Explore Mexico & Guatemala Trip Notes

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico.You can arrive at any time on day 1 as there are no activities planned until the important welcome meeting tonight. Your leader will leave a note at reception telling you where and when this important meeting will take place. Please ask a member of reception for this information. After the group meeting there is the option of joining the group for dinner.A few minutes walk from our accommodation and you are at the famous Yaxchilan Avenue where you can find nice places to have some great Mexican food. If you want, you can dive right into the adventure and go a little further and try some of the food stands that are in the back streets. Be careful as your stomach might not be just yet adjusted to the Mexican street food!Cancun has become the spring break paradise for young college kids mainly from the US, but if you don't head down to the Hotel Zone that is about 20 minute bus ride from downtown Cancun you can easily stay away from that rather crazy crowd. But it is worthwhile to go and see it just once. It's strange to think that in the 1970s this was a small fishing village. It's a fun place to visit, but don't take it too seriously. If there's time, head down to the beach for a frolic in the surf before playing 'spot the MTV camera' in town.On arrival in Mexico it is possible you will feel lethargic and lose some appetite. This is nothing to be concerned about and is just your body acclimatising to the heat and humidity. Be sure to drink plenty of water and try not to do too much in any one day, you'll soon adjust.

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Today we will hop on a local bus at about 8am, heading towards the ruins of Chichen Itza (approx. 3 hours) This bus is rather fun because you cruise through little villages seeing the Mexican life outside the city of Cancun. For snacks you can try the vendors that come into the buses selling sweets, sandwiches, tacos and all that good stuff. We have about 2-3 hours to spend at Chichen Itza before we travel onwards. The city of Chichen Itza was founded in 432 and aligned with the Toltecs in the 10th century. In the 13th century civil war broke out and the city went into decline. In more recent years it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The city is one of the best examples of Mayan architecture and the piece de resistance is El Castillo (Great Castle), a 91-stepped pyramid. El Castillo is best known for its amazing carved snakes. The temple is aligned so that the diamond-back rattlesnake carved along the staircase will be hit by the sun during the spring and fall equinoxes. With the play of light the snakes look as though they are ascending or descending the staircase.The Ball Court is another impressive site and the largest of its kind. Playing on a field much longer than a football field, two teams would try to score goals with a ball using only their elbows, wrists and hips. This was a sport the Mayans took very seriously and it was often used to settle disputes. Some believe the losers were even put to death. Another site of interest is an impressive sinkhole, just a short walk from the main plaza. It's said that ceremonies of sacrifice and offering to the Mayan rain god were made here.After a tour with a local guide we travel on to Merida (approx. 2 hours) where we will spend the night. Make sure you always have your sunscreen handy when you are outside; the Mexican sun is lovely but can cause you to burn quickly.We don't have much time in Merida since we arrive in late in the afternoon and leave early in the morning. But your tour leader will take you to the centre of town and show you some of the main sites of this beautiful city. On Sunday some of the streets in the centre are closed for traffic and various bands set up their instruments for the locals as well as for the visitors. You will be amazed how lively it gets when people start dancing in streets!

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Today we have an early start and we jump on one of the very comfortable first or second class buses in Mexico. These buses are equipped with TVs and bathrooms, just what you need for a long bus ride to Palenque. You will leave the Yucatan and travel into the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico (approx. 10 hours). Along the way the bus will stop a few times to give us time to stretch our legs and buy some food and drinks. Once we arrive in Palenque it is a short walk to the hotel. On day 4 we will hit the ruins with your tour leader who will organise a local guide in Palenque to give you all the information that you need on these mystical ruins. The wildlife-filled jungle trying to reclaim the ruins of Palenque is almost as fascinating as the ruins themselves. The ruins rise up above the wilds, but a climb to the top of any of the towers reveals the great Yucatan plain just down the road. Stroll around some of the 200 buildings that make up the city and admire the temple walls, sculpted with images of gods, rulers and ceremonies. Imagine yourself in the shoes of the archaeologist Alberto Ruz as you walk down the steps to Pakal's tomb. Pakal was the greatest of all Palenque's rulers and in 1952 Ruz unearthed his tomb, discovering Pakal's sarcophagus decorated with the richest offering of jade ever seen in the Maya world. After visiting the ruins you have the option of visiting the waterfall of Misol-Ha and the natural pools of Agua Azul. The first stop on this tour is spectacular Misol-Ha waterfall. After visiting Misol-Ha you will drive to the Agua Azul (the blue waters) Here you can kick back, relax and go for a refreshing swim. This is also a great place to have lunch. There are many little restaurants and street vendors. Make sure you try the delicious empanadas, you can get them with cheese, meat or chicken. After this visit you will drive back to Palenque.

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After breakfast we take another bus to the city of San Cristobal de las Casas (approx. 5 hours). The colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas, known for its ties to the Zapatista revolution, is an architectural gem and oozes provincial colonial charm. The outlying villages mix traditional beliefs and modern religion - with unusual results. If you take an optional day trip to San Juan Chamula, make sure to visit the church. The floor is covered with pine needles and the air heavy with incense. Shamans come here to carry out cleansings with firewater, ancient prayer and sometimes chickens. There are markets to visit too with colourful handicrafts for sale. Take the opportunity to go on an optional horse riding tour to the mountains or a day trip to Sumidero Canyon. If you are more the active type you can take a village tour on a mountain bike.San Cristobal offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars to choose from, but make sure you try one of the 'elotes' that women sell in the late afternoon on the street. An elote is a corn cob and a very traditional snack in the Chiapas highlands.

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From San Cristobal we head down to Guatemala by van. It takes about 4 hours to get to the Guatemalan boarder and another 3.5 hours to get to our final destination, Panajachel. The border crossing is fairly easy, just make sure you have your passport ready and the tour leader will give you detailed instructions on what to do once at the border.Once in Pana enjoy the view from the shores of Guatemala's most beautiful lake. Ringed by volcanoes and colourful villages Panajachel is a great base to discover the best of this region. Panajachel is a relatively modern town with paved streets and many shops, but it is still easy to get around on foot. Explore the back streets and churches to soak up some old world charm. Make sure you don't just stay at the lake while in Panajachel; as soon as you go out of this modern town into the small villages you can really experience the lifestyle of the Mayan people that populate that area. For a couple of Quezales (the local currency) you can hop on a pick up that will take you to these villages. Make sure you take your swimsuit with you in case you want to cool down in the lake.The blue / grey mountains, volcanoes and picturesque lake all provide opportunities to fully appreciate Guatemala's great outdoors. Optional activities in Pana are endless. Go for a swim, wind surf, hike, kayak, go horse riding, or for the really adventurous, parapenting (paragliding)

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On day 8 we'll move to San Jorge (approx. 10 minutes from Pana) where you will be introduced to your host family and the group may be split in twos or threes depending on the group size. Locals in San Jorge are both very friendly and very shy. In order to make the most of this experience, it may take a bit of effort from your side to break the ice first. Learn as many Spanish words as you can and get ready for some serious hand language action.Houses in San Jorge are very basic. Your room may only consist of a couple of beds with clean bedding; the bathroom will most likely be outside your room and to be shared with the rest of the family. The mother of the family will cook dinner and breakfast for you. Meals can be very basic but filling, consisting of corn, rice and beans. You may want to stack up some snacks beforehand.

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On day 9 we take a shuttle bus up to the famous market in Chichicastenango (approx. 1.5 hours). The town of Chichicastenango lies about 2,200 metres above sea level and features the best of handicrafts from all over Guatemala. This market is a big magnet for national and international travellers. Make sure you also go to visit the local fruit and vegetable market. From Chichi we head towards Antigua (approx. 2.5 hours) - our final stop in the Guatemalan Highlands. As the seat of the Spanish colonial government, Antigua was once the most important city in Central America. In 1773 the city was destroyed by an earthquake but many of the colonial buildings have been carefully restored and the architecture from its glory days can still be admired. Walk through the quiet cobblestone streets past heavy carved wood entrances. There are many fascinating markets and museums to explore, or if your tastes run to more active adventures hire a mountain bike and ride through the countryside. The views of mountain peaks and deep valleys, covered in lush vegetation are simply beautiful.In Antigua, make sure you try tamales, a local dish usually prepared on weekends served in a corn leaf. Or give the pepian a try, a meal that consists of a rich dark sauce and three meats (chicken, beef and pork). The best value food you find next to the artesian market close to the bus station. If you're into salsa dancing or you'd like to learn some moves, Antigua is the place to be. Many dancing schools offer hourly lessons that give you the preparation to hit the discos at night and show your moves.If you are interested in hiking you should not miss the famous Pacaya volcano, an active strato volcano about 1 hour by car outside Antigua. If you are lucky you can see lava flows up close and experience this natural spectacle. It is easy to book a trip to the volcano from Antigua. There are no activities planned for day 10 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time.

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