A Tour led by Archaeologist Dr. Christopher Powell

This 10-day trip begins in Guatemala City where your guide, archeologist Dr. Christopher Powell, will begin with an introductory lecture, the ruins of Kaminaljuyu (the first capital of the Highlands, now buried under Guatemala City), and an afternoon flight to the Peten. The next day begins bright and early, boating up the Pasion River to Seibal for the zenith passage. While the dates of solstices and equinoxes remain static everywhere in the world, the dates of zenith passage (when the sun passes through the very center of the sky) only occur in the tropic and change according to latitude. As such, this tour will chase the zenith passage southward, witnessing it again in Quirigua, where the tallest stela in the Maya world stand, and then finally to Copán, where its special latitude of 14.8 degrees has the day of zenith passage fall on the Maya creation date anniversary of August 13th and divides the solar year of 365 days into the sacred year of 260 days and the cycle of corn, 105 days. The tour will stay in Copan for two days and then finish up in Guatemala City with a visit to the National Anthropology Museum and a celebratory final dinner.

Zenith Passage 2012 Tour Surfing the Zenith in the Maya World Guatemala and Honduras
Price	$3100 per person (add $500 for single lodging) $300 deposit due upon registration, balance due 30 days before the trip.
Dates	August 5-15, 2012
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August 5, Sunday: Arrival 12.19.19.11.2, 9 Ik' 5 Yaxk'in Land at the Guatemala City airport in the afternoon and transport to the Holiday Inn Attend an early evening orientation meeting in the hotel lobby Overnight in Guatemala City
	August 6, Monday: Kaminaljuyu 12.19.19.11.3, 10 Ak'bal 6 Yaxk'in Morning: Lecture - Maya History 101 Afternoon: Kaminaljuyu and museum Kaminaljuyu was the 1st great Maya capital city, dating back to 1000 BC Afternoon: 4:30pm flight to Flores, Peten Evening: Lecture - Maya Astronomy and the Importance of Zenith Passage Overnight in Flores
	August 7, Tuesday: Zenith at Seibal 12.19.19.11.4, 11 Kan 7 Yaxk'in Morning: Boat up the Pasion River to Seibal Afternoon: Zenith Passage at Seibal Seibal was a living city for over 2000 years, from Olmec times into the Postclassic Evening: Lecture - Ancient Maya Calendars Overnight in Flores
	August 8, Wednesday: Lake Peten Itza 12.19.19.11.5, 12 Chickchan 8 Yaxk'in Morning: Walking tour of Flores Flores was once Noj Peten, the capital of the last Maya empire - the Itza Afternoon: Boat tour of the lake - the ruins of Tayasal and San Jose San Jose is the home of the last 7 Itza speakers left on the planet Evening: Lecture - Tikal, Rome of the Maya World Overnight in Flores
	August 9, Thursday: Tikal 12.19.19.11.6, 13 Kimi 9 Yaxk'in Morning: Transport to and tour of Tikal Tikal Stela 10 has a date stretching back over 5 million years into the past Afternoon: Lunch and onsite museums Evening: Free time in Flores Overnight in Flores
	August 10, Friday: Rio Dulce 12.19.19.11.7, 1 Manik' 10 Yaxk'in Morning: Transport to Lago Isabel and boat to hotel Afternoon: Boat trip around the lake Evening: Lecture - Theories About 2012, What to Believe? Overnight in Rio Dulce
	August 11, Saturday: Zenith at Quirigua 12.19.19.11.8, 2 Lamat 11 Yaxk'in Morning: Tour and zenith passage at Quirigua Discussion of Quirigua's important creation texts Afternoon: Travel to Copan (four hours) Evening: Lecture - The Dynastic History of Copan Overnight in Copan
	August 12, Sunday: Copan 12.19.19.11.9, 3 Muluk 12 Yaxk'in Morning: Tour of Copan Including a tour of the excavation tunnels underneath the acropolis Afternoon: Copan's Sculpture Museum Evening: Free time Overnight in Copan
	August 13, Monday: Zenith at Copan 12.19.19.11.10, 4 Ok 13 Yaxk'in Morning: Free time in Copan Afternoon: Zenith passage in Copan's plaza and the Sepulturas neighborhood August 13th is also Maya Creation Day Evening: Free time in Copan Overnight in Copan
	August 14, Tuesday: National Anthropology Museum 12.19.19.11.11, 5 Chuwen 14 Yaxk'in Morning: Travel to Guatemala City Afternoon: National Anthropology Museum Evening: Final dinner at El Kacao Overnight in Guatemala City
	August 15, Wednesday: Departure 12.19.19.11.12, 6 Eb 15 Yaxk'in Return to the Guatemala City airport for flights home

Flores: Hotel Santana - AC, private bath, telephone, cable TV, wireless internet, pool, and onsite restuarant - located on the lake shore with a beautiful sunset view
Rio Dulce: El Tortugal - Cabanas with fans, private baths, and onsite restuarant - located on the shore of Rio Dulce in Lago Isabel
Copan: Hotel Copan Marina - AC, phones, wireless internet, pool, and onsite restaurant - located on the main plaza of Copan
Guatemala City: Hotel Holiday Inn - AC, private bath, telephone, cable TV, pool, onsite restaurant, and wireless internet - located in Guatemala City's Zone 10

Includes:
- All lodging
- Private ground and water transportation
- Flights to Flores from Guatemala City
- Entry fees into all ruins and museums
- Breakfasts
- Lunches
- The final dinner
- Archaeologist/Anthropologist guides
- Six on-site and evening lectures

Does Not Include:
- Airfare to and from Guatemala City
- 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.