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ITINERARY:
March 21: We pick you up at any hotel between Cancun and Tulum between 7:00-8:00 am (depending on hotel location). Then we will enjoy a tour of the spectacular coastal ruins of Tulum, the most visited of Mayan archeological sites. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, it is a photographers 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.
In the afternoon we visit Coba. Cobá is situated in a lush jungle filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lover's delight. It is 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 ancient Mayan cities. This vast Mayan archaeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. Then to historic colonial Valladolid, where one can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes and one take a little time to shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold. Overnight El Meson Marques Valladolid.
March 22: This morning we begin with a visit of Ek Balam, a recently uncovered Maya archaeological site with very distinct features. The wonderfully preserved state of the sculptures and frescos at Ek Balam are some of the most 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". All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted. Ek Balam's most striking temple is one with a huge ¨monster mouth". To the Maya this represents a portal to the "other world".
Then to Chichen Itza. We'll have lunch at, and a chance to take a refreshing dip in, beautiful Cenote Ik Kil. Then we visit Chichen Itza, the most famous of Mayan archaeological sites and one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". We'll enjoy an all afternoon tour of the site including El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, which has a staircase on all four sides, each with 91 steps that totaled with the last step on top equal the 365 days in a solar year. On the afternoon of the Equinox the Feathered Serpent descends in a glory of shadow and light down the great pyramid, signaling the most auspicious time to plant the essential and most revered food staple of the Maya, corn. This event is one of the most dramatic displays of Mayan astronomical knowledge encoded into architecture of any Mayan site. We end our journey with drop off at any hotel in Cancun or the Riviera Maya.
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