Mexico: World of the Ancient Olmecswith Professor F. Kent Reilly III
March 12 - 19, 2011
Far Horizons proudly presents a very special 8-day journey to the World of the Ancient Olmecs. Much of the imagery still present in modern Maya iconography had its genesis in Olmec art. During this trip we visit the birthplaces of that art, where the colossal heads and finely carved sculptures emblematic of the Olmec style were found.
This extraordinary expedition will take us into truly out-of-the-way areas to explore some of the more elusive Olmec sites. See off-the-beaten path centers of La Venta and Tres Zapotes where the first of the Olmec colossal heads was found in 1862. Climb the spectacular cleft volcanic mountain to see the beautifully inscribed boulders at remote Chalcatzingo. And visit museums housing major collections of Olmec art – the vast open-air museum of Parque-Museo La Venta; the Jalapa Museum, not only filled with exquisite works of art but one of the loveliest edifices in Mexico; and the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Of course the highlight will be traveling with Professor Kent Reilly, one of the renowned specialists on the Olmecs.
Click here to request a printer friendly brochure
(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner
Day 1: Fly to Villahermosa, Mexico and immediately transfer to the Airport Hilton for a light supper and overnight. (D)
Day 2: This morning, visit the Parque-Museo La Venta, a vast open air museum where many of the artifacts from the site of La Venta have been relocated. As we walk along trails, agouti and coatimundi can be seen running through the underbrush and birds fly through the jungle setting. This is where we see the first of the massive stone heads that are emblematic of the Olmec culture. Then it’s on to La Venta. The excavation of the site formed the foundation for the archaeology of the Olmec. Although it has been damaged by oil exploration in the area, and none of the signature colossal stone heads remain, the island site rising above the surrounding swamp still contains the remains of the massive earthen mound that was the focus of the ceremonial complex. Continue to Lake Catemaco where, time permitting, we may take a short boat ride. After checking into our lakeside hotel, gather for our welcome dinner in a local restaurant. (B/L/D)
Day 3: This morning’s travel takes us to the site of Tres Zapotes where the first of the Olmec colossal heads was found in 1862, and to its associated museum. In the nearby town of Santiago Tuxtla, view several Olmec monuments standing in the central plaza. After lunch here, drive on to Veracruz, Mexico’s Gulf Coast port. Veracruz is a very special laid-back town and its charm can be felt by simply spending an evening sitting in the sidewalk cafés sipping lechero while listening to the music of the festive danzón and spontaneous dance performances. With its crumbling historic buildings, we may be reminded of old Havana. (B/L/D)
Day 4: Drive to the Jalapa Museum, the newest and most spectacular in Mexico. Huge, airy rooms pour down the side of a hill, and each room contains artifacts of an ancient Mexican civilization. Spend a leisurely day examining the exciting display of ancient art. In the late afternoon, drive to Puebla and overnight for two nights in the NH Hotel, our home for two nights. Dinner is on our own tonight. (B/L)
Day 5: This morning’s drive takes us to Chalcatzingo. Rising dramatically from the expansive plains of Morelos is the spectacular cleft volcanic mountain upon which the site is situated. In ancient cosmology, the cleft mountain represents the emerging place, and Chalcatzingo was the earliest mountain of creation. Its magnificent Olmec bas-reliefs carved on the talus slopes are the iconographic foundations for all later Mesoamerican mythology and we will hike up a massive outcrop to see them. In the afternoon, return to Pueblo and, time permitting, enjoy a short walking tour of the historic area. (B/L/D)
Day 6: Transfer to Mexico City and to the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico’s National Museum of Anthropology, not just the finest museum in the country, but among the greatest in the world. After time for an early lunch on our own within the museum’s restaurant, spend the rest of the day viewing the museum’s great collection, including that of the Olmec Civilization. Overnight in the Hampton Inn just steps from the city’s main plaza, the zocalo. (B/ /D)
Day 7: Teotihuacan was the place where its inhabitants believed the world was made. According to the Aztecs, Teotihuacan was the birthplace of the gods, and the site where the Fifth Sun first emerged from fire and rose to the sky. Our all day excursion takes us to all the main features of this enormous ceremonial center, including the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, the Ciudadela, the Pyramid of Queztalcoatl, and the Avenue of the Dead. Also included are the site museum and several of the small sites on the periphery that contain mythological murals preserved for 1,300 years. (B/L/D)
Day 8: This morning we go to the Temple Mayor of the capital city of Tenochtitlan, present-day Mexico City, where the tomb of the Aztec Emperor Ahuizotl was discovered in 2007 in front of the Great Temple. Here we will see the cover stone on the king’s tomb that is larger than the immense calendar stone displayed in the National Museum of Anthropology. Mid-day we transfer to the Mexico City International Airport for our afternoon return flight to the USA. (B)
Dr. F. Kent Reilly III received his Ph.D. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin under Dr. Linda Schele. He is the Director, Center for the Study of Arts and Symbolism of Ancient America, and a professor at Texas State University, San Marcos. Dr. Reilly has published extensively on the Olmecs and Native Americans, including studies on both iconography and symbolic systems of communications. In 1995 he was a guest curator and a catalog contributor to the Princeton University exhibition The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership. His soon to be published book, Visions to Another Realm: Art, Shamanism and Political Power in the Olmec World (University of Texas), will give some of the latest information on the Olmecs.
March 12 - 19, 2011
Tour Cost $4,795.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip international airfare from the USA, all hotels, meals as noted, ground transportation, guides and entry fees.
Single Supplement: $495.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.
Cost Does Not Include: A separate $100.00 (per person) donation check; passport or visa fees; airport or departure taxes; alcoholic drinks, beverages or food not included on regular menus; laundry; excess baggage charges; personal tips; gratuities to guides and drivers; email, telephone and fax charges; or other items of a personal nature.
Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases for uncontrollable charges such as flights and other services due to additional fuel charges.
Donation Checks: As a tour company that benefits from the cultural and natural riches of our destinations, we have a policy of donating to the scientific and cultural projects and museums we visit. This has created a bond between Far Horizons and the academic and local communities that has helped us establish an extensive list of lecturers and contacts in each of our destinations.We ask that each participant write a check to the noteworthy project we designate. The donation amount is $100.00 per person and is made by check directly to the donation project. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable. will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly.
A deposit of $500.00 is required along with your registration form. Final payment is due 75 days before departure. Upon receipt of your deposit and completed registration form, you will be sent a reading list and a tour bulletin containing travel information. Prior to the trip, we will send links to various websites of pertinent interest. Click here to download our Registration Form.
Cancellations and RefundsCancellations received in writing at least 75 days before departure will receive a refund less a $250.00 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 75 days before the departure date will not receive a refund. If for any reason you are unable to complete the trip, Far Horizons will not reimburse any fees. Registrants are strongly advised to buy travel insurance that includes trip cancellation.
If you do not fly on the group flight, you are responsible for all flight arrangements and transportation (including airport transfers) to join the group. If Far Horizons must change the trip dates or cancel the trip for any reason, Far Horizons is not responsible for any air ticket you may have purchased. If you issue your own international flight, please send the complete schedule as soon as you have it.
The private tours of archaeological sites and talks by specialists are scheduled in advance and include a donation to each. Specialists working at these sites are excited about showing their work to interested enthusiasts. However, please be aware that there may be times when the director or a member of the staff may not be onsite when our groups arrive due to other commitments.
Changes in our itinerary, accommodations, and transportation schedules may occur. A good book to read as well as a flexible attitude and a sense of humor are essential.
This Archaeological Tour is limited to 15 Participants
