Mayan Circle (Antigua to Antigua)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Antigua

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Antigua is one of the most delightful colonial towns in Central America. The local indigenous population line the cobbled streets and plazas in their colourful costumes, selling their crafts and textiles. As the cultural centre of Guatemala, Antigua is an ideal place to experience the traditional music, architecture and art of the country. Rich in ornate churches, convents, parks, plazas, cafés, restaurants, bars and colourful street markets and surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanoes, Antigua is one place you will never forget! You may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here.

Day 2 to 7

Rio Dulce - Flores - Tikal - San Ignacio - Caye Caulker

On day 2 we depart Antigua by minvans to the river town of Rio Dulce. We stay in cabins right on the water, and have the option to take a boat tour to Livingston, experiencing some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable along this 23-kilometre stretch of waterway. Livingston is situated at the mouth of the Rio Dulce, where it joins the Bay of Amatique, and is inhabited by the Garifuna people. This lively little town has a Caribbean atmosphere different to the rest of Guatemala and is a great place to try the delicious local specialty tapado (seafood coconut soup) and listen to the local African-style punta music. From Rio Dulce we continue to the charming island-town of Flores, situated in the centre of Lake Peten ItzĂĄ, which was the last town to be conquered by the Spanish. Flores is our base for exploring the breathtaking Maya jungle site of Tikal, is regarded as the greatest city of the Maya world. This complex is one of the biggest Maya sites discovered, and you will have the day to explore and learn about the flora, fauna, and amazing Mayan history with our knowledgeable local guide. Today the main centre covers an area of approximately 2Âœ square kilometres, but at its pinnacle the city stretched for nearly 100 kilometres. As you wander the site, you will see several tall mounds which are temples that have not yet been excavated, and you will have the opportunity to climb some of the tallest Mayan temples. The emphasis was on height when creating these imposing structures because the Maya believed the higher the building, the closer they were to the gods. Tikal has much animal life, and if you’re lucky, you will have the chance to spot the noisy howler monkeys, pizotes (a racoon-like animal), exotic birds such as toucans, and much more! A short drive takes us to the Belize border and one of the smallest and most diverse countries in Central America. Formally known as British Honduras, the official language is still English, but most people also speaks Spanish. First stop is San Ignacio. Known as “Cayo” by the locals, this agricultural centre is also known to be the ‘adventure' and ‘nature' capital of Belize. The surrounding jungle, wildlife, waterfalls, rivers and caves, have created the ideal location for the numerous optional excursions that are available, from canoeing downriver and tubing through caves, to visiting the famous caves Actun Tunichil Muknal, where they found untouched Mayan ceremonial and sacrificial remains. Leaving San Ignacio, we take a local bus through the centre of Belize to Belize City, where we catch a water taxi out to the Cayes (mangrove islands). Belizeans know how to relax, and hopefully the locals’ expertise on relaxation will be contagious during your stay on Caye Caulker. If not, there are signs to remind you to “Go Slow”, “Take it easy”, and even “No shirt, no shoes, no problem”. We spend a couple of very laid back nights on Caye Caulker, where you can throw away your shoes to wander the sand filled streets, spend the evenings eating seafood, drinking cocktails, and listening to reggae music in one of the bars. During the day we can organise a range of different optional snorkelling trips for you, such as to Shark and Ray Alley, where you can swim within a few feet of nurse sharks and majestic sting rays, or in their mating season, you may have the opportunity to swim with sea-cows! Another optional snorkelling tour takes you out to Hol-Chan Marine Reserve where you are guaranteed to see lots of colourful fish and interesting reef formations. Qualified divers can explore the so-called bottomless "Blue Hole", made famous by the explorer Jacques Cousteau (please note: this optional excursion does not go every day, check locally for availability). Other options include sunning yourself, riding a bike around the island, or trying your luck at fishing. If you are lucky, you can take your catch to one of the local restaurants so they can BBQ it for you. 

Day 8 to 10

Playa Del Carmen (Mexico) -Cancun

Crossing into Mexico we travel up the coast to the beautiful beach resort of Playa del Carmen. Relax on a white sand beach or take advantage of one of the several interesting optional activities available in the area such as visiting the island of Cozumel or the amazingly located Maya/Toltec ruins of TulĂșm. There are also many ‘cenotes’ in the area. Cenotes (se-note-tays) are fresh water swimming holes connected to underground limestone cave systems once sacred to the ancient Maya. From Playa del Carmen it’s only a one hour bus journey to CancĂșn. Until 1970 CancĂșn was just a small fishing village with one lone coconut plantation, but now, due to its beautiful beaches, it attracts over 2 million visitors a year. Relax on one of the beautiful beaches, swim in the turquoise waters or take a ferry out to the relaxing island of Isla Mujeres, where you can organise snorkelling or drive around the island in a golf-cart.

Day 11 to 12

Chichen Itza -Merida

The hectic days ahead are packed full of surprises for those who are interested in archaeology. We travel first to ChichĂ©n ItzĂĄ, impressive Maya/Toltec site recently voted as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. You will see the ball court where the captain of the winning team was beheaded (no incentive to play your best, was there?!) and the cenote (well), where huge treasures as well as the remains of human sacrifices have been discovered. Of course, the main attraction is the wonderful pyramid, which was built with such precision that a shadow serpent descends it during the equinoxes! Leaving ChichĂ©n ItzĂĄ we head to MĂ©rida, YucatĂĄn's capital and a base for exploring the ruins of Uxmal (optional). This site has the famous ‘Temple of the Magician'. Options in MĂ©rida include taking a hop on hop off bus tour of the historical centre, an optional trip to swim in nearby cenotes, and shopping! This is a great place to buy Mexican hammocks, and the handicraft markets are overflowing with beautiful weavings, statues, batiks and much more. Merida is a lively traditional Mexican town, and the locals always seem to have something to celebrate! If you’re lucky you may catch a traditional dance performance in the central plaza.

Day 13 to 14

Palenque

Next we visit the town and ruins of Palenque, famous for the tombs found filled with riches in honour of the renowned Lord Pakal and the Red Queen. This Maya site has a series temples and pyramids situated in a gorgeous jungle setting,! Other attractions near Palenque include the fantastic Agua Azul Nature Reserve with than 200 small waterfalls, and the incredible Misol-Ha waterfall with a 30m drop, to indulge in a cooling dip (optional half day tour includes both these falls).

Day 15 to 17

San Cristobal de las Casas

Ascending into the mountainous Chiapas region we drive through the Lacandon Cloud Forest on one of the windiest roads you'll ever experience (don't forget your travel sickness pills!) to the colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas. Situated in the middle of the Highlands, here you will find Mexico's richest example of indigenous culture, as it is surrounded by 21 indigenous villages of distinct languages, dress and customs. Red tiled houses painted in brilliant colours dominate the city, maintaining a delightful provincial charm. The next day you have the option to visit the beautiful Sumidero Canyon, and/or take a guided tour of some of the Indian villages on the outskirts, where you can buy the locally made handicrafts. This authentic cultural experience will give you a fascinating insight into how modern day indigenous villages operate. If time permits, you might also enjoy visiting one of the many museums in town. The Amber Museum, the Coffee Museum, the Maya Medicine Museum, and the 'Na Bolom' Cultural Centre are just a few options to choose from.

Day 18 to 20

Panajachel (Guatemala)

Leaving Mexico we cross the border into Guatemala at Ciudad Cuauhtemoc. You will find the Guatemalans to be some of the warmest and most colourful people in the World. Passing through the Guatemalan highlands we travel towards the Pan American Highway from where we will head down to Panajachel on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The drive down has simply stunning scenery, with breathtaking views of the lake and its three volcanoes - San Pedro, Atitlan and Toliman - all of which are over 3,000 metres high. A relaxing lakeside town, Panajachel is known to the locals as 'Gringotenango' due to its popularity with foreigners and its hippie influence in the past. Rated by those who have seen it as one of the most beautiful and colourful lakes in the world, Lake Atitlan sits at a little over 1500 metres above sea level. Here you can take a boat tour to some of the many surrounding villages (optional) or possibly go for a swim in the lake. Panajachel also has many restaurants and interesting bars lining the main street , where you can have a lakeside sunset drinks, listen to 60's music, and even eat some Asian food.

Day 21 to 22

Chichicastenango -Depart Antigua

We now visit Guatemala's most famous market town, Chichicastenango. This village's population swells from approx. 1,000 to over 20,000 on market day (when we visit). The local indigenous people, mostly descendents of the K’iche’ (QuichĂ©) Maya people, come down from the nearby hills to sell everything from kitchen pots and pans to live turkeys! Handicrafts, bags, jumpers and wall hangings are just a few of the bargains to be found here. After lunch we depart the market and continue to the former capital of Guatemala, Antigua, where the tour ends. Antigua is certainly an unforgettable place and well worth staying on for a few extra days. Our tour finishes after breakfast on day 22 in Antigua.