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The forgotten city of Mirador
Dr. Richard Hansen, Director, Mirador Basin Project shows CNN's Brooke Baldwin the cradle of the Mayan civilization. |
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El Mirador |
This trail explores the lost Pre Classic Maya site of El Mirador. Legend has it that at its height, El Mirador was four times as grandiose as Tikal.This impressive site remains one of the most isolated and understudied of the great Maya ruins. Although largely unexcavated, these ruins are still predominantly intact, protected by a dense jungle canopy which covers and protects them from erosion. The most impressive structure in the complex is the Tigre Pyramid, which stands at an unprecedented height of 18 stories high, the highestpyramid yet discovered in the Maya world, with a base the size of three football fields.
Come and explore one of the greatest legacies left by the Maya Civilization, El Mirador!
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Itinerary 5 days-4 nights
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DAY 1 |
Early A.M. departing from Flores, the group will board a van for a two hour ride to the village of Carmelita. Upon arrival, we share a traditional Guatemalan breakfast in a local "comedor" or café. After breakfast, we depart for El Tintal an important archaeological site coming to the surface now along a small stream in the jungle, with our train of mules, food, equipment, our guide and assistants. Lunch served en route, camp and dinner at the chiclero-style camp of El Tintal. |
DAY 2 |
After breakfast, hike and/or horseback riding all the way until we reach El Mirador visitors facilities. This will take approx. 7 hours, maybe more, making it a long and hard day, but we'll have the chance of star gazing like it happened about 2,000 years ago. We'll make a stop at the site of La Muerta just before entering El Mirador to see some important petro-glyphs and important stone works. Wildlife watching in late afternoon. Dinner and camping at El Mirador.
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DAY 3 |
Explore the giant Mayan pre-classic city of El Mirador. Over 2000 years old, many archeologists speculate that El Mirador was the first major organized settlement of the ancient Maya. Their enormity suggests that a city-state government ruled the area, thus negating earlier held theories that only warring chieftains dominated the pre-classic Period. Among these buildings sit the temples of La Danta, the largest ever built by the Maya, over 18 stories tall with a base the size of three football fields and the triple pyramid of El Tigre with the marvelous stucco "tiger" face of Structure 34. The extensive site lies (for the most part) unexcavated, but undergoing intensive archaeological and scientific research, occupies over 16 sq. km. of primary forest. We rest in the evening and overnight at El Mirador camp for our second night. |
DAY 4 & 5 |
Return begins back to Carmelita with camp at El Tintal or at an alternative camp (approx. 8 hrs.). Explore the nearby ruins and camp in El Tintal. We arrive in Carmelita in the afternoon of the fifth day. Transfer to Flores.
El Mirador is operated by Turismo Aventura and with local people from Carmelita Village. This community was founded 60 years ago as an important base for chicle collection and processing. Chicle is the resin of the Chico-zapote tree, which forms the natural base of chewing gum. Another rainforest product is the xate palm frond which is used in floral arrangements. The villagers of Carmelita have always depended on the surrounding forest for their livelihood and have extracted these non-timber forest products in a sustainable manner.
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Our prices includes:
Transportation Flores - Carmelita - Flores
Community guide in Spanish,
Pack and riding horses,
All meals, purified water, and camping hear. |
Our prices does not include :
Tips
Alcoholic drinks
Local Flights |
El Mirador Trail is recommended to hikers in good physical condition, prepared to cope with long hikes and rugged terrain. Virtually every day in the expedition is spent walking or riding horses. Eight hour treks are not uncommon. There mosquitos and other insects.
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We go to Mirador 2 person minimum
Prices, please ask |
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