Join a study tour of ancient mesoamerican sites!

[trevbus]

The Australian National University is organising a study tour of ancient mesoamerican sites for March 2013. They need 2 more participants otherwise it will be cancelled. Like me, are you an Electric Universe enthusiast who would like to go and see records of ancient plasma phenomena first hand? Note the tour is not EU-related, but it will have a more academic focus than most tours as it is organised through the ANU Centre for Continuing Education.

Here is the itinerary. I expect you could meet up with the tour in LA or Mexico.

http://www.anu.edu.au/cce/cecourses/out ... 202013.pdf

Pyramids, Temples
& Tombs
The Archaeology of Mesoamerica
21 days March 2013
Led by: Christopher Carter
Highlights:
 Mexico City – one of the largest in the world;
 The art of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo;
 The imposing ruins of Teotihuacan;
 The Mayan cities of the Peten – Palenque, Yaxchilan, Tikal, Calakmul;
 Colonial Antigua and Lake Atitlan;
 The spectacular ruins of Tikal;
 The colourful markets is Chichicastenango;
 Snorkelling on the Barrier Reef of Belize.
Itinerary
8 March
Depart Sydney for Mexico City via Los Angeles. We will arrive in Mexico City on the
same day and transfer to our hotel.
In the evening we will have a welcome dinner.
Overnight: Mexico City (Meals in flight, D)
9 March
We will officially start the tour with a visit to the National Anthropology Museum.
After lunch we will drive to the city centre to visit the ruins of the Aztec Templo Mayor,
the Cathedral and the Palacio de Gobierno to see some of Rivera’s murals.
Evening folkloric dance show at the Teatro Nacional.
Overnight: Mexico City (B)
10 March
Departing early, we will drive out to Teotihuacan, about an hour north of the city. This
spectacular site contains some of the finest prehistoric urban planning and civil
engineering in the world. We will spend several hours on the site visiting the Pyramids
of the Sun and the Moon and the Temples of Quetzlcoatl and Quetzlpopocatl. We will
return to Mexico City in the afternoon.
Overnight: Mexico City (B,L)
11 March
After checking out of our hotel we will have a brief visit to Frida Kahlo’s house before
leaving Mexico City and driving on to Puebla.
After checking into our hotel, we will break for lunch and then embark on a walking
tour of this beautiful Colonial city.
Overnight: Puebla (B)
12 March
Early departure for our drive to Palenque (8 hours).
Time permitting we will stop en route to visit the Olmec
Park in Villahermosa.
Overnight: Palenque (B, L)
13 March
The extensive ruins of Palenque are set in the jungles in
the foothills south-west of the village. We will spend the morning wandering through
the ruins visiting the Temple of the Inscriptions and Pakal’s tomb, the Temple of the
Cross and Temple of the Jaguar.
Afternoon free to relax around the pool.
Overnight: Palenque (B)
14 March
Early start to drive to the ruins of Yaxchilan. Yaxchilan is a Classic Mayan site set above
the banks of the Usumacinta River. It has fine examples of stucco friezes and stone
carved lintels – it is only accessible by boat and en route we may see howler monkeys
and caiman.
Overnight Palenque (B, L)
15 March
Morning drive to Xpujil (3.5 hours). During the afternoon we will visit the Mayan sites
of Becan and Chicanna, both built in the Rio Bec style which is quite different from that
seen previously.
Overnight: Xpujil (B)
16 March
Morning visit to Calakmul, one of the largest Mayan sites yet to be discovered. It has
open been open to public visitation for a short time and only a few of its structures have
been uncovered. It is a great place to observe wildlife.
Overnight: Xpujil (B,L)
17 March
Morning departure to drive east to Chetumal on the border between Mexico and Belize.
Formerly a British colony, English is the official language of Belize but Spanish is widely
spoken and you are very likely to hear the locals talking to each other in Creole. Once
we have carried out the formalities of the border crossing, we will join our bus for the
drive to Orange Walk (2 hours), an unusual town located on the New River in northern
Belize.
Overnight: Orange Walk (B, D)
18 March
Morning departure by boat for our trip down the New River to Lamanai, one of the
largest archaeological sites in Belize. En route we may see caiman, birds and other
jungle wildlife.
Overnight Orange Walk (B, L)
19 March
Morning departure for our drive to Belize City. We will
drive directly to the harbor to meet the boat that will take
us to Caye Caulker.
Overnight: Caye Caulker (B, D)
20 March
You can just relax on this sandy islet, go fishing to catch
our lunch or take part in a snorkeling excursion where
you will see beautiful coral reef species as well as having
an opportunity to hand feed sharks and stingrays. A
complete contrast to the jungle of the previous few days.
Overnight Caye Caulker (B, L)
21 March
Morning departure for San Ignacio in the country’s west. En route we will stop at
the Belize Zoo. After lunch we will visit the classic Mayan site of Xunantunich
which is situated on a ridge overlooking the Mopan River. The site contains at least
six plazas and is surrounded by 26 temples and palaces, the tallest being 40m high.
Overnight San Ignacio (B, L)
22 March
For the slightly more adventurous there will be an opportunity to canoe through a
cave system and then visit Caracol, a Mayan site deep in the jungle.
Overnight San Ignacio (B, L).
23 March
Morning departure for our drive into Guatemala and the town of Santa Elena, a
picturesque town on Lake Peten Itza. You can spend the afternoon exploring the island
town.
Overnight: Santa Elena (B)
24 March
Morning tour of Tikal, one of the most spectacular Mayan sites known. The main
structures at Tikal were built around 550AD through to 900AD. There are hundreds of
buildings within this city and we will not have time to visit them all. The guided tour
will take us from Temple I to the North Acropolis and then the Great Plaza. Apart from
the Mayan ruins, this site offers a good opportunity to see local wildlife, particular birds
that come into the site from the adjoining jungle.
After lunch we will return to Santa Elena for a late afternoon flight to Guatemala City
and bus transfer to Antigua, the Colonial capital of Guatemala.
Overnight: Antigua (B, D)
25 March
Late morning walking tour of some of the buildings of this beautiful World Heritage
Listed city.
During the afternoon there will be an option to climb the volcanic peak of Volcan
Pacaya, quite spectacular if not a little scary (not included in cost).
Overnight: Antigua. (B)
26 March
Morning drive to the famous Chichicastenango markets. Here we will see locals in
traditional clothing going about their business – even if it is fleecing the tourists! Quite
beautiful and you will have a chance to bolster Guatemala’s economy.
From Chichicastenango we will drive to Panajachel on the spectacular Lago Atitlan, one
of the world’s most beautiful settings.
Overnight: Panajachel (B, L)
27 March
We will spend several hours touring around the lake including a visit to the village of
Santiago de Atitlan.
We will drive back to Antigua during the afternoon.
We will have our farewell dinner this evening.
Overnight: Antigua (B, D)
28 March
End of tour. Morning transfer back to Guatemala City
Airport and flights homeward or onward.
The operator reserves the right to alter schedules and itinerary due to unforeseen
circumstances or events.
Cost
Land only: $4975.00 (based on exchange rate of $0.95/USD)
International Airfares (approximate only): $2300.00
Currency fluctuations above 3% will affect the final fare. This price is based on a
minimum of 10 people attending (max. 16).
Inclusions:
 Tour leader and English speaking guides for the duration of the tour;
 Accommodation (twin-share) in 3-4 star hotels with private facilities. Single
supplement available on request ( additional $980.00);
 All breakfasts, 9 lunches, 5 dinners as noted, drinking water on coaches;
 Land transport on private, chartered coaches;
 Internal flight - Flores/Guatemala City;
 Comprehensive tour booklet;
 Entries to sites listed in itinerary;
 Group tips (bus drivers, local guides).
Exclusions:
 Airfares (Sydney/Mexico City; Guatemala City/Sydney;
 Travel insurance (compulsory – policy details to be provided prior to departure);
 Laundry and telephone;
 Individual tips (for exceptional or individual services beyond that covered by the
group tip).
Reservation and bookings
To secure a booking, forward a deposit of $400.00 per person to Time Travel Australia
together with your full name (as it appears on your passport), passport number, country
of issue and expiry date). Please also indicate whether you require a single room and/or
have any dietary requirements. We can arrange flights if you wish.
This tour is conducted in some areas that may be hot and humid. Many of the sites
require walking over uneven ground or climbing steep and rough stairs. If you have
any concerns about your fitness or ability to participate in this tour, particularly
anything which may hold up the group, please contact the operator to discuss the
physical demands of the tour.
Balance of international airfares (if required) must be paid as specified by the airline.
Payments via credit cards will attract a transaction fee (Visa 1.5%, Diners or Amex 3%).
Balance of payment for land content is required 60 days prior to departure
Cancellation and refunds
Flight cancellation refunds subject to airline policy.
Cancellation received more than 3 months before departure – $100 per person;
Cancellation received less than 2 months prior to departure - $400.00 per person;
Cancellation received less than 1 month prior to departure - 25% of fare.
Cancellation received less than 2 weeks prior to departure – 75% of fare.
Cancellation received less than 1 week prior to departure – full fare.
Travel insurance should be taken out as time of booking to cover cancellation fees due to
unforeseen circumstances (check insurance policy re cancellations).
Further information
Contact: Chris Carter on 0412001586 or email info@ruins.com.au
For information regarding flights contact Marg or Anthony at Travelmakers on
02 62474444