LOST
CITIES OF THE MAYA:
A
Journey through Guatemala’s
Remote Petex Batun
Journey
with Far Horizons on a ten-day exploration through Central America
to explore some of the most remote and powerful cities of the ancient
Maya. More than archaeology
awaits us as we travel through dense rainforest teeming with unusual
wildlife, and lush with verdant ferns, bromeliads, and orchids.
Our
itinerary begins in Quiriguá, a breathtaking site that has attracted
explorers and scientists for more than 150 years, and Cancuen and
Dos Pilas where our study leader will give us an insider’s view
of the latest excavations. The
road to Ceibal and Aguateca is the Río Pasión, or Passion River.
Travel by river to these splendid sites that have stood silently
in the jungle for over 1,000 years, and see carved monuments proclaiming
the strength of Our final stop will be the enormous Maya
center of Tikal, the largest and most spectacular of the Maya capitals.
Here, walk through the myriad of trails that lace the park,
and view magnificent temple
roof combs towering high above the jungle canopy, and families of
monkeys as they swing through the tangled treetops.
 ITINERARY:
(B)
breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day
1: Fly from
Houston to Guatemala. Overnight Hotel Princess.
Day
2: Drive
to Quiriguá, a lovely site containing the tallest and most intricately
carved monuments in the Maya world. The Great Plaza contains zoomorphic
sculptures and elaborately incised stone monuments honoring Two
Legged Sky, the powerful king who freed his city from Copán when
he captured ruler 18 Rabbit in 737 AD. Overnight at Banana Palms on the edge of Lake Izabal. (B/L/D)
Day
3: Travel
on a new road north to Candelaria Cave. For the ancient
Maya, cave entrances were meeting places between heaven and earth,
between the ordinary world and the underworld.
Here was the dwelling place of  the
underworld gods, especially the vital deities controlling rain and
fertility. Even today
among contemporary Maya, the rich traditions that surrounded caves
in ancient times are intact wherever Maya folkways still flourish.
Explore this incredible cave to see ceramics and petroglyphs left
behind by past worshippers. Overnight Posada Candelaria for two
nights. (Please note that this remote, charming lodge does not
have private bathrooms.)
(B/L/D)
Day
4: An all
day trip takes us to the Classic Maya center of Cancuen,
first discovered at the turn of the century.
The remoteness of the region and civil strife left it abandoned
for several decades until Dr. Arthur Demerest and his Vanderbilt
University team arrived. Their investigations are the first large-scale
excavations at Cancuen or in the vast, archaeologically unknown
zone of the southwestern Petén.
They have revealed a sprawling city surrounding the monumental
royal palace and a strong economic focus based on its control of
Pasión River trade. (B/L/D)
Day
5: Our drive
this morning takes us to the ceremonial center of
Ceibal. Along the jungle
paths and within the site center beautifully carved monuments tell
of the installation of a new ruler, and an important gathering of
leaders from nearby cities to commemorate this event.  Finely
carved stelae stand at the edge of jungle clearings and scarlet
macaws can often be seen soaring along the ridges above the canopy.
We then motor up a primeval lagoon to Punta de Chimino, built by
the ancient Maya on the tip of a peninsula jutting into the mighty
Petéx-Batún Lagoon. More
than 2000 years ago, this fortified city was well protected from
invasion by three moats. Our home for the next two nights are lovely
bungalows built within the site center.
(Please note that single supplements can not be honored
here.) (B/L/D)
Day
6: Our route
to Dos Pilas, capital of the Petex-Batun confederacy, takes us by
foot or truck through six miles of jungle. The inscriptions on recently
discovered hieroglyphic stairways record the story of an amazing
21-year old prince of Tikal, B'ajlaj Chan K'awil, who in 648 defeated
Tikal's army and established Dos Pilas as his 'royal court in exile'.
 Through
military conquest and marriage alliances, he and his descendents
gained control of much of the southwest Peten, until his grandson
was ousted from Dos Pilas in 761 by angry former vassals.
Hundreds
of spear points found within the city walls suggest intense warfare,
and recent excavations show that at the end of the classic period
hastily-built fortification walls were erected around the city's
center; some actually climb up and over the temples in order to
protect the most sacred areas. Archaeological work is proving that
"blood was the mortar of ancient Maya life" (to quote
Dr. Linda Schele), and the city-states were constantly at war to
acquire royal victims needed for blood sacrifice to the gods. (B/L/D)
Day
7: An
"African Queen" boat ride takes us through lovely tropical
waterways to Aguateca. Eons ago a huge fissure split the area, and
the ancient Maya built a bridge that still stands today across this
immense crack in the earth. While Aguateca had been a military refuge
for hundreds of years, in the early 8th century it became a twin
capital with Dos Pilas.  After
the fall of Dos Pilas in 761, it became the main royal capital for
the last king of this dynasty, Tan Te K'inich, who ruled until the
city was overrun by enemies in a fiery cataclysm. In the intense
warfare that took place in the Petex-Batun, Aguateca was the last
center to fall. Today
we picnic among the boldly carved monuments scattered throughout
these memorable ruins. In the afternoon, drive to Tikal National
Park and overnight for two nights. (B/L/D)
Day
8: Tikal
National Park has been a national wildlife refuge for almost 30
years, and the park’s verdant forest is teeming with birds and wildlife.
Here in the shadow of towering temples, and accompanied by the distinctive
call of the howler monkey, we will learn of the kings of Tikal as
told by their carved stone monuments. Breathtaking discoveries have
revealed the Maya kingship as one of the great institutions of antiquity.
Tikal's Golden Age began in 682 AD when King Ah Cacau began
his reign. The Temple
of the Giant Jaguar has lintels carved of zapote wood that depict
this ruler seated on his throne; hovering above is a huge spotted
cat "protecting" him.
(B/L/D)
Day
9: There are
two truly remarkable museums in Tikal National Park. The
new sculpture museum contains the finest of Tikal’s carved monuments,
and the Tikal Museum displays other artifacts from the years of
excavation. Spend the morning in the museums and after lunch, drive
back to Flores in time for our flight to Guatemala City. Gather this evening for a gala dinner party in an elegant restaurant.
(B/L/D)
Day
10: Airport
transfer. (B)
(B)
breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
STUDY LEADER: Stanley
Paul Guenter was born in the prairies of Canada and
was first introduced to the Maya culture and ancient script at the
age of ten. He has been studying the Maya ever since. He obtained
his undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, and completed
his Master's Degree at La Trobe University, in Melbourne Australia,
with Dr. Peter Mathews.  He
is now ABD (All But Dissertation) for his PhD in Archaeology from
Southern Methodist University. He has worked on archaeological projects
in eastern Tabasco, Mexico and is currently an epigrapher and archaeologist
with two archaeological projects in Guatemala's Peten: The Regional
Archaeological Investigations of Northern Peten, Guatemala (RAINPEG),
directed by Dr. Richard D. Hansen, and the Southern Methodist University
El Peru/Waka' project, directed by Dr. David Freidel. Stanley is
one of the outstanding rising stars of epigraphy (Maya hieroglyphs)
and has taught hieroglyphic inscriptions and presented at many conferences
in Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany and Denmark. He
has done a full study of the inscriptions of Dos Pilas in relation
to Tikal (you may see the readings on the mesoweb.com
site) His knowledge of the written history of the ancient Maya,
especially in the lowlands of Guatemala, will make the trip a fascinating
one.
2007
TRIP DATES: No
trip currently scheduled
 2007
TRIP COST:
(per person, double occupancy)
Price includes international airfare from Houston; all hotels and
meals (as noted); ground transportation; entry fees.
COST
DOES NOT INCLUDE: visa, border crossing, or airport fees; personal
tips; laundry; food, alcoholic drinks, or other beverages not on
regular menus; and airport departure taxes.
2007
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT:
NOTE: This trip is for the hardy!
The adventurous nature of the itinerary makes it essential that
you be in good physical condition and maintain a flexible attitude.
The roads in this part of the world are frequently dirt and the
walk into Dos Pilas is three miles along a dirt trail. Remember
team spirit and a good sense of humor are helpful! If you have questions
about your ability to handle this sort of challenge, please call
us.
PRIVATE
TOURS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES: The private tours of archaeological
sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include
a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited
about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please
be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of
the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other
commitments, or that the date or time of our visit to their project
must changed.
RESERVATION:
A deposit of $500.00 is required upon making your reservation, along
with a completed and signed registration form. Final payment is
due 75 days prior to departure.
Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form,
you will be sent a reading list and a clothing and equipment list.
An information book designed for this trip, including maps of archaeological
sites and articles of pertinent interest, will be sent upon receipt
of final payment.
CANCELLATION
AND REFUNDS: Cancellations received in writing at least 75 days before
departure will result in an administrative fee of $250.00. Cancellations received
less than 75 days before departure will not receive a refund. If for any reason
you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees.
Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip
cancellation.
LIMITED TO 12 PARTICIPANTS
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