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Dream Weavers of Time
with Dennis & Barbara Tedlock
May 2-12, 2009
We're pleased to present a special tour in Guatemala with
Dream Weavers of Time
A journey into the heart of the Mayan World with
Barbara Tedlock - “The Woman in the Shaman's Body: Reclaiming the
Feminine in Religion and Medicine” and "Time & the Highland Maya"
Dennis Tedlock - "Popol Vuh: Mayan Book of the Dawn of Life & the Glories
of Gods & Kings” and "Rabinal Achi: A Mayan Drama Of War & Sacrifice”
An 11 day journey of discovery in the tropical jungles and highland rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala. Explore Palenque, where the ancient Maya carved inscriptions predicting future events far beyond 2012. Travel by boat to Yaxchilan with its many monuments to powerful Maya Queens. Listen to the jungle waking up at the spectacular ruins of Tikal. Make the pilgrimage to sacred shrines at Chichicastenango and Utatlan where traditional healers practice. Visit Santiago Atitlan and traditional artisan communities to meet weavers, mask & figurine carvers and painters. Stroll the elegant avenues of historic colonial Antigua. Gain insight from shamans, diviners, and dream interpreters. Experience first hand how the Maya weave their calendars and Time into the very fabric of their life. Sample traditional Maya foods. Enjoy the gracious hospitality of the Maya people! Maximum 24 participants.
renowned anthropologists and authors Dennis Tedlock and Barbara Tedlock. The Tedlocks have spent many years working with and living among the Maya. Through their close relationships with these profound and dynamic people they have learned much about the continuity between the ancient and modern Maya that is evident in their present-day spiritual practices. Don't miss this unique opportunity to journey into the heart of the Living Maya with two of the most influential Mayanists of our time.
May 2-12, 2009 $3,100 per person dbl occ $685 single supplement
For info contact MayaSites Travel Serivces at mayasites.com
Or call toll free 877-620-8715 -- outide the U.S. (1) 505-255-2279
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Fri. Jan. 5: Fly to Guatemala City. As participants will be arriving from various destinations and at different times we’ll spend our first night in Guatemala City. You’ll be shuttled from the airport to the Hotel Camino Real Guatemala City. One of Guatemala's finest, this five-star hotel has three swimming pools (two heated), gym with sauna, steam bath, massage room, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and spa.
Sat. Jan. 6: We start the day with a group breakfast so we can meet our fellow travelers before departing on a tour of some of the wonderful museums in Guatemala City. We’ll visit:
- The Popol Vuh Museum: Extensive collection of pre-Hispanic art and folklore section with indigenous clothing and traditional masks.
- The Ixchel Museum of Mayan Costumes: Vast collection of textiles from over 100 Mayan communities dating from the end of the 19th century to today.
- The National Museum of Archeology and Ethnology: Pre-Hispanic artifacts from Maya sites all over Guatemala.
In the afternoon we’ll travel to to Lake Atitlán where we’ll spend the next two nights. Atitlán (the Nahualt word for "place of water"), is called Choi Lake ("near the water") by the modern-day Maya. Surrounded by three towering volcanoes (Tolimán, Atitlán and San Pedro), and at an altitude of 1562 meters (4,265 feet) this spectacular lake is home to a multitude of Maya communities who live on its shores. Formed by water build up in a volcanic crater, Lake Atitlán was called by novelist Aldous Huxley "the most beautiful lake in the world". We’ll overnight at Hotel Atitlan in Panajachel. This hotel on Lake Atitlan, one of the finest in Guatemala, has fantastic views of the lake and surrounding volcanoes. With beautifully manicured gardens, swimming pool overlooking the lake, excellent restaurant and a spa that offers treatments that combine Mayan and western healing therapies it is the perfect place to experience beautiful Lake Atitlán.
Sun. Jan. 7: This morning we visit Chichicastenango ("place of the nettles"). “Chichi” is an important ritual center of the modern day Mayan . We’ll witness Maya religious practices firsthand at Church of Santo Thomás and the most colorful native market in all the Americas. The 400-year old church of Santo Thomás is still used by shamans today and we’ll experience how the modern Maya continue the spiritual practices of their ancestors. At the adjacent marketplace K'iche' Maya of the surrounding region and vendors from all over Guatemala gather in “Chichi”, one of the largest trading centers in the Maya area, to buy sell and trade their wares. A wonderful mix of richly colored textiles and meticulously carved wooden ceremonial masks, the scent of copal incense and candles, the sounds of prayers and singing -- a truly unique experience. We’ll also visit the Regional Museum, home to a great collection of jade and ceramic pieces and incense burners.
Then to the nearby ruins at Utatlàn. Utatlàn, the ancient Quichè Maya capital, was the most powerful city in the highlands until 1524 when it was destroyed by the Spanish (and most of its inhabitants fled to nearby Chichicastenango). Known as “K'umarcaaj” (and mentioned in the Popol Vuh), it was renamed Utatlàn by the conquistador Pedro de Alvarado. The city was never rebuilt but Utatlàn is still considered a sacred site by modern Maya shamans who perform rituals there. An ancient cave lies beneath the main plaza which is used for ceremonies -- the multitude of candles and incense offerings attest to the popularity of this site among the modern Maya. You’ll have free time in the late afternoon and evening to relax and enjoy the amenities at Hotel Atitlan.
Mon. Jan. 8: This morning we take a boat trip on Lake Atitlán to Santiago de Atitlan. Santiago Atitlan is the capital of the Tzutujil Maya Nation and they believe it is the “belly button” of the Universe. It has the largest population of indigenous people of any town in Central America. Renowned weavers, the women in Santiago still wear traditional headdresses made from long lengths of cloth wound repeatedly around the head. In the town church there is a remarkable combination of traditional Mayan and Catholic religious practices in their devotion to a figure call Maximón – a black-suited mustached individual who combines the attributes of St. Simon, Mam (a Mayan god), Alvarado (the Guatemalan conquistador) and Judas Iscariot.
In the afternoon we’ll take some time to wander among the butterfly and herb gardens of the Atitlan Nature Reserve, where spider monkeys swing in the trees and sometimes, if they take a liking to you, will sit next to you while you enjoy the wonderful natural setting.
Then we’ll continue on to beautiful historic Antigua where we’ll spend the next two nights at the Casa Santa Domingo. This unique five-star hotel is situated within an important Colonial monastery that has been faithfully restored to its former elegance. The lovely gardens, pools, fountains and arched ceilings take you back in time. The hotel has a world-class restaurant and an extensive collection of Guatemalan religious figures from Colonial times. You’ll have a free evening to explore Antigua on your own (your hotel is within walking distance from the main square and the major center of shops and restaurants).
Tue. Jan. 9: This morning we shop and sightsee at the outdoor market in Antigua and visit the Antigua cathedral ruins. Formerly Santiago de Guatemala, the city was once the third most important Spanish colony in the Americas. For almost 200 years it served as the political and economic center for all lands between Chiapas and Costa Rica. In 1773 the city was destroyed by an earthquake and the capital was moved to Guatemala City. A lovely city with spectacular views of the three volcanoes that surround it (Agua, Fuego and Acatenango) is has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage City. In the market at Antigua one can find everything from brightly colored and intricately embroidered textiles to exquisitely worked jade from nearby mines.
In the afternoon we’ll visit the small village of San Andres Itzapa which also has a shrine to Maximón (see Santiago Atitlan above). In the courtyard of the shrine shamans perform healings and people make offerings of cigars and alcohol. Many miracles are attributed to Maximón, everything from physical cures to financial prosperity. On Maximon's day (October 28th), thousands of believers make the pilgrimage there to pay homage to this somewhat enigmatic figure. We’ll spend another night at the Casa Santa Domingo in Antigua.
Wed. Jan. 10: This morning we’ll go to Guatemala City for our flight to Flores/Tikal. On arrival we'll proceed directly to Lake Yaxha. On the banks of its beautiful lagoon is the Maya ruin site of Yaxha ("Green Water") and we'll also take a boat trip to the island ruins at Topoxte ("Ramon Tree"). Then we'll continue to the Camino Real Tikal resort where luxury and the jungle meet on the glimmering blue waters of Lake Peten Itza, the second largest lake in Guatemala. We'll spend the next two nights here. The resort is part of the Cerro Cahui natural reserve, home to over 400 bird species. Each bungalow overlooks Lake Peten Itza and has magnificent views from the private balconies. With a lovely reflection pool and swimming pool, natural spring water pools, and three excellent restaurants to choose from we’ll be sure you have some “down time” to enjoy this beautiful setting.
Thu. Jan. 11: Today we spend the day visiting the spectacular Mayan ruins at Tikal and the on-site museum. One of the most famous and beautiful of Maya sites, Tikal’s massive and steep pyramids (one is over 200 feet high) loom above the lush jungle of the Petan where one can observe spider and howler monkeys and numerous bird species such as toucans, parrots and macaws. At its peak Tikal was home to an estimated 100,000 people and the site has over 3,000 structures within a six square mile area. Well preserved glyphic texts tell of a dynamic historical record spanning over 1,000 years, including a very old long-count inscription date of 292 B.C. We’ll spend another night at the Camino Real Tikal resort.
Fri. Jan. 12: This morning we’ll have some free time to enjoy the lovely grounds at the hotel. At 11 am we’ll depart for a visit of the ruins at Uaxactun. Uaxactun (which means “eight stones”) got its name from archeologist Sylvanus Morley who called it that because of an inscription he deciphered on one of the stelae there. Archeologists have determined that the four major structures there were probably used for astronomical studies as they are aligned to the sunrise on equinoxes and solstices. Uaxactun is located in the 1.65 million hectare Maya Biosphere Reserve, which is part of the largest body of intact tropical forest in Central America. We’ll have lunch at the chiclero camp there and time to enjoy the paradisal jungle environment.
In the late afternoon we’ll go to Flores to fly back to Guatemala City. We’ll have a group farewell dinner there and overnight again at the Camino Real Guatemala.
Sat. Jan. 13: All depart. We’ll have a shuttle to the airport throughout the morning to connect you with your flights from Guatemala City home.
TOUR SPECIFICS:
This tour is limited to 28 participants. The price for this tour depends on the number of participants.
14-18 participants: $2,095 per person (double occupancy)
19-22 participants: $1,975 per person (double occupancy)
23-28 participants: $1,925 per person (double occupancy)
Single supplement add $495.
Tour includes:
-- 8 nights hotel and tourist taxes (5 star).
-- All ground transportation.
-- Round trip airfare from Guatemala City to Flores (airport near Tikal).
-- 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 1 dinner, cold beverages while traveling.
-- Photo fees, tips and donations at sites and churches.
-- Boat trips to Santiago de Atitlan and Topoxte
-- All other entry and guide fees for activities listed on the itinerary.
Tour does not include airfare to and from Guatemala City. Flights from the U.S. start at $459 round trip, including all taxes and fees. For sample airfares click here.
To reserve your place on this special tour or for more information call our U.S. office at our toll free number 1-877-620-8715 (outside of the U.S. 505-255-2279) or e-mail us at [email protected].
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