We're arranging a trip to Guatemala and Belize at the end of this month, and looking for any palm-related places that people recommend.  The tentative itinerary has us around Antigua, Lago Atitlan, Lago Peten Itza (near Tikal) - all in Guatemala, and Placencia, Belize.

Any ideas for excursions to see palms in habitat would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks in advance.

Justin, you need to ask the Stone Jaguar ! 

The forests around Peten Itza have large Sabal (probably mauritiformis, yapa or similar) and Attalea. The Attalea were mostly on the road from the Cobán to Flores and they're easy to spot because they're usually the only plants left when farmers clear the forest for ag. I recall seeing lots of chamaedorea in Tikal also. There's a small bioregion called Cerro Cahuí with a nice trail for bird-watching and I remember seeing palms there also. If you stay at any of those cabin resorts along Petén Itzá, you'll hear howler monkeys at dawn and dusk - makes you feel like you're on the set of Jurassic Park. Also, there's a small, family owned Italian Restaurant called Mon Ami right next to the bioreserve that's run by an Italian couple who moved to Guatemala. 10 out of 10, would recommend. I wish I had become interested in palms earlier so that I could have paid more attention to palms during my semester living there . I'll see if I can find some photos.  

No palm photos, but this is from Petén Itzá. Word or caution here is that this lake is habitat for American Crocodiles

And one from Tikal. Regardless of where you go,  you'll love Guatemala.