ARCHAEOLOGY TOUR
LOST CITIES OF THE MAYA
"This was a great trip! As a novice on Mayan culture, archeology and history, our guide was extremely knowledgeable. We even visited a hidden gem archeological site, by boat. I highly recommend this trip!"
- Diana (Archaeology Tour 2023)
LOST CITIES
OF THE MAYA
AN ARCHAEOLOGY LOVERS DREAM TOUR FROM HONDURAS TO GUATEMALA & BELIZE
STARTS: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
ENDS: Guatemala City, Guatemala
DATES: April 2026
DURATION: 13 Nights / 14 Days
PRICES INCLUDE TAXES AND ARE BASED ON COST SHARING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PRIVATE ROOM FOR 1, THE EXTRA COST IS TBA. PLEASE REQUEST A ROOMMATE, AND WE WILL TRY TO MATCH YOU WITH SOMEONE TO AVOID THIS EXTRA EXPENSE.
PRICE INCLUDES IVA TAX
The price is TBA
INCLUSIONS:
IVA Taxes Included. Hotels x 13 Nights included (Double Occupancy). Breakfast x 13. All other meals separate. All entrance fees and specialized tours are included. Visa fees for Honduras and Belize are included. Flight from Flores to Guatemala City includes 1 carry-on and 1 checked bag. Please pack as lightly as possible due to space in the vehicles. Tips for team leaders are discretionary and appreciated. Please remember to tip your housekeeper for room service.
Would you like a detailed itinerary? Please email Jennifer at coppermoontravels@protonmail.com. We have stopped posting our itineraries in detail due to an issue we had involving someone from abroad who promoted one of our tours as their own. In order to keep our guests safe from online scams, we ask that you please contact us directly.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
TRIP OVERVIEW
The Maya built an expansive and ornate civilization...
Our tour begins with the ancient city of Copan, which is revered as the Paris of the Maya Civilization, noted for her incredible artistry and hieroglyphic staircase. As more of the jungle reveals new cities and temples unseen before the introduction of LiDAR technology, new treasures are being unearthed that may challenge what we know about the Maya, with some that could rival Copan for ornate and symbolic artistry...
in a region full of venomous snakes, spiders, scorpions & mosquitoes...
As with all ancient cultures, the frescoes seen at Maya sites reflect the flora and fauna of their environment, with major connections made between our living world with the cosmos and underworld, which is known in some regions as Xibalba. As we navigate these bumpy roads to a few outlandish regions for adventurous experiences, we will be discussing the various architectural styles and what we know of rival cities vs allies, and trade partners that cooperated and sometimes warred...
Expect to travel off the beaten path for a real adventure...
We will be exploring some fantastic archaeological sites that are more difficult to reach than the famous sites of Tikal and Copan (both of which we will also visit). We have a couple of long days that involve 4x4 vehicles on bumpy roads for some unforgettable storytelling opportunities, as well as a sunset tour at one site, which means we will commute in the dark for about one hour, albeit, right after sunset. To experience these sites without crowds of tourists is special, as is it a photographic dream to be in these ancient cities when the stars and moon are rising into night....
including one night camped-out in the wilds of El Peten jungle...
We will overnight in the jungle for one night during our trip to Holmul, due to the difficult road getting there. We will be travelling in 4x4 vehicles, and all gear and meals will be provided...
National Geographic calls the ATM the most sacred cave in the world...
The Actun Tunichil Muknal burial cave is the final resting place for the remains of a young man who was most likely sacrificed and left with offerings. Over many years, the bones calcified, prompting archaeologists to call the skeleton "Crystal Maiden," at a time when they thought this may have been a female. There are other remains in the cave, and in spite of the journey getting there and the importance of this site, National Geographic calls it the #1 cave of the world on their "Sacred Places of a Lifetime" list...
and we have hired certified guides to lead us into the depths of Xibalba...
Caves were considered important entrances to Xibalba, or the underworld, by the Maya and these portholes served as ceremonial centres for rituals and sacrifices. The ATM is the most strictly controlled cave in Belize, with only 62 guides who are certified to lead tours here. With only 125 tickets available per day, and each group of 6 requiring a certified guide, this tops our list for logistics for this tour. The ATM Cave is called a "wet cave" because it is necessary to swim into the entrance, eventually climbing out of the water and walking along the pathways, which can be slippery. Cameras and cell phones are strictly prohibited, due to an unlucky tourist who dropped a camera on a skull and shattered it. The tour company will send professional photos that were taken when cameras were still permitted here, so you will have some photos to share for bragging rights. But honestly - this experience is one that is sacred and must be treated with the utmost respect, as experiences like this are not readily available in many places. We appreciate that we are permitted to enter this ancient ceremonial centre to witness such a phenomenal and intriguing part of our human history. Please contact us if you are concerned about the difficulty of this challenge. It is rated as a 6/10 for difficulty, and lifejackets are provided for those who are not strong swimmers. As we will be here right before rainy seasons begins, the water levels should be much lower than at other times of the year. The entire experience will take us approximately 4 hours, which includes hiking from the van to the cave entrance. We will provide more information about the kind of clothing and footwear are appropriate for this unusual and thrilling experience...
We carefully curate our tours to make the most of time and distance...
Backtracking is a colossal waste of time when there are so many exciting things to see and do, so we have organized our trip to Belize to include an excursion on the way there, and an adventure on the way back. We will stay in San Ignacio for two nights, departing early in the morning for the shrouded ancient friezes of Holmul. This should give you lots of things to talk about when you get home, including the rugged roads driven to get there....
including a flight from Guatemala City to Flores...
As we will drive into El Peten to visit the colossal steles at Quirigua and spend two nights in the Caribbean village of Livingston, we are opting to fly from Flores to Guatemala City to save the lengthy commute back...
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
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Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve
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Birding in Rio Dulce
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Birding in El Peten
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Copan Archaeological Site & Museum
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Quirigua Archaeological Site
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Boat ride to Topoxte Archaeological Site
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Sunset on the Acropolis of Yaxha
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Explore the ancient city of Holmul
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Sunrise Tour of Tikal
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Optional Helicopter or trekking tour to El Mirador
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Sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Burial Cave
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Transport in Van & 4x4 Vehicles
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Return flight from Guatemala City to Flores
If you are joining our textile tour, please let us know....
If you are looking for a really extensive exploration of Guatemala, please consider joining our tour in Antigua, which will follow the textile route through the Highlands. This tour begins a week after this one ends, so we recommend heading to Antigua to explore some of the other experiences on offer, such as hiking and camping trips to see the volcanoes, or even taking a language course.
We recommend staying and exploring Antigua, even if you are departing...
If you are not interested in joining our textile tour, we still recommend that you stay in Antigua for a few days, to explore. If you would like to join our tours while you are in Antigua, please let me know so we have a large enough van for everyone. We will be doing a coffee roasting workshop, making a jade pendant, trying some traditional weaving and exploring the colonial city of Antigua, which is a jewel of Central America...
The map below includes locations for both tours...
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)
