Starting Price:	£3,291.00
Trip Length:	13 days
Includes airfare allowance from London (UK)

Interests:

Mayan Ruins

Antigua

Tikal

Lake Atitlán

Antigua, Lake Atitlan, Tikal, Palenque and Chichen-Itza

Description Pricing Itinerary Hotels

This trip will take you to Guatemala where we will see Lake Atitlán, the deepest lake in Central America and the Mayan towns of the surrounding area. Then to Tikal, the largest site of remaining Mayan ruins set deep in the Guatemalan rainforest. We then travel to Mexico to visit Palenque, where Mayan lords once ruled the land. Then, follow winding jungle roads to the highlands to visit San Cristobal de las Casas. Afterwards, we head north to Uxmal and the pyramids of Chichen-Itza.

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):
04 April - 12 April

20 December - 02 January
Visited Cities:
Antigua, Lake Atitlan Area, Tikal (Peten), Palenque, San Cristobal de las Casas, Merida, Chichen-Itza

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 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 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, 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. 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 Antigua for overnight.

Day 4

Early morning, transfer to Guatemala City airport to take the flight to Flores. Upon arrival, visit the impressive and mystical Maya city of Tikál. 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. Due to its immense value, Tikal was declared a World Heritage Center by UNESCO in 1979. 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. The Mayan site of Palenque is located northwest of the Maya lowlands in Chiapas, Mexico. Surrounded by the jungle, it is among 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. Arrive at the airport for a flight to Mérida. Upon arrival in the “white city,” transfer to your hotel.

Day 11

You will enjoy today’s excursion to the wonderful archeological sites of Uxmal and Kabah. Uxmal was probably built around 700 A.D. The rich, green, fertile land provides a perfect setting for some of the most magnificent pyramids, buildings and temples of the ancient Mayan world. You can sense history here as you walk around and gaze at the stunning architecture and layout of this old city. The Piramide del Adivino (the Oracle’s Pyramid) stands majestically above other buildings, and a climb to its summit will reward you with spectacular views of the entire half-square-mile ancient city. Kabah is located south of Uxmal as both archaeological sites are connected by a grand 18-kilometer-long pedestrian causeway with monumental arches at each end. Kabah is the second largest ruin of the Puuc region, after Uxmal. The most famous structure at the Kabah ruins is the Palacio de las Mascaras (the Palace of the Masks), its facade decorated with hundreds of stone masks of the long-nosed rain god Chaac. The site also has a number of other palaces, low stone buildings, and step-pyramid temples you can discover and enjoy.

Day 12

After breakfast, leave Mérida on your way to the ancient archeological site of Chichen-Itza. The famous Mayan pyramids of Chichen-Itza are more than 1,500 years old. The site is divided into three sections. The north grouping of structures is distinctly Toltec in style. The central group appears to be from the early period. The southern group is known as “The Old Chichén.” You will find a large ball court where Mayan men played a game called pok ta pok, full of symbolism and drama. Overnight in Chichen-Itza.

Day 13

Transfer to the Cancun airport for your flight back home or stay a few nights in a hotel in Cancun or the 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.
Merida
3-star	El Castellano or similar.
4-star	Mision de Fray Diego or similar.
5-star	Casa Lucia, Hacienda Merida or similar.
Deluxe	The Villa at Merida or similar.
Chichen-Itza
3-star	Hotel Chichen-Itza or similar.
4-star	Villas Arqueologicas or similar.
5-star	Hacienda Chichen Resort or similar.
Deluxe	1 night Deluxe hotel. The Lodge at Chichen-Itza or similar.

* Subject to confirmation at time of booking

Occupancy Type	3-Star	4-Star	5-Star	Deluxe
Double	£3291	£3560	£3920	£4814
Single	£4340	£5203	£5814	£6803

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