Mayan Culture reigned on the Yucatan Peninsula, on the

Mayan Culture reigned on the Yucatan Peninsula, on the Southeastern side of Mexico, enclosed by the
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea on the Atlantic side of the Country. However, it was in this area,
where the Mayans reached their Superior degree of development. Nonetheless Mayan Civilization
covered a vast extension, from Mexico’s Southern Pacific Coast, way in to Central America, in the
Countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador end Nicaragua.
Traces of Maya nomad settlements go back to 1500 BC. We distinguish mainly 3 Mayan periods of
Social and Urban development. Nomad, Mayan Pre Classical and Mayan Classical. They are relatively
evident in their building techniques, their carved inscriptions on their Pyramids, buildings and temples.
Mayans developed a structure of writing, using hieroglyphs; and so kept record of Mayan findings in
mathematics, Architecture and Astronomy.
On this Escorted Tour we will see some of the major Sites from the Mayan Civilization, following
some of the trails that were used for trade and communications during the aborigine period, before the
Mayan Conquest by the Spanish expeditionary armies.
Day 1
Cancún
Arrival in Cancun, A Bilingual
representative with a first class air
conditioned vehicle will be standing
by to immediately VIP transfer our
distinguished passengers to a select 5
Star Hotel in Cancun City, assuring satisfactory registration and accommodations. Passengers will have
the evening on their own. Overnight in Cancun
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Day 2
Cancún – Tulum – Chetumal
Early breakfast and departure South
along the Caribbean Coast with an initial
Transit of 2 hours. We will visit TULUM
during Three hours, a Mayan Post Classic
sacred city, nestled on a Cliff overlooking
the Ocean. Tulum was a major link in the
Maya extensive trade network. You will
see over 20 Buildings and observe the
Stalls on the monuments, with the graphic legacy of the Mayan Culture; you will also see the First Castle
dedicated to Kukulkan. You will be able to swim and bath on the beach after your stroll along the park.
After the visit we will Transit for Two hours towards our overnight destination and will have on the route
an hour for lunch, Chetumal the State Capital of Quintana Roo and Border town to Belize. Evening on
your own, visit the down town area for an outside restaurant or dine at the hotel.
Day 3
Chetumal – Corozal – Xunantunich – Tikal
Early breakfast and departure to clear
Belize immigration. Initiating Transit
after formalities towards Belize City,
continuing through the Cayo District
We will reach Xunantunich Mayan
Archeological Site around 12:00 to visit
the park, the pyramids and the paintings
in the caves. Xunantunich is a Classic
period (300-900 AD) ceremonial center, with large plazas ringed with pyramids. The tallest is the 45
Meters “El Castillo,” which is large by Mayan standards. We will have an hour time for lunch on your
own. And then continue to cross the Border of Guatemala in to the Peten Department. We will transit
almost two hours to reach Flores the closest city to TIKAL, Overnight in Flores, evening on your own
for town sightseeing and dinner.
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Day 4
Flores-Tikal–Flores
Breakfast included at the hotel and early
departure to Tikal Archeological Park
Guatemala’s biggest and most extended
Archeological Site. The park is immersed
in the Tropical Forest with splendorous
vegetation and extraordinary wildlife. Tikal due to it’s historic value, has been declared by UNESCO,
“Cultural Heritage of Mankind”. This majestic Mayan city is considered one of the largest and most
monumental of all of the sites discovered in the Mayan World. In its maximum splendor period, was
supposed to have over 100 thousand inhabitants. Tikal is considered part of the Classic Period of Maya
Civilization, but you will find different architectonical design, where Tikal does not directly reflect the
Toltec influence as most Mayan sites do. Dispersed around the plaza has pyramids with heights over 30 to
55 meters tall such as The Great Jaguar Main Temple, the temple of the Moon or the masks. The temple
of the serpent and many more. You will have time for lunch and the evening off. Overnight at Flores.
Day 5
Flores – Bethel – Corozal – Yaxchilan – Palenque
Early breakfast at hotel and departure with
Transit through the Mountains and the
Tropical Forest towards Bethel Border.
Here as the ancient Mayas would travel,
you will take a River Boat 30 Minutes to
the Mexican Border at Frontera Corozal.
Once clearing immigration you will
take another one hour boat transfer to
Yaxchilan arriving at 1:00 pm for a two hour visit. Time for lunch on route. Yaxchilan was one of the
greatest centers of Mayan civilization in Mexico, located on a large “U” bend on the Usumacinta river in
the jungle of the Lacandon Rainforest. No roads lead to the site. Yaxchilan was first inhabited around 200
A.D., but most of the structures at the site date from about 500 to 800 A.D. included in the Classic Period.
The sacred city was dominated by the cult of the Jaguar dynasty, beginning with Yat-Balam, or Penis of
the Jaguar, in 320 A.D., and reached it’s peak during the reigns of Escudo-Balam, or Shield-Jaguar, and
his son, Pajaro-Balam, or Bird-Jaguar, who ruled from 681 to 771 A.D., building many of the supreme
temples and most of the engraved Stalls and hieroglyphics on the monuments. We will again boat and bus
transit towards Palenque, evening free, stroll around the town or dine at the Hotel.
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Day 6
Palenque - Agua Azul - Palenque
In the morning of day 6 after included
breakfast, we visit the archaeological site
of Palenque. This ancient Mayan City
reached its peak from the sixth to the eighth
centuries A.D. Palenque, is a more rigidly
conservative architecture compared to other
Classic Maya sites. Still Palenque is one of
the most enigmatical sites and has held its
secrets for over twelve hundred years. The setting is nestled against the mountain wall, surrounded by flourishing
vegetation deep in the rain forest. You will see endless levels of Maya man-made terraces, bearing uncounted
structures, most of which appear to have been mausoleums. You will find a marked contrast between Palenque
and other Classic Maya sites. The most outstanding buildings are: The Temple of the Inscriptions, a majestic
pyramid with a secret crypt; The Fabulous Royal PAKAL Tomb; with an exquisitely engraved monolithic
sarcophagus; The Palace with a four story high square tower, probably used as an astronomical observatory;
The Temples of the Cross, The Temples of The Jaguar and The Temple of The Sun. Palenque added additional
roof toppings to its buildings producing an extra height, compared to other Classic Buildings. Our second visit
from and back to Palenque will be to a beautiful Natural waterfall at Misol-Ha (or Agua Azul). We again stay
the night in Palenque.
Day 7
Palenque – Campeche
After included Breakfast, we will depart
towards the Colonial City of Campeche,
transit including a stop for lunch. We will drive
through the Tropical Forest until we reach
the Fisherman’s Village of Champoton and
then continue along the coast of the Gulf of
Mexico as we re enter the Yucatan Peninsula.
Campeche used to be the main town of the
Mayan province of Ah Kim Pech, which means “Serpent Tick” and was founded around the 3rd century AD. The City
of Campeche was one of the Head Quarters of the Spanish Conquerors that established their reign over the big Mayan
Civilization settled all along the Yucatan Peninsula and way down it to Central America. The First Spanish soldiers got
to Campeche in the year 1517 and although were defeated on the first intent, stayed anyway and took over this Mayan
Provincial Capital, proceeding with its colonization. In the Mid 16th Century, Campeche had become an important port
with an already established wall around the City in order to prevent a further defeat. Later it prevented attacks from
Pirates that would move in from the Caribbean. UNESCO has awarded recognition “Cultural Heritage of Mankind”. to
The City of Campeche for its Historic and Cultural value evident in the preservation of buildings and land marks of its
beautiful colonial architecture and restoration of its facades. Afternoon dedicated to a City tour. Evening on your own,
Overnight in Campeche.
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Day 8
Campeche – Uxmal –
Mérida
Breakfast included and departure with
an over an hour transit to Uxmal which
means “Three times constructed”; the
architecture of Uxmal is among the
most majestic in Yucatan. Its beauty
is characterized by low and horizontal
palaces placed around patios and quadrants richly decorated with detailed sculptures. Uxmal, enveloped
by legends and myths. Uxmal is situated within a series of hills known as the Pucc or the mountainous
area of the Yucatan. Continue to Merida the Capital of the State of Yucatan. We will have an important
City Tour where Merida has preserved its Colonial Heritage in the Historic District of the Town. It is
the center of the State and all the roads converge at the State Capital. Merida’s Central Square or “Plaza
Grande” is surrounded by ancient buildings that form the Historic District such as The San Idelfonso
Cathedral of Merida, the most antique church of the American Continent, built in the second half of
the XVIth Century. Merida’s Cathedral has one of the biggest interior Statues of Christ in the World.
Merida was founded on January 6, 1542 on the indigenous trace of Ichcaanzihó’s City, called also T’hó.
Overnight in Merida.
Day 9
Mérida – Chichén
Itzá – Cancun
On the 9TH day, just after breakfast, we
will transit just over 2 hours to Chichen
Itza the Mayan Post Classic Sacred City,
which represents the most intact and
impressive of the remains of the Mayan
Civilization that the modern world preserves. Chichen Itza has a huge “Cenote” a big pond nourished by
underground rivers which supplied clean water to the complex. Chichen Itza, as other Mayan Centers was
originally a ceremonial and spiritual site, instead of a commercial area. Has maybe the most impressive
Pyramid of all the Maya World. The Castle with 4 staircases (One for each season of the Year) with 91
steps each, totaling 365 with the top platform. The orientation of the pyramid is such that for about an
hour edge of the pyramid on the side of the North stairway, draws seven triangles of light that imitates a
serpent creeping downwards until it joins the huge serpent’s head at the bottom of the stairway. This was
a Religious message telling the people its time to seed the land or it is time to harvest with the Blessing
of Kukulkan. At Chichen Itza, you will see an Astrological Observatory with a Design similar to others
built in the Modern Age. There are many more Buildings such as The Temple of the Warriors, part of the
“Thousand Columns Complex”, the Temple of the Jaguars, the Ball Court, the biggest in Mezzo America.
Chichen Itza was voted One of the Modern Seven Wonders of the World. After a visit of almost 2 hours,
we will take another 2 and a half hour transit to Cancun. Drop off at the hotel in Cancun. Departure from
Cancun, or transfer to your Beach extension hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya
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Included Services
» Welcome meeting at the airport in Cancun by our representatives
» Transportation in air conditioned vehicles
» Bilingual guide during the days of the tour
» Accommodations in middle class hotels (local category)
» Daily American breakfast
» Visits mentioned in the itinerary, including entrances fees to the
archaeological sites
hotels
» Cancun: Hotel Radisson Hacienda Cancun 5* or similar
» Chetumal: Holiday Inn Chetumal 5* or similar
» Flores – Petén: Villa Maya 4* or similar
» Antigua: Villa Colonial 4* or similar
» Panajachel: Villa Santa Catarina 3* or similar
» San Cristóbal de Las Casas: Hotel Casa Mexicana 4* or similar
» Palenque: Misión Palenque 5 * or similar
» Campeche: Hotel Baluartes 4*, Hotel Plaza Campeche 4*, Hotel Plaza
Colonial 4*, or similar
» Merida: Hotel El Conquistador 5*, El Castellano 5* or similar
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» Picnic lunch during the Tikal tour
» Government taxes
» Gratuities in hotels (bell boys and maids)
» Border fees (Mexico- Belize; Belize-Guatemala, and Guatemala –
Mexico)
Not Included Services
» Airport taxes in Cancun and Guatemala
» Personal expenses
» Meals and drinks not previously mentioned
» Flight Flores/ Guatemala
» Tips during the excursions (for Tour Guide and bus driver)
» Hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya for extended stays