Spring Equinox at Chichen Itza and Dzibilchaltun

March 18: We pick you up at any hotel in Cancun between 7:30 and 8:30 am (depending on where your hotel is). Then we begin the journey inland with a stop for lunch in the charming colonial city of Valladolid, where one can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes. We´ll also take time out to shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold. Then we visit the exquisite ruins of Ek Balam, a newly uncovered Mayan archeological site with some very distinct features. The main temple here is massive - over 500 feet long and 200 feet wide easily making it one of the largest structures ever excavated in the Yucatan. Ek Balam´s most striking temple is one with a huge ¨monster mouth¨. To the Maya this represents a portal to the ¨other world¨. The enormous mouth of the Witz Monster, complete with teeth, is awe-inspiring. The wonderfully preserved state of the sculptures and frescos Ek Balam are some of the most outstanding examples of the art of the ancient Maya. Some figures are winged, some in the meditative ¨lotus¨ position, one sits headless above the center of the "Witz Monster". All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted. Then we continue on to Uxmal to check into the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel adjacent to the archeological site where you can enjoy the restaurant, bar, beautiful grounds and pool. Uxmal is our base for the next three days as we discover the famous architecture of the Maya Puuc Route.

March 19: We start the day at the elegant ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal is one of the finest examples of the Puuc architectural style. Graced with two of the largest pyramids in the Yucatan and a multitude of incredibly preserved frescos paying homage to the rain god Chac and the serpent god Kukulkan, it is a site that inspires both awe and mystery. Uxmal´s most famous structure, the Temple of the Magician, is an awesome feat of building prowess. This temple was rebuilt three times; this is where Uxmal got its name, which means ¨thrice built¨. Towering above the surrounding jungle and crowned with intricately carved stonework, it is a treasure of the ancient world.

In the afternoon we visit nearby Kabah. Although only a small part of this site has been excavated the Palace of Masks, with its 250 masks of the Mayan rain god Chac, is one of the most impressive in Mayan architecture. Kabah also has a large and remarkably preserved arch with a sacbe leading to Uxmal. In the evening we will attend the entertaining light and sound show at the Uxmal ruins and overnight again at the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel in Uxmal.

March 20: Today we explore more sites on the ¨Puuc Maya Route¨. We start at Labna. The corbelled arch at Labna is famous for being one of the most intricately decorated yet discovered in the world of the ancient Maya. Chac masks are seen on both of the arch s upper corners. Carvings of stylized Mayan huts appear above the doorways. Another interesting feature is a carving of a Vision Serpent with a human head emerging from its outstretched mouth.

Then we'll visit Mayapan - one of the last cities built by the ancient Maya and a "mini-Chichen Itza" with many structures designed exactly like those at Chichen Itza but smaller in scale. At the end of the day we´ll go to the colonial city of Merida. Stroll the avenues, take a horse-drawn carriage tour of the city, shop, enjoy regional music and food in this beautiful historic city. Overnight at Hotel Casa Del Balam in Merida, located 2 blocks from the main square..

March 21: Today we witness first-hand the incredible accuracy of Mayan astronomy as it was integrated into architecture. We depart early to see the Equinox sunrise in alignment with the Temple of the Seven Dolls at Dzibilchaltun. This ancient Maya city dates back to 300 B.C. and may have been one of the mother cities of the Maya. After the sunrise event we will enjoy a tour of the site before we continue on to Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza is one of the most famous of Mayan archeological sites and one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". We'll visit the Main Ball Court (the largest discovered from the ancient Mayan world) the Sacred Well or Cenote, where archeologists have discovered a number of well-adorned skeletons of sacrificial victims; the Temple of the Skulls, with its numerous skulls adorning its facade; the Temple Of The Warriors, with its 1,000 columns dedicated to the warriors of Chichen Itzá; and the Caracol or Observatory, And, of course, El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, which has a staircase on all four sides, each with 91 steps that totaled with the last step on top equal the 365 days in a solar year. This is where we will witness the magical bi-yearly event that attracts people from all over the globe. On the afternoon of the Equinox the Feathered Serpent descends in a glory of shadow and light down the great pyramid, signaling the most auspicious time to plant the essential and most revered food staple of the Maya, corn. This event is the most dramatic display of Mayan astronomical knowledge encoded into architecture of any Mayan site yet discovered. .At the end of the day we leave the crowds at Chichen Itza and go to peaceful Coba. Overnight at the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel Coba on a lovely lake and lagoon.

March 22: We begin with a morning visit of Coba. Cobá is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lover´s delight. It is also home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. From its top you can see above the jungle canopy for miles in each direction. On these quiet and peaceful grounds it´s hard to imagine that Cobá may have once had the largest population of all the ancient Mayan cities. This vast Mayan archeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. It was the heart of a large metropolis composed of many cities within the eastern Yucatan.

In the afternoon we visit the spectacular coastal ruins of Tulum, the most visited of Mayan archeological sites. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, it is a photographers dream come true! Colorful iguanas bask lazily on rocks in the sun; gentle waves caress the shore. It is easy to imagine the ancient Maya landing at this bustling seaport with their canoes filled with trade goods Graceful columns and elegant carvings give one an appreciation for the architectural achievements of the Maya. Inside the Temple of the Frescoes are fantastic 13th century murals depicting ancient ceremonies. One of the few surviving images of the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, Ixchel, can be found here. Red paint still clings to the stucco on the outside of the temple. We end our journey at the end of the day with drop off at any hotel between Tulum and Cancun.