Belize / Guatemala

With its palm islands and atolls on America's largest barrier reef, Belize stretches far into the Caribbean. A fantastic underwater world awaits divers, including the world-famous circular Blue Hole.

Globetrotters meet on Caye Caulker, deep-sea anglers, crusaders and bathers on the more exclusive Ambergris Caye. The mainland lures with the white beach of Placencia, Mennonite villages, hidden lodges, numerous national parks and enchanted Mayan sites like Caracol: An inscription tells of the victory over Tikal in the neighbouring Guatemala. Here, in the heartland of the Maya, you’ll find mighty temples, a lively culture of the most diverse indigenous tribes and magnificent colonial cities. The dramatic landscape offers enormous mountains, 33 volcanoes, coffee plantations, dense coniferous forests, the karst landscape of the cone mountains and finally the green jungle of the Petén with its famous Mayan ruins Tikal, Uaxactún, Dos Pilas or Aguateca.

The main magnet for all visitors who land in the metropolis of Guatemala City is Antigua, the old capital with its colonial charm. The highlight not far from Antigua is Lake Atitlán, picturesquely situated in front of the silhouette of volcanoes, with its Tzutuhil communities.