Arrive To: Arrive at the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City, Belize.

Proceed through Immigrations, Baggage Claim and Customs before exiting the secured area of the airport. The Road Scholar representative will be waiting outside the exit door with a Road Scholar sign (only applies to Road Scholar group flights).

Transfer to hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Evening: Orientation to the program.

Lodging: Radisson Fort George Hotel and Marina

Meals Included: Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Transfer to San Ignacio.
En-route excursion to the Belize Zoo.

"The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center was started in 1983, as a last ditch effort to provide a home for a collection of wild animals which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests. Shortly after the "zoo" began, it was realized that Belizean visitors were unfamiliar with the different species of wildlife which shared their country. This fomented the commitment to develop the zoo into a dynamic wildlife education center. Today, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center is settled upon 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 125 animals all native to Belize. The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center believes that by bringing the people of Belize closer to the animals which are their natural heritage, they will feel proud of these special resources, and want to protect them for future generations."



Lunch: Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon: Field trip to a Mayan community.
Site Lecture: Natural Healing with Maya Herbal Medicine.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: San Ignacio Resort Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

San Ignacio -
Cahal Pech Ruins/San Ignacio City Orientation/Iguana Farm/Menonite Community Visit.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: This morning visit the Maya site of Cahal Pech (approximately 20 mins from the hotel). Site lecture: Uncovering the Oldest Mayan Site in Belize.

Cahal Pech is a Maya ceremonial center situated near the Belizean town of San Ignacio, in the Cayo District. Its location on the top of a steep hill makes for great views of the Maya Mountains and the Belize River valleys. The complex contains 34 structures including ball courts, stelae, temples, and palaces. Archaeological findings point to Cahal Pech as being one of the earliest Maya settlements in the country—thriving through the Classic Maya Period and possibly beyond. Human bones and corn, cacao, and anato seeds were found at nearby caves, strong indicators that the site may have been used for ritual sacrifices and food offerings to Maya deities.

After exploring Cahal Pech, enjoy a city orientation of the town of San Ignacio, followed by a visit to an Iguana farm.

Lunch: Lunch at the hotel.

Afternoon: In the afternoon the group will have a cultural visit to a Menonite community to learn about traditional Belizean farming techniques.

Return to the hotel.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: San Ignacio Resort Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Xunantunich archaeological site.

Xunantunich means "Stone Woman" in the Maya language is a modern name; the ancient name is currently unknown. The "Stone Woman" refers to the ghost of a woman, whom several say currently inhabits the site. She is dressed completely in white, and has fire-red glowing eyes. She generally appears in front of El Castillo; ascends the stone stairs and disappears into a stone wall.

The core of Xunantunich occupies about one square mile (2.6 km²), consisting of a series of six plazas surrounded by more than 26 temples and palaces. One of its structures, the pyramid known as "El Castillo," the second tallest structure in Belize (after the temple at Caracol).

Transfer to the border of Belize and Guatemala.
Continue to Flores (Tikal).
Check into the hotel

Lunch: Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon: Boat ride with an orientation to the town of Flores.
Lecture: Tikal - Where Only Legend Survives.
Time at leisure.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Peten Esplendido

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Tikal -
National Park & Archaeological Site,
UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Tikal National Park archaeological site.

One of the largest of the classic Mayan cities, Tikal had no water other than what was collected from rainwater and stored in underground storage facilities. The absence of springs, rivers, and lakes in the immediate vicinity of Tikal highlights a remarkable feat: building a major city with only supplies of stored seasonal rainfall. The reliance on seasonal rainfall left Tikal vulnerable to prolonged drought, which is now thought to play a major role in the Mayan collapse.

There are thousands of ancient structures at Tikal and only a fraction of these have been excavated after decades of archaeological work. The most prominent buildings include six very large Mesoamerican step pyramids. Some of these pyramids are over 200 feet tall.
Site lecture: Tikal - One of the Most Powerful Cities in the Ancient Mayan World.

Lunch: Lunch at the site.

Afternoon: Excursion to the Tikal Museum.

The Tikal Museum (Museo Sylvanus G. Morley) is a small museum is filled with exquisite ceramics and artifacts excavated from Tikal. Exhibits include the three long-nosed pale turquoise rain gods, the little figure of the "Old God" from the tomb of "First Crocodile," holding a human head in his hands, an incense burner (the Maya god is wearing an owl headdress), a platter decorated with a flapping fish, a little jade sleeping jaguar.

Transfer back to Flores.
Time at leisure to enjoy the hotel and surrounding area.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Hotel Peten Esplendido

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Fly and Drive to Lake Atitlan -
Natural Beauty & Colorful Mayan Villages.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Transfer to the airport for flight to Guatemala City.
Arrive to Guatemala City.
Ground transfer to Panajachel (Lake Atitlan).

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Arrive to hotel.
Excursion to the town of San Antonio.

Lecture: Lake Atitlan: One of the Most Beautiful and Mystical Lakes in the World.

Lake Atitlan is a large endorheic (internal drainage) lake recognized as the deepest lake in Central America. Estimates of its maximum depth range up to 1115 feet. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by three volcanoes on its southern edge. The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The lake basin supports extensive coffee growth and a variety of farm crops, most notably corn. The lake itself is rich in animal life which provides a significant food source for the largely indigenous population.



Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Atitlan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Boat transfer to the village of Santiago La Laguna for a visit with the notorious Maximón.

Maximón is a “saint” worshipped in various forms by the Mayan people of several towns in the highlands of western Guatemala. His origins are not well known though he is believed to be a form of the pre-Colombian Maya god Mam, blended with influences from Catholicism.

Maximón is represented by an effigy which resides in a different house each year. Devotees visit offering money, spirits and cigars or cigarettes to gain his favor in exchange for good health, good crops, and marriage counseling etc. His expensive tastes in alcohol and cigarettes indicate that he is a very human character, very different from the ascetic ideals of Christian sainthood.

Site Lecture: Paying Tribute to Maximon, a Mayan "Saint".

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Boat transfer from Santiago La Laguna to Santa Catarina.
Transfer from Santa Catarina back to Panajachel.
Orientation to the town of Panajachel.
Time at leisure to explore the town.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Atitlan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Begin transfer to Antigua.
Excursion to the famous Chichicastenango Market.

"Chichi," as it is locally known, is the site of a colorful, indigenous market. Mayans from miles around come to “Chichi"on Thursdays and Sundays to bring their products and produce to the market. It is here that the locals exchange gossip and information.



Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Field trip to church of Santo Tomas to see how the Mayan religion has blended with Christianity.
Site lecture: The Religious Rituals of the People of Guatemala.
Arrive to Antigua.

Still about the same size as in colonial times, Antigua's cobble-stone streets and colonial architecture depict more than 50 monumental buildings including convents, monasteries, churches and chapels around the main square. With the blending of the old with the new, Congress passed a Protective Law for the protection of historical buildings and areas that gives much of the city its colonial character. Cultural activities including art galleries, performing arts, popular arts, films and forums abound in Antigua.

Lecture: Behind the Walls of Antigua.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Antigua

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Exploration of Antigua -
Cobblestone Streets & Colonial Architecture of this UNESCO World Heritage City.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Lecture: Traditional Maya Textiles.
Excursion to San Antonio Aguas Calientes Textile Cooperative to see weavers and textiles.
Return to hotel.
Lecture: Overview of Guatemala.


Lunch: Lunch at hotel.

Afternoon: Walking orientation to Antigua, including Jade Museum which was featured in the National Geographic September 1987 issue and a Discovery Channel special.

Return to hotel.


Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant.

Lodging: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Antigua

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Casa K’ojom Music Museum.

Casa K’ojom is a private, educational, non-profit research center and museum, dedicated to research, preservation, and dissemination of traditional music of the Mayan communities of Guatemala. Since 1984, founder and current Director Samuel Franco A. has carried out extensive field work, through several expeditions to different Maya areas during their local Patron Saint celebrations and other rituals, recording their music and photographing their contemporary ceremonies. The museum houses an important audiovisual archive including sound recordings, photographs and video footage.

Site lecture: The Evolution of Mayan Music.
Return to hotel.
Lecture: Mayan Agriculture.


Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Time at leisure to explore Antigua.
Lecture: Maya Spirituality (this activity includes a spiritual ceremony with a sacred fire).

Spiritual ceremonies are a large part of the Maya culture. Their calendars provide them with many occasions to have ceremonies. Ceremonies are usually held in private areas located on sacred sites. They include purification rites followed by prayers, chanting and giving thanks and asking for certain requests. All ceremonies involve the burning of incense. The Mayas have been carrying out these ceremonies for more than 5,000 years.



Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Posada de Don Rodrigo - Antigua

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Transfer to Copan.

Lunch: Lunch en-route at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Arrive to Copan and check-in at hotel.

Copan is a small town with a population under 5000. Set in a fertile valley, it has remained virtually unchanged since the days when explorer John Lloyd Stephens first arrived in 1839. The quaint cobblestone streets and tile roofs are characteristic of colonial times. The town is quiet and a perfect place to relax.

Time at leisure explore the town.
Lecture by an expert archaeologist David Sedat: Discovering Copan.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel.

Lodging: Marina Copan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to Copan archaeological site.

The splendors of Copan are represented by its beautiful carvings, inscriptions, and paintings. The Great Plaza, the ball court, several lesser courts, and amphitheater that lie near the base of the Hieroglyphic Stairway are symbolic of the boundaries between the actual and supernatural worlds as games were metaphors for the struggle between good and evil. The Stairway, which has 63 steps is inscribed with a partial history of Copan and is the longest extant Mayan inscription. Unfortunately, repairs have allowed only small portions of the most spectacular hieroglyphics in Central America to be interpreted. It features lifelike displays of Mayan temples and sculptures, Mayan stelae, and hieroglyphics.

Site lecture: Life in Ancient Copan.

Lunch: Lunch at the site.

Afternoon: Excursion to the Copan Sculpture Museum.

The Sculpture Museum insures the safekeeping of Mayan Monuments and unveils reconstructed façades with bold, sculptural messages from buildings throughout the ancient city of Copan.

Return to the hotel.
Lecture: Mayan Medicine.

Dinner: Dinner at local restaurant

Lodging: Marina Copan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to a local school (if in session).
Lecture: The Educational System of Honduras.
Excursion to the town museum.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Time at leisure to explore the town of Copan.
Visit to the home of a local archaeologist for a demonstration on transforming cacao into chocolate.

Lecture: History of Cacao – The Sacred Mayan Beverage.

Before chocolate was a sweet candy, it was a spicy beverage. Some of the earliest known chocolate drinkers were the ancient Maya of Central America. The Maya mixed chocolate with cornmeal, chile peppers, honey, and water. They poured this concoction from cup to bowl and back again until a nice, thick layer of foam formed on top. Maya priests presented a chocolate drink at sacred altars during special religious ceremonies. They also made offerings of cacao seeds to the gods.



Dinner: Barbeque dinner accompanied by marimba music.

Lodging: Marina Copan

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel.

Morning: Field trip to the Las Sepulturas site.
Las Sepulturas is a small archaelogical site, less than 2 km from the main Copán site. This is where the Copán aristocracy lived.

Site lecture: Sepulturas - The Story in the Stellae.
Transfer to San Pedro Sula.

Lunch: Lunch at local restaurant.

Afternoon: Excursion to the San Pedro Sula Museum which features an outstanding display of the early history of Honduras and the city.

Visit to Guamilito Market featuring Honduran artisans, crafts and produce from around the country.

Guamilito Market is the best place in Honduras to purchase everything from rum, coffee and vanilla, to handicrafts. The first rule at Guamilito is to barter any price that is given to you. Handicrafts include handmade wood carvings, as well as the woven baskets and panama hats from Santa Barbara. These items have colorful patterns and are a real bargain.

Site lecture: San Pedro Sula.
Time at leisure.

Dinner: Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Lodging: Hotel y Suites Copantl

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel (depending on flight time).

Morning: Transfer to the Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedo Sula for your flight home.

Note: Participants with independent travel arrangements and/or scheduled on later flights can keep their hotel rooms until check-out time on this day. Except for breakfast, all other meals are on your own on this day.

Meals Included: Breakfast