Lost Civilizations
of Ancient Mexico

19th February - 1st March 2016

Hosted by Brien Foerster & Hugh Newman

Join Brien Foerster and Hugh Newman for an incredible comprehensive trip through the Pre-Mayan world of Mexico, visiting all the major Olmec sites, plus Teotihuacan, Tula, Cholula, Cuilcuilco and ending in the beautiful jungle location of Palenque. Brien and Hugh have both starred in Ancient Aliens (History Channel) and run regular tours to Peru, Egypt, Turkey and other exotic megalithic locations.
For more info email us

SITES VISITED
Cuilcuilco Teotihuacan, Tula, Cholula, Mexico Archaeology Museum Xalapa Museum, Tepotzlan, San Lorenzo, Tres Zapotes, La Venta Park,
La Venta, Catemaco, Coatzalcolcas, Villahermosa Museum, Comalcalco, Palenque + sites not on itinerary!

TOUR INCLUDES
* Airport Pick-Up
* All Ground Transport
* Entrance to Sites & Museums
* Breakfast & one Dinner
* On-Site Discussions with Brien & Hugh
DOES NOT INCLUDE
* Flights: Local & International
* Lunch, Drinks and tips
PRICES
* $3695 US / £2410 UK
* Based on Shared Room
* $595 / £400 Single Sup
Praise for Peru & Bolivia 2014 Tour with Brien & Hugh:

"Just to say a big thank you for the trip, such fun and full of giggles. From years of reading about and seeing pictures of so many of the sites visited on this trip, to finally feeling the incredible energies that surround them, was for me personally an amazing experience. So thank you all for putting together such a memorable tour. Great menu, interesting and fun crowd of fellow travellers. Good places to stay. Great stuff!" - Lyn de Trense, England

"I want to once again thank Brien, Hugh, Irene, and Gustavo for this great tour. It definitely exceeded my expectations. You get to see many sites that would otherwise be more difficult to get to on other tours or by yourself. The accommodations were excellent and everyone was very friendly. if you like interesting information, exploring ancient sites, and good company this is the tour to go on!" - Garrett Leo, USA


Day 1 - Friday 19th February
Arrival in Mexico City. Taxi pick-up at the airport. Overnight Hotel Galeria Plaza Reforma.

Mexico City is an amazing place to be located, whilst we visit some sites. It has had thousands of UFO sightings, discoveries made under its streets and still has an Aztec observatory in the subway station!

Day 2 - Feb 20th
Toltec complex of Tula and Pyramids of Teotihuacan

Tula is a fascinating temple with some megalithic construction, and the mighty Atlanteans presiding over the site, in the image of the 'Plumed Serpent' or Quetzalcoatl. The Atlanteans are 30ft tall statues that are surprisingly similar to the ones at Tiwanaku, Bolivia, plus they have similar head-dresses and they have that same look in their eyes. Zecharia Sitchin had noted that the archaeologists description of what they were holding in their hands was questionable. Officially described as knives and incense bags, Sitchin believed they may have been something quite different, an idea that was later picked up by Graham Hancock. They look more like metal devices or plasma-guns from a sci-fi movie. Sitchin believed they were used to quarry and cut rock, and Hancock backed this up when he remembered that in ancient legends they had armed themselves with ‘Xiuhcoatl’ or ‘fire serpents’. These were said to emit burning rays capable of piercing and dismembering human bodies, and perhaps to cut, quarry and carve stone. The statues at Tiwanaku hold similar devices in their hands too. One of many comparisons to Virococha and ancient Peru that will be expanded upon as we pursue the ancient mysteries of Mexico. Tula could also possibly be the site of the legendary Tollan.

In the afternoon we visit massive Teotihuacan. This multi-pyramid site has been compared to Giza in size and style, and is unique in Mexico. It has Olmec influences, is aligned astronomically, has underground tunnels, and contains a another temple to the Plumed Serpent (pic on right). The complex is said to have been built around 200BC, but it could be much older. Overnight hotel Galeria Plaza

Day 3 - Feb 21st
Visit anthropological museum, historical centre with Templo Mayor, plus the circular pyramid of Cuilcuilco.

We will start our investigation in to the origins of the famous Mayan 'Long Count' Calendar, looking at many Olmec artifacts in the Anthropological museum that suggest they may have instigated the calendar in 3114BC (and ends on December 21st 2012). We will see several Olmec heads, the 'Aztec' sun stone and original Maya codices. Continue to visit the historic centre of Mexico City.

Continuation to visit Cuicuilco circular pyramid, a fascinating and unique structure, again with discoveries of Olmec artifacts at the site. Controversy over the age of this sitehas been ongoing that range from 100AD to 7,000 BC!. Archaeocryptographer Carl Munck believes it is an important marker on a grid of ancient sites across the planet. The site is also covered with an ancient lava flow and the subsequent dating of Cuilcuilco has made the site famous. The pyramid was first excavated by Mexican Archaeologist Manuel Gamio in 1917 and although the site is officially dated to around 100AD, the lava flow that covers much of the pyramid was dated to 5,000 BC. Back in 1923 National Geographic were the first to report on this incredibly ancient date. The author of the piece was archaeologist Byron Cummings, who became fascinated by the site because Geologist George E. Hyde estimated the age of the flow to be 7,000 years old at least, suggesting that the pyramid must have been even older than that. A strange blue light even appeared above the pyramid when they began to excavate it. Apparently the workers were delighted, thinking it must contain ancient Mayan treasure. None was said to be found, but its location on a seismic faullt line, may indicate its important placement and explain the strange light phenomena. Carbon dating of sediment on the paths around the pyramid, gave a date of around 2000BC, although the official date is around 100AD. Overnight at hotel Posada del Tepozteco, Tepoztlan, the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl, and the coolest town in Mexico.

Day 4 - Feb 22nd
Visit one the most important sites of theOlmec culture: Chacaltzingo, and drive to Tepotzlan.
A are treat if we can find the rocks with incredible carvings on, featuring Olmec symbols and styles (pic on right). This is not on any other tours. Return to Tepotzlan and if time climb the Tepozteco - the birthplace of Quetzalcoatl. Today involves walking uphill, so we have the full day to explore. Overnight hotel Posada del Tepozteco, Tepoztlan.


Day 5 - Feb 23rd
Visit Cholula, the largest pyramid in the world
Visit the town of Puebla to visit Cholula, the largest pyramid in the world, with underground tunnels, again dedicated to Quetzalcoatl. Some of Cholula has been reconstructed and around its outskirts were several mysterious megaliths. One looks like an Olmec head (the Olmecs could well have built this place). There are two large megaliths, one with inscriptions and around the main entrance an enigmatic quartz-rich standing stone with a square hole cut out of it (pic on left)- A Mexican Men-an-Tol. We will also hear the story of Hernan Coetez's arrival at Cholula and how they discovered they were seen as 'the returning fair-skinned gods' (Quetzalcoatl), that opened the door for their gold-thirsty rampaging across Mexico. Drive to Xalapa. Overnight at hotel Villa las Margaritas Centro.

Day 6 - Feb 24th
Xalapa Museum and Catemaco.
Visit anthropological museum in Xalapa to see several Olmec heads, stelae, megaliths and elongated skulls. The Anthropological Museum of Xalapa has a significant collection of archaeological finds from three millennia. The focus on the Olmec culture is especially featured by huge heads of their rulers or gods made of bas-alt andweighing up to 20 tons each. Particularly noteworthy are the smaller sculptures of jade and obsidian. Xalapa - Catemaco (262.0 km / 240 Min.) Catemaco is considered Mexico’s center of healers (curanderos) and sor-cerers (brujos) to this very day. In an attitude sure of victory, they use magic potions, herbal juices, tinctures, dice, and cards to approach any problem of life. During a short walk through the small town, you visit the basilica of La Virgen del Carmen and the local market, and stroll along the Lago de Catemaco. Hotel La Finca

Day 7 - Feb 25th
Santiago Tuxtla and Tres Zapotes. Drive to Santiago Tuxtla and visit museum in Santiago Tuxtla where some incredible Olmec carvings that show clearly negroid features. We'll see two Olmec heads, including the only one with closed eyes, weighing in at 40 tons. We then take a 13 km drive to Tres Zapotes to visit the museum there, seeing more Olmec heads, evidence of acoustics, plus the stelea showing the controversioal 31BC Long Count date, indcating that the Olmec in fact invented the famous 'Mayan' Calendar. Return to Catemaco. Overnight Hotel la Finca.

Day 8 - Feb 26th
Olmec capital San Lorenzo
Drive Catemaco – Acayucan – visit San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, the ancient capitol of the Olmec, with a small museum with an Olmec head and several other fascinating carvings and megalithic oddities. We'll see here how sophisticated the stonework really is. Continue to Villahermosa. Overnight Hyatt Regency.

Day 9 - Feb 27th
LaVenta Pyramid Site
The pyramid and megalith complex of La Venta (site), a fascinating tropical pyramid site, with the earliest pyramid in the America's (see pic below), underground mosaic floors, massive megalithic statues, Olmec heads and a powerful site of the Plumed Serpent energy current. Here, we will practice dowsing to locate the path of these energy currents. Continue to Villahermosa. Overnight hotel Hyatt Regency.

Day 10 - Feb 28th
La Venta Park, Villahermosa Museum and Comalcalco
Visit La Venta archaeological park, where several Olmec heads, altars and stelae are housed in a beautiful outdoor museum. These were saved from theLa Venta site in the 1950's, and are an incredible collection. We will try to visit the Museo Regional de Antropología Carlos Pellicer Cámara, where a fragment of the Tortuguero stone is kept and several other artifacts presents an impressive collection of pre-Columbian sculptures and pottery – particularly focussing on the Olmecs and the Zapotecs. In addition, you can also discover interesting artifacts from Teotihuacán and from the Totonac, Mixtec, Toltec, Mexi-can and Mayan cultures.. After lunch we drive to Comalcalco pyramid complex, where strange texts and writings are found on clay bricks, that appear to be from many different ancient cultures, where last year an inscription indicating the end of the Long count calendar (December 21st) was found. Continuation to Palenque. Overnight hotel Villa Mercedes.

Day 11 - Feb 29th (it's a leap year!)
Palenque pyramid site, Lord Pacal's Tomb
Visit Palenque, a beautiful jungle location, with a look at the museum with Lord Pacal's tomb, a great leader in 6th Century said to be of extraordinary height. The great 'plumed serpent' energy current sweeps through this site and the ambience and power of this site is something we can enjoy for a good part of the day. From the village of Palenque, you will reach the most beautiful ruined site in all of Mexico. Founded around 300 BC, Palenque flourished in the 7th and 8th centuries AD. All buildings that are still visible date from this period, e.g., the "Temple of Inscriptions" with more than 620 hieroglyphs that tell King Pacal’s history, the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Sun, and the North Temple with its stucco remains and military scenes. The Templo Olvidado was built by the Mayan king K’inich Janaab Pakal in 647 AD; its name "lost temple" results from its hidden situation in the subtropical jungle. Your guide leads you over narrow paths through the rain forest and explains the mystic flora of the Maya: the Christmas candle or devil’s backbone is poisonous, but also has medical uses. Or the rind and fruits of the "nance tree" (Byrsonima crassifolia), whose flowers are even shown on king Pakal’s sarcophagus. Farewell Dinner (Included).

Day 12 - Tuesday 1st March - Transfer to the airport at Villahermosa - Ciudad de México (Flight Not Included) to Mexico City. End of Tour. The tour company can arrange this flight for you.

Conditions:
1) All Paypal fees and international transfer costs must be taken care of by the buyer. These will be added on final payment.
2) Megalithomania cannot refund from 14 days before start of tour if you cancel.
3) Megalithomania will refund 50% if you cancel up until 15 days prior to the tour (this does not include deposit).
4) Megalithomania cannot refund deposits up to 60 days prior to tour. Before that we can refund only 50% deposit if you cancel.
5) Megalithomania cannot be held responsible for any injury, accident or stolen goods - please get travel insurance and relevant visas before booking this tour and have a passport with at least 3 months past the end date of the tour.
6) Full payment and passport details must be received by 14th Jan 2015
7) Roommates: We are happy to try to and match our guests with a suitable roommate for those who are traveling alone. If we are unable to do this, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. Early registration will facilitate this process. (Note: Itinerary may be subject to change if circumstances arise beyond reasonable control.)
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Please email for further details - info@megalithomania.co.uk