Travel Buddies: Fun Trips & Travel Partners found here!

Guatemala is often referred as a hidden gem for nature explorers - through being not a super popular destination yet, the country offers diverse attractions, from glowing lava flows of volcanos (some of them smoke!), to stunning crater lakes, to emerald jungles, to ruins of Maya temples.

This road-trip is aimed for first-timers - after the recent experience in Costa Rica in the same mode, in Guatemala we want to do things that would give up the sense and taste of the country and culture - we will drive by car to a few signature attractions while keeping safety matters as a priority.

We will start in the capital, Guatemala City, explore nearby attractions including one of the nearby smoking volcanos. Then we will drive to the most recognizable site in the country, Tikal National Park (in the middle of this stretch we will make one overnight stop at in a rural area of Lake Isabel Nature Preserve.) At Tikal we do not plan to go on El Mirador trek (this should be a subject of a separate trip) but we will stay two nights at the area exploring the Myan site in the jungles, and leave for home right from this area, at Flores International airport.

Participant who are interested and available to continue exploring the region can join the adjacent trip to Belize (which is just about one hour flight away from the capital of Guatemala.)

December weather in the area is warm with day average temperatures 75 degree F (58 degree at night.) It's a dry season though with possible precipitation, and winds at the ocean. Link to check on the weather https://bit.ly/3RVUM9U

Trip's summary:

• 6days/5nights trip for a small group of 6 explorers.
• The starting point is Guatemala City International airport (GUA) and ending point is Flores International airport (FRS.)
• Hotel accommodations in Guatemala City, Rio Dulce, Flores.
• Level of activities: Easy to Intermediate.

Clothes and gear recommended:

• good hiking shoes,
• warm jacket for evenings, be ready to layer up,
• hiking poles if you used to them,
• day backpack,
• consider hydration bladder for hikes,
• sunglasses,
• sunscreen,
• hat,
• for personal protection: mask, carry-on sanitizer, gloves (by your choice.)

Cost $560. What will be included:

• 6days/5nights stay in 2-people occupancy non-smoking room (two beds in room),
• Transportation by SUV or mini-van (like Toyota Rush, Nissan x-trail or similar) covering approx. 500 mi of road-tripping total,
• Organized hikes in all days.

What is NOT included:

• Getting to Guatemala City and returning from Flores, Guatemala,
• Meals, snacks, water,
• common tips, access/parking/admission fees, charged individually/per person (per car fees are included), any private tours are up to participants too.

Sunrise: 5:45am. Sunset: 5:15pm. Every day we want to start off from the hotel at 7 am or 7:30am, or as the latest. If you are a night owl, please try to adjust yourself for an earlier getup during the trip - the purpose of it is to use more of daylight at wintertime for activities.

There will be a Zoom meeting on this trip and a WhatsApp group chat will be formed for the group to communicate and prepare for the trip. Please be available to connect by WhatsApp (provide the organizer with your WhatsApp contact info to be included in the chat.) Regular messaging will not work out for this trip.

Sign up and feel free to comment with any questions!

Colorful Cuba

January 24th - February 1st, 2025

Join Here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/

E-mail us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club are relaunching their Colorful Cuba tour. It is an excellent program full of surprises, fun, and off the beaten path sights - and it is 100% legal! Take this once in a lifetime trip to this undisturbed Caribbean gem!

• 8N/9D throughout the best of Cuba with amazing off the path experiences!
• One-of-a-kind "casa particulares" (small converted homes & guesthouses!)
• Privately guided adventures and local experts throughout
• Breakfast every day
• 3 Dinners, 5 Lunches INCLUDED
• Legal, licensed & permitted program with all USA compliance requirements met under the SCP Program

Email us directly at [email protected] to receive a detailed daily itinerary!

Havana

• Old Havana: Privately guided walking tour including many of the historical sites
• Fusterlandia & Jaimanitas Fishing Village: Colorful fishing village made famous by local artist, Jose Fuster, outside Havana

Soroa

• Unesco Biosphere Reserve
• Callejon de Hamel: Street art project where resident Salvador Gonzáles Escalona has decorated and painted in vibrant colors a pedestrian alleyway with scrap objects
• Las Terrazas: Mountain community was built as a reforestation project in the 1960s and is now part of the same UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
• Orchid Garden: Specialized botanical garden, with a collection of 20,000 specimens and more than 350 species of orchids

Viñales

• Sustainable Farm Discovery: Cuban farmer and his family who'll show us around their organic farm and explain the methods they use to grow their produce without pesticides or artificial fertilizers
• Valley Walking Tour & Tobacco Plantation: A beautiful walk through the valley to a local tobacco farm to learn about the making of Cuba’s famous cigars
• Cuban Cooking Class: Learn to cook Cuban-style with a cooking demonstration of 'platos tipicos'.

Cienfuegos

• Bay of Pigs: Scenic drive along the site where the Bay of Pigs occurred in 1961.
• Sinkhole or Ocean Snorkel: Stop for a swim and snorkel in the ocean or by a sinkhole which resembles a huge natural tropical fish tank.
• Guided Orientation Walk & Palacio de Valle : A short walk to see and learn the local landmarks followed by a visit to the Palacio de Valle, an "Arabian Nights" like aspiring restaurant with a fantastic terrace bar.

Trinidad

• Guided Trinidad Walk: Cultural tour of numerous churches, museums, and many colonial buildings
• Learn to Bartend: Bartending demonstration and discussion of the history behind Cuba’s most popular cocktails.
• Salsa Lesson: Visit a local dance school for a demonstration and lesson in the dances of Cuba
• Salto de Javira Waterfall: An easy hike to this beautiful waterfall, perfect for photos and a dip to cool off.
• Dinner on the Beach: Weather permitting, we'll celebrate this amazing journey together with a feast on the beach!

E-mail us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Price: $2,495
Single Supplement: $695

Deposit: $600

Check out our club's official trip page: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/cuba-small-group-tours/

February 1st – February 13th, 2025

Spiritual Capitals, Monuments of Love, & Bengal Tigers!

Sign up & Secure your spot at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/mystical-india-group-tours/

Email us to see daily itinerary: [email protected]

We're invited to another incredible adventure with our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club! (https://www.photoflytravel.com/)

Deposit needed to secure spot, RSVPing does not secure spot.

• 12 Nights/ 13 Days
• Boutique hotels & 4 star accommodations
• Privately guided
• Expert local guides
• Breakfast daily
• 12 Dinners, 5 Lunches
• 4 domestic flights ($700 value!)
• Air-conditioned, luxury coach
• Porter gratuities included

Ancient monuments and century’s old traditions set the backdrop for the world’s largest democracy. Without a doubt, India is arguably the most diverse country in the world on many levels!

Delhi (2 Nights)

India’s capital and political hub is an ancient city that has something for everyone. Settled seven times over the centuries, this city has grown in a way that reflects its past, while retaining its cosmopolitan flavor.

• Explore Old Delhi: See Asia’s largest mosque (Jama Masjid), rickshaw ride through Old Delhi, & ancient silver market
• Experience New Delhi: See the India Gate (official residence of the President of India), Parliament House (unique circular building with huge colonnades), Humayun’s Tomb, & 70-meter high Qutub Minar

Varanasi (2 Nights)

Varanasi is the oldest living city in the world and has been the ultimate Hindu pilgrimage spot for thousands of years.

• Assi Ghat (Riverbank): Explore the fascinating riverside with narrow and puzzled alleys excellent for cultural photography
• Manikarnika: Sacred river fronts alongside the river Ganga and unique cremation ground will help us understand why people want to spend their last days in Varanasi.
• Sarai Mohana Village: Translated means “weavers” village, the mastery here is silk weaving.
• Sarnath, Birthplace of Buddhism: Considered the center of the Buddhist world, it was here that Buddha himself preached his very first sermon.
• On the Ganges: Hour long morning boat ride will be an outstanding way to see the pilgrims standing in deep-waist water to worship the rising sun.

Agra, Jaipur, & Udaipur (5 Nights)

Agra is synonymous with the Taj Mahal – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

• Taj Mahal: View & photograph this master piece of marble, and the greatest monument depicting love of all time during the golden hour of sunrise!

Jaipur: The pink jewel of Rajasthan, Jaipur’s old walled section is known as the Pink City due to its light red paint (a lucky color in Hindu culture).

• Pink Markets & Bazars: Bapu & Johri Bazaar are not just great places to shop but make for a great photo walk
• Amber Fort: Ancient palace which doubled as a fort was at the former epicenter of Rajasthan during the 15th century, now a UNESCO World Heritage site
• Galtaji (monkey) Temple: Beautiful temple between two mountains is not only a favorite place of macaque monkeys, but a sought after pilgrimage site for Hindu’s all over India.

Udaipur: Founded in 1568 as the capital of the old Mewar state; Udaipur was the only Rajput stronghold to uphold its Hindu allegiance in the face of Muslim invasion.

• City Palace: Standing on the crest of a ridge overlooking Lake Pichola, the largest palace in Rajasthan was built over various historic periods.
• Jagdish Temple : In the heart of old town, this place of Hindu worship was built in the mid-17th century and has a remarkable bronze statue of Garuda.
• Lake Pichola: Relax on a boat ride through the steel blue waters of the magnificent, albeit artificially created lake of the 14th century.

Sawai Madhopur & Ranthambore, Home of Tigers! (3 Nights)

Ranthambore National Park is one of the few places left in the world where tigers roam free! Also keep your eyes open for sloth bears, hyena, leopards, and a number of other endangered species.

• Safari: Explore the park to photograph Bengal tigers in their home, along with other unique animals.

PhotoFly Travel Club adventures are laid back when it comes to photography. They are not workshop style-based tours, you do not need to be an avid photographer to join. All are welcome!

• 4 domestic flights INCLUDED ($700 value!)
• International airfare is not included.
• Flying round trip into/out of Delhi (DEL)
• Roommate pairing to save money
• All taxes, fees, & transfers included

Email us at [email protected] for the daily itinerary!

Join Us!

For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.

Price: $3,495

Single Supplement: $695.00

Deposit: $600.00

Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/mystical-india-group-tours/