THE MAYAN ROUTE IN CENTRAL AMERICA Saturday 3 - Sunday 25 November nights

Transcription

1 TRAVEL & LEARN THE MAYAN ROUTE IN CENTRAL AMERICA Saturday 3 - Sunday 25 November nights TOUR OVERVIEW For thousands of years Mayan civilization prospered in Central America, before people abandoned their monumental cities about a millennium ago to be reclaimed by the jungle. This tour offers an opportunity to explore the best examples of the temples and pyramids of the ancient Mayan world in four Central American countries with a shared heritage: Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. It begins by exploring three states in southern Mexico: Chiapas, Campeche and Yucatán, and the famous Mayan ruins at Chichén Itzá as well as lesser known ones of Kabah, Uxmal and Palenque. This area is about much more than the ruins, though, and contains majestic colonial cities, spectacular scenery and fascinating sites that demonstrate how indigenous and colonial cultures have fused over the centuries. Fly to Guatemala, to be based in the ancient Spanish capital of all Central America, Antigua. This attractive colonial city, dominated by looming volcanoes nearby, is an ideal centre for exploring the area's history, food, handcrafts, culture and religion. Visit thriving local markets, and learn how to cook local dishes. On a visit to Honduras, explore one of the great centres of Mayan civilization, Copán, while based at the atmospheric town of the same name nearby. Return to Guatemala and fly to Flores, a charming town on an island in a lake that is the base for exploring the impressive Mayan city of Tikal. Ancient pyramids more than 40 metres tall rear out of the jungle, and the dense rainforest and exotic wildlife make this a visit to remember. From Flores make a short transfer to the small nation of Belize, and visit the sprawling archaeological site of Caracol, once a massive city but now a spectacular ruin surrounded by tropical forest. Visits to museums, Indian communities and their markets provide additional insights into the mysterious Mayan civilization. Spanish colonial cities demonstrate the wealth and power of this former empire. In contrast to the reminders of a golden civilization and the early colonial era, you will also experience the modern cities and lively culture of contemporary Central America. There is contrast also in the spectacular scenery which includes cloud forest, lowland jungle, mountains and some of the Caribbean coast. TOUR HIGHLIGHTS Ruins at Penenque, Mexico (L) and Chichén Itzá (R) Remnants of the mighty Mayan civilization, from the most famous ruins to those off the beaten track Captivating Spanish colonial towns and villages Vibrant fusion of indigenous, Spanish colonial and modern cultures Jungles and exotic wildlife Four different Latin American countries, with their own history, culture and food Volcanoes, a canyon and other spectacular landforms Bustling markets and diverse cuisines

2 TOUR MANAGER Your tour manager Andrew Matheson, an experienced tour manager who enjoys making travel a memorable experience for group members. He is a keen and adventurous traveller and has visited more than 80 countries to date. As well as private journeys, his careers as a diplomat and an international development consultant have seen him travelling widely, and working in remote places on pretty much every continent in the world. Andrew applies his organisational skills to make sure the trip runs to plan and delivers the best for all tour members. He looks forward to sharing this Mayan adventure with you. TOUR PRICE Ex Auckland Share twin per person NZD$13,160 Single supplement (limited availability) NZD$ 1,438 Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place. GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 16 VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour, or book business class seats for the flights. Please contact us for further details. TOUR INCLUSIONS TOUR EXCLUSIONS The services of a Calder & Lawson tour manager Airline taxes Economy class airfares Personal expenses Accommodation at stopovers Travel insurance 1 nights accommodation in Houston, USA Meals not specified in the itinerary 19 nights accommodation in Central America Meals as specified in the itinerary Local guides Beverages during included meals, unless specified Hotel porterage All group transfers Admissions as detailed in the itinerary All tips for local guides and drivers Pre-tour material

3 DAILY ITINERARY Saturday 3 November Auckland - Houston, USA. Depart Auckland on an evening flight which, thanks to crossing the international date line, arrives in Houston in the early afternoon of the same day. Transfer to a nearby hotel, with the remaining time at leisure. (Meals in flight) Sunday 4 November. Houston - San Cristóbal de las Casas, México. Take an early morning flight from Houston via Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital of the southeast Mexican state of Chiapas. You will be met and transferred to the nearby city of San Cristóbal de las Casas, considered to be the cultural heart of Chiapas. You will stay here for three nights, with the first afternoon at leisure. Enjoy your welcome dinner this evening. (Meals in flight/d) Monday 5 November. San Cristóbal de las Casas and Casa Na Bolom. Take a city tour of San Cristóbal, a city characterised by its peaceful and welcoming atmosphere, coupled with an artistic and bohemian flair. Buildings with red roof tiles and whitewashed walls line the colonial streets, alleyways open up into picturesque arcades, and plazas show off authentic colonial architecture. The local market has good handcrafts for sale and plenty of interesting foodstuffs to sample. Enjoy a regional lunch before touring Casa Na Bolom, which was the home of the Danish archaeologist Frans Blom and his Swiss wife Gertrude Duby-Blom, a documentary photographer, journalist, environmental pioneer and jungle adventurer. This atmospheric house provides a unique insight to the Chiapas region in the early 20th century and the lives of the Bloms. It is run by a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection of the local Lacandon Mayan people and the preservation of the Chiapas rainforest. Have the afternoon at leisure. (B/L) Tuesday 6. Sumidero Canyon, San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán. Explore Cañón del Sumidero, with its vertical walls up to 1,000 metres high and the Grijalva River twisting through the canyon. There are many Mayan villages near San Cristóbal including San Juan Chamula, where people still keep their traditions, language, customs and beliefs. Visit the simple village church, which while dedicated to St John the Baptist also reveals how indigenous beliefs intermingle with the Catholic faith religious observances fuse pre-conquest Mayan customs, Spanish Catholic traditions and later innovations. It is almost unbelievable that such old customs still exist, however the practices are real and in no way a tourist presentation. Visit San Lorenzo Zinacantán, a town known for its traditional textiles where its inhabitants are almost all indigenous Tzotzil Mayan. Visit a local family, where you will have the chance to learn how to make tortillas. (B/L) Wednesday 7. San Cristóbal de las Casas Agua Azul Palenque. Leave San Cristóbal behind and travel northeast to Palenque. On the way stop at the famous Agua Azul falls a series of beautiful cascades with pools of striking blue water. Palenque is your base for two nights. (B/L/D) Thursday 8. Palenque ruins and museum. The Palenque pyramids soar majestically out of dense jungle. Though smaller than some other sites visited on this tour, Palenque contains some of the finest Mayan architecture, sculpture and carvings in existence. Take a guided tour of the impressive pyramids, sanctuaries and temples, a UNESCO world heritage site, and visit the local museum. (B/D) Friday 9. Campeche. Drive to the historic fortified city of Campeche, capital of the state of the same name. This UNESCO world heritage site on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico boasts incredibly well-preserved colonial architecture, including mansions built by wealth Spanish families in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the city walls, built to protect the city from the constant attacks of English and Dutch buccaneers and pirates during the 16th and 17th centuries. Explore this atmospheric city before sampling local cuisine overlooking the Bay of Campeche. (B/L/D) Saturday 10. Campeche Kabah Uxmal Mérida. Travel from Campeche to Kabah, a small archeological site set deep in the jungle. The most striking structure here is the Palace of the Masks, with its intricately detailed facade made up of 260 masks of Chaac the rain god, his long nose protruding prominently. Continue the short distance to the fascinating Mayan ruins of Uxmal, dominated by the Pyramid of the Magician and the Nunnery Quadrangle, which consists of long buildings with elaborately carved façades. There are remnants of a ball court used in ritual games that sometimes ended in sacrifice, and the whole site is quite exposed, which is a real contrast to the ruins of Palenque. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local Mayan family restaurant before driving on to the bustling colonial city of Mérida, capital of the state of Yucatán, which is your base for two nights. (B/L) Sunday 11. Mérida. Mérida was founded in 1542 by a Spanish conquistador and built over the ruins of the Mayan city T'ho. Carved Mayan stones from the ruins were used in the construction of many Spanish colonial buildings, such as the Cathedral of San Ildefonso. Enjoy a guided tour of this cosmopolitan city, which is a captivating mixture of Mayan roots, colonial grandeur and attractive 19th century architecture. Dinner will feature Yucatán specialties. (B/D)

4 Monday 12. Mérida Izamal Chichén Itzá Cancún. Izamal was once a Mayan settlement dedicated to the worship of gods, and is now an attractive provincial town of traditional golden yellow colonial buildings. The town is known for the 16th century Franciscan monastery, a destination for pilgrims that was built on the base of a huge Mayan pyramid. Explore the monastery and learn about the Maya written history that was burnt just after the monastery was constructed. Then continue on to the UNESCO world heritage site of Chichén Itzá, the most famous Mayan temple city which served as the political and economic centre of the Mayan civilization. Its various structures the castle or pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and the Playing Field of the Prisoners can still be seen and demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to architectural space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and arguably the greatest, of all Mayan temples. Travel on to Cancún and stay overnight. (B/L) Tuesday 13. Cancún (Mexico) Guatemala City Antigua (Guatemala). Fly from Cancún to Guatemala City and transfer to Antigua, one of the most attractive cities in Latin America and a UNESCO world heritage site your base for three nights. In this colourful colonial city streetscapes of pastel houses are set against the backdrop of nearby volcanoes that are as high as Mt Cook. Antigua was the capital of the Spanish empire in Central America for more than two centuries, so is filled with an abundance of religious and civic buildings from centuries ago some renovated and others still in ruins from the area s frequent earthquakes. Your guided walking tour of the city will bring its fascinating history to life. (B/D) Wednesday 14. Antigua. Experience the market of Antigua in a way that you could never do by yourself! Let your guide open your eyes to the unique market culture of Guatemala. See, smell and learn about the traditional ingredients used in Guatemalan cuisine. Wander the market, taking the opportunity to try produce unique to Guatemala. Then continue to the kitchen, where your expert chef will show you how to prepare delicious Guatemalan dishes. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. (B/L) Thursday 15. Chichicastenango. Take a short drive to the ancient market town of Chichicastenango, where centuries-old economic and cultural traditions of the Kaqchikel people continue to thrive. Chichicastenango s markets are reputed to be the largest in Central America. Many of the vendors, often whole families, flock into town the evening before market day with their wares and bed down in their stall space. The local population is mostly K iche Maya, and their local traditions remain deeply rooted. The town s landmarks are few, but both the main church, Santo Tomas Church (Iglesia de Santo Tomas), and the colourful cemetery serve as Catholic and Maya religious sites. Most of the locals speak one of the 31 Mayan languages as their first language and Spanish as a second language. Travel in the afternoon to the vibrant settlement of Panajachel. (B/L) Friday 16. Panajachel and Lake Atitlán. Explore Lake Atitlán and its surrounds - take a scenic boat ride to the village of San Juan La Laguna, and visit the home studios of local painters and a textile cooperative where women are engaged in hand weaving and natural dyeing processes. Continue by boat to Santiago Atitlán, and learn about Mayan traditions and beliefs. It may be possible to visit a shaman's house to see this fascinating practice, held amidst clouds of burning incense. End the day in Antigua. (B/L) Saturday 17. Antigua (Guatemala) Copán (Honduras). An early departure for the journey to Copán in Honduras. Afternoon at leisure. (B/L/D) Sunday 18. Copán. There is more sculpture here than in any other pre-columbian city. The ruins are prized for their 21 stelae or columns that are heavily carved with reliefs depicting the passage of time and the lives of the royal families. There are also several small pyramid-shaped temples and excavated vaults at the site. Walk through the grassy plazas under the gaze of huge carved faces staring out from ancient walls. As you walk past monuments, statues and staircases, it's hard not to wonder at the mysterious disappearance of such a creative civilization. Spend the afternoon at leisure. (B) Market at Antigua and Agua Azul Falls

5 Monday 19. Copán (Honduras) Guatemala City Flores (Guatemala). Travel back to Guatemala City to connect with your afternoon flight to Flores, your base for two nights. (B/L/D) Tuesday 20. Actún Kan. Travel by boat to Santa Elena to see the caves of Actún Kan, with their large network of underground passageways filled with large stalactites, stalagmites and other natural rock formations. Perhaps enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure. (B) Wednesday 21. Flores Tikal (Guatemala) San Ignacio (Belize). Drive a short distance to Tikal National Park, probably the most impressive of all Mayan sites. In the middle of the jungle are nearly 50 square km of classic Mayan ruins, surrounded by the dense jungles of Petén. Take a tour of the city, visiting the Q complex, Main Plaza, North and Central Acropolis, Seven Temples and Mundo Perdido (Lost World). Tikal is a superb area for observing wildlife in the jungle environment, and you may see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, toucan, weaver birds, coatimundi and even tarantula (if you know where to look and wish to find one!). In the afternoon, travel across the border into Belize, to the town of San Ignacio. (B/L/D) Thursday 22. Caracol. Drive from San Ignacio on secondary roads, passing through small Mayan villages and scenic countryside, to arrive at the sprawling archaeological site of Caracol. Learn about the anthropology, archaeology, and flora and fauna of the area, including rare and endangered wildlife such as keel-billed motmots, tapirs, jaguars, oscillated turkeys, gibnut (the Royal Rat ) and coatimundis. Caracol was a huge population centre at its peak, with over 150,000 inhabitants and 30,000 structures including an astronomical observatory. It was the largest metropolis in the Mayan lowlands during the classic period, built with elaborate city planning and complex agricultural systems. This site was hidden for many centuries by the tropical broadleaf forest. Admire the engineering and architectural sophistication of the Mayan people as you climb the temple pyramid structure of Caana (sky temple), the highest building in Belize. Once at the top, nearly 40 metres above the courtyards below, you will get impressive views of Belize and neighboring Guatemala. Enjoy your farewell dinner this evening. (B/L/D) Friday 23. San Ignacio (Belize) - Houston (USA). Transfer to Belize City for your midday flight to Houston, arriving late afternoon to connect with an evening departure for Auckland. (B/Meals in flight) Sunday 25. Auckland. After crossing back over the international date line, arrive in Auckland early in the morning. HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR A deposit of $1,000 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour will become a confirmed departure. At that point we will advise when the full tour payment will be due. Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $1,000 deposit and your spot in this tour is secured. Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can down load one from the website or give us a call and we will or post one to you. TERMS & CONDITIONS Can be found on the website on the back of the paper registration form or on the summary page when you complete an online registration. VARIATIONS This itinerary is Version 1 dated 29/09/2017 and is subject to change. Exchange rate fluctuations may result in a change to the tour price. IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? This tour presents a unique opportunity to visit a diverse range of Mayan ruins, but certainly isn't just for archaeology buffs. It will appeal to anyone wanting to explore Latin American countries that most New Zealanders don't visit, and experience a vibrant fusion of indigenous and Hispanic cultures. This tour involves walking on uneven surfaces, climbing steps and clambering around archaeological sites, so you will need to be reasonably fit and confident with walking. The trip is timed to avoid the hottest part of the year, but daily highs will reach into the low 30s, though evenings can be cool. The itinerary is designed to be as efficient as possible, however to see what it does include means there are several long coach journeys.