Third & Fourth Sunday – Every Month – All Year Round
11 Days / 10 Nights
Visiting 3 countries: Mexico, Guatemala & El Salvador.
Schedule Tours begin on the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. Arrive to Villahermosa Mexico. Depart from Guatemala City, Guatemala 11 days later on Tuesday.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1, Sun: Arrival to Villahermosa, Mexico
Meet and greet at Villahermosa International Airport. Transfer to hotel. Overnight at Calinda Viva Hotel or similar.
Day 2, Mon: Tres Zapotes, Mexico
Early departure for a morning scenic ride by the Gulf of Mexico coastal plains. In the afternoon, visit the Tres Zapotes Museum, where the colossal Monument A, also known as the Tres Zapotes Head is located. It was the first colossal Olmec head to be discovered in 1862. Other important monuments are Stelae A & D. Stop at Santiago Tuxtla Town and Museum to see another colossal head knows as the Cobata Head is in the town`s square and the El Meson Stele in Angel Cabada Town. Overnight in Catemaco, by the same name lake. Includes: (B, L).
Day 3, Tue: San Lorenzo & La Venta Site
On the way back to Villahermosa, visit to the San Lorenzo 3 Museums: El Azuzul, Tenochtitlan & Potrero Nuevo. And the La Venta Site, where the tallest structure of the area is the 100 feet fluted clay pyramid built 800-700 BC. Overnight at Calinda Viva Hotel or similar. Includes: (B, L).
Day 4, Wed: La Venta Park & Chiapa de Corzo, Mexico
Morning visit to the La Venta Park, home of the most famous Colossal Olmec heads and “niche” monuments. Afternoon transfer to Chiapa de Corzo. A city built during the Spanish Colonial days on top of an ancient pre-Columbian city, of which some little mounds are left, where archaeologists found the oldest long count dated monuments. Overnight at La Ceiba Hotel or similar. Includes: (B, L).
Day 5 Thu: The Olmec Path, Mexico
A day driving through the most dramatic landscapes in Chiapas. In the morning following the Central Chiapas depression, later climbing the Sierra Madre to finally descend to the Pacific Coastal Plains, the tropical lush Soconusco, the area where the oldest human settlements of Mesoamerica have been documented and the ancient Maya’s main cacao source. Overnight at Loma Real Hotel or similar. Includes: (B, L).
Day 6, Fri: Soconusco Museum and Izapa, Mexico
First thing in the morning, visit to the Soconusco Museum of Archaeology. A small beautiful display of archaeological remains from the area, including the best preserved and most famous stele from Izapa. Located 10 miles away, the site of Izapa is surrounded by cacao plantation. Of Pre-Classic origin, the Izapa Culture developed a unique style of steles and altars with iconography that lasted during all the Maya time. The visit will be followed by crossing the border to Guatemala. Overnight at Takalik Maya Lodge, within a coffee plantation in the Sierra Madre southern piedmont. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 7, Sat: Takalik Abaj & Retalhuleu Museum, Guatemala
Visit to Takalik Abaj Archaeological Site, maybe the first visitors of the day since the Takalik Lodge is only 1 mile away. Takalik plays an important roll in the process of understanding the transition from the Pre-Classic to the Classic, the important influence of the Olmecs at some time of its history and its later decline. Maybe the only site where Olmec style and Maya style monuments were placed side by side. Afternoon visit to the Retalhuleu Museum of Archaeology, mostly to see a full size replica of a quatrefoil altar dated 800BC, found at La Blanca Site. The original is made of clay and it was buried again by the archaeologist, to preserve it. Overnight at Santiaguito Hotel in Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa. Includes: (B, L).
Day 8, Sun: El Baul, Monte Alto & Las Ilusiones/Bilbao Museum, Guatemala
Morning visit to El Baul, a display of magnificent monuments found in the area, including some of the oldest long count dates. Bilbao mounds and altars, still considered sacred by the Living Maya and the Las Ilusiones Museum, displaying carved thrones and its surrounding monuments and stairs as found. El Baul, Bilbao and Las Ilusiones are the names of modern sugar cane plantations. For Maya scholars, this is the Cotzumalguapa Culture. Later visit to the La Democracia Town central square, were Olmec style heads and big belly monuments are located, mostly brought from the totally destroyed Monte Alto site. Afternoon drive through the Pacific Coastal Plains towards El Salvador, for overnight at Santa Leticia Lodge. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 9, Mon: Santa Leticia & Tazumal, El Salvador
Within the Santa Leticia lodge, there are some Olmec style monuments. Visit to the Tazumal Archaeological Site, located in an area known as Chalchuapa, and known as the farthest point that the Olmec influence reached towards the South. Tazumal is post-Classic and poorly restored, but in its small museum, very Olmec carved rocks are important to see. Afternoon drive to Guatemala City. Overnight at Biltmore Express Hotel. Includes: (B, L).
Day 10, Tue: Kaminal Juyu & Guatemala City Museums, Guatemala
Guatemala City was built next to Kaminal Juyu and the city growth of the last 4 decades has destroyed most of it. At Kaminal Juyu, early writing and proofs of a Kingship were documented through carved monuments kept at the Guatemala National Museum of Archaeology. Contacts with Teotihuacan during the early Classic is another important part of Kaminal Juyu’s history. The day will include visit to the Miraflores Museum dedicated to Kaminal Juyu and the only part of the site that has been protected by the Guatemalan authorities. Farewell Dinner. Includes: (B, L, D).
Day 11, Wed: Departure From Guatemala, Guatemala
Transfer to Guatemala City Airport for departure flight. Includes: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price per person:
- Double US$2,500
- Single US$ 3,000.
Also see tour packages in:
North America
Mexico
Guatemala
El Salvador
History Whiz
Archeology/History
Cultural Journey
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