The Mayan Empire: Guatemala & Mexico

Antigua
On arrival at Guatemala City airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Antigua 45 kms away.

Once the third largest city in all of Spanish America, Antigua served as Guatemala's capital city for more than two hundred years until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. Antigua today is a peaceful, partially restored colonial city that is a pleasure to explore.

City Tour
Volcan Fuego rises to the roof of the world above the streets of Antigua. Once the capital of Guatemala and all Central America, Antigua resembles a living ruin. Mammoth churches and palaces tell the story of Antigua's past glory, and restored facades speak of a bright future for this wonderful city. This morning we'll tour the city and admire Antigua's gilded cathedrals. The afternoon is yours to rent mountain bikes to explore the countryside, visit a coffee finca or macadamia nut plantation, or simply people watch in the main plaza.

Tour departs: approximately 9:00am.

Breakfast included.

Lake Atitlán
We'll travel into the heart of the Guatemalan Highlands to Lake Atitlán, located in the western highlands of Guatemala and often called one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Located at over 1500 metres above sea level, the lake reaches depths of 324 metres and is surrounded by three majestic volcanoes - Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro. We'll spend a night in beautiful Panajachel, considered the jewel of the highlands and inhabited by the Cachikel people for over eight hundred years. As we wander around Panajachel and its surrounding villages, you will observe the daily lives of these people and the skill of the women weavers.

Breakfast included.

Santiago Atitlan
Today you'll take a small passenger boat across the azure-coloured waters of the lake to the charming village of Santiago Atitlán. Get ready for spectacular views of the surrounding volcanoes and insight into a thriving Mayan community. Villagers in Santiago Atitlán still adhere to the traditional lifestyle of the Tz'utuhil Maya and on our walk we'll see many people cloaked in brightly-coloured, hand-woven clothing. Art galleries filled with oil paintings line Santiago's main street, depicting busy market scenes and typical life in the highlands. We may also visit Maximòn and leave an offering to this curious and revered deity before returning back across the lake to Panajachel.

Tour departs: approximately 9:00am.

Breakfast included.

Chichicastenango Markets – Antigua
A visit to Guatemala would not be complete without the chance to visit the famous market of Chichicastenango. This beautiful town, surrounded by valleys and shadowed by mountains, has many shamanistic and ceremonial overtones. Its large market brings villagers from throughout the region who often arrive the night before and sleep on blankets in the market square. Rising early, they set out their colourful fruits, vegetables and handicrafts. The market disperses in the early afternoon, so we will then travel back to Antigua where we'll spend the night.

Tour departs: approximately 8:00am.

*Take note that market days are Thursdays and Sundays, however we can rearrange this itinerary to make sure you’re there on the correct day.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Pick up is at 3:30am and a boxed lunch is included. Our representative will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Arrival at Flores and Tikal Ruins Tour
An early morning flight takes you to Flores in the tropical lowlands of the Petén Jungle and the home of the ancient Maya. After meeting up with your guide, you'll continue on to the ruins of Tikal where you will enjoy a guided tour of the Tikal site, where you'll encounter towering pyramids rising above the thick jungle canopy and learn how the city thrived as an important religious, scientific, and political centre for fifteen hundred years. Today, the pristine forest engulfing the ruined city is home to howler and spider monkeys, white-lipped peccary, brocket deer, coatimundis, toucans, scarlet macaws, parrots, ocelots and the seldom seen jaguar. Afterwards you will enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, visit the local museum. In the afternoon transfer to your hotel.

Lunch included.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Transfer to Border
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel very early in the morning and transfer you from Tikal to Bethel, you will have a boat trip to Corozal and then our Mexico supplier will pick you up.

Guatemala Border to Palenque via Yaxchilan
Upon arrival at the Guatemala/Mexico border, our Mexican representative will meet you as you continue your travels to Mexico and to the archaeological site of Yaxchilan, spectacular for its jungle atmosphere. You will then travel to Escudo Jaguar where you will have lunch (not included) before continuing on to Palenque where the evening is spent at your leisure.

Breakfast included.

Archaeological Tour
This morning we will visit the archaeological site of Palenque, a World Heritage Site, located 7km outside of the town of Palenque overlooking the swampy plains that stretch northward all the way to the Gulf coast. Palenque flourished between AD600 and 800, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. The site, surrounded by rainforest where toucans and howler monkeys live, is made up of some five hundred buildings spread over 15 sq km, of which only a few have been excavated. We will explore the magnificent ruins, including the Temple of the Inscriptions – the tallest and stateliest of Palenque's buildings, the Temple of the Sun – crowned with a prominent roof comb, The Palace – with its maze of corridors and rooms, and many other beautiful buildings

Breakfast included.

Depart
At the appropriate time today you will be picked up from your hotel in Palenque and transferred to Villahermosa airport.

Merida Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Breakfast included.

Uxmal & Kabah Tour
We will visit the archaeological site of Uxmal, a World Heritage Site, located 80km south of Merida. Its architecture is characterised by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with a profusion of symbolic motifs and sculptures depicting the long-nosed rain god Chaac. We will explore the magnificent buildings, including the Nunnery, the House of Turtles, and the House of the Magician, which dominates the site. We'll continue on to Kabah, with its amazing Palace of the Masks, covered in nearly three hundred masks of Chaac before returning to Merida.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Chichen Itza Visit / Travel to Tulum
Today will be one of the highlights of your Mexican adventure as you enjoy a visit to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, located 120km east of Merida. One of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is the best restored of Yucatan's Mayan sites. While here we will explore the magnificent ruins set in a dense jungle, including:
- Pyramid of Kukulcan, its height and striking geometric design the most prominent of this site.
- The Great Ball Court , the largest and most impressive in Mesoamerica.
- The Sacred Cenote, a natural well used for human sacrifice.

We'll also see many other beautiful temples. From Chichen Itza we'll head to the white sandy beaches of Tulum.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day at Leisure
Today is at your leisure to enjoy the magnificent beaches and crystal clear waters of the Riviera Maya. Apart from its excellent beaches Tulum possesses some impressive cenotes (underwater sinkholes) which offer fantastic snorkelling opportunities and you should also consider a side trip to its breathtaking Mayan ruins.

Breakfast included.

Transfer to Cancun Airport
At the appropriate time today you will be met at your hotel by our representative and transferred to Cancun airport. This transfer should take around 2.5 hours.

Breakfast included.