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Traveling in Maya
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Mon. Dec. 17, 2012: 12.19.19.17.16 -- 13 K'ib 19 Mak The journey begins with your flight into Guatemala City. As participants will be arriving at various times we'll have an airport shuttle available throughout the day. You'll be met and warmly received by your driver at the airport and then a 45 minute drive brings you to Antigua, Latin America’s premier colonial city where your guide for the tour will greet you and assist you with hotel check-in. Then you have free time to explore Antigua on your own. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a strikingly beautiful city rich in history with spectacular views of the three volcanoes that surround it. Visitors and locals alike casually congregate in the central plaza, sitting and strolling, watching the world go by. This is one of the best and most atmospheric plazas in all of Central America. Overnight at the centrally located Posada de Don Rodrigo Hotel in Antigua. Tue. Dec. 18, 2012: 12.19.19.17.17 -- 1 Kaban 0 K'ank'in We begin the morning with a breakfast and "meet and greet" with your fellow travelers and guide. Then we take a morning walking tour of Antigua. Walk along the cobblestone streets, among monasteries, restored churches and haciendas of Antigua for an informative inside look at the former capital of Guatemala. Formerly Santiago de Guatemala, Antigua was once the third most important Spanish city in the Americas. For 200 years it served as the political and economic center for all lands between Chiapas and Costa Rica. Notables buried beneath the ruins of the cathedral, where Maya shamans burn candles, include Pedro de Alvarado, Bernal Díaz del Castillo, and an Aztec princess. In the nearby market one can find everything from brightly colored and intricately embroidered textiles to exquisitely carved jade from nearby mines. After lunch we visit Ixmiche, capital of a Late Postclassic Kaqchikel Maya kingdom from 1470-1524 AD. When the Spanish arrived in 1524 AD it was the 2nd most powerful city in the Guatemala Highlands. Then we go to spectacular Lake Atitlán where we begin our immersion into the world of the modern Maya. Atitlán is a Nahuatl word meaning "place of water". At an altitude of 1562 meters (4,265 feet) the shores of the lake are home to a multitude of Maya communities. Formed by water built up in a volcanic crater, its deep, crystal blue waters are contrasted by a verdant ridgeline punctuated by three spectacular volcanoes. Novelist Aldous Huxley called Lake Atitlán "the most beautiful lake in the world". Overnight Posada don Rodrigo located in Panajachel on Lake Atitlán. IWed. Dec. 19, 2012: 12.19.19.17.18 -- 2 Etz'nab 1 K'ank'in Following breakfast, we embark on a boat ride across the lake to Santiago de Atitlán. Take in expansive views of the San Pedro volcano and watch the Atitlán volcano peek out from behind its shorter neighbor, Tolimán. Santiago Atitlán is the capital of the Tzutujil Maya nation, who consider it to be the navel of the Universe. It has the largest population of indigenous people of any town in Central America. Renowned weavers, the women in Santiago wear traditional headdresses made from long lengths of cloth wound repeatedly around the head, after the manner of some of the figures in Classic Maya art. Winding through the narrow streets we'll visit the parish church founded over four centuries ago where there is a remarkable combination of traditional Maya and Catholic religious practices. We'll also visit the house of the local Mayan-Catholic deity, a figure called Maximón, who combines the attributes of St. Simon, Judas Iscariot, and the ancient Mayan god of merchants and learn about the unusual gifts and rituals offered by local people in hopes of bringing good luck. In the afternoon we'll attend a lecture/presentation "Maya Long Count Calendar 101". Understanding the basics of this calendar system is easier than you think! Overnight Posada don Rodrigo in Panajachel. Thu. Dec. 20, 2012: 12.19.19.17.19 -- 3 Kawak 2 K'ank'in This morning we visit Chichicastenango, an important ritual center for the contemporary Maya and the most colorful native market in all the Americas. Before visiting the market a traditional Maya "daykeeper" will perform a fire ceremony for the group at Pascual Abaj, the sacred hilltop above "Chichi". We’ll also witness modern shamans who continue the spiritual practices of their ancestors at shrines on the steps of the church of Santo Tomás. Although the rites are Mayan and not Catholic, the Catholic Church has allowed the Maya to practice religion in their own manner since the 17th century. Then you'll have time to stroll through the market, where K’iche indigenous Mayas gather biweekly to barter, buy and sell their wares. A wonderful mix of richly colored textiles, meticulously carved wooden masks, the scent of copal incense and candles, the sounds of prayers and songs -- a truly unique experience. In the afternoon we journey to Quetzaltenango, the unofficial capital city of the Guatemala Highlands. Also known as "Xela", this beautiful city sits at 7,500 feet and is looked over by the perfectly conical volcano Santa Maria. For those who want to ring in the new Long Count Calendar Cycle we'll enjoy a "Countdown to the Next Baktun" celebration from 9 pm to midnight. Overnight Hotel Modelo in Quetzaltenango. Fri. Dec. 21, 2012: 13.0.0.0.0 -- 4 Ahaw 3 K'ank'in (Winter Solstice) This morning we descend quickly through the cool highland cloud forest to the humid coastal plains, home of many of Guatemala’s coffee and banana plantations, crossing the border into Mexico to one of the earliest Maya civilization sites, Izapa. The site was occupied during the Late Formative period, primarily between 600 BC and 100 AD although there is some evidence that it may have been settled as early as 1,500 BC. If so, that would explain the many Olmec elements found throughout the site. Izapa is home to one of the earliest Long Count date inscriptions ever found. We'll also visit the interesting Soconusco Museum in Tapachula to see some of the best pieces discovered at the site. Overnight Loma Real Hotel in Tapachula. Sat. Dec. 22, 2012: 13.0.0.0.1 -- 5 Imix 4 K'ank'in This morning we return to Guatemala for a visit of Takalik Abaj, a prime candidate to be the first Pre-Classic Maya site recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The site is well preserved and plays a significant role in the archaeological record by bridging the intriguing gap between the Olmec and early Maya civilizations. It also has a monument with a very early long count inscription. In the afternoon we travel along the coastal highway to Antigua, taking in the spectacular views of the many volcanic peaks of the Highlands. In the evening we'll have a group dinner to celebrate the beginning of the new Long Count Calendar cycle. Overnight at Hotel Posada de Don Rodrigo, Antigua. Sun. Dec. 23, 2012: 13.0.0.0.2 -- 6 Ik 5 K'ank'in We’ll have a shuttle to the airport throughout the day to connect you with your homeward bound flights from Guatemala City. |
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| Tour Specifics: Date: December 17-23, 2012 The cost of this 6 night tour is $1,780 per person double occupancy. Single hotel supplement add $345. This tour is limited to 20 participants. Contact us about early booking discount or discounted price for repeat clients! Tour includes:
Airline tickets are not included. For this tour you need to fly into and out of Guatemala City. |
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For more information or to make a reservation contact MayaSites Travel Services Phone our 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. |