EL MIRADOR FULL DAY TOUR Sacbe, The White Road... (GROUPS B & E) DAY 1 (GROUP B- Operated the first day in our fixed departure) GROUP B- Meeting point Flores Airport Cafe at 9:30 a.m. sharp You will leave from Flores at 10:00 a.m. and will get to El Mirador archaeological site at 10:30 a.m. after a stunning flight over the Maya Biosphere Reserve. You will go on a guided walk through the site with a local park guard. (OPTIONAL: You may also take a professional archaeological guide with you at an additional cost). The site has been the object of archaeological studies for the past 26 years, however, many people think it was just recently discovered by archaeologists in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle. The ancient name of El Mirador is not known, but Ox Te Tun or "The God's Place of Birth" may have been the name the Maya used, while the ruling dynasty's name that ruled over a vast State, known as Kan, is just beginning to be understood... El Mirador is one of the most ancient & also one of the largest Maya cities, boasting the most massive pyramid ever built on Earth, named La Danta, 79 meters tall. Its construction filling alone consists of 2.8 million cubic meters and it covers a very large surface at its base of 6.5 by 3.5 football fields! As you will see the tallest pyramids at El Mirador are named after animals. La Danta means tapir... This morning you will see La Pava Group (a female turkey) and the ancient residences named Cascabel (rattlesnake)... Return to the encampment to have lunch at 2:15 p.m. After lunch you will visit Structure 313, recently restored, and Structure 34, where you will appreciate a magnificent frieze depicting a jaguar paw. You will take your strategic sunset positions atop El Tigre Pyramid, the second largest at El Mirador, 72 meters above ground level. Return to helipad at 3:45 p.m. and depart from El Mirador at 4:00 p.m. You will be back at Flores airport at 4:30 p.m. DAY 2 (GROUP E- Operated the first day in our fixed departure) GROUP E- Meeting point Camino Real Tikal at 7:45 a.m. sharp You will leave from Camino Real helipad at 8:30 a.m. and will get to El Mirador archaeological site at 9:00 a.m. after a stunning flight over the Maya Biosphere Reserve. You will go on a guided walk through the site with a local park guard. (OPTIONAL: You may also take a professional archaeological guide with you at an additional cost). The site has been the object of archaeological studies for the past 26 years, however, many people think it was just recently discovered by archaeologists in the middle of the Guatemalan jungle. The ancient name of El Mirador is not known, but Ox Te Tun or "The God's Place of Birth" may have been the name the Maya used, while the ruling dynasty's name that ruled over a vast State, known as Kan, is just beginning to be understood... El Mirador is one of the most ancient & also one of the largest Maya cities, boasting the most massive pyramid ever built on Earth, named La Danta, 79 meters tall. As you will see the tallest pyramids at El Mirador are named after animals. La Danta means tapir... Its construction filling alone consists of 2.8 million cubic meters and it covers a very large surface at its base of 6.5 by 3.5 football fields! This morning you will see La Pava Group (a female turkey) and the ancient residences named Cascabel (rattlesnake)... Return to the encampment to have lunch at 12:30 p.m. After lunch you will visit Structure 313, recently restored, and Structure 34, where you will appreciate a magnificent frieze depicting a jaguar paw. You will take your strategic sunset positions atop El Tigre Pyramid, the second largest at El Mirador, 72 meters above ground level. Return to helipad at 3:30 p.m. and depart from El Mirador at 4:00 p.m. You will be landing at Flores airport at 4:30 p.m. & transfers to the Camino Real Tikal by land will be provided if needed...
Filming over the island city of Flores (August 2006)... & sitting in front of a detail on Mirador's Structure 34, Fernando and Patrocinio are 2 of the oldest park guards and your hosts at the site of El Mirador. They patrol and safeguard the treasures at the Mirador- Rio Azul National Park . They work for the IDAEH, Institute of Anthropology & History, at the site of Mirador. (Photo by Carla Molina, February 2005). Price per person US$ 284... limitted to 5 participants maximum. What's included? Helicopter transfers Flores- Mirador- Flores. One mid morning snack and lunch, and plenty of water, lots of adrenaline & real ecotourism & adventure!!! What's not included? Airfare from Belize City, Guatemala City or Cancun. Transfers to and from the airport. OPTIONAL: An optional flight to Flores from Guatemala City may be added to your helicopter tour to El Mirador... If you are starting from Guatemala City check in at your airline's counter at 5:30 a.m. for your flight 7972 with INTER DE TACA or TAG Airlines) to Flores Peten. Your flight departs Guatemala City International Airport at 6:30 a.m. and arrives into Flores Airport at 7:20 a.m. We will also gladly arrange your flights from Belize City or Cancun... Starting in November 2007 we will also gladly arrange your flights from Palenque... TRANSFERS: Your driver will be waiting for you when you get back from El Mirador to take you to Tikal, or to Camino Real Tikal, or explore the island city of Flores before your next tour.... NEW: Finally, if you prefer to have more time at El Mirador we also organize 6 day and 5 night expedtions on mule back starting from the village of Carmelita with our jungle guide, Alex Maza... For information write us at sales@mayaworld.org
Mirador Structure 34 detail (Photo by Carla Molina, February 2005) |
