The Maya and More: History and Culture of Copan, Tikal and Lamanai

My experience in the The Maya and More trip was great. I originally was interested in this tour because of the Maya archeological sites we would visit. But it turned out that our glimpse of the contemporary Maya culture the tour provided was just as valuable and interesting. The pre-conquest Maya sites we visited were enjoyable and informative. Copan was the most interesting site to me as the art that was preserved there as well as the fabulous sculpture museum were excellent. But in addition, we saw two sites – Las Sepulturas and Cahal Pech that were examples of residential areas for the elite Maya inhabitants that were very well preserved and very worthwhile. Also, we were able to see a post classic Maya site, Iximche, that was active during the early conquest period. Another valuable insight as to how Maya culture survived and thrived after the late classic and post classic collapse of major Pre-Columbian city states. We also met David Sedat, an archeologist who worked at Copan and was instrumental in finding the tombs of Copan dynastic founder Yax Kuk Mo and his likely consort, the Red Lady. He also had valuable insights on the significance of cacao to Maya culture and how cacao is produced and processed. He and his family invited us to his home for a meal that included a recipe for chicken mole that was likely pre-conquest vintage. In general, the local guides we met and learned from were all knowledgeable and had insights about Maya culture that would be difficult to surpass. We visited a museum devoted to preservation of Maya and folk music traditions in Guatemala and two exceptional weaving coops. We also visited the Jade Maya factory and Museum that educated us on the role that jade has played in Maya culture past and present. The National Archeology and Ethnology Museum in Guatemala City was truly exceptional. Eli Gonzalez, our group leader, was a knowledgeable, capable, and most congenial host and guide. Marvin our driver was helpful and informative.

The recent Road Scholar trip I took to Honduras, Guatemala and Belize helped me to understand better the plight of women in underdeveloped countries.

Very impressive and enlightening, and all was “first class”. Group leader very knowledgeable and personally knew our local guides and presenters.

We covered a lot of territory, saw a lot of sites, received a lot of information. It was a good intro to a complex subject. I was very pleased with the trip, although, as Fito, our guide, told us, the itinerary we had been given was out of date and should have been corrected in places. This discrepancy lead some members to expect things that were not included. I especially appreciated the inside view of Guatemala that we were given by Judith. It helped me understand the quandary that the citizens find themselves in. She also explained the difficult position of women, confronted with tradition and religion. The visit to the school gave us perspective on education. The indigenous "healer" and Maximon "events" put us right into the indigenous "spiritual" experience, invaluable for perspective. I had been looking forward to seeing and learning about the splendid weaving tradition of Guatemala. What a treat to visit the two women keeping the techniques alive, teaching them to others and providing sales opportunities for their unique products. Our drivers were careful, courteous, helpful and good humored. Fito did a good job keeping us together and on schedule (no easy time with so much that we wanted to learn more about!) and provided a lot of detailed info. Unfortunately, he was unable to give us the basic Maya cultural orientation at the beginning of the trip because a predictable problem with his voice made it impossible. To me, this was a significant loss. We went on to hear about cultural details with no idea how they fit into the whole. Why was this problem not anticipated and compensated for? Also, on occasion I would request Fito for something and be put off. (like the fresh coconut water that I asked for early in the trip, was told on several occasions that I could get later, and on the last day, told that I could get at the place where we were staying, which I could not.) I had the sense that he knew his job but perhaps had been doing it too long.

Excellent and very informative trip. Our guide, Eli Gonzalez couldn't have been better.

Eli is a most kind,savvy quintessential guide. His energy seems to be boundless, yet low key. He is enthusiastic with a common sense approach. I'm grateful to have traveled with Eli and his team, It's fun. Shout out to driver Marvin!

Wonderful trip, and couldnt have asked for a better guide (Eli)!

Eye-opening journey into Central America's cultural and historical past, an exploration of ancient civilizations that flourished long before arrival of Europeans. Beautiful (and volcanic) landscapes, warm and friendly people, ancient civilizations and modern life ways made vivid and real.

This trip was outstanding! Our group leader, Fito, was excellent. He was knowledgable about archeology, history, culture and cuisine. We went to a tea shop in Copan called "A place for Chocolate and Tea" or something like that. It was fascinating, the owners showed us how chocolate is made, starting with picking a cacao pod off a tree growing right there at their shop! Our bus driver was kind and friendly, and navigated the pot holes and heavy traffic and got us safely to Guatemala, where we visited the stunning Lake Atitlan. After a boat ride on this lake, we went to an out-of the way shop that was run by a women's co-op. The kind lady showed us how she spun and dyed the cotton yarns with all natural, traditional botanical dyes. The highlight of the trip was, of course, the large archeological sites of the ancient Mayan temples. This was arranged so that we had plenty of time, visited in the cool of the morning, and had talented, educated local guides. Our hotels in each place were luxurious, air conditioned, well-staffed and had restaurants serving delicious amazing full breakfasts. I especially enjoyed fresh ripe papaya and pineapple every morning, along with good coffee. There were, of course, some hiccups. For example no hot water for two days, and one booking mix-up where we were taken to the wrong hotel. But all this just added to our sense of adventure, and was handled and resolved quickly by our group leader. My fellow travelers were friendly, educated and cheerful. We got to know each other and helped each other out. We all got diarrhea, but Immodium cleared it up quickly. I failed to pack some, but found it at a local pharmacy with an english speaking pharmacist! Really, Copan, Honduras is a hidden gem. I am going back!

Our Maya trip was wonderful. Tikal, Copan, and Lamanai were amazing. Eli Gonzalez was a perfect group leader!

This program was filled with new experiences for me. Some days were more packed with activities that were others but the overall balance was good. I have already told friends about my trip.

This trip packed in so many interesting learning experiences and a variety of lodgings, food choices, and transportation modes; and we had just enough time to wander on our own. Our safety and comfort were always first priority, followed by deep learning experiences with excellent instructors. Our driver, Marvin, was exceptional, and Eli Gonzalez was the absolutely perfect group leader. Eli’s morning walks were the icing on the cake for me! I cannot imagine how this trip could be improved! Totally satisfying - and fun!

This was a super trip! The food and lodgings contributed to the enjoyment but the group leader and local content experts really made the experience unforgettable. We not only learned about the ancient Maya, we learned about how the Maya live today. I highly recommend this trip if you have any interest in this area.

Maya & more is a great program. It will give you an understanding of the regions past and present. The local experts were top notch. Fidelio was our group leader and he managed the trip expertly with kindness and humor, which go a long way on a trip like this. For me it was the trip of a lifetime. The pace was managed by healthy folks in their 80s. Go ahead, book it, you won't regret it.

This is a very well organized trip with excellent education and guides to experience the Mayan history, culture and ruins in Honduras, Guatemala and Belize. Our tour guide Fidelio Montes was one of the best I have ever had and this was my 18th trip with Road Scholar. I loved staying in the small villages of Antigua, Copan and Santa Elena (which was in the jungle of Guatemala). Taking a hiking pole along will help you navigate the ruins better as the steps are large without handrails most of the time. You can also view the ruins without navigating the steep steps. Please be safe arriving in the airport at San Pedro Sula as some of us were not met as promised, so have the Holbrook emergency number with you and be sure you can call in this country to remain safe.

This program had excellent "experts" at every archaeological site, an excellent Group Leader (Eli Gonzalez), good hotels well located, and tolerably good food. Our departure was the first in four years and it was most fortunate to have an experienced Group Leader to work out minor changes. I would rate the tour higher if the motorcoach/bus were more comfortable. Perhaps a larger vehicle?

This is a wonderful trip for the experienced traveler! You see and experience the full arc of Maya history through many different sites. Recent scholarship has greatly increased knowledge of the Maya. There is less walking/climbing than you might expect, though there are often options for more. Expect to be tired at the end of every day!

An very well-organized program offering a window into the past and present of Mayan culture, people, art, and architecture. Very experienced tour guides, complemented by local experts, helped exceed our educational, tourist, and logistical expecttaions.

This was one of the best, perhaps the best, organized trip my wife and I have ever taken. The trip leaders were outstanding and the content was interesting and enlightening. Not only do I know a lot more about the Maya of yesterday and today, but I have some knowledge of the culture and history of Honduras, Guatamala and Belize. These are places I might never have visited without guidance, but now I feel I might return to some areas on my own.Central America tends to get some bad press in the US, but I always felt safe and comfortable on this trip. The food and accommodations were very good and the activity level is accurately described in the program. I might have liked a little more free time, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of the scheduled activities.

This program provided more interesting experiences than are described in the printed materials. There is a strong emphasis on archeology, so is perfect for travelers wanting that. The activity level is accurately described and we were tired at the end of the day! Eli Gonzoles is skilled at addressing travelers needs, and making accommodation if needed. I felt totally safe everywhere, and knew what to expect.

What a fabulous trip!!! I have a much better understanding of these three Central American countries, their amazing civilizations and why so many are seeking asylum at US borders. My perception (mostly from the news) was of much violence. I saw none. While I am sure that there is some coming from the drug cartels, our guides (locals in all 3 countries) indicated that it was probably no more a problem than in the US. I felt very safe during the entire trip. This adventure was so exceptional because we spent time with the people...hotels that were in character with the country and locale, bus ride on the "Chicken Bus" (old US school buses that provide transportation for much of the population), meals in local restaurants, visits to schools both private and public, introductions to textile co-ops that are providing income for many indigenous people, exploration of spiritual mores, past and present ...and of course, visits to the many amazing Mayan ruins. The guides were knowledgeable, informative, kind and sensitive to the needs of the group. They brought the trip to life. I highly recommend this trip...but caution that before embarking, participants should meet the minimum for physical fitness as described in the program description. This was not the case with this group and several frequently held the group back.

This is a fascinating tour/immersion into classic Mayan history, art and architecture. Interwoven into our experience of ancient history was exposure to contemporary Mayan life, art and experience and how present day life has blended into the rich legacy of their ancestors. Eli Gonzalez is a master at guiding us along the route of the Maya, knowledgeable, thoughtful, flexible, unflappable and always with a great sense of humor. It was a challenging yet wonderful experience.

This was a wonderful trip. Our guide Eli was very good at keeping us on track and informed. The experiences were varied and served to teach us all about the Maya culture and temples. The expert instructors were excellent in each of their areas. The accommodations were in beautiful settings. I especially enjoyed the jungle cabins and lake. This is an excellent in depth tour of these countries and culture. I would highly recommend this tour.

leader Eli Gonzalez is GREAT.. the best so far.. his drive Marvin IS GREAT. This is a wonderful trip to see 3 countries and the ruins. wonderful well organized .

This program is among the most popular that Road Scholar offers and for good reason. Tour participants accomplished many more activities in a day than individual travellers would be able to undertake. In addition, the program provided access to a range of expert lecturers and guides to which no individual would have otherwise gained access. Both the tour leader and bus driver were fabulous and totally committed to their work in providing a first-rate experience. This is an exciting, diverse, entertaining, and highly educational experience. I recommend it highly.

This trip exceeded all expectations. The group leader, Eli Gonzalez, was the best guide we have had to date out of 7 RS trips. That is a high bar to reach, considering the level of Road Scholar group leaders! He was attentive, interested in each person's goals for the trip and added morning walks to find birds for those of us who were interested. He also provided a lovely slide show of our trip to highlight the best moments we had all enjoyed on the last evening. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing the ruins. The way the trip was laid out made each day a wonderful learning experience without being overwhelming. We got to meet the former director of the archeological expedition that discovered the tombs and structures under the visible ruins at Copan. We also met the stone carver who painstakingly modeled Rosalia in clay in order to build the replica inside of Copan's museum. Both of these meetings happened prior to seeing the life sized model of Rosalia which provided a wonderful introduction to all of the work involved. Meeting Maya children at two schools, going to artisans who work in textiles and jade, all provided a wonderfully rich experience. We could not have developed a better trip for understanding the history of the Maya and seeing how their culture has survived. People everywhere were friendly and welcoming. This trip was a total delight! We couldn't recommend it more highly.

The Maya and More was a wonderful trip! The ruins were wonderful and explained well by local knowledgeable guides, the lectures and activities were varied and terrific, and our guide Eli Gonzalez was terrific in every way including leading extra optional early morning walks as well as an expert at making everyone feel at home within the group. We learned so much about the ancient Maya Civilization as well as Mayan History and the Maya today. It was a well-paced and robust program which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Exceptionally well-put together tour! As I stood in the Great Plaza of Tikal, surrounded by acres of monumental temples, palaces, stelae, and altars, many questions came to mind. How did this civilization become so great and so organized? What is its relationship with the Olmecs, Toltecs, and Aztecs? Why were present-day Mayans so persecuted in the Guatemalan civil war in the 1980/1990s? Not only did this trip answer all my questions but it was also great fun. Perfect blend of serious archeology, museums, walks, schools, and visits learning about chocolate & coffee, amid landscapes of volcanoes, ravines, rain forests, & mangroves. Eli Gonzales, our *best ever* tour guide and a keen naturalist and bird watcher, would instantly set up his scope, so I could view howler monkeys and rare hawks high in the forest canopy. Well-deserved *****!