viejo del Carmen — colectivos to the border (~£3) then a taxi or bus onward to San Ignacio (~£3–5), total under £12 and about 3 hours. Remember to complete Belize's free iDeclare e-form online before arrival. San Ignacio is a friendly, low-key town on the Macal River. Afternoon options: walk to Cahal Pech ruins (£4) or book Xunantunich for another day. Eat rice-and-beans and stew chicken at a local spot for £4–6.
🚌Colectivo to Melchor border + local bus/taxi to San Ignacio (£10–12)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in San Ignacio (£10–18/night)
- →Border crossing on foot at Melchor de Mencos
- →Cahal Pech Maya ruins
- →Macal River walk and San Ignacio market
Caves and ruins around San Ignacio
San Ignacio, Belize
Pick one big activity and book direct with a local operator (Mayawalk, PACZ Tours or similar — all charge roughly the same). Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM cave) is the standout: wade into a cave system to a crystalised Maya ceremonial chamber (~£110–120, includes guide, gear, lunch, entry). Cheaper alternatives: cave tubing at Caves Branch (~£75), Xunantunich by hand-cranked ferry plus entry (~£45), or Barton Creek canoeing (~£95). Keep the evening free for the San Ignacio night market and a Belikin by the river.
🚌Operator pickup from San Ignacio (included in activity price)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in San Ignacio (£10–18/night)
- →Actun Tunichil Muknal cave expedition (or cave tubing / Xunantunich alternative)
- →Hand-cranked ferry crossing to Xunantunich
- →San Ignacio evening food stalls
San Ignacio to Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker, Belize
Bus or shared shuttle from San Ignacio to Belize City (~2.5 hrs, £8–12), then the San Pedro Belize Express or Ocean Ferry water taxi out to Caye Caulker (~45 min, £15–18). The island is car-free — golf carts, bicycles and sand. Rent a bike for £6/day and ride the 'split' at the north end for a swim, then find a bar with a swing over the water for the sunset. This is the same 'Bike with Purpose' style of experience the tour includes, but you rent directly and the money stays on the island.
🚌Shuttle San Ignacio–Belize City (£8–12); water taxi to Caye Caulker (£15–18)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel on Caye Caulker (£14–22/night)
- →Water taxi through the Belize Barrier Reef channel
- →Bike rental and ride to the Split
- →Sunset over the water on the west side of the island
Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley
Caye Caulker, Belize
Book a half- or full-day snorkel trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley with one of the local operators on Front Street (£28–35, plus ~£8 marine park fee) — much less than the tour's pre-bookable add-on. You'll snorkel over coral with nurse sharks, stingrays, green turtles and clouds of snappers and grunts. Afternoon: hammock, fry jacks, and a rum punch. If you'd rather sail, sunset sailing catamarans run ~£35–45.
🚌Walk to the tour dock
🛏Guesthouse or hostel on Caye Caulker (£14–22/night)
- →Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley snorkel trip
- →Beach and hammock afternoon
- →Optional sunset sailing trip
Free day on Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker, Belize
A full second day on the island — this is the trip's main relax beat. Options: a second snorkel or dive at Turneffe or the Blue Hole (diving ~£100+), a manatee tour, kitesurfing lessons, or absolutely nothing. Walk the beach path north, eat ceviche at a picnic table, and be on the east side for sunrise if you're up. Budget £0–25 depending on how ambitious you're feeling.
🚌On foot / bicycle
🛏Guesthouse or hostel on Caye Caulker (£14–22/night)
- →Beach day and swimming
- →Optional diving, manatee tour or kitesurfing
- →Ceviche and sunset drinks
Caye Caulker to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Water taxi back to Belize City (~£15–18) then a through-bus or shuttle to Chetumal on the Mexican border (~3 hrs, £18–25), or take the ferry Belize City–Chetumal if running (~£30). Clear Mexican immigration at Chetumal (expect a small fee and a few questions about onward travel), then take an ADO bus up the coast to Playa del Carmen (~4 hrs, £14–18). It's a long travel day — arrive in the evening and walk Fifth Avenue for tacos al pastor (£4).
🚌Water taxi to Belize City (£15–18); bus to Chetumal (£18–25); ADO Chetumal–Playa del Carmen (£14–18)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel a few blocks off Fifth Avenue (£15–25/night)
- →Border crossing at Chetumal
- →Evening walk on Quinta Avenida
- →Tacos al pastor dinner
Tulum ruins, cenotes & community dinner
Tulum & Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Take a colectivo or ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Tulum (~1 hr, £3–4). Visit the Tulum ruins early (£5 entry, plus ~£2 for the site's shuttle) for the clifftop Castillo over the Caribbean, then swim at the public beach below. On the way back, stop at a cenote — Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos via colectivo and entry (£12–22) — for a freshwater snorkel. In the evening, eat at El Hongo, the volunteer-run community restaurant in the 'real' Playa del Carmen that the tour includes: home-style Mexican food supporting a youth art programme. Alternatively, join a Sian Ka'an biosphere float tour booked via GetYourGuide (~£95–110).
🚌Colectivo/ADO to Tulum and back (£6–8)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel a few blocks off Fifth Avenue (£15–25/night)
- →Tulum ruins and clifftop Castillo
- →Cenote swim (Gran Cenote or Dos Ojos)
- →Dinner at El Hongo community restaurant
- →Optional Sian Ka'an biosphere float
Depart Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Fly out of Cancún (CUN) — ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Cancún airport is ~£8–10 and takes about an hour, far cheaper than a private transfer. If your flight is late, squeeze in a last swim at Playa Mamitas or a coffee on Fifth Avenue. Note the Quintana Roo tourist tax (~£45 / MXN 983) is usually already included in international air tickets — check with your airline.
🚌ADO bus to Cancún airport (£8–10)
🛏—
- →Morning swim at Playa Mamitas
- →ADO bus to Cancún airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£675 | £1,095 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £420 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£675
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mayan Encounter: Self-Launched Guatemala, Belize & Mexico cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £675 per person for 12 days in Guatemala, Belize & Mexico. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,095 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £675 — a saving of roughly £420 (38%) per person.
How long is the Guatemala, Belize & Mexico trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Guatemala, Belize & Mexico.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, beaches trip through Guatemala, Belize & Mexico, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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