Guatemala
The Maya Empire
See the The Maya
Empire for yourself on an adventure of discovery that will put you in the
center of the action!
Experience a night photo
hunt for crocodiles, the
wilderness of the Maya Biosphere Reserve and the beauty of Maya Sites along the
Petexbatun Lake.
This 8-day itinerary to visit Tikal, Yaxha, Ceibal,
and Aguateca also features the
chance to enjoy a jungle canopy tour to witness the
jungle top at eye level.
This Mayan
experience will take place the following dates:
February
10-17, 2007
April 14-21,
2007
We can also schedule
this trip for whenever you want it--please
email us with your date preferences
The Maya Empire
Itinerary
Day 1:
Arrival/Guatemala City
Arrive
Guatemala city airport,
where you will be met and taken to the Hotel Santa Clara.
Enjoy a welcome drink at your hotel, before enjoying dinner.
Overnight @ Hotel
Santa Clara, Guatemala City.
Meals included: Welcome
dinner at one of the many great restaurants in the Zona Viva of
Guatemala City.
Welcome
to Guatemala!
Day 2:
To Tikal, center of the Maya Empire
Enjoy a morning flight to
Flores so as to have a full day exploring Tikal, considered to be one of the
most important centers of power in the Maya Empire.
In addition to the
impressive Great Plaza, your guided tour this morning will also visit the early
astronomic center at the Mundo Perdido (lost world)
and Temple 4, the highest temple in the Maya world--site of one the best jungle
views in the hemisphere (it was even used as a backdrop during Star Wars:
The Empire Strikes Back!).
Overnight @ The Jungle
Lodge (within the national park).
Meals included: All
Looking
up towards the top of Temple 1
Day 3:
Nature/Birding walk or Jungle canopy tour and to Yaxha
This morning choose from
one of two different ways to learn more about the jungle around you--with either
a nature/birding walk with an experienced naturalist, or by viewing the hieghts
of the jungle with a fascinating canopy tour. Whichever you choose, you
cannot go wrong!
Fun on
jungle vines!
After breakfast,
you will leave Tikal behind in order to go behind the
scenes at Yaxha, site of the teams camps and the
archaeological site, backdrop for the competition.
You will have the chance
for a crocodile (photographic) hunt this evening on Lake Yaxha-- we
recommend AGAINST swimming in the lake, but it is a great place for a croc photo
shoot!
Sunset
over Lake Yaxha
Overnight @
El Sombrero Eco-Lodge.
Meals included: All
Day
4: Yaxha filming site, Topoxte site
Today we focus on the
of recent filming--the areas where the teams lived and
competed, the area where the film crew lived and the archaeological ruins that
surrounded everything!
After, we will visit the
ruins at Topoxte, a unique Maya site located on a small island in Lake Yaxha.
Many strange burials were found here, evidence of shamanistic rituals which
became more pronounced as the Maya Empire began to decline in the 900s.
At
Topoxte's central plaza
Overnight @
El Sombrero Eco-Lodge.
Meals included: All
Day
5:
Lake Petaxbatun area
After a lakeside
breakfast, we will travel by van and boat to Lake Petaxbatun, an area full of
Mayan history and natural beauty.
Marguey
cat on Maya stela at Chiminos
You will stay at the
Chiminos lodge, perhaps the nicest eco-lodge in Guatemala. The lodge is located
right on the lake, and adjacent to the Chiminos archaeological site, a
peninsular site that was used due to its defensible terrain.
Overnight @ Chiminos
Lodge
Meals included: All
Lovely
and comfortable lodging at the Chiminos Lodge
Day
6: Aguateca
Today we make our way by
boat to Aguateca, a Maya site that has yielded a great deal of information about
the Maya Empire. This is because the area was burned as a defense against
attacks by enemies and was abandoned very rapidly, leaving many archaeological
records of daily life there.
The limestone walls and
high cliffs around Aguateca make for exciting exploration, and stir the
imagination about what life was like at one of the most conflictive sights in
the Maya world.
You will have plenty of
time to explore here, and the rest of the day will be free to further enjoy the
lodge and the surrounding area.
Overnight @ Chiminos
Lodge
Meals included: All
On the
way to Aguateca
Day
7:
Final day in the heart of the Maya Empire
Enjoy a leisurely morning
before leaving our Chiminos paradise for Flores and an afternoon flight back to
Guatemala City.
Once there, settle into
your hotel before a great farewell dinner at Kakao, home of the finest
Guatemalan cuisine in the city.
Overnight @ Hotel
Santa Clara, Guatemala City.
Meals included: all,
including farewell dinner at Kakao
Day
8:
Departure
Enjoy your last morning
in Guatemala before your transfer to the Guatemala City airport for your trip
home.
You are sure to be full
of stories about your Guatemala experience, in the very footsteps of the ancient Maya.
Thanks for coming to
experience The Maya Empire!
Meals included: Breakfast
Trip price includes:
The services of a bilingual guide throughout the
trip,
All lodging,
All excursions (including guided
exploration of Tikal, Yaxha, Topoxte, Chiminos and Aguateca, along with either
the morning bird walk with naturalist or the canopy tour at Tikal; the night
photo hunt for crocodiles on Lake Yaxha, and the tour of recent filming locations),
All transfers and transportation (land, air and water),
All meals, as noted in the itinerary, and
All
archaeological site entrance fees.
Trip Price
With at least 4 travelers: $1650 per person, double occupancy
(trip price decreases with more group
members up to a max group size of 12, please email for more information)
Single supplement, if you want your own room throughout: $250
Not included in trip price:
Airfare to and from Guatemala City, Guatemala (airport code GUA), where the trip
begins,
(our US representative, Total
Travel Tours (ask for
Earl Fox) can often find you some great deals—we recommend calling him at
1-800-732-3023 (during normal business hours, mountain standard time)
Tips for guides, drivers, waitresses, hotel staff, etc.
Personal purchases such as souvenirs, handicrafts, snacks and alcoholic beverages.
Click here to book your spot, or for more information
Copper
Canyon Adventures
