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Honduras/Guatemala/Belize

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

Program No. 3217RJ
Learn the complex story of the Maya and their enduring legacy as you visit ancient monuments, traditional markets and Indigenous villages where Mayan culture remains strong.
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Small Group
Length
15 days
Rating (4.8)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,699
Flights start at
950

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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
15 days
14 nights
What's Included
35 meals ( 14B, 13L, 8D )
6 expert-led lectures
22 expert-led field trips
1 flight during the program
An experienced Group Leader
14 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Orientation followed by Welcome Dinner. Participants must book flights that arrive into Belize City, Belize no later than 4:30 p.m. on this day if they plan on attending the program orientation. See your program’s travel details regarding transfers
Afternoon:
We will arrive at the hotel in the afternoon. After we check in, we’ll take some time to freshen up and rest before Orientation. 6:00 p.m. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Transfers to and from program activities will be by air conditioned bus, unless specified otherwise. Meals on our program feature local cuisine. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. 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 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:
Early 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, featuring typical Belizean fare.
Afternoon:
After completing our activities at Lamanai we'll return to our hotel in Burrell Boom in the same way we came, but in reverse. We will journey by boat along the New River and then climb aboard a waiting bus to complete the final leg of our journey.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for check out the following morning.
Activity Note
Pre-breakfast birding on hotel grounds led by our Group Leader. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 140 miles throughout the day, approximately 3.5 - 4 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.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll check out of the hotel and finish loading the bus, then we'll climb aboard and begin the transfer to Tikal, Guatemala. En route we will stop at the town of San Ignacio--located about 10 miles from the border with Guatemala--to accompany our Group Leader on a walking exploration of its colorful produce market. Then we'll return to the bus and continue our transfer to the Peten region in Guatemala, with a brief stop at the Belize/Guatemala border for an examination of group documentation.
Lunch:
At local restaurant in Yaxha
Afternoon:
We will board the bus and ride to Yaxha National Park in preparation for a walking field trip in the ruins led by a local expert. The Yaxha ruins are part of the Maya Biosphere Reserve along with the sites of Nakum and El Naranjo. Findings indicate that the city was occupied throughout the pre-classic and post-classic periods and that it was allied to Tikal. Yaxha has more than 500 buildings, including a twin pyramid complex not seen anywhere else save in Tikal. We'll return to the bus and continue the transfer to Tikal. Upon arrival to the hotel we will complete check in procedures and settle into our rooms.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1 - 1.5 hours riding time each way. Walking and standing for over 1 hour at Tikal site; walking on undulating, unpaved paths with exposed roots, grass, and possibly mud; some steps. Anticipate hot and very humid weather and mosquitoes; cooling towel and portable neck fan suggested. Wear a hat, sunscreen, repellent, and sturdy walking shoes with lug soles.
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
Flight to Guatemala City, approximately 1 hour. Getting on/off of a bus; about 100 miles, approximately 3 - 3.5 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 transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Guatemala City. Once we arrive to Guatemala City we'll board our bus and begin the transfer to Lake Atitlan. 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. Next we’ll be part of a Maya spirituality with a reenactment of a religious ceremony. Religious rituals were an integral part of Mayan 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.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We’ll then transfer to our hotel in Panajachel town, on Lake Atitlan. Lake Atitlan is a large endorheic (internal drainage) lake recognized as the deepest lake in Central America. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world and its basin is an important source of water for local crops. 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:
On your own.
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 on/off a bus; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1.5 - 2 hours riding time. Elevation about 5,125 feet.
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 to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 100 miles, approximately 4 - 4.5 hours riding time. Walking on irregular cobbled stone streets, some steps. Elevations ranging from about 5,000 feet - 6,500 feet.
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 at the site.
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 the hotel.
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.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 5 miles, approximately 1/2 hour total 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 a bit of time to rest and freshen up. Later we will board a bus and ride a few blocks to a historic building in preparation for a presentation on Maya spirituality, including the reenactment of a religious ceremony. Religious rituals were an integral part of Mayan 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:
On your own.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for check out and transfer in the morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 22 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Relaxed morning. After checking out and loading our gear on the bus, we'll begin our transfer to Guatemala City.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in Guatemala City.
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. We'll then ride t 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 and have some time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare luggage for check out tomorrow morning.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 150 miles, approximately 5 hours total riding time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll check out of the hotel, load our gear on the bus, then settle aboard to begin our transfer to Copan, Honduras.
Lunch:
At a restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
We'll reboard the bus and continue our journey to Copan. Once we arrive, we will head directly to the hotel for check-in. Then we'll enjoy some "down time" to rest and freshen up at the hotel or maybe stretch our legs by taking a stroll around the town. 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. Before dinner, we'll be joined at the hotel by an archaeologist for a presentation on discovering Copan.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking along paths of dirt and grass at archaeological sites for over 1 hour - wear sturdy walking shoes with lug soles. Ascending and descending steps without railings. 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:
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:
Boxed lunch at the archaeological site.
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. 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.
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 a bus; driving about 20 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time.
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 drive to a local, family-owned sunflower farm and learn more about the ecosystem in Copan during a walk led by our Group Leader. We'll get to enjoy the beautiful areas of the property and observe some of the wildlife drawn to the attractive blooms. At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Finca El Amatal began growing sunflowers as an experimental source of food for its small herd of cattle. When family photos of the bright yellow blooms began surfacing on social media, viewers took notice and began clamoring for information. The farm has about 8-10 plots of land set aside for growing sunflowers. Sunflowers' growth cycle--from seed to flower--is approximately 90-100 days and the bloom usually lasts around 2 weeks. Once the flowers became a local attraction, the farm began sowing each of the fields at different times in order to guarantee there are always plants in bloom. The farm cultivates between 15-20 varieties, from the more traditional yellow to more unusual colors including white.
Lunch:
At the sunflower farm.
Afternoon:
After reboarding the bus, we'll return to the hotel for some "down time."
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
Return to the hotel. Prepare for check out and transfer tomorrow.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a bus; driving about 130 miles, driving for approximately 4 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
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. We'll reboard the bus and transfer to San Pedro Sula.
Lunch:
At a restaurant en route.
Afternoon:
Next we'll ride 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. At the end of our explorations we will return to the bus and proceed to our hotel for check-in.
Dinner:
At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
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!
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Please Note: This program has itinerary variations on certain dates.
Dec 4 - Dec 18, 2026
May 15 - May 29, 2025
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