Mayan Central Rainforest Classical Sites Expedition

Journey specs

Type: Expedition

Activities: Primary rainforest trekking and camping • Lagoon immersion • Permaculture community visit • Archaeological explorations • Native community interaction

Ecosystems: Highland humid pine forest (San Cristobal) • Mid elevation forest (Tzajalá) • Lowland rainforest (rest)

Cultures: Maya: Tzotzil • Tzeltal • Lacanhá lacadon • Chol • Itzá

Trek: 7km – 5 miles • Estimated weight to carry: 25kg – 55lb • Many other weightless day hikes

Duration: 15 days

Weather: Hot & Humid • Rain • Humid Cold

Season: October and November

Guide: Julián Katari

Logistics: Mayra García

Meeting at: San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas.

Expedtion ends at: Flores, Peten.

Journey map

Expedition

We recently discovered that thanks to our intimate knowledge of this region and through organizing on-demand specialized transport, it's possible to join in a single journey a visit to all the most attractive and important sites of the classical maya in the central rainforests of Mexico and Guatemala. Adding to this, we can immerse ourselves in nature doing a a visit to the heart of the Montes Azules biosphere reserve where we find the Lacanha lagoon, a place few dare to explore being completely inside the reserve, accesible only through hiking and camping, surrounded by untouched primary rainforest and unexcavated mayan temples. It's no retreat, as an expedition, expect changes in the itinerary and a constant unkown of what can happen.

Na Chan Kaan, Palenque

It's considered the most esthetically sober and representative of all the Mayan sites. The only one with a tower inside of a palace, there are so many wonders to discover here. Channeled rivers, waterfall baths, hundreds of temples and incredibly large and adorned pyramids, Surrounded by the rainforest and the howling of the monkeys. This was my school and I will teach you its secrets.

Permaculture community and elder Marzo

It has been more than 10 years since I last visited the Ha omeka ranch and community in Tzajalá, Chiapas. A very old permaculture project and home of one of the main elders that formed me in Mayan worldview, Marzo Yuk Quetzal and his wife Sylvianne Sak Kuk. Practically my family, with this expedition happening I would be able to visit them and include you in this heart warming reencounter. Next to the Jataté river, the community is nestled ina beautiful place and is a great opportunity to learn about sovereignty, permaculture, and so much more.

Lacanha Chansayab

Five hours from Palenque is the Lacanha Chansayab community where the native Maya lacandons live, and where I lived for a year. This is the place to get a feel of what living in the rainforest like the maya was like and where we can enter the most pristine and preserved part of all the rainforests in the Mayan world. From here we do the trek to the Lacanhá lagoon, a turquisoe freshwater lagoon with white clay beaches and surrounded by thousands of kilometers of undisturbed rainforest. Unexcavated Lacanha arcaheological site is next to it, which nobody speaks about, it's the perfect place to see how a Mayan city is discovered before it's excavated. It's here where we interact with the native lacandons too, and learn form their worlview and their profouind knowledge and respect to nature.

Tonina

Our first site visit. A close drive from Tzajala, they just uncovered what used to be a mountian when I was there and now is the tallest of all the mayan pyramids. That's only part of the wonder, it's here where we can see in the museum the remains of the chenek maya, a breed of very short humans that militarily took over this site at a time when wars began in the mayan region and ended the classical splendor in this region.

Bonampak and Yaaxchilaan

Lacanha is our hub to visit these two sites found in the surrounding lacandon rainforest region. Bonampak's murals, whatever you've read about them is an understatement. I thought it was mostly hype, but no, there are no other Mayan murals like this anywhere else. Ready to part to Guatemala, we stop at the Chol village of Frontera Corozal where the boats depart to visit Yaaxchilaan. My first timer, I will sure have read a dozen more books about it, so it won't be that unknown to me. This place is only accesible by taking a boat on the river that makes the border between Mexico and Guatemala, the usumacinta, the mother river of the whole region and where the Yaaxchilaan inhabitants had a unique architectural feature unbeknownst elsewhere: a bridge over the river. On the other side our requested transport will be waiting after we do this very unorthodox border crossing. We seal our passports in Frontera Corozal and won't be able to seal the entry to Guatemala until the next day at Flores, where the transport takes us.

Peten Itza

I lived for a few months 23 kilometers north of Tikal, in the middle of the Peten rainforest in Waxaktun, which is another great site that is the predecessor of this Peten giant. Living here allowed me to visit both places more than once and deepen into the feeling and the energies of the place. Tikal has no comparison, extremely tall pyramids, massive carved wooden stellae filled with writing, a water capturing system that goes to abysmal man-made reservoirs leave you wondering about the engeneering prowees of the Mayan people. Nothing nort in the penninsula can compare to this. It's massive, extensive and surely we won't see it all. You can climb to one of the pyramids and see where you are, hundreds of kilometers of flatland, thick rainforest, where we are going: the heartland of the Maya.

Prospect expedition details

Tikal

Expedition details

About comfort and security

This is an expedition. Everything: the places to stay, the restaurants where we'll eat, the places we visit, is subject to changes and modifications. If you are looking for a vacation as such, where everyhting is served on a plate and impeccable, this is not it. Having said this our expertise and knowledge of the place will assure you are getting the best possible services and experience there is. We find the most confortable places and best tasting foods, but this is second to experience and cultural and native immersion.

What to Bring

IMPORTANT: Large hiking backpack with enough extra space to carry a share of supplies. Everything you bring must fit here and you must be able to carry. DO NOT bring a
Camping equipment according to package.
Comfortable hiking shoes.
Two thin cloth pants.
Two long sleeve shirts.
Hat or cap, sun block cream.
Personal hygiene supplies: toilet paper, bathing soap.
Personal first aid kit.
Small towel for bathing.
Sweater or light coat.
Rain jacket.
Personal Swiss army knife (if you take a flight make sure it’s not in your carry-on luggage).
Nothing that it’s not absolutely necessary.

Booking Details

Reservation is made with 50% of the total amount of the package. Cancelation is possible subtracting transaction fees if done before the total amount due date.
The total amount of the package is due July 31. After this date refunds are not possible.

The program is referential. Changes may occur before and during the expedition.

Day 1

Rendez-vous in San Cristobal. Local activities.

Day 2

Suttle to Tzajala community and Ha omeka ranch. Local activities

Day 3

Guided exploration of Tonina. Return to Tzajala

Day 4

Full day in Tzajala. River and community activities. Elder Marzo

Day 5

Rest in Tzajala, Shuttle to Palenque, Rest in Palenque

Day 6

Guided exploration of the main site and nearby waterfalls

Day 7

Morning activities and shutttle to Lacanha community

Day 8

Guided exploration of Bonampak in the day. Community interaction evening.

Day 9

Trek through rainforest to Lacanha unexcavated site. Camp.

Day 10

Day in rainforest and lagoon. Camp in lagoon pyramid.

Day 11

Hike back to lacanha community.
Day 12
Shuttle to Frontera Corozal. Boat to Yaaxchilan. Guided exploration. Crossing to Guatemala. Shuttle to Remate, in Peten Itza lagoon. Late night arrival.
Day 13
Day in Peten Itza lagoon
Day 14
Visit to Tikal, return to lagoon
Day 15
Visit to Flores and end of expedition

Lacanhá lagoon is not enough. By now, it's full moon, and the experience of the full moon over the Mayan world largest lagoon is something otherworldly. Warm waters allow you to bathe whilst listening to howler monkeys. It's important to soak in the spirit of this lagoon, and at the same time is our hub to visit the place where we culminate this journey: Tikal. Veign close by, I learned a lot more about the deep spirit of Tikal by bathing in this lagoon, than in the actual visit to the monumental site.

This expedition has not been organized in this manner before. Due to the difficult accesibility of many of the places and the complex logistics involved to organize it, everything about it like dates, itinerary, offered services and costs are referential.

Duration: The expedition is prospected to last 15 days. This can vary +-2 days.

Date: The date will be determined by the first person to sign up. Here are two departure date prospects that seek to have the full moon on the 9th day of the journey, for the lagoon:

P1: September 27 - October 11, 2025

P2: October 28 - November 11, 2025

Small group (4-6) referential cost: $280 daily x 15= 4,200 all inclusive per person.

Large group (7-8) referential cost: $220 daily x 15= 3,300 all inclusive per person

As group size increases, cost decreases. Cost is referential, it may change before definite date is set. Normally, it decreases as final cost is settled.

What's included: All inclusive except some meals. Private shuttles to all the places. The best lodging possible. Permacultural community visit, lodging, food and support to elder Marzo. Camping gear for rainforest trek. Lacandon guides for rainforest. Supplies and food during rainforest trek. Boat fees in Yaaxchilan. Entrance to all sites and any other fees. Intercultural guide, logistics, pre-expedition, on-expedition and post-expedition support.

What's not included: Meals. We eat together in the best possible places. Each one orders as they wish an pays their own bill. We arrange for 3 meals a day. Exceptions to this is the days in Tzajalá community, where organic food is provided and included and in the rainforest trek, where we take supplies (included) and cook together in the forest.

Expediton notice: This expedition requires you do be able to hike through the forest, carry your own gear and have everything you need fit in a large backpack. You need to be able to walk long distances with it and have a good level of physical health and stamina. Changes and unforseen situations may occur and we cannot guarantee everything offered happens as planned. This is an adventure, not a retreat. Within this frame, we plan for and hire the highest quality and safest services, the best lodging and guides available, and organize the expedition in a manner that allows the most rest, confort and enjoyment as possible. We don't go cheap on the providers and due to the length and nature of the expedition this reflects in the final cost.

Final itinerary, cost and details with established lodging places and restaurants will be shared in a wonderlog page after the minnimum group is confirmed.

Group limited to 8, minimum 4

10% Discount to first two enrollments!

first one to sign-up determines the date for the journey!

Prospect expedition itinerary

Exploratory adventure

The world in general has become more violent and degraded as the push of technocratic tyranny affects the lives of all. It's no less so with the people in Chiapas who have been suffering from the effects of the same thing. A recent wave of organized crime passed by which at its peak shut down many of the sites in this central Mayan region. As this wave passes, sites re-open and we are welcome again to come and visit in a safe manner. We will be exploring the remains of what decades before was a much nicer place. Looking for those who have resisted the darkness and stayed strong in face of the cultural, social and environmental degradation. It's not for nothing that we are called to go, the place needs us, it needs our love, our energy. We will be seeking the Mayan elders who survived the mind altering operation of 2020. Who bought it and who didn't. Today it's more clear and those who were not mislead stand out brighter than ever. Join us in this quest to re-unite and re-discover the treasures of the lacandon.

We prioritize safety and will be constantly inquiring about risks and thus changes may be made to itinerary to insure we don't take unecssesary risks. We are not liable for external conditions.

Flights, arrival and departure

We depart form San Cristobal de las Casas. To get there you there are several options:

Fly to Mexico city then:
1. Fly to Tuxtla Gutiérrez
  1. Take a cab, bus or shuttle to San Cristobal de las Casas
Fly to Cancun then:
1. Fly to Tuxtla Gutiérrez
  1. Take a cab, bus or shuttle to San Cristobal de las Casas

We will be staying in San Cristobal the previous days, so you can arrive within a wondow of up to 2 days. If you arrive before you can enjoy San Cristobal more.

We finish the expedition in Flores, Petén, Guatemala. From there you can:

Take a flight to Guatemala City, then:
1. To Mexico city, and from there home.
2. Visit other places in Guatemala (we might do this and you can join us)