2012 Mayan Explorer Tour

Saturday,

Day 1:  Meet the driver for MET at predetermined location and time.  On arrival at MET, settle into your room, relax and enjoy drinks in the Cantina with your hosts and other guests.  Enjoy a delicious dinner and stimulating conversation before bed.

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Sunday

Day 2:  Coffee is available in the Cantina by 7:30 AM, breakfast is served at 8:00 AM, Around 9:00 AM, depart by vehicle for the Mountain Pine Ridge tour.  You will explore the Rio Frio Cave, swim in the bathing pools of the Rio On, and visit the Thousand Foot Falls.   Included is a gourmet picnic lunch.  Return to MET for cocktails, rest, and relaxation before dinner.

 

Monday

Day 3:  After breakfast, you will receive an orientation for the full day horseback ride to the Barton Creek river cave.  The trail winds through the Barton Creek Mennonite community.   You may see primitive farming techniques using horse and plow or watch families traveling in their own horse-drawn buggy.  Upon reaching the river cave, you will enter a canoe and paddle into the cave. According to the Archaeological Institute of America, “artifacts from these areas suggest the cave was used for a variety of purposes by the Maya including agricultural rituals, possible fertility rites, ritual bloodletting, human sacrifice, and lineage internment.”

 

Tuesday

Day 4:  This morning, you will go on a half-day jungle medicinal ride to a secluded rainforest valley, riding along a meandering creek.  When the horses can go no further, you will dismount and hike upstream a hundred yards to a hidden bathing pool, complete with a small waterfall.  Along the trail, the guide will identify trees and tropical plants and describe their traditional medicinal uses.   Return to MET for lunch.  After lunch, depart by vehicle to visit Mayan ruins in and near San Ignacio Town.  There will be time for shopping as desired.  Return to MET in time for the sunset, drinks, and dinner.

 

Wednesday

Day 5:  Today’s activity will be canoeing a tropical river, taking your time to see wildlife, to swim, eat a picnic lunch and just enjoy the river.  When you reach San Ignacio, you will be picked up by vehicle and taken to see the Iguana Project.  On the way back to MET, you will stop at the San Antonio Women’s group to see the local artisans continuing the Maya tradition of making pottery.  

 

Thursday

Day 6:  Full day Tikal.  Take a vehicle trip into the heart of the Peten in Guatemala to visit the jewel of the Mayan world, Tikal.  Breakfast will be served at 6:30 AM with departure at 7:00 AM.  Upon arrival at Tikal, a guide will take you on a 4-hour tour of the site.  This probably one of the best places  in all of Central America to see wildlife.  Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys, Crested Guan, Coatimundi, Ocelated Turkeys, and Orange-breasted Falcons are just a few of the species often seen among the ruins.  Along the way back, you will have an opportunity for shopping from local artisans.  You will arrive back at MET in time for dinner.

 

Friday

Day 7:  Today will be a more relaxing day.  After breakfast, visit the award-winning Green Hills Butterfly Farm just as the butterflies come out.   You will see hundreds of Blue Morphos and over 14 other resident species. Afterwards, take a short drive up into the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to visit the iconic Big Rock Waterfalls.  Here you will hike down to the river where you can swim, enjoy your picnic lunch and relax for several hours.  

 

Saturday

Day 8:  Breakfast, then return to airport or destination of choice.

 

Price per person in US dollars

Double room:  $1850

Single room:    $1950

Triple room:    $1497

Quad room:    $ 1337

 

Package rates are all inclusive of room, meals, inland transfers, taxes and entrance fees.  Not included are departure taxes and bar purchases.  All tours start on Saturday.  Please inquire for alternate arrival dates.

 

 

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