Wednesday - day 1           USA - GUATEMALA  (Meals En Route)

Your LDS licensed guide, Francisco Sagastume (Paco), brings you to the Deluxe Guatemala Marriott Hotel in Guatemala City for two nights.  Guatemala City has a history reaching back to 600 BC.  It was and still is the most prominent city center of this area. MORE DETAILS

 Thursday - day 2      GUATEMALA CITY - ATITLAN  (B-L-D)

The day begins at the Guatemala LDS Temple, then on to the Relief Map in Guatemala City giving you a grand overview of the Book of Mormon lands.  Journey to the past at the ruins of Kaminaljuyu which correspond with the City of Nephi.  Daniel Rona explains a Middle-Eastern type Three-Stepped Temple ceremonial center built after the manner of Solomon's temple. (2 Nephi 5:16) .  This area was likely a part of the Land of Lehi-Nephi (Mosiah 7:1-4) .  On the drive to LAKE ATITLAN there is a lunch break.  A pleasant lake excursion with Brother Rona reading the scriptures brings vivid imagery to the account of the Waters of Mormon (Mosiah 26:15) .  At the village of Santa Catarina Palopo, local vendors sell Weights that correspond with the Nephite's system of money (Alma 11:5-10).  MORE DETAILS

 Friday - day 3      ANTIGUA - COPAN (B-L-D)

About 175 mountainous miles away, the newly uncovered Ruins of Copan will open your eyes to the past.  An afternoon visit to the Site Museum reveals that much of Copan is post Book of Mormon time.  It is a 29-acre site artificially built with about a million cubic feet of earth and home to about 25,000 people.  Agriculture is diminishing today, echoing its ancient decline.  A near-perfect Mayan "Ball Court" is here.  Paco entertains the community with singing following dinner at the Hotel Marina in Copan.  MORE DETAILS

Saturday - day 4       COPAN - FLORES (B, L, D)

A colorful 47 mile long jungle highway leading to Flores passes through Quirigua.  In 1842, the "Times and Seasons" printed an article suggesting that this is Zarahemla.  Visible structures dating to between 300-900 A.D. do not preclude earlier populations.  Daniel Rona's reading of King Benjamin's oration from the top of a towering pyramid and the comparison of the Biblical procedure at Sukkoth brings the culture and religion of "Joseph and Judah"  together in a unique way (Mosiah 2) .  This archaeological site includes the Stelae found here that are some of the largest and most intricate in the Mayan Empire.  The site is beautifully located in a small reserve of Tropical Rainforest.  Rio Dulce, approximately 47 miles away, is also on the main road that connects the huge area of Peten to the rest of the country.  The little towns along the way all have a feeling of the frontier.  Although much of this land is still forested, it is being converted to farmland at an alarming pace.  It could be the general area where Moroni drove the Lamanites out as well as up in their land, (Mormon 4:14) .  In Rio Dulce enjoy lunch overlooking the River Ranchon Mary continuing to Flores approximately 138 miles away.  Enjoy the Hotel Peten Esplendido for 3 nights.  MORE DETAILS

 Sunday - day 5         FLORES            (B-D)

The Peaceful Sabbath - Attend the local LDS meetings.  Enjoy the great culture as you visit with local Saints, with the opportunity of providing them with humanitarian service and giving medical devices for the handicapped.  Later, a calm boat ride transfers you to lunch across the lake at a wonderful jungle zoo.  There you can take in the great surroundings and wildlife.  MORE DETAILS

 Monday - day 6      FLORES - TIKAL   (B-L-D)

The highlight of this area is Tikal dating from 600 B.C. to 900 A.D.  It flourished for about 200 years after Jesus' time.  It was abandoned about 350 A.D. which coincides with the Book of Mormon people, (Mormon 2:28-29; 4:14; 6:19; 21) .  There are three thousand separate structures in about 10 square miles.  Tikal is possibly close or north of the location of the City of Nephihah (Alma 50, 51, 56, 59, 62) .  It may be part of the "Land Southward" and was probably one of the cities where the "land was covered with buildings" (Mormon 1:7) .  Tikal was about the last of the Mesoamerican glory, revealing the Mayan civilization in its splendor.  The ruins are among the most famous, extensive, and breathtaking of all.  Among other structures with striking Middle-Eastern similarities, you will visit the Great Plaza"s Temple I (the Temple of the Jaguars, a symbol of wis­dom and power) and Temple IV, which beckons you to climb.  See many steep temples surrounded by the beautiful jungle and howler monkeys.  Climbing to the top you see the spectacular jungle canopy spanning to the horizon.  Biblical religious sites were mostly on "high places."  We will be having lunch in the Tikal Jungle.  MORE DETAILS

 Tuesday - day 7      FLORES - BELIZE (B-L-D)

A short morning flight from Flores to Belize is followed with a drive to Orange Walk where you board a motorboat for a 35 mile ride up the New River to the jungle ruins of Lamanai.  Here are some of the oldest Mayan Ruins known to date, which are hidden in a remote jungle setting.  There is a Three Stepped Temple here that is similar to Middle-Eastern temples.  You will have is a picnic lunch at Lamanai. Cross from Belize into Mexico then to Puerto Maya.  You relax at the Holiday Inn Chetumal.  MORE DETAILS

Wednesday - day 8       CHETUMAL - CANCUN       (B, L, D)

Lemuel Patlacalco, an LDS licensed guide takes you to the Museum of Mayan History and Culture with its diorama and model structures.  A drive to Kohunlich will bring you to the most re­nowned building at the site, the Pyramid of the Masks.  The masks are enormous and depict the facial features of the Mayan Indians.  The drive northward brings you to Tulum which was built as a fortress city overlooking the Caribbean.  The important structures include the Castillo, a former temple, and Temple of the Frescos, with 13^th century wall paintings.  Enjoy the night at the Mayaland Hotel in Chichen Itza.  MORE DETAILS

Thursday - day 9         CANCUN - CHICHEN ITZA (B, L, D)

Helaman Petlcalco, another LDS licensed guide, leads you to Chichen Itza.  The Book of Mormon "Astronomy" is imaged by the grand Mayan Observatory.  Helaman and Daniel compare the layout of Solomon's temple with the grand temple at Chichen Itza.  Lunch is at the hotel.  The next two nights are at the Cancun Hyatt Caribe with the Caribbean on one side and a lovely lagoon on the other side.  MORE DETAILS

 Friday - day 10        CANCUN       (B, L, D)