Mextrotter - Small guided Tour Mundo Maya Mexiko und Guatemala

Day 7 - Juchitan - Sumidero Canyon - Chiapa de Corzo - San Cristobal

Today you continue at 8.00 to Juchitan where you visit one of the most colorful Indian
markets in the country. Around 14.00 you come to Sumidero Canyon, the most
significant natural spectacle in the southeast of Mexico. On a 1.5 hours boat ride you
admire the 1000 meter deep canyon. Then you eat lunch / dinner (not included in the
price) in the sleepy town Chiapa de Corzo, which is located just ten minutes from the
entrance of the Sumidero Canyon.
Then it goes over the highway to San Cristobal (70 kilometers away), which is
located on over 2,000 meters high and it is marketplace and meeting place for local
indigenous groups.

Day 8 - San Juan Chamula - Zinacantan - San Cristobal

At 9.00 you go from San Cristobal to Zinacantann (15 kilometers), where you can eat
freshly made corn tortillas with an Indian family of the Tzotzil ethnic group. In San
Juan Chamula, close to San Cristobal, you will see rituals that go back to the
"heathen" pre-Hispanic times. In the village church chickens are sacrificed for the
sick and exorcize evil spirits. For lunch (not included in the price) it goes back to San
Cristobal. In the afternoon you will visit the Santo Domingo church and then you have
time to stroll in the pedestrian zones.

Day 9 - Trip to lake Atitlan, Panajachel

After breakfast you drive in the direction to the Gatemalan border. At the border
between Cautemoc and Mesilla you need patience. Experience how the Central
American authorities work and don´t loose your nerves (you have enough time).
In the early afternoon you reach the nice village Panajachel at the beautiful lake
Atitlan. In the afternoon a boat trip offers you many magnificent foto motives of the
volcano San Pedro and the village Santiago de Atitlan on the opposite site.

Day 10 - Atitlan lake, continue to Antigua

On a mountain road you drive from Pana to Antigua, one of the most beautiful cities
in Guatemala. This city was a long time the capital during the colonial rule of the
Spains. You will love the colonial streets of Antigua.

Day 11 - Day in Antigua

Today you enjoy Antigua and the direct surroundings. We visit togehter a coffee
plantation and afterwards you can try different types of coffee.Let the day end in a
comfortable restaurant at the main square.

Day 12 - Flight to Flores

Early in the morning you go to Guatemala City, from where you fly to Flores. The flight
in the small plane offers a beautiful view on the province Peten, the biggest of the
country, which is sparsely populated and dominated by jungle vegetation.
Arrived in Flores you have time to relax and to explore the island.

Day 13 - Archaeological Site Tikal

You can expect an absolute highlight of your trip: the ruins of Tikal. The Mayan site
was once one of the most important and influential city-state and it was a rivalry
against Palenque and Yaxchilan (today in Mexico). The visit of the huge excavation
takes time. Away from the temples you go in the lush rainforest and listen to the
sound of howler monkeys and parrots. In the later afternoon, you can enjoy the
beautiful hotel on the Peten-lake.

Day 18 - Izamal, Chichén Itzá

Located about an hour away from Merida you will find one of the most beautiful and
best preserved convents of colonial times. After the visit the journey continues to
Chichen Itza, a must for every Yucatan tour. The Mayan and Toltec site is
overshadowed by the temple of Kukulkan. This pyramid’s architecture is influenced
by astronomic views.

Afterwards you will have lunch (not included in the price) close to the site. From there
you will be going to Valladolid in about 30 minutes. There you will be brought to your
colonial hotel in front of the cathedral.

Day 14 - Lacandon Rain Forest, Palenque

Back to Mexico! This time over the unbureaucratic(almost green) border between
Bethel and Corozal. The crossing by boat takes half an hour (upstream). Through the
Lacandon rainforest the trip goes up to Palenque, where you arrive in the afternoon
and can relax at the hotel pool.

Day 15 - Maya City Palenque, Agua Azul

After a rich breakfast from the buffet you will be going to the Mayan site Palenque.
The site impresses the visitor especially because of the Temple of Inscriptions and
because of the palast, which was built by King Pakal and his son in the 7th century.
In these times Palenque dominated huge parts of Chiapas and Guatemala.

In the afternoon you will have the possibility to swim at the waterfalls of Agua Azul.
The cascades crave for kilometers through the rain forest. If you prefer, you can also
relax in your hotel in the afternoon.

Day 16 - Palenque, Campeche

Before lunch you will be going the Gulf Coast. After approx. four hours of driving you
will reach a restaurant at the beach where you will have the opportunity to enjoy fresh
seafood. Passing Champoton you will make your way to Campeche in about an
hour. In the pretty colonial town you will be brought into your hotel in the historic
center. Afterwards you and your guide will visit the Colonial Pearl which belongs to
the World Cultural Heritage.

Tag 11 - Campeche - Uxmal - Merida

Nach einem Stadtrundgang in Campeche fahren Sie in die sogenannte Puuc Region, die man in etwa 1.5 Stunden erreicht. Am Weg bietet sich die Möglichkeit in einem Mayadorf Halt zu machen und die einfachen Hütten der lokalen Bevölkerung zu besichtigen. Uxmal ist die bedeutenste Stätte der Puuc Region und wir dominiert von der Pyramide des Wahrsagers unddes Mönchsquadranten. Nach der Besichtigung halten Sie am Weg nach Merida zum Mittagessen (nicht im Preis inkludiert). In Merida erwartet Sie karibische Lebensfreude. Geniessen Sie einen Cocktail in einem Lokal am Santa Lucia Park.

Day 17 - Campeche, Uxmal, Mérida

After a walk in Campeche you will be going to the so called Puuc region, which you
will reach in one and a half hours. On the way you have the possibility to stop in a
Mayan village and visit the simple housings of the inhabitants.

Uxmal is the most important site of the Puuc region and is dominated by the Pyramid
of the Fortuneteller and the monk’s quadrant. After the visit you will stop on the way to
Merida in order to have lunch (not included in price). In Merida you will experience the
Caribbean enjoyment of life. Enjoy a cocktail in a bar at the Santa Lucia Park.

Alle Reiseteilnehmer werden zu ihrem jeweiligen Badehotel gebracht. Auch der Transfer vom Badehotel zum Flughafen wird von uns organisiert werden.

Dies gilt für Badehotels zwischen Cancun und Tulm (also an der Riviera Maya). Sollte Ihre Badeverlängerung auf HOLBOX sein, das abseits der Route liegt, fallen gesonderte Transferkosten an.

Tag 13 - Chichen Itza - Tulum - Badehotel

Am letzten Tag Ihrer Rundreise heisst es noch einmal etwas früher aufstehen; es lohnt sich aber vor dengrossen Massen nach Chichen Itza zu kommen. Die Maya und Toltekenstätte wird vom Tempel des Kukulkan überschattet; einer Pyramiden deren Architektur von astronoisch / astrologischen Vorstellungen beeinflusst ist.
Sie essen in der Nähe der Ausgrabungen zu Mittag (nicht im Preis inkludiert) und fahren anschliessend in einerguten Stunden an die Karibikküste , wo Sie in Tulum noch einen kurzen Fotostop machen werden. Die dortige Mayafestung präsentiert sich stolz auf einem Felsen über dem türkisblauen Karibikmeer.