Starting Price:	£3,208.00
Trip Length:	14 days
Includes airfare allowance from London (UK)

Chichicastenango

Antigua

Tikal

Antigua, Lake Atitlán, Chichicastenango, Tikal, Palenque and Mexico City

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

Tour Antigua then travel to Lake Atitlán in Guatemala visiting the amazing Mayan market at Chichicastenango. After a flight to Flores we visit Tikal, a major cultural center of Maya civilization. From Tikal we travel overland to the Chiapas, Mexico to visit the Mayan ruins of Palenque. Travel over winding mountain roads to San Cristobal de las Casas and Agua Azul waterfalls. The trip ends with a tour of Mexico City and the Teotihuacán ruins.

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 London (UK), on non-holiday dates. You do not need to fly via London; 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, 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 its 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 privately to your hotel in Lake Atitlán.

Day 3

Half-day tour to Santiago Atitlán. You will be picked up from your hotel for a scenic boat ride across the lake, passing by the three impressive volcanoes of Toliman, Atitlán 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. Next, you will visit the local church and learn about the history of this very traditional town, and 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 get to Hotel Posada Santiago for lunch. After lunch, transfer to your hotel in Lake Atitlán.

Day 4

Private transfer to Chichicastenango. You will have time to shop and visit the colorful, outdoor Maya market in Chichicastenango (market operates only on Thursday and Sunday). Once there, you will have time to mingle with people from several ethnic Maya highlands groups who gather to buy, sell and trade goods. In the afternoon, we will take you back to your hotel in Antigua.

Day 5

Day of leisure in Antigua. Optional hiking tour to Pacaya Volcano available.

Day 6

Early morning transfer to Guatemala City airport to take the flight to Flores. Upon arrival, you will visit the impressive and mystical Maya city of Tikal. One of its largest buildings is the Temple of the Two-headed Serpent, which is 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. Due to its immense value, Tikal was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979. Overnight in Petén. Lunch included.

Day 7

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

Day 8

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

Day 9

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. The Mayan site of 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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

In the morning, we depart the city, heading to the breathtaking archeological site of Teotihuacán. By the afternoon, following a tour of 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 and walk through the main streets. On we go to Paseo de la Reforma to admire its monuments and buildings.

Day 14

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	£3208	£3480	£3900	£5234
Single	£4364	£4964	£5630	£7638

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