Visiting Mayan Ruins Without Ruining Your Budget

Want to explore the Mayan ruins of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize on a budget but not solo?

Green Tortoise Adventure Travel, known for its sleep-on-the-bus tours in the U.S. and Central America, has introduced two winter itineraries.

The Maya Trail Tour departs Jan. 22 from Antigua, Guatemala, and spends 22 days exploring major Mayan sites in Guatemala, Belize and Mexico, including key locations such as Tikal in Guatemala.

Green Tortoise founder Garner Kent, who started the tour company 25 years ago, is taking the wheel on this tour. The bus will take up to 36 passengers. You must supply your own camping equipment. The tour, which returns to Antigua, costs $599, plus food.

Every second week from February through April, Green Tortoise will also operate its Mayan Dream Week tour. For $329 plus food, up to 28 passengers will depart Cancun to explore the Mayan sites of Mexico. Two nights will be spent on the bus, the other nights at campsites. The route includes key ruin sites such as Chichen Itza and seaside Tulum. Passengers end their trip back at the ferry in Cancun, where they can head to Isla Mujeres to relax on the beaches.

Green Tortoise will continue to run a weekly winter shuttle service between Seattle and Los Angeles, nine- and 14-day “Baja Tours” ($329 to $399) and 27-day “Migration Tours” between Guatemala and San Francisco ($749 to $799) from November to April.

For details, telephone (800) 867- 8647, Internet https://www.greentortoise.com.

Green Tortoise also operates budget accommodations in Seattle and San Francisco. In Seattle you’ll find the hostel at 1525 2nd Ave., tel. (206) 340-1222 or (888) 4A HOS TEL (424-6783). Dormitory beds cost $15 to $17 per night. Private rooms cost $40.

The Green Tortoise Hostel in San Francisco is at 494 Broadway; tel. (415) 834-1000. Dormitory beds cost $19, and private rooms are $48. Guests get a free breakfast and free Internet use.

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If you’re looking for low-cost lodging near major American ski resorts this winter, Hostelling International American Youth Hostels (HI-AYH) has 40 locations that provide beds for $7 to $25 per night. Some of the hostels also arrange special ski packages and discounts for services in their areas.

In Colorado, the Fireside Inn in Breckenridge, tel. (970) 453-6456, Internet https://www.firesideinn.com, offers discounts on lift passes and equipment. There is a free shuttle to several ski areas. You can also head for Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and Copper Mountain. Beds are $25 to $28.

The HI-Crested Butte International Hostel, tel. (970) 349-0588, is 150 feet from a free shuttle to the ski area. Beds start at $26. Lift packages are available, but between Nov. 19 and Dec. 18 or April 2 and 16, you can ski for free. Nordic trails are nearby.

To ski (and snowboard) Sunlight, Aspen, Vail or Snowmass, there’s the HI-Glenwood Springs Hostel, tel. (970) 945-8545 or (800) 946-7835, Internet https://www.rof.net/yp/gwshostel. Hostel guests get discounts at Aspen and Vail.

Vermont hostels are near Killington, Stratton, Middlebury College Snow Bowl and Suicide Six.

For a free listing of ski area hostels, contact HI-AYH Ski Hostels, 733 15th St. N.W., Suite 840, Washington, DC 20005; tel. (202) 783- 6161, fax (202) 783-6171, Internet https://www.hiayh.org.