| |
Day
1: ANTIGUA-COPAN
We leave Antigua at the break of day and arrive at Copan,
Honduras towards midday. This outstanding Mayan site is particularly
well known for its sculpture. After the visit of the ruins,
there is a chance to visit (optional) the magnificent museum,
which is entered through the mouth of a serpent. The rest
of the afternoon and evening can be used to enjoy the charms
of the beautiful little town of Copan Ruinas itself. |
Day
2: COPAN-QUIRIGUA-SIERRAMAR, LIVINGSTON
We hit the road to Quirigua early in the morning, paying a visit to the children's hospital of Jocotan.Quirigua was a dependency of Copan during a great part of the Classic period and is famous for its carved stelae. The tour then continues to Puerto Barrios. From here an amazingly beautiful boat trip along the Caribbean Coast brings us to the peaceful resort of Sierramar, only reachable by boat, where we fall asleep with the sounds of the tropics! |
Day
3: SIERRAMAR, LIVINGSTON
We cross the Rio Dulce by boat to visit a Garifuna village
and its surroundings .We return for a typical lunch to Sierramar.
In the afternoon there is an optional visit to the
Cueva del Tigre. In the evening we cross the Rio Dulce again
to enjoy live Garifuna music and dance. |
Day
4: SIERRAMAR-RIO DULCE-TIKAL
We are met by our launch at the Sierramar dock and travel
upstream the Rio Dulce, in between vertical canyon walls,
dense with jungle vegetation down to the water. On the way
we pass the Bird islands and the Castillo de San Felipe. In
the town of Rio Dulce, at the entrance of Lago Izabal, we
board our van again to start the trip to Tikal, where we spend
the night in the park itself. On the way we visit the steaming
hot waterfalls at El Paraiso. |
Day
5: TIKAL-BETHEL
At 06.00 we go for an early morning walk to temple 4 and see
the sun rise on the jungle. After this we visit (guided tour)
the rest of these magnificent ruines, at times walking under
the roof of the jungle accompanied by all kinds of wildlife,
at times climbing above it!! In the afternoon we continue
to Bethel at the Guatemalan-Mexican border. |
Day
6: BETHEL-YAXCHILAN-BONAMPAK-PALENQUE
We navigate the Rio Usumacinta from Bethel to Yaxchilan, where
we visit the ruins Another boat trip brings us back to the
Mexican border at Corozal. From Corozal a mini van will take
us to the ruins of Bonampak. After a visit of the ruins, we
leave for Palenque. |
Day
7: PALENQUE-AGUA AZUL-SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
Today we visit the superb ruins of Palenque, set in the middle
of the jungle and renowned for its architecture and decoration.
Here we find the impressive Templo de los Inscripciones, which
contains the crypt of king Pakal. We have a brief stop at
the turquoise waterfalls of Agua Azul on the way to San Cristobal
de las Casas, a magical city in the highlands, where we spend
the night. |
Day
8: SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS
Time to explore this beautiful colonial city, with its own special character! Optional: a most interesting tour to the surrounding villages and countryside, accompanied by an intriguing description of Mayan culture and traditions. We spend the night in San Cristobal, with the opportunity to enjoy one of the many bars and live music. |
| Day
9: SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS-
TODOS SANTOS
A breathtaking ride through the Cuchumatanes brings us via Huehuetenango to Todos Santos, a very typical Mayan town, characterised by the colourful and traditional dress of its people, both men and women. We spend the night in this Guatemalan highland town. |
Day
10: TODOS SANTOS -SAN ANDRES
XECUL-FUENTES GEORGINAS
With the sun rising over the valley, we go for a walk to admire the spectacular scenery. We then continue the trip to take a look at Guatemala's most colourful church in San Andres Xecul and further along, in Zunil, we meet up with the infamous Maximon. From there, on to the hot springs at Fuentes Georginas. Situated in a cloud forest on the top of a volcano, Swiss style bungalows, the opportunity to bathe in natural hot water all night long…. This all creates a very unique ambience!! |
Day
11: FUENTES GEORGINAS- CHICHICASTENANGO-LAGO ATITLAN
Chichicastenango, set in a somewhat isolated position in the highlands, is famous for its market and also for the continuing devotion of its people to Mayan rituals and beliefs. By evening we reach Lago Atitlan. |
Day
12: LAGO ATITLAN
Lago Atitlan is a stunning lake in a collapsed volcanic cone, surrounded by several little villages, each with its own traditions and characteristics, amazing volcanoes and an abundant growth of the most colourful flowers. A boat trip will take you to some of these magical places. |
Day
13: LAGO ATITLAN-IXIMCHE-ANTIGUA
Before returning to Antigua, we pay a short visit to Panajachel,
at times also called Gringotenango for obvious reasons. Iximche
was the capital of the Cakchiquel Maya in the period of the
arrival of the Spanish conquistadores. The Caqchiquel formed
an alliance with the Spanish, who set up their headquarters
side by side with this Mayan capital. |
Day
14: ANTIGUA
Today is completely dedicated to the colonial city of Antigua, arguably one of the most magnificent in Latin America and a World Heritage Site. |
PRICES
For this exclusive
Sierramar Adventures Ruta Maya trip we have three different
cathegories; Maya, Maya medium, Maya Plus.We also have
"jump on"-prices. If you want you can take just
a part of the tour, for example Flores – Antigua
(8 days). It is also possible start and end your Ruta
Maya trip in, for example, Palenque, Mexico.
|
| DAYS |
FROM
TO |
MAYA |
MAY
MEDIUM |
MAY
PLUS |
| 14
days |
Antigua
– Antigua |
$
1,195 |
$
1,295 |
$
1,445 |
| 11
days |
Livingston
– Antigua |
1,029 |
1,095 |
1,162 |
| 8
days |
Flores
– Antigua |
840 |
875 |
930 |
| 6
days |
Palenque
– Antigua |
549 |
565 |
610 |
| 5
days |
San
Cristóbal de las Casas
Antigua |
355 |
365 |
400 |
| 5+
days |
Antigua
– Flores (excl Tikal) |
375 |
390 |
450 |
| 6
days |
Antigua
– Flores (incl Tikal) |
405 |
420 |
480 |
| 8
days |
Antigua
– Palenque |
635 |
670 |
750 |
| 9
days |
Antigua
– San Cristóbal
de las Casas |
787 |
835 |
920 |
|
|
Included
in the price:
All transportation by minibuses or boats, bilingual tour
conductor, border fees, entrance fees to all Maya sites (9),
professional guides at Copán, Tikal and Palenque, entrance
fees to El Paraíso and Fuentes Georginas, cocktail
and trekking tour at Sierramar, hotel or other kind of accommodation
(rooms based on double occupancy). Breakfast two mornings
at Sierramar (economic and standard) and one breakfast at
Machaquilá. |
Not
included:
All other meals, drinks and tips. |
