Penguin Travel

It is not necessary to be a master of Archeology and to have spent years of excavations to feel the excitement from the first touch to the remains from a mysterious civilization. And wouldn’t it be a breathtaking experience if this could happen amidst the pulsing with life world of the tropical jungle?! The ancient Mayans give this chance to everyone tempted by the combination of history and exotics. Disappeared more than 1000 years ago, they return today as one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. And much more… Mayans came back to life suddenly with their frightening prediction about the end of the world coming in 2012. Is that civilization dead since it is able to awaken the fears in its successors far away in the future just with a few words cut into the rocks? Is it possible our technological and irrational mind to be embarrassed by such a dreadful prediction? You can find the answer at the following address: Central America, Mexico and Guatemala, Yucatan Peninsula. There you will encounter incredible constructions granted to us by a contradictory people – dreamy star-counters but also cruel warriors sacrificing humans to bloodthirsty gods. They were a people of builders, as well, who could throw a glimpse from the top of their pyramids not only to the stars but also over the green expanses of the endless jungle squeezing with its humid arms their life and buildings. In spite of the power of the jungle, they have beaten it – go and assure yourselves! To the magic of this almost archeological expedition we have added the charming ambience of several colonial towns, a pinch of Caribbean seaside and the unforgettable touch to one of the largest megalopolises in the world – Mexico City!

Departure dates:
20 November 2010

Price without flight ticket:    1400 EUR

Trip plan:   

Day 1. Mexico City
Arrival in Mexico City, transfer to the hotel and accommodation.

Day 2. Guadalupe, Teotihuacan
In the morning tour to Guadalupe and the Temple of Black Madonna, afterwards transfer to Teotihuacan to see the ruins. Climb the Pyramid of Sun. Return to Mexico city.

Day 3. Mexico city
City tour including Main Plaza (Zocalo), Diego Rivera’s murals in Government Palace, La Metropolitana cathedral, Theatre Bellas Artes and Museum. Transfer along Boulevard Paseo de Reforma to Chaputepec park. Afternoon visit of one of the most acclaimed Museums worldwide, The Museum of Anthropology. Return to hotel.

Day 4. Mexico city – Villahermosa, La Venta
Transfer to the airport and flight to Villahermosa. Reception and visit of open the air museum La Venta where colossal stone heads and altars are on display from the Olmec culture. Addition to the park is the Zoological garden where you can encounter a big variety of local animal life. Transfer to Palenque.

Day 5. Palenque, Palenque - Corozal
Morning visit of the Mayan town of Palenque built in emerald-green rain forest. Encounter the famous Temple of Inscription carrying deep inside tomb of ruler Pakal. There is unique observatory tower in the palace section. Afternoon transfer to Corozal situated right on the bank of Usumacinta River.

Day 6. Bonampak, Corozal – Yaxchilan, Yaxchilan – Flores (Guatemala)
Early morning transfer to Bonampak where you will encounter the best preserved murals in the Maya World. Return transfer to Corozal and boat ride to Yaxchilan built in a river loop with its exotic fauna and flora. Discover well preserved steles and lintels with extraordinary carvings of ancient kings and queens. Boat transfer to Bethel (Guatemala). Transfer from Bethel to Flores (Guatemala).

Day 7. Tikal
Tour from Flores to the remains of the ancient Mayan town Tikal. Visit of the pyramids, temples and the other ruins emerging from the lush tropical jungle.

Day 8. Flores
Walk along the picturesque little streets of Flores. Shopping. You will have an option for excursion in the region (paid extra on spot).

Day 9. Flores – Palenque
Transfer from Flores to the Mexican border and from there through Corozal to Palenque.

Day 10. Palenque – Campeche
Transfer via Gulf of Mexico to Campeche. En route stop in the tranquil fishing village Champoton. Afternoon city walking tour in the historical center of Campeche with its typical baluartes built against the notorious pirate attacks. Visit of small pirate museum in Baluarte San Carlos.

Day 11. Campeche – Kabah, Kabah – Uxmal, Uxmal – Merida
Transfer to the small Maya site Kabah with its intriguing Chaac Temple adoring the Rain God. Short transfer to Uxmal with its steep pyramid of the Dwarf, Nunnery, Ball Court and Governors Palace. Transfer to the capital of Yucatan: Merida.

Day 12. Merida, Merida – Chichen Itza
Morning city tour of Merida including the oldest Cathedral, Governors Palace and the Palace of the city founder Montejo as well as the lively and colorful market. Transfer to Chichen Itza and visit of the biggest and most visited site in Yucatan, Chichen Itza with its famous Kukulkan pyramid, Temple of Warriors, Holy Cenote and Observatory. In the evening: Sound & Light show Chichen Itza.

Day 13. Merida – Valladolid, Valladolid – Coba, Coba, – Tulum, Tulum – Cancun
Transfer to the quiet city of Valladolid where we will enter the mystical underworld of the Mayas in the cenote Dzitnup where ceremonies were celebrated. Drive to Maya site Coba admidst lush tropical vegetation. Climb the highest pyramid in the Yucatan for a breathtaking view over the endless jungle. Short transfer to Tulum built on clifftop overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Transfer to Cancun.

Day 14. Cancun – Sofia
Transfer to the airport of Cancun for flight to Mexico City and from there back home.
 

Accommodation and food:   3-star hotels on BB basis and 2-star hotel in Corozal.

Price of extra services:   Single room supplement 245 EUR.

Included in the price:   12 overnights in 3-star hotel and 1 night in 2-star hotel in Corozal; 13 breakfasts; local English-speaking guides according to the program; tour-leader from Penguin Travel; transport by A/C bus or minibus along the itinerary; all entrance fees for archeological sites and museums included in the program; boat transfers Corozal-Yaxchilan-Bethel; airport transfers; flight ticket Mexico City - Villahermosa.

Not included in the price:   All meals not mentioned as included; extras in hotels; tips for local guides and drivers; re-entry fee in Mexico - 20 USD.

Tour highlights:   The surroundings of Mexico city – The Black Madonna from Guadalupe, one of the rare images of God’s Mother with black skin, a sign for the cross cultural development of Christianity; Teotihuacan – the centre of a mighty empire which influenced on the whole Mayan world, the biggest city in pre-Columbus America. Witness for its flourishing in 1-st millennium AC is the high-scale construction with remains such as The Pyramid of Sun – the third biggest pyramid in the world, more than 70 m high and 900 m round, and The Pyramid of Moon, resembling the silhouette of the near mountain Sero Gordo, used not only for the purpose of religious ceremonies but for astronomic observations as well.
Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, besides being the biggest city in the world with its population of 22 million people, is one of the first historical and cultural centers of the New World. Among its highlights are: Zokalo – the central square; The Government Palace with the murals of Diego Rivera – the renowned Mexican artist, a husband of the far more renowned Frida Kalo; La Metropolitana Cathedral, the biggest and oldest catholic cathedral in America, built from XVI to XIX century with altogether 25 bells in its 2 belfries; Theatre Bellas Artes and Museum, where the biggest symphonic orchestras and performers have been guest artists such as Maria Kalas, Placido Domingo and Pavarotti; The National Anthropological Museum famous for the largest collection of ancient artifacts from the Mexican lands, the most precious of which is the Solar stone – the Aztec calendar.
La Venta is the place where the oldest known American civilization was found – the Olmec civilization. In the period of 1400-400 BC it has created the huge stone heads, speechless and mysterious, peculiar ornamental altars, numbers of jade ritual objects and The Big Pyramid – the oldest pyramid in Mesoamerica.
Palenque, one of the most visited Mayan settlements, shading the fame of other legendary name – Tikal, owes its expansion to the king Pakal the Great who governed for 68 years – from 615 to 683! His tomb is in the Temple of Inscription – a priceless proof for the history of the country and its achievements in the field of art and architecture. Invaded by the jungle after it was abandoned, it remains in oblivion for the next 1000 years. It is in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Bonampak is an archeological site with the best preserved murals from the early classical period of Mayans – VII-VIII century. From its realistic scenes of noblemen’s life today’s science has obtained significant knowledge about the Mayan society.
One of the mightiest Mayan city-states – Yaxchilan is situated on a picturesque horseshoe-like meander of the river Usumakinta. From its ancient magnificence, a lot of ruins, sculptures and carved steles have remained, distinguishing with their specific architectural style.
Besides Campeche and Merida – two old colonial towns, the first of which is famous for its fortifications against pirate attacks in the wild years of XVI and XVII century, protected by UNESCO, and the other boasting with the oldest cathedral in continental America with stones from ancient Mayan buildings built into its facade, Yucatan Peninsula enchants the visitor with probably the most famous and significant Mayan cities-states – Uxmal, Chichen Itza, Kabah, Coba.
The most well-known archeological site in Kabah is the Chaac Temple, unique with the unusual for the Mayan art repeating of one and the same motive – the facade of the temple is decorated with hundreds of stone masks of the Rain God Chaac.
In Uxmal you can get a good idea how this kind of ceremonial center looked like in ancient times. Its elegant and beautiful buildings are very well preserved, among which the most impressive are the Governor’s Palace, the steep Pyramid of the Dwarf unusual with its oval shape, the Nunnery with fine stone carvings and the Ball Court.
Chichen Itza is the biggest and most visited Mayan town on the peninsula. Due to the carbonic structure of the rocks, the northern part of Yucatan is waterless and the rivers are underground. That’s why ancient Mayans worshipped the few places from where they could get water – the natural wells “cenote” such as Sagrado, at the bottom of which numerous objects and parts of human bodies are found, sacrificed to the Rain God. Among the most impressive buildings of the town are the Temple of Warriors, the Observatory, the Big Ball Court. But the undoubted favorite is the Kukulkan Pyramid (the Mayan name of God Quetzalcoatl, featured as a feathered snake) which in the days of spring and autumn equinox offers a unique performance – at sunrise and sunset the angle of the pyramid throws a shadow in the shape of snake with feathers which, with the movement of the sun, slides towards the base of the pyramid where a snake head is sculptured. Chichen Itza is protected by UNESCO.
Kobah offers the highest temple pyramid in Yucatan.
Valladolid. In this tranquil town a unique cenote is located – hidden beneath the ground, it was a place for ritual ceremonies.

In neighboring Guatemala you will be enchanted by the Mayan city-state with the best surveyed history till now – Tikal, also in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Having dominated politically, economically and military over huge territories, the old majesty of Tikal can be still felt in the numerous ruins, a pattern of architectural and construction mastership. The canal system which gathered water in the reservoirs of the town is incredible.
The old part of Flores, Guatemala, is situated on a picturesque island on the lake Peten Itza. Besides being exceptionally beautiful, it is also of historical significance – the last free Mayan state fortified on it while it was defending against the Spanish conquistadors. 

Necessary equipment: It is recommended that you bring with you a raincoat, insect repellent, body and face sun cream with high UV-factor.

Tour difficulty:   B 

Most of you, who are used to walking/cycling during a long weekend, will be in condition to cope with a tour of this level. You should be in a good health condition. We have successive days of longer and more difficult walking and days of lighter walking/cycling. Some parts of the day routes are done at a higher altitude. The paths are in good condition. We walk/cycle for 5/7h a day.

Group Size:   Min 8 people

Reservation System Code: MEXICO

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