Guatemala

Guatemala Highlights

Starting Price:	$4,739.00
Trip Length:	12 days
Includes airfare allowance from Miami (US)

Ringneck Parrot

Tikal ruins

Local Textiles

The Maya World: Guatemala and Honduras

Description Pricing Itinerary

This exclusive itinerary celebrates the ongoing 2012 phenomenon associated with the ancient Mayan calendar by embracing the Maya cultures of Guatemala and Honduras. Your unique tour will include visits to interesting archeological sites in both countries and visits to the vibrant, local Maya communities of today.

Let Yampu guide you through Guatemala and Honduras exploring the ancient and current Maya cultures of Guatemala and Honduras. During this unique tour, offered only during 2012, you will explore the local culture and ancient artifacts of both countries. In Guatemala you will visit local coffee farms, enjoy a textile tour demonstrating the ancient handicraft, and visit the infamous Chichicastenango Indian Market. In Honduras you will enjoy a bird watching tour with an expert and a visit to the popular Maya site of Copan to tour the ancient ruins.

The ancient Mayan calendar, designed by the Mesoamerican civilization, is still used on occasion by Maya communities in the highlands. Considering its ancient origin, the calendar is surprisingly accurate demonstrating the mathematical expertise of the ancient Maya communities. The calendar uses several different methods of time tracking differentiated by astronomic or mythic events. Today academic scholars believe the calendar was a lunar calendar system designed to keep track of agricultural needs.

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:

Dates this trip is NOT available for online booking (please submit a regular request):
24 February - 07 July

20 July - 03 November

16 November - 01 December

Day 1

Today you will board your flight to Guatemala City. Upon arrival you will be greeted and transferred privately to Antigua for an evening at leisure.

Day 2

This morning you will learn from a local textile expert about the unique handmade textiles of Guatemala. This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Antigua that visits the Main Square, Palace, La Merced Church and the San Francisco Church.

Day 3

Today you will take a tour to some of the families supported by the AGAIG charity that works to support small, independent coffee producers and promotes sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. Your tour to the local farms will include a demonstration of the daily coffee processing and the opportunity to work with the local farmers. After the tour this morning, you will transfer privately to Lake Atitlan.

Day 4

This morning you will enjoy a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan (30 minutes) to the village of San Juan la Laguna where you will visit the women’s textile cooperative to see the weaving and natural dye process. While in the village you will also have the opportunity to visit the studios/homes of the local and celebrated painters.

Leaving the village you will travel to Santiago for lunch and a tour of the village including the Maya God Maximon, a textile demonstration and a discussion about the spiritualism and beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. This evening, you will return to your hotel in Lake Atitlan.

Day 5

This morning you will transfer privately an hour outside of Lake Atitlan to the infamous Indian market, Chicastenango. Here you will be able to explore the market and shop for the beautiful and locally made handicrafts. This afternoon you will transfer privately to your hotel in Antigua for an evening at leisure.

Day 6

This morning you will leave Guatemala and transfer to Honduras and the colonial village of Copan Ruinas, this is a five hour transfer. Upon arrival you will have the afternoon at leisure to relax or explore the pretty, colonial town.

Day 7

This morning you will transfer to the Maya Site of Copan for a privately guided tour of the Copan ruins and its famous hieroglyphic staircase and ball court. While visiting the Copan Ruins you will also tour the museum on site and then enjoy lunch in the village. This afternoon you will visit the lush and tropical bird park nearby to see the rescued and rehabilitated birds.

Day 8

After breakfast this morning you will return to Guatemala via the central desert region to the tropical coastal area at Puerto Barrios. On route you will stop to visit the small UNESCO protected Maya Temple site at Quirigua.

Upon arrival in Puerto Barrios, you will board a boat and transfer along the coastline to the small town of Garifuna in Livingston for dinner and an evening at your leisure.

Day 9

This morning you will cruise the Rio Dulce River and then transfer into the northern rainforest and across the Yaxha National Park; this is a five hour transfer. Once in the lakeside Park you will enjoy refreshments as the sun sets over the rainforest canopy. This evening you will overnight at your hotel in Tikal.

Day 10

After breakfast, transfer to Tikal National Park where you will explore the UNESCO protected Maya Temples of Tikal. Here the impressive temples rise above the jungle canopy and you will have the opportunity to see the flora and fauna of the surrounding rainforest including monkeys and exotic birds.

Day 11

This morning you will transfer to Uaxactun, famous for being the home to the oldest complete Maya astronomical complex. Here the communities of Chicleros (gum collectors) have lived for over 100 years. Today many locals make their living from gathering the products of the forest including allspice and xate palm trees for exports to Japan and the United States.

During your tour in Uaxactun you will learn about the daily life of the community and visit the small archaeology museum. This afternoon you will transfer to Flores for your flight to Guatemala City. Upon arrival in Guatemala City you will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to your hotel for dinner and an evening at leisure.

Day 12

After breakfast you will transfer privately to the airport and board your international flight home.

Occupancy Type	Standard
Double	$4739
Single	$5439

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