Vantage World Travel

Rainforest Archaeology Exploration With Copan - 12D/11N

Your discover of the highlands with the spanish-colonial splendor of Antigua and the Mayan market villages. The adventure is extended with a visit to Copan and into the Peten jungle with explorations to seldom visited Mayan ruins. Stay in rainforest lodges, on the shores of Lake Petexbatunas, and in the Tikal region.

Quirigua The largest block of stone ever quarried by the ancient Mayas is to be found at Quirigua, located on the north bank of the Motagua river, near Rio Dulce, the giant shaft of sandstone, carved in 771 A.D., measures 35 feet long by 5 feet wide and weighs 65 tons. There is a splendid series of monuments. It was declared “World Culture and National Monument” by UNESCO.

Tikal The monumental Mayan ceremonial center at Tikal lies northwest of Flores in the department of El Petén. Towering pyramids rise above the jungle’s green canopy, while down below howler monkeys swing nosily through the branches of ancient trees and colorful parrots squawk. The steep sided temples rise to heights of over 44 meters, and although the jungle carpet has been swept, the dense rainforest canopy is not far away, making passage within the enigmatic site an unforgettable experience. The many ruins include plazas, an acropolis, pyramids, temples and a museum.

Copan, 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. The Copan Valley is the site of some of the most important sources of information on the ancient Maya civilization. The ancient city of Copan has always been referred to as the most artistically advanced and elaborate of all the Maya cities.

Flores The capital of the jungle covered northeastern department of El Petén, Flores is built on an island on Lago de Petén Itzá, and is connected by a 500metre causeway to the service town of Santa Elena on the lakeshore. The city was founded by the Itzaes, and at the time of conquest was perhaps the last still functioning Mayan ceremonial center in the country. The pyramids, temples and idols were crushed under the foundations of the Spanish city, and the dispersal of the Mayan citizens into the jungle gave rise to the myth of a `lost’ Mayan city.

Included: Services as specified in the selected level.
Not Included: Any airfare, passport and visa expenses, governmental arrival and departure taxes, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended), excess baggage charges, all items of a personal nature and any services not specifically indicated as included.

Accomodations and Services

• Superior Hotels • Panza Verde – Standard Suite in Antigua • Hotel Atitlan - Std Room at Lake Atitlan • Camino Real Tikal – Standard Room in Tikal Area • Westin Camino Real – Deluxe room in Guatemala City • Bonifaz – Standard Room in Quetzaltenango • Santo Tomas or Mayan Inn – Std Room in Chichi • Villa Caribe – Suite in Rio Dulce area • Unicornio Azul – Std Room in Huehuetenango Area • Hacienda San Lucas – Standard Room in Copan. Meals - American breakfast throughout. Guides & Tours - Private minibus transfers at all times. Tours might not be private.
• Mid-Range Hotels • Meson de Maria – Standard Room in Antigua • Posada de Don Rodrigo – Standard Room in Lake Atitlan • Casona del Lago – Standard Room in Tikal Area • Holiday Inn – Standard room in Guatemala City • Bonifaz – Standard Room in Quetzaltenango • Santo Tomas - Standard Room in Chichicastenango • Catamaran – Standard Room in Rio Dulce area • Unicornio Azul – Standard Room in Huehuetenango Area • Don Udos – Standard Room in Copan. Meals - Continental breakfast throughout. Guides & Tours - Private minibus transfers at all times. Tours might not be private.

Daily Itinerary

• Day 1 Arrival, Antigua (Unguided) - Guests are met & transferred to Antigua. (1hr) Antigua 2N.
• Day 2 Architecture & History Tour (B) (Guide HD) - Guests will take a half day walking tour of Antigua. (3-4hr). The tour takes in the main square, Palace, Cathedral, La Merced Church & San Francisco Church. All entrances are included. Free Afternoon.
• Day 3 Transfer to Lake Atitlan & Santiago Tour (B,L) (Guide HD) - Guests transfer to Lake Atitlan. (2.5hr) Once at the lake, guests will take a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan (30mins) to the village of Santiago where they have lunch in a local hotel and tour the village visiting the Maya God Maximon and learn about the textiles, spiritualism & beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya. Transfer to hotel. Lake Atitlan 1N.
• Day 4 - Chichi Market (B,L) (Guide FD) - Today guests transfer approx. 1hr to the famous market at Chichi. Time for shopping in this fabulous craft market and an opportunity to see Maya rituals being performed in the Catholic Church before transferring on to on to Guatemala City & to your hotel. (3hr) Guate City 1N.
• Day 5 Copan, Honduras (B) (Unguided) - Transfer across Guatemala towards the border with Honduras. Just across the border you are in the pretty colonial village of Copan Ruinas. (5hrs) Free afternoon to relax or explore this pretty colonial town. Copan 2N.
• Day 6 Copan Site & Bird Park (B,L) (Guide in each place) - Your guide will meet you at your hotel and transfer you to the Maya Site of Copan. Enjoy a private guided tour of Copan Ruins site with its famous hieroglyphic staircase, ball court and tunnels. Lunch is in the tropical bird park where guests can also enjoy a visit of this beautiful facility looking after rescued tropical birds & working to educate people about conservation.
• Day 7 Quirigua (B,L) (Unguided) - Transfer back into Guatemala to visit the UNESCO protected site of Quirigua in the humid Motagua River Valley (2hr). Enjoy the beautifully carved stelea of this small but fascinating site situated amongst banana plantations. Then transfer on to Guatemala City for overnight. Guate City 1N.



• Day 8 Ceibal Site & Petexbatun Lake (B,L,D) (Guide FD) - An early morning flight up to Flores (30min) and then guests transfer to Sayaxche (1.5hr) & then board a local boat for a picturesque river journey down the La Pasion river (30min) to the site at Ceibal. After a pretty steep climb up to the site through a Ceiba tree forest your guide will provide you with the latest findings and conclusions about this site which contains some of the most ornate & well preserved carved stelae. When you are ready continue by river to your rainforest lodge on the shores of Lake Petexbatun,(1hr) Chiminos Lodge 1N.
• Day 9 Aguateca, Flores (B) (Guide FD) - After breakfast, transfer with your guide by boat to the lesser visited yet unique site at Aguateca (30min). This site is unusual in that it contains the only known bridge formed in Maya civilization and is surrounded by a natural moat fortification formed by a fault line. Guests can explore the natural fault as well as a small selection of restored monuments and some intricate carvings. Lunch at the lodge. After lunch transfer back to Flores by boat & land. Tikal Area 2N.
• Day 10 Yaxha Sunset (B) (Guide HD) - Guests enjoy a free morning to relax. After lunch they transfer to Yaxha National Park (approx 1hr) to explore this atmospheric lakeside site ending with refreshments & wonderful views at sunset over the rainforest canopy from atop the main temples.
• Day 11 Tikal (B,L) (Guide HD) - Today guests transfer to Tikal National park (approx 1hr) to explore the amazing UNESCO protected Mayan Temple site of Tikal where huge Mayan temples rise above the jungle canopy and monkeys and tropical birds are abundant in the surrounding rainforest. After lunch guests have time to relax and refresh and will fly back to Guatemala City (30min) where they will be transferred to their hotel. (Approx 10min) Guate City 1N.
• Day 12 Departure (B) (Unguided) - This morning our driver will transfer guests to the airport (approx 10mins) in plenty of time to catch their flight.

Possible Upgrades: -Helicopter transfer to Lake Atitlan. -Private charter flight to Copan (40 min). -Dinner at home of archaeologist David Sedat. -Presentation by David Sedat. -Dinner at Hacienda San Lucas. -Guide accompaniment in Quirigua. -Canopy tour in Yaxha National Park. -Luxury picnic in Yaxha National Park and/or Tikal.

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