Maya Exploration Center: Education Through Exploration
Tours
Pillars of the Classic Maya: Palenque to Copan

A Tour led by Anthropologist Dr. Heather Teague

This nine day tour will take you through many of the major capitals of the Ancient Maya world. Running over the Thanksgiving Holiday week, the journey will begin with Palenque in Southern Mexico and make its way through ruins, rain forests, and indigenous towns to the border of Guatemala to visit Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Crossing the Usumacinta River into Guatemala, you'll arrive to the island of Flores in time to tour Lake Peten all afternoon. Then its up at dawn and all day exploring Tikal's vast metropolis. The next day continues south to beautiful Lago Isabel and the resort area called Rio Dulce, where a Maya-style Thanksgiving dinner will be served. On the way to Copan, the tour will stop into the little visited site of Quirigua, famous for the tallest stelae in the entire Maya world. Last stop, Copan, where an entire day will be spent exploring the ruins, the tunnels underneath them, and Copan's incredible sculpture museum. A final dinner party will bring the adventure to a celebratory close. Early the next morning, its off to San Pedro Sula to catch afternoon flights back home.

Pillars of the Classic Maya Palenque to Copan
Price $2950 per person (add $450 for single lodging)
$500 deposit due upon registration, balance due 30 days before the trip.
Date November 17 - 26, 2017
MAKE A RESERVATION PAY TOUR BALANCE


Nov 17, Friday: Arrival
Land at the Villahermosa airport in the evening and take a cab to the Hotel Cencali in the heart of town. MEC representatives will meet you there and help you check into your rooms.
 
Nov 18, Saturday: La Venta Park
Morning: Tour of La Venta Park
Afternoon: Transport to Palenque
Evening: Lecture: Ancient Maya History
Overnight at Hotel Maya Tulipanes
 
Nov 19, Sunday: Palenque
Morning: Tour of Palenque
Afternoon: Palenque onsite museum
Evening: Free time
Overnight at Hotel Maya Tulipanes
 
Nov 20, Monday: Bonampak/Golondrinas
Morning: Tour of Bonampak
Afternoon: Golndrinas Waterfalls
Evening: Frontera Corozal Museum
Overnight at the Escudo Jaguar
 
Nov 21, Tuesday: Yaxchilan
Morning: Tour of Yaxchilan
Afternoon: Transport to Flores
Evening: Lecture: History of Tikal
Overnight at Hotel Santana
 
Nov 22, Wednesday: Tikal
Morning: Tour of Tikal
Afternoon: Tikal's museums
Evening: Relax in Flores
Overnight at Hotel Santana
 
Nov 23, Thursday: Rio Dulce
Morning: Transport to Lago Isabel
Afternoon: Tour of the San Felipe Fort
Evening: Thanksgivng dinner
Overnight at the Hotel Mansion del Rio
 
Nov 24, Friday: Quirigua
Morning: Tour of Quirigua
Afternoon: Transport to Copan
Evening: Lecture - Copan's Dynastic History
Overnight at Hotel Marina Copan
 
Nov 25, Saturday: Copan
Morning: Tour of Copan
Afternoon: Tour of Copan's museums
Evening: Final dinner
Overnight at Hotel Marina Copan
 
Nov 26, Sunday: Departure
Early morning transport to the San Pedro Sula airport for flights home

LODGING
Villahermosa: Hotel Cencali - AC, private bath, onsite restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV - luxury hotel located in walking distance from La Venta Park
Palenque: Maya Tulipanes - AC, private bath, pool, onsite restaurant, and wireless internet access - located in Palenque's most beautiful neighborhood, La Canada
Frontera Corozal: Escudo Jaguar Hotel - Bungalows with private bath, fans, and onsite restaurant - a little rustic but the only hotel in town! Nice restaurant
Flores: Hotel Santana - Hotel rooms with AC, cable TV, phone, pool, and onsite restaurant - beautiful sunset views over Lake Peten
Rio Dulce: Mansion del Rio - Resort rooms with AC, TV, private bathrooms, pool, and onsite restaurant - beautiful sunset views over Lake Isabel
Copan: Hotel Marina - Hotel rooms with AC, cable TV, phone, pool, and onsite restaurant - One of Copan's original hotels right on the main square

Includes:
- All lodging
- Ground and water transportation
- Entry fees into all ruins and museums
- Breakfast and lunches
- Archaeologist/Anthropologist guides
- Evening lectures
- Comprehensive Travel insurance

Does Not Include:
- Airfare to Villahermosa, Mexico
- Airfare from San Pedro Sula, Honduras
- Dinners
- Tips for Service Providers


Proceeds from MEC Tours are the center's primary source of research funding. As such, a portion of the tour costs are tax deductible. MEC will provide participants with receipts and proper documentation regarding the center's 501(c)(3) non-profit status for your records.

Other Tours
» March 2024 - Olmec Tour

» July 2024 - Oaxaca Tour

» September 2024 - Machu Picchu Tour

» October 2024 - Peten Maya Tour

» Build Your Own


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