TAHOE CITY, CA, Nov. 29, 2011 – The active travel company best known for matching up adventure-seeking clients with a treasure trove of small, expedition ships, AdventureSmith Explorations (http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/), also has land tours up its sleeve, including a 2012, 11-day Maya Heritage & Calendar Tour priced from $2,400 per person double (single supplement $525).
This trip combines an exploration of Guatemala’s ancient Maya sites with travel to Honduras and Mexico. Indigenous guides who themselves are descendants of the Maya, use the ancient calendar of the Maya to create connections between worlds past and present, revealing the mysteries and meanings of the Maya calendar and Maya culture and how it can be viewed in modern times.
Departures can be scheduled anytime with just a minimum of two participants. For complete details see: http://www.adventuresmithexplorations.com/itinerarydetails.php/advid/85
When not reveling in archeology, bird watching, hiking, photography and wildlife viewing, guests lodge and dine at comfortable hotels including in Guatemala City, the arrival / departure point.
“The Maya Heritage and Calendar 2012 tour is the antidote to 2012 apocalyptic sensationalism. There are no ancient Maya writings containing prophecies of any kind. They were, however, extraordinary time keepers and their 5125 year calendar is coming to an end on Dec. 21, 2012,” said Todd Smith, AdventureSmith Explorations founder and owner.
The tour includes a handful of UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Copan, in Honduras, the southernmost center of lowland Maya civilization and famed for artistic sculpture; Quirigua, a strategically located river city linking the Caribbean coast with interior settlements along Guatemala’s coastal plain; Tikal, a one-time major city covering some 46 square miles with a population estimated at 55,000; Mexico’s Palenque Archaeological Site where a ruler’s tomb stands as one of the greatest discoveries of Mayan archeology; and Antigua, an incredibly preserved Spanish Colonial site.
Among other highlights are visits to the ruins of Yaxchilan and Bonampak, Mexico. Guests can view Rio Usumacinta and the surrounding jungle after climbing Yaxchilan’s highest temple. In Chichicastenango, Guatemala, guests can shop in the largest and most colorful handicrafts market in The Americas.
About Adventure Smith Explorations
AdventureSmith Explorations is the global leader in small ship, adventure cruise vacations. Company founder Todd Smith helped pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small cruise ship with the adventure of sea kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore. The company matches guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well with intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers.
In moving through exotic natural environments and exploring vibrant native cultures seldom associated with more mainstream cruise itineraries, AdventureSmith Explorations dedicates its efforts to small footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon free cruising initiative. Its off-the-beaten-path destinations include Alaska, Baja, Costa Rica, Belize, Ecuador and the Galapagos, Hawaii, Peru, the Arctic, Antarctica, and Australia.
Founded in 2003, AdventureSmith Explorations is based in Tahoe City, CA along the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. P: 800-728-2875 toll-free or 530-583-1775. E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / W: www.AdventureSmithExplorations.com.
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