Aug 1 - 8, 2025

The Maya Peten Wars - An Educational Tour of the Ruins of Peten, Guatemala: Tikal, Naranjo, Yaxha, Siebal, and Dos Pilas An itinerary designed by Dr. Ed Barnhart

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This one week journey will take you through the remote Maya ruins of Guatemala's Peten rainforest. Along your way, tour leader Zachary Lindsey will teach the group about ancient Maya history, hieroglyphics, and the chaotic wars that took place in the 7th century CE.

Participants will fly into Flores and attend the first lecture that evening on zenith passage, an important subject of ancient Maya astronomy and the timing of this trip. After a day exploring the island of Flores and Lake Peten Itza, the group will spend every day at a different ancient Maya city, each playing an important role in the Maya civil war. The sequence of sites will go from north to south - Tikal, Naranjo, Yaxha, Siebal and finally Dos Pilas. In that manner, participants will be at each site for its noon zenith passage.

A final friday night group dinner will bring the adventure to a ceremonial close. Participants will fly out the next morning or stay to explore more on their own.


Tikal, Naranjo, Yaxha, Siebal and Dos Pilas

Itinerary

  • Day 1: Friday, AUG 1

    • Lake Peten Itza

    • All Day: Arrivals to Flores, Peten
    • 6pm: Orientation meeting
    • 6:30-7:30pm: Lecture: What is Zenith Passage and Did the Maya Track It?
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 2: Saturday, AUG 2

    • Lake Peten Itza

    • 8-9am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 9-10am: Lecture: The Last Kingdom of the Maya - The Itza
    • 10-12pm: Tour of Flores
    • 12-1pm: Lunch break
    • 1-4pm: Boat trip on the lake to Petencito Zoo
    • 6-7pm: Lecture: Warrior Queen Lady Six Sky of Naranjo and the Peten Wars
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 3: Sunday, AUG 3

    • Tikal

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 8-10am: Transport to Tikal
    • 10-2pm: Exploring Tikal - zenith passage at noon
    • 2-3pm: Lunch break at entrance
    • 3-4pm: Tikal's on site museums
    • 4-6pm: Return to Flores
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 4: Monday, AUG 4

    • Naranjo

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 8-11am: Transport to Naranjo - bus and 4x4 trucks
    • 11-2pm: Tour of Naranjo, picnic lunch, zenith passage at noon
    • 2-5pm: Return to Flores
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 5: Tuesday, AUG 5

    • Yaxha

    • 7-8am: Breakfast at hotel
    • 8-10am: Transport to Yaxha
    • 10-1pm: Exploring of Yaxha, picnic lunch, zenith passage at noon
    • 1-2pm: Picnic lunch
    • 2-4pm: Topoxte Island
    • 4-6pm: Return to Flores
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 6: Wednesday, AUG 6

    • Seibal

    • 7-8am: Breakfast
    • 8-11am: Transport to Seibal
    • 11-2pm: Tour of Seibal, picnic lunch, zenith passage at noon
    • 2-5pm: Return to Flores
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 7: Thursday, AUG 7

    • Dos Pilas

    • 7-8am: Breakfast
    • 8-11am: Transport to Dos Pilas
    • 11-2pm: Tour of Dos Pilas, picnic lunch, zenith passage at noon
    • 2-5pm: Return to Flores
    • 6-7pm: Final celebration happy hour at the hotel
    • Overnight in Flores
  • Day 8: Friday, AUG 8

    • Departure

    • Morning: Free time or transport to the airport
    • End of Tour
Questions about this tour?

Lodging

Flores - Hotel Santana (or similar)
A classic Flores hotel on the lake shore.
AC, private bath, restaurant, pool, telephone, cable TV and wifi

Price includes

All lodging
Private ground transportation
Private boat transportation
All Breakfasts and 4 lunches
Archaeologist guide
Local guides
Evening Lectures
All entry fees
Bottles of cold purified water in the bus

Price does not include

Airfare to/from Flores
2 lunches and all dinners
Gratuities (maids, drivers, guides, etc..)

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This 7-day tour will bring you to the ancient Maya world during Zenith Passage - the moment when the Sun crosses the perfect center of the sky.

Participants fly into the airport of Flores, Guatemala to begin their adventure. With Flores as their home base, day trips will visit some of the Peten's many ancient cities and learn about the civil war that raged in the 7th century CE.

LAKE PETEN ITZA, TIKAL, NARANJO, YAXHA, SIEBAL, AND DOS PILAS
Shared Room
$3,800
Private Room
$4,500
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Make A Payment
  • $500 deposit due upon registration
  • 50% balance due 90 days before the trip
  • Final balance due 30 days before
  • 80% refunds for cancellations up to one month before the trip
  • No refunds after 14 days until the trip