To reach the highland town of Chichicastenango, pass through the central highland region and see the local Maya people in their traditional dress going about their daily lives - working in the fields, collecting firewood, traveling between markets, selling their wares. Upon arrival at Chichicastenango your guide will take you to explore this famous market, both the local areas of the fruit & veget...
Although more than a dozen fascinating towns and villages overlook majestic Lake Atitlán, Santiago and San Juan La Laguna top the must-see list. In San Juan, watch indigenous weavers mix natural dyes from locally grown plants and flowers, and then see the women use a back-strap loom to create intricate textiles, thread by colourful thread. From there, peruse a workshop of art naïf pain...
Once home to an estimated at 50,000 residents or more, Tikal flourished from 800 BC to 900 AD. In a lush jungle setting, some 3000 ancient structures rise from the rainforest floor. Experience the sights and sounds of tropical birds and animals, including howler and spider monkeys, that live in the jungle canopy as you follow in the footsteps of Mayan royalty and commoners. Discover sites such as ...
Hol Chan means Little Channel in Mayan and is a natural break on the barrier reef where ocean depth ranges from 3 to 30 feet. Here guests will enjoy seeing the breath taking myriad of marine life and huge coral garden, among which are flourishing stag horn corals and sea fans. Shark Ray Alley is a shallow water snorkel where guests will enjoy swimming with the harmless nurse sharks and southern ...
You will be met at your hotel and transferred into an area of sub-tropical rainforest in the Maya village of San Antonio. Here you'll have an opportunity to see the Mestizo culture which is the mix of Maya and Spanish people. Two indigenous tribes live in San Antonio, the Mopan and the Yucatec Maya. San Antonio is also a famous village because it was the home of Dr Elijio Panti, one of the las...
You will take a tour to the famous sites of Xunantunich - situated on the banks of the Mopan River. Xunantunich means "stone woman" in Mayan. Xunantunich was a thriving city near the end of the Classic Period (300-900 A.D.) with large plazas ringed with pyramids. The tallest is the 130 foot "El Castillo," which is large by Mayan standards and is only exceeded in Belize by the C...
One of the ancient Maya's most lavish cultural centres, deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, Copán is well-known for its intricately carved stelae and incredible hieroglyphic stairway. A guide will meet you at your hotel for a scenic 20-minute walk to the Copán archaeological park, and then lead you on an intriguing tour of the site. You'll walk across the plazas and...
Deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, and one of the ancient Maya's most lavish cultural centres, Copan is well-known for its intricately carved stelae and incredible hieroglyphic stairway. Today you'll visit this world famous archaeological site, the on-site sculpture museum and two excavated tunnels under the ruins that provide insight into the early stages of Copan civilization. ...
Discover Kuelap, probably the most important archaeological site in the northern Peruvian Andes. Travel by road to the town of Nuevo Tingo where you will board the cable car which takes you to the entrance of Kuelap. Take in spectacular views of the deep ravine of the Utcubamba Valley and the vast landscape of the Andes, a patchwork of fertile fields carpeting the surrounding peaks. On a guided vi...
Travel through the scenic Mountain Pine Ridge area before going off road to the mysterious Barton Creek Cave system. Along the way, pass through a traditional Mennonite community where horse and carriage rule the road. Then pick up your paddle and high-powered light for your half-day expedition into the Barton Creek Cave, used by the ancient Maya as a ceremonial centre and burial site. Gently padd...
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