Mayan Heritage Escape: Takalik Abaj, Farm Encounter & Downtown

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Takalik Abaj Archeological Site + Agroturism Experience
4 stops
1
This adventure will start in Mexico by picking you up at the Guatemalan immigration building at the border of Talisman, Chiapas. Our tour guide will be holding a sign with your name on it. Our team of professionals will be happy to be at your service at all times and ensure your satisfaction, well-being, and joy.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
2
On our first day, we will visit the Archaeological Site of Takalik Abaj. Its name means Standing Stone in the Maya Quiche language. This place is located on the southwestern side of Guatemala and is one of the most historically important. This is the only Mayan site where two indigenous cultures coexisted simultaneously, the Mayan and the Olmec. Due to this, we can find different sculptures representing the beliefs of each culture. The archaeological site has a total of 86 buildings and 230 sculptures. Its buildings are not as tall or as "impressive" as those in northern Guatemala (Tikal, El Mirador, among others) since the construction materials were different. In the north, they used stones that were much easier to shape and transport. In the south, their only source of building materials was river stones which were heavy, and hard to transport and shape. If we are lucky, we will be able to witness a Mayan ceremony. We must observe with total respect.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
3
After our archaeological visit, we will go to a place located less than 1-hour away from the archeological site, where we can rest, have our lunch, and recharge our energy for the next activity of the day. After our delicious lunch, we will do agrotourism. This type of tourism is focused on getting to know the plantations first-hand. Be part of an interactive plantation tour of coffee, cacao, rambutan, and macadamia nut. The Mayans used to believe that chocolate was a sacred drink of the Gods and only kings and rulers could drink it because of their connection with them. They drank it with a combination of chili and other herbs, not like we drink hot chocolate nowadays. You will learn all the ancestral cultivation techniques directly from the locals.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
4
At the end of the day, we will go back to the hotel and enjoy the amenities, the fresh air, nature, and the company of our loved ones. After your free time in the hotel, we will have dinner and get some rest to be ready for day 2.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Retalhuleu Downtown
2 stops
5
Our last stop on the tour will be to visit the urban center of Retalhuleu. This space is very important for the locals. We will observe and learn about the town's church, the central park, the municipal building, and the current dynamics of the inhabitants and descendants of the ancient Mayans of the region. Our specialized tourist guide will be happy to tell you every detail and answer all your questions. We hope that, like us, you fall in love with this little piece of the world full of magic, history, a great legacy, and much more.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
6
Once we've explored the vibrant downtown, get ready for a delightful culinary adventure! We'll embark on a picturesque journey back to the immigration building in Tasliman Chiapas, a thrilling drive that promises enchanting vistas along the way.
3 hours • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Accommodation is in double rooms. One double room will be given to every 2 passengers
• Bring fresh clothes for tropical weather, sun protection and mosquito repelent
• A sweater for the night

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