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Career breaks and gap year to Central America

country:Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
departures:2010: 21 Jan, 18 Feb, 4 Mar, 6 May, 2 Sep, 30 Sep, 4 Nov, 2 Dec
price:From £3170 (12 weeks) excluding flights, from £3995 including flights from the UK. Plus £795 local payment.  
vouchers:Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
 
the amazing things you'll be doing
The Aztec and Mayan civilizations ruled Central America until the arrival of the Conquistadors in 1572. Both civilisations were master architects with an hieroglyphic language that wasn’t decoded until the end of the 20th Century. Why then, in AD900, did the writing stop and the Mayans abandon their cities? How did the Aztecs take control and is their fearsome penchant for cruelty and human sacrifice justified? Our trip traces a dramatic line through the mountains and jungles of Central America, taking you to the cultural crossroads of the Americas.

Three phases make up this trip:
1. Cultural Orientation and Learn Spanish
2. Make the jungle your home whilst working to conserve it
3. Explore five countries and dive in the Caribbean 

Trip highlights
  • Travel Survival Course in UK before departure
  • Three weeks of 1-to-1 Spanish tuition in Mexico and Guatemala, plus cultural orientation
  • Wildlife habitat conservation project in Belize
  • Jungle Expedition through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Costa Rica
  • Pyramids, temples and sacrifice sites
  • Beaches along the Caribbean and Pacific ocean
  • Volcano climb in Guatemala
  • Adventure activities including mountain biking, white-water rafting and optional PADI dive course in the Caribbean
  • New friends and the time of your life!

    This is an all-inclusive trip, with full support and a range of services provided before, during and after the venture.

    Included in the price is our UK travel survival course, all food & accommodation, language tuition & homestays, cultural orientation, transport, conservation project funding through our Trust and activities (including visits to Caye Caulker & Utila, treks to Tikal & Tajamulco volcano and whitewater rafting). The “with flights” option includes “open jaw” flights (London - Mexico City & San Jose - London).

    Not included are visas, inoculations, personal items, tips, drinks & evenings out and travel insurance. Our insurance costs £183 (12 weeks). The “with flights” price does not include taxes (approx £135), which are subject to change. These will be confirmed at your safety course, about 8 weeks before departure.
    the project
    Wildtracks Outreach Project: This is an active environmental education programme and introduces local children to their surrounding environment and the benefits it can bring to them. Venturers will be doing hands on light building work in the jungle, constructing paths and look out points. From which environmental and wildlife studies can take place. The group is self supported during the project so be prepared to live in the jungle.
  • day-by-day itinerary
    Week 1-2:Cultural Orientation and Language School: Oaxaca, Mexico. Spanish tuition one-to-one or in small groups. Weekend visit to local market and expedition skills training. Accommodation in family homestays.
    Week 3:Expedition Mexico: Canyons, Colonial Chiapas and the Mayans. Explore the Sumidero Canyon, feel the Spanish influence in San Cristobal, first encounter with the Mayans at Palenque.
    Week 4-6:Wildlife Conservation Project in the Belize Jungle. Developing the infrastructure within Fireburn Reserve, deep in the Belize jungle.
    Week 7:Expedition Guatemala: Jungle Trek to Tikal. Enjoy post project beach time on Caye Caulker, a Caribbean island. Three-day trek to the Mayan pyramids at Tikal
    Week 8:Language School: Antigua, Guatemala. Spanish refresher course. Accommodation in family homestays.
    Week 9:Expedition Guatemala: Volcano Trek and Modern Mayan Culture. Lake Atitlan and surrounding Mayan indigenous markets. Tajamulco Volcano Trek (4,220m).
    Week 10:Expedition Honduras: Copan and the Caribbean coast. Mayan ruins complex at Copan Whitewater rafting. Caribbean coast and ferry to Utila Island.
    Week 11:Expedition Honduras: Utila Island. A free week on Utila Island for optional activities including: 4 day PADI scuba dive course, sea kayaking, caribbean beach life.
    Week 12:Expedition Honduras to Costa Rica. Colonial Granada in Nicaragua. Rainforest canopy exploration in Costa Rica. Venture finale in San Jose.
    how this holiday makes a difference
    This venture supports the Wildtracks Outreach Project. As well as our guides you are also accompanied by local guides and project partners. Groups are kept to a maximum of sixteen people, big enough to help the local communities, but not big enough to have a negative affect themselves. Back in the UK we also have our own environmental policy and we believe this is where responsible travel should start, prior to departure. It is simple things that help and perhaps the biggest impact in the office comes from recycling paper, as a rule where possible we print on both sides of paper and it is not until it is completely beyond use that we then send it to be recycled.

    All our development projects have been carefully chosen to satisfy several criteria. They are of definable and sustainable benefit to the indigenous community and allow us the opportunity to work in tandem with the host community. Funding for the projects comes directly from our Trust. For each person that joins us, we, as a company, give at least US $400 (GB £215) to the Trust. 100% of the money the Trust receives is spent on the projects.

    All development projects are over-seen by a resident Project Manager whose role is to co-ordinate the adventures, the funding and the project's objectives. We are committed to direct patronage within the local economies of the countries in which we operate. We pay local tutors to teach languages; accommodation throughout the adventure is in locally owned hostels or based in the project locations; and the entire expedition budget will be spent by the team at local "grass roots" level.

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