Eva Tours El Salvador

Day 1: Reception at the international airport and transfer to the hotel of your choice.

Day 2: Breakfast. Departure to the Joya de Cerén, the most important archaeological discovery of the last 50 years in Latin America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will also visit the archaeological site of San Andrés, and a visit to the majestic cathedral and the historic city centre. We will then visit the archaeological sites at Tazumal before returning to the hotel in San Salvador.

Day 3: Breakfast. Departure to the ruins at Copan. Accommodation.

Day 4: Breakfast. Visit to Copan ruins. Copan is a tranquil oasis of ancient culture and stunning natural beauty. For many years Copan has been famous for its magnificent Mayan ruins, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Today Copan is considered the Paris of the Mayan world in Central America. Mayan civilization is divided into three different periods of time: the Pre-Classic period between the years 2,000 B.C. and 250 A.C. ;the Classic period between 250 and 900 A.C., and the Post-Classic period between 900 and 1500 A.C. According to current population figures it is estimated that during the 8th century Copan was a city of over 20,000 inhabitants, a level which was not reached again in the region until the decade of the 1980´s. It is believed that the Mayans reached the area around the 4th century from somewhere in Central America. Accomodation in Copan.

Day 5: Breakfast. Departure to Rio Dulce before continuing on our Mayan journey. Arrival in Tikal and accomodation in Petén.

Day 6: Breakfast. Departure to Tikal archaeological site. Tikal is the largest of the ancient Mayan cities of the Classic period. Tikal is theMayan city complex which is best known around the world and is the site of the highest pyramid: Temple IV of the Twin-headed Serpent is 65 metres high. At one time Tikal had a population of 60,000 people who lived under the direction of 33 governors over a period of 800 years. Tikal is one of the few Mayan cities which survived the collapse of the Pre-Classic period and flourished in the Classic period, a transition which few cities were able to undertake. The name Tikal means "Place of Voices" or "Place of Languages" in Maya and was coined by Sylvanus Morley. Its real name according to the hieroglyphic texts is Mutul or Yax Mutul de Mut. Carbon dating tests show that Tikal was a population centre some 600 years B.C. Its first governor, Chak Tok Ich¨aak, has a certain historical importance in the dynastic origins of Tikal (360 – 378 B.C.). We finish our visit at the end of the day. Accomodation in hotel in Peten.

Day 7: Breakfast and departure to San Salvador. On the way we will visit the archaeological site of Quiriguá. Quiriguá is is a site belonging to the Mayan cultura, occupied since 400 A.C.. It is located in the municipality of Los Amates, in the región of Izabal. Quiriguá is an impressive site of the late Classic period, best known for its sculptured stelas (pillars) and altars (33 in total) which have been elaborated in a fine and unique style. The inhabitants of this city were enemies of the population of Copán, disputing the trade routes of the river Motagua which leads to the Caribbean Sea. The majority of the stelas were constructed during the sixty years of the reign of Butz¨Tiliw o Cauac Cieol, the greatest governor of Quiriguá, so it is with little surprise that 7 of the 9 monumental stelas are of him. In 738 A.C. Cauac Cielo captured the King of Copán, Waxaklahun Ubah K awil , beheading him in th Great Plaza, thus ending the long domination of Copán over Quiriguá. The "C" stela makes reference to the start of the 5th Mayanlundh era. Then we will arriving at the end of the afternoon at the hotel in San Salvador.

Day 8: Breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.