6 night "Maya Chakra Temples" tour with LionFire
Special tour Oct. 15-20, 2016
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MAYA OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST AND YUCATAN PENINSULA 6 night "Maya Chakra Temples" tour with LionFire Special tour Oct. 15-20, 2016 |
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Oct. 15: Fly to Cancun arriving at various times. Airport pick up and private transfer to Beachscape Villas Kin Ha in Cancun. Overnight Beachscape Villas Kin Ha. Oct. 16: The morning begins with group breakfast at the hotel. Then we start our tour of the inland Yucatan sites. We begin with a visit the exquisite ruins of Ek Balam, a Mayan archaeological site with some very distinct features. The amazingly well preserved sculptures and frescos at Ek Balam are 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" (entry to the underworld). All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted. We´ll stop for lunch in the lovely colonial city of Valladolid. This is a modern Mayan city with an important history where you can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes. You can also shop in the plaza and buy handmade goods directly from the craftspeople. Then we travel to historic colonial Merida. Merida is one of the most elegant and cultured colonial cities in the Maya World. Before the arrival of the Spanish, ancient Maya temples and pyramids dominated the landscape of this large city called T'ho. In the evening enjoy "Merida Sunday", a weekly local fiesta with live entertainment, music and market. We will overnight at Fiesta Americana Merida, located on the elegant Paseo de Montejo. Oct. 17: This morning we visit the magnificent Maya ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal is one of the finest examples of the "Puuc Maya" 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 Quetzecoatal, it is a site that inspires both awe and mystery. We'll also 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 well preserved arch with a sacbe (ancient Maya road) leading to Uxmal. In the afternoon we'll visit Labna, also home to many Chac masks and a beautiful corbelled arch. One of its interesting features is a carving of a Vision Serpent with a human head emerging from its outstretched mouth. Overnight Fiesta Amerixana Merida. Oct. 18: This morning we visit Dzilbilchaltun. This ancient Maya city dates back to 300 B.C. and may have been one of the mother cities of the Maya. The site has a very unique structure -- the Temple of the Seven Dolls -- that has an open portal at the top which is aligned to sunrise on the Equinoxes and a lovely cenote. Afternoon visit Yaxuna. a 100 km long road connecting with Coba. Then to Chichen Itza. In the evening we will enjoy the entertaining new light & sound show at the ruins. Overnight Hacienda Chichen Resort & Spa located adjacent to the archaeological site in Chichen Itzá. Oct. 19: By overnighting in Chichen Itza we will beat the "big bus" crowds this morning when you visit majestic Chichen Itzá, the most famous of Mayan archeological sites and one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World". Chichen Itzá has numerous monuments for a visitor to explore. El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, 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. Other not to be missed areas of this great ancient city are: the Main Ball Court, which is 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 Warriors, with its 1,000 columns dedicated to the warriors of Chichen Itzá; and the Caracol or Observatory. We will also visit beautiful Cenote Ik Kil and enjoy a buffet lunch there and a refreshing swim if you wish. Late afternoon Maya Water Ceremony at a sacred cenote on the site. Overnight Hacienda Chichen Resort & Spa. Oct. 20: We travel to Coba for a tour of these extensive ruins. You may explore the ruins by foot, bicycle or human-powered tricycle. Coba is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lovers 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. This vast Mayan archeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. and there were an estimated 100,000 people living in its domain. Then we go to spectacular Tulum. 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. The pristine beach is so beautiful it is almost surreal. Tulum has a number of interesting structures from the ancient Mayan world. 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. At the end of the day we return to Beachscape Villas Kin Ha in Cancun for an overnight. Oct. 21: Private transfers to the Cancun airport for departing flights. Or, contact us if you'd like to add more days in the Riviera Maya to your vacation. |
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| Cost of this 6 night special small group tour is $1,731 per person double occupancy. Single hotel supplement is $375. This tour is limited to 12 participants. This 6 night tour includes:
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