Arrive to Belize City, where you will be met by a local guide for your private transfer to western Belize. Your home for the next few days is a thatched cottage in a boutique jungle lodge, set in a hilly section of the rainforest right along the lovely Macal River. The western part of Belize is the country’s best-kept secret: beautiful rainforest, excellent accommodations, and a variety of extraordinary excursions.

Enjoy an adventurous caving trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal, one of the great archeological caving experiences of the Americas. Here, you can journey far into a winding cave filled with relics from ancient Mayan rituals. Prefer to stay topside? There are plenty of other options for exploring the area as well.

Travel over the border into Guatemala to see the ruins of Tikal. One of the most impressive Mayan sites in Central America, Tikal is a sprawling complex of temples and residential structures, with several temples that rise above the jungle canopy, providing sweeping views of the surrounding rainforest environment. The site is also home to a wide variety of jungle wildlife, including monkeys, toucans and many other species. Spend the day exploring the ruins, then return to Belize in the late afternoon.

For an alternative without crossing the border, visit Caracol, an ancient Maya archaeological site located a few hours south of your hotel in the Cayo District. Set in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, Caracol was an important political center during the Classic Period, and covered over 75 square miles of territory.