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Zinacantan embroiderer

DAY OF THE DEAD AND TRADITIONAL ARTS
FCP1110-DD

From the humid Mayan ruins of Palenque to the cool highland weaving villages of central Chiapas. . .
October 26 - November 4, 2011
(For tour price and other information, please see the Trip Details sidebar on this page)

Join us for this journey to visit the ancient stones of a Mayan jungle city, a highland colonial town surrounded by villages of traditional weavers and Day of the Dead festivals in Mayan cemeteries filled with folks dressed to the T in their hand woven finery.

Please click here for a slideshow of amazing photos from out Mayan Day of the Dead adventure!

Our travels begin in the land of Mexico’s first civilization, the Olmec, and we will see many of the legendary gigantic stone heads that the Olmec were famous for. Then we travel to the edge of the Yucatan and the spectacular Maya Archeological site of Palenque.

The jungle-shrouded ruins at Palenque

This is an unparalleled opportunity to learn about the life of the Maya, both ancient and contemporary, an opportunity to marvel at the ancient cities in the jungle and realize that the people and cultures who created those places have not disappeared, but continue to thrive in a far corner of an exotic land.

Olmex stone head at Villahermosa

Day 2, (BLD). After breakfast we will visit the La Venta Museum and Park, which showcases several spectacular Olmec stone heads (one of which weighs over 24 tons) and pre-Hispanic stone sculptures. The park is also filled with examples of tropical flora from the region and there is a zoo with jungle animals such as macaws, lynxes, jaguars and boa constrictors.  After a leisurely visit to the park and museum we will head for Chiapas and the town and ruins of Palenque. We will arrive here in the afternoon and, time allowing, we will visit the Palenque museum in preparation for visiting the site tomorrow.  Evening in Palenque.

Day 3, (BL). Today we head to the ruined Mayan city of Palenque, ancestral homeland to many of the Mayans living in this area today. This most fabulous of lost Mayan cities was once the center of a great kingdom. A century and a half ago explores began to hack away at the jungle that had completely engulfed by the voracious lowland jungle and today the grand central plazas of this city with its pyramids and palaces can once again be marveled at. Still, only ten percent of this city has been uncovered, most is still lost in the thick jungle. We will be guided through this elegant Mayan city, exploring the palaces and temples. In the afternoon, those who care can continue to explore some of the further reaches with out guide deeper in the jungle. Throughout the day, in the trees we may see or hear Howler monkeys or see a flying toucan. Evening in Palenque.

The Falls of Misolja

Day 4, (LD). We make for the pine-clad highlands today.  En route, we’ll visit the spectacular water falls of Agua Azul. Walk up the trail for gorgeous views of the falls, or take a dip before we continue on into the cool and deeply traditional world of the Mayan highlands and the colonial town of San Cristobal de Las Casas.  We arrive in the afternoon to settle in to our hotel. We’ll be joined by our exceptional guest guide, Chip Morris, for dinner. Evening in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

Day 5, (BL). Chip Morris will join us this morning for our visits to the highland weaving communities around San Cristobal. Today we will visit the Tzotzil Maya village of Chamula. We will wander through the plaza filling market and then wander in to the Chamula church. To walk into this church is a truly amazing experience where we witness the fusion of Catholicism with Classic Mayan ceremonies. We’ll also meet with a weaver and visit the home of the Earth Lord.  Returning to San Cristobal in the afternoon we visit the Sna Jolobil weaving cooperative and store. Representing 800 weavers from 20 communities, Sna Jolobil is a mouthwatering mother load of superb quality highland Mayan weavings. Evening in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

Along the road to the highland village of Magdalenas

Day 6, (BD). We’ve traveled many days and today we slow down, sort of. We’ll let the van rest and let our feet do the work as we head out to explore the beautiful city out our front door. Our wanderings will take us to the San Cristobal graveyard which is being polished up for the return of the spirits of the dead. We’ll also visit the Santo Domingo folk art market, the old produce market and other sites. We leave the afternoon wide open so you can wander, shop or rest at will.  In the evening we gather again for a visit to Na Bolom, which was the home of the renowned Swiss and Danish anthropologist/archeologist team of Trudy and Franz Blom. Chip will show us around this wonderful, musty museum rich in books, photos and the sense of another era and we will have dinner at the Na Bolom long table. Evening in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

Day 7, (L).  Today we launch ourselves into the heart of the Mayan Day of the Dead party at the cross-clad hilltop cemetery of Chamula. We will be greeted by a full blown festival of thousands of highland Maya decked out in their best, live bands, food and beer and general, glorious pandemonium. It is enough to raise the dead! We wade into the midst of it and settle in for a picnic and some serious people watching (and being watched). The Mayan world swirls around us today like at no other time. It is a sight to behold.  In the afternoon we head back to San Cristobal to take a load off.  Evening in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

In the village of Aguacatenango

Day 8, (L).  Our travels today again take us to a graveyard, but this one, on a crag above the village of Zinacantan, is markedly different from the scene we survived yesterday. Here we’ll find a somber graveyard, more often than not swirling with mountain-tip mists. The tombs are piled high with flowers and attended by family members dressed in the finest of blue green and blue floral embroidery work. From the graveyard we will descend to the village and visit a household of weavers and embroiderers who will do their best to tempt you with their goodies. Past experience has shown that we are easily tempted. There is also a smoky kitchen serving up fresh tortillas with cheese and salsa around a warm fire. Evening in San Cristobal.

Day 9,   (LD). This morning Chip will take us to San Andres, famous for its spectacular wool brocade work. We will visit weavers and shops here to see the quality work that is being done. Further along, in the village of Magdalena we’ll visit a household of weavers and meet a Mayan gentleman who makes the extremely fine shoulder bags from twined agave fiber. He’ll show us how get gets the fiber from a special agave plant, how he twines on his knee and begins to weave the bag. In the meantime we’ll be surrounded by his extended family, all weavers, who will fire up their looms and pull out their goods for our consideration.  This evening we’ll dust off and join for a final and fine dinner together. Evening in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

Mayan faces

Day 10, (B).  After breakfast it is time to pack our bags and move on, back to our own neck of woods. Those traveling home today will want to transfer to Tuxtla Gutierrez, about 1.5 hours, where flights can be booked to Mexico City.

All itineraries subject to change without notice.

SUGGESTED READING

Morris, Walter (Chip), Living Maya, Harry N. Abrams, Inc. New York, 1986.

Fomento Cultural Banamex, The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art, Fomento Cultural Banamex, A.C., Mexico City, 1998
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Stephens, John L. Incidents of Travel in Central America, Chiapas, and Yucatan, Vol. 1