Starting Price:	$4,367.00
Trip Length:	12 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Tikal

Teotihuacán

Palenque

Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Tikal, Palenque and Mexico City

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Yampu guides you to the Mayan ruins of both Guatemala and Mexico. We will explore Lake Atitlán (volcanic in origin, it is the deepest lake in Central America) and the Maya towns that surround it. We then fly to Flores to visit the impressive and mystical Tikal (largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Maya civilization—now a UNESCO World Heritage site,) staying a night in Flores near the ruins. Then on to Palenque and San Cristobal de las Casas; this trip ends with a tour of Mexico City.

This trip can be customized to fit your individual travel dates and any specific requests you may have. Your travel consultant will prepare a customized itinerary for you. Yampu offers a choice of 3-, 4- and 5-star and Deluxe hotels.

This tour includes airfare allowance from Miami (US), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via Miami; Yampu will fly you the most direct way to your city of destination. Depending on your travel dates and proximity of travel, we will quote you the most economical surcharge from your city or country of origin.

Additional information on this trip:

Days of Week the Trip can Start:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Dates this trip is NOT available for online booking (please submit a regular request):
20 December - 02 January
Visited Cities:
Antigua, Lake Atitlan Area, Tikal (Peten), Palenque, San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico City

Day 1

Upon arrival in Guatemala City, private transfer to your hotel in Antigua Guatemala (commonly referred to as La Antigua or just Antigua).

Day 2

Morning, private tour of Antigua. For more than 200 years, Antigua was the seat of the Spanish military in much of Central America. You will be met at your hotel at 9 a.m. by your private guide to begin a half-day walking tour of Antigua. Your tour will cover the architectural and historical highlights of this colonial city with a behind-the-scenes look at some of the many ruined churches, convents and cathedrals. Entrance fees are included to the Iglesia San Francisco, the Cathedral, Central Park and La Merced Church. This tour is flexible, and if you have specific places that you wish to see, please let us know. At the end of the tour, we will transfer you to your hotel in Lake Atitlán.

Day 3

Half-day tour to Santiago Atitlan. You will be picked up from your hotel for a scenic boat ride across the lake, passing by the three impressive volcanoes of Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Upon arrival in Santiago, you will walk with your guide to find the house where the Maya God Maximon is said to reside. Each year a different “brotherhood” has the privilege of taking care of their God, so his location changes. Once with Maximon, you may see local shamans performing rituals for local people. If you wish, you can ask your guide to help you hire the services of a shaman for you to have a personal ceremony performed. After visiting Maximon, you will go to the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town. You will also see the market and learn about the distinctive textiles and the area’s famous primitive art. Take a ride in the back of a “flete” (a pickup truck in which people stand in the bed and are taken around town, often at high rates of speed) to Hotel Posada Santiago for lunch. After lunch, private transfer to Antigua for overnight.

Day 4

Early morning, private transfer to the Guatemala City airport to take the flight to Flores. Upon arrival, visit to the impressive and mystical Maya city of Tikal. One of its largest buildings is the Temple of the Two-headed Serpent, which measures up to 70 meters high. From its peak, you can hear the sounds of the rainforest: more than 300 species of birds, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars and toucans. Overnight in Peten. Lunch included.

Day 5

Day of leisure in Flores. Optional guided canopy tour to Ixpanpajul and sunset tour to Yaxha.

Day 6

Transfer to Palenque and overnight there. Ground transfer from Flores to Palenque takes about 8 to 9 hours.

Day 7

Enjoy a visit to the archeological site of Palenque. Walk through the same paths as the great Mayan Lords, and feel the charm and mystery of this culture. Palenque is located northwest of the Maya lowlands in Chiapas, Mexico. Surrounded by the jungle, it is considered one of the most important archeological sites of Mesoamerica, a ceremonial center and home to a number of Mayan Lords. There are religious temples, plazas, open courts and a ball court, but most of the structures are palaces. Artifacts discovered at this site tell us about the Mayan Lords and in particular of Pacal, one of the best-known Lords of the Mayan civilization. Overnight in Palenque.

Day 8

We will get back on the road, winding along mountain lanes to San Cristobal de las Casas. On the way, we will visit the Agua Azul waterfalls.

Day 9

Today you will enjoy a half-day tour of the Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan. Each village has its own distinctive highland dress as well as a weekly market and numerous festivals honoring patron saints and other special religious days. Afterwards, walk through the colonial streets of San Cristobal de las Casas, a jewel right in the heart of the Chiapas highlands. The indigenous soul of the town coexists harmoniously with its colonial charm, making it an enchanting place to visit.

Day 10

Depart San Cristobal de las Casas toward the Tuxtla Gutierrez airport. On the way, there is a visit to the enormous Sumidero Canyon where we will enjoy a boat ride. Have an unforgettable experience sailing down the Grijalva River, across a geological fault formed millions of years ago with dramatic cliffs up to one kilometer high and the river’s depth of 100 meters. Flight to Mexico City. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.

Day 11

In the morning, we depart the city, heading to the breathtaking archeological site of Teotihuacán. By the afternoon, after we tour the ruins we return to Mexico City to visit the first quarter—el Zocalo. Mexico City is also known as the Ciudad de los Palacios (City of Palaces). The tour continues in the main square, where we will visit some colonial palaces like the Palacio Nacional, the Metropolitan Cathedral and other beautiful architectural jewels. We will walk through the main streets, continuing to Paseo de la Reforma to admire its monuments and buildings.

Day 12

Transfer to the airport to take the flight back home, or choose from optional add-ons in Mexico (Cancun or Riviera Maya)

Suggested Hotels by City and Category *

Antigua
3-star	Hotel Aurora, Casa de las Fuentes, Hotel Los Bucaros, or similar.
4-star	Posada de Don Rodrigo, El Meson de Maria (boutique) or similar.
5-star	Casa Santa Domingo, Casa Encantada (boutique), Méson Panza Verde (boutique), El Convento Boutique Hotel, or similar.
Boutique	Hotel Cissus, or similar
Deluxe	Posada del Angel, or similar.
Lake Atitlan Area
3-star	Mundos, Posada Santiago, or similar.
4-star	Posada de Don Rodrigo, Lomas de Tzununa or similar.
5-star	Hotel Atitlan, or similar.
Deluxe	Casa Palopo, Laguna Lodge (boutique hotel, only serves vegetarian food) or similar.
Tikal (Peten)
3-star	Casa Amelia, Hotel Peten, or similar.
4-star	Peten Esplendido, Villa Maya, or similar.
5-star	Camino Real Tikal or similar.
Deluxe	La Lancha (note: no A/C). Nitún, or similar.
Palenque
3-star	Maya Tulipanes or similar.
4-star	Villa Mercedes Palenque Luxury & Gourmet Club or similar.
5-star	Chan-kah Resort Village - Casita Junior Suite or similar.
San Cristobal de las Casas
3-star	Villa Mercedes San Cristobal Luxury & Gourmet Club, Casa Mexicana or similar.
4-star	Posada Real de Chiapas or similar.
5-star	Parador San Juan de Dios or similar.
Mexico City
3-star	Best Western Estoril or similar.
4-star	Fiesta Americana Reforma or similar.
5-star	Nikko Mexico or similar.
Airport Hotel	Hilton Airport or similar
Deluxe	Four Seasons or similar.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star	Deluxe
Double	$4367	$4700	$5213	$6679
Single	$6194	$7353	$8210	$9932

Name:
E-mail:
Phone: