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Maya Carvings
Cenote Hubiku
Pink Flamingos, Celestún
Chichén Itzá Pyramid
Mayapan
Starting at $7,495 per person
Step into the heart of the Maya world with Dr. Khristin Montes, a distinguished art historian with a background in anthropology and archaeology whose research focuses on the sacred art and architecture of this iconic civilization. In this immersive journey, you’ll travel to the vibrant Yucatán Peninsula, where the echoes of the past still resonate through towering pyramids, great ballcourts, and sacred cenotes. Professor Montes guides you through the hidden histories and breathtaking beauty of Maya architecture and artistry, revealing how their enduring legacies continue to shape the lives of the Maya people today.
As you walk in the footsteps of the Maya, you’ll engage with artisans, scholars, and spiritual leaders who embody centuries of tradition and resilience. Discover the richness of Maya religious practices, music, cuisine, and storytelling, and witness rituals that have been preserved for over 500 years. From viewing ancient temples to navigating ceremonial walkways, each moment offers a deeper understanding of a culture that thrives in both memory and modernity. This is more than a tour; it’s a transformative experience that invites you to see, feel, and connect with the living Maya world.
with Khristin Montes
Art, Architecture, and Culture of the Maya World
DEPATURE DATES AND PRICING
Highlights
Stand in the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and imagine the excitement of ancient athletes competing in honor of Zeus, king of the gods.
Discover the stunning mosaics of Hosios Loukas, a hidden Byzantine monastery, where centuries of devotion are etched in golden tiles, revealing Greece’s transition from antiquity to medieval splendor.
Immerse yourself in the myth and majesty of the Acropolis and explore the Parthenon and its surrounding temples with Professor Cyrino, uncovering the divine power of Athena and the artistic mastery that shaped classical Greece.
Travel in the footsteps of Agamemnon as you walk through the Lion Gate of Mycenae and visit the Tomb of Agamemnon, learning how Homer’s epics immortalized the kings and warriors of this ancient civilization.
Explore the sacred center of Delphi as you ascend the slopes of Mount Parnassus to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle once delivered cryptic prophecies that shaped the course of Greek and Mediterranean history.
Highlights
Stand in the ruins of Olympia, the birthplace of the Olympic Games, and imagine the excitement of ancient athletes competing in honor of Zeus, king of the gods.
Discover the stunning mosaics of Hosios Loukas, a hidden Byzantine monastery, where centuries of devotion are etched in golden tiles, revealing Greece’s transition from antiquity to medieval splendor.
Immerse yourself in the myth and majesty of the Acropolis and explore the Parthenon and its surrounding temples with Professor Cyrino, uncovering the divine power of Athena and the artistic mastery that shaped classical Greece.
Travel in the footsteps of Agamemnon as you walk through the Lion Gate of Mycenae and visit the Tomb of Agamemnon, learning how Homer’s epics immortalized the kings and warriors of this ancient civilization.
Explore the sacred center of Delphi as you ascend the slopes of Mount Parnassus to the Temple of Apollo, where the Oracle once delivered cryptic prophecies that shaped the course of Greek and Mediterranean history.
Discover what makes Maya art so iconic as you observe the masterful mix of color—using natural dyes—and the exquisite attention to detail in their works.
Gather for traditional Maya and Mexican cuisine, including rich hot chocolate, hot tortillas, fresh avocados, and spicy salsas in fine restaurants, markets, and homes.
With your guide, Professor Montes, visit the workshops and galleries of local artisans to learn from Maya artists and scholars how ancient traditions have survived for centuries.
Trace the influence of the Maya with visits to some of the most iconic sites, including Chichen Itza, and lesser-known ruins, such as Mayapan, the focus of Dr. Montes’ doctoral research.
Highlights
Khristin Montes
Dr. Khristin Montes is an Assistant Professor of Art History at Regis University. She has expertise in and a passion for teaching and preserving the art and culture of the Maya. Professor Montes has authored or coauthored several articles and delivered numerous talks based on her research into Maya art, history, and culture, past and present. She received her PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, with her dissertation research focusing on pre-Columbian art of the Maya. Prior to teaching at Regis University, she was the Project Facilitator for the Cultural Heritage, Ecology, and Conservation of Yucatec Cenotes Project—a cultural and environmental sustainability and educational project that took place in nine Maya communities between 2018 and 2020. The “Cenotes Project” was jointly organized through InHerit (Indigenous Heritage Passed to Present) at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and the Universidad de Oriente in Valladolid, Yucatán, Mexico, and sponsored by the National Geographic Society. Professor Montes has completed work on her first Great Course, Creation Stories of the Americas, which is due to release December 2025.
Journey Expert
Khristin Montes
Merida
Arrive this afternoon in Merida, the capital of the State of Yucatán and gather for a welcome lecture with Professor Montes about sacred Maya landscapes, followed by dinner at the award-winning Rosas y Xocolate, offering modern twists on Mexican classics in a Maya-inspired mansion.
Included Meal: Dinner, Reception
Accommodations: Villa Mercedes Curio
Palace of the Governors
Start the day with a guided visit of the Great Museum of the Maya World, a world-class collection of Maya art and artifacts in a modern building designed to resemble the sacred ceiba tree. Professor Montes will share insights about how this design sets the stage for your study of sacred landscapes. Then, trace the history of the Maya along the walls of the elegant Palace of the Governors, which houses the executive government offices for the region. After lunch as a group, continue to Merida’s historic city center to view the bustling zócalo or plaza, stately cathedral, and colonial buildings. Tonight, experience the warmth and hospitality of dinner in a family home.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Villa Mercedes Curio
Maya Carvings
Depart after breakfast for the fishing village of Celestún, home to secluded beaches and the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Enjoy a boat ride on a salt-water lagoon that is home to flocks of pink flamingos* and explore the mangrove forest that provides critical habitat for hundreds of species of birds, fish, and alligators. Those who choose to can enjoy a swim in the open water. After lunch, continue toward Uxmal. En route, you will meet briefly with an artist to learn about the art of Maya carving, including the use of “stele”—large stone slabs covered with carvings and inscriptions, intricate lintels spanning doorways, and elaborate altars. This afternoon, try your hand at writing your name in hieroglyphs and learn from Professor Montes about efforts to keep Maya languages alive, before dinner on your own.
*Note that while flamingos are present year-round; concentrations are highest from November through April.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hacienda Uxmal Plantation
Pyramids at Uxmal
Step out of your hotel and back in time as you spend the morning in the ancient Maya city of Uxmal, a World Heritage city recognized as one of the most important archaeological sites in Maya culture and a model of urban planning. Abandoned by its inhabitants more than 1,000 years ago, Uxmal once served as a critical political and administrative center with as many as 20,000 inhabitants. Professor Montes will reveal how the complex ceremonial structures reflect the social and economic structure of late Maya society, a keen industry of astronomy, and a profound religious connection. Later, visit with world-class artisan Patricia Martin and observe her flawless technique, as she captures Maya history in exquisite pottery reproductions. Return to Uxmal this afternoon to learn about the significance of chocolate to the Maya, take a walk through the botanical gardens where cacao is cultivated, and a get hands-on experience crafting the perfect hot chocolate. Then, enjoy an evening on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hacienda Uxmal Plantation
Snake Carvings
Begin your day with a home visit to learn how sisal (a natural fiber used for rope and twine) is processed and used. Later, the strength and resolve of the Maya people are put into context with a visit to Mani, where 16th-century missionaries destroyed hundreds of books and statues to eradicate Maya traditions. Savor culinary traditions with a group lunch at Tutul-Xiu before continuing to Mayapan, the last Maya capital to exist in Yucatán before the arrival of the Spanish. An expert on this region and one of only a few art historians to have worked at Mayapan, Professor Montes will share thoughts about the alternative path the Maya may have taken if the Spanish had not arrived in Mexico. You will learn about the history of representational government at Mayapan and see evidence of the elaborate social hierarchy in the settlement. Arrive this afternoon at Chichén Itzá, another ancient Maya city, and the center of the feathered serpent cult. This evening, enjoy dinner as a group in the hotel and reflect on how Maya culture survives today.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itza
The Great Ball Court
Start the day with a visit to the brilliant ruins of Chichén Itzá, the dazzling ancient city that once dominated the Yucatán Peninsula. Before crowds converge on the site, walk amidst Chichén Itzá’s great pyramids and temples, and through the city’s Great Ballcourt, the representation of the underworld itself and the largest ballcourt in the Americas. Afterward, spend time continuing to explore the grounds on your own. This afternoon, enjoy an exclusive planetarium show and learn about Maya innovations in astronomy. Then, witness a fascinating demonstration of the ancient Maya ball game, Pok-Ta-Pok. Return to Chichén Itzá this evening for a spectacular light and sound show and dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itza
Valladolid
This morning, visit Valladolid, named one of Mexico’s “magic towns” because of its special significance to the country’s rich heritage. Enjoy a brief tour of Valladolid’s vibrant markets, its colorful streets, and colonial buildings. After, depart for Cenote Hubiku, sheltered by a dome of stalactites. The cenote is believed to be an entry to the underworld, where Maya gods would visit. Learn about the ancient offerings and rituals performed in cenotes, the artifacts that have been found in them, and take a dip in its crystal blue waters. Continue to Tahcabo this afternoon, whose name loosely translates in Yucatán Maya to “the place we harvest honey.” Tour the town with a local archaeologist and educator, Dr. Iván Batún Alpuche, who will bring you to Tahcabo’s local museum and its colonial churches, along with a heritage walk. After, return to the hotel with time to explore the grounds and enjoy dinner on your own.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodations: Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itza
Izamal
Depart Chichén Itzá this morning for the colorful and charming Yellow City of Izamal, painted yellow in honor of the Maya sun god. Tour the city’s rich history, which includes pre-Columbian, colonial, and modern threads. View the 10-story pyramid in the city center and walk through the Convent of St. Anthony of Padua, constructed in 1561 atop a destroyed Maya temple. The Convent is one of the oldest Catholic monasteries in the Americas and its vast outdoor atrium—designed as a Christian teaching tool for the Maya—is the second largest in the world after the Vatican. Return to Merida this afternoon where you will have time to explore the markets on your own before joining together for a final dinner and reception.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner, Reception
Accommodations: Villa Mercedes Curio
Temple of Poseidon
The morning begins with a ferry to Aegina, a maritime power and home to the Temple of Aphaea, a local goddess linked to Athena and Artemis. Admire this well-preserved Doric temple, part of the “sacred triangle” with the Parthenon and the Temple of Poseidon. Savor lunch in a private farmhouse on the island, overlooking pistachio and olive trees. Then, return by ferry to Athens and freshen up before a final celebratory dinner. Toast your journey with a final reception and dinner at a local restaurant overlooking the Acropolis.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodations: Fresh Hotel
Hotel Mundo Maya
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itzá is a 5-star retreat nestled in the lush Yucatán jungle, just minutes from Chichén Itzá. Designed with a blend of modern elegance and subtle Mayan architectural influences, the hotel offers a peaceful escape with top-tier amenities. Guests can unwind in two outdoor pools, rejuvenate at the full-service spa, or stay active in the state-of-the-art fitness center. Rooms are spacious and stylish, featuring balconies, air conditioning, flat-screen TVs, and thoughtful touches like ceiling fans and laptop workspaces. (3 Nights)
Villa Mercedes Curio
Merida, Mexico
Villa Mercedes Curio is located a short walk from the historic Paseo de Montejo and the elegant Palace of the Governors. The hotel features colonial architecture and offers amenities such as all-day dining at two on-site restaurants, a lobby bar, full-service spa, fitness center, garden, and an outdoor pool. Beautifully landscaped hotel grounds provide a serene environment. Rooms are decorated in a classic style with modern conveniences. (3 nights)
Hacienda Uxmal Plantation
Uxmal, Mexico
The Hacienda Uxmal Plantation is located a short walk from the Uxmal Pyramids and Temples. Comfortable rooms feature a blend of traditional Maya and Spanish décor with a terrace overlooking two outdoor pools and tropical gardens. Rooms include air conditioning and en suite bathrooms with hand-tiled ceramic and marble accents and complimentary toiletries. The expansive property is a working plantation, with miles of fruit trees, making the property the world’s first hotel hacienda. (2 Nights)
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Highlights
Uncover the dynastic ambitions and historical significance of monuments like Hassan Tower and the Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat.
Experience the stony landscape of the Agafay Desert on a camel trek, culminating in a breathtaking sunset over the High Atlas Mountains.
Admire the Islamic architecture in Marrakesh, from the grand Koutoubia Mosque and intricate Bahia Palace to the serene beauty of the Ben Youssef Madrasa.
Discover the University of al-Qarawiyyin, the world’s oldest continuously operating university, and engage in a discussion on its profound influence on global scholarship.
Wander through the labyrinthine alleyways of the UNESCO-listed Medina in Fes, where vibrant stalls overflow with textiles, spices, and artisanal crafts.