With Terry Gay Puckett January 11 21, 2016 Also a Not to be Missed Optional Add-on Copán Maya Ruins in Honduras Option, January 8 11, 2016
Flight Itinerary FLIGHT # DATE DEP. CITY DEP. TIME ARR. CITY ARR. TIME Copán, Honduras Maya Ruins Option: January 8 11, 2016 Friday Arrive Guatemala City Saturday Depart for Copán Ruins Honduras Presentation 1/8 Open 1/9 10:00am 5:30 Fly to Guatemala City, clear Customs, retrieve your luggage, then exit the terminal. Be sure to have a dollar or two handy if you need help getting your luggage to our coach. Once outside, look for an EXPLORE GUATEMALA or VISTA REAL sign. You will be met by the Hotel Vista Real driver, who will take you to the hotel for the evening. on your own tonight. After a sumptuous breakfast, you will depart for Copán at 10 AM. Be sure to have your luggage separated into your Copan luggage and your main luggage. The Copán luggage should consist of enough clothing for three days and two nights, along with medicines and personal items. The main luggage will be stored in a safe place at Hotel Vista real until your return on Monday. Place ALL luggage outside your door before 8:30 AM. Meet at the entrance to the lobby by 9:40 to separate and identify your luggage prior to leaving. Your experience begins with a private coach journey to Copán, Honduras, where you will stay at the beautiful and relaxing Hacienda San Lucas, nestled in the hills above the tranquil Copán Valley, a 100-year old family-owned retreat uniquely situated in the mountains above the world-renowned Maya ruins of Copán. Before dinner renowned archaeologist David Sedat, Field Director of the Copán Acropolis Project, will give a presentation about the amazing discoveries of the royal tombs that most visitors of Copán never know about. This evening indulge your palate in authentic country cuisine prepared in the rustic, open kitchen by creative local Maya Chorti staff; a five-course candlelight dinner. (B/L/D)
Sunday Depart Copán Ruins Macaw Mountain Bird Park Monday Depart Hotel Vista Real 1/10 8:30am 1/11 9:30am After a sumptuous traditional breakfast, you will leave for the Archaeological site at Copán. This ancient place was the dominant Mayan city in the southern Maya territory. Its rich stone sculptures and intricate hieroglyphs make it a feature attraction along "La Ruta Maya". The royal sculptors of Waxak Lahun Ubah K'awil, Copán s most illustrious king, displayed their innovative talents in many stelae which he commissioned. The Hieroglyphic Stairway includes the longest single glyphic text found at any Maya site. The final touches to this amazing Mayan city were done by Yax Pac (Rising Sun), who reigned from 763 to 820 AD, when the population peaked at 20,000. After the death of Yax Pac the city soon declined into oblivion; by 1200 AD Copán was deserted and reclaimed by the jungle. In 1841 archeologist John Stephens, brought the ruins of Copán to world attention he paid $50 for this ancient site and began excavation and restoration, which continues to this day. Afterwards, we will tour Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature Reserve, an innovative tropical bird reserve that cares for rescued and endangered birds of the American tropics and enjoy a delicious lunch in the streamside restaurant. This evening another authentic country cuisine dinner prepared by the creative local Maya Chorti staff of Hacienda San Lucas. (B/L/D) Please have your bags ready to load onto the bus before another great Hacienda. Departing at 9:30 AM, we will stop in the town of Copán Ruinas for some exploration. Return to Guatemala City and the Hotel Vista Real, overlooking the colossal volcanoes, Fuego and Agua. The hotel is a beautiful blend of Guatemalan and Mexican art and architecture. (B/L) B =, L =, D = Copán Option Includes: Round trip Transportation to Copán, Honduras Hacienda stay All meals per itinerary Guide Entrance Fees per itinerary Not Included: Guide (recommend $3 - $5 per day, p/p) Alcohol or any other drinks or personal charges not on itinerary Price: $650 per person (Double or Triple) no Single rooms. Price is based on a minimum of 7 travelers.
Explore Guatemala with Terry Gay Puckett Mon 11th Guatemala City Arrival Hotel Vista Real Copan Travelers Social Hour Tues 12th Departure Museo Ixchel Museo Popol Vuh Day 1 6:00pm Open Day 2 6-8am 8:30am Fly to Guatemala City, clear customs, retrieve your luggage, then exit the terminal. Be sure to have a dollar or two handy if you need help getting your luggage to our coach. Once outside, look for an EXPLORE GUATEMALA or VISTA REAL sign. You will be met and taken to beautiful Hotel Vista Real, a blend of Guatemalan and Mexican art and architecture, where you will spend the night. Those returning from Copan, Honduras: After a long ride you ll want to take a well deserved rest in preparation for the exciting itinerary to come. We will all meet at the bar at around 6 PM for introductions and social hour. As our travelers will be arriving at different times, dinner will be on your own tonight. The hotel has an excellent restaurant. Please note that EXPLORE GUATEMALA provides your bottled drinking water. If you choose to drink the bottled water provided by the hotel, you will be charged an additional fee. At the reception desk, U.S. Dollars can be exchanged for Guatemala Quetzales. After breakfast, we will enjoy an adventurous day of exploring some of the treasures of Guatemala City. Our first stop will be Museo Ixchel the Textile Museum, and Museo Popol Vuh, the Archeological Museum. Ixchel was the Maya goddess of fertility and weaving, and she certainly inspired artistic talent in her people. The museum will give you an introduction to and history of weaving techniques that you will find still being used in the Mayan villages. You will view the museum s exquisite textile collection from the 120 indigenous Maya communities, plus see their permanent exhibition of remarkable watercolor paintings by Carmen de Pettersen that portray the traditional dress of the Maya, and oil paintings by naïve artist Andres Curruchich from Comalapa. Museo Popol Vuh is home to one of the most important collections of Mayan artifacts, from its extensive Pre-Columbian, Classic, and Post-Classic periods. On display are some of the bestpreserved Maya vases and bowls, funerary ceramic art, and a variety of portable stone sculptures. Many Maya cities reached their highest state of development during the Classic period (AD 250 to 900) and continued throughout the Post-Classic period until the arrival of the Spanish.
Shopping Social Hour Wed 13 th Departure Lake Atitlán Social Hour and Travel Book Thu 14th Departure Boat Group Leisure Grp 6:00pm Day 3 6-8am 8:30am 6:00pm Day 4 8:00am 12:00 After visiting the museums, we will find a special place to enjoy lunch in the city before continuing our exploration of Guatemala City, which will include an opportunity to shop for some wonderful Guatemala textiles. Return to the Vista Real for a short respite before gathering for Social Hour in the bar. at Hotel. (B/L/D) Please have your luggage outside your door before you go to breakfast. You will need to check out at the front desk, then come outside to the entrance of the hotel to check on your luggage before it is loaded onto the bus (8:15). This morning we will travel through the magnificent Guatemalan highlands with spectacular vistas and scenes of the Maya in a world not too changed from hundreds of years ago, to Lake Atitlán, arguably the most beautiful lake in the world. We will arrive at the beautiful Hotel Atitlán surrounded by botanical gardens, towering volcanoes, terraced mountainsides, and villages with beautiful crystalline lake views that dominate one s field of vision from every angle. This evening, before dinner, Terry Gay Puckett will introduce Travel Sketching, and making books on the go. Gather in the bar for a social libation before we dine on a meal especially prepared for us by the chefs of Hotel Atitlán. (B/L/D) After a sumptuous breakfast half of the group will depart for a boat trip around the lake while the other half will enjoy a leisurely day. On Friday, the group activities will be reversed. Boating group: We will depart for a boat trip around the lake, stopping first at the Maya village of San Juan La Laguna to visit a weaving cooperative for demonstrations of weaving, dye techniques, and a look at the finished textiles and then travel on to the private lakeside home of Candis and Cameron Krummel for both a cultural and an ecological experience. Their unique home, featured in Architectural Digest Aug 2002, is built in the traditional style of Maya Tz utujil architecture. Our hosts will prepare a delicious traditional Tz utujil gourmet festive lunch. You will never forget this memorable experience. Leisure group: Today is an opportunity to just relax and enjoy your magnificent surroundings or if you prefer, options abound from hiking in the Atitlan Nature Reserve where you can take a nature walk, see a butterfly area, and try the zip-line at Cables X- tremos all a ten minute walk from the hotel. You may also choose to take a tuk-tuk (small passenger vehicle) into the nearby town of Panajachel for a little shopping and people watching, or stroll through the beautiful botanical gardens of Hotel Atitlan
Social Hour Fri 15th Wine Reception Sat 16th Checkout Depart for Chichi Social Hour Sun 17th Chichi Market Depart for Antigua 6:00pm Day 5 6:30pm Day 6 12:00 1:30 6:00 7:00 Day 7 7-8:30 12:00 where you will discover over 200 varieties of roses, an orchid collection, a tropical heliconia garden, a small English style knot garden, as well as see their many exotic birds. The swimming pool is heated, the Jacuzzi is delightful, and a massage with Helen is absolutely delicious. Gather in the bar before dinner in the dining room. (B/L/D) After breakfast the Boat Group and Leisure Group switch activities. (See Thursday s itinerary) Tonight, please dress in your Guatemalan purchases for a fun night. We will meet in the Ranchito for a wine reception and dinner at the water s edge. (B/L/D) After breakfast, it will be your last chance to enjoy the most beautiful Botanical Gardens in Central America, and to visit the unique gift shop for those last minute purchases. Before lunch, be checked out and have your bags packed and outside your door. Next, we are off to the village of Chichicastenango. The Mayan Inn, our lodging for the night, will transport you back in time to the early 1900 s when Alfred Clark (considered the pioneer of Tourism in Guatemala) discovered the market of Chichicastenango and built the historic Mayan Inn. After settling in, you may walk to the cemetery to observe the traditional ways in which the Maya visit and honor their deceased loved ones or you may stroll through the streets watching the vendors, who come from miles around, set up their stalls in preparation for the large Sunday market. Meet in the bar at 6 pm for Social hour. at a local restaurant. (B/L/D) Please check out and have your bags ready to be picked up before you come to breakfast. This morning we will visit the renowned Maya market of Chichicastenango. Built over a Pre-Columbian Maya temple, we first visit the 400 year old Santo Tomas Church to see the convergence of the Catholic religion with ancient Maya rituals. Then, come ready to shop and bargain in this colorful 800 year old K iche market where Maya families buy and trade. Bargain for exquisite textiles, unique handicrafts, and brightly painted, carved masks, all replicating designs and techniques passed down through many generations. Meet for lunch. After lunch, we travel to Antigua, the Spanish Colonial capital of Guatemala and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stay at the magnificent Hotel Casa Santo Domingo built around the ruins of a XVII century convent. The magnificently restored
Social Hour Mon 18th Antigua Walking Tour Lost Maya Jade Mines Social Hour Tues 19th Free Day 6:00pm Day 8 7 9am 1:45pm 6:00 Open Day 9 7-9am Open hotel and grounds includes an extensive collection of Guatemalan Spanish Colonial religious works of art and is considered the most complete archeological monument in the Americas. This evening we will gather on the terrace overlooking the romantically beautiful city of Antigua for a sunset glass of wine. Tonight we dine at the Casa Santo Domingo. (B/L/D) Awaken to the sounds of Macaws and sights of colorful bougainvillea before enjoying a leisurely hotel breakfast. Antigua de Guatemala was voted # 5 in the list of top cities to see in Central and South America by Condé Nast Traveler Magazine Reader s Choice Awards for 2013. "Charming boutique hotels, art galleries and small restaurants It's a "must-see town. After a sumptuous breakfast in the Dining Room of the Monks, we depart by foot for a walking tour of Antigua. Surrounded by breath-taking views of volcanoes, the sights, the sounds, and texture of this remarkable city of Antigua has changed little in the last 300 years. We will visit the Parque Central with its large central fountain and see many of the spectacular structures and ruins from the 1600s: the Cathedral de San José, the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de la Merced, the Arco de Santa Catalina (the most photographed colonial structure and the symbol of the city), and the Convento de Santa Catalina (1613) where the nuns practiced a vow of seclusion which did not allow them to be seen or have any contact with the outside world. After lunch we will visit the Jade Factory-Museum, to learn of the rediscovery of the ancient Maya Jade mines. This is the best place in Antigua to shop for factory-direct Jade. There will be free time this afternoon to explore this charming Colonial City on your own. There being a proliferation of wonderful fine restaurants in Antigua, tonight you may dine on your own in the restaurant of your choice. We will hand out a recommended list. (B,L) The sun rises early but you may sleep in today, or rise with the sound of the doves and the clatter of horse drawn carriages passing by in this magical city, and explore Antigua and its fascinating colonial history. in the exquisite dining room of the Casa Santo Domingo then spend the day as you please but we will be on hand to direct you to the things you are most interested in seeing or doing. at your leisure. The afternoon is unscheduled. Explore, or shop on your own. This colonial jewel of a city covered in colorful bougainvillea with its cobblestone streets is filled with monumental buildings, including 30 churches, 18 convents and monasteries, 15 hermitages, 10
Wed 20th Convento Capuchinas Show&Tell Open Day 10 7-9am 10:00am chapels, and the San Carlos University. Dine tonight at yet another of Antigua s superb restaurants. (B) Packing should be done today for your trip home tomorrow. There will be a special tour of the Convento Capuchinas, one of the most unknown and misunderstood, but one of the best preserved of all the colonial buildings in the new world. Tonight we will enjoy wine and Show and Tell, sharing your most prized possessions, either found in Guatemala, or made by you and brought from home. Share your stories of this trip over dinner tonight as we dine in another of Antigua s excellent restaurants. (B/D) Thu 21st Day 11 Individual departures for return flights home. (B) B =, L =, D = The itinerary is carefully planned but subject to minor changes to take advantage of new travel opportunities. Included in your Tour: 11 days, 10 nights at unique and luxury hotels meals per itinerary, including tips hotel baggage handling and driver gratuities deluxe motor coaches/private boat excursions/entrance fees per itinerary NOT Included: Airfare from your hometown to Guatemala Airport baggage handling tips (we recommend 5 Qs, or U.S..75per bag) Alcohol or personal room charges Guide tip (when we provide a guide we recommend $3 - $5 per person) Price: Explore Guatemala Tour: $2560 Double (shared room), $450 for a Single Room Supplement Deposit: $500
TELEPHONE NUMBERS To direct dial to Guatemala, dial 011 (international operator), then 502 (country code) and then the number you wish to call. Guatemala time is Central Standard Time however, during Daylight Savings Time the time may be different. If you wish to direct dial from Guatemala you must dial 001 and then the area code + the number. Computers are available in every location. Explore Guatemala cell phone In Guatemala: John & Anita 5550-4386 www.exploreguatemala.com In Guatemala City: 1/8 1/9 and 1/11 1/13 Vista Real Tel. 2420-7720 Fax 2420-7721 www.vistareal.com.gt In Copan: 1/9 1/11 Hacienda San Lucas Tel. (504) 651-4495 Fax (504) 651-4106 www.haciendasanlucas.com In Panajachel: 1/13 1/16 Hotel Atitlán Tel. 7762-1429 or 7762-1441 www.hotelatitlan.com In Chichicastenango: 1/16 1/17 Mayan Inn Tel: 7756-1129 www.mayaninn.com.gt/ In Antigua: 1/17 1/21 Casa Santo Domingo Tel. 7820-1220 www.casasantodomingo.com.gt/