Tulum, a Maya fortress by the sea

Famous for its spectacular perch above the blue Caribbean, Tulum was once an important Maya spiritual and cultural center. Tulum, Tikal, Palenque, and stunning Rio Bec sites including Calakmul make this an incredible journey.

Photo by Bill Abbott

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SPECIAL EVENT

World of the Maya: Copan To Calakmul

Copán Symposium, Tikal, Bonampak, Palenque, Calakmul, Kohunlich, Tulum
with Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli

This itinerary is no longer available

We may run this trip again in the future, please contact us if you are interested.

This itinerary is part of World of the Maya: New Discoveries at Ancient Copán, a Symposium & Tour Program followed by a choice of four different tours: Copán to Tikal, Copán to Palenque, Copán to Caracol, Copán to Calakmul.

Copán Symposium—December 29, 2009–January 1, 2010

The symposium preceding our tours takes place in the ancient royal city of Copán, seat of power for 16 kings. This exquisite site has an overwhelming legacy of artistic achievement, including its intricately carved stelae and the monumental stairway that covers the entire western face of Temple 26, every block of it carved in hieroglyphic text. We make the most of Copán’s extraordinary treasury of art and architecture, interweaving presentations by our Guest Speakers with fascinating site visits, including access to areas of unfolding discovery not normally open to the public.

World of the Maya: Copan To Calakmul

We explore remote, impressive Calakmul, rarely visited despite its importance as one of the primary political centers of the Maya world. We also visit major cities such as Tikal and Palenque and smaller sites including Bonampak, with its spectacular murals, Balamkú, Kohunlich, and Tulum, ending our travels in Cancún.

Featuring Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli

Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli received his PhD from Boston University, after which he was a lecturer at Harvard University and an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University. His find of a massive mask at Holmul that dates to as early as 200 BC indicates the origins of Maya civilization far precede the pre-Classic period. His discoveries were recently featured in a National Geographic TV special, Dawn of the Maya. He is the author of The First Maya Civilization: Ritual and Power before the Classic Period.

Highlights

  • 3-day symposium with renowned Guest Experts at Copán
  • Magnificent Tikal and Palenque, with their treasury of Mayan art
  • Remote and fascinating Maya sites of Calakmul, Kohunlich, and Cobá
  • Guest Expert Dr. Francisco Estrada-Belli

Details

  • 12-day trip begins in San Pedro Sula, Honduras and ends in Cancun, Mexico
  • 11 nights in hotels and lodges
  • All meals from dinner on December 29 through breakfast on January 9
  • Rugged road travel, exploration on foot in Mayan ruins

Program Costs

$5095 (14-16 members)
$5395 (10-13 members)

Single supplement: $735
Internal Airfare: $400 (subject to change)

Departures & Leaders


Suggested Reading

Reading list, click here.

Itinerary at a Glance
World of the Maya: Copan To Calakmul route-map

Days 1–4, December 29–January 1
Copán Symposium

The symposium preceding our tours takes place in the ancient royal city of Copán, seat of power for 16 kings. This exquisite site has an overwhelming legacy of artistic achievement, including its intricately carved stelae and the monumental stairway that covers the entire western face of Temple 26, every block of it carved in hieroglyphic text. We make the most of Copán’s extraordinary treasury of art and architecture, interweaving presentations by our Guest Speakers with fascinating site visits, including access to areas of unfolding discovery not normally open to the public.

Days 4–5, January 1–2
Flores / Tikal

The sheer scale of the gargantuan temples at Tikal is one of its surpassing wonders. As we explore, we learn how Tikal’s rulers controlled the central Petén area for three centuries, building one of the most elaborate of all Maya city-states.

Days 6-7, January 3-4
Bonampak / Palenque

At remote Bonampak, we view magnificent and highly detailed Maya frescoes discovered in 1946, then head for magical Palenque. Here we discover the massive Temple of Inscriptions, adorned with fantastically detailed hieroglyphics and holding the spectacular tomb of Lord Pacal, the Boy King of Palenque.

Day 8, January 5
Chicanná / Balamkú

At Chicanná, elaborately carved facades portray the jaws of Itzamná, chief god of the Maya pantheon in his “Earth Monster” form. We also visit Balamkú, discovered in 1990 and known for its magnificently preserved stucco facade.

Day 9, January 6
Calakmul

Heading to remote Calakmul, we explore one of the largest Maya sites from the late pre-Classic and Classic periods, surrounded by the deep rainforests of the Yucatán’s vast Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.

Day 10, January 7
Kohunlich

We explore Becán (“Road of the Serpent”), with its unusual dry moat, and view the famous six-foot-high masks at Kohunlich in the Valley of the Masks.

Day 11, January 8
Tulum / Cobá

After a visit to Tulum (“Walled City”), set on the brilliant blue Caribbean, we continue to Cobá, famed for its massive temple-pyramids, where we enjoy our farewell dinner.

Day 12, January 9
Depart from Cancún

Note: This tour is one day longer than the others, ending on January 9, 2010.

This is the Itinerary-at-a-Glance. For the complete trip description, Download Full Trip Brochure