Past & Present Maya culture in Guatemala and Honduras

Itinerary

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• Thursday – Day 1 - Arrival in San Pedro Sula

  Welcome to San Pedro Sula, Honduras
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  Welcome to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Upon arrival you will be met by the local “Spiced Destinations’’ representative, who will escort you to your hotel.

• Friday – Day 2 - San Pedro Sula / Copán

  Transfer to Copán, Archaeological Park of Copán, lunch, museum.
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  Morning: Transfer to Copan. En route, learn about the Maya trade routes, their social and political organization, and consider some theories on their mysterious demise. In the afternoon, visit the legendary Archaeological Park of Copán. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. Then visit the museum, with its perfect reconstruction of the buried pyramid, as well as the two archaeological tunnels recently opened to the public. After the tour, return to colonial Copan to spend the night. (b,l)

• Saturday – Day 3 - Copán / Antigua, Guatemala

  There will be a traditional breakfast. Visit to the Copan Bird Park, where you can see and interact with a variety of exotic birds on a shady walk through the lush Tropical Forest. Lunch is included at this charming location. We then depart on our journey across the border into Guatemala to visit Antigua, Guatemala’s original capital, declared a World Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1979. Evening spent at your leisure in Antigua (b,l)

• Sunday – Day 4 - Antigua: Secrets of Colonial Times

  Morning: Enjoy a guided walking tour of this charming city. Cobblestone streets attest to the grandeur that was 16th- and 17th-century Guatemala. Visit the Palace of the Captain General, the main square, churches, monasteries and other important sites. In the afternoon, time off for further exploration on your own, or shopping at authentic galleries, studios and artisan shops. (b)

• Monday - Day 5 - Antigua / Lake Atitlan

  Morning at leisure.
  Afternoon: Departure by private chauffeur-driven car to Lake Atitlan. Located in the giant caldera of an extinct volcano and rimmed by other volcanoes, this majestic wonder is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Its shores are home to several small Indian communities and villages offering rich cultural treasures to be explored (b)

• Tuesday - Day 6 - Lake Atitlan: In search for Maximón, the Mayan God

  Morning: Transfer to San Juan La Laguna Village to visit a local textile cooperative where the “backstrap loom” is still in use. Then sail to the picturesque Village of Santiago.
  After lunch: Search with your guide for the temporary residence of the Maya God Maximón. Once found, you may see a local shaman performing rituals for the village people. Then visit the town church and learn about the history of this very traditional town. Wrap up your day with a stroll through the market and return to your hotel for a good night’s rest. (b,l )

• Wednesday - Day 7 - Kayaking on Lake Atitlan

  Morning: Transfer by boat to the Cerro de Oro, where an adventure guide awaits you for a spectacular kayaking tour of Lake Atitlan. Travel back in time as you paddle past local Maya people working in the fields, washing clothes and fishing from their unique wooden boats.
  Trek though the interesting village located right at the base of Cerro de Oro. Then ascend to the top of the mountain where a picnic lunch awaits.
  Return to your hotel. (b,l)

• Thursday - Day 8 - Lake Atitlan / Chichicastenango / Guatemala City / Flores (Tikal)

  Morning: Departure for Chichicastenango. Market days at Chichicastenango are considered among the most colorful in Central America. Try some bargaining at the market, and then visit the church of Santo Tomas, where ancient Maya rituals are still practiced. Transfer to Guatemala City Airport for a short flight to Flores, an island town in Lake Peten Itza, surrounded by primeval rainforest. Arrival and transfer to your hotel (b,l)

• Friday - Day 9 - Tikal & Yaxha Mayan Ruins

  Morning: Visit to Tikal. Recently voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, it is one of the most spectacular examples of Maya Pyramids and temples and offers a peek into the glorious past of a long-gone civilization. Luxury picnic lunch is included.
  At dusk, a drive to the Lake Shore to see the less traveled Yaxha Ruins and enjoy an unforgettable sunset from atop a Maya Pyramid. (b,l)

• Saturday – Day 10 - Flores / Guatemala City / Depart Guatemala

  Breakfast at the hotel.
  Transfer to the airport for your flight to Guatemala City. On arrival, you will be met by your local guide for a brief city tour. The curator of the Ixchel Museum of Maya Textiles will be your private host for the specially arranged “Behind the Scenes” Tour.
  Lunch at a local restaurant.
  Return to the airport for your flight home. (b,l)