Mayan Odyssey Destinations
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The Maya Indians flourished in this region about 1500 years ago. The ancient Mayan culture left behind many ruins. The Mayan civilization spread across all of Belize and Guatemala. The Mayas built huge Mayan temples and Mayan pyramids which we explore in this two-day itinerary. For more information visit our Belize Mayan Ruins web page.
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Tikal
The word "Tikal" means "The Place of Voices" in Mayan. Tikal is nestled in the dense jungles of the Petén region of Guatemala. One aspect of Tikal’s magic is that it is so hard to reach. What was once the wealthy and populous centerpiece of the ancient Mayan world is now a remote frontier surrounded by millions of acres of almost impenetrable rainforest, now protected as a National Park.
It is common to be rewarded for climbing the steep steps of the
various temples at Tikal with close-up views of toucans, parrots, and
howler monkeys playing in the nearby branches. When hiking between
pyramids and plazas, one may come upon orchids, bromeliads, ferns and trees of every variety. On every trip to Tikal you are rewarded with not only the ability to explore the regions' most impressive Mayan temples, but also the jungle flora and fauna is some of the best in the entire Belize/Guatemala area.
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At its zenith, Tikal was home to 50,000-100,000
people, all living within an area of 23 sq. miles. The great city was
constructed of limestone, and so even today the towering ruins gleam
bright white above the jungle canopy. Tikal was occupied for 1,650
years, from 750 BC to AD 900. The city, consisting of at least 3,000
buildings, was situated near great swamps where raised fields were
constructed for agriculture, with higher paved causeways along the
canals serving as main roads. Ecologists agree that slash-and-burn
agriculture as practiced by the modern Maya could not have supported the
populations of the ancient cities; aerial surveys reveal grids of fields
and canals covering 965 sq. miles. This site has
been extensively excavated and restored.
Chech-Hem-Ha Pottery Cave
Located on the Vaca Plateau at the Morales family farm, Chech-Hem-Ha Cave is reached by hiking a short distance through the rainforest; our guide points out jungle plants that provide traditional Mayan remedies along the way. Once at the cave, we enter a world untouched by anyone for approximately 1100 years until discovered less than 20 years ago by the Morales family while on a hunting expedition. Under the direction of the Belize Department of Archaeology the Morales family cares for an abundance of Mayan artifacts dating back some 2000 years. Inside we find over 100 Mayan vessels, fantastic crystalline formations, and a Mayan ceremonial altar deep within the cave.
Cahal Pech
Cahal Pech was settled around 1000 BC and abandoned by 800 AD. Here we find temples, residential houses, ballcourts, an altar, and a sweathouse, all situated on just 2 acres. The site was once the palace of an elite Mayan ruling family who lived during the Classic period, and a royal burial chamber was found inside one of the structures. In this temple a ruler was laid to rest with the accoutrements necessary for the afterlife: shell & bone ornaments, pottery vessels, obsidian blades, and jade objects, the most impressive being a jade & shell mosaic mask. The visitor center and museum offer some of the best interpretation in Belize. We climb one of the temples in this small complex, and command the best view possible of the surrounding Belize River Valley. This will be one of the highlights of your family vacation package.
Questions? Send us an email: slickrock@slickrock.com or call 800-390-5715.
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