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SITE International Conference 2004 Mérida, Mexico | 4-7 November 2004 Complimentary Pre and Post Tours The Merida Host Committee is pleased to offer the following complimentary day tours before and after the SITE International Conference. Advance registration is recommended. Please indicate which tour(s) you would like to enjoy on your registration form. Available Tours: Pre Tours Thursday 4 November Chichén Itza Tour Day: Thursday, 4 November Time: 8:30am-4:00pm, Lunch Included Maximum Number of Participants: Unlimited Come experience the world famous and amazing Chichén-Itza archaeological site, ancient home of the once great Mayan empire. You will stand in awe as you view these towering remains and explore one of the most important archeological sites on the North American continent. Discover long-forgotten secrets among the perfect constructions and awesome monuments, reminders of this truly incredible culture. Your excursion will include a visit the gigantic Pyramid of Kukulcan, the largest and best-preserved Ball Court where lives were won and lost, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Observatory where the Mayan priest accurately calculated celestial events over a million year span. Register Now! Swimming in Cenotes Day: Thursday, 4 November & Sunday, 7 November Time: 8:30am-3:00pm, Lunch Included Maximum Number of Participants: 30 The town of Cuzama is becoming well-known for the large number of cenotes found there. Especially unique is a tour that visits three cenotes. If you go to the hacienda in Cuzama, you will have a guide who will put you on a platform buggy pulled by horses. You will travel this way for 4.5 miles on interesting paths through the surrounding countryside. The main cenotes are: Chelentun (laying down rock), Chansinic’che (tree with small ants) and Bolonchoojol (nine drops of water). The Chelentun Cenote is located about 1.8 miles from the Chunkanan hacienda and about 1.8 miles south of Cuzama. The water is incredibly blue and clear with excellent visibility. Stalagtite and stalagmite formations add to its unique beauty. This is also available as a Pre and a Post Tour. Register Now! Celestún Tour Day: Thursday, 4 November Time: 8:30am-3:00pm, Lunch Included Maximum Number of Participants: 80 Take an expedition to the Celestún Estuary, the natural paradise of the State of Yucatan, located approximately 90 miles from miles from Merida. The landscape of Celestún is part of the World Biosphere Reserve. Since 1979, this 21 km long region has been an officially declared Wildlife Preserve. Once you arrive in Celestun, you will board a motor boat and head off through the clear, shallow water filled with lush mangroves and wildlife. Along the way, you may see the natural array of color formed by the beautiful pink Caribbean flamingos. These beautiful birds represent the main attraction on the region and form the only flamingo settlement known in North America. You will be able to see observe the flamingos in their natural ecosystem. Register Now! City Tour of Merida Day: Thursday, 4 November Time: 10:00am-12:00noon, Lunch Not Included Maximum Number of Participants: 80 Relax in a horse-drawn carriage as you experience the grace and antiquity of this fine colonial city followed by an exploration of the main plaza with a stop for shopping. After razing the Mayan city of T´ho, the Spanish Conquistador, Francisco de Montejo salvaged stones from the debris of the local pyramids build to construct the new city of Merida. Modeled after the “Romanesque Style” of Merida, Spain, the city resurrected here was christened “Merida” in 1542. This unique culture, a mixture of old and the new, is reflected everywhere, in the magnificent character of its architecture, cuisine and people. Clustered about the main square is a cathedral, numerous public buildings and residences, museums and parks; all within easy strolling distance. Register Now! Post Tours Sunday 7 November Uxmal Tour by Expreso Maya Train Day: Sunday, 7 November Time: 8:30am-4:00pm, Lunch Included Minimum Number of Participants: 100 Maximum Number of Participants: 200 Enjoy an extraordinary adventure on board a luxury train, where you will discover the beautiful Mayan city of Uxmal. This city is considered one of the most beautiful cities of the Mayan world and is famous for its magnificent carved facades, terraces, gracious plazas and imposing pyramids, all of which characterize the Classic Era between 200 and 900 A.D. Uxmal (OOSH-mahl) means “‘built three times” in the Mayan language and though its name is a mystery, its beauty is not. As a World Heritage site, it is one of the best restored and maintained ruins in the Yucatan, and certainly one of the most magnificent. Its architecture, some of the most majestic of the Yucatan ruins, is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with rich sculptural elements and details. The main structures are the Pyramid of the Magician, The Nun’s Quadrangle, The Palace of the Governor and The House of the Turtles. The authentic Maya architectural style is a principal attraction of this city. You will return to Merida in time for lunch. Register Now! Dzibichaltun Xibichaltun Arecheological Site and Progresso Beach Day: Sunday, 7 November Time: 9:00am-2:00pm, Lunch Included Maximum Number of Participants: 80 Located just outside the city of Merida, explore the main structure of Dzibilchaltun – the “House of the Seven Dolls,” site of a solar and lunar phenomenon known as equinox and solstice. Also visit the tourist center includes restaurants, native handcraft shops and a Mayan culture museum. After Dzibilchaltun, move along to Progresso, the most important port in the Yucatan. Relax with an afternoon at the beach on the Gulf of Mexico and enjoy a fresh seafood meal from a restaurant on the Melecon with spectacular views of the water. Register Now! Swimming in Cenotes Day: Sunday, 7 November See Description Above.
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