7 nights. México, Honduras, Belize

Day 1

galveston, texas

Departure: 16:00

Galveston is a coastal resort city on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. Covering about 208.3 square miles (539 km²), it had a population of 47,762 people according to a 2012 Census estimate. It is the county seat and second-largest city in Galveston County and is part of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. Named after Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez, Galveston’s first European settlements were built on the island around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to support the Republic of Mexico in its struggle against Spain. The Port of Galveston was founded in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico after it gained independence from Spain. During the Texas Revolution, Galveston served as the main port for the Texas Navy and later became the capital of the Republic of Texas. In the 19th century, Galveston developed into a major U.S. commercial hub and one of the largest ports in the country. The city was devastated by the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, which caused severe flooding and a deadly storm surge. This natural disaster on the exposed barrier island remains the deadliest in U.S. history, with an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 deaths. Today, Galveston’s economy is driven largely by tourism, health care, shipping, and financial services. A key economic anchor is the 84-acre (340,000 m²) campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch, which enrolls more than 2,500 students. Galveston also features six historic districts and one of the largest, most significant collections of 19th-century buildings in the United States, with more than 60 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Day 3

cozumel, mexico

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Cozumel is an island located in the Caribbean Sea, just off the eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's situated opposite Playa del Carmen and near the Yucatán Channel. The primary town on the island is San Miguel de Cozumel. The island is part of the Cozumel Municipality in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. There are several beach clubs that offer snorkeling, and the main attractions include the offshore reefs and numerous dive shops. Cozumel also boasts several Mayan archaeological sites. The most extensive remains can be found at "San Gervasio", an inland site a few miles north of the "Carretera Transversal" highway. Another site is near the village of El Cedral, inland from the "Carretera Costera Sur" highway. In Punta Sur Park, located at the southernmost point of the island, you can find the "El Caracol" temple, which is believed to have been used as a lighthouse by the Mayans.

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Day 4

roatan, honduras

Arrival: 08:00 - Departure: 17:00

Roatán, located between the islands of Utila and Guanaja, is the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands. Formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan, the island is approximately 77 kilometers long and less than 8 kilometers wide at its widest point. It is divided into two municipalities: José Santos Guardiola in the east and Roatán in the west, which also includes the Cayos Cochinos further to the south. The most populous town on the island is Coxen Hole, capital of the municipality of Roatán, located on the southwest coast. The easternmost quarter of the island is separated by a mangrove channel; this section is called Helene (Santa Elena in Spanish). Satellite islands at the eastern end include Morat, Barbareta, and Pigeon Cay, while further west between French Harbour and Coxen Hole are several cays, such as Stamp Cay and Barefoot Cay. MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS • Cameo Factory in Coxen Hole • Carambola Gardens • Caves of Helene • Dolphin show at Anthony’s Key Resort • East End – for a more adventurous experience, visit the east end of the island. This area is home to many locals and some expatriates, as well as a few resorts. One of the most notable is Camp Bay Beach, Beach Adventure Lodge, the only resort on Camp Bay Beach. Here you’ll also find the Tasty Tarpon restaurant and easy, free access to the beach for snorkeling, diving, and fly fishing. Along the way, consider stopping at Marble Hill Farms, known for its excellent local jams and jellies. Asylum Bar & Grill, set on a palapa literally over the calm waters of Camp Bay, can feel like the “restaurant at the end of the universe” after the long journey to get there. Santa Helena, part of Roatán’s municipality of Santos Guardiola, is a small, secluded island about 12 miles east of Roatán. This off‑the‑beaten‑path tropical paradise is roughly one mile by two miles and sparsely populated by indigenous people who still live much as they did in the “Old Caribbean,” largely untouched by tourism and commercial development. St. Helene is the epitome of a sleepy little fishing village, accessible only by private boat or passenger ferry from Oak Ridge. • Garifuna Village Tour in Punta Gorda • Iguana Farm near French Harbour • Mangrove Forest Kayak Tour at Camp Bay Beach Adventure Lodge • Marine Science Museum at Anthony’s Key Resort • Oak Ridge – a small village on the eastern end of the island. On arrival, you’ll be offered water‑taxi tours to the Hole‑in‑the‑Wall restaurant, nearby communities, and around the harbor, but it’s also pleasant just to stroll through the village, lined with brightly colored wooden houses on stilts along the shore. • Pigeon Cayes – two small, deserted islands • Punta Gorda – renting a scooter and driving to Punta Gorda takes about one hour each way, passing through beautiful countryside. It’s a good way to escape the more touristy areas and experience places that look and feel more like mainland Honduras. The town is friendly, and with a bit of luck you may happen upon a beach party. • Roatán Butterfly Garden • White’s Beach • Marine Park – this protected reef area stretches from West Bay to Sandy Bay. Snorkeling and diving are excellent ways to experience the rich marine life. You can head out by kayak or boat, or simply swim out from the shore.

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Day 5

belize city, belize

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 17:00

Belize is a country on the eastern coast of Central America, and Belize City is one of its main gateways. Belize offers a wide range of experiences, from lush jungles filled with exotic plants and animals in the interior to the white-sand beaches of the offshore islands. In just a week you can enjoy relaxation, outdoor adventure, scuba diving, and rich local culture. The country is renowned for its Mayan heritage, with some of the best-excavated Mayan temples and cities in Central America. One notable site is Actun Tunichil Muknal, a Mayan sacrificial burial cave near Belmopan, the capital. Entirely contained within a cave system, this sacred Mayan site preserves numerous artifacts—pottery, ceramics, stoneware—and several sets of human sacrificial remains. Also near Belmopan is Guanacaste National Park, a tropical forest teeming with wildlife and wild flora, especially the many tropical bird species that thrive where Roaring Creek flows into the larger Belize River. Belize is an excellent destination for travelers looking to escape hectic city life and immerse themselves in unspoiled natural beauty. In Belize, time slows down—visitors can simply soak up the nature and beaches and savor the simple life.

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Day 6

costa maya, mexico

Arrival: 07:00 - Departure: 12:00

Day 8

galveston, texas

Arrival: 08:00

Galveston is a coastal resort city on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. Covering about 208.3 square miles (539 km²), it had a population of 47,762 people according to a 2012 Census estimate. It is the county seat and second-largest city in Galveston County and is part of the Houston–The Woodlands–Sugar Land metropolitan area. Named after Bernardo de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez, Galveston’s first European settlements were built on the island around 1816 by French pirate Louis-Michel Aury to support the Republic of Mexico in its struggle against Spain. The Port of Galveston was founded in 1825 by the Congress of Mexico after it gained independence from Spain. During the Texas Revolution, Galveston served as the main port for the Texas Navy and later became the capital of the Republic of Texas. In the 19th century, Galveston developed into a major U.S. commercial hub and one of the largest ports in the country. The city was devastated by the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, which caused severe flooding and a deadly storm surge. This natural disaster on the exposed barrier island remains the deadliest in U.S. history, with an estimated 6,000 to 12,000 deaths. Today, Galveston’s economy is driven largely by tourism, health care, shipping, and financial services. A key economic anchor is the 84-acre (340,000 m²) campus of the University of Texas Medical Branch, which enrolls more than 2,500 students. Galveston also features six historic districts and one of the largest, most significant collections of 19th-century buildings in the United States, with more than 60 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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7 nights. México, Honduras, Belize

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