ARCHAEOLOGICAL Yaxha, Topoxte, Nakum, Tikal

SEASON: NEW YEARS Celebration Nov-Feb DAYS: 10 days / 9 nights
Class: Beginning MIN. AGE: 8 years

No. Days Places visited Where stay
1 Guatemala / Musuem of Archaeology
2 Guatemala/Flight Flores / Chiquibul two-day river rafting Camp on river
3 Chiquibul river rafting Visit Maya Cave. Camp on river
4 Chiquibul river rafting Eco-lodge El Sombrero
5 Yaxhá - Topoxte - Eco-lodge El Sombrero
6 Yaxhá horseback ride to Nakum Camp
7 Nakum / Tikal - Hotel Tikal Inn
8 Full Day Tikal - Hotel Tikal Inn
9 Tikal/ Flight to Guatemala City
10 Depart for home

Day 1 ARRIVAL / MUSUEM / GUATEMALA CITY
Flight arrival, transfer to Hotel in Guatemala City. (If flight arrives in the am, Tour of Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.) Welcoming cocktail.

Day 2 GUATEMALA / CHIQUIBUL RIVER
Flight from Guatemala City to Santa Elena. Transfer to the shores of the Chiquibul river. Overnight camp and dinner with the community of Flor de Chiquibul. On our Christmas trip, we celebrate Christmas with exchange gift giving between us and the community representatives.

Day 3 CHIQUIBUL RIVER
Breakfast. Start the mild jungle rafting trip through the corridor of tall trees. Lunch on the river. Make camp close to the entrance to a large Maya cave where we will see a Maya wall and artifacts left over 1200 years ago. Dinner and camp.

Day 4 CHIQUIBUL / EL SOMBRERO
Breakfast. Continue downstream keeping a sharp eye for pumas that still roam these jungles. Arrive at take out and transfer to the Eco-lodge El Sombrero, on the shores of Lake Yaxha, a quaint lodge with private and communal bungalows, hammocks for resting in the dinning area and a private bar.

Day 5 YAXHA / TOPOXTE
Breakfast, Transfer in small motorized boat to the Maya archaeological site of Topoxté located on an island in the middle of the Lake. Return to the restaurant for lunch. After a brief rest, transfer to the newly built museum of Topoxté and the site of Yaxhá. Yaxhá has been recently excavated and the restoration of the large temple 216, makes a great platform for observing the sunset over the Lake. Return to the lodge for dinner in a peaceful family setting.

Day 6 YAXHA / NAKUM
Breakfast. Start the Horse ride to the ruins of Nakum. (approx. 4 hours) Spend the day, under the cool canopy of an immense rain forest. Lunch and visit site of Nakum. Dinner and Camp in the ruins. We will use Hammocks with mosquito netting unless tents are specifically requested.

Day 7 NAKUM/ TIKAL
Breakfast and continue horse ride listening the myriad of birdlife undisturbed by development as this is part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Lunch on the trail. About 3:00 PM arrive by horse to the magnificent ruins of Tikal. Dinner and overnight camping at entrance to the site, within the National Park.

Day 8 TIKAL
6:00 am bird and wildlife tour to enjoy the wondrous sounds of the waking jungle. Return for breakfast. Begin in earnest your full day of exploring the site of Tikal. Visit the "Great city", where you will see the Temples of the Jaguar and of the masks in the Great Plaza. Continue onto discover the complex known as "The Lost World". Lunch at Tikal. Climb the tallest-known structure at Tikal, Temple IV, and view the thick, wild jungle, which still covers many monuments and stelae. Admire many of the artifacts discovered during the excavation of Tikal at the nearby museum. Afternoon on your own. On our Christmas trip we suggest you rest to await the festivities of New Years. Overnight at campsite.

Day 9
Breakfast, Free day for exploring the lesser known areas of the magnificent site Tikal. Lunch. 2:30 transfer to the airport for late afternoon flight to Guatemala city. Overnight in Hotel.

Day 10
Depart for connecting flights home.
 
Equipment
We Provide:
Clarion Suites or equivalent in Guatemala city, Dbl. occupancy, New Years Champagne, Domestic Air Flights, Land transportation, boat transportation and horses, All meals, Rooms in El Sombrero, shared bath ($14 extra for private bath)All camping equipment and kitchen equipment, Hammocks with mosquito netting for horse portion, Bilingual guide, Taxes, Sleeping pads. Sheets and blankets-upon request only.

We do not provide:
• Alcoholic beverages
• Personal expenses