Thursday, August 16, 2012

Destination Wedding Belize: An Ancient Mayan Marriage

Words by Courtney Kellar

Words by Courtney Cox

Choosing a destination wedding allows couples a level of freedom that just can’t be found when planning a traditional, hometown wedding. With the World to choose from, if you can dream it – it can become reality. We have the perfect example of a destination wedding experience ideal for adventurous couples at Ka’ana Belize. For those who may not know, Belize is an English-speaking country located in Central America and is easily accessible from most major U.S. airports. In this case, exotic doesn’t mean inconvenient.

Arguably the biggest perk of Belize as a destination wedding location is that it’s covered in Mayan ruins. Luckily for us, Ka’ana is located smack-dab in the middle of the ancient Maya civilization. Belize is the only country which allows wedding ceremonies to physically take place on Mayan ruins – offering the backdrop opportunity of a lifetime. As a result, Ka’ana offers couples everything from a ceremony for 30 guests at nearby Xunantunich (an ancient Mayan city one-and-a-half miles away from property), to a small, intimate wedding for two followed by an exclusive overnight stay on a ruin in a luxury tent complete with a traditional Mayan dinner cooked over a fire.

The Yaxha Overnight Experience is one package Ka’ana offers and would no doubt make for a night to remember:

A one-hour drive from Ka’ana Belize is a Maya civilization just past the Guatemalan border where guests can have an entire ancient city to themselves. Ka’ana’s Yaxha Overnight Experience Package begins with a ride through the Belizean jungle and into Guatemala’s Yaxha National Park. Enter the 1,100 year-old city just after dusk where an expert guide will lead guests to their meal prepared by a local Maya cook at the base of the ruins.

After dinner, the guide will lead the ascent to highest temple where guests can enjoy views of the Guatemalan countryside while an archaeologist expounds upon the intricate excavation of the Yaxha Temple. At the end of the evening, guests can retire to their luxury tent– a replica of the rooms at Ka’ana complete with a king-sized bed. After Maya coffee the following morning, guests have the option to cross Lake Yaxha via boat to visit another, not-yet-excavated Topoxte Maya ruins before returning to Ka’ana.

The Yaxha Overnight Experience Package starts at $4,500 USD and includes the following for up to two guests:

• Roundtrip road transportation to Yaxha

• Tour hosted by a licensed archaeologist and local guide

• Personal Butler

• Exclusive accommodations in a luxury tent in the plaza of Yaxha Maya City

• Turndown service

• Authentic Maya dinner & breakfast

• Sundowners with sparkling wine, cheese, and fruit

• Boat ride across the lake to Topoxte Maya ruins

Perhaps you and your destination wedding guests want a healthy balance of adventurous and traditional? Not a problem because Ka’ana also offers more traditional wedding packages on property. Despite being located in the epicenter of an ancient civilization, Ka’ana is a luxury resort which boasts modern design, private villas, impeccable service and fabulous food. If your destination wedding planning is already underway, consider Ka’ana for the romantic honeymoon of a lifetime. For more information on the resort or to start planning your very own Mayan adventure, visit kaanabelize.com.