SPECIAL JOURNEYS
Mexico – Guatemala
Season 2017
14 nights program
Daily travel time
Day 1 Mexico In
Day 2 Mexico City
Day 3 Mexico / Teotihuacan / Mexico 1 hour and a half of road
Day 4 Mexico /Fight Tuxtla Gutierrez / San Cristobal – 1 hour 30 minutes of flight and 1 hour of road to San Cristobal
Day 5 San Cristobal City Tour / San Juan Chamula 12km 30 minutes / Zinacantan 10km 15 minutes
Day 6 San Cristobal – Agua Azul – 145km 3h30 of road – Palenque 1 hour 10 minutes of road
Day 7 Palenque Visit of the archeological site
Day 8 Palenque – Corozal 181 Km 2hrs 35mins of road / Yaxchilán 50 minutes in boat / Corozal 50 minutes in boat / –Bethel 30 minutes in boat – Flores – 05 hours road
Day 8 –Bethel – Flores – 5 hours road
Day 9- Flores – Tikal – Flores – 2 hours road
Day 10- Flores – Rio Dulce – 03 hours road transfer Rio Dulce – Puerto Barrios 01 hr by boat
Day 11- Puerto Barrios – Quiligua – Antigua – 05 hours road
Day 12- Antigua / Pacaya Volcano /3 hrs Antigua City Tour
Day 13- Antigua – Chichicastenango – Panajachel 04 hrs road
Day 14 –Panajachel – Santiago Atitlán – San Antonio Palopó – Panajachel – 02 hrs road
Day 15 –Panajachel – Guatemala City Tour Out – 4 hours road
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ABOUT MEXICO
- Air – Please book international flights arriving in Mexico City late afternoon ( The return must be booked in the afternoon. Important: If transit through the United States, an ESTA authorization is required.
- Formalities – Passport valid for six months after the date of return to your country.
- Health – No mandatory vaccine in Mexico City. Anti-malarial recommended for jungle region only.
- Climate – the winter season runs from November to May rainy season from June till end of November.
- Accommodation: We offer standard class hotels, 4 star. These hotels belong to the selection Quimbaya Latin America and we have selected them, not only for the excellent quality / price but also for the warmth of their welcome.
- Meals: We propose the plan Half board with meals mentioned as included from dinner on day 1 till Breakfast on the last day before the delivering in Guatemala’s Borderline.
- Transportation: The journeys, whether airport / hotel transfers and excursions are all made in private bus (45 pax) with A/C and audio/video systems.
- Our English-speaking guide accompanies the group throughout the tour.
- We remain at your disposal for any further information.
GUATEMALA TECHNICAL INFORMATION
- Health- vaccine not mandatory. However, the anti-malarial treatment is recommended for the tropical region (Flores).
- Climate – the dry season from November to April. Winter is from May to October tropical climate of the Peten region and from Livingston Caribbean.
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP IN MEXICO
- Assistance throughout the journey of our team on site, all speaking professionals.
- The services of an English speaking guide during all the tour to assist the group for visits explanations, and the check in at the hotels.
- Visit the site of Teotihuacan, the “City of the Gods” to admire the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.
- Visit the colonial downtown of Mexico City and the world-known famous Basilica of Guadalupe
- Visit one of the best museums of anthropology and history.
- Visit the Indian communities of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan where are located the Indians embroiders
- Visit the archeological Maya sites as Palenque and Yaxchilán
HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR TRIP IN GUATEMALA
The service of an English speaking guide throughout the tour.
- Specially selected menus to sample some typical dishes.
- Visit the colonial city of Antigua, one of the finest in Latin America, part of the UNESCO world heritage.
- Loitering in Chichicastenango, market where indigenous communities rendez-vous Thursdays and Sundays.
- Visit of the market of Sololá
- Boat ride on the sublime Lake Atitlan dominated by three volcanoes and surrounded by very authentic Indian villages.
- Adventure at the Pacaya Volcano with horses
MAP AND DAILY ITINERARY
Day 1 – Arrival to Mexico city
Arrival at Mexico International Airport Mexico City is considered as one of the largest city in the world like Seoul and Tokyo.
Transfer to the hotel with English assistance.
Early Check In at the hotel CASA BLANCA**** or SIMILAR
Buffet Breakfast Included at the hotel
City tour in Mexico City to know the highlights of the capital
Lunch not included
Back to the hotel
Dinner included.
Overnight at the hotel
Day 2 – Mexico city
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Visit of the historical center:
- The Plaza de la Constitución or Zócalo, lined with arches, is one of the world’s biggest plaza.
- The National Palace displays, on more than 200 m, its volcanic stone facade decorated by beautiful wrought iron balconies.
- The Cathedral Metropolitan which rises at the heart of the vastest catholic diocese of the world.
- Ascent of the calle Madero, where you will discover beautiful examples of the civil architecture of the 18th century such as the head office of the Banco Nacional of Mexico, the Palace of Iturbide and even the magnificent house of Azulejos.
- The Juarez complex, Complex of modern buildings built on the ruins of buildings fallen during the earthquake of 1985. It particularly includes the Foreign Affairs Ministry
- Towards to Xochimilco, boating in the midst of a colorful folk festival
Lunch not included
Visit the museum of Frida Kahlo and the neighborhood of Coyoacan. At the end of the afternoon, visit the Plaza Garibaldi
Dinner included and overnight at the hotel.
Day 3 – Mexico city / Basilica de Guadalupe / Teotihuacan
Buffet breakfast at the hotel.
Departure to Teotihuacan
Stop at the Basilica de Guadalupe, contemporary Mexico most important religious sanctuary.
Towards to Teotihuacan
Lunch not included
Visit of Teotihuacan, Archeological site of the American continent most ancient city. During the visit you will discover:The Citadel, vast compound (400 m long on each side) on which rose the Temple of Quetzalcoatl .The sun pyramid, the biggest construction of that kind in the American continent (225 m long on each side).
The moon pyramid, surrounded by small pyramidal constructions.
The Jaguars Palace and the Quetzal-Butterfly Palace .
Visit of an obsidian-sculpting workshop, which is a black shiny volcanic stone. That stone is the basis for all the sculptures of the craftsmen from the region.
Tasting of the local beverage: the Pulque
Back to Mexico City
Dinner included and overnight ah the hotel.
Day 4 – Mexico City / Flight Tuxtla Gutierrez / San Cristobal
Buffet Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport. Arrival to Tuxtla. Change of transport and guide
American breakfast at hotel.
Arrival in Tuxtla Gutierrez and boat ride in the Sumidero Canyon, this geological fault is one of the most beautiful works of nature, with its huge rock walls, which sometimes raised to more than 1 000 m. of height.
Lunch not included
Departure to the visit of the little town of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, where religious celebrations inside Catholic churches, reach magical levels, as the lights and candle smoke mingle with the prayers in various indigenous languages and the smell of “posh” (local beverage) in a middle of an atmosphere of great mysticism. Towards to San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Check In at the hotel PLAZA MAGNOLIAS**** or SIMILAR. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5 – San Cristobal de las Casas
American Breakfast at the hotel
Full day dedicated to the visit of the city
Visit of the city of San Cristobal de las Casas, named in honor of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas, who defended the Indians against the colonizers excesses. The city is studded with churches.
Lunch not included
Discovery of San Cristobal’s market discovery, The Zocalo, The cathedral (XVI century) with a facade that reminds the Tuscan architecture. It has an impressive pulpit and baroque altars, The Santo Domingo Temple was edified from 1547 to 1560, The Municipal Palace, -The church of St. Nicolas
Return to San Cristobal
Dinner included and Overnight at the hotel
Day 6 – San Cristobal de las Casas / Agua Azul / Palenque
American Breakfast at the hotel
Depart to Palenque the waterfalls of Agua Azul
The turnoff for the superb waterfalls of Agua Azul is about halfway between Ocosingo and Palenque.
Scores of dazzling white waterfalls thunder into turquoise pool surrounded by jungle.
Lunch not included
Towards to Palenque
Check In at the hotel CIUDAD REAL PALENQUE **** or SIMILAR
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 7 – Palenque
American breakfast at hotel
Visit Palenque, one of the most famous Mayan cities in Mexico.
Most monuments are hidden in the thick vegetation, which gives a mysterious aspect to the visit of the ruins.
The city had its heyday during the seventh century under the reign of the emperor Pakal.
Lunch not included
Back to the hotel
Afternoon at leisure
Dinner and overnight at Palenque.
Day 8 – Palenque / Corozal / Bethel / Flores
Early departure to Corozal. Buffet lunch in local restaurant in the way to Corozal. Towards to Corozal. Departure in motor boat to the archeological site of YAXCHILÁN
Yaxchilán is an ancient Maya city located on the bank of the Usumacinta River in what is now the state of Chiapas, Mexico In the Late Classic Period Yaxchilán was one of the most powerful Maya states along the course of the Usumacinta, with Piedras Negras as its major rival. Architectural styles in subordinate sites in the Usumacinta region demonstrate clear differences that mark a clear boundary between the two kingdom. The site is particularly known for its well-preserved sculptured stone lintels set above the doorways of the main structures. These lintels, together with the stelae erected before the major buildings, contain hieroglyphic texts describing the dynastic history of the city. The ancient name for the city was probably Pa’ Chan
Back to Corozal
Lunch not included
Transfer to Bethel in motor boat. Change of guide and transport. Arrival at the border in Bethel and Transfer to Flores. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel PETEN ESPLENDIDO**** www.petenesplendido.com or SIMILAR
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 9 – Flores / Tikal / Flores
American breakfast
Transfer to Tikal
In 1979, UNESCO declared Tikal as Cultural Treasure of Humanity, in light of its unequaled value of gathering cultural and natural resources.
The whole park has an overall area of 576 sq. kilometers.
You will see the Great Plaza who contains the pyramids called Temple I (or Gran Jaguar) and temple II or Temple of the Masks, the Great Pyramids Plaza, or Lost Word, Plaza of the Seven Temples, Twin Pyramids Complexes etc
Arrival and visit Tikal National Park
Lunch not included
Return to Flores
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 10 – Flores / Rio Dulce / Puerto Barrios
American breakfast
Transfer to Rio Dulce
Lunch not included
Enjoy a boat ride across Rio Dulce where you will see all the diversity of plants amidst the jungle (small stop) down to the Caribbean Coast.
Visit of San Felipe Fort and the Bird Island
Transfer to Puerto Barrios
Arrival and accommodation at the hotel AMATIQUE BAY RESORT**** www.amatiquebay.net or SIMILAR
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 11 – Puerto Barrios / Quirigua / Antigua
American breakfast. Transfer to Quiriguá
Arrival and visit of the archaeological site of Quirigua is famed for its intricately carved stele, gigantic sandstone monoliths up to 10.5 m tall. The others sculptures for which Quiriguá is known are the zoo morphs, six blocks of stones carved into fantastic figures. One of these, Zoomorph G, can be identified as a Jaguar.
Lunch not included
Transfer to Antigua
Arrival and accommodation at the hotel POSADA DE DON RODRIGO ANTIGUA**** or SIMILAR.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 12 – Antigua / Pacaya Volcano / Antigua City Tour
American breakfast
Transfer to the Pacaya Volcano, excursion with horses to one of the active volcanoes of Guatemala, return to Antigua which has a very rich architecture: palaces, houses, churches and convents.
-Lunch not included
- Visit of San Carlos University
- Visit of the church of la Merced
- Visit of The Captain-General´s Palace and the famous Cathedral
- Visit of the Central Park
- Visit of a Jades workshop
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 13 – Antigua / Chichicastenango / Panajachel
American breakfast. Transfer to Chichicastenango
Lunch not included
Chichicastenango, home of a large population of Maya Quiché Indian, said to be the purest descendent of the ancient Maya, here you will visit the largest and best open-air Indian market in the country. Market day traditionally takes places on Thursday and Sundays.
Visit the market and the Church of Santo Tomás
Transfer to Panajachel. Arrival and accommodation at the hotel HOTEL ATITLAN***** or SIMILAR
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 14 – Panajachel / Santiago Atitlan / San Antonio Palopo
American breakfast
Today you’ll enjoy a boat ride across the lake, to Santiago Atitlán located south of Panajachel: It is settled next to the Tolimán (3158 meters) and Atitlán (3537) meters volcanoes, next to Santiago Bay, and in front of the San Pedro (3020 meters) volcano.
Visit Santiago Atitlán
Lunch not included
You will continue the boat ride to San Antonio Palopo little Indian village
Return to Panajachel
Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Day 15 – Panajachel /Guatemala city
American breakfast:
Transfer to Guatemala City
Lunch not included
Guatemala City Tour
Visit of the Cathedral, the National Palace and Central Park, Archaeological Museum
Transfer to the International Airport La Aurora to take the international flight.
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