MAR 9-17, 2024

Expedition Through the Olmec Heartland

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This 9-day tour will start in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

Its path will lead through the Olmec Heartland and all its major ruins. Museums, both tiny and grand, will be visited to see the artifact collections that arent featured in books. The route was specifically chosen to allow its participants to see all seventeen of the famous Olmec colossal heads.


LA VENTA, SAN LORENZO, TRES ZAPOTES, AND ALL THE MAJOR OLMEC MUSEUM COLLECTIONS

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Villahermosa - Saturday, MAR 9

    • Villahermosa

    • All Day: Arrivals to Villahermosa
    • Evening: Relax at hotel
    • Overnight in Villahermosa
  • Day 2: La Venta Park - Sunday, MAR 10

    • La Venta Park

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 9-12pm: Exploring La Venta Park
    • 12-2pm: Lunch break at hotel
    • 2-4pm: Tour of the CICOM Olmec collection
    • 6-7pm: Lecture: Olmec Overview
    • Overnight in Villahermosa
  • Day 3: La Venta - Monday, MAR 11

    • La Venta

    • 7-9am: Breakfast and check out
    • 9-10am: Transport to La Venta
    • 10-12pm: Exploring La Venta ruins
    • 12-1pm: Lunch break
    • 1-3pm: Transport to Coatzacoalcos
    • 5-6pm: Lecture: Olmec Iconography
    • Overnight in Coatzacoalcos
  • Day 4: San Lorenzo - Tuesday, MAR 12

    • San Lorenzo

    • 7-8am: Breakfast and check out
    • 8-9am: Transport to San Lorenzo
    • 9-11am: Tour of San Lorenzo
    • 11-1pm: Transport into the Tuxtlas
    • 1-3pm: Lunch break at Lake Catemaco
    • 4-5pm: Regional Museum the Tuxtlas
    • Overnight in Santiago Tuxtla
  • Day 5: Tres Zapotes - Wednesday, MAR 13

    • Tres Zapotes

    • 7-8am: Breakfast and checkout
    • 8-9am: Transport to Tres Zapotes
    • 9-11am: Ruins and local museum
    • 11-1pm: Lunch break in Tres Zapotes
    • 1-5pm: Transport to Xalapa
    • Overnight in Xalapa
  • Day 6: Xalapa Museum - Thursday, MAR 14

    • Xalapa Museum

    • 7-9am: Breakfast and check out
    • 9-11am: Xalapa Museum Olmec collection
    • 11-1pm: Lunch break in Xalapa
    • 1-4pm: Transport to Tlaxcala
    • 4-5pm: The murals of Tlaxcala
    • Overnight in Tlaxcala
  • Day 7: Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla - Friday, MAR 15

    • Xochitecatl-Cacaxtla

    • 7-8am: Breakfast and check out
    • 9-10am: Ruins of Xochitecatl
    • 10-12pm: Ruins of Cacaxtla
    • 12-2pm: Lunch break in Cacaxtla
    • 2-4pm: Transport into Mexico City
    • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Day 8: National Anthropology Museum - Saturday, MAR 16

    • National Anthropology Museum

    • 7-9am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 9-12pm: National Anthropology Museum
    • 12-1pm: Lunch break in the museum
    • 1-3pm: Free time at the museum
    • 7-9pm: Final dinner on hotel rooftop
    • Overnight in Mexico City
  • Day 9: Departure - Sunday, MAR 17

    • Departure

    • Morning: Breakfast and airport taxis
    • End of Tour
Questions about this tour?

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We'll be happy to answer any questions you might have about this tour.

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Lodging

Villahermosa
Hotel Cencali Fiesta Americana

A classic Villahermosa hotel in the center of the city. AC, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Coatzacoalcos
Hotel Terranova

South of town along the Coatzacoalcos River. AC, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Santiago Tuxtla
Hotel Oyo Santiago Plaza

Located very close to Plaza Olmeca and the Regional Anthroplogy Museum. AC, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Xalapa
Hotel Gamma Fiesta Americana

Three blocks from Xalapa Archaeology Museum. AC, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Tlaxcala
Hotel San Francisco

Located right next to the Governor's Palaca and its amazing murals. AC, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Mexico City
Hotel Gran

Located in the Zocalo and one of the city's most established hotels. AC, roof-top restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi.

Price Includes

All lodging, private ground transportation, breakfasts and lunches, archaeologist guide, local guides, evening lectures, all entry fees, bottles of cold purified water in the bus

Price Does Not Include

Airfare to/from Mexico City and one way flight to Villahermosa, taxi to the hotel from/to the airports, dinners, gratuities (maids, drivers, guides, etc..), travel insurance

MEC strongly recommends travel insurance. If you don't have a trusted company, InsureMyTrip allows you to compare compare policies from many different companies and make your best choice.

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Costs

Deposits for courses and tours are due upon registration. After 14 days before the trip, no refunds will be granted.

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MEC tours often travel to very remote areas with unpredictable circumstances, so please make sure the person you name as your emergency contact can respond quickly and helpfully if contacted.

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Disclaimer

For the purposes of this disclaimer both "tours" and "study abroad programs" will be referred to as "the program".

Maya Exploration Center, Inc. (MEC) will make every effort to provide a safe, accident free, enjoyable experience for all participants in the program. All ground transportation during the program will be provided by a licensed third party independent contractor over whom MEC has no control.

Participants in the program assume all responsibility for hazards associated with ground transportation. The programs take place within environments which can be hazardous. Participants assume all risks associated with these environments including but not limited to hazards posed by animals, insects, plants and disease. MEC recommends that all participants consult with their physician with regard to vaccinations and/or other precautions that the physician may recommend prior to participating in the program. As with any outdoor activity which involves hiking and climbing, there are risks of injury for which participants assume all risk. The territories of indigenous people occasionally experience periods of political unrest. Participants assume all risk associated with political unrest during the program. MEC reserves the right to change or cancel any or all portions of the itinerary of the program, without refund, as a result of political unrest, inclement weather or any other reason beyond the control of MEC. For the reasons outlined above, MEC strongly suggests that each program participant purchase travel insurance. By switching the toggle below to "on" you acknowledge that you have read, and agree to, the terms of this disclaimer.

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$500.00
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Shared Room

$3,800 USD

MAR 9 - 17 2024

  • Based on double or triple occupant lodging
  • $500 deposit due upon registration
  • 50% balance due 90 days before the trip
  • Final balance due 30 days before

PRIVATE ROOM

$4,400 USD

MAR 9 - 17, 2024

  • Based on single occupant lodging
  • $500 deposit due upon registration
  • 50% balance due 90 days before the trip
  • Final balance due 30 days before