Legacy of the Maya8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS - ALL INCLUSIVE TOUR - LAND ONLY All Inclusive Tour Package Call Us Direct to Arrange Pre & Post Nights or Specialized Pick-Ups

To many, the word “Maya” might bring to mind images of ancient cultures, echoing ruins and lost societies. In fact, the Mayan culture is very much alive, a part of the fabric that makes up the countries of Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the southeastern states of Mexico, including Tabasco and Chiapas.

As old as it is, the Mayan culture was actually preceded by the Olmecs. Their stronghold in Tabasco was a city called La Venta, where the gigantic Olmec heads—so representative of Mexico—were found. The La Venta archaelogical site is located in the area of Huamangillo, though most of the statuary and monuments were removed and can now be seen in the Parque-Museo La Venta in the city of Villahermosa. The originals were replaced by fiberglass reproductions, but it is still an impressive place to visit. Also in Villahermosa, the Museo Regional de Antropología Carlos Pellicer Cámara offers another view of the Olmec.

Well-known to international travelers, the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in Mexico. Its welcoming cobblestone streets are lined with churches, plazas and flower-filled houses with central courtyards and red-tile roofs. Diverse architectural styles can be viewed in the many beautiful buildings that were built between the 16th and the 19th centuries. The city is market central, with different ethnicities from around the state coming together to sell their food, textiles and pottery. It is an excellent base of operations for an exploration into the Mayan world.

Here in Chiapas, the lowlands and highlands abound in natural beauty and home to a wealth of tradition—names like Lacandón, Cakchiquel, Tzotzil, Tzeltal and others represent living, breathing cultures that hark back to pre-Hispanic days, the heirs of the majestic Maya. This green state also hides renowned archaeological sites, such as the great cities of Palenque, Bonampak and Yaxchilan, as well as striking natural attractions such as the Cañon del Sumidero National Park and the amazing waterfalls at Agua Azul (check out the biggest one, nicknamed the Licuadora, or Blender.) Ten minutes away from Agua Azul, the Misol-Ha waterfall has much less tourist traffic and plunges down into a spectacular deep pool. The Lagunas de Montebello National Park is also nestled within the Lacandon jungle, a collection of 68 lagoons that range in color from turquoise to red and bright green.

Palenque was one of the most important Classical period cities, and its impressive buildings hidden within the jungle include the Temple of the Inscriptions and the Palace. The sculptures found here are simply exquisite. At Yaxchilán, located on the banks of the Usumacinta River, most of the city is hidden among dense vegetation. This city remains to this day an important ceremonial center for the local Maya, who take part in pilgrimages that part from the Lacandón jungles of El Petén in Guatemala. Some 120 buildings have been identified to date. Located near a tributary of the same Usumacinta, Bonampak is truly one of the most breathtaking examples of the Classic Maya. Its magnificent murals are an eloquent description of the life and times of this glorious race of warriors. Painted at the end of the 8th century though never completely finished, they were discovered in 1946 by a couple of American travelers guided by Lacandón Indians.

As mysterious as it is fascinating, the culture of the Maya remains alive and vibrant, awaiting new visitors within the cocoon of its emerald jungle.