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14www.noble-caledonia.co.ukcapuchin monkeys and turtles. Over lunch we sail the short distance to Tortuga Island where we have the chance to spend the afternoon relaxing on the white sand beaches or taking a swim in the clear waters.Day 11 Palo Verde National Park. Our final stop in Costa Rica is Playa del Cocos in the Papagayo Gulf. Once a small fishing village it has grown into a popular destination for local Costa Rican tourism. We will use our Zodiacs to land before heading inland to the Palo Verde National Park where we will board local boats to travel along the Tempisque River seeing the mangroves and dry forest vegetation which is home to countless birds and multiple mammals. As we will be visiting in the dry season we hope to see peccaries, armadillos, jaguarondis, coatis, agoutis, deer and monkeys which are attracted to the river. We will enjoy lunch at the 19th century Hacienda House with views of the savannahs and sugar cane fields.Day 12 At Sea. Spend a relaxing day at sea as we continue our journey towards El Salvador.Day 13 La Union, El Salvador. We will spend the day exploring the southern region of El Salvador and there will be a choice of excursions. You may wish to follow the %u2018peace route%u2019 set up to remember the events of the 1980s when El Salvador experienced a bitter civil war. It is estimated that over 100,000 were killed in the fighting whilst half a million people fled into exile. We will visit Perquin, once a stronghold of the guerrillas and home to the Museum of the Revolution where former members of the rebel army are willing to share their experiences. We continue to the village of El Mozote where in December 1981 one of the worst atrocities occurred and more than 1000 people were killed in a single day. Our local guides will explain about living in the country during this time and we will see the monument erected for the victims and the memorial garden decorated with brightly coloured murals. Alternatively a full day tour will visit the Jiquilisco Bay Biosphere Reserve which is El Salvador%u2019s most important marine ecosystem with the coastal area being made up of remote islands, mangrove canals and desolate beaches whilst inland we will find beautiful forests and cacao plantations. It is an important base for migratory birds as well as a nesting site for four sea turtle species including one of only two sites in the Pacific for the endangered Hawksbill Turtle. We will explore the different areas of the reserve spending time with the environmentalists and scientists who will teach us about the conservation of the turtles, and we will walk through the forest on the lookout for spider monkeys. We will also visit a cacao plantation where we learn about the cultivation of cacao which creates some of the finest chocolate.Days 14 & 15 Acajutla. After a leisurely morning at sea we arrive in the port of Acajutla where we spend the next day and a half. An afternoon tour will explore some of the colonial towns and communities on the %u2018Flower Route%u2019 named after the abundance of flowers found along the roadsides and in the villages. We will drive through the beautiful mountains to the town of Nahuizalco, home to one of the most longstanding native communities and arts and crafts production sites in the country. We continue to Ataco, the final stop on the Ruta de las Flores. The brown-throated sloth*Please note that the 27 February 2027 departure operates in the reverse direction to that shown, from Guatemala to Costa Rica and does not include the excursion to Lake Atitlan. Due to flight schedules, it also does not include an overnight stay in San Jose. The full itinerary can be viewed on our website. PRICE INCLUDES: Economy class scheduled air travel %u2022 Overnight hotel accommodation in Costa Rica with breakfast (14 February 2027 departure only) %u2022 Two nights hotel accommodation in Antigua with breakfast %u2022 14 nights aboard the MS Hebridean Sky on a full board basis %u2022 House wine, beer & soft drinks with lunch and dinner %u2022 Shore excursions %u2022 Noble Caledonia expedition team %u2022 Gratuities %u2022 Transfers %u2022 Port taxes. Not Included: Travel insurance.%u00a3Brochure PriceSpecial Offer PriceAmundsenByrdMawsonMawsonScottShackletonShackletonAmundsenByrdStandardSuperiorPremiumCornerDeluxe BalconyOwner%u2019s BalconyHebridean Standard for sole useSuperior for sole use%u00a311295%u00a311895%u00a312295%u00a312495%u00a313895%u00a314195%u00a314395%u00a314495%u00a314995%u00a310795%u00a311395%u00a311795%u00a311995%u00a313395%u00a313695%u00a313895%u00a313995%u00a314495DeckSuite CategorySPECIAL OFFER %u2013 SAVE %u00a3500 PER PERSON FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLYPRICES PER PERSONBased on double occupancyAtaco is a quaint, colonial village that is known for its natural beauty, as well as its brightly painted homes, cobblestone streets, colourful murals and unique arts and crafts. Meanwhile a full day excursion will discover the Mayan route starting at the archaeological site of Joya de Ceren, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Pompeii of America. The site was covered by the Loma Caldera volcano explosion which kept the remains of pre-Hispanic civilisation covered for hundreds of years and the site provides a unique insight into everyday life in a Mesoamerican farming community of the 6th century AD. We continue to the ruins of San Andres, once an important political and religious centre and testimony of the Indigo industry during the colonial period, better known as the %u2018Blue Gold%u2019. After lunch in a local restaurant we will continue to Santa Ana and see the beautiful Gothic Cathedral and National Palace before our tour ends at the ruins of Tazumal, the largest pyramid in El Salvador which dates from 1500 BC and is an important Mayan settlement. Day 16 Puerto Quetzal to Antigua, Guatemala. We will disembark after breakfast in Puerto Quetzal and drive to Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between three magnificent volcanoes in 1542, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. Antigua remained an economic and political heart of Central America until a devastating earthquake in 1773 destroyed much of the city. We will explore the city with its wealth of colonial buildings, beautiful squares, cobblestone streets and Baroque churches. This afternoon we will transfer to our hotel for a two night stay and the remainder of the day will be at leisure for independent exploration before we meet for dinner tonight.Day 17 Lake Atitlan. After breakfast, we embark on full day tour to Lake Atitlan, described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world. Surrounded by 12 post-Mayan villages, all bearing the names of Catholic saints, and surrounded by three majestic volcanoes, the experience is unique. We visit the main town of Panajachel where there will be some time at leisure to take some photographs and explore the local shops. After lunch in a local restaurant we will head back to our hotel in Antigua and there will be some free time before we meet for dinner this evening.Day 18 Antigua to London. Check out from the hotel after breakfast and transfer to Guatemala City Airport for our scheduled indirect flight to LondonDay 19 London. Arrive this afternoon.