$3,395 per person ($425 single supplement)
Rain forests, snow-capped volcanoes, and magnificent lakes make up the landscape of the ancient Maya in the highlands of Guatemala.
On our tour you’ll experience a complete spectrum of history – from ancient Maya ruins to modern-day Maya cities. Our travels will take us from beautiful Lake Atitlán to the Honduran rainforest where we will visit Copán, considered the crown jewel of the southern Maya cities.
Dr. Scott Hutson, professor of Mesoamerican Archaeology at the University of Kentucky, will accompany us on the tour.
View the schedule below.
B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner
Sunday, March 10
Join us in Guatemala City, Guatemala for a welcome reception at the Barceló Guatemala City Hotel where we’ll spend the next two evenings.
Monday, March 11 B, L
We’ll explore Guatemala City, including the Museo Ixchel del Traje Indígena that features textiles and the Museo Popol Vuh with its displays of pottery. We’ll also visit Plaza Mayor and Palacio Nacional.
Tuesday, March 12 B, L
We’ll tour the extensive ruins of Kaminaljuyú, a Late Preclassic/Early Classic Maya site located in Guatemala City. In the afternoon, we’ll travel to Chichicastenango, where we will spend two evenings at the Hotel Santo Tomás.
Wednesday, March 13 B, L
Chichicastenango has been an important market town for centuries. Villagers from throughout the region come to the market to trade their wares. We’ll spend most of the day enjoying the market’s festive atmosphere.
Thursday, March 14 B, L
In the morning, we’ll view Lake Atitlán, which was formed from a collapsed volcanic cone and is 320 meters deep. At Iximché, we’ll tour the ruins of the capital city of the Cakchiquel Maya from the late 1400s until the early 1500s. In the afternoon, we’ll travel to Antigua where we’ll spend the night.
Friday, March 15 B, L
We’ll spend the day exploring the ruins of Antigua, which was founded in 1543. It was the original capital city and was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. We’ll spend the evening at the Barceló in Guatemala City.
Saturday, March 16 B, L
After leaving Guatemala City, we’ll cross the border into Honduras. We’ll spend the next two nights at the Hotel Marina in Copán Ruinas.
Sunday, March 17 B, L
We’ll spend the day exploring the amazing Maya city of Copán, one of the most outstanding Maya achievements, located in the southern reaches of the Maya world.
Monday, March 18 B, L
After lunch, we will cross the border into Guatemala and travel to Rio Hondo where we will spend the night.
Tuesday, March 19 B, L
We’ll travel by bus to the ruins of Quiriguá, a classic Maya city famed for its intricately carved stelae. After lunch, we’ll return to Guatemala City and spend the night at the Barceló Guatemala City Hotel.
Wednesday, March 20 B
Participants depart for home from the airport at Guatemala City.
Cost Includes hotel accommodations based on double occupancy (single supplement is $425), meals as indicated, happy hours, admittance fees, tips, tours, background reading material, and surface travel via tourist bus.
Not included are meals other than those specified and transportation to and from Guatemala City.
A modest amount of walking is required. Some sites have rubble, undeveloped trails and stairs. Climbing these stairs is necessary in order to see some of the ruins. Portions of the tour are conducted at altitudes of 7,000 feet. People with heart or respiratory problems should consult their physician. People unaccustomed to higher altitudes sometimes experience fatigue and dizziness.
