DAY 3 MON. Copan, Honduras and Quiriguá, Guatemala.   Transfer to Guatemala’s Caribbean coastal plains, visiting Quiriguá en route.  Also an UNESCO World Heritage Archaeological Site since 1981. This strategically located river city of the Classic Period controlled the important Motagua Valley trade route linking the Caribbean coast with interior settlements.  Remarkably preserved portraits and texts on sandstone stele chronicle a ruling dynasty in competition with nearby Copan.  In 738 the ruler Kak Tiliw captured and beheaded Copan's 13th lord, 18 Rabbit.   Quiriguá is home to the largest stele in the Maya World at 26 feet and 6 inches in height and weighting about 65 tons.  Overnight in Flores. (B,L)

DAY 4 TUE. Yaxha, Guatemala and Xunantunich, Belize.   Xunantunich is an interesting small site with a tall pyramid with an spectacular view of the San Ignacio valley.   Transfer to Central Petén area for the next visit, it is to Yaxha Archaeological Site, the only Maya Classic Site whose name is the same as its emblem glyph.  Known for having a large concentration of massive buildings and with defined avenues and causeways.  It was always allied with Tikal.  Its location, on the shore of a lake and within the Maya Biosphere Reserve, makes it unique.  Back to Guatemala, overnight in Flores.  (B,L)

DAY 6 THU. Tikal, Guatemala.  The third UNESCO’s World Heritage Site of the itinerary and the first one in the Maya World, since 1979.  Intensive construction took place at Tikal from the late Pre-classic Period until the waning of Classic Maya civilization around AD 900.  At its peak the city covered about 48 square miles and had a population estimated at 55,000. Tikal's Stelae 29 bears the earliest Long Count date known in the Maya lowlands.  In 292 AD  Temple IV, one of the many pyramids erected to memorialize the dead rulers of Tikal's royal dynasty, and one of the tallest of Maya structures at 212 feet, was erected.  Overnight Flores.  (B,L)

DAY 7 FRI. Ceibal, Guatemala.  Depart early to the Pasion River, the most important tributary of the Usumacinta River.  After a boat ride, reach the strategic cliff where Ceibal Archaeological Site is located.  Ceibal provides the opportunity to see extraordinary stelaes that shows foreign influences in the Maya World during the Terminal Classic time.  Afternoon ride to Flores Airport for a 1-hour flight to Guatemala City for overnight.  Overnight in Guatemala City. (B,L)