Belize and Guatemala trip planned for spring break
Published 4:00 pm Thursday, December 2, 2004
TILLAMOOK – Tillamook Bay Community College and Oregon Coast Community College Spanish instructor Jose Solano has developed a group trip to Belize and Guatemala for the spring break week March 20 through 27.
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The group will fly into Belize, where participants will stay at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary run by the Audubon Society.This is the peak of the breeding season and thousands of water birds, wood storks, ibises, roseate spoonbills and the rare jabiru stork are found in the lagoons right in front of the lodge where participants will be staying.
Hundreds of other species abound in the area, from toucans and trogons to vermilion flycatchers and parrots. Various excursions are available, including a jungle boat ride on the New River to the archeological site of Lamanai. Other wildlife are common in the region: crocodiles, manatees, howler monkeys, jaguars and more.
The group will travel overland to San Ignacio and visit the Mennonite town of Spanish Lookout and surrounding smaller archeological sites before traveling on to the island city of Flores on Lake Peten Itza in Guatemala. They will visit the spectacular archeological site of Tikal, the greatest of the Mayan cities.
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From Flores, Guatemala they fly back to Belize, where they go by boat to the island of Caye Caulker to enjoy the beaches of the area with possible scuba diving and snorkeling in the waters of the Caribbean.
The travel cost of $1,385, plus taxes, includes all air, land and boat transportation, as well as lodging and entrance fees to archeological sites, zoos and museums. Spanish lessons are also offered, and Solano serves as guide and translator. An early registration discount is available. Participants will stay at hotels and enjoy the convenience of traveling with an experienced guide.
This travel/study program has been approved for three credits by the Oregon Coast Community College. For the full itinerary and more information, call Solano at (503) 965-2204. For OCCC credit information, call (541) 574-7101.