A Tour led by Mayanist Dr. Michael Grofe

This ten day tour will take you to six of the major ancient Maya capitals of the Yucatan Peninsula. Along the way, you'll receive lectures about the Maya calendar, ancient astronomy, and what the ancient Maya actually said about 2012. Special guest lecturers on the tour will include Archaeoastronomer Felipe Chan Chi who will explain his twenty years of research at Dzibilchaltun’s Temple of the Seven Dolls and Sid Hollander, the man who wrote the world’s first Maya to Gregorian calendar conversion software. The adventure’s cornerstone will be standing beneath Chichen Itza’s Castillo Pyramid as the shadow snake descends on March 21, Spring Equinox.

Spring Equinox 2012 Tour Ancient Maya Calendars and Astronomy Chichen Itza, Dzibilchaltun, Uxmal, Tulum, Coba, Ek Balam
Price	$2800 per person (add $450 for single lodging) $300 deposit due upon registration, balance due 30 days before the trip.
Dates	March 16-25, 2012
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March 16, Friday: Arrival 12.19.19.4.0, 10 Ahaw 8 Kumk'u Land at the Cancun airport in the afternoon or evening and transport to Playa del Carmen. MEC representatives will meet you at the hotel and help you check into your rooms.
	March 17, Saturday: Tulum 12.19.19.4.1, 11 Imix 9 Kumk'u Morning: Lectures - Maya Calendar Systems and 2012 Afternoon: Tour of Tulum Evening: Free time Overnight in Playa de Carmen
	March 18, Sunday: Coba 12.19.19.4.2, 12 Ik 10 Kumk'u Morning: Bike tour of Coba (Coba Stela 1 has the longest date ever carved on a Maya monument) Afternoon: Transport to Chichen Itza Evening: Free time Overnight in Chichen Itza
	March 19, Monday: Chichen Itza 12.19.19.4.3, 13 Ak'bal 11 Kumk'u Morning: Tour of Central Chichen Itza Afternoon: Cenote Ik'il Evening: Lecture - Ancient Maya Astronomy Overnight in Chichen Itza
	March 20, Tuesday: Equinox 12.19.19.4.4, 1 Kan 12 Kumk'u Morning: Tour of Old Chichen Itza Afternoon: Equinox at the Castillo Evening: Transport to Merida Overnight in Merida
	March 21, Wednesday: Dzibilchaltun 12.19.19.4.5, 2 Chickchan 13 Kumk'u Morning: Dawn at Dzibilchaltun Dzibilchaltun's Temple of the Seven Dolls is oriented to let equinox sunrise shine through its front door Afternoon: Lunch and a Maya calendar lecture at Sid Hollander's hacienda Evening: Free time in Merida Overnight in Merida
	March 22, Thursday: Uxmal 12.19.19.4.6, 3 Kimi 14 Kumk'u Morning: Tour of Uxmal Afternoon: Lunch and pottery demonstration in Muna World renowned artist Patty Morales will demonstrate how she creates perfect replicas of ancient Maya pottery Evening: Free time in Merida Overnight in Merida
	March 23, Friday: Ek Balam 12.19.19.4.7, 4 Manik' 15 Kumk'u Morning: Maya Curendero Don Juan's medicinal plant center in Yaxcha Afternoon: Lunch in Valladolid and tour of Ek Balam Evening: Return to Playa de Carmen Overnight in Playa del Carmen
	March 24, Saturday: Playa del Carmen 12.19.19.4.8, 5 Lamat 16 Kumk'u All Day: Free time in Playa del Carmen Optional snorkeling trip Evening: Final dinner at Yax Che Overnight in Playa del Carmen
	March 25, Sunday: Departure 12.19.19.4.9, 6 Muluk 17 Kumk'u Return to the Cancun airport for flights home

Playa de Carmen: Hacienda del Caribe - AC, private bath, pool, telephone, cable TV and wireless internet - located just off Avendia Cinco, 1.5 blocks from the beach
Chichen Itza: Villas Arqueologicas - AC, private bath, pool, onsite restaurant, and wireless internet access - located inside the ruins of Chichen Itza
Merida: Hotel Mision de Fray Diego - Hotel rooms with AC, cable TV, phone, pool, wireless internet and onsite restaurant - located 2 blocks from Merida's main zocalo

Includes:
- All lodging
- Private ground
- Entry fees into all ruins and museums
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- The final dinner
- Archaeologist/Anthropologist guides
- Five on-site and evening lectures

Does Not Include:
- Airfare to/from Cancun
- Ground transport to/from Playa del Carmen (30 minutes from Cancun)
- Dinners
- Tips for Service Providers
- Travel insurance

Proceeds from MEC Tours are the center's primary source of research funding. As such, a portion of the tour costs are tax deductible. MEC will provide participants with receipts and proper documentation regarding the center's 501(c)(3) non-profit status for your records.