Yaxchilan
Day 1
GUATEMALA CITY -
YAXCHILAN
Transfer from your hotel to Guatemala City's International
Airport to register for your flight 972 to Flores, Petén. Arrival
and breakfast before departure to the village of Bethel. Embark on a
Peten style lancha (boat) with an outboard motor that will take us
down the Great Usumacinta River. We will set up camp on a white sand
dune after enjoying a full afternoon at the impressive site of
Yaxchilan, still used to this day as a place of worship and ceremony
by the Lacandon Maya. This unique site is strategically located atop
a knoll set on a natural omega formed by the Usumacinta River. Once
the park closes, we will go for a dip and get refreshed before
dinner at our campsite. We will spend our first night watching the
clear skies, surrounded by beautiful jungle, and gathered around a
cozy bonfire. (CAMP 1) (B, L, D) |
Keel-billed
Toucan
Day 3
LACANTUN, SALINAS & PASION
RIVERS
Before breakfast we will enjoy a refreshing morning dip at Los
Chorros, where lovely cascades pour into the powerful river stream.
Surrounded by dense subtropical vegetation we will discuss the
natural balance and human interaction with nature and learn about
community-based ecotourism in the Maya World. We will make a quick
visit the archaeological site of Planchon de las Figuras on the
Lacantun river. Continue upriver until we reach La Estrella, where
we will camp on a river dune where the waters of the Pasion &
Salinas rivers meet to form The Great Usumacinta. (CAMP 3) (B, L,
D) |
Aguateca
Day 5
PUNTA DE CHIMINOS &
AGUATECA
After breakfast we will explore the fascinating history of the
Petexbatun region as we walk up to a reconstructed palisade at Punta
de Chiminos. We will discover more about this important passage of
history as we continue to Aguateca through a winding creek. After
exploring the archaeological complexes at Aguateca we will also
explore the "trench", a natural formation (a geological fault) which
served as part of the Maya's defensive system during the Late
Classic period. The site is currently undergoing restoration. Lunch
included back at your hotel where you will have the opportunity to
enjoy swimming & nature at its best. Free afternoon. Overnight
and dinner at Chiminos Island Lodge. (B, L, D) |
Tikal
Temple II
Day 7
TIKAL - GUATEMALA
CITY
After a very early morning breakfast and check out
we will visit the monumental city of Tikal. A full day discovery of
the site will allow us to explore most of the fascinating natural
and archaeological wonders of the most extraordinary of all ancient
Maya cities: Tikal. It is the most impressive of all Maya Ceremonial
centers due to the magnificence and monumental proportions of its
architecture and the abundance of structures that have been
excavated and restored at the site. Enjoy lunch behind a Temple.
We'll enjoy Tikal's museums before catching our afternoon flight 973
back to Guatemala City. We will arrive in the Guatemala City airport
in the afternoon. End of services with Ecotourism & Adventure.
Evening on your own. (B, L) |
Our next fixed departures for 2008 are:
November 7th- 13th, 2008
November 20th- 26th, 2008
December 4th- 10th, 2008
Dec. 31st- January 6th, 2009
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Bonampak Mural
Day 2
BONAMPAK - LOS CHORROS
After breakfast we will continue our journey up river to the
Mexican border of Corozal. We will proceed to check customs and
drive on to the magnificent Maya Classic site of Bonampak. You will
appreciate the marvelous art work contained in 3 exquisite chambers
with murals painted on all sides and depicting different ceremonies
& war scenes affording us a glimpse into the daily lives of the
ancient Maya. Enjoy lunch at the site. We will return to our boat
and we will reach our next camping spot by sunset at Los Chorros, a
unique geological formation, where we will enjoy a wonderful evening
listening to the babble of the creek and the sounds of Nature. (CAMP
2) (B, L,D) |
Chiminos Island
Lodge
Day 4
PASION & PUCTE RIVERS
PETEXBATUN
LAGOON
We will make an early start until we reach the pristine waters of
the Pucte Stream, its waters so clear we'll see the many hues of
green and red of the plants dancing with the current. We will make a
quick stop in Sayaxche and then continue our explorations on the
Petexbatun Lagoon. Overnight at Chiminos Island Lodge, a beautiful
ecolodge located exactly at the site of the Last Maya outpost, in
the middle of the Peten jungle. (B, L, D) |
Ceibal
Stella
Day 6
CEIBAL - LAKE PETEN
ITZA
We will start very early this morning from Chiminos Island Lodge
towards Sayaxche and continue overland to the Ceibal Archaeological
Monument and National Park. Ceibal is known for its beautiful
architecture and for its stelae. It was probably a dominant city
during ancient Maya times, and probably controlled the trade route.
One of its most unique and outstanding features we will visit is a
circular pyramid, as we explore the different architectural
complexes. After lunch at the site we will return to Flores and
continue to our hotel, where you will enjoy a beautiful sunset over
Lake Peten Itza. Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight within a
nature preserve at Hotel Camino Real Tikal. (B, L) |
What's included?
Domestic airfare, all ground and river transportation,
all accommodations in our five-star camping facility and
beautiful ecolodges. All breakfasts & lunches. All dinners
except that of Day 6. Entrance to all national parks and
archaeological sites. Permanent access to purified water,
light snacks and soft drinks. First class first aid kit &
paramedic-trained, world class naturalist & archaeological
guide. |
What's not included?
International airfare, personal expenses, dinner on Day
6, personal & travel insurance. Sodas & alcoholic
beverages. PLEASE NOTE THAT: This adventure starts in
Guatemala City, very early in the morning of Day 1. All
participants must either be in-country or arrive the previous
night at the latest.
Accommodations for the night prior to our departure or
upon returning are NOT INCLUDED in our price and must be
booked & arranged for separately. Please let us know if we
should send you information about the different pre-trip or
post-trip extensions for this adventure. (Pre-trip extensions
include the archaeological site of Palenque in Mexico or the
Guatemalan highlands. Post trips include Yaxha & Uaxactun,
Rio Dulce, Quirigua & Copan or other destinations in
Guatemala, Mexico, Belize or
Honduras). | |
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