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

Activity note: Participants must book flights that arrive into San Pedro Sula no later than 4 p.m. on this day if they plan on attending the program orientation at 6 p.m. From the airport to the hotel is about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour by car. See your program’s GETTING THERE information regarding transfers.

Afternoon: Orientation: 6:00 p.m. at the hotel. The Group Leader will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, attending performances or other events on your own, or simply relaxing and making new friends among fellow participants. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions. Meals included in our program feature local cuisine. In some cases, they will be plated and served with a set menu; in others, we will have buffets with multiple options. Included beverages are typically coffee, tea, water; other beverages usually available for purchase. NOTE: Participants often inquire about bringing items to donate during the school visit. Although not required or expected, basic school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, coloring pencils, magic markers, coloring books, safety scissors, etc., are very useful and much appreciated by local schools. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel. Continue getting to know fellow Road Scholars during a Welcome Dinner.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow. Get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 112 miles, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time. Walking on mostly flat, paved surfaces.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: Check out and load the bus before riding to San Pedro Sula's Guamilito Market. The indoor market displays all nature of crafts and produce from around the country. We will accompany our Group Leader on an exploratory walk, making stops at various stalls along the way in order to learn about typical foods and handicraft traditions in Honduras. Next, we'll board the bus and begin our transfer to Copan.

Lunch: At a restaurant en route.

Afternoon: We'll continue our journey to Copan. After checking in at the hotel, we'll enjoy some "down time." 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. Before dinner, we'll be joined at the hotel by an expert archaeologist for a presentation on discovering Copan.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 3 miles throughout the day. Walking up to 1.5 miles on mostly flat grassy terrain, unpaved paths, grassy grounds; ascending/descending stone stairs without railings. Wear sturdy walking shoes with lug soles, hat, sunscreen, repellent.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: A short bus ride from our hotel to the city outskirts will deliver us to the Copan ruins in preparation for a walking exploration of the complex, led by our Group Leader. As we climb ruins and examine carvings and inscriptions found on various buildings and stelae, we will gain insight into the history and culture of the Maya people who built this impressive stone city.

Lunch: At the archaeological site, boxed lunch with water or juice.

Afternoon: Next, we’ll walk to the Copan Sculpture Museum located next to the visitors’ center at the archaeological park. Our Group Leader will provide expert commentary as we view both copies and originals of stelae, facades, altars, and other sculptures found in Copan. One of the museum's most striking displays is its large and colorful replica of the Rosa Lila temple. Although most of us have become used to seeing Maya architecture and sculpture without any color, archaeological findings actually show that Maya cities were once adorned with stucco and bright paint. Concluding our activities, we'll ride back to the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 12 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. It is not mandatory to bring anything to donate to the school and/or the children. However, anyone wishing to do so might consider bringing a few basic school supplies such as pencils and erasers, pens, colored markers, etc. to donate during the visit.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We’ll board the bus and make our way to the home of a local archaeologist to learn about the history of cacao as a sacred Mayan beverage, and have a demonstration on transforming cacao into chocolate--the Maya way! Next, we'll ride to a local school for an expert-led presentation on the educational system of Honduras before we walk through the school and interact with students.

Lunch: At the school cafeteria.

Afternoon: After reboarding the bus, we'll return to the hotel followed by a bit of "down time" to relax and freshen up. Next, we'll ride to Las Sepulturas to learn about social hierarchy in Maya society during a field trip to the archaeological site, led by our Group Leader. Setting off on foot we will examine the architecture, layout, and sculptural details of the homes and public spaces once inhabited by Copan's elite. A sacbe (paved walkway) once linked Copan's city center with the Sepulturas residential complex located to its northeast. Excavations have revealed the existence of approximately 40 compounds, many containing courtyards, palaces, servant quarters, burial grounds, and even household trash heaps. Return to the hotel and time to rest or freshen up before dinner.

Dinner: At a restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 166 miles, approximately 5 hours riding time. Travel will be broken up with pit stops and lunch.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel, we’ll begin our transfer to Antigua, Guatemala. During our journey, we will undergo immigration procedures at the border post between Honduras and Guatemala.

Lunch: En route, at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue transferring to Antigua. Once at the hotel, we'll check in and get room assignments. Before dinner, we'll regroup for a presentation by a local expert on what's behind the walls of Antigua.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 12 miles, approximately 1/2 - 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2 miles on irregular cobbled stone streets; intermittent standing.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll ride to a community just outside Antigua in preparation for a field trip to the San Antonio Aguas Calientes Textile Cooperative. After listening to a presentation by a local expert on traditional Maya textiles, we'll walk through the co-op to interact with weavers and observe them at work. At the end of our visit we'll ride by bus to Antigua.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: A local expert will lead us on a walking exploration of historic Antigua--a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our walk will include a visit to the Jade Museum that has been featured in National Geographic Magazine and a TV special on the Discovery Channel. From the museum’s website: “Jadeite Jade was discovered approximately 3,000 years ago by an early Mesoamerican culture, The Olmecs. They became expert lapidary artists and carved jade into beautiful statues, ceremonial ornaments and objects for their rituals. Their descendants, The Maya, used it as ornaments and jewelry for nobles and priests. Only the very wealthy and powerful could afford to wear jade both in this life and in the afterlife.” We'll return to the hotel late in the afternoon.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After boarding the bus, we'll ride to the Casa K’ojom Music Museum to learn about the evolution of Mayan music during an expert-led presentation. 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 director Samuel Franco 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.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: We'll ride back to the hotel and have some free time to enjoy independent explorations in Antigua. In the late afternoon we’ll regroup at the hotel for a pre-dinner presentation on Maya spirituality including a reenactment of a religious ceremony. Religious rituals were an integral part of Maya culture. A period of fasting signaled the start of preparations; the ceremony itself usually began with purification rites followed by prayers, chanting, ritual dancing, and the burning of incense.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 90 miles throughout the day, approximately 4 hours riding time. Driving on winding mountain roads; bring medication if you are prone to motion sickness. Walking on cobbled stone streets, some standing and steps. Due to pickpocketing concerns, do not bring/wear anything of great value to the market.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After an early check out, we'll drive further into the highlands in preparation for a walking field trip at the famous Chichicastenango Market. "Chichi," as it is locally known, is the site of a colorful, indigenous market. Maya from miles around come on Thursdays and Sundays to bring their products and produce to the market and exchange gossip and information. While at the market, we'll also accompany our Group Leader on a visit to the Santo Tomas Church to see how Maya religion has blended with Christianity. Then we'll begin our transfer to Lake Atitlan.

Lunch: At a local restaurant en route.

Afternoon: We expect to arrive at the hotel for check in mid-afternoon. Then we'll freshen up and settle into our rooms before accompanying our Group Leader on a walking orientation to the town of Panajachel, built on the northern shores of Lake Atitlan. The vast and deep lake is cradled between mountains and volcanoes and is a sacred place to the Maya communities living and farming along its shores.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off of a ferryboat; navigating about 4 nautical miles, approximately 1-1.5 hours sailing time. Potentially choppy water; motion sickness medication suggested. Walking on paved and unpaved village streets. Getting in/out of a bus ; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 - 2 hours riding time.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll walk to the local pier to board a motorboat that will ferry us across the lake to San Juan La Laguna. After disembarkation, we will accompany our Group Leader on an exploratory walk through the small community. Our visit will give us the opportunity to watch as locals, clad in traditional dress, go about creating their handicrafts and traditional weavings as though the world outside does not exist.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: After lunch we'll ferry to Santiago La Laguna village and continue delving into the way of life of indigenous communities on the shores of Lake Atitlan. During our walking exploration in the village we’ll learn about Mayan religious syncretism represented by the folk “saint” Maximón. There are numerous deities in the Mayan religion, as well as many spirits. The idea of Maximon originated in pre-Columbian times, later overlaid with elements of Christian identities introduced by Roman Catholicism. Many towns have effigies of Maximon, but Santiago’s is one of the most popular. He travels from house to house for a year at a time, bringing “blessings” to the hosts in the form of visitors who offer everything from money to alcohol and cigars to keep Maximon happy in exchange for favors and benefits. From Santiago, we'll travel back by bus to Panajachel. The remainder of the afternoon is free for your personal independent exploration or just to relax.

Dinner: On your own.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off of a bus; driving about 97 miles, approximately 4 hours total riding time. Walking at archaeological sites on unpaved, irregular paths, grassy grounds. Ascending and descending stone steps without railings. Elevations up to 7,000 feet at Iximche.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After checking out and loading our gear on the bus, we'll begin our transfer to Guatemala City. En route we'll stop at Iximche Ruins to learn about its history and architecture during a walking field trip led by our Group Leader. The complex was established in the late 1400s, during the Post-Classic Period, and was once an important Maya center as evidenced by its plazas, ceremonial and residential areas and ball courts.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Continue with transfer to Guatemala City. On the way we'll stop at the town of Jocotenango. A visit to a local artisan shop will reveal the techniques and history behind Jocotenango’s long-standing clay pottery traditions Late afternoon arrival at the hotel and check-in.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare luggage for check out tomorrow morning.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 24 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time. City walking on mostly flat, paved surfaces and intermittent standing; some steps. Flight to Flores lasts approximately 1 hour; one checked piece weighing 50 lb plus a carry-on allowed per person.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After breakfast we'll board a bus and ride to the National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnología — MUNAE). Our Group Leader will offer expert commentary while leading us through exhibits showcasing thousands of archaeological artifacts including pottery, stelae, masks, and jewelry. Concluding our visit, we'll hop on the bus and return to the hotel in order to check out of our rooms.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Next, we'll learn about Guatemala's colonial and present-day history during an expert-led orientation to Guatemala City's historic downtown. Our field trip will include scenic viewing from the bus and stops for walking explorations. Sites of interest include the Plaza Berlin, Americas and Reforma Avenues, Yurrita Church, Government Buildings, and the Cathedral. Then we'll ride to the airport and check in for our flight to Flores. Arriving in Flores we'll load our gear on the bus and ride to our hotel to check in and settle into our accommodations.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Get a good night's rest in preparation for tomorrow's activities.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 80 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total riding time. Walking and standing for up to 2 hours in very hot/humid conditions; mostly flat, unpaved grounds, ascending/descending stone steps. Wear sturdy walking shoes with lug soles, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, repellent, and bring a water bottle.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll board the bus at our hotel and head out to Tikal National Park to learn about its history and architecture during an expert-led walk through the archaeological site. Tikal, with its massive temples rising high above the Petén Jungle, is the kind of exotic place one would expect to see in an Indiana Jones movie. Walking within this enormous archaeological complex can be overwhelming if not accompanied by a knowledgeable guide or a good map. During its apogee in the Classic Period, Tikal was the center of a powerful kingdom that dominated the region both economically and politically. The remains of this once vibrant city are still impressive and include more than 4,000 structures and six of the tallest temples of its kind (some are over 200 feet tall!).

Lunch: At the archaeological site enjoy a barbecue meal.

Afternoon: We'll walk towards the park entrance to continue learning about the Maya of Tikal during an expert-led visit to the Museo Sylvanus G. Morley or Tikal Museum. The small museum is filled with exquisitely decorated ceramics and artifacts excavated from Tikal. Among the more notable sculptures are the three long-nosed, pale turquoise rain gods. Then we'll board the bus and ride back to our hotel.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare luggage for tomorrow's early check out.

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving about 130 miles throughout the day, approximately 3.5 hours total riding time. Border crossing/immigration proceedings can take between 1/2 hour or more depending on staffing and number of vehicles waiting to cross the border. Walking about 1.5 miles at archaeological site; unpaved paths, some steps, hot/humid conditions.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After we check out and load our gear onto the bus, we'll begin our transfer towards Belize City. Our journey will include an immigration stop at the border post between Guatemala and Belize. En route to Belize City we'll enjoy an expert-led visit to the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech and its on-site museum. The ancient ceremonial 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 (250 - 900 C.E.) 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.

Lunch: At a restaurant en route.

Afternoon: We'll continue our transfer towards Belize City. Once at the hotel, we'll check in and settle into our rooms. The rest of the afternoon will be free of activities.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off of a bus; driving about 140 miles throughout the day, approximately 4 hours total riding time. This is a very full day. Activities include boat and bus transfers and considerable walking in potentially hot/humid conditions. Boat ride to Lamanai is about 31 miles, approximately 1 hour each way.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We'll ride by bus to the New River dock, then board a motorboat and head upstream on a scenic journey to the Lamanai ruins. While navigating the calm waters of the New River, we'll try to spot and identify some of the many bird species found in the area, including: Black-collared Hawks, Northern Jacanas, Mangrove Swallows, Olive-throated Parakeets, American Pygmy Kingfishers, and Purple Gallinules, to name just a few. If lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the rarely seen Jabiru Stork! As we get close-up views of mangroves and virgin forests flanking the narrow waterway, we'll try to spot the colorful orchids that grow along the river banks. Following our disembarkation at Lamanai, we'll head out on foot with a local expert and begin uncovering the cultural and historical details surrounding the impressive Maya structures. This large Mayan ceremonial center is set in a tropical forest on the banks of the New River Lagoon in the north central region of Belize. Unlike most Mayan sites, the ruins found at Lamanai were built in layers; each generation adding on to the existing structures. Highlights include the Jaguar Temple, the High Temple, and the Mask Temple. A beautiful panoramic view of the lagoon and surrounding jungle can be seen from the top of the High Temple. It is believed that the ancient center was occupied during more than 3,200 years, and perhaps as recently as in the 18th century.

Lunch: At the site, plated meal featuring typical Belizean fare plus water.

Afternoon: Concluding our explorations in Lamanai, we'll board a boat back to the New River dock then ride by bus to the hotel. We'll have a bit of "down time" to freshen up and relax before reconvening for dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, share your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Say farewells, finish packing, prepare for check out and departure in the morning, and get a good night's rest for the day ahead.

Activity note: Hotel check out from 11:00 a.m. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers.

Breakfast: At the hotel (dependent on flight schedule). This concludes the program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!