Realm of the Maya


	Mayan temple [Full Image]

This trip focuses on the fascinating heritage of the ancient Maya civilisation, using a mixture of public and private transport to link three countries. In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, step back in time to explore the great archaeological site of Chichen Itza before entering the tropical forest and the intricate ruins of Palenque. Marvel at the unique frescoes of the Bonampak as you cross by boat into the Guatemalan jungle to explore the mighty pyramids of Tikal; the largest Mayan site. By complete contrast, relax amongst the black Caribbean (Garifuna) influences at remote Livingston with its incredible stelae. Then throw yourself into the beautiful, volcano surrounded, Lake Atitlan, haggle at the vast Chichicastenango market and relax in the beautifully preserved colonial capital, Antigua. This trip will infuse you with the best of Mayan lands; a heady and rich blend of colours, sights, aromas and activities.

Details

Price Includes

(HK-5192-P)

Flights

Accomodation

Price Excludes

Local Payment 300 USD, Meals, Optional Excursions.

Suitability / Level

Gentle

Max Group Size

Itinerary & Highlights

DAY 1 - FLY TO MERIDA, MEXICO: After your flight, you transfer to your first night's accommodation and check in. Hotel - 2 nights

DAY 2 - MERIDA: VISIT CHICHO ITZO This morning you travel by bus inland to Piste. The most famous, best-restored site in Yucatan- Chicho Itzo makes an awesome introduction to your exploration of Mayan civilisation. Archaeologists broadly agree the city was founded between 500-900 AD, abandoned in the 10th century, and re-established in the 11th century - but few agree as to exactly which cultures or peoples were involved. Beyond doubt is that the 25m tall El Castillo pyramid is a stone version of the elaborate Mayan calendar - deep in its interior is the red jaguar, which may have been the high priest's throne. You return by bus
to the lively, attractive, colonial city of Menda and spend a relaxed evening; being Sunday the central streets are closed off for the locals to promenade and dance; you will hopefully catch the end of the proceedings.

DAY 3 - PALENQUE: A long day of travel (8-9 hours) as you cross the flat scrubland and dense forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. Long-distance public buses in Mexico are clean, fast and efficient so you can sit back,
relax and take in the changing scenery. At Campeche you glimpse the expansive blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Here in 1517 Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba first landed on Mexican soil establishing contact between Mayan and European civilisation for the first time. Turning inland, you continue to the small town of Palenque. Hotel - 2 nights

DAY 4 - PALENQUE: Today you explore the archaeological site of Palenque, set amidst the thick forest that
covered it for hundreds of years. Palenque's setting is magnificent and the ornate decoration of its Mayan architecture is exquisite. The excavated part is compact and easy to explore on foot, but the jungle - which echoes to the haunting cry of troops of howler monkey - still covers some 400 unexplored structures! The
tallest structure is the Temple of Inscriptions, a 25m high pyramid at whose heart lies the burial chamber where the famous jade mask was discovered in 1952. It is possible to explore ruins still covered by jungle giving an idea of how the first intrepid travellers found the site. Descending out of the site there are a series of
waterfalls and pools where you can take a dip to cool off. The small but interesting museum is well worth a visit; the intricately decorated pottery chimneys are particularly impressive.

DAY 5 FLORES - GUATEMALA: This morning you travel (100miles) to Bonampak. Discovered in 1946, this site has some of the best preserved colour murals at any Mayan site. A torch is useful for viewing the murals. Still used by the Lacandon Maya as a place of worship and ceremony, this site provided the first evidence that they Maya waged war on their neighbours. From here you take a boat excursion to the Yachilan ruins deep
in the jungle, only accessible by travelling along the river. There are more howler monkeys than people here! Continuing by boat you cross the border into Guatemala at Bethel and then onwards by road to Flores. Set on Lake Peten Itza, this small island is surprisingly the capital of the vast Peten region and the jumping off point
for the famous Tikal ruins. Hotel - 2 nights

DAY 6 - FLORES: With just over an hour's drive to the majestic ruins of the great city state of Tiká¬¬ we?ll aim to
get an early start so that you can spend a full day at the site. Even by clambering up one of the massive pyramids in the main site, it's difficult to gauge its full extent, as other distant structures protrude above the trees like islands. If the scene looks vaguely familiar, it might be because it was used in a scene towards the end of the original "Star Wars" film. Much surely remains undiscovered, locked in the grip of the jungle. In order to explore the site you walk through the forest between the main groups of buildings and hope to see something of the fascinating flora and fauna. A range of wildlife is commonly seen including howler and spider
monkeys, coatimundis (a member of the racoon family), agoutis (a strange, rabbit-sized rodent), oropendulas (a largish bird which makes distinctive hanging nests) and toucans. After its zenith in the 9th century, the city fell into spectacular and mysterious decline. As you wander amidst the grey stone pyramids, you can only speculate as to what could have caused its downfall. In the afternoon you return to Flores.

DAYS 7/8 - LIVINGSTON: Today a long half-day drive brings you to Rio Dulce, meaning "sweet river", where you board a boat and make the scenic journey down river to the coast at Livingston. Passing along gorges of
sheer rock faces with tropical vegetation and cascading vines watch for white heron and flocks of squawking parakeets. Livingston sits at the mouth of the Rio Dulce and is only reachable by boat. It's a superb setting with a powerful atmosphere of its own. The only Carib centre in Guatemala, this is a unique culture mixed from
Caribbean origins whose people now call themselves Garifuna. Sounds of Bob Marley mix with punta (Garifuna) music creating a laid back seaside vibe amongst the many street cafes here. There is plenty of time for you to relax and explore. Hotel 2 nights

DAY 9 - COPAN - HONDURAS: Today you board the boat and make the return journey to Rio Dulce. Taking to the roads once again your destination for the day is Copan in Honduras. En route you'll break the journey at
Quiriqua where there is the chance to visit the ruins. Quiriqua was once an important trading post between the vast metropolis of Tikal and Copan. The kings of Quiriqua attempted to maximise their power becoming embroiled in rivalries, wars and shifting alliances between the city states of Tikal, Copan and Calakmul. The
carved stelae here tell much of the Mayan myths, symbols and beliefs. As recently as 1975 a stone sun god statue was unearthed here. The drive continues to Copan and you cross the border into Honduras. Hotel 2 nights

DAY 10 COPAN: The full day is set aside for a guided tour of the archaeological site of Copan. Largely untouched by tourism, Copan is the most southerly of all the great Mayan cities and far less visited than some
of the northern sites. It marks the peak of late Mayan civilisation (AD500-800) although evidence of earlier settlement as far back as 2000BC has been revealed. The city was thought to have been the capital of the Mayan Empire, abandoned long before the Spanish arrived although why so remains a mystery. Approximately one quarter of the site has been excavated in work which began in the 1930s and still continues, reclaiming the city from the smothering jungle around it. Highlights here include a large number of stelae and altars
decorated with faces and figures, impressive great pyramids, the Great Plaza with tiered seating for 50,000 people and the Acropolis; a large complex of temples and pyramids.

DAY 11 - LAKE ATITLAN - GUATEMALA: Crossing back into Guatemala you drive into the heart of the country, skirting the industrialised capital and entering the beautiful highlands. Finally you'll reach the small town of Sololohich sits on the rim of a giant caldera filled with the stunningly beautiful Lake Atitlan As the road
winds down to the lakeshore you'll be rewarded with the sight of three perfect volcanic cones shrouded with wisps of cloud and mirrored in the glassy waters of the lake. This view has led many to conclude that this is the most beautiful lake in the world! (Total journey 8-9 hours including border crossing and stops).
Hotel - 2 nights

DAY 12 - LAKE ATITLAN: Lake Atitlan is stunning and inviting with at least a dozen villages dotted around its shores. The inhabitants of each can easily be distinguished by their traditional costumes, all woven locally.
Three separate languages are spoken by the different indigenous groups clustered round the lake, which is only some 18km long by 10km wide! Your day is free to enjoy the lake and its surroundings. You can choose to take a boat across the lake to visit Santiago, which nestles at the foot of the Toliman volcano and home to
the shrine of Maximon. Moving each year between the homes of the elders, the local people bring offerings and gifts to the idol in a tradition that dates back to pre-conquest times. Alternatively you may opt to take a boat in order to enjoy a great walk around the more remote villages and shores of the lake taking advantage of the opportunity for a swim. Wherever you go, it's easy to admire the simplicity of local village life and the beauty and tranquillity of the lake.

DAY 13 - CHICHICASTENANGO MARKET & ANTIGUA: Today you board a bus for the one-hour drive to
Chichicastenango, an attractive town at the centre of the Maya Quich Highlands. Its principal fame is as the site of a twice-weekly market, when the town fills with indigenous people from the surrounding towns and villages. Almost everything is for sale here but by far the most impressive is the vast collection of bright
textiles. Don't be surprised if you are jostled by local ladies bedecked in traditional costumes fighting to get through the crowds. After enjoying the colour and bustle of the market, you head on to Antigua - the old colonial capital about 2.5 hours drive away. Founded in 1543, when the first capital was destroyed, Antigua grew to be a substantial city with fine churches, public buildings, and a university - until the capital was again re-sited as the result of seismic activity. Today it is a picturesque town, lost in a time warp. Away from the central area, its peaceful streets mix the historic, the reconstructed (fortunately largely in original style), and the sites of ruined
ecclesiastical buildings. Together these create the atmosphere of a living museum - the sort of place to wander around, stumble across a coffee-house or hidden courtyard and make one's own discoveries. Hotel - 2 nights

DAY 14 - ANTIGUA: Today is free to enjoy the delights of Antigua and the city has much to keep you busy,
including a fantastic array of Jade jewellery shops. For those who want to do something a little different there are a number of optional excursions that can be done; you can visit a coffee or macadamia nut plantation, go horse riding, mountain biking or even climb the Pacaya volcano, an excellent half-day hiking trip up a perfect cinder cone.

DAY 15 - FLY TO LONDON: This morning transfer to Guatemala city airport for your flight to London.

DAY 16 - ARRIVE LONDON

(BLD = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Accommodation & Centre Details

Transport & Accommodation
Chartered minibus, public bus, boat, on foot and taxi. Hotels (14nts). No meals included. Flights (Schedules & airlines can change.) Indirect flights with Continental Airlines from London Gatwick. Depart UK 12.00, Return 09.55. UK domestic add-on and regional flights available.

Realm of the Maya

Mayan temple

Details

Itinerary & Highlights

Accommodation & Centre Details

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