GUATEMALA ANCIENT & CONTEMPORARY ART, ARCHITECTURE & COMMUNITY LIFE With ArtSpace/Lima ************************************************ 9 DAYS FEBRUARY 8 16, 2014 $1,650 LAND ONLY Per person, double occupancy Admire with us some of the earliest colonial settlements in the New World, examples of exceptional architecture, as well as traditional communities, from awesome Guatemala City to remote indigenous Santiago in the Lake Atitlan Highlands. Marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage city of Antigua, famous for its Creole (Spanish & Mesoamerican) cuisine & crafts. Meet a Great Master of Guatemala Naïve Art. Come join us to discover the Magic of Guatemala! ITINERARY B Breakfast L Lunch/Comida D Dinner Saturday 8 th Arrival in Guatemala City by your own independent air arrangements. Rooms will be available for check-in from 1 p.m. onwards today. Land arrangements begin with a transfer from Guatemala City airport to our hotel. Welcome dinner at fabulous Restaurant Kakao (D). GUATEMALA CITY HOTEL HOLIDAY INN
Sunday 9 th Luggage out 7.30 a.m. Depart 8:30 a.m. Drive to town of Panajachel situated on Lake Atitlan. En route visit the National Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology as well as the studio of Maestro Oscar Peren in the Kaqchikel Indian village of San Juan Comalapa. Enjoy special home-hosted lunch with his family and visit to a special widowed women s textile coop of beautiful bamboo & chenille textiles. (B, L) PANAJACHEL HOTEL ATITLAN *Driving day, easy walking in general. Monday 10 th 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Boat ride to the traditional Tzutuhil Indian village of Santiago Atitlan, famous for its colorful bird textiles and devotion to their pagan saint Maximon. Visit the special cofradia, main cathedral, central market and walk around its colorful streets. Delicious lunch at restaurant Posada de Santiago. (B, L) PANAJACHEL HOTEL ATITLAN *Good walking day: a mile at least necessary as village will require it, downhill at the end to loading dock.
Tuesday 11 th Luggage out 8.00 a.m. Depart 9:00 a.m. Drive to World Heritage City of La Antigua, en route visit special Indian textile flea market at the old fire station within Panajachel. In La Antigua visit special jade factory and the awesome Museums of Pre Columbian Glass & Archaeological Art, Colonial Art and famous crypts all within the magnificent old convent of Santo Domingo. (B, L) LA ANTIGUA HOTEL AURORA *Driving day, walking in Antigua on cobblestone streets. Wednesday 12 th 6:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Optional for those who wish, we will take an early morning photo safari thru the timeless streets of this beautiful World Heritage City; before the traffic and with the best light of the day. 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Full day in & around La Antigua. First visit the beautiful old church of San Francisco which hosts the tomb of Antigua s strongest devotion: Saint Brother Peter. Visit special farm of Macadamia nuts called Finca Valhalla and the region s most traditional weaver s village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Weavers there will show us their traditional work on back strap looms, talk about their techniques and show us their small museum of dresses they have proudly self-created as well as present us a fashion show of their trajes followed by hosting us to a traditional lunch. *Easy walking day.
Thursday 13 th 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Drive to the ancient Maya city of Iximche, where the famous conquistador Pedro de Alvarado arrived in the spring of 1524. Great lunch at traditional restaurant Kappe Paulinos and visit Cerro de la Cruz & the neighborhood of Jocotenango where traditional wooden fruits and decorations are made. *Driving day, walking easy at archaeological site. Friday 14 th 9:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Full day in La Antigua: first walk nearby to the colorful Nim Pot Folk Art Shop, where we will meet Marco Cobar, a textile expert who will talk to us about the textiles of the region. Then drive to visit the La Azotea Cultural Centre which includes the Coffee Museum set in an old coffee mill and enjoy a cup of coffee Antigua Style as well as the Casa K Ojom & Rincon Zacatepequez of preservation of Maya music & instruments. Lunch at traditional restaurant La Fonda de la Calle Real. After, walk to Arts & Crafts Market. *Easy walking day, but some may wish to walk extra to the arts & crafts market.
Saturday 15 th 8:30 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Drive to Guatemala City and visit the Popol Vuh & Ixchel Museums within the grounds of the University Francisco Marroquin. Farewell dinner at great restaurant Epicure. *Driving day, hardly any walking, but standing a lot at museums. Sunday 16 th Luggage out TBA Depart TBA Departure day, transfer(s) to airport in Guatemala City for departure flights. (B) LA ANTIGUA *Pick up times TBA ***********************************************************************
PLEASE NOTE: This printed itinerary should be used for basic outline information purposes only; the order of day-to-day visits may be adjusted. While careful arrangements are made up to a year in advance, craftspersons' schedules and other schedules are subject to change due to the months away. The itinerary is adapted accordingly and all will be given a final version upon arrival. MEALS: The main meal of the day is "comida" and is normally served about 2-3pm. With such a late meal we have left out most evening meals to afford you the opportunity to have a light snack or explore the special area restaurants. This tour will be operated with a maximum of 15 participants GUIDE: Florencio Moreno, founder and owner of Academic Tours Oaxaca, will accompany throughout. A Cultural Geography Mayor with concentrations in Christian iconography, Iconology & Astroarchaeology from the UAM, Mexico City. Academic Tours Oaxaca s tours are designed to have each traveler leave with a greater understanding and appreciation of Central America s Cultural Heritage, Spiritual Traditions and most importantly Contemporary Community Life; for the true heart of this region is its people. TOUR PRICE GUATEMALA 2014 $1,650 LAND ONLY per person, double occupancy $500 single supplement Airfare is NOT included in the trip price. This trip begins & ends in Guatemala City. Each person is responsible for making their own independent air flights to & from Guatemala City. Important... be sure to wait until this trip is a "go" before booking any air arrangements in conjunction with this trip. Prices are in U.S.D. and are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect as of April 2013 and are subject to change. SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: $500 Generally speaking for all trips, single rooms can sometimes be inferior to double rooms. The supplement pays for privacy, not necessarily for better accommodations.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS A deposit of $200.00 (non refundable) per person is due with your booking in order to secure your space. Due August 1. Payable to ArtSpace/Lima. In the unlikely event of the tour being cancelled any advance payments will be returned in full. Full payment is due in November 10, 2013, 90 days prior to trip departure. If you cancel within 30 days of the tour s first date, there will be a 50% deposit charge and less than 14 days, 100% cancellation charge applies. We strongly advise you to take out suitable insurance when booking. PASSPORTS, VISAS & INOCULATIONS: Passport needs to be valid for 3 months beyond trip dates. For this trip, no visa is required for U.S. citizens. Florencio L Moreno Academic Tours Oaxaca Guatemala Highlands, 2014