MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE USUMACINTA BASIN
ALONG THE
MONKEY RIVER
"My wife and I just completed Jennifer's Ancient Mysticism and the Maya tour of Chiapas. She did an outstanding job of putting together the itinerary of activities and booking accommodations. There were many highlights on this tour that we would never have known about or had access to if not for her deep knowledge of the area." - Greg (Ancient Mysticism & The Maya 2025)
ALONG THE
MONKEY RIVER
MAYA ARCHAEOLOGY OF THE USUMACINTA BASIN
STARTS: Villahermosa, Tabasco Mexico
ENDS: Villahermosa, Tabasco Mexico
DATES: November 5-15, 2026
DURATION: 10 Nights / 11 Days
PRICE FOR 6: $71,244 MXN Per Person (Approximately $3980 USD / $5500 CAD)
SINGLE OCCUPANCY: $9500 MXN (Approximately $530 USD / $730 CAD)
INCLUSIONS:
Hotel Rooms x 10 Nights (Double Occupancy), Breakfast x 10, Lunch x 10, Dinner x 9. Desserts and Drinks are separate. Boat Rides x 2, River Rafting, 6 Archaeological Sites, 1 Archaeological Museum, Las Golondrinas Waterfalls. Private Transportation for the duration of the tour, Bilingual guided services.
Tips for team leaders are discretionary but appreciated
CURRENCY CONVERTER
ABOUT THE MAYA
The ancient Maya are often described as a people who disappeared...
The Maya civilization originated in 2000 BCE and thrived until 1697 CE. Their city states spanned the southeastern Mexican states of Tabasco, Chiapas, Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana-Roo, all of Guatemala and Belize, and the western regions of El Salvador and Honduras. The Maya were never considered an Empire, as they did not have one central administration centre, but instead had many administration centres that oversaw smaller satellite cities...
but in fact, are still alive and thriving in their traditional territories...
Despite archaic notions of vanishing races and disappearing peoples that served to elevate Colonial usurping of indigenous territories, the Maya continue to thrive in their ancestral lands, with artisans who weave exquisite textiles with designs that pre-date the arrival of the Spanish, culinary traditions that are pre-Hispanic, and languages that continue to be the primary tongue of the household.
This tour explores the Usumacinta Region of Selva Lacandona, with a special focus on remote archaeology sites and nature. We will observe ancient cities that are well excavated and restored, other sites that are partially restored and some that were abandoned after excavation. We will also visit an administration centre that has had little excavations done, and remains secluded and shrouded by nature, completely veiled from tourism.
TRIP OVERVIEW
The River of Monkeys was an important lifeline of the ancient Maya...
The mighty Usumacinta served as an important lifeline for the ancient Maya, rising in importance during the Late Classic Period (600-900 CE). Due to the control of resources travelling between the highland regions of what is now Guatemala and Chiapas through the lowlands and into Central Mexico, this important highway was vital for trade, thus giving rise to political rivalry between cities such as Piedras Negras and Yaxchilan, who vied for control. This river also connected the Gulf of Mexico with cities in El Peten jungles via the Rio Pasion and Rio San Pedro, which are tributaries of the Usumacinta.
making it an exceptional and fascinating region to explore...
We will be exploring the ancient cities of Piedras Negras, Yaxchilan and Bonampak while in the region. We will also visit the famous archaeological site of Palenque. Our adventures into some more remote sites in the jungle offer our guests an opportunity to grasp just how vast this civilization was, while offering a glimpse into how the local Lacandona are now managing eco-tourism today.
“Has it ever struck you that life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quick, you hardly catch it going?”― Tennessee Williams...
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
TOUR DIFFICULTY
This tour requires mobility and balance. We will be hiking through the jungle in a few areas, climbing uneven steps on select temples and getting in and out of boats. You do not need to be athletic, but if you have trouble walking up hills or have terrible balance, this tour is not for you. If you are an avid hiker with some balance issues, a hiking stick will work wonders. Please contact us if you have any concerns about this, as your safety is crucial.
APPROPRIATE GEAR
We will be in mosquito territory, though due to the end of rainy season, the mosquitos are not as abundant. For the most comfort, pack long sleeved shirts and long pants that are light-weight, breathable socks and sturdy hiking boots for mud-patches. Please pack rain gear for the occasional shower. Your hiking boots can be a casual ankle boot, but the idea is to tuck your pants into your socks or boots to avoid bites. Bug repellant is necessary, but though we have brought head-nets on every trip we've organized, nobody has ever taken us up on wearing one. A hat and sunglasses are recommended, as is sunscreen.
GROUP COOPERATION
Not everyone is made to travel in groups. We ask you to consider how flexible and adaptable you are, before committing to this tour. We work hard to stick to our itineraries as much as we can, due to the expectation and investment from our guests. Sometimes, we must change plans due to spontaneous closures or other unseen obstacles, such as an accident that closes the road or a sick guest who needs to stop at a clinic. We appreciate travellers who can roll with the punches and stay open-minded despite alterations that are necessary.
OUR LODGINGS
We will stay in four locations during our eco-archaeology adventure...
We will stay in the city of Villahermosa upon arriving and prior to leaving. We will spend our 2nd night in the village of Palenque, then head to a Lacandon village for 2 nights, where our accommodations are rustic but clean and comfortable. From there, we will stay at a beautiful ranch for 5 nights before returning to Villahermosa for our final night...
for an eclectic experience that supports indigenous eco-tourism
The Lacandona Maya have done an amazing job organizing activities and adventures for eco-tourism to benefit their community. We will stay with their community for 2 nights to partake in some river rafting and hiking to a lost temple in the wilderness. From their lodgings, we will also visit the ancient city of Yaxchilan and Bonampak...
and a gorgeous lodge with homestyle cooking and lovely hosts...
Our last five nights will be spent unwinding at a lovely ranch that is run by an amazing family of archaeology enthusiasts. Hosts to many of the well known archaeologists who have worked in this region, this truly is a soft place to land at days end, after exploring remote sites such as Piedra Negras and Palenque...
PHOTO GALLERY
It's impossible to take a bad photograph here...
For those of you who love photography, Chiapas is a dreamworld of historical ruins in jungle landscapes surrounded by lush flora and fauna. These photos are from our travels to this region between 2023 and 2026. All photos are property of Copper Moon Travels...
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TOUR
A 25% non-refundable deposit confirms your seat...
We have struggled with our longer tours due to guests making verbal commitments, then backing out as soon as the invoice is sent, leaving us with substantial financial losses. We cannot afford to work with non-committal travellers because once other guests have booked their flights, we are obligated to them. For this reason, we have changed our policies around bookings.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
To reserve your seat on this tour, we require a 25% non-refundable deposit. Once 6 guests have sent in their deposits, we will contact everyone to confirm that it's safe to book your flights. At this point, we also require a second deposit for 25% of the tour, which is non-refundable.
The full balance is due upon arrival in Pesos. If you prefer to pay by credit card, we need to invoice you two weeks in advance to leave enough time for the processing.
In the event that we cannot find 6 travellers, your deposit will be refunded in full. As we know you also deserve commitment, the cut-off for this tour is September 1, 2026. This still gives you plenty of time to book your flights, and offers us enough time to cancel reservations if we are forced to.
IF WE HAVE 4-5 GUESTS CONFIRMED, AND EVERYONE STILL WANTS TO GO
In the event that we are short one or two guests, but everyone still really wants to go, I will do some number crunching and offer a different price for a smaller group. The additional overall cost will be less than the tour price, as we would not need to cover the hotels, entrance fees or food. What we do need to cover are the group costs for guide expenses, the rental van, gas and driver.
PAYMENT METHODS
Our preferred payment method is WISE, formerly Transferwise...
If you do not have a WISE account, please click here to start an account. We recommend using your smart phone, as it's easier to upload ID and verify the account. You will need your standard banking information to connect your bank account to the transfer app. Once your account is open, you need to transfer money from your bank into the WISE account in order to make payments.
When you are ready to pay, simply email me for a payment link. The beauty of WISE is that I can request the payment in Pesos, so the exchange isn't messy.
Please Note: If you use my referral to sign up for your account, your first transaction is discounted.
Just click on this link to get started: https://wise.com/invite/ihpc/jenniferb907
We can also accept Interac Transfers to our Canadian or Mexican accounts...
If you do not have a WISE account, we can also accept traditional wire transfers to our Canadian or Mexican bank accounts. Please email us for deposit information.
Canadians can e-transfer us through a simple email transfer...
If you have a Canadian bank account, we can accept an e-transfer to coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
Or you can pay 5% to use Stripe if you are paying with a credit card...
As all other payment methods do not cost us any processing fees, we do not add them into our prices. If you are using a credit card, we must charge 5% to cover their processing fees. If you are paying with a credit card, please click on the link below to make your payment!
The amount is in Mexican Pesos
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
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Swim at Cascade Bakan
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Swim in Rio Lacanja
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River Rafting
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Hiking in the Jungle
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Parque Museo la Venta
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Palenque
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Yaxchilan
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Piedras Negras
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Bonampak
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3 Lost Cities in Selva Lacandona
Important information about your flights to and from Villahermosa....
There are flights arriving daily from Mexico City, Cancun, Veracruz, Guadalajara and other cities. Please let us know where you are departing from so we can help you find the best flight path...
If you are interested in textiles, consider joining our weaving tour...
Following this tour, your driver and guides are bound for San Cristobal de las Casas for a fantastic weaving tour that involves workshops with master Maya weavers, including a dye workshop so we can learn about natural pigmentations that were utilized by the ancients. This incredible transfer of knowledge from the ancients to their descendants remains a wonderful lifeline for younger generations who are at risk of losing this information. We hope to inspire young people to continue these traditions through outside interest that can help to foster the continuance of cultural pride...
QUESTIONS?
Please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer if you have any questions or would like to schedule this tour at a different time for a private group.
Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
WhatsApp: +52 443 639 2782 (Please text first)
PROMO VIDEOS
Short clips with photo galleries from the different places we will visit. If you are watching on a TV, Laptop or Computer, please use the Horizontal Format. If you are on a phone, please unlock your screen for better viewing on the wide-screen.
ALONG THE MONKEY RIVER