
PLEASE NOTE: If you wish to book the entire week 3 trip (San Ignacio Belize, Guatemala + Roatan) in one package, please click here. This form is only for those starting your trip directly from the U.S. into Roatan, or those who are skipping the first half of week 3 and joining up with us on Thursday Feb 8th from Belize City for the hop flight to Roatan.
PICKING UP WHERE YOU LEFT OFF ON A PREVIOUS TRIP?
If you've already done week 2 and the jungle part of week 3 and you want to pick up where you left off previously (or if you'd rather just start with Roatan) this is the correct order form for you.
CURRENT WEEK 2 CONTINUING TO WEEK 3 ALTERNATIVE
If you are continuing from Week 2 in San Pedro Belize in 2024 but you have already done the jungle side of Belize, you may choose to skip the first five days of Week 3 (part 1) in San Ignacio and either stay in San Pedro longer (on your own), or head on to Roatan earlier (on your own). Please note that Tropic Air only flys to Roatan on Sunday's, Monday's, Thursday's and Friday's, so the best option might be to stay in San Pedro until Sunday or Monday of week 2 and then fly to Roatan. You may also choose to use the five days we are in San Ignacio to rent a car on your own in Belize and go explore Orange Walk, Placencia, or other parts and then just pick up with the group on Thursday February 8th at BZE airport to continue with us to Roatan. If you choose this route, please let us know specifically what your plans are in the "special instructions" section of your order form so we can properly book your Belize to Roatan flight on the correct day and book your Roatan hotel arrival.
Please email us at: Tropications@gmail.com with any questions or if you need assistance planning this five day break.
This order form is specifically for those who are joining up with the group at Belize City International (BZE) on Thursday February 8th (or sooner), or flying directly in from the U.S. to Roatan (RTB) on Thursday February 8th (or sooner) to begin with the Roatan part of the trip.
MEETING OF THE MAYANS WEEK THREE (part 2):
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 8 - SUNDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2024
NEW ARRIVALS TO ROATAN: Thursday February 1, 2024
NEW ARRIVALS FOR WEEK 3 (part 2): If you are joining us for only the Roatan part of the expedition or you are picking up where you left off on a previous trip, you'll need to book a round trip flight from the US into Roatan nternational (RTB) and we'll take care of the rest. *If you are continuing with us beyond Roatan, you'll book a one way into Roatan and exit the expedition later in the trip. Several major airlines fly here from the US and they typically only have one flight per day which arrives in the early afternoon. We will have a personal driver and shuttles waiting upon your arrival to transport you to the resort. If you are arriving from the U.S. on Thursday February 8 or before that date, the driver will be there to make sure you get safely from the airport to the resort and the front desk will be ready for you upon arrival. Our arriving flight from Belize with the Week 3 (Part 1) group will not land in Roatan until 5pm Thursday so we will be joining you Thursday evening at the resort.
WEEK 2 STOWAWAYS CONTINUING FROM BELIZE
If you are continuing from San Pedro week 2 but chose to skip the San Ignacio and Guatemala first half of week 3, please make sure to click the "week 2 stowaway" on your order form to help with our records. You will need to plan on being at Belize City International Airport (BZE) by 2pm on Thursday February 8th to join back up with the group for our 4pm flight to Roatan.
If you wish to book the entire week 3 trip (San Ignacio Belize, Guatemala + Roatan) in one package from San Pedro and week 2, please click here. This form is only for those starting the trip directly from the U.S. into Roatan or joining up with us on Thursday Feb 8th from Belize City for the hop flight to Roatan.
ROATAN ITINERARY
Thursday February 8- Moving Day: Belize to Honduras (or flying in from the U.S.)
Thursday we'll have all morning to relax and get ready for the moving day. From BZE, we will say goodbye to the "week 2 extended" members of the group, but the majority of our week 3 group will board our private charters for a 1hr hop flight over to the amazing island of Roatan Honduras for our third passport stamp and three or more nights of bliss! We will clear Roatan customs in early evening and load the shuttles for a quick jog over to our beach resort in paradise! Here you will have a minimum of four days and three nights to explore West End Village and the exciting shops, restaurants and nightlife of our new island home. There is an option to stay in Roatan longer if you wish (please see below) Thursday night will be a free night and the group will likely figure out a plan when we get there!
Friday February 9- Roatan, Honduras
We will be staying in the West End Village area of the island at a "dive hotel" (don't worry, it's the other kind of diving) for Thursday thru Sunday in Roatan. West End is perfect for our group as it is the tourist epicenter of town-within walking distance of everything you'll need and want. We will have three nights and days in heart of it all to fit some beach time into your vacation and Mike will be playing a show on Saturday night at Sundowners within stumbling distance of the hotel. We've made some great friends here and can help you book diving trips (even deep water dives), snorkeling, fishing or pretty much anything you have in mind. The plan is there is no plan. Roatan is the perfect compliment to the jungle half of week 2 and the perfect hop on point for newcomers, as well as the perfect exit point if you've run out of steam after two weeks on vacation.
Saturday February 10- Roatan, Honduras
Free Day & Mike Nash Evening Show at Sundowner’s
Sunday February 11- End of Week 3 and U.S. Return Flight Options:
FROM ROATAN: Sunday is the official end of "week 3". However, we know that for many of you, a few days in Roatan is just not enough. Therefore we have an easy option to stay up to four more nights at our group rate and hotel (just make your selection on the order form and choose your number of extra nights). If you are exiting the trip at any point from Roatan, we will have luggage stewards and a shuttle driver to take you from the hotel to the airport in time for your flight home and we will be on site to help until Tuesday. On Tuesday, we will personally be leaving to head toward Costa Rica for week 4, but you'll be well taken care of for a few more days in Roatan if you decide to stay longer. We'll have the shuttle driver ready to return you to the airport whenever you need it and you'll know the area like the back of your hand. (please see connector options below)
ALL IN ONE PRICING: WEEK 3
This package is specifically designed to include only the Roatan part of week 3. The price includes your hop flight from Belize City to Roatan (if you are arriving direct from the U.S. please choose the appropriate package which eliminates this cost of hop flights). This package includes your hotel room in Roatan for Thursday to Sunday (optional add on nights are available), all group activities and event tee shirt for each person in your booking (shirts are only for new arrivals to the trip). Your expenses beyond this will be your US flights and all non-included meals, tips, drinks and shopping you do on your own. All taxes and fees are included. Please note that all of our pricing is in US dollars.
Including hop flight from Belize City $1100 ($800 for one)
Flying directly into Roatan from the U.S. $620 ($520 for one)
Please email us at Tropications@gmail.com with any questions.
WEEK 3 CONNECTOR TO WEEK 4:
The expedition is officially in limbo from Sunday in Roatan to Friday in Liberia Costa Rica where we start back with week 4. There are several options to connect from Roatan to Liberia and fill your week up with as much or as little adventure as you'd like. We personally will be staying in Roatan for a few more days to relax and take a much needed break from the schedule before flying a combination of hop flights and big flights to Liberia Costa Rica to prepare for week 4....but that doesn't mean you have to!
Whether you are a new arrival who's chosen Roatan as your hop on point to begin your Mayan adventure, a week 1, 2 or 3 stowaway continuing on, or a return guest from previous year picking up where you left off- we have several options for your Sunday through Friday from Roatan to Liberia Costa Rica. We can help you make all of the arrangements, the travel and adventure are up to you! Please see more below:
CONNECTOR WEEK OPTION A: "GoGo Week" Includes: 2 nights each in San Salvador and Panama choose this option and you'll leave Roatan on Monday for an hour hop flight to San Salvador (El Salvador) where you'll spend two nights (more or less if you wish) exploring on your own (or with the members of the group who also chose this option). There is a lot to see and do here and most importantly you'l check off that rare El Salvador passport stamp that not many have done. Wednesday you'll take the 2 hour big jet flight on COPA Airlines from San Salvador to Panama City for two more nights to explore the city and canal. COPA airlines allows up to a four night "overnight layover" for a $100 fee which saves you having to book a separate flight out. Your original flight will continue a short one hour on Friday to meet up with us and the rest of the group in Liberia Costa Rica to start week 4 (or you can fly home from Panama City if you wish). If you are interested in this option, please click the "GoGo Week" box on your order form and we will contact you at a later date to work out the details and pricing.
CONNECTOR WEEK OPTION B: "Chill + Panama" includes extra days in Roatan and two nights in Panama: this option basically eliminates El Salvador and includes as many extra days in Roatan as you'd like, followed by a short 30 minute hop flight to San Pedro Sula Honduras whatever day of the week you choose. In San Pedro, you'll have a few hour's layover and then board the big jet flight with COPA Airlines early afternoon for a 2hr flight to Panama City where you can "overnight" for up to four nights to explore the city and canal. Your original flight will continue Friday for a quick one hour to Liberia Costa Rica to meet up with the group and begin week 4 (or you may fly home directly from Panama City). If you are interested in this option, please click the "Chill + Panama" box on your order form and we will contact you at a later date to work out the details and pricing.
CONNECTOR WEEK OPTION C: "Tag along to week 4" We will personally be staying in Roatan until Tuesday morning and then taking the short 30min hop flight to San Pedro Sula Honduras where we have a 2 hour layover. From SAP we will board the COPA airlines big jet for a two hour flight to Panama CIty where we have a quick one hour layover and subsequent flight directly to San Jose Costa Rica all in the same day. It is a total travel day of around 12 hours from hotel to hotel and not for those who aren't well traveled. When we land in San Jose, we stay at a Marriott close to the airport for Tuesday night. Wednesday morning we personally take another hop flight to Liberia, but you can rent a car in San Jose and go explore on your own, or book several tours through our local tour guide friend to visit Arenal Volcano, Rio Celeste and Tenorio Volcano, take a hop flight to visit Puerto Viejo, or a slew other options (on your own, or with any of the group who has chosen this option) and book your hop flight or transport to Liberia later in the week. We will meet back up in Liberia Costa Rica on Friday afternoon to pick up the week 4 arriving group and head to the hotel in Playas Del Coco. If you are interested in this option, please click the "Tag along to week 4" box on your order form and we will contact you at a later date to work out the details and pricing.
FINALLY: you do have the option of flying back to the U.S. from Roatan, overnight in Houston or Miami, and book a subsequent flight to Liberia (LIR) on any days of your choice. Sadly, this seems to also be the most expensive option. Way to go USA! =/
Please click here for more info on week 4 booking
Please email Tropications@gmail.com with any questions.
THINGS TO BRING
PACK LIGHT: It's 85 degrees and sunny just about every day of the year in these destinations! You don't need to bring nearly as much as you think. We recommend packing as light as possible (a smaller suitcase is even better) not only for ease of carrying your luggage around (especially for the WEEK 3 folks as we are moving around quite a bit) but it will also leave room to take home souvenirs. There are cheap laundry services at every location as well if you have the need.
SNACKS: If you're like me and love your American snacks, I recommend packing them in your suitcase or carry on (yes you can bring food on to a plane, just not liquids). They have grocery stores in these countries(not exactly like a Wal Mart mind you) but most American things are tourist priced accordingly as the locals don't eat what we eat. Also I like to bring my own coffee just cause I'm a coffee snob like that....feel free to bring anything you think you can't live without for a week. There are plenty of food trucks, restaurants and grocery stores around with pretty much the same selection you'll find back home.
BUG SPRAY: It's expensive here for a reason. Bring it...you'll thank me on a breezeless day!
(by the way, it's better if it has deet in it)
SUNSCREEN: (see bug spray above..bring it!)
SLEEP: Eye blinders can be a big plus when traveling to these destinations. The sun goes down at 6pm and comes up at 6am every day of the year and some of the rooms don't have much in the way of black out drapes. You'll thank me!
LIQUOR: Duty Free on your way is is the cheapest place you'll find top shelf brands. We personally drink the local rum and vodka as well as beers and rum, and they are cheap. If you drink anything else you'll want to hit duty free on the way in and bring it as it can be pricey in town at these places.
BACKPACK COOLER OR SMALL COLLAPSIBLE COOLER YOU CAN FIT IN YOUR SUITCASE: This one pretty much explains itself!
MONEY: The exchange rate is pinned at 2 Belizean dollars for 1 US for cash. Roatan is about 24:1 and Costa Rica is around 550:1 (don't get too excited though, they price things accordingly). There isn't much need to exchange your US dollars as they are accepted right along side of the local currency everywhere we will go. They might give you change in the local currency, and of course they won't always be able to break a hundred, so I'd recommend bringing smaller bills if you're going the cash route. $20's and below are fine. US credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere (with the exception of street vendors and some souvenir shops) but keep in mind you'll want to bring cash for tips and things you cannot buy with credit card. You can usually add a tip to the credit card bill as well but it's always good to have a little cash on hand. Do check your bill before tipping though as many bars and restaurants will add a 10% gratuity automatically which is a fair amount for this trip. Don't forget to make sure you have "no foreign transaction fees" on the card you'll be using and call to let your cc company know you'll be traveling abroad. Credit cards in Belize actually run a bit less than 2:1 but it's not a big issue unless you're making a large purchase. Roatan and the other countries run concurrently with the daily exchange rate at the bank.
SNORKEL GEAR: If you've got room, feel free to bring it. You can of course rent it at the places we go, but if you have your own you can just jump in the water and swim out a bit to the reef...it's not that far from shore.
WATER SHOES/HIKING GEAR: You will want to bring comfortable walking shoes for our group excursions and Maya ruins exploring. Bring water shoes if you plan to zip-line and river raft. For the Costa Rica week, these are a must.
STAYING CONNECTED: The arrival airports do have free wi-fi (though it can be spotty) so you shouldn't need to turn your phone off of airplane mode the entire trip unless you just want to. Most US carriers will work in all of the countries we will visit (Verizon for $10, AT&T and T-mobile are free) but we've found we rarely need the actual phone and there's free high speed wi-fi everywhere so (as much as it sucks not to take off that electronic leash) you won't have to worry about being un-connected very often.
please note that there will be no cancellations allowed after September 1, 2023. If you anticipate any issues, we recommend purchasing travel insurance from an independent source.