Tour Central Mexico’s Toltec Heritage

Tour Leader

Stanley Paul Guenter was first introduced to the Maya culture and ancient script at the age of ten. He has been studying the Maya ever since.  He obtained his undergraduate degree at the University of Calgary, completed his Master’s Degree at La Trobe University, in Melbourne Australia, and received his PhD in Archaeology from Southern Methodist University. He has worked on archaeological projects in eastern Tabasco, Mexico and is currently an epigrapher and archaeologist with two archaeological projects in Guatemala’s Petén: The Regional Archaeological Investigations of Northern Petén, Guatemala (RAINPEG), and the Southern Methodist University El Peru/Waka’ Project. Dr. Guenter is one of the outstanding rising stars of epigraphy (Maya hieroglyphs) and has taught hieroglyphic inscriptions and presented at many conferences in Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany and Denmark. His knowledge of the written history and iconography of ancient MesoAmerican cultures will make this an unforgettable journey!

“Stan is amazing! He was full of information and was always so quick to share. He was very attentive and patient with questions. He had a great sense of humor too and a very pleasant, easy going personality. I hope you can entice him to lead future trips!” – David  Westphal

 

“He’s a great tour leader – smart, articulate, and considerate. I would give him an A+++” – Elizabeth Wray

 

“Stan is fantastic!  I am very impressed by the depth & breadth of his knowledge of the Maya.” – Ben Azman

 

“Stan really made the trip for us. He is flexible, accommodating, kind and considerate – AND (and this is a huge ‘and’) knowledgeable, excited, passionate, and caring about the Maya, their structures, their art, their history… His excitement and enthusiasm are contagious. Keep him!” – Pat Meany

 

“Stanley is an excellent leader. He managed by his presence and manner to make the group a cohesive unit while allowing for individual differences in ability and pace.  We also respect his knowledge and willingness to share his opinions and back them up with facts and logical arguments.“ – Anne and Joe Frankel

 

“I enjoy Stanley’s information very much and especially his enthusiasm about all things archaeology.  He is always ready to go deeper into the glyphs and the history.” – Ann Higgins

Tour Itinerary

(B) breakfast, (L) lunch, (D) dinner

Day 1: Arrive into Mexico City and drive to Teotihuacán. According to the Aztecs, this was the birthplace of the gods, and the site where the Fifth Sun first emerged from fire and rose to the sky. Our afternoon excursion to this UNESCO World Heritage Site takes us to two museums within Teotihuacán. The site museum displays artifacts found during excavations along with a massive model of the Teotihuacán complex. The “Beatriz de la Fuente” Museum of the Teotihuacan Murals displays the frescos recovered over the course of more than a century of archaeological excavations. Dinner and overnight in the Villas Arqueologicas. (L/D)

Day 2: Begin a morning filled with all of 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, and several of the small sites on the periphery that contain mythological murals preserved for 1,300 years. After lunch, drive on to Puebla and overnight for two nights in the Palacio San Leonardo Hotel. Our welcome dinner will be in one of Puebla’s fine restaurants. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Today is devoted to an exploration of two splendid trip highlights. Cacaxtla is one of Mexico’s most exciting post-war discoveries. In 1974, tomb robbers came upon a series of brilliant paintings decorating the walls of this fortified ceremonial and palace complex. Wonderfully preserved for more than a millennium, these images display unmistakable Maya traits and depict life-size scenes of battle and sacrifice, all still infused with dazzling hues of indigo, ochre, red, and black. The frescos in the lower level chamber appear to be associated with the planet Venus. The room itself is the real ‘star chamber,’ the place where sacrifices were performed on behalf of Venus. Continue on to Cholula, where settlements date back thousands of years. In Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, Cholula’s strategic location made it a key point along trade routes. Upon returning to Puebla, walk through the city’s historic center, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dinner is on our own to enjoy one of Puebla’s excellent restaurants. (B/L)

Day 4: Travel to Xochicalco, an ancient city on a steep hillside signifying a need for defense, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Influenced by Teotihuacán architectural designs, one of the main temple platforms is adorned with commanding reliefs of the Feathered Serpent, or Quetzalcoatl. The same temple has calendrical glyphs and symbols that appear to represent an eclipse, and a subterranean chamber at the site receives sunlight on the two days of the year when the sun crosses the zenith. In the afternoon, visit Teopanzolco, constructed in the 12th century over earlier cultural remains dating back to as early as 900 BC. It is today surrounded by the city of Cuernavaca. The Great Platform here is a perfect example of Post-Classic twin-stair temple design. On top are two temples, one dedicated to Tlaloc, the deity of water, fertility, and rain, and the other to Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec sun and war god. Surviving examples of the double pyramid are seldom found as they were systematically pulled to pieces as part of the Christianization of the Mesoamerican people by Spanish conquerors. Overnight for two nights in the Hotel Marriott in Ixtapan de la Sal. (B/L/D)

Day 5: Our day includes two outstanding ancient sites. During Aztec times, Malinalco was an imperial center and capital of one of the branches of the Triple Alliance of Tenochtitlán, Texcoco, and Tlacopan that was formed in 1428. With temples carved from the rock face, Malinalco is a remarkable shrine, best known for its dramatically decorated Temple of the Eagle and Jaguar Knights. The Temple of the Eagle is a circular shrine, accessed by a staircase with 13 steps, which leads to a rectangular platform and the main entrance of the shrine. Statues of jaguars flank the staircase and the interior is decorated with sculptures of eagle and jaguars. Located on top of a hill overlooking the valley of Toluca, Teotenango was a vast fortified city that existed for at least 1,000 years but reached its zenith during the last phase of Teotihuacán. A rock carving here appears to depict an eclipse as a jaguar devouring the sun. NOTE: A steep climb is necessary to reach both these sites. Dinner is on our own. (B/L)

Day 6: Calixtlahuaca was the main center of power in the 15th century of the Matlatzinca, one of four ethnic groups in the Valley of Toluca.  One of its prominent structures is round and is thought to have been dedicated to Quetzalcoatl in his wind god identity. It was built in a circular form so that it would not hinder the wind god’s entrance. However, that shape also could be of a coiled snake and the temple could have been originally dedicated to the ancient serpentine creator god, and later dedicated to the god of wind by the Aztecs. A statue of Coatlicue, the Aztec earth-mother goddess who gave birth to the moon and stars and wore a skirt of snakes, was found here and is now at the Mexico City Museum of Anthropology. Drive to Mexico City for lunch in the legendary San Angel Inn, housed in an 18th-century hacienda. In the afternoon, visit the Palacio de Correos, Mexico City’s central post office, housed in an early 20th-century palace designed by the Palacio de Bellas Artes’ original architect, Adamo Boari. An exquisite example of Renaissance Revival architecture, the ornate exterior has intricately carved stone around the windows and along the roofline, and the interior is dominated by an impressive monumental staircase made of bronze. Overnight for five nights in the Histórico Central Hotel, housed in a beautifully restored 18th century colonial building located in the historic center. (B/L/D)

Day 7: We begin with a drive to the outskirts of the city at the Dolores Olmedo Museum, housed in a 16th-century stone building, formerly known as the Hacienda La Noria and containing works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.  Then it is on to Xochimilco, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only remains of the Pre-Hispanic agricultural system of chinampas, floating islands of mud from the bottom of the lake and decaying vegetation. We will board a boat to float through the area where plants are still grown in the traditional manner. The afternoon will be spent in the magnificent Templo Mayor, one of the primary temples of the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán, now Mexico City. At the summit of this immense stone edifice were found the twin pyramids of the two important gods of Huitzilopochtli and Tlaloc, both frequently nourished by the Aztecs with the blood of human sacrifices. Within the spectacular Templo Mayor Museum are artifacts that have been found in the excavations. Here, see the monumental carved disk that portrays the death of Coyolxauhqui, the moon goddess.  Dinner will be in Los Girasoles, overlooking a lovely old square in a restored three-story colonial home. It was one of the first places to serve nueva cocina Mexicana. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Today, explore Mexico City. In 1921, after the end of the military phase of the Revolution, most of the Mexican population was illiterate and the government needed a way to promote the ideals of the Mexican Revolution. A government-backed painting program, similar to mural use in the pre-Hispanic period, was established and renowned painters were invited to decorate the walls of colonial buildings.  To view some of these exciting works, we begin in the zócalo, the main square of Mexico City and a living museum added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1987.  Our walk takes us to the National Palace, a two-block long building. Rebuilt after damage done in the 1692 Native rebellion with material of the palace of the Aztec king, Montezuma, it flanks the entire east side of the Zócalo. In the central patio are splendid frescoes painted by Diego Rivera in 1931 – a dramatic, panoramic history of Mexico from the pre-conquest era to the social upheaval of the 1930’s.  Then it is on to Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso, a former Jesuit college built in the 16^th century. Murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, David Siqueiros and others are displayed on the building walls. We then move to the Museo de la Antropología, not only the finest museum in the country, but also ranks amongst the greatest in the world. After time for lunch on our own at the museum café, spend the rest of the afternoon viewing the museum’s great collections, with special emphasis on the Maya and Aztec civilizations along with other cultures in central Mexico. Tonight’s dinner will be in Rosetta, listed as one of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants. (B/D)

Day 9: Driving to the northern outskirts of Mexico City, we will visit two sites that were originally located on the shores of the great Lake Texcoco. Tenayuca was the fortified capital of the Chichimecs for almost three hundred years.  The pyramid dominating the site center had many building phases over a period of three hundred years. Covering the sides of the temple is a wall of serpents, called a coatepantli, and greenish blue paint is still visible on some of the snakes’ bodies. Nearby is a statue of a fire serpent, a xiuhcoatl, which was probably related to the sun cult that was celebrated by the Aztecs every 52 years in a fire ceremony.  Nearby Santa Cecilia Acatitlan, now in the town of the same name, was associated with Tenayuca. Only one temple still stands but it contains a well-preserved interior.  Return to Mexico City and its historic Cathedral, the monumental structure dominating the zócalo, for a quick view of the Capilla de Los Reyes copied from a Churriguerresque chapel in the cathedral in Seville, Spain. Inside the church, hunt for the mark on the crypt floor below the cupola; it partly covers the site of the Tzompantli, a holy Aztec rack on which skulls of sacrificed victims were exposed. Gather this evening for our final dinner party on La Casa de la Sirena’s outdoor balcony with wonderful views over the zócalo, Cathedral, and Templo Mayor. (B/L)

Day 10: Our drive north takes us to Tula, thought to be Tollan the fabled capital of the Toltec Empire founded about 750 AD as the Teotihuacan Empire was collapsing.  The city covered at least 3 square miles and may have had a population in the tens of thousands. A large central plaza is enclosed on one side by a five-stepped temple pyramid, which was probably dedicated to the god Quetzalcóatl. Surviving architectural sculpture on the impressive structure is stunning. The roof would have been held up by still-standing columns of warriors dressed for battle with ornate headdresses and carrying an atlatl, or spear-thrower. Friezes on the walls show scenes of war and sacrifice, including images of eagles with hearts in their mouths. Return to Mexico City for our farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Early this morning, transfer to the airport and return to the USA. (B)

Tour Cost

$7,995.00 (per person, double occupancy) includes roundtrip international airfare from Texas; hotels; meals as noted in the itinerary; ground transportation; guides; entry fees; and gratuities.

Single Supplement: $695.00. Should a roommate be requested and one not be available, the single supplement must be charged.

Cost Does Not Include: A separate $150.00 (per person) donation check; meals other than those listed in the itinerary; food, alcoholic and other beverages not on set menus; passport and visa fees; airport fees and taxes; excess baggage charges; email, telephone, and fax charges; laundry or other items of a personal nature.

Fuel Surcharges: Far Horizons must pass on price increases when additional fuel charges are levied.

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 $150.00 per person and is made by check directly to the donation project. We will be designating a donation project for this trip shortly. Note that the donation is required as part of your registration for the trip and that it is non-refundable.

Registration

A deposit of $750 per person is required along with your registration form. Final payment is due 120 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 Refunds

Cancellations received in writing at least 120 days before departure will receive a refund less a $450 per person administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 120 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. Upon registering for the tour, the purchase of travel protection with both trip cancellation and emergency evacuation is strongly advised. Insurance recommended by Far Horizons can be reviewed by clicking HERE.

Air Ticketing

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.

Walking and Standing

The group will be walking into and around sites extensively, frequently over uneven paths. All participants must be in good health, physically active, and able to walk independently and unassisted for distances that may exceed a mile or more each day. As a courtesy to your fellow travelers, you must be able to keep up with the group during the daily outings. Please remember that many of the sites are on mountain tops and to reach them means climbing. Be prepared! Additionally, please carefully choose the footwear with strong support for your feet and ankles. If you are not physically strong, are walking with a cane, or have problems with climbing, please be aware that there will be no one to assist you.

Private Tours of Archaeological Sites

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.

Note About Itinerary Changes

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 14 PARTICIPANTS