THE MAYA CIVILIZATION TOUR 15 DAYS

Operator: Maya Travel
Valid: From January to December

These prices are subject to availability
deluxe hotel / Minimum 2 pax

Day 1: San Pedro Sula
Honduras' rich Maya heritage makes it the natural country to begin your journey into the Maya World, or Mundo Maya, where "Man, Nature, and Time are One". Upon arrival to San Pedro Sula, you will be greeted by our tour guide and transferred directly to your hotel. In the afternoon, you may join an optional city tour to experience the old world charm, views of the Spanish colonial grid work, and the hustle and bustle of this cosmopolitan city. In the evening, you will join your fellow passengers for a welcome dinner and an orientation of the Maya World, the known and the unknown mysteries. Our expert tour leader will make you feel welcomed and very excited about the days
to come! (D) Welcome Dinner

Day 2: San Pedro Sula - Copan Ruins
You will begin with a visit to the famous Guamilito Market located only a few blocks from downtown. Honduran and other Central American handicrafts are available, including colorful hammocks, exotic flowers, ginger and other spices, tropical fruits and vegetables. A stop across the street at the Plazita for some
home grown coffee is a must. A visit to the San Pedro Sula historical museum will provide a good introduction to the Maya Route and fascinating civilization,followed by a typical Honduran lunch at the museum's gazebo. In the afternoon, you will depart to Copan Ruins, located in a lush valley where coffee, corn and tobacco are grown, about 100 miles from San Pedro Sula. A 2.5-hrs scenic ride through mountains, valleys and small towns will take you to
this beautiful colonial town of the Maya World. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the hotel and have some leisure time to rest or relax by the pool. Before dinner,you will attend an introductory lecture with one of the renowned archaeologists of Copan Maya excavation who has featured in National Geographic and has authored numerous books and publications. In the evening you will enjoy dinner at the hotel followed by a guided evening stroll around the town's central
plaza and park. (B,L,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 3: Copan Ruins
After breakfast, you will visit the Copan Archaeological Site, one of the most impressive of ancient Maya cities, where art and architecture reached their highest pinnacle of achievement. Highlights include: the famed Great Plaza with all its wonderful and mysterious stelae, the famous Hieroglyphic Stairway, giant Ceiba trees, and the Copan Sculptural Museum featuring Maya nobility and reconstructed temples. A picnic lunch will be served onsite allowing an unforgettable experience in this magical, mystical place! The afternoon is at
leisure to remain at the ruins; return to the hotel to relax by the pool; take in some of the local sites; or just explore the town. There are plenty of local artisan shops and restaurants to enjoy or to sit in the beautiful park where one can observe the daily life of Copanecs. A poolside dinner barbeque completes the day. (B,L,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 4: Copan Ruins
After breakfast, you will enjoy a modern Maya medicine lecture followed by a walk to the Ceramic Museum. After lunch, you will visit the Maya residential area known as the ruins of Las Sepulturas, followed by any of these options: a visit to the Maya built tunnels at the main site, a hike on the nature trail, or time for personal reflection at the main site. (B,D) Dinner in Town

Day 5: Copan Ruins- Guatemala City - Antigua
Today, you will drive across the border to Guatemala City. Guatemala has an astonishing variety of landscapes ranging from the northern rainforest of El Peten, rugged mountains in the central region, and lowland coffee, banana and sugar plantations. In Guatemala, the Maya World is not all history. Maya customs and traditions live on in cuisine, costume, religious practices, and language. Visitors are bound to be enchanted by the living Maya. After lunch,
you will visit the National Palace Museum, one of the greatest achievements of colonial Guatemalan architecture. A further 1-hr drive will take you to the beautiful and unique town of Antigua, considered to be the "gem" of colonial architecture with an abundance of historical and cultural values. You will check-in at the hotel with a beautiful colonial style and warm atmosphere for the next three nights. An informative evening lecture on this charming colonial
city will be presented. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 6: Antigua
After breakfast, you will join a walking tour of the main plaza and center of Antigua including a visit to the Jade Factory, the gems that were so precious and symbolic in the Maya World. The rest of the day is at leisure to take in some of the historical monuments, historical churches, continental restaurants and local charms unique to Antigua. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 7: Antigua
Today, you will travel a short distance to hear about the impressive Maya textile industry presented at Casa de Artes. Maya culture has left a multicolored legacy in Guatemala.Regional dresses are full of life and their reds, yellows, blues, and greens, give wearers
a festive look. Handmade textiles and their decoration tell stories with symbolic
meanings relating to the earth, life, religion and Maya traditions. In the afternoon, you will visit the Maya Music Museum followed by a slide presentation on these handmade instruments. Drive back to the hotel. In the evening, you will walk to a local restaurant
for dinner. (B,D) Dinner in Town

Day 8: Antigua - Lake Atitlan
After breakfast, you will drive to Lake Atitlan, one of Guatemala's most important natural attractions, in the heart of the Guatemalan highlands, capturing the attention of  travelers since time immemorial. Formed 85,000 years ago after a volcanic eruption left a gigantic crater; it has a surface of 78 sq. miles and is located 1500 meters above sea level. The lake offers a beautiful site surrounded by picturesque volcanoes, beaches and lakeshore villages. You will stop for lunch to enjoy the views followed by an afternoon walking tour of Panajachel; the gateway to Lake Atitlan, a Maya village in the slow process of change, which is host to many of the restaurants, hotels and businesses in this region. Check-in at hotel situated on Lake Atitlan. In the evening, you will enjoy a lecture of this outstanding site followed by dinner. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 9: Lake Atitlan - Chichicastenango
After breakfast, you will go on a 2-hrs drive to the famous and remarkable indigenous site known as Chichicastenango Maya Market. Market Day is a memorable experience reflecting the Maya love of color, their creativity, their use of natural material and their
stories embedded in their crafts. You will then visit the old Santo Tomas Church to witness some of the interesting Maya rituals that were once performed along with current Maya-Christian rituals. The afternoon is at leisure to explore Lake Atitlan on
your own. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 10: Lake Atitlan - Guatemala City
A full morning ride will take you back to Guatemala City where you will spend the night.In the afternoon, you will visit Guatemala's Archaeological Museum and the National Palace in La Plaza Central. In the evening, you will go to dinner at a typical Guatemalan restaurant, noticing the contrasts that abide in this busy, colorful city, and admiring the blending of modern and colonial architecture (B,D) Dinner in Town

Day 11: Guatemala City - El Peten - Flores
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your early morning flight to El Peten, the area in northern Guatemala known as the cradle of the Maya civilization; a region of tropical rainforests encompassing Guatemala's largest protected National Park and Maya Site, known as Tikal. You will check-in to the hotel in the town of Flores by Lake Peten Itza. You will enjoy a scenic and pleasant walking tour through the town followed by leisure time. Optional: Drive directly to Tikal and stay at a hotel onsite,allowing to experience the sunset and sunrise in famous Tikal. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 12: Flores - Tikal - Flores
You will depart early morning, before sunrise, for a 1-hour drive (a box breakfast will be given at the site after arrival)to the famous Tikal Maya city. The largest and perhaps greatest of the ancient Maya cities, the Tikal Maya city is very magical in the early
morning when the birds are singing and the mist is rising over the high temples. A full morning tour will tell some of the stories of these temples, some which rise 45 meters above the Great Plaza and which were built over 1,000 years ago. In the afternoon, you will visit the Ceramic Museum and explore Tikal independently, before returning to Flores for dinner (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 13: Flores - Belize - San Ingacio - Placencia
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Belize, formerly British Honduras, which is an anomaly in Central America with its English traditions and large Creole population. You will arrive to the Belize-Xunantunich Maya Site. You will enjoy climbing its steep stones
for a panoramic view which will take your breath away. After the visit, you will leave to Placencia Beach - a quaint little coastal town which has many ecological attractions. You will check-in at the hotel and after lunch, you will have some leisure time to enjoy the beach and hotel activities. In the evening, you will enjoy a typical Belizean Caribbean dinner. (B,D) Dinner at the Hotel

Day 14: Placencia
Today, you will take a short boat ride to one of the little Belizean Cays, where you will enjoy swimming and snorkeling on Belize's barrier reef, the longest stretch of coral formations in the western hemisphere. The rest of the afternoon you can either enjoy
the beach and hotel grounds or you can take the hotel shuttle for a quick visit to Placencia Town. A farewell dinner celebration will bring this memorable journey to a Closing (B,D) Farewell Dinner

Day 15: Placencia - Belize City
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the Belize Airport for your international flight (B)

End of Program,

Includes:
All ground transportation in A/C vehicle
Domestic flight from Guatemala to Flores Tikal
Fully escorted trip with professional bilingual tour guide / leader
Entrance fees and guided tours to all sites described in itinerary
Purified water on bus
Welcome dinner
Meals according to itinerary
14 nights hotel accommodations (Tourist & Deluxe Class)
Luggage handling
Hotel and restaurant gratuities
All airports transfers and meet & greets
All applicable taxes
Meals: B: Breakfast, L: Lunch D: Dinner

Not Included:
Meals and beverages not mentioned in the program
Gratuities for tour guide / leader
Travel Insurance
Activities not mentioned in the program
Airport taxe