Lonely Planet Belize, Guatemala and Yucatan

by Greensfelder, Ben; Miller, Carolyn; Gorry, Conner; Bao, Sandra

• ISBN13: 9781864501407
• ISBN10: 1864501405
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Lonely Planet

Table of Contents

Introduction	15	(2)
Facts About the Region	17	(16)
History	17	(5)
Climate	22	(1)
Ecology & Environment	23	(1)
Flora & Fauna	24	(2)
Population & People	26	(1)
Architecture & Archaeology	26	(3)
Society & Conduct	29	(4)
Ancient Mayan Culture	33	(9)
Regional Facts for the Visitor	42	(31)
Highlights	42	(1)
Suggested Itineraries	42	(2)
Planning	44	(1)
Responsible Tourism	45	(1)
Visas & Documents	45	(1)
Embassies & Consulates	46	(1)
Customs	46	(1)
Money	47	(1)
Post & Communications	48	(1)
Books	49	(2)
Newspapers & Magazines	51	(1)
Radio & TV	51	(1)
Photography & Video	52	(1)
Time	53	(1)
Electricity	53	(1)
Weights & Measures	53	(1)
Laundry	54	(1)
Toilets	54	(1)
Health	54	(7)
Women Travelers	61	(1)
Gay & Lesbian Travelers	61	(1)
Disabled Travelers	62	(1)
Senior Travelers	62	(1)
Travel with Children	62	(1)
Dangers & Annoyances	62	(1)
Legal Matters	63	(1)
Public Holidays & Special Events	64	(2)
Activities	66	(2)
Courses	68	(1)
Work	68	(1)
Accommodations	68	(1)
Food	69	(1)
Drinks	70	(3)
Getting There & Away	73	(6)
Air	73	(4)
Land	77	(2)
Getting Around the Region	79	(5)
Air	79	(1)
Bus	79	(1)
Car & Motorcycle	79	(1)
Hitchhiking	80	(1)
Boat	80	(1)
Local Transportation	80	(4)
Facts About Belize	84	(6)
History	84	(2)
Geography & Climate	86	(1)
Government & Politics	87	(1)
Economy	88	(1)
Population & People	88	(1)
Religion	89	(1)
Language	89	(1)
Facts for the Visitor	90	(5)
Planning	90	(1)
Tourist Offices	90	(1)
Visas & Documents	90	(1)
Embassies & Consulates	90	(1)
Money	91	(1)
Post & Communications	92	(1)
Internet Resources	93	(1)
Newspapers & Magazines	93	(1)
Radio & TV	93	(1)
Business Hours	94	(1)
Food	94	(1)
Shopping	94	(1)
Getting There & Around	95	(6)
Getting There & Away	95	(1)
Air	95	(1)
Land	95	(1)
Sea	95	(1)
Getting Around	96	(1)
Air	96	(1)
Bus	96	(2)
Car	98	(1)
Boat	99	(1)
Organized Tours	100	(1)
Belize City	101	(10)
History	101	(1)
Orientation	101	(1)
Information	102	(2)
Walking Tour	104	(1)
Organized Tours	105	(1)
Places to Stay	105	(4)
Places to Eat	109	(1)
Entertainment	110	(1)
Shopping	110	(1)
Getting There & Around	110	(1)
The Cayes	111	(16)
Caye Caulker	111	(8)
Ambergris Caye	119	(6)
Other Cayes	125	(2)
Northern Belize	127	(13)
Bermudian Landing Baboon Sanctuary	127	(2)
Altun Ha	129	(1)
Crooked Tree Sanctuary	130	(1)
Chan Chich Lodge	131	(1)
Rio Bravo Conservation Area & La Milpa Field Station	132	(1)
Lamanai	132	(2)
Orange Walk	134	(1)
Corozal	135	(3)
Sarteneja & Shipstern Nature Reserve	138	(2)
Western Belize	140	(14)
Starting down the Western Highway	140	(2)
Belmopan	142	(2)
West Toward San Ignacio	144	(1)
San Ignacio (Cayo)	144	(5)
Mountain Pine Ridge Area	149	(3)
West to Guatemala	152	(2)
Southern Belize	154	(16)
Hummingbird Highway	154	(2)
Dangriga	156	(2)
Tobacco Caye, South Water Caye & Glover's Reef	158	(1)
Southern Highway	159	(1)
Placencia	160	(4)
Punta Gorda	164	(2)
Around Punta Gorda	166	(4)
Facts About Guatemala	170	(14)
History	170	(5)
Geography & Geology	175	(1)
Climate	175	(1)
Ecology & Environment	176	(1)
Flora	177	(1)
Fauna	177	(1)
Parks & Protected Areas	178	(2)
Government & Politics	180	(1)
Economy	180	(1)
Population & People	181	(1)
Education	181	(1)
Arts	181	(1)
Society & Conduct	182	(1)
Religion	183	(1)
Language	183	(1)
Facts for the Visitor	184	(15)
Planning	184	(1)
Responsible Tourism	184	(1)
Tourist Offices	185	(1)
Visas & Documents	185	(1)
Embassies & Consulates	186	(1)
Customs	187	(1)
Money	187	(1)
Post & Communications	188	(1)
Internet Resources	189	(1)
Books	190	(1)
Films	191	(1)
Newspapers & Magazines	191	(1)
Radio & TV	191	(1)
Laundry	192	(1)
Health	192	(1)
Women Travelers	192	(1)
Gay & Lesbian Travelers	192	(1)
Disabled Travelers	193	(1)
Senior Travelers	193	(1)
Travel with Children	193	(1)
Dangers & Annoyances	193	(1)
Business Hours	194	(1)
Public Holidays & Special Events	194	(1)
Activities	195	(1)
Language Courses	195	(1)
Work	195	(1)
Accommodations	196	(1)
Food	196	(1)
Drinks	196	(2)
Entertainment	198	(1)
Shopping	198	(1)
Getting There & Around	199	(7)
Getting There & Away	199	(1)
Air	199	(1)
Land	200	(1)
Sea & River	201	(1)
Getting Around	201	(1)
Air	201	(1)
Bus	202	(1)
Car & Motorcycle	203	(1)
Bicycle	204	(1)
Hitchhiking	204	(1)
Boat	204	(1)
Local Transportation	204	(1)
Organized Tours	205	(1)
Guatemala City	206	(15)
History	206	(1)
Orientation	206	(1)
Information	207	(4)
Zona 1	211	(1)
Zona 2	212	(1)
Civic Center Area	213	(1)
Zona 10	213	(1)
Zona 13	213	(1)
Kaminaljuyu	214	(1)
Places to Stay	214	(3)
Places to Eat	217	(2)
Entertainment	219	(1)
Getting There & Away	219	(1)
Getting Around	220	(1)
Antigua	221	(18)
History	221	(1)
Orientation	221	(3)
Information	224	(2)
Parque Central	226	(1)
Churches	227	(1)
Other Attractions	227	(1)
Activities	228	(2)
Language Courses	230	(1)
Organized Tours	230	(1)
Special Events	231	(1)
Places to Stay	231	(3)
Places to Eat	234	(2)
Entertainment	236	(1)
Shopping	237	(1)
Getting There & Around	238	(1)
The Highlands	239	(51)
Lago de Atitlan	241	(1)
Iximche	241	(1)
Solola	242	(1)
Panajachel	243	(8)
Santa Catarina Palopo & San Antonio Palopo	251	(1)
Santiago Atitlan	251	(2)
San Pedro La Laguna	253	(3)
San Marcos La Laguna	256	(1)
Jaibalito	257	(1)
Santa Cruz La Laguna	257	(1)
Quiche	258	(1)
Chichicastenango	258	(6)
Santa Cruz del Quiche	264	(2)
Nebaj	266	(1)
Sacapulas to Coban	267	(1)
Western Highlands	267	(1)
Cuatro Caminos	267	(1)
Totonicapan	267	(1)
Quetzaltenango	268	(11)
Around Quetzaltenango	279	(4)
Huehuetenango	283	(5)
Around Huehuetenango	288	(1)
La Mesilla	289	(1)
The Pacific Slope	290	(12)
Ciudad Tecun Uman	290	(2)
El Carmen	292	(1)
El Zarco Junction	292	(1)
Retalhuleu	292	(2)
Abaj Takalik	294	(1)
Champerico	294	(1)
Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa	294	(3)
La Democracia	297	(1)
Escuintla	297	(1)
Autosafari Chapin	298	(1)
Puerto San Jose, Balneario Likin & Iztapa	298	(1)
Monterrico	298	(4)
Central & Eastern Guatemala	302	(45)
The Verapaces	302	(2)
Salama	304	(1)
Around Salama	305	(1)
Biotopo del Quetzal	305	(1)
Coban	306	(5)
Around Coban	311	(1)
Backdoor Peten Routes	312	(1)
Zacapa & Chiquimula	312	(1)
Rio Hondo	312	(1)
Estanzuela	313	(1)
Chiquimula	313	(2)
Padre Miguel Junction & Anguiatu	315	(1)
Esquipulas	316	(3)
Copan Archaeological Site (Honduras)	319	(4)
Copan Ruinas	323	(5)
Izabal	328	(1)
Quirigua	328	(3)
Lago de Izabal	331	(4)
Puerto Barrios	335	(5)
Livingston	340	(5)
Around Livingston	345	(2)
EL Peten	347	(33)
Poptun	348	(2)
Flores & Santa Elena	350	(10)
El Remate	360	(2)
Around Lago de Peten Itza	362	(1)
Tikal	363	(9)
Uaxactun	372	(1)
Eastward to Belize	373	(1)
El Peten to Chiapas (Mexico)	374	(1)
Sayaxche & Ceibal	375	(1)
Remote Mayan Sites	376	(4)
Facts About the Yucatan	380	(6)
History	380	(2)
Geography & Geology	382	(1)
Climate	383	(1)
Government & Politics	383	(1)
Economy	384	(1)
Population & People	385	(1)
Facts for the Visitor	386	(10)
Planning	386	(1)
Tourist Offices	386	(1)
Visas & Documents	386	(2)
Embassies & Consulates	388	(2)
Customs	390	(1)
Money	390	(2)
Post & Communications	392	(2)
Books	394	(1)
Newspapers & Magazines	394	(1)
Business Hours	394	(1)
Food	394	(2)
Getting There & Around	396	(3)
Quintana Roo	399	(56)
Cancun	399	(1)
Orientation	400	(1)
Information	400	(4)
Mayan Ruins	404	(1)
Museo INAH	404	(1)
Beaches	404	(1)
Water Sports	405	(1)
Organized Tours	405	(1)
Places to Stay	405	(4)
Places to Eat	409	(2)
Entertainment	411	(1)
Getting There & Away	411	(2)
Getting Around	413	(1)
Around Cancun	413	(1)
Isla Mujeres	413	(8)
Parque Nacional Isla Contoy	421	(1)
Isla Holbox	421	(1)
Tulum Corridor	421	(1)
Puerto Morelos	422	(1)
Playa del Carmen	423	(4)
Isla Cozumel	427	(8)
Xcaret	435	(1)
Paamul	436	(1)
Xpu-Ha	436	(1)
Akumal	436	(1)
Xcacel	437	(1)
Xel-Ha	437	(1)
Cenote Tours	437	(1)
Tulum	438	(4)
Grand Cenote	442	(1)
Coba	443	(2)
Southern Quintana Roo	445	(1)
Tulum to Punta Allen	445	(1)
Felipe Carrillo Puerto	446	(1)
Xcalak & Costa Maya	446	(1)
Laguna Bacalar	447	(1)
Chetumal	448	(5)
Kohunlich	453	(1)
South to Belize & Guatemala	454	(1)
Yucatan State	455	(53)
Merida	455	(1)
History	455	(2)
Orientation	457	(1)
Information	458	(1)
Plaza Grande	459	(3)
Walking up Calle 60	462	(1)
Paseo de Montejo	462	(1)
Museo Regional de Antropologia	462	(1)
Antropologia	462	(1)
Parque Centenario	463	(1)
Museo Nacional de Arte Popular	463	(1)
Organized Tours	463	(1)
Special Events	463	(1)
Places to Stay	464	(3)
Places to Eat	467	(1)
Entertainment	468	(1)
Shopping	469	(1)
Getting There & Away	469	(4)
Getting Around	473	(1)
Around Merida	474	(1)
Dzibilchaltun	474	(1)
Progreso	474	(1)
Celestun	475	(3)
Southwestern Yucatan State	478	(1)
Uxmal	479	(5)
Kabah	484	(1)
La Ruta Puuc	485	(2)
Grutas de Loltun	487	(1)
Ticul	487	(3)
Ruinas de Mayapan	490	(1)
Eastern Yucatan State	491	(1)
Izamal	491	(1)
Chichen Itza	492	(8)
Valladolid	500	(4)
Ek' Balam	504	(1)
Tizimin	504	(1)
Rio Lagartos	505	(1)
Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Lagartos	506	(1)
San Felipe	507	(1)
Campeche State	508	(16)
Campeche	508	(9)
Around Campeche	517	(2)
Xpujil & Vicinity	519	(4)
Escarcega	523	(1)
Highway 186 to Palenque	523	(1)
Tabasco & Chiapas	524	(69)
Tabasco	524	(1)
Villahermosa	525	(7)
Yumka	532	(1)
Comalcalco	532	(1)
Agua Selva	533	(1)
To/From Guatemala via Tenosique	533	(1)
Chiapas	534	(4)
Tuxtla Gutierrez	538	(5)
Chiapa de Corzo	543	(2)
Canon del Sumidero	545	(1)
San Cristobal de Las Casas	545	(11)
Around San Cristobal de Las Casas	556	(4)
Ocosingo	560	(1)
Tonina	561	(2)
Laguna Miramar	563	(1)
Agua Azul, Agua Clara & Misol-Ha	564	(1)
Palenque	565	(10)
Bonampak, Yaxchilan & the Carretera Fronteriza	575	(6)
Comitan	581	(2)
Tenam Puente	583	(1)
Lagos de Montebello	584	(2)
Ciudad Cuauhtemoc	586	(1)
Reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo	586	(1)
El Soconusco	587	(2)
Tapachula	589	(2)
Around Tapachula	591	(2)
Language	593	(9)
Spanish	593	(6)
Modern Mayan	599	(3)
Menu Guide	602	(4)
Glossary	606	(3)
Acknowledgments	609	(4)
Index	613