Belize and Guatemala : legacy of the Maya

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Summary

The Maya was one of the most culturally dynamic societies in history. Today, we are still fascinated with this incredible civilization, which had a fully developed language and a command of mathema...

The Maya was one of the most culturally dynamic societies in history. Today, we are still fascinated with this incredible civilization, which had a fully developed language and a command of mathematics and astronomy. In search of the legacy of the Maya, our comprehensive tour begins in Belize, which is located on the Caribbean coast of northern Central America. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, Belize was part of the Mayan dynasty and today remains a diverse country with many cultures and languages; however, it is the only country in Central America where English is the official language. Here we explore ancient Mayan Indian ruins at Altun Ha, Nimle Punit and Xunantunich; we view an archeological expedition, visit a cocoa plantation, stop in the beautiful district town of Dangriga, and enter the vault of antiquities in Belmopan, the capital of Belize. Our travels continue in Guatemala, visiting the largest city and capital, Guatemala City; then to the 400-year-old colonial capital, Antigua; next to Tikal, the great archeological wonder and largest of the ancient ruined cities of the Mayan civilization; we meet with the Maya of today in the native markets of Chichicastenango and Santiago; also we witness the largest religious festival in Central America, Esquilpulas. We view the deepest lake in Central America, Lake Atitla; then our journey concludes in Honduras as we explore the ancient Mayan city of Copan.

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