Reasonable 2 Week Itinerary?

Yeah, looks like a great trip, you've done some research. It's very doable.
It's a very easy safe trip from San Ignacio to Tikal. Stay 2 nights in the park. You also might enjoy a night in Flores, lot's of folks travel Guatemala with no issues, it's a great country. If your friend declines, dump em..... at least for a couple days, Tikal is awesome.

Maybe take a look at the Raggamuffin sail trip from Caulker to Placencia.

I agree that your itinerary looks good for 2 weeks. You have time to add Tikal but I wouldn't add much else. You should have no major safety concerns for a visit to Tikal beyond the basics that you should have in mind for Belize also (i/e common-sense precautions). The highway from the border to Tikal is well-policed and has a lot of tourist traffic. Any gang warfare/cartel violence stories your friend has heard about are specific to other parts of the country, far away from Tikal and Flores. I work in that region and have spent many hours on those roads, including at night, without incident.

If Tikal just winds up seeming too hard or your friend cannot be convinced of its safety, you may want to consider a visit to the site of Caracol near San Ignacio. It's very large, in a magnificent jungle setting, and sees very few tourists. You can visit on an all-day tour from Cayo.

Hi,
I think that you can do it but would keep the loose outline a bit open. I know it is tempting to hit the beach first but I always like to do the inland stuff first and ending up on Caye Caulker makes sense since you can leave there the morning of your flight home and avoid staying in the city. How does this sound? Taxi to the city upon arrival. Take the next bus to San Ignacio. You can do the ATM trip from there and I think that you will find a trip to Tikal for a night or two would be fairly painless from San Ignacio. On your return to San Ignacio take the bus south this time down the Hummingbird Highway to Placencia. You can spend a few days there and then a long day back to the city and some time on Caye Caulker. There are all day trips to Lamanai from Caye Caulker but they are rather expensive and at that time of the year there will be fewer tourists so they may not run when you want them to. I would just play it by ear and at each point you can change your plans if you wish to. No reservations are needed.

I would also do it as above...play it by ear,rather than booking it all up in advance.

Starting with Tikal and then San Ignazio.and finishing on CC.

BTW if you are short of time you don't need 3 days in Orange Walk (just get there in the evening,sleep there and do the Lamanai trip the next morning).

Ah, I had missed the "3 nights in each place" bit. I agree that you only need one night in Orange Walk. If you want to can arrange ahead of time to spend the following night at the ruins with the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, although that place is pricey.

Hi all,

Thanks for all your super helpful replies. I decided to take the advice on saying Caye Caulker for the end!
This is what my itinerary is looking like now if anyone wants to throw in any more thoughts on it!

August 4th - Arrive in BZE and head to Crooked Tree Lodge
5th and 6th- Get to Orange Walk on evening of the 5th, do Lamanai next day
7th-9th- San Ignacio- ATM caves, Horseback tour to Xunantunich
10th- Tikal ruins
11 and 12th- head from San Ignacio to Hopkins, maybe do Cockscomb Basin
13-14- Placencia/ Monkey River tour
15-17- Caye Caulker, snorkeling
18th- BZE to home!

Hi,
Lamanai is well worth the jungle river trip to some really nice ruins. The trip that I took with Jungle River Tours from Orange walk was an all day trip costing $40us with a hot lunch included. The only problem is that it gets back around 4:30 and after a long day you may want to eat and rest in Orange Walk. Orange Walk isn't that great but ok for a night or two. Maybe you can spend the night at Crooked Tree and arrange for morning transportation to Orange Walk. Maybe someone will at least drive you to the bus stop. Then you will only have to spend one night in Orange Walk. Your trip sound pretty good in general. You can always drop Hopkins and Placencia if your time runs out. I would definitely do an overnight to Tikal as the ruins there are also very impressive. It is very safe. Maybe spend the $50 or $60 and get a taxi right to the park from the border. It makes things much easier if your friend is afraid.