Itinerary

DAY 1 :  ARRIVE SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS
Arrive in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, where youll be met by our expert guide and transferred 2.5 hours to the highland city of Copn Ruinas.The balance of your afternoon is free to explore the cobblestone streets of this charming town. Overnight at the Marina Copan or similar. [D]  

    Note: Note: Flights arriving after 3:00 pm will overnight at Copantel Hotel in San Pedro Sula, and transfer on to Copan the following morning.

    
DAY 2 :  COPAN
Copn Ruinas has been described by the famous archaeologist Sylvanus Morely as the Athens of the New World.  For 400 years Copn was the principal Maya cultural center, far ahead of other larger and more powerful cities in its development of sculpture, astronomy and hieroglyphic writing.  Copns great Hieroglyphic Stairway bears a continuous text of more than 1250 glyph blocks listing dates and names of the city's rulers.  Because of its beautiful artwork, unsurpassed in the Mundo Maya, Copan occupies a special place in the study of ancient civilizations.  Enjoy an in depth exploration of the ruins in the company of expert guides and visit the Sculpture museum in the heart of Copan Ruinas. Overnight at Marina Copan or similar. [BL]


DAY 3 :  ANTIGUA
This morning drive to Guatemala and the old colonial city of Antigua (approximately 4 hours). Established by Spanish Conquistadors in 1524, Antigua was Guatemalas capital city for over two centuries. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors are enchanted by its narrow cobblestone streets, tree-shaded parks, and stylish colonial architecture. . Visitors and locals alike casually congregate in the central plaza sitting and strolling, watching the world go by. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore and shop on your own. Overnight at Palacio de Dona Leonor or similar. [BL]

DAY 4 :  IXIMCHE & XENOTOX
This morning visit the Maya Cakchiquel region and the pre-Columbian Mayan capitol city of Iximche. Afterward well drive to the traditional village of Xenotox to visit a Mayan family and witness the ancient art of back strap loom weaving. This technique is passed down through generations and is still widely used today to make textiles. Explore the village and enjoy a traditional lunch in the home of a Mayan family observing the kindness, generosity, hard work and family values displayed by your hosts. After lunch depart for the shores of Lake Atitlan, a caldera lake whose crystal blue waters are flanked by three spectacular volcanoes, and take a short boat ride across the lake to your charming hotel near the Tzutujil Maya village of Santiago Atitlan on the scenic south shore. The Posada is surrounded by coffee trees and features individual volcanic stone cottages and suites which are perfect for families as well as a lakeside swimming pool, canoes and an excellent restaurant which emphasizes fresh food. Overnight at Hotel Posada de Santiago or similar. [BL]

     
DAY 5 :  LAKE ATITLAN & FLORES
This morning well explore the picturesque village of Santiago Atitlan and glimpse daily life as you explore the narrow streets encountering native women wearing their traditional huipiles (cloaks) and headwear. The 450 year old church contains historical paintings and plaques commemorating Santiagos role in Guatemalas bloody civil war, as well as wooden statues of saints, each of whom receives colorful new clothing made by local women every year.  Visit the local Mayan-Catholic deity, Maximon and learn about the unusual gifts and rituals offered by local people in hopes of bringing good luck. After a delicious local lunch drive to Guatemala City for an afternoon flight to Flores where youll be met and transferred to overnight at the Camino Real Tikal Hotel or similar on the shores of Lake Peten-Itza. [BL]

DAY 6 :  TIKAL
One of the greatest cities of the Maya, Tikal is known for its vast concentration of temples and ruins surrounded by pristine rain forest. At its peak the population of Tikal was estimated to be 100,000 individuals residing over a 25 square mile area. Over 285 species of birds have been identified here, including toucans, hawks, motmots and parrots. Frequently seen are Howler and Spider monkeys, coati, peccary and deer. The elusive jaguar and ocelot also survive in this pristine rain forest. Your local Maya guide will illuminate the nature, archeology and ancient culture of Tikal as you explore pyramids soaring above the jungle canopy and innumerable multi-leveled palaces, ball courts, plazas, temples, terraces, shrines and carvings. Overnight at the Camino Real Tikal Hotel or similar. [BL]

     
DAY 7 :  PALENQUE
Discover the ancient city of Palenque in the company of expert local guides who will help you begin to make comparisons between the sites you have visited, wars between former Maya states, and different periods of Maya development. This World Heritage Site is distinguished for its well-preserved buildings, carved stucco ornamentation, detailed reliefs and lengthy hieroglyphic texts. Palenque sculptors were able to create intricate detail using a mixture derived from tree bark and clay to make the stucco dry more slowly. You can see the influence of Palenque's architecture in the ruins of Tikal and Copan. The tomb of Pacal the Great, in the Temple of the Inscriptions, remains one of the greatest discoveries of Mayan archaeology.Overnight at the Villas Kin-Ha Hotel in Palenque or similar. [BL]

    Note: The drive today crosses the Guatemala/Mexico border and is nearly 5 hours on paved roads.

    
DAY 8 :  BONAMPAK AND YAXCHILAN
This morning we will drive into the Lacandon Forest Reserve (2 hrs), home to the Lacandon people and Bonampak Archaeological Park. The ruins at Bonampak were hidden from the outside world until the site was rediscovered in 1946. Explore the well preserved southern group containing Templo de los Frescos, three rooms covered with paintings depicting ancient Maya ceremonies and customs. The elaborate frescoes reveal much about Maya life and the murals are complete with glyphs. Continue on to the Usumacinta River, and embark on a scenic boat ride through rich rain forest habitat to the Maya site of Yaxchilan in Mexico (1 hr). Dramatically perched above the banks of the river, Yaxchilan was first inhabited around 200 AD. Statues of jaguars and crocodiles adorn the Central Plaza and adventurous travelers may want to climb the highest temple for the outstanding views of the Rio Usumacinta and surrounding jungle. Return (1.5 hrs) to overnight in the Valley Escondido Hotel or similar. [BL]

    Note: The Valley Escondido Hotel is the best place to stay in this remote area and is a more rustic accommodation including a simple restaurant and no power at night which also means no air conditioning.

DAY 9 :  PIEDRAS NEGRAS
An all terrain vehicle is required to reach the Usumacinta River where we will travel by boat to the hidden jewel of Piedras Negras Archaeological Site, lying on the Guatemalan side of the Usumacinta River. Tour this seldom visited area that has remained almost untouched since Tatiana Proskouriakoff and other archaeologists worked there in the 1930s. This prominent Classic Mayan site is famous for its collection of clay figurines and well preserved temple inscriptions that aided in the deciphering of the Mayan Calendar. Overnight in the Villas Kin-Ha Hotel  or similar. [BL]

DAY 10 :  DEPARTURE
Transfer to Villahermosa Airport for departure flight. [B]

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