Exploring the magnificent civilisation of the Maya

Exploring the magnificent civilisation of the Maya

The juxtaposition of extreme cruelty and high cultural sophistication in the Maya world takes modern visitors by surprise but this enduring mystery of a magnificent civilisation, compounded by exotic jungle surroundings, make for a thrilling ‘page-turner’ of an archaeological tour. We now have intricate details of the lives, politics, religious rituals and wars of the all-powerful and colourful figures who were the Mayan aristocracy. A vivid picture has emerged of competitive city-states headed by aggressive dynasts regularly at war, with blood-letting and human sacrifice at the centre of their religious practice.

Much of Central America is still covered in lush rainforests as it would have been in most of the Maya period. This makes it easier to imagine the lives of these fascinating people as we venture through the jungle, listening out for the roar of howler monkeys high in the canopy and looking for the flash of brilliant colour that denotes macaws darting among the branches. On tour with Andante, we are in a land of quetzal birds and jaguars, of volcanoes, lakes and waterfalls. Join us in Guatemala, Honduras and Belize to discover the magnificence of the Mayans.

“It had the usual Andante ingredients – excellent sites, a knowledgeable and inspiring expert, interesting and special hotels and smooth organisation.”

Antigua Guatemala

Explore the beguiling city of Antigua, Guatemala’s candy-coloured capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we receive an introduction to the region – in a city renowned for its Spanish colonial buildings, its vibrantly patterned textiles and dramatic backdrop of looming volcanoes. Today’s Antigua is the third incarnation of the city, established on this land in the 16th century after the first incarnation was uprooted by native uprisings, and the second devastated by volcanic mudflow. From markets to churches, with tales of ground-breaking earthquakes in between, learn all about Antigua’s colourful past. It a city made for walking with its cobbled streets arranged in grid pattern with the imposing Volcán de Agua to the south and the twin peaks of Volcán de Fuego and Acatenango to the west.

Lake Atitlan

We discover some of the villages along the shores of Lake Atitlan high in the mountains of central Guatemala. Its spectacular setting and deep blue water have long been a draw for artists, writers and travellers. Aldous Huxley compared it to Lake Como but “… with the additional embellishment of several immense volcanoes. It is really too much of a good thing.” Although ancient Maya civilisation perished, Maya culture persists in the quiet villages along the shoreline and in the mountains where old customs and costumes still prevail. During our time at Lake Atitlan, we will be taking a boat trip.

Copán

Explore the extensive ruined city of Copán. Though initially discovered in 1570, the ruins of Copán were not excavated until the 19th century. They are now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and are much admired for their Hieroglyphic Stairway, upon which the longest inscribed Maya text can still be viewed. We wander the stone ruins, viewing ancient tombs, the grand Monument Plaza, and the magnificent ball court, where an early precursor to the modern game of basketball was played – a site of great cultural and spiritual significance.

Tikal

The mighty Tikal, an incomparable Maya metropolis, was occupied continuously from 800 BC to AD 900. Tikal National Park is an enormous site – its central section alone contains over 3,000 buildings – and still only a small portion has been excavated. This includes steep pyramids, palaces, ball courts, huge plazas, temples, shrines and paved causeways. The finds from these vast excavations are houses in the site museum which offers plenty of extra historical and archaeological insight that will bring this ancient civilisation vividly to life.

Cahal Pech

We visit Cahal Pech, which consists of 34 classical- era structures, including palaces, temples and plazas, situated around a central acropolis. Once home to an elite family, it is one of the oldest Mayan sites in Western Belize and offers a fascinating window into the past, complete with panoramic views over the Belize River Valley.

Caracol

We venture deep into the forests to the Vacau Plateau, where the impressive Maya city of Caracol invites more ancient exploration. Caracol is the biggest Maya city in Belize and contains some impressive structures dominated by the ‘Canaa’ or ‘Sky Palace’, a pyramid some 46 metres in height. The settlement area of ‘greater’ Caracol is thought to have covered some 88 km2 and around 35,000 constructions may have been occupied within this area when the city was at its peak in the Late Classic period between 650 – 700 AD.

Lamanai

Wander the remote jungle remains of Lamanai, which spread along the shores of the New River lagoon. It is unique in being the longest lasting of all Maya cities and there was a settlement here on the banks of the New River lagoon by 1500 BC. Never abandoned, there were still Maya here to introduce themselves to the Spaniards when they arrived about 1545. In the 9th century, when everywhere else in the Maya world was falling apart, Lamanai was still prospering, its temples maintained, new residential areas built. Highlights here include the extraordinary Mask Temple, decorated by a 13-foot-high stone mask of a Maya king, and the High Temple.

Expert-led

Join us in Central America with your expert Guide Lecturer, Dr Nicolas James. Author of “Aztecs & Maya”, Nicholas has worked on the history, archaeology and anthropology of the indigenous peoples of the Americas for more than 40 years. He graduated from Oxford and now teaches at Cambridge.