LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION
Itinerary: The Maya - Then & Now
In Guatemala City, your start and finish, don't miss the museums dedicated to Maya archaeology and textiles. Head west to the Iximche ruins, and on to Lago de Atitlan, surrounded by traditional villages such as Santiago Atitlan. Don't miss the big Mayan markets at Solola and at Chichicastenango, also the scene of unique religious practices. Northward, visit the old K'iche' Mayan capital K'umarcaaj, still an important center for Mayan rites. Westward, Quetzaltenango is a base for visiting many traditional villages (for example, Zunil) and the sacred Laguna Chicabal. Farther north, see the old Mam Mayan capital, Zaculeu, en route to Todos Santos Cuchumatan, a mountain village with strong traditions and uniquely striking costumes.
Next, head east along rugged mountain roads to Nebaj, a center of the colorful Ixil Maya, and to San Cristobal Verapaz. Head north through Coban to Sayaxche, close to the ancient Mayan sites Ceibal, Aguateca and Dos Pilas, then on to Flores and the mother of all Mayan cities, Tikal. Up here in the Peten jungles, there's endless scope for exploring remoter archaeological sites such as Yaxha, Uaxactun, El Zotz and (if you have stamina for four or five days' walking) El Mirador.
Head back to Guatemala City via Quirigua and, just over the Honduras border, Copan.
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