IWC FUNDRAISING TOUR 2014

CHIAPAS

Thurs. March 20 – Thurs. March 27

The tour includes:• Seven nights

accommodation

• Transportation by motor coach for the duration of the tour

• Entrances tickets to all specified attractions

• Bilingual guide services

*

• Tips and gratuities for hotel maids, bell boys & waiters.

• Meals: Breakfast at the hotel every morning

• 1 Box lunch

• Donation to IWC

OUR ITINERARY

DAY 1 Thursday March 20th

• We will travel all day via motor coach, from Merida to Villahermosa, where we will overnight.

• We will spend the night at the Hotel Viva.

• This evening will be yours to spend as you please.

Our bus will look much like this one.

We’ll drive along Campeche’s coastline…

We’ll spend our first night at the Hotel Viva in Villahermosa.

DAY 2 Friday March 21st

• Today we will have breakfast at 7:30 and leave at 8:00 am. Our journey will continue through Chiapas.

• We will take a tour through the breath taking river gorge, “El Cañon del Sumidero”.

• We will then continue on towards San Cristobal de las Casas.

• We will spend the next four nights at the Hotel Palcio de Monctezuma.

• The evening will be yours to spend as you please.

Today, we’ll drive throughLa Sierra Madre mountains…

The scenery is spectacular.

We’ll ride a boat throughEl Cañon del Sumidero.

Cañon del Sumidero

We’ll also see interesting signs along the way…

About 5:00 pm, we’ll check into the Hotel Monctezuma for the next 4 nights.

The courtyard of the Hotel Monctezuma.

The city has some great restaurants!

DAY 3 Saturday March 22nd

• After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we will meet in the lobby at 10:30 am, and take a guided walking tour through the quaint streets of the city. We will finish up at the colourful Santo Domingo artisan market.

• You will be free to do as you please for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Strolling the streets of San Cristobal de las Casas…

The Cathedral

Chiapas is like nowhere else…

Winding Streets

Santo Domingo Church

Tonight you might enjoy the

piano bar across the

street from our hotel.

DAY 4 Sunday March 23rd

• Today we will drive a short distance outside of town to visit the village of San Juan Chamula.

• Here you will witness centuries-old traditions and rites.

• Once we return to San Cristobal, the rest of the afternoon and evening will be yours to shop and explore…

The Church in San Juan Chamula

More markets…

Typical Chiapas highlands cross.

More crosses…

DAY 5 Monday March 24

• Today will be our ‘your day’, and you can do what ever you want. There are museums, villages, and markets you can visit. Horseback rides are available. You could have a massage or go on a hike, or find a pretty place to sketch or take photographs.

• On this day, each person will be responsible for their own sight seeing costs and transportation.

These jaguars are made in an Atotonilco near San Cristobal.

Another trip to

the market anyone?

Watching the sunset from atop the “Guadalupe Hill” is an experience never to be forgotten.

DAY 6 Tuesday March 25

• We will depart San Cristobal this morning at 9:00 am and drive back down the mountains to Palenque.

• En route we will visit the Agua Azul waterfalls, where we will have time to swim, hike, and have a picnic lunch.

• In Palenque, we will stay at the Hotel Chablis.

And we’re off again!

36

Agua Azul

Hotel Chablis

DAY 7Wednesday March 26th

• Our day will start with breakfast at 8:00 am.

• Site seeing in Palenque.

• We will return to the hotel at about 4:00 pm and the rest of the afternoon and evening are yours to spend as you like.

Palenque

Palenque

Palenque

Palenque

Orchids in Palenque.

This is Gladys; her parents are vendors in the market.

DAY 8Thursday March 27th

• After breakfast, we will drive back home, following the route we came. We will stop for lunch at a seaside restaurant in Campeche.

• We expect to be in Merida by about 5:00 pm.

Lots of info coming next…

COSTSSharing Double - $7200 each

Single Room - $9500 each

For further information and to register

Contact Joanna Rosado

Email: writingfrommerida@gmail.com

WHAT TO PACK

On our trip, it will be warm during the day but quite cold during the nights we’ll spend in the mountains.

Please try to take only one suitcase.

We suggest you bring:

•A jacket, scarf, a cap, light-weight woolen gloves and an umbrella

•Comfortable walking shoes or runners & warm socks

•Jeans or khaki pants for sightseeing

•Tops you can layer: T-shirts, vests, sweaters

•A shopping bag that closes tight on top (zipper or fasteners)

•A small pouch to hang around your neck and tuck into your shirt (for valuables)

•Your camera and extra batteries

•A notepad and pencil or pen

•Your cell phone and charger

•Any medications you regularly use & first aid supplies (aspirin, band aids, etc)

•Identification plus a photocopy of your migratory documentation

•Carry emergency contact information in your wallet

JOIN US AND SUPPORT THE IWC