Itinerary for Northern Central America/Yucatan

Sat., Mar. 26--San Antonio to Campeche (p. 50)--Continental 1809: Dep. 7:30/Arr. 9:05 Cancun; bus to downton Cancun, 20 min., 15 pesos; bus to Campeche: ADO Line Dep. 11:20/Arr. 17:20, 410 pesos; ADO GL Line Dep. 14:20/Arr. 21:10, 492 pesos. Hotel: Hotel Francis Drake

Sun. Mar. 27--Campeche

Mon., Mar. 28--Campeche

Tuesday, Mar. 29--Campeche to Palenque (p. 44)--ADO Line Dep. 11:00/Arr. 16:15, 266 pesos.  Hotel:  Hotel Posada Shalom

Wednesday, Mar. 30--Palenque

Thursday, Mar. 31--Palenque to San Cristobal de Casas (p. 37)--OCC Line Dep. 9:00/Arr. 14:05, 148 pesos or OCC Line Dep. 9:20/Arr. 14:10, 148 pesos Hotel: Posada Las Casas

Friday, Apr. 1--San Cristobal de Casas

Sat., Apr. 2--San Cristobal de Casas to Quetzaltenango (p. 139)--Bus to Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, OCC Line Dep. 7:00/Arr. 10:10 or Dep. 7:45/Arr. 10:55. 88 pesos; Cross border from Ciudad Cuauhtemoc to La Mesilla, 4km, Collectivo taxi, 10 pesos, or private taxi, 30 pesos, money changers on both sides of border; La Mesilla mototaxi, 3 pesos/Q2 to bus depot; then bus to Quetzaltenango, 3 1/2 hours, Q15 (Note: Can book van with travel agency for entire trip of 8 hours for 260 pesos.) Hotel: Casa San Bartolome

Sun., Apr. 3--Quetzaltenango

Mon., Apr. 4--Quetzaltenango

Tues., Apr. 5--Quetzaltenango to Panajachel, Lago de Atitlan (p. 117)--hourly, 3 hours, Q25 Hotel: Hotel Utz Jay

Wed., Apr. 6--Panajachel to Santiago Atitlan (p. 125)--boat, 35 min., Q20  Hotel:  Cottage at Posada Santiago  (Cottage Images)

Thurs., Apr. 7--Santiago Atitlan to San Pedro La Laguna (p. 125)--boat, 45 min., Q25 Hotel: Mikaso Hotel

Fri., Apr. 8--San Predro La Laguna

Sat., Apr. 9--San Pedro La Laguna to Chichicastenango (p. 131)--Boat to Panajachel, 45 min., Q25/bus, 5 daily, 1 1/2 hours, Q20  Hotel:  Posada del Arco

Sun., Apr. 10--Chichicastenango (Sunday Market)

Mon., Apr. 11--Chichicastenango to Antigua (p. 102)--Bus toward Guatamala City to Chimaltenango/transfer onward (3 1/2 hours total) to Antigua.  Hotel:  Chez Daniel

Tues., Apr. 12--Antigua

Wed., Apr. 13--Antigua

Thurs., Apr. 14--Antigua to Guatemala City (p. 89)--Bus every few minutes, 1 hr. Q8.  Hotel:  Hotel Colonial

Fri., Apr. 15--Guatemala City
Note: Easter Week begins on Friday and continues through Sunday, the 24th.

Sat., Apr. 16--Guatemala City to Concepcion de Ataco (p. 305) via Border Crossing at Las Chinamas-Valle Nuevo and Ahuachapan: Frequent mini-buses from Guatemala City to Las Chinamas/Bus 263 from Las Chinamas to Ahuachapan, 40 min, 50 cents arrives at 8a Calle Poniente at the northwest coprner of Parque Menendez/Bus 249 from 10a Calle Oriente (one block forth of Parque Central) for Concepcion de Ataco, 15 minues, 35 cents

Sun., Apr. 17--Concepcion de Ataco to Juayua (p. 303)--Bus 249 from the corner of 2a Calle Oriente and 4a Av Sur, 30 min., 50 cents (Note: Go early and make room reservation because Juayua has a well-known weekend food fair and it is Easter week)  Hotel:  Hotel Anahuac

Mon., Apr. 18--Juayua

Tues., Apr. 19--Juayua to Chalchuapa (p. 301)--Bus 238 from a few blocks west of Parque Central to Santa Ana, 6 times p/day, 40 min., 50 cents; Bus 218, 30 min., 25 cents to Tazumal/Chalchuapa

Wed., Apr. 20--Chalchuapa to Santa Ana (p. 296)--Bus 218, 30 min., 25 cents

Thurs., Apr. 21--Santa Ana

Fri., Apr. 22--Santa Ana to San Salvador (p. 277)--Bus 201 to Metrocentro Stop (Directo: 1 1/2 hours, 80 cents/Especial: 1 1/4 hours, $1.25) (Good Friday).  Hotel:  Hotel Grecia Real

Sat., Apr. 23--San Salvador

Sun., Apr. 24--San Salvador (Easter Sunday)

Mon., Apr. 25--San Salvador to San Vicente (p. 308)--Local 9, 29, or 34 from city center or 29 or 52 from Blvd de los Heroes to Terminal de Oriente/Bus 116 from there--1 1/2 hr., 90 cents

Tues., Apr. 26--San Vicente to Alegria (p. 309)--Go to 6a Calle and 2a Av. to catch an eastward bus from Carretera Interamericana for Villa El Triunfo; tranfer there for Alegria--minibus toSantiago de Maria, 15 min., 30 cents/hourly bus to Alegria, 45 min., 60 cents

Wed., Apr. 27--Alegria

Thurs., Apr. 28--Alegria to San Miguel--Hourly bus for Santiago de Maria, 45 min., 60 cents/minibus for Villa El Triunfo, 15 min., 30 cents/Bus 377 for San Miguel, 2 hrs., $1.60

Fri., Apr. 29--San Miguel to Tegucigalpa (p. 342)--Bus 330 for El Amatillo Border Crossing, every 10 min., 1 1/2 hrs., $1.90/Honduras bus to Choluteca, 1 1/2 hrs., $2.10/Bus to Tegucigalpa, 3 1/2 hours, $2. Alternative: Spend the night in San Miguel, buy ticket Monday night at Esso Station, Av. Roosevelt at Ruta Militar, for the 8:00 Tuesday King Quality Bus from there, 5 hrs. $27

Sat., Apr. 30--Tegucigalpa

Sun., May 1--Tegucigalpa to Comayagua (p. 355)--Nortenas bus, 2 hrs., 9:00 or 10:00, 37L or Transportes Catrachos (station in sketchy area), every 30 min., 2 hrs., 38L

Mon., May 2--Comayagua to San Juan (p.384)--Bus from Comayagua to Siguatepeque, every 15 min., 1 hr., 25L/Bus from Siguateque to La Esperanza, every hour from front of Hospedaje Central half a block west of Parque Central, 50-55L/Buses from Transportes Carolina (called Punta Calolina locally) in eastern part of La Esperanza depart for San Juan at 11:00, 11:30, and 2:30, 1 hr., 40L, or take a pick-up to San Juan

Tues., May 3--San Juan to Gracias (p. 381)--Bus, 1 hr., 40L

Wed., May 4--Gracias

Thurs., May 5--Gracias to Copan Ruinas (p. 369)--Bus to La Entrada, then change to bus, every 40 min., to Copan Ruinas, Approx. 4 hrs., Approx. 125L

Fri., May 6--Copan Ruinas

Sat., May 7--Gracias to Chiquimula (p. 172)--Depart around noon--Minibuses and pickups depart every 25 min. or when full for Guatemala border, 20L/

Sun., May 8--Chiquimula to Puerto Barrios (p. 181)--Buses every half hour, 4 1/2 hrs., 40Q

Mon., May 9--Puerto Barrios to Livingston (p. 184)--Boat Lanchas at 7:30, 9:00, and 11:00 (Buy ticket as early as possible on day of departure), 30 min., Q30 Hotel: Garden Gate Hotel Photos

Tues., May 10--Livingston

Wed., May 11--Livingston to Rio Dulce (p. 177)--9:30 Boat Tour, Q125 one-way

Thurs., May 12--Rio Dulce to Flores (p. 191)--Fuente del Norte bus, 14 per day, 4 hrs., Q60/Wes arrives via bus from Belize City

Fri., May 13--Flores--Side Trip to Tikal

Sat., May 14--Flores to Dandriga (p. 250)--Bus (Transportes Pinita or Transportes Rosalita) from Flores to Melchor de Mencos (Border Crossing), hourly, 2 hrs., Q25/3 km hike to Benque Viejo del Carmen or taxi for BZ$10/Bus from there Belmopan, every 30 min., 1 1/2-1 3/4 hrs (local/express)/Bus to Dandriga, 2-3 hrs. Note: Stay overnight in San Ignacio or Belmopan if problems making whole trip develop

Sun., May 15--Dandriga (or Bus to Dandriga if problems develop on the 14th getting that far)--Side Trip to Hopkins (p. 253)--Bus departs at 11:30, 45 min., BZ$5; check on return bus

Mon., May 16--Dandriga to Placencia (p. 255)--5 buses per day beginning at 9:00, 2 1/2 hrs., BZ$10

Tues., May 17--Placencia

Wed., May 18--Placencia to Belize City (p. 225)--Hokey Pokey Water Taxi to Mango Creek at 10:00, BZ$10, walk 5 min up main street, turn left at gas station, wait in front of Sherl's Restaurant, hourly buses, 4 1/2 hrs., BZ$20

Thurs., May 19--Belize City

Fri., May 20--Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye (p. 234)--Hourly starting at 8:00, 1 hr., BZ$20

Sat., May 21--San Pedro

Sun., May 22--San Pedro to Orange Walk (p. 238)--Boat from San Pedro to Belize City, hourly starting at 7:00, 1 hr., BZ$20/Bus from main terminal to Orange Walk, hourly, 2 hrs., BZ$5/7 (local/express)

Mon., May 23--Orange Walk (Side tour to Lamanai, BZ$90--arrange upon arrival on Sunday)

Tues., May 24--Orange Walk to Corozal (p. 240)--Buses hourly from bus stop at corner of Queen Victoria Av. and St. Peter St., 1 hr. BZ$4. Go to dentist in Corozal or in Chetumal cross border tomorrow.

Wed., May 25--Corozal to Chetumal (p. 71)--Buses from Belize City to Chetumal stop in Corozal and wait at the border for processing, BZ$6-7. Notes: $19 US/BZ$38 exit fee to leave Belize. Go to dentist if didn't in Corozal

Thurs., May 26--Chetumal to Playa del Carmen (p. 63)--Bus, 5-5 1/2 hrs., 154-258 pesos (ADO bus at 8:30 or 10:30, 4 1/2 hrs., 226 pesos)

Fri., May 27--Playa del Carmen--(Side trip to Tulum--bus, 1 hr., 48-65 pesos)

Sat., May 28--Playa del Carmen to Cancun Airport--Reviera Line Dep. 8:00/Arr. 9:00, 106 pesos. Randy: Continental 1809 Dep. 10:56/Arr. San Antonio 13:41. Wes: Continental 365 Dep. 12:10/Arr. Houston 14:31, then Continental 2809 Dep. 15:30/Arr. Corpus Christi 16:19.