Guatemala, the most diverse tourist destination of Central America, has been enticing travelers for centuries. Considered the Mayan heart of Central America, this beautiful country offers a lot more than the Mayan wonders though. Guatemala probably has the most tightly packed must do things and must visit sights than anywhere in Central America. From archeological wonders of Mayan ruins to colonial towns, pristine jungles, endless hiking trails and ancient culture – there are simply a ton of things for you to do when you travel to Guatemala. To help plan your tour and avoid the crowd that is slowly discovering this beautiful country, here are the top four things which you must try out when you travel to Guatemala.
1. Visit Tikal National Park
The Tikal National Park is the most famous cultural and natural tourist attraction of Guatemala. Built around the largest excavated Mayan site of Guatemala, the Tikal ruins will give you a sense of adventure like no other. Visit the park early and stroll through the empty ruins, and find yourself lost in the wondrous structures of a long-lost era.
2. Visit the Yaxha Mayan Ruins
The Yaxha Mayan Ruins are much more secluded than the Tikal Ruins. Hike the serene trail through the jungle before reaching the beautiful Mayan complexes. These ruins are smaller when compared to Tikal, but they are much less commercialized and less crowded. You can spend your time looking at the marvelous structures, the ancient drawings, and the carved symbols. If you are interested in Mayan history and culture, visiting this site is a must when you travel to Guatemala.
3. Roast Some Marshmallows on Top of Pacaya Volcano
The Pacaya volcano is one of the most accessible volcanos in Guatemala, which makes it one of the most popular destination. The volcano is still active, which makes the hike to the top of this volcano a must-do activity when you travel to Guatemala. You can hike the steep trail to the top of the volcano in about one and a half hour, and you can indeed roast some marshmallows in the heat which gets eliminated from the ground of the summit.
4. Bask in the Natural Beauty of Semuc Champey
Located near the little town of Lanquin, Semuc Champey is one of the most beautiful natural wonders of Guatemala. You have to travel deep into the jungle to come face to face with this massive natural limestone formation. The formation is covering an underground river, which forms a number of stepped swimming pools. There are a lot of hiking trails, lookout points and guided tours in this area. Apart from all of these, there are many tours to the Kan’Ba caves as well. There you can swim along an underground river. The place is so dark that you will have to hold a candle above your head to light your way as you swim. Visiting here is another one of the must to activities when you travel to Guatemala.
If you have booked a scenic helicopter charter, it will no doubt include some amazing scenery, and in order to get the most from this unique experience, there are certain things one should know in advance, and with that in mind, here are some essential tips to help make the big day truly memorable.
?No Fear of Flying – Some people are nervous about flying as it is, and a helicopter is a different craft, which might make things worse. The truth is, helicopter rides have never been safer, and the highly experienced pilot will have flown the route hundreds of times. This fear might be slight, but nevertheless it can slight a memorable day, and you can rest assured that the helicopter is in excellent order and is flown by an expert.
?Dress Suitably – This is essential, and the ideal apparel is long trousers and a light jacket. Avoid jewellery, sunglasses, hats and flip flops, and it is a good ideal to only have essentials on your person. You may wish to have your smartphone with you to film the event, which most people prefer, and the tour company would provide a high resolution film of the entire flight and for a little extra, you can take it home with you. You should not carry anything and avoid loose fitting clothes, and if you have long hair, it should be tied up or secured in some way.
?Follow Instructions – Your pilot will explain the emergency procedures for safety reasons, and then you will be asked to secure your seat belt. Unlike a commercial airliner, passengers are required to keep the seat belt on at all times, unless instructed otherwise. Once you are strapped in, you can sit back and really enjoy the experience, and if you are going to fly the Sydney Harbour trip, for example, the scenery will take your breath away.
?Focus on the Moment – In order to maximise your enjoyment, clear your mind of all stresses and strains of modern living and appreciate the feeling of flying through the air and observe nature at its best. If you take the time to really look, there is much to see on the ground, and iconic beach scenes and valley passes provide you with a unique backdrop. For those who are interested, there is a preparation checklist for first time flyers, which details what to do if you are booking group tours. The helicopter tour company will also discuss this with you.
?Arrive Early – Typically, the helicopter tour company would have a busy schedule, and once you have made your booking, the operator will tell you what time you must be at the agreed location, and whatever time that is, you should arrive early. Prompt departures are essential if you want the full experience, and things will run smoothly if everyone is on time.
A helicopter flight is a unique experience, and wherever you decide to book, this once-in-a-lifetime experience will be everything you imagined, and more.
Situated in the Thames Valley of South-East England, the bustling city of London is home to over 8 million people. Apart from being the capital of UK, London had been an important educational, business and cultural center for hundreds of years. The history of London dates back to Bronze Age, however, the city started thriving after the Romans withdrew in the 5th century. With its age old history, heavy dosage of literature, medieval architectures and a strong sense of culture, taking a trip to London is an absolute must when you are traveling to the UK. Apart from indulging in the various tourist attractions in London or sightseeing in London, people also flock over to this city during the winter holidays to take part in the extravagant Christmas or New Year celebrations in London. Here’s a list of the top 10 among the hundreds of must-do activities in London.
1. London Tower Bridge
Visiting the iconic London Bridge, the picture of which has been etched in our minds since our childhood, is an intricate part of sightseeing in London. The bridge is also an important reminder of London’s expansion during the era of Industrial Revolution.
2. Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament is an extravagant and well-known structure by itself. However, the world famous clock named Big Ben is truly another one of the most iconic tourist attractions in London known across the globe. Taking a tour just to see this gigantic clock towering over the city is one of the must do activities in London.
3. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is perhaps the most famous palace in the whole world. Most of your sightseeing in London will consist of these type of iconic buildings and monuments which you have known by your heart. The official residence of Queen Elizabeth, the Buckingham Palace is another one of the most popular tourist attractions in London, offering tours of its staterooms and gardens.
4. Kensington Palace
Located near the Buckingham Palace, the Kensington Palace is another one of the tourist attractions in London, and it is open to public year-round. This stylish royal palace was the home of Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and a visit to the refurbished Palace is one of the must do activities in London.
5. Royal Parks of London
Once reserved as private hunting grounds for the Royal Family, these beautiful lands full of greenery and lakes are open for everyone to enjoy. Many of the eight Royal Parks are located in the Central London close to the Royal Palaces and monuments. Spending a relaxing day in one of them is one of the must do activities in London.
6. The London Eye
Riding the London Eye is another one of the must do activities in London. This 500 feet tall Ferris wheel is the most popular paid-for tourist attractions in London. The views of the whole city that you can get from the top is truly an incredible vista.
7. The London Dungeon
If you had enough of the beautiful, royal side of London, then visit the London Dungeon to learn about the 2000 years of London’s gruesome history. Torture was quite popular during the old ages, especially in Old England. A trip to “the world’s most chillingly famous horror attraction” is surely one of the must do activities in London.
8. Globe Theatre
The Globe Theatre is an integral part of London’s history and culture and is closely associated with William Shakespeare. A trip to this tourist attraction in London is a must for every Shakespeare lover.
9. St Paul’s Cathedral
Visiting the St Paul’s Cathedral to see its world famous dome must be a part of your sightseeing in London. You will get to see some of the most beautiful stone carvings and mosaics. Climb the Whispering Gallery or the Stone Gallery or the Golden Gallery to enjoy some breathtaking views of the city of London.
10. Trafalgar Square
Visiting the Trafalgar Square is one of the must do activities in London if you want to get a feel of what this great city really about. Considered as the center of London, it is a great place to people watch, see some famous monuments and just hang out for some time.
If you decide to spend your holidays in Nice, then you can be sure that you are in good company. This beautiful French city has been a popular tourist destination since the 18th century. The pleasant climate, beautiful location and soft light of this city helped Nice tourism to steadily grow from a very early period of time. At that time, many of the English aristocrats used to love to spend their holidays in Nice with their families. And the popularity of Nice seems to have withstood the test of time. In fact, Nice is the second most visited city in France after the romantic city of Paris. There are a lot of Nice attractions for you to check out if you decide to spend your holidays in Nice. Here are the top five things which you must try out during your trip to this beautiful city. Continue Reading
Paris, the city of art and romance, offers something for everyone. From shopping to beautiful architecture to arts to food, this city is almost fairytale like a magical place, alive in the 21st century. Tourists from all over the world have visited Paris and fell in love with this city. A trip to Paris is absolutely mandatory when you travel to France. This city has been an icon for arts, food, and love for ages. Apart from being one of the richest cities in the world, Paris is huge and full of history and culture and arts and architecture which can take a lifetime to explore. That’s why deciding which tourist attractions in Paris you should check out during a short vacation can be really overwhelming. To make your job a little bit easier, here is a list of the three best places to visit in Paris. Continue Reading