Day 1:
Arrival in Managua, Nicaragua. (Wed.) Upon your evening arrival you will be met by your Local Guide who will help you check into your hotel. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 2:
Managua–Granada. (Thu.) Begin the day with a guided Managua city tour highlighting the old city center where you see the ruins of the old Presidential Palace, the Park of Peace, and Lake Managua. Visit the MUSEUM OF ACAHUALINCA to see the ancient fossilized human footprints made 6,000 years ago in volcanic ash. After a drive through the new city center, continue to Nicaragua’s first national park, MASAYA VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK, to see the active Santiago Crater. Learn about the volcanic activity as well as the flora and fauna of the region, including the small parakeets that nest in the toxic crater walls. (B,L,D)

Day 3:
Granada. (Fri.) Your guided sightseeing introduces you to the colonial city of Granada which was founded by Captain Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba in 1524. See “La Merced” church, the house of the Zamora family, the famous “Casa de Los Tres Mundos” and the San Francisco convent. Learn the history of the city, including the adventures of filibuster William Walker, who invaded the city in the year 1855. Due to the historical and cultural value of the city, it is in the process of being declared heritage of mankind by UNESCO. (B,L)

Day 4:
Granada–San Salvador, El Salvador. (Sat.) This morning, embark on a relaxing BOAT RIDE around some of the islands of Lake Nicaragua. Formed by the impressive Mombacho Volcano, the lake has a history of Caribbean pirates and plays host to freshwater sharks! This afternoon, transfer to the airport for a flight to San Salvador to join day 1 of your Mayan vacation. (B)

Day 5:
San Salvador–Joya de Cerén–Copán, Honduras. (Sun.) Depart this morning for UNESCO World Heritage Archeological Site JOYA DE CERÉN, a pre- Columbian Maya farming community that, like Pompeii and Herculaneum in Italy, was buried under a volcanic eruption around 600 A.D. The exceptional condition of the remains provides insight into the daily lives of the Central American populations who worked the land at that time. Continue to Copán, Honduras, and enjoy a WELCOME DINNER hosted by your Tour Director at the hotel. (B,D)

Day 6:
Copán. (Mon.) Today’s guided tour introduces you to COPÁN, the site of a once major Maya kingdom and considered “the Athens of the Maya world.” From the moment you step inside the archaeological zone, you will see elaborate stone sculptures everywhere. Walking into the dramatic expanse of the Great Plaza, become witness to the cultural achievements of the ancient Maya. This principal Copán Plaza contains the greatest collection of Mayan sculptures anywhere in Central America. Learn about the majestic temples and the intricately carved stelae, representing past rulers of the city and the power, politics, and ideology of the times. (B,L)

Day 7:
Copán–Quiriguá–Antigua, Guatemala. (Tue.) After breakfast, cross into Guatemala to visit the archaeological site of QUIRIGUÁ with the largest stelae in the Mayan world, weighing more than 65 tons. The site also boasts a number of enormous and unexplainable carved monoliths sculpted into the forms of mythological animals (Zoomorph). Later this afternoon, head to Antigua, Guatemala’s capital from 1543 until a devastating earthquake in 1776 when it was moved to Guatemala City. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Antigua is one of the Americas’ oldest and most beautiful cities, with pastel-colored buildings, wide cobblestone streets, and a beautiful natural setting ringed by three volcanoes. (B,D)

Day 8:
Antigua. (Wed.) Our morning tour of this magnificent highlands city, known for its 16th-century Spanish Colonial architecture, includes lively Plaza Mayor flanked by the impressive Catedral de San José and Palace of the Capitanes Generales. See the ruins of churches and monasteries, some with hidden underground passages, destroyed by the earthquake of 1776; and take a tour of a JADE FACTORY. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. (B)

Day 9:
Antigua–Chichicastenango–Lake Atitlán. (Thu.) Today, reach the whitewashed highland town of Chichicastenango where we visit the colorful, open-air INDIAN MARKET and the Catholic CHURCH OF SANTO TOMÁS to witness ancient Mayan ceremonies that have long been practiced there. Continue to the shores of Lake Atitlán (Place of Great Water), surrounded by three volcanoes and numerous indigenous villages. (B,L)

Day 10:
Lake Atitlán. (Fri.) This morning you will embark on a CRUISE across 900-foot-deep Lake Atitlán, renowned for its beauty and many colorful Mayan towns and villages along the shores. Learn how an enormous caldera formed after a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago to form what is known as Lake Atitlán today. Next, visit the Indian village of SANTIAGO ATITLÁN where you have the chance to meet the Tzutuhil people, one of Guatemala’s indigenous tribes. (B,D)

Day 11:
Lake Atitlán–Guatemala City–Flores. (Sat.) Depart for Guatemala City today and enjoy a city tour upon arrival. After some free time to explore the city, transfer to the airport for your flight to Flores. (B)

Day 12:
Flores. Excursion to Tikal. (Sun.) A full-day excursion today takes you to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of TIKAL, the largest of the ancient Maya cities. With artifacts dating as early as 7th century B.C., it wasn’t until circa 200 A.D. that Tikal became the leading political, economical, and military power of the Maya region. Your guide will explain the significance of the major temples and monuments in the park, of which only a fraction have been excavated. Lying within a rainforest, it is common to see spider monkeys, howler monkeys, toucans, and parrots cavorting in the dense canopy enveloping the ruins. You might want to keep an eye out for jaguars and coatis, as they are said to roam the park as well! (B,L,D)

Day 13:
Flores–Yaxhá–San Ignacio, Belize. (Mon.) This morning, depart Flores for the site of YAXHÁ, second in importance behind Tikal. Unlike Tikal, this ancient civilization consisting of more than 500 structures is in its preliminary stages of excavations. Continue into Belize, which was granted independence from Britain in 1981 and is the youngest nation in the Western Hemisphere. We head through the beautiful countryside past limestone mountains and miles of uncharted forests to San Ignacio in the Cayo District in Western Belize. (B)

Day 14:
San Ignacio. Excursion to Caracol. (Tue.) CARACOL is the largest known Mayan archaeological site in Belize, and one of the great Mayan city-states of the Classic Period. During its heyday, Caracol was home to more than 140,000 people—twice that of Belize City’s current population. Located deep within the Chiquibil Forest Reserve, the ruins cover 30 square miles of thick, high-canopy jungle rich in flora and fauna. Your guide will point out some of the most important buildings, including the Caana Pyramid (“Sky Palace”). Standing over 140 feet high, it is the tallest Mayan building in Belize and the tallest man-made structure in the country. This evening, enjoy a special FAREWELL DINNER hosted by your Tour Director. (B,L,D)

Day 15:
(Wed.) Transfer to Belize City International Airport for your homebound flight. (B)

Click here to check rates and availability online, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Or, to speak to one of our live, experienced travel consultants, Call us now at 1-800-942-3301. Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.
Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
12/3/2008 - 12/17/2008	$3,259	Call Us	Call Us	Call Us
Related Tours SD| Ancient Civilizations: Honduras, Guatemala & Belize without Nicaragua Pre-extension SDE| Ancient Civilizations: Honduras, Guatemala & Belize with Ambergris Caye Extension SDY| Ancient Civilizations: Honduras, Guatemala & Belize with Nicaragua Pre-extension and Ambergris Caye Extension Price Details US Single Room Supplement: SDQ $812. Triple Room reduction per person: SDQ $247. Extra nights per person in San Salvador: In single room $194; in twin room $119; in triple room $106. Extra nights per person in Managua: In single room $152; in twin room $87; in triple room $79. Extra nights per person in Ambergris Caye: Jan 1-Mar 15, Nov 1-Nov 18 & Nov 30-Dec 31: In single room $246; in twin room $141; in triple room $115. Mar 16-Mar 31 & Nov 19-Nov 29: In single room $268; in twin room $151; in triple room $121. Sep & Oct: In single room $155; in twin room $95; in triple room $84. 2009 prices and itineraries subject to change.

CURRENT SPECIALS:

Save $200 per couple on the air-inclusive price of 2009 Europe Vacations

*Book a 2009 Globus air-inclusive European vacation to receive the $100 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between October 8, 2008 and November 30, 2008 for travel commencing between January 1, 2009 and October 31, 2009. Offers not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 European bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

Standard Offers and Specials provided by Globus

Discount for young travelers

Share the pleasure of a Globus vacation with your children and grandchildren and take advantage of a 10-percent discount on the land-only price. For eligibility, children must be under 18 years of age on the departure date and must be accompanied by an adult. On escorted vacations we don’t accept children under eight years old because we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.

Pay less for your second vacation

We charge you vacation price for your first vacation in 2008, but for every additional Globus vacation you take in the same year, you pay US$35 under list. Our vacations are designed and scheduled so you can combine them almost any way you want. It’s fun to play the add-a-vacation game yourself or talk to your travel agent.

Triple room reduction

On most Globus vacations you receive a reduction when three people travel together and share the same accommodations. Triple room reductions, when available, are listed on the itinerary pages. A word of caution: Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms and the third bed, if there is one, is often a rollaway put in a twin-bedded room.

Avoid the single room supplement

We do not take reservations on a “share” basis because we have found that strangers rarely enjoy sharing a room for the duration of their vacation. Avoid the single room supplement by traveling with a friend. It’s less expensive and much more fun!

Right now when you book a 2009 vacation between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75

Do you have a large party of friends or family that wants to travel? Right now when you book a 2009 vacation between 5 and 7 people before December 31, 2008, each passenger will save $75.* For example, book 5 passengers and receive a $375 discount, 6 passengers equals a $450 discount and 7 passengers will receive a $525 discount. With an offer like this, the world’s greatest destinations are now closer than ever!

*Book a 2009 Globus vacation for five, six or seven travelers to receive the $75 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit, and discount applied between Jun 4 and Dec 31, 2008 for travel through December 31, 2009. Individuals must be traveling together from the same origination point to receive the discount. Not valid with any other offer and applies to new 2009 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.