ARCHAEOLOGICAL CHIAPAS

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Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez.  Make sure you arrive no later than 3:00 p.m. We will pick you up at the airport and take you to see the Sumidero Canyon by boat.  Afterwards, stop to admire the oldest colonial city in Chiapas, after visiting Chiapas de Corzo continue to San Cristobal de Las Casas.  Overnight in San Cristobal.

Devote a day to exploring the many markets, shops and museums in San Cristobal and visit the Indian Villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.  Return to San Cristobal and overnight in San Cristobal.

Full day out of San Cristobal.  Do some trekking around the Montebello lakes and visit the Chincultik Maya pyramid. Return to San Cristobal and overnight.

Early departure with luggage from San Cristobal and on the way to Palenque stop to admire the biggest pyramid in all of Mexico. Toniná is a massive structure built by the Maya more than thirteen hundred years ago, there are sculpts and amazing views from the top of this structure.  Continue to Palenque and overnight.

Early start to explore the ancient Maya sites of Yaxchilan and Bonampak.  One can only get to Yaxchilan by boat down the Usumacinta river that winds across the Lacandon Jungle.  In Bonampak you can see the best preserved frescos in the whole Maya area that vividly depict Maya people engaged in a number of ceremonies and rituals.  Return to Palenque for overnight.

First thing in the morning we visit Palenque, the most beautiful of Maya sites in Chiapas and for many the most enchanted sites of all Mesoamerica.  Admire the magnanimous tomb of King Pakal, the most spectacular funerary monument of pre-columbian America.  After visiting Palenque, transfer to the Villahermosa airport.  Please make sure your flight leaves anytime after 3:00 p.m.