cancuen - TIKAL - CEIBAL - MACHAQUILA code: MAQ6

Day 1 GUATEMALA / TIKAL / FLORES
6:00 am flight to Flores, Peten. You will be greeted at the airport and transferred to Tikal. 5 Hour tour visiting Complex Q, Main Plaza, 7 Temples, Lost World, Temples IV. Lunch at the hotel close to the site. Visit to the Ceramic Museum and Lithic Museum. Afternoon transfer to Hotel Peten in Flores.

Day 2 FLORES / CEIBAL / CANDELARIA
Early departure for Sayaxche. Visit the archaeological site of Ceibal. Know for it's Stelea depicted a Non-Mayan, showing the influence of the Northern peoples in the late classic. Upon arrival to the campsite and right before lunch, participants can go to swim in the river that comes out from one of the grottos. After lunch and a deserved rest, we will explore the cavern of El Mico (the monkey), which is probably one of the most fascinating cave of all. We'll be walking along the Candelaria River that flows inside. The caverns are naturally lighted by a series of natural openings called "windows", that lend a fairy like atmosphere to the underground galleries and light up the beautifully colored rock formations . The tour lasts about 3 hours after which one may swim if desired. Dinner and overnight at Candelaria Eco-lodge.

Day 3 CANDELARIA - cancuen
Early in the morning we depart to the margins of the Pasión river. Utilizing the local community of La Union, the group will navigate in native "Cayuco" (motorized wooden boats) to the ancient Maya City of Cancuén. A fantastic journey through time, history and nature awaits us. Amazing birdlike will be observed along the trip as well as occasional turtles sunbathing on the river shores. With a little luck you may even see a crocodile! In Cancuén the archaeologist from Vanderbilt and Del Valle universities will be touring us along their digs, taking us to explore the ancient buildings and showing us their new discoveries. Definitely a once in a lifetime chance! Lunch will be served at the archaeologists campsite and a brief lectures about the sites history will be given. Afterwards we'll return to Candelaria for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 CANDELARIA / MACHAQUILA
In the lush environment of Candelaria, we wake up to the song of numerous birds. After breakfast, we will explore the Campo Base (Base Camp) cavern. It was from here that the initial explorations of Candelaria took place in the middle 70's. A short hike into the
jungle leads to the enormous mouth of the cavern. Remains of ancient Maya buildings can be observed as well as some objects left there by the Maya 1,500 years ago. For the ancient Maya, caverns were sacred places in where they performed ceremonies and sacrifices related with the deities of the underworld. After exploration and lunch, we will depart for Machaquila. A short 2 hours drive brings us to Poptun and then 7 kms, is the town of Machaquila and the Hotel Villa de Los Castellanos. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 MACHAQUILA / PAINTED CAVES / MACHAQUILA
After breakfast, we take 4X4's to a small village. Begin our short 30 min hike in lush rainforest to a small opening of a cave utilized by the Maya for their ritual offerings and burials. Visit cave and marvel at the Mayan paintings dated to late classic period. Return walk to the vehicle for lunch and drive to Hotel. Afternoon, free for resting or a leisure look at the trails of the hotel identifying many medicinal plants. for those who wish, there is tubing on the machaquila river. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 MACHAQUILA / GUATEMALA CITY (or Antigua)
After breakfast depart for Guatemala City. We will visit the archaeological site, Quirigua en route. Quiriqua the sister city to Copan, has the best 3-dimensional stelea in Guatemala. The zoomorphological stones here are unique within the Maya World. Lunch and return to Guatemala City by early evening.

Includes:
All ground transportation aboard tourism buses with a/c and experienced drivers, fully equipped 4X4 Vehicles for the unpaved portion of the tour and boats to navigate along the Pasion river. US Specially trained whitewater rafting guides and equipment for rafting. Well trained, knowledgeable, professional bilingual tour guides and local staff and boat men from the Keq'chi Indian communities of Candelaria, La Isla and El Zapote. Entrance fees to protected areas, archaeological parks and private reserves, All nights lodging as described in the itinerary, all meals from Lunch on day 1 to lunch on the last day, first aid kit, trip booklet and reference material along the trip. Taxes.

Does not include:
Alcohol and soda beverages
Personal expenses
Tips to guides, drivers, restaurant and hotel personnel.

What to bring and wear:
Cobán is normally chilly, especially by night, so bring along a good sweater or warm jacket for the night we spend in town. The Cahabon river is a class III-IV rafting where you will get wet. Cap,shorts and t-shirt and either tennis shoes (to get wet) or buckled sandals for the river. The Machaquila cave is a wet cave so please bring shoes which have traction and can get wet. A good flashlight is a must with extra batteries. The Candelaria and Cancuén regions are hot and humid year round, so plan you baggage accordingly. We recommend to bring a good pair of hiking boots, light cotton shirts (one long sleeve), a pair of shorts, Khakis, sandals, swimsuit, personal items, and sunscreen. A rain jacket, flashlight, binoculars, water bottle, sunglasses and a hat are a good idea and don't forget your camera. And please, bring a big smile for every day!

About the Hotel and Campsite:

Hotel La Posada:
Beautiful colonial house located in the center of Cobán, decorated with antiques and handicrafts, cozy atmosphere, beautiful gardens, restaurant and bar service. 20 rooms, hot/cold water, parking lot , good service.

Candelaria Eco-Lodge:
A fantastic lodge built in the middle of the jungle. Comfortable shared cabins, great food and bar service, surrounded by lush tropical vegetation and a river. Hundreds of birds and wildlife. The lodge and the protected area of Candelaria are totally managed by the Indian community of Mucbilhá. All the funds collected from the visits of the explorers remain within the community allowing them to independently sustain themselves and preserve their surroundings. Excellent service.

Hotel Villa de Los Castellanos:
Located on the banks of the Machaquila River it's design incorporates the native plant species and invites the birds and wildlife to take refuge among it't gardens. Medicinal plants have been identified along the walkways and one can take a tub ride in the crystal waters of the river. Jungle atmosphere, lush gardens, restaurant, and bar service, hot/cold Water, parking lot, good service.