After a restless overnight at a Seattle airport hotel, we were up at 3am to begin the hurry and wait of modern air travel.
Just a few years back, I traveled around the world for a year with one ... Full Journal »
Treasures of Central America
« All Yorktown cruise options
- Day 1 Belize City, Belize / Embark
- Day 2 Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef
- Day 3 Punta Gorda / Lubaantun
- Day 4 Puerto Barrios / Punta de Manabique, Guatemala
- Day 5 Rio Dulce / Castillo de San Felipe
- Day 6 Laughing Bird Caye & Monkey River, Belize
- Day 7 South water Caye / Goff's Caye
- Day 8 Belize City / Disembark
| Dates | Deck + Cabin Type | ||||||
| E | D | C | B | A | AA | S | |
Please note: Cruise fare does not include fuel surcharges.
Deposit & Payment Day 1 Belize City, Belize / Embark
Embark the ship in the afternoon in Belize City. Overnight aboard docked in port.
Day 2 Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef
Sail from Belize City in the morning to begin your passage through Belize’s Great Barrier Reef. A vast coral formation extending more than 120 miles from the Yucatan to the coast of Guatemala, this reef is second in size to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The reef community constitutes the earth’s oldest and most complex ecosystem, some two billion years old. Not visited by mega cruise liners and mass tourism, the area is a paradise for sailors, snorkelers, and nature lovers. Land at Half Moon Caye, a national reserve and sanctuary for nesting red-footed boobies. Magnificent frigate birds, seabirds and turtles also inhabit the island. You will also discover the remarkable undersea world of the Blue Hole, a natural phenomenon that is part of an underwater national park. Elliptical in shape the entire hole is surrounded by a 1,000-ft coral rim that rises to the lagoon’s surface. Jacques Cousteau spent a month here exploring the stalagmite-filled caves along the walls of the Hole. A local diving boat will take you to the reef system surrounding this remarkable site. A protected area teeming with marine life, this is an excellent spot in which to snorkel.
Day 3 Punta Gorda / Lubaantun
Facing the tranquil waters of the Bahia de Amatique, the small port town of Punta Gorda was founded by the Garifuna, who emigrated here around 1830. Take an excursion to the Maya site of Lubaantun, which flourished until the 8th century A.D. Many of its buildings are still covered with jungle, and what has been excavated reveals the importance and grandeur of the site that had, among other structures, 18 plazas and several temples. After touring the site, return to the ship for an afternoon at leisure, or explore further the area of southwest Belize, including the Mopan Maya village of San Antonio and the nearby Blue Creek Nature Reserve. Late in the afternoon, sail for Puerto Barrios, Guatemala, where your ship will arrive in the evening.
Day 4 Puerto Barrios / Punta de Manabique, Guatemala
Surrounded by tropical forest, Puerto Barrios is Guatemala’s major port on the Caribbean coast. Drive in the morning to Quiriguá, an ancient Maya site, now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Quiriguá is famed for its intricately carved stelae – sandstone columns, some of which are over 30 feet tall. Completed in the 8th century A.D., the carvings depict the deeds of local rulers, mythical figures, and animals, and contain Maya glyphs. In the afternoon, explore Punta de Manabique, a beautiful and unspoiled area that offers excellent birding, swimming and trekking.
Day 5 Rio Dulce / Castillo de San Felipe
Sailing from Puerto Barrios in the morning, Yorktown will enter the Rio Dulce, a narrow and scenic river. Soon after entering the river, your ship will navigate the narrow Cueva de la Vaca, a gorge whose steep walls are covered with tropical foliage. Stop at the Chocón Machacas Reserve, which was created to protect the wildlife of the river. A nature walk will allow you to see the area’s flora and fauna. Continue sailing to the Castillo de San Felipe, an imposing castle built in 1653 by the Spanish to protect the area and their commercial activities from pirates. After touring the castle, sail downriver to enter the Caribbean and the calm waters between Belize’s mainland and the outlying islands of the Barrier Reef.
Day 6 Laughing Bird Caye & Monkey River, Belize
This morning call at Laughing Bird Caye, a tranquil island paradise on the lee side of the Barrier Reef. One of Belize’s most beautiful small islands, its surrounding reef supports a vast array of marine life and provides excellent opportunities for snorkeling and swimming. Then enjoy a leisurely cruise up the pristine, jungle-lined Monkey River, listening to the loud rumblings of howler monkeys and witnessing their aerial acrobatics in the surrounding trees and vines. The area is a breeding ground for a great number of tropical species, including alligators, toucans, macaws, and hundreds of other species of birds.
Day 7 South water Caye / Goff's Caye
Call this morning at South Water Caye, whose waters constitute a veritable coral garden. Discover the magnificent coral formations and rich variety of tropical fish within these unexplored waters. Then return to the ship and set sail for Goff’s Caye. Surrounded by incredibly clear waters whose colors range from deep blue to pale green, this small caye is picture postcard-perfect and is the ideal setting for your farewell party.
Day 8 Belize City / Disembark
Disembark in Belize City and transfer to the airport for return flights to the U.S.
Itinerary Notes
OPTIONAL EXTENSION TO TIKAL:Travelers will be able to participate on a 2-night/3-day pre-cruise optional extension to Tikal, the great Maya city located deep in the jungle of Guatemala’s Peten region. During your stay, you will be able to explore this amazing ancient site, including its imposing temples, leisurely and thoroughly. Note this optional extension is available at additional cost to the regular rates.
PROGRAM INCLUSIONS:
- 7-night cruise aboard the 138-guest Yorktown
- Complete program of tours and excursions
- Welcome and farewell cocktail receptions aboard ship
- All meals aboard ship, including house wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
- Educational program of lectures and discussions by accompanying study leaders
- Professional tour staff
- Complete pre-departure materials
- Port and embarkation taxes
- Gratuities to guides and drivers
NOT INCLUDED: Airfare; visa and passport fees (if applicable); luggage and trip cancellation insurance; meals, soft drinks, and alcoholic beverages other than those specified above; personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, faxes, and e-mail service; and gratuities to shipboard personnel.
Deposit & Payment
Initial deposit is $1000, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, and Discover. Alternatively, you can send a check to our Missoula, Montana, office or register online at: https://www.adventure-life.com/forms/fourways.php
Final payment is due 100 days prior to departure.
Final payment by Visa, Mastercard, Discover or AmEx.
Booking last minute? No problem! Please contact one of our trip planners, and we can get you on your way if booking less than 100 days prior to departure.
Click here to see a copy of our Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation Policy
| Days Prior to departure | Fee |
|---|---|
| 91 days or more | $400 |
| 90-31 days | 55% cruise cost |
| 30-0 days | 100% cruise cost |
Yorktown
- Ship Highlights
- Passengers : 138
The Yorktown is the perfect vessel for relaxed and convivial exploration of America’s great coastal waterways. Built in Florida in 1988 specifically for coastal cruising and certified by the U.S. Coast Guard, the Yorktown flies the American flag and is staffed by friendly and experienced American officers and crew. 257 feet long, 43 feet wide, with a draft of 8 feet, the Yorktown is able to maneuver in secluded waterways and visit small ports that are inaccessible to larger vessels. And Yorktown’s American registry makes it possible to operate domestic itineraries unavailable to foreign-flag ships.
In addition to a large sun deck, the Yorktown boasts a spacious lounge for social gatherings and lectures as well as quiet space for private conversation. The ship’s cuisine, served in a dining room large enough to accommodate all guests at once, emphasizes American regional culinary traditions and specialties. Both the lounge and dining room are surrounded by large picture windows that afford unobstructed
views of the passing scenery.
Accommodating 138 guests in 69 exterior cabins, the Yorktown enjoys an atmosphere of warm and relaxed informality that endears it to repeat and new guests alike.
Measuring 257 feet long, 43 feet wide, and with a draft of just eight feet, the ship's easy maneuverability and shallow draft enable exploration of secluded waterways beyond the reach of bigger ships. A fleet of motorized landing craft can be launched in minutes for spontaneous landings on small islands and deserted beaches.
| Cabins | |
|---|---|
| E Outside cabins with two lower beds, two portholes, private shower & toilet. Cabins M11-M17 | |
| D Outside cabins with two lower beds, two windows, private shower & toilet. Cabins L43-48 | |
| C Outside cabins with two lower beds, two windows, private shower & toilet. Cabins P49-P76 | |
| B Outside cabins with two lower beds, two picture windows, private shower & toilet. Cabins M18-M26 | |
| A Outside cabins with two lower beds, two picture windows, private shower & toilet. Cabins L29-L42 | |
| AA Outside cabins with two lower beds (converts to queen), two picture windows, private shower & toilet. Cabins L27-28, P59-60 | |
| S Superior outside cabins with walk-out balcony, queen bed, private shower & toilet. Cabins S77-S80 |
