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GLOBUS 2009: ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS (SD)
12 days from San Salvador to Belize City
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 Explore the history of ancient civilizations during this exciting vacation to Honduras, Guatemala, and Belize. Start your trip in San Salvador, El Salvador, for an overnight before departing for Joya de Ceren, a pre-Colombian Maya farming community that was buried under a volcanic eruption in 600 AD. Continue to Copan, Honduras, the site of the once major Maya kingdom with the greatest collection of Mayan stone sculptures anywhere in Central America. After Copan, your tour travels to Quirigua, Guatemala, with the largest stelae in the Mayan world, weighing more than 65 tons. Next stop is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua for a sightseeing tour. Then, on to a colorful Indian market and Church of Santo Tomas at Chichicastenango. Continue to Lake Atitlan for a cruise across this impressive 900-foot-deep lake formed after a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. Visit Santiago Atitlan and meet one of Guatemala's indigenous tribes. Depart for Guatemala City, where you enjoy a city tour and free time before transferring to the airport for your flight to Flores. In Flores, a full-day excursion takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal, the largest of the ancient Maya cities with artifacts dating as early as the 7th century BC. Because it sits within the rainforest, it is common to see spider monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, and parrots. On to San Ignacio, Belize, with a stop at Yaxha, another significant Mayan excavation. From San Ignacio, enjoy an excursion to Caracol, the largest known Mayan archaeological site in Belize and one of the great Mayan city-states of the Classic Period. See the great Caana Pyramid standing 140 feet high and the tallest man-made structure in Belize. Your tour of these ancient Mayan civilizations ends with a farewell dinner in Belize, a perfect conclusion to your magical Ancient Civilizations vacation!
HOTELS
San Salvador Hilton Princess (SF), Copan Marina Copan (MF), Antigua Casa Santo Domingo (F), Lake Atitlan Porta Del Lago (F), Tikal Camino Real (F), San Ignacio San Ignacio Hotel (MF); Granada La Gran Francia (F)
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| Call (781) 837-1111 for more information or to book today! Mention code 7471941 | | Globus | | | | Day | Destination | Description | | Day 1 | San Salvador | (Sat.) Upon your evening arrival you will be met by your Tour Director, who will help you check into your hotel. | | Day 2 | San Salvador-Joya de Ceren-Copan, Honduras | (Sun.) Depart this morning for UNESCO World Heritage Archeological Site JOYA DE CEREN, a pre-Columbian Maya farming community that, like Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, was buried under a volcanic eruption around 600 AD. The exceptional condition of the remains provides insight into the daily lives of the Central American populations who worked the land at that time. Continue to Copan, Honduras, and enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Director at the hotel. (B,D) | | Day 3 | Copan | (Mon.) Today's guided tour introduces you to COPAN, the site of a once major Maya kingdom and considered "the Athens of the Maya world." From the moment you step inside the archaeological zone, you will see elaborate stone sculptures everywhere. Walking into the dramatic expanse of the Great Plaza, become witness to the cultural achievements of the ancient Maya. This principal Copan plaza contains the greatest collection of Mayan sculptures anywhere in Central America. Learn about the majestic temples and the intricately carved stelae, representing past rulers of the city and the power, politics, and ideology of the times. (B,L) | | Day 4 | Copan-Quirigua-Antigua, Guatemala | (Tue.) After breakfast, cross into Guatemala to visit the archaeological site of QUIRIGUA with the largest stelae in the Mayan world, weighing more than 65 tons. The site also boasts a number of enormous and unexplainable carved monoliths sculpted into the forms of mythological animals (zoomorphs). Later this afternoon, head to Antigua, Guatemala's capital from 1543 until a devastating earthquake in 1776 when it was moved to Guatemala City. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua is one of the Americas' oldest and most beautiful cities, with pastel-colored buildings, wide cobblestone streets, and a beautiful natural setting ringed by three volcanoes. (B,D) | | Day 5 | Antigua | (Wed.) Our morning tour of this magnificent highlands city, known for its 16th-century Spanish Colonial architecture, includes lively Plaza Mayor flanked by the impressive Catedral de San Jose and Palace of the Capitanes Generales. See the ruins of churches and monasteries, some with hidden underground passages, destroyed by the earthquake of 1776; and take a tour of a JADE FACTORY. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. (B) | | Day 6 | Antigua-Chichicastenango-Lake Atitlan | (Thu.) Today, reach the whitewashed highland town of Chichicastenango where we visit the colorful, open-air INDIAN MARKET and the Catholic CHURCH OF SANTO TOMAS to witness ancient Mayan ceremonies that have long been practiced there. Continue to the shores of Lake Atitlan (Place of Great Water), surrounded by three volcanoes and numerous indigenous villages. (B,L) | | Day 7 | Lake Atitlan | (Fri.) This morning you will embark on a CRUISE across 900-foot-deep Lake Atitlan, renowned for its beauty and many colorful Mayan towns and villages along the shores. Learn how an enormous caldera formed after a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago to form what is known as Lake Atitlan today. Next, visit the Indian village of SANTIAGO ATITLAN where you have the chance to meet the Tzutuhil people, one of Guatemala's indigenous tribes. (B,D) | | Day 8 | Lake Atitlan-Guatemala City-Flores | (Sat.) Depart for Guatemala City today and enjoy a city tour upon arrival. After some free time to explore the city, transfer to the airport for your flight to Flores. (B) | | Day 9 | Flores Excursion to Tikal | (Sun.) A full-day excursion today takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of TIKAL, the largest of the ancient Maya cities. With artifacts dating as early as 7th century BC, it wasn't until circa 200 AD that Tikal became the leading political, economical, and military power of the Maya region. Your guide will explain the significance of the major temples and monuments in the park, of which only a fraction have been excavated. Lying within a rainforest, it is common to see spider monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, and parrots cavorting in the dense canopy enveloping the ruins. You might want to keep an eye out for jaguars and coatis, as they are said to roam the park as well! (B,L,D) | | Day 10 | Flores-Yaxha-San Ignacio | (Mon.) This morning, depart Flores for the site of YAXHA, second in importance behind Tikal. Unlike Tikal, this ancient civilization consisting of more than 500 structures is in its preliminary stages of excavations. Continue into Belize, which was granted independence from Britain in 1981 and is the youngest nation in the Western Hemisphere. We head through the beautiful countryside past limestone mountains and miles of uncharted forests to San Ignacio in the Cayo District in Western Belize. (B) | | Day 11 | San Ignacio Excursion to Caracol | (Tue.) CARACOL is the largest known Mayan archaeological site in Belize, and one of the great Mayan city-states of the Classic Period. During its heyday, Caracol was home to more than 140,000 people-twice that of Belize City's current population. Located deep within the Chiquibil Forest Reserve, the ruins cover 30 square miles of thick, high-canopy jungle rich in flora and fauna. Your guide will point out some of the most important buildings, including the Caana Pyramid ("Sky Palace"). Standing over 140 feet high, it is the tallest Mayan building in Belize and the tallest man-made structure in the country. This evening, enjoy a special farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director. (B,L,D) | | Day 12 | Belize City | (Wed.) Transfer to Belize City International Airport for your homebound flight. (B) |
| US$ Price Details
Land-only price includes intra-tour flights, and must be purchased with this vacation.Single Room Supplement:$692. Triple Room reduction per person: $129. Extra nights per person in San Salvador: In single room $200; in twin room $125; in triple room $110. Extra nights per person in Managua: In single room $160; in twin room $90; in triple room $80. Extra nights per person in Ambergris Caye: Jan 1-Mar 15, Apr-May, Nov 1-Nov 18 & Nov 30-Dec 31: In single room $255; in twin room $145; in triple room $120. Mar 16-Mar 31 & Nov 19-Nov 29: In single room $280; in twin room $160; in triple room $125. Sep & Oct: In single room $160; in twin room $100; in triple room $85. 2010 prices and itineraries subject to change.
Our Volume Buying Power Saves You Money!
-We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city.
-Additional accommodations before or after your tour may be available at our low prices.
Additional Information:
-Departure/arrival taxes and fares from other cities will be advised at the time of booking.
-2008, 2009 & 2010 vacation itineraries and prices are subject to change.
Guaranteed Air-Inclusive Price:
Air-inclusive prices do not include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees of up to $300 depending on your itinerary. Please see the Applicable Airfare Taxes and Fee link above for more information.
Air booked in conjunction with a land vacation is considered an air-inclusive vacation. Air can only be booked by Globus in conjunction with a land package and is only available for passengers traveling from the United States. For vacation departures in 2008, your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your air schedule had been confirmed and your entire vacation package has been paid in full. For vacation departures in 2009, an additional $250 non-refundable deposit (total $500 non-refundable) is required for air booked in conjunction with any land vacation and your final air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed when your flight information is confirmed and Globus has received your full land and air deposit.
Not Included in the Vacation Price:
Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; International Air Transportation tax; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; airport taxes and fees including the September 11th Security fee up to $10 per person, Passenger facility charges up to $18 per person, Federal domestic flight segment fees up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure, and other government imposed fees up to $300 per person; port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted Globus menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; Travel Protection premiums; all airline imposed baggage fees (including internal flights); and all other items of a personal nature. |
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