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Guatemala Highlights 8D/7N
A wonderful trip to Guatemala which takes in all the main sights such as the stunning colonial city of Antigua, the volcano encircled Lake Atitlan, the colorful indigenous market at Chichicastenango and the famous rainforest Maya Temple sites of Yaxha and Tikal. You can meet the Maya God Maximon in the small lakeside village of Santiago, learn about Guatemala’s fascinating textiles whilst in Antigua and witness a myriad of tropical wildlife whilst exploring the rainforest temples.
A journey in Guatemala takes the visitor in a few minutes from the lush vegetation of the warm low lands zone to the cold of the pine forests. Come and discover a variety of incredible destinations in this country where the unique hospitality of its people and the mystique of their culture still inspires your senses. From Mayan culture to colonial architecture, from pristine volcanoes and rainforest to Inadian native markets, Guatemala welcomes all visitors.
The Maya - In the land known today as Honduras, the Maya-Toltec culture was born 3,000 years before Christ while Europe was still considered a land of barbarians. Scientists consider the Maya-Toltec civilization to have become the most developed indigenous culture in the world. Without a doubt, it was the most advanced in Middle America. Copan’s Pyramids, temples, and stone monuments justify the claim. They are in the northwestern zone of Honduran territory, near the border with Guatemala. At Copan, Mayan structures date back to at least 1000 years BC. Nevertheless, in the 10th century AD, this colossal metropolis of 3,450 buildings and more than 15,000 inhabitants, was mysteriously abandoned. So were several other Mayan city-states. The archaeological zone of the Mayas extends from the Tehuantepec Isthmus in Mexico to Honduran territory in Central America. Today, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras encompass the land that once belonged to them. In this vast geographical region, there are a number of archaeological ruins. Scientists come to unveil the mysteries of hieroglyphics, engraved stelae, altars, ceramic and jade objects in the land of the ancient centers, like Copan, Tikal, Chichen Itza and Uxmal. While the area is rich in minerals, the inhabitants only utilized the precious stones, particularly jade, and some metals like gold and silver, with sumptuary ends in mind.
Superior Hotels: • Casa Santo Domingo in Antigua (or Similar) • Hotel Atitlan at Lake Atitlan (or Similar) • Camino Real Tikal at Tikal (or Similar) • Westin Camino Real in Guatemala City (or Similar)
Departs on SATURDAYS fom Jan 4 to Dec 18, 2008 but not including Easter Week & Thanksgiving.
Included: • Transfers & Guiding as described • Breakfast each day and other meals as described • Internal flights • Entrances to all visits mentioned in the itinerary
Not Included: • International Flights • Border Crossing Fees & Airport departure taxes • Drinks with included meals • Tips & Gratuities
Note on Guide: From Day 1 through Day 5 Guests are with the same Guide. On day 6 they fly to Flores on their own and are met by another guide for the Yaxha & Tikal Tour. The final transfers in Guatemala City on days 7 & 8 are unguided.
Sketch Itinerary
- Day 1 Saturday - Arrive Guatemala City. Transfer to Antigua
- Day 2 Sunday - Depart to Chichicastenango to visit the famous Market. Continue to Lake Atitlan (B,L)
- Day 3 Monday - Lake Tour & Visit to Villages (B,L)
- Day 4 Tuesday - Depart to Solola to visit the Market. Brief visit to Iximche Masya site. Continue to Antigua (B,L)
- Day 5 Wednesday - AM Architecture & History walking tour of Antigua. PM free (B)
- Day 6 Thursday - Transfer to Guatemala City airport for the flight to Flores. Transfer to the hotel. PM visit of Yaxha National Park.(B)
- Day 7 Friday - Am visit of Tikal. PM transfer to Flores airport and fly to Guatemala City. Transfer to the hotel in Guatemala City. (B,L)
- Day 8 Saturday - Transfer to the airport for for ther international flight out (B)
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