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MAYA OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST AND YUCATAN PENINSULA 4 Night 5 Day Tour Recommended for those who want a leisurely tour of the major Yucatan sites. For a more action-packed tour of the same sites see our 3 night 4 day tour. This tour can be customized to suit your individual interests. For other exciting activities in the Maya Riviera that can be included in your tour, please see our Custom tour page. This tour can also be based out of Merida. Join a small group for this tour March 18-22, 2012 |
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Day 1: At 8 am your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel (any hotel between Cancun and Tulum) and take you to spectacular Tulum, the most visited of Mayan archaeological sites. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, it is a photographer´s dream come true! Colorful iguanas bask lazily on rocks in the sun; gentle waves caress the shore. The pristine beach is so beautiful it is almost surreal. It is easy to imagine the ancient Maya landing at this bustling seaport with their canoes filled with trade goods The Mayan ruins at Tulum have a number of interesting structures from the ancient Mayan world. Graceful columns and elegant carvings give one an appreciation for the architectural achievements of the Maya. Inside the Temple of the Frescoes are fantastic 13th century murals depicting ancient ceremonies. One of the few surviving images of the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, Ixchel, can be found here. Red paint still clings to the stucco on the outside of the temple. It is believed that at one time all the buildings in Tulum were painted red. After a guided tour you'll have time to explore on your own. Bring a swimsuit to swim or sun at Tulum´s gorgeous beach or shop for local crafts at one of the many shops at the entrance to the ruins. After lunch you´ll continue on to Coba for an afternoon guided tour of these extensive ruins. You may explore the ruins by foot, bicycle or human-powered tricycle. Coba is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lover´s delight. It is also home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. From its top you can see above the jungle canopy for miles in each direction. On these quiet and peaceful grounds it´s hard to imagine that Cobá may have once had the largest population of all the ancient Mayan cities. This vast Mayan archeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. It was the heart of a large metropolis composed of many cities within the eastern Yucatan. Then on to the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel with excellent restaurant, pool & bar located near the archeological site in Chichen Itzá. In the evening you´ll attend the entertaining light & sound show at the ruins. Day 2: By overnighting in Chichen Itza you'll beat the "big bus" crowds this morning while you visit majestic Chichen Itzá, the most famous of Mayan archeological sites and one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". Chichen Itzá has numerous monuments for a visitor to explore. El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, has a staircase on all four sides, each with 91 steps that totalled with the last step on top equal the 365 days in a solar year. Other not to be missed destinations of this great ancient city are: the Main Ball Court, which is the largest discovered from the ancient Mayan world; the Sacred Well or Cenote, where archeologists have discovered a number of well-adorned skeletons of sacrificial victims; the Temple of the Skulls, with its numerous skulls adorning its facade; the Temple Of The Warriors, with its 1,000 columns dedicated to the warriors of Chichen Itzá; and the Caracol or Observatory. After a lunch break you may return to the ruins with your guide or you may visit nearby caves or a cenote (natural limestone filtered pool) for a refreshing swim. In the late afternoon you'll journey on to Uxmal, where you´ll stay at the Villas Arqueologicas hotel which is adjacent to the archaeological site with excellent restaurant, pool and bar. Day 3: This morning you visit the magnificent Maya ruins of Uxmal,. Uxmal is one of the finest examples of the "Puuc Maya" architectural style. Graced with two of the largest pyramids in the Yucatan and a multitude of incredibly preserved frescos paying homage to the rain god Chac and the serpent god Quetzecoatal, it is a site that inspires both awe and mystery. Afternoon you visit Kabah. Although only a small part of this site has been excavated the Palace of Masks, with its 250 masks of the Mayan rain god Chac, is one of the most impressive in Mayan architecture. Kabah also has a large and well preserved arch with a sacbe (ancient Maya road) leading to Uxmal. In the evening you may attend the entertaining light show at the Uxmal ruins. Lodging at Villas Arqueologicas Uxmal. Day 4: Today you explore more sites on the ¨Puuc Maya Route¨, beginning with Labna, also home to many Chac masks and a beautiful corbeled arch. One of its interesting features is a carving of a Vision Serpent with a human head emerging from its outstretched mouth. After lunch you'll go to the ruins of Mayapan for a visit. Mayapan has a distinctive history in that it was one of the last functional cities of the ancient Maya. Modeled after the buildings of Chichen Itza it is a very well preserved mini-version of that ancient city. Then you'll travel to historic colonial Merida. Stroll the main square, enjoy live traditional music, take a horsedrawn carriage on a tour of the local monuments. You'll overnight at Hotel Casa Del Balam, located 2 blocks from the main square in Merida. (If possible, MayaSites schedules this tour for you to be in Merida for "Merida Sunday", a weekly local fiesta with live entertainment, music and market.) Day 5: First you'll visit the interesting ancient Maya site of Acanceh. Acanceh has some of the largest and best preserved ancient masks in the northern Yucatan. YouŽll stop for lunch in the lovely colonial city of Valladolid. This is a modern Mayan city with an important history where you can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes. You can also shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold. In the afternoon you visit the exquisite ruins of Ek Balam, a newly uncovered Mayan archaeological site with some very distinct features. The amazingly well preserved sculptures and frescos at Ek Balam are outstanding examples of the art of the ancient Maya. Some figures are winged, some in the meditative ¨lotus¨ position, one sits headless above the center of the "Witz Monster" (entry to the underworld). All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted. At the end of the day we return you back to any hotel in Cancun or the Riviera Maya. |
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| Tour Specifics Cost per person for a private tour (double occupancy): 2 people $1,675 per person 4 people $1,295 per person 6 people $1,125 per person 8 people $975 per person For private groups of 9 or more people, please contact us for further discounted prices. If you would like to be grouped up with other people, please let us know and we´ll let you know what dates we currently have for groups. The price of this 5 day 4 night tour includes:
Price is based on medium range lodging. If you would prefer less expensive or more deluxe accommodations please contact us about the price difference. Prices for Thanksgiving week, Dec. 18-Jan. 6 and Easter week may be slightly higher depending on hotel policies and availability. |
UPCOMING
SPECIAL SMALL GROUP TOURS: Classic Maya in Tikal & Copan March 2-7, 2012 5 nights plus Uaxactun, Yaxha, Topoxte Island and Quirigua Guatemala Highlands Extension March 7-10, 2012 3 nights Spring Equinox at Chichen Itza & Dzibilchaltun Uxmal, Tulum, Coba & More! March 18-22 2012  |
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For more information or to make a reservation call MayaSites Travel Services: U.S. office toll free 877-620-8715 Outside of the U.S. (1) 505-255-2279 Or e-mail us at mayasites@yahoo.com All photographs and text Copyright 2000-2011 by MayaSites Travel Services. All rights reserved. |