5 days, 4 towns, 3 countries
Trip Start
Feb 23, 2008
1
17
32
Trip End
Aug 23, 2008
Where I stayed
Utila,
Bay Islands,
Honduras
Friday, April 25, 2008
I said goodbye to my friends and planned to get to Tikal. The easy way was to take a tour bus direct to Tikal but that was too easy and $50US. I decided to take public transport
Collectivo to Benque (border) $2.50US
walk border
Collectivo from Melchor de Mencos to Puente Ixlu $3.00US
Bus to Park Entrance $1.50US
Collectivo to Tikal $1.50US
Total Cost $8.50US
Admittedly the direct route would take about 2 hours
Jungle
. It took me 6 hours with long waits in the sun at various points.I had heard you could stay in Tikal pretty cheaply and tried the campground where for $7US i got a hammock and a mosquito net. I bought my ticket which allowed me entry after 3pm and the next day as well.
Everyone told me Tikal was the best Mayan Ruin and to those people i say you are absolutely right. Right from the start with the sounds of howler monkeys, parrots and toucans this place felt surreal. As an added bonus there was no one here, i had the place to myself or so it seemed. Towards sunset i headed to the Grand Plaza where 10 or so people waited to watch the sunset. I climbed temple 2 (you cant climb temple 1 after a few people fell to their deaths) and watched the birds in the late afternoon.
After sunset i headed to the campsite to discover i was the only one here. my backpack was locked away as was my torch. I ate at the only place open which was expensive and headed back to my hammock in the total darkness. The night sky was amazing with a mass of stars. As i had no light i decided to go to bed deapite the fact it was 8pm.
I dont really like the outdoors and here was no exception with the bugs and sound of crickets and frogs making a deafening din in the jungle. I awoke at 2am to the sound of a big cat roaring right next to my hammock or thats what i heard
Photos taken from internet
. I was assured the following day it was just the sounds the holer monkeys makeTuesday Rio Dulce
I got up at 5am and renetered the park watching the jungle wake up and seing pyramids i missed the day before. Once again it was empty of people. I left at 8am to avoiud the heat and headed to Rio Dulce, a town on the river at the outlet of Lago de Izobal. I planned to spend 2 days here relaxing and catching up on sleep.
After a 4 hour bus trip i arrived and headed to the Casa Perico- (" a riverside jungle hideaway" - the bible) 10 minutes downstream. Dorms were $5US and the setting was as described. After an all you can eat buffet for $6US where i did eat all i could i slept inside in a bed away from the bugs
Wednesday Rio Dulce
A quick morning swim in the lake and then i headed to town and spent the day sitting watching the lake, checking email and watching the BarcalonaVManU game. I loved days like these. By the lake it was quiet,cool and peaceful but walk 20 metres to the main road and it was hot, dusty and noisy.
I headed back to the hostel feeling refreshed. Tommorrow i would take the boat down river to Livingston and the to Honduras
Thursday Guatemala/Honduras - La Ceiba
I had planned to go to Tela and spend 2 days relaxing on the North Hnduras coast but plans dont always work out and i ended up in La Ceiba in a grotty hotel for $10US after 2 boats, 4 buses and 13 hours
Tikal
. i had bought a bus ticket to Tela and the bus passed 2 turn offs to Tela but didnt actually go into the town and as it was dark and as i thought it would eventually go into town i just stayed on the bus. I was starving and have never been so happy to see an open Wendy's. I decided i would head to Utila in the morning1 day earlyFriday Utila
I caught the early morning ferry to Utila and headed to the Mango inn where i had 4 night free accommodatin included with the dive course. I planned to spend 1 month here and so would find a place to rent. It had been a hard 5 days in parts and i was glad i would be stationary for 1 month. There probably wont be many updates for the next month but who know.
