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Other Sections
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AMERIKA VENTURE
inbound travel agency
& tour operator
across the Americas
since 1996
Member of
BBB, TIES & STI
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| The Great Maya Tour in Mexico, Guatemala & Belize / 20 day semi-guided tour (AG-RMA) |
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 Cancun
Playa del Carmen
Tulum
Coba
Belize City
Tikal
Flores
Guatemala City
Antigua
Atitlan Lake
San Cristobal
Palenque
Yaxchilan & Bonampak
Uxmal
Merida
Chichen Itza
Valladolid
Cancun |
The Great Maya Tour is an ideal combination of guided services, private transfers with driver, self guided trips (with car rental) and domestic flights. Throughout this journey, you will explore the vast Maya Empire through sites and cities in three countries and a number of distinct regions of the Mesoamerica. On each Maya site, an excellent English speaking guide accompanies you through your exploration of the Maya Civilization.
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Detailed Itinerary
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Day 1. Playa Del Carmen (Tuesday)
Upon your arrival at the international airport in Cancun, you will be met by our professional driver at the exit. Transfer to your charming hotel in Playa del Carmen (40 min. drive). Your charming hotel is located right on the beach and is reached through a pedestrian street there is no direct access by car. Your driver will let you off a short walk from the hotel and bell boys will be waiting for you here to help with the luggage and show the way. This is a superb place to relax and enjoy the sea.
Day 2. Playa Del Carmen
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s dining hall. Free stay in Playa Del Carmen. Relax at your hotel, stroll down the Avenida Quinta (5th Avenue) for some shopping and entertainment or simply enjoy the sun on the beach.
Day 3. Tulum & Coba
Breakfast is served at your hotel’s dining hall. Meet your driver-guide at 7h30 at the reception hall. Private transfer to Tulum (45 min. drive) and guided exploration of the archaeological site of Tulum, the "City of Dawn" (dating from 900 to 1600 AD), one of the only Maya sites surrounded by protecting walls and located right on the Caribbean sea. After lunch in a typical restaurant in the village of Tulum, visit the Maya site Coba (1 hour drive). Hidden deep in the tropical jungle, Coba was once the largest city of the Mayan civilization. Nohoch Mul, the great pyramid, is one of the tallest of the whole Maya world. Transfer to your beach hotel in Tulum, where your driver-guide takes his leave. You can take the evening meals at your hotel’s excellent restaurant or any other beach inn restaurant of the area. Tulum Village also has excellent tables to choose from.
Days 4 & 5. Tulum
Free stay in Tulum. Breakfast is served at the hotel. Relax on the beach to enjoy the sun or explore the nearby region. Easily reached by taxi, there are several cenotes (small clear water lakes in which you can swim and snorkel in the jungle) in the area. Your Traveller's File will provide a wealth of information on the region and the optional activities proposed. Your hotel and/or Amerika Venture can provide services such as guide and/or transport.
Day 6. Belize City
Breakfast at your hotel. Our driver will meet you at the hotel’s reception at 7h30. Drive towards Belize City (6 hrs drive + border crossing). On the way, after 4hrs drive, you may stop at the Cenote Azul located 15km north of Chetumal. Bring your swim suite and towel for a refreshing swim. You will find a small restaurant here where you can have lunch. Continue towards Belize. Check-in at your charming 4* hotel in Belize City around 15h00 and free afternoon. Explore this lively city by walking its bustling streets or simply relax at the hotel. Your hotel has an excellent restaurant serving delicious typical and international cuisine.
Day 7. Towards Tikal Guatemala through Belize
After breakfast at your hotel, head for Tikal (5 hour drive + border crossing). Lunch stop in a pleasant restaurant on the way followed by an interesting 1 hour nature-walk in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Upon arrival in Tikal we check-in at our hotel located in the jungle on the outskirts of the Maya site's National Park. Evening meals is served at the hotel.
Day 8. Tikal Maya Site and Flores
Breakfast at your hotel. An excellent local archaeological guide will meet us at the reception at 9h00 to lead us through the exploration of Tikal, a major archaeological site of the Mesoamerican civilizations. A lunch can be taken around noon in a small "comedor" near the museum. In the afternoon we transfer to Flores (1hr drive) check in at the hotel. Flores Island is a peaceful and pleasant place to enjoy, it counts many charming restaurants.
Day 9. Ecotourism in the Peten Lowlands
Three major trail systems have been developed in the Peten Region of Guatemala exploring some of the most beautiful and remote parts of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The Scarlet Macaw Trail: whether by horseback or on foot, through this trail we will visit many natural and archaeological attractions towards the El Peru archaeological ruin. The biodiversity in this part of Guatemala is very important; our guide today is among the best ecoguides in whole Guatemala! El Mirador Trail offers you a chance to explore the largest and most remote of the ancient Maya cities, taking you deep in the jungle to explore the tallest Maya pyramid in Central America. Your detailed program today will be discussed during breakfast with your guide at the hotel before leaving. Departure in our private minibus will be around 9:00. Return for the evening meal at the inn is around 17:30.
Day 10. Flight Flores / Antigua
Early morning flight leaving Flores towards Guatemala City (45min.). Meet your new driver-guide at the airport arrivals and transfer (30 min.) to Antigua. Guided exploration of the region surrounding Antigua, a few options are proposed. Check-in at your hotel where the evening meal is served. Your driver-guide take leave of you for the night, he will meet you for breakfast tomorrow and accompany you during the next three days in the Guatemala highlands.
Day 11. Colonial Antigua & Panajachel, Atitlan Lake
Exploration of La Antigua, considered the most beautiful city of Guatemala; multicoloured, lively markets, impressive churches and delightful colonial architecture lend an irresistible character to this cultural center. Transfer to Panajachel (2 to 3hrs drive) in the afternoon. Overnight in a friendly hotel of Panajachel, evening meal is served next door.
Day 12. Atitlan Lake
A magnificent region surrounded by tall volcanoes and charming villages all around the lake... Cruising the waters and hiking in the villages we explore the region. A temascal, the typical Maya steam bath, is proposed tonight. Overnight in Panajachel, same inn.
Day 13. Chichicastenango Market (Sunday)
Today we explore the most interesting market in Central America: The Chichicastenango Sunday market, also the largest market of Guatemala where all sorts of traditional crafts, weavings, and food can be found. Very few travellers leave without buying something here! Overnight in a charming inn in the village.
Day 14. San Cristobal
Early morning departures for a long drive towards San Cristobal de Las Casas in Mexico (7 to 8hrs + border crossing). San Cristobal de Las Casas is a charming colonial city located in the Chiapas Mountains of Mexico. Overnight in a friendly inn in the San Cristobal center.
Day 15. San Cristobal
Take delivery of your rental car today. San Cristobal is a beautiful and friendly city with a lot to see. Colonial architecture, handcraft markets, museums, art galleries ... an unforgettable encounter with the Chiapas people and region. Drive towards Palenque (4 hrs), inn check-in near the Palenque Maya site.
Day 16. Palenque
Breakfast at your hotel and guided exploration of the Palenque Maya site, located a few minutes drive from the hotel. The village is also near, you will find here all the services. Overnight as night before.
Day 17. Bonampak & Yaxchilan
Full day guided tour of Bonampak and Yaxchilan including boat transfers. Your excellent guide will meet you at your hotel this morning at 6h00AM. She will show you the way today and guide you through the Maya sites of Yaxchilan and Bonampak. From Palenque you will be heading towards the border to Guatemala (border Echeverria / Corozal (2 hours drive). On the way you stop for breakfast in a typical restaurant. Once at the border of Corozal you board a boat taking you upstream on Ucumacinta River to the Yaxchilan Maya site (45 minutes boat ride). Guided tour and returning again by boat. You can have lunch at one of the restaurants here before heading for Bonampak. Guided exploration of this magic place and return drive back to Palenque, where you will arrive around 20h00.
Day 18. Uxmal
After breakfast, drive towards Uxmal (+/- 6.5 hours drive). Check-in at your 4* hotel and meet your guide for the Uxmal Maya site exploration. The site is within walking distance from your hotel, you will be back at hotel for the evening meal.
Day 19. Merida & Valladolid
After breakfast at your hotel head for Merida, city of hammocks and multicoloured textiles (1.5 hours drive). Free exploration of this colourful, friendly and charming city dating before the Spanish colonization but much transformed by it. Today it is one of the nicest cities to visit in southern Mexico. Drive to Chichen Itza (2 hours). Free exploration of this impressive and popular Maya site (600 to 1200 AD). Drive towards Valladolid in the afternoon and installation at your hotel. This typical, peaceful and charming colonial city is very relaxing.
Day 20.
Breakfast at the hotel and drive towards Cancun. Car drop-off and private transfer to the airport.
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NOTE: The description of this program is provided as a general indication of the tour's itinerary. Your program could be slightly different according to weather conditions, availabilities or changes in the accessibility of a site and/or service.
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 LODGING provided during this tour is in charming meticulously selected 3* inns, eco-lodges and hotels. We mainly use, throughout our tours, exactly & carefully selected small or medium sized genuine hotels and Inns offering friendliness and a homey touch along with the comfort and services provided in larger hotels. Inns are locally owned and managed - often family run - and provide a warm and friendly atmosphere to the visitors. The large charming rooms always count a private bathroom, a ceiling fan and/or air conditioning. * Unless otherwise indicated in the tour's day by day description.
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Exclusions
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- Top guide services during the guided tours.
- All the private transfers on board a modern and comfortable passenger van with professional driver ;
- A private rental car (7 passenger minivan) during the last part of the tour starting in San Cristobal ;
- (Including charges for drop off / pick up in different cities, unlimited milage AND insurance)
- Accomodations in charming hotels and inns, centraly located, localy owned and managed ;
- All breakfasts ;
- A complete tour file and road maps with detailed indications on the roads for the self-guided part.
- Entry fees on the Maya sites ;
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- International flights; get a quote
- Personal insurance; get a quote
- Border crossing fees ;
- Personal expenses ;
- Rental car fuel ;
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Comparing our tours and prices with others, consider...
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- The number of participants in the tour. The GROUP SIZE has a major incidence on the quality of the services provided by the tour leader and the driver. Small groups remain personal unlike large groups.
- What IS and what is NOT respectively included in the tours you compare.
- Our tours respect the principals of ecotourism. Our guides, staff members and providers are meticulously selected to meet our exacting requirements and standards and they are remunerated equitably and considered with great esteem as we much value their participation to our mission.
- The quality standard of the services and accommodations we provide in our tours is high and our customer service is exceptional. We are committed to offering the very best to our travellers before, during and after their tour.
- We provide our travellers with the contact information of their tour manager who is available 7 days a week, reachable at all time before and during the tour to promptly assist them with any situation or simply answer questions or doubts before the tour starts.
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Tours & Destinations
