Exotic Guatemala - mayaskyguatemala

MS-14  
EXOTIC GUATEMALA
Day of Operations  Tuesday  

Day01
Upon arrival transfer to the chosen hotel for accommodations

Day02
Breakfast.Transfer to your hotel for transfer to the International Airport to aboard the flight to Tikal, During the flight you can appreciate the country’s singular topography.Upon arrival, a guide will take you to the Archaeological Site of Tikal " Place of Voices", sorrounded by the tropical forest that has kept Tikal in its millennial dream. Visit the main Plaza and the Temple of the Great Jaguar, central acropolis, Mundo Perdido and temple IV from where you can observe the majesty of the city and the emerald green jungle. After lunch (included) visit the museum Silvanus Morley and then transfer to your hotel for accommodations

Day 03
Breakfast. Departure from your hotel to Rio Dulce, upon arrival aboard the boat for your trip along the Rio Dulce National Park then on to  visit the town of garífuna origin, named  LIVINGSTONE with its reggae music  and Cocunut bread and special meals etc. Continuation in BOAT river arrives, from where we will observe the lush  vegetation and the green trails all up  the river. We will visit the canals and the bird’s island  then continue for sightseeing  TOUR of the CASTLE of SAN FELIPE de LARA,  fortress built XVII century by the Spaniards to avoid the sackings of the warehouses they had to borders of the Lake, then transfer to your hotel for accommodations.

Day 04
Departure from your hotel to Copan, visit along the way the Archaeological site of Quirigua, transfer to Quirigua. Quiriguá (Spanish pronunciation:  [kiɾiˈɣwa] ) is an ancient  Maya   lt archaeological site  in the  department  of  Izabal  in south-eastern  Guatemala . It is a medium-sized site covering approximately 3 square kilometres (1.2 sq mi) along the lower  Motagua River , [2] with the ceremonial center about 1 km (0.6 mi) from the north bank. [3] During the  lt Maya Classic Period  (AD 200–900), Quiriguá was situated at the juncture of several important  lt trade routes ., Quiriguá's rapid expansion in the 8th century was tied to king  K'ak' Tiliw Chan Yopaat 's military victory over Copán in 738. When the greatest king of Copán,  Uaxaclajuun Ub'aah K'awiil  or "18-Rabbit", was defeated, he was captured and then sacrificed in the Great Plaza at Quiriguá. [5] Before this, Quiriguá had been a  vassal state  of Copán, but it maintained its independence afterwards. The ceremonial  architecture  at Quiriguá is quite modest, but the site's importance lies in its wealth of sculpture, including the tallest stone  monuments  ever erected in the  New World , then continue to Copan for accommodations.

Day 05
Breakfast. Depart from your hotel at 0900 to visit Antigua Guatemala " The city of the Perpetuate Roses" , the city that was partially destroyed by the Eathquakes of Santa Marta in 1773, in 1965 was declared " The colonial Monument of America" and in 1979 declared as Cultural Heritage of the Humanity by the UNESCO. Begin with most beautiful church of Antigua Guatemala, La Merced, visit the Arms Plaza, Cathedral, you will also visit the University of San Carlos de Borromeo ( now the Colonial Museum). Free time for lunch (not included). Continue the tour leaving for the environs of Antigua, visit the village of San Antonio Aguascalientes and Ciudad Vieja. At the proper time transfer to the chosen hotel for accommodations.

Day 06
Breakfast.Early in the morning, ride to Chichicastenango to visit the America’s largest open – air market, where natives trade their crops, pottery and handcrafts, giving a spectacular color festival. Visit the 400 years old church, settled on the remains of an ancient Maya Temple, where catholic religious ceremonies and pre-hispanic rites are practiced together. At the proper time transfer to the Lake Atitlan, where you will have a close encounter with nature at one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Accommodations at the selected hotel.

Day 07
Breakfast.Morning boat trip to Santiago Atitlán, this village is located on the south part of Lake Atitlan, on the skirts of the Atitlan Volcano, on a very short walking  visit the church of Santiago Apostol and then visit the confraternity of Maximón. At the proper time return to Panajachel, upon arrival transfer back to Antigua Guatemala. Accommodations at the chosen hotel.

Day 08
At the proper time transfer to airport for outbound flight.