Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean

8 days / 7 nights

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Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean

Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean

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Diving

Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean

Cruise Latin America, Caribbean

from 4 January 2020 to 11 January 2020
8 days / 7 nights

Departure Port : Cozumel
Arrival Port : Cozumel

Ship : LE CHAMPLAIN

Ref : C040120

Other departure dates

from 1 February 2020 to 8 February 2020

PONANT brings you a brand-new itinerary in the Caribbean Sea, sailing along the Mexican peninsula of Yucatán to Belize and Guatemala.

In Puerto Morelos, Cancún’s port, you will board Le Champlain for an 8-day cruise combining idyllic beaches and Pre-Columbian sites.

Your ship will first call at Puerto Cortés in Honduras. From there, an extension by plane is possible to discover the Mayan site of Copán. Located deep in the jungle, this site is famous for its remarkable hieroglyphic stairway which bears the longest Mayan inscription ever discovered.

The next port of call will be Santo Tomás de Castilla. From there, you will be able to discover the pyramids of Tikal, another major site of the Maya civilisation, or the palaces, pyramids and sanctuaries of the Archaeological Park and Ruins of Quiriguá.

Your ship will then set sail for Livingston in Guatemala, the heart of Garifuna country, which proudly cultivates an original culture and music that is listed as World Heritage by UNESCO.

Next, you will discover Belize, its heavenly beaches and its wonderful barrier reef, home to the emblematic Great Blue Hole, one of the most stunning diving spots in the world.

Diving

See the map

* Subject to availability.

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Special offer(s) :

CONSECUTIVE CRUISES

Take advantage of our special consecutive cruises offers*

-When this cruise is in 2nd position get a -20% discount

-When this cruise is in 3rd position get a -30% discount

- When this cruise is in 4th position get a -40% discount

- When this cruise is in 5th position get a -50% discount

- When this cruise is in 6th position get a -60% discount

*Reduction does not apply to the first cruise and relates to the port/port fare excluding port taxes, non available for Ocean Voyages and subject to availability. The offer is only available on selected cruises. Please, contact us.

Highlights

A cruise to four Central American countries: idyllic beaches, pre-Columbian sites, and discovery of the Garifuna culture.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Tikal by plane and the archaeological park and Mayan ruins of Quirigua from Santo Tomás de Castilla; the Mayan site of Copán from Puerto Cortés; the Belize Barrier Reef with Half Moon Caye and the Great Blue Hole.
Swimming, snorkelling or scuba diving at the Great Blue Hole in Belize, one of the world’s ten most beautiful diving sites according to Captain Cousteau.
The possibility of visiting Tulum and Muyil before your cruise.
Discovering the town of Livingston, which can only be reached by sea.

Staterooms & Suites
LE CHAMPLAIN
Port of call & excursions
Formalities
Scuba diving
Pre/Post & Overlands

Staterooms & Suites

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There are no staterooms available for booking. Please contact our cruise advisors.

LE CHAMPLAIN

Featuring innovative and environmentally-friendly equipment, elegantly designed staterooms, spacious suites with large windows, and lounge areas that open onto the outside, this new limited-capacity yacht boasting just 92 staterooms and suites will offer you a truly unique cruising experience.

As the second ship in a new series that remains true to the Ponant spirit, Le Champlain will embody the unique atmosphere that is the cruise line’s hallmark: a subtle blend of refinement, intimacy and comfort.

Aboard this ship that flies the French flag, you will experience the incomparable pleasure of an intimate cruise, with the possibility of exploring an ever-increasing range of destinations in an ethnic-chic ambiance with luxury service.

Experience a luxurious setting where the accent is on authenticity and passion for travel.

Virtual tour

Port of call & excursions

Cozumel

Embarkation 04/01/2020 from 16H00 to 17H00 . Departure 04/01/2020 at 21H00 .

Off the Riviera Maya, Cozumel is Mexico’s second largest island. Located at the northern extremity of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the island is renowned for its snorkelling and diving sites and the incredible clarity of its waters protected by a marine park. The island’s coasts and interior are also full of treasures: sacred Maya sites devoted to medicine, love and fertility; cenotes; a museum; an ecological reserve; mangroves; lagoons; coastal dunes; long unspoiled beaches. Don’t hesitate to climb to the top of the lighthouse in the Punta Sur Nature Reserve in the island’s south, to admire the panorama of these wild expanses from above.

5 January 2020 – At sea

Arrival 05/01/2020. Departure 05/01/2020.

During your day at sea, make the most of the many services and activities on board. Treat yourself to a moment of relaxation in the spa or stay in shape in the fitness centre. Depending on the season, let yourself be tempted by the swimming pool or a spot of sunbathing. This day without a port of call will also be an opportunity to enjoy the conferences or shows proposed on board, to do some shopping in the boutique or to meet the PONANT photographers in their dedicated space. As for lovers of the open sea, they will be able to visit the ship’s upper deck to admire the spectacle of the waves and perhaps be lucky enough to observe marine species. A truly enchanted interlude, combining comfort, rest and entertainment.

6 January 2020 – Water Caye

Arrival 06/01/2020 mid morning. Departure 06/01/2020 mid afternoon.

The Bay Islands archipelago is home to stunning cays, sheltered coral islets with warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters. Off the island of Utila, the white-sand beaches lined with palms and coconut trees and the reefs of the deserted islet called Water Caye offer a picture-postcard setting that will delight fans of swimming and snorkelling.

7 January 2020 – Santo Tomás de Castilla

Arrival 07/01/2020 early morning. Departure 07/01/2020 evening.

A port city located in the north-east of Guatemala, on the coast of the Amatique Bay, Santo Tomás de Castilla offers exceptional access to the fabulous Mayan archaeological site of Quiriguá. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, this place takes you back in time, deep into a décor of ruins and vestiges from the 8th century.

See available excursions

8 January 2020 – Livingston

Arrival 08/01/2020 early morning. Departure 08/01/2020 early evening.

Livingston is a town unlike any other in Guatemala, an enclave with a Caribbean atmosphere on the edge of the Rio Dulce. Lanchas, the motor boats that travel along the river and the Caribbean Sea, are the only way of reaching this small, welcoming town with no overland access to the rest of the country. Here, you are in Garifuna country: the inhabitants, descendent from Jamaican slaves, perpetuate their culture through oral tradition and ceremonies. Garifuna music, which is lively and sounds similar in some respects to reggae, and Garifuna dance, to the beat of drums, have both been classified by UNESCO as “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”.

See available excursions

9 January 2020 – Belize City

Arrival 09/01/2020 early morning. Departure 09/01/2020 late afternoon.

Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolises the fusion of British, Spanish and Maya cultures. The departure point for flights over the Great Blue Hole and the barrier reef, it’s also the ideal gateway for discovering the treasures of Maya architecture: in the heart of the jungle, the grandiose and mysterious ruins of temples and palaces at the Lamanai and Xunantunich sites await you. Another unmissable experience: a trip to the mouth of the Belize River: with a little luck and care, you’ll get a glimpse of manatees, dolphins, crocodiles, iguanas and many aquatic bird species.

See available excursions

10 January 2020 – Half Moon Caye

Arrival 10/01/2020 early morning. Departure 10/01/2020 midday.

The tropical green crescent of Half Moon Caye is a natural monument of Belize stretching out over crystal-clear waters. The appeal of the oldest protected marine and ornithological area in Central America stems from its beaches lined with coconut trees, but most importantly from its incredible underwater world, which you will be able to explore with fins, mask and snorkel. Corals, sponges, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, eels and groupers live in the turquoise waters, while on land the coastal forest is home to amusing geckos and a large colony of red-footed boobies, spectacular divers that penetrate the water at high speed to feed on small fish and squid.

See excursion

Cozumel

Disembarkation 11/01/2020 at 06H30 .

Formalities

The information below is current but subject to change at any time without advance notice from government authorities. Please consult your respective government agencies for visa and health information.
Passport valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip. Passport must contain at least two completely clear, blank, unused visa pages for each visa required, not including any amendment pages. Visa pages with stains or ink from other pages in the passport are not usable. Guests who deviate from the scheduled embarkation or disembarkation port should research the foreign entry requirements for the port country. Due to government regulations, regrettably, Ponant will have to deny boarding to any guest who fails to obtain the appropriate travel documentation for this trip.
Warning about the use of drones: the use of drones aboard PONANT ships, whether they are sailing at sea, at a port of call or anchored, is strictly forbidden. The use of drones on land in the Arctic and Antarctic regions is also strictly forbidden by international polar regulations. In other regions, it may be possible to use drones on land if permission has been obtained from the relevant authorities of each country and each region travelled through, as well as a pilot’s licence that should be obtained from your home country. Passengers are responsible for obtaining these permits; they should be able to present them at all times. Passengers who do not obtain these authorisations expose themselves to the risk of legal proceedings.
In order to participate in diving sessions, guests must have with them a medical certificate less than 1 year old and their up to date dive book.

Scuba diving

Fauna and flora of the Caribbean Sea

The fauna of the Caribbean Sea is very varied. During the different dives, divers can observe various species of benthic fauna such as French angel fish, queen angel fish, spotted drums, puffer fish, parrots fish, and pelagic fauna such as spotted eagle ray, barracudas, horse eyes jackfish, as well as fixed wildlife such as gorgonians and barrel sponges.

Supervision of the dives

Your dives will be led by your PONANT instructor. He will take care of your safety and that all goes smoothly. On some diving sites, as in natural reserves or if the local regulations require it, a local guide will escort the diving.

Level required for scuba diving on this cruise

The minimum level required for scuba diving on this cruise is 1star CMAS or the PADI Open Water Diver (or equivalent). The certification card, the diving log book and a recent medical certificate (less than 12 months) must be presented at the beginning of the cruise to our main diving instructor.

Process of the dives (certified divers)

The instructor can dive with 4 certified divers at a time. The instructor reserves the right to check divers’ ability for maximum safety. As we will dive in remote places, the dives will be done without decompression stop. A safety stop of 3 minutes at 5 metres will be mandatory. The depth that can be reached will depend on the certification of the divers:

For those with PADI Open Water Diver certificate (or equivalent), the maximum depth can be up to 20 metres.
If two PADI Advanced Open Water Divers (or equivalent) wish to dive together independently, they must have a briefing first. They must have dive computers and are allowed to go to a maximum depth of 20 metres.

Process of the initiation dives (novice divers)

Before your initiation dive, your instructor will show you the equipment and will explain to you how to communicate underwater using hand gestures and how to breathe through a regulator. Once in the water, equipped with your material, you will learn how to breathe through your regulator on the surface for a couple of minutes. When your instructor feels you are ready, he will immerse you in water for about 20 minutes to a depth of 6 metres maximum.

Duration of the dives

The diving activity lasts from 2 to 3 hours, which includes the journey to the diving site and the diving. This duration may vary according to the site, the level of divers, weather conditions and the number of participants. For experienced divers, the duration of dives varies between 35 and 60 minutes depending on the site, the diver’s experience and consumption.

Supplied equipment

Diving wetsuit
Stabilising jacket
Fins, mask and snorkel
Regulator with octopus and pressure gauge
Diving computer (for divers mastering their use)

Scuba diving activities on this cruise

PORTS OF CALL	CERTIFIED DIVES	INITIATION DIVES
HONDURAS - Puerto Cortes	YES	YES
GUATEMALA - Santo Tomás de Castilla	NO	NO
GUATEMALA - Livingston	NO	NO
BELIZE - Belize City	YES	YES
BELIZE - Half Moon Caye	YES	YES

These sites are indicative. The proposed diving excursions may be changed depending on weather and safety conditions and the number of divers.

Rates

Price per person

Initiation dive:

Introductory dive (1 dive): € 80
Ponant Discovery Pack (2 dives): € 150

Certified dive:

Exploration (1 dive): € 80
Excellence Package (3 dives): € 225

Pre/Post & Overlands

Before your cruise
03/01/2020 – DISCOVER THE ANCIENT SITES OF TULUM AND MUYIL (1 NIGHT)

900.00 AU$ ^**
More information

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Enjoy one day to explore Tulum and Muyil, two unique cities to understand the Maya civilisation. This programme will be a pleasant prelude to your embarkation.
Day 1 - Cancun/Playa del Carmen
Meet at the airport – Arrival Hall (look for PONANT sign).
You will be greeted by our local English-speaking representative off the flight selected by PONANT. You will be transferred to the hotel Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort.
Hotel check-in.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 – Playa del Carmen/Puerto Morelos
Breakfast included. Hotel check-out.
You will depart this morning for the famous mayan site of Tulum, built on a small cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. This Maya site may formerly have been known by the name Zama, meaning City of Dawn, because it stands on a bluff facing east, facing the sunrise. Upon arrival at the site, take a small train to the main entrance. Then your guide will lead you into the City to see the main buildings and show you the still remaining painted walls as well as the stucco decorations in front of the buildings.
After this visit of Tulum, continue to Muyil, another old Maya City. You will board a boat that will lead you through one of the old river routes the Maya used to navigate in order to trade and barter. In the middle of the route, you will disembark on a wooden pier surrounded by crystal-clear waters to take pictures of the small ruin, only vestige of the city.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
You will then be transferred to the pier of Puerto Morelos to embark on board your ship.
Your hotel:
The Grand Hyatt del Carmen Resort is located on the coveted Mamitas Beach. It offers 3 outdoor pools by the sea and a fitness centre. Rooms feature an elegant and refined decoration with a Wi-Fi access.
Your programme includes:
1-night accommodation in Standard room at the Grand Hyatt del Carmen Resort (or similar).
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
Beverage package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking guide.
Tips for the driver and local guide.
Your programme does not include:
Personal expenses.
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
Tulum attracts many visitors, your visit is scheduled early morning, however we ask for your patience and understanding if the site is crowded.
Contact of your hotel:
Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Ressort
1a Avenida esquina Calle 26, Colonia Centro
Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico, 77710
Telephone: +52 984 875 1234
Duration of the visits is given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Less details
02/01/2020 – RIVIERA MAYA, RELAXING AND EXPLORATION STAY (2 NIGHTS)

2180.00 AU$ ^**
More information

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.
Enjoy two days of relaxation in a boutique hotel located along the Riviera Maya, and explore two unique Maya cities, Tulum and Muyil located by the water. This programme will be an ideal prelude to your embarkation.
Day 1 – Cancun/Puerto Morelos
Meet at the airport – Arrival Hall (look for PONANT sign).
You will be greeted by our local English-speaking representative off the flight selected by PONANT. You will then be transferred to the hotel Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita.
Hotel check-in.
Dinner at the hotel.
Day 2 – Puerto Morelos
Enjoy the hotel facilities during this relaxing day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included at the hotel.
Day 3 – Puerto Morelos
Breakfast included. Hotel check-out.
You will depart this morning for the famous mayan site of Tulum, built on a small cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. This Maya site may formerly have been known by the name Zama, meaning City of Dawn, because it stands on a bluff facing east, facing the sunrise. Upon arrival at the site, take a small train to the main entrance. Then your guide will lead you into the City to see the main buildings and show the still remaining painted walls as well as the stucco decorations in front of the buildings.
After this visit of Tulum, continue to Muyil, another old Maya City. You will board a boat that will lead you through one of the old river routes the Maya used to navigate in order to trade and barter. In the middle of the route, you will disembark on a wooden pier surrounded by crystal-clear waters to take pictures of the small ruin, only vestige of the city.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.
You will then be transferred to the pier of Puerto Morelos to embark aboard your ship.
Your hotel:
The hotel Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita is located on a private white sandy beach in the middle of a tropical eden. Combining calm and elegance, rooms offer a sea view. You will also find at your disposal various water sport activities, a swimming pool as well as a unique spa and thalassotherapy in Mexico. Complimentary workshops such as culinary classes, ceramic painting classes, an initiation to ancient Maya healing practices, yoga and breathing sessions are organised by the hotel. The topics vary depending on day of week and season.
Your programme includes:
2-night accommodation in Ocean View room at the hotel Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita (or similar).
All-inclusive formula at the hotel.
Meals as mentioned in the programme.
Beverage package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking guide.
Tips for the driver and local guide.
Your programme does not include:
Personal expenses.
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
Tulum attracts many visitors, your visit is scheduled early morning, however we ask for your patience and understanding if the site is crowded.
Contact of your hotel:
Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita
Carretera Chetumal – Cancún Km 328 Bahia Petempich
Puerto Morelos/77580/Mexico
Telephone: +52 998 872 8329
Duration of the visits is given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Less details
After your cruise
11/01/2020 – SAVOURS AND COLOURS OF CANCUN

340.00 AU$ ^**
More information

Travel with peace of mind as PONANT organises your transfer between the port of disembarkation and the airport.
Puerto Morelos/Cancun
After disembarkation procedures are completed, you will be greeted at the port by our local representative.
You will reach by coach the Botanical Garden for an easy stroll along shady paths. You will see tree species such as the Chicle Tree also called the Chewing-gum Tree. You will find in the garden, two small Maya ruins illustrating how the sites looked like when encountered by the first explorers. There are also some beehives to harvest honey made by the Maya bees which have no sting.
You will make a stop at a lookout point over the Dolphin Beach (Playa Delfines). Enjoy the view overlooking the Mexican Caribbean waters as well as the beautiful white sandy beaches that have made Cancun a world-famous beach destination.
You will then be taken to Cancun Xcaret Tower which is 262 ft tall. This lookout tower rotates slowly to offer a spectacular view over Cancun city, its lagoon, and the ocean.
Lunch will be served in a local restaurant facing the lagoon side of Cancun.
After lunch, your tour will continue to Market 28, a long-running flea market, where you might find that perfect souvenir to bring back home. You will find here local arts and crafts, jewellery, traditional Maya clothing etc…
You will then be transferred to the airport in time for check-in of the PONANT selected flight.
Your programme includes:
Lunch with beverage package (a bottle of mineral or sparking water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer + 1 coffee or tea).
Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.
Services of a local English-speaking guide.
Tips for the driver and the local guide.
Your programme does not include:
Personal expenses.
Other services not mentioned in the programme.
Please note:
The stroll in the Botanical Garden is along trails about 800 metres long. We recommend that you bring along an insect repellant.
Note that hotels do not offer day-use rooms during this high season.
Duration of the visits is given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed. For the times of your PONANT flight, please contact your travel agent; they are also shown on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.
Less details
During your cruise
07/01/2020 – Tikal by air

1015.00 AU$ ^**
More information

This overland must be prebooked and prepaid at least 60 days prior to your cruise. Any reservation made after this deadline will be confirmed on-board based on availability. A minimum of participants must be booked in order to operate this tour. 100 % of total cost will be billed for cancellations made less than 60 days before departure.
From the pier, transfer to the near military base and board your plane for a 1 ½-hour chartered flight to the vast northern region of Petén. Upon arrival at Mundo Maya’s Airport, you will be driven 45 minutes through tropical forests to Tikal, one of the greatest Maya cities known and studied to date, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.
Leave your coach at the entrance of the Park and begin a 4-km (2.5 miles) stroll along dirt roads and pathways leading back in time. A mysterious realm unfolds upon entering the forested surroundings that now involve the ruins where your guide will explain the theories of life in the time of the Maya. You will visit the Pyramid of the Great Jaguar, the Central Plaza, the Palace of the Masks and Pyramid IV, the tallest of all pre-Columbian structures in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the Lost World Complex.
After the visit, drive towards a local hotel where lunch will be served. After lunch, it will be time to reboard your coach for the 15-minute drive to the airport, followed by the 1 ½-hour flight back.
Tikal National Park is a protected area of some 370 square km (143 sq. miles). The walking tour of the immediate ruins takes approximately three hours (depending on the pace of the group) and covers approximately 4 km (2.5 miles) of dirt roads and pathways with some gradual inclines and stairways. Sturdy, comfortable, closed-toed walking shoes are recommended with long sleeved shirts and trousers to insure protection against insects. Rain jackets, ponchos and umbrellas are also highly recommended to provide coverage during cloudbursts. Planes used are 19 or 33-seater Embraer.

Duration of excursions are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed.
Less details
09/01/2020 – Flying over the Great Blue Hole

735.00 AU$ ^**
More information

This overland must be pre-booked and prepaid at least 60 days prior to your cruise. Any reservation made after this deadline will be confirmed onboard based on availability. A minimum of participants must be booked in order to operate this tour. 100% of total cost will be billed for cancellations made less than 60 days before departure.
Board your van for a 15-minute drive to the Belize municipal airport. Once you have arrived, board your private, charter aircraft and fly out to the reef where you will follow the reef wall south to historic St. George’s Caye. Then, head east over Turneffe Atoll, Half Moon Caye and Lighthouse Reef Atoll to the Great Blue Hole.
Make several passes over this wonder of the world, and return via Northern Two Cayes and north Ambergris, near Rocky Point. From there, fly down the Barrier Reef, over the town of San Pedro and back to the airport.
Next, board your van for the return drive to the pier and your ship.
Planes used are Cessna Caravans aircrafts which seat 10 guests. The flight lasts 1 ¼ hour. Each guest has a window-seat. Live commentary will be made by the onboard captain. This tour is limited to 40 participants. We advise you bring a bottle of water and sunglasses. This tour is conducted in English only.
Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed.
Less details
06/01/2020 – Copan by air

1015.00 AU$ ^**
More information

This overland must be prebooked and prepaid at least 60 days prior to your cruise. Any reservation made after this deadline will be confirmed on-board based on availability. A minimum of participants must be booked in order to operate this tour. 100 % of total cost will be billed for cancellations made less than 60 days before departure.
From the pier, board your coach for a 1 ½-hour drive to San Pedro Sula airport. After the security check, your flight will take approximately 40 minutes.
Upon arrival in Copan, your local guide will be waiting for you. A 30-minute transfer will take you to the entrance of the archaeological site. Your first stop will be at the visitor centre to acquaint yourself with the region and the relief model of the Copan site. Your guide will explain some of the history and show you the route that your 1½ hour guided walking tour will make.
There are four main areas of interest that will be seen during the visit of Copan: The Acropolis, Hieroglyphic Stairway, Ball Court and Great Plaza. The Acropolis is divided into two large plazas, east and west. On the west you will see Temples 11 and 16 with the unique Q set at its base. Temple 11 was built during the reign of Yax Pac, and is his most significant architectural contribution to Copan. This elaborate temple was supposed to be a portal to the other world. The glyphs have now been completely deciphered and depict each of the 16 members of the Copán dynasty. Inside Temple 16, a remarkable discovery was made when the intact Rosalila Temple was discovered, complete with relief and paint. Descending from the Acropolis level to the Hieroglyphic stairway, you will have a splendid view of the Ball Court and toward the Great Plaza. The stairway is covered to protect it from the elements, but you can still view the marvel of Mayan writing. It is the longest known text left by the Mayan civilisation. The Ball Court is considered the social centre of the city. This is the most artistic ball court in Meso-America. The side markers resembling macaw heads are unique. The final work on this ball court goes back to the days of the ruler, "18-Rabbit". The Great Plaza is famous for its stelae and altars that are scattered around this immense plaza.
After a typical lunch in a local restaurant, it will be time to fly back to San Pedro Sula. Upon arrival, you will board your coach for the transfer back to Puerto Cortes and your ship.
Planes used are chartered LET L410 turboprop aircrafts which seat 17 guests. This tour involves approximately 1.5 km (1 mile) of walking over uneven ground. We recommend you wear comfortable walking shoes, protect yourself from the sun and insects. Bring along a light sweater for the coach as the air-conditioning can be strong. Only local currency and USD are accepted for purchases. This tour is limited to 50 participants. This tour is conducted in English only.
Duration of the visits are given as a guide only. The order of the visits may be reversed.
Less details

** Prices per person, based on double occupancy

Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.

Travellers are advised to check all the information with the authorities concerned prior to the departure date. Ponant advises Travellers to consult the country factsheets relating to the chosen destinations. Ponant specifically draws Travellers' attention to the fact that the information provided may change up until the departure date, and they are advised to consult that information up until the time of departure. CDP invites Travellers to adjust their behavior to the visited country, to exercise vigilance and to avoid carrying valuable objects during their travel.

Natural and Cultural Wonders of the Western Caribbean

Cruise Latin America, Caribbean

Special offer(s) :

Highlights

Staterooms & Suites

LE CHAMPLAIN

LE CHAMPLAIN

Port of call & excursions

Cozumel

5 January 2020 – At sea

6 January 2020 – Water Caye

7 January 2020 – Santo Tomás de Castilla

8 January 2020 – Livingston

9 January 2020 – Belize City

10 January 2020 – Half Moon Caye

Cozumel

Formalities

Scuba diving

Scuba diving

Pre/Post & Overlands

Before your cruise

03/01/2020 – DISCOVER THE ANCIENT SITES OF TULUM AND MUYIL (1 NIGHT)

02/01/2020 – RIVIERA MAYA, RELAXING AND EXPLORATION STAY (2 NIGHTS)

After your cruise

11/01/2020 – SAVOURS AND COLOURS OF CANCUN

During your cruise

07/01/2020 – Tikal by air

09/01/2020 – Flying over the Great Blue Hole

06/01/2020 – Copan by air

Attention: the prices listed at the time of your reservation can be different from those listed in the brochure. These prices can evolve based on availability and the real time rates of the airline companies selected.