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Megolithomania Tours in cooperation with Body Mind Spirit Journeys

Presents

Ancient Technology of the Olmecs Tour
Exploring the Megaliths, Pyramids and Lost Temples of Ancient Mexico

Hosted by Hugh Newman and JJ Ainsworth
February 3-14, 2023

Mexico spiritual tour

Join JJ Ainsworth and Hugh Newman for an incredible comprehensive trip through the megalithic world of Mexico, visiting all the major Olmec sites, plus Teotihuacan, Tula, Cholula, Cuilcuilco, the National Museum, and much more ending in the beautiful jungle location of the Maya site of Palenque.

Hugh and JJHugh Newman is an explorer, megalithomaniac and author of Earth Grids: The Secret Pattern of Gaia’s Sacred Sites (2008), Stone Circles (2017) and co-author of Giants on Record (2015). He has been a regular guest on History Channel’s Ancient Aliens and featured in Search for the Lost Giants. As well as organizing the Megalithomania conferences and tours, has explored Mexico many times since his first trip there in 2003 and specializes in the Olmec culture. He lives close to Stonehenge.

JJ Ainsworth is a researcher and explorer based in the US, who is an expert on ancient symbolism and connections between sites worldwide. She has featured on numerous radio shows, is an experienced traveler, has published articles on www.ancient-origins.net and spoke at Megalithomania in Glastonbury.

MEXICO PYRAMIDS TOUR INCLUDES

  • Private transportation for all scheduled activities
  • 10 Nights Hotel Accommodations
    • 4 Nights in Mexico City
    • 1 Night in Xatapa
    • 2 Nights in Catemaco
    • 1 Night in Acayucan
    • 3 Nights in Villahermosa
  • Hotel taxes
  • Breakfast every day
  • 6 Lunches
  • 5 Dinners
  • Sightseeing as per itinerary
  • Sightseeing entrance fees as per itinerary
  • English-speaking Escort/Guide
  • Transfer by taxi on arrivals and departures
  • Gratuities to Maids and Porters (1 piece of luggage)
  • Tour Operator Liability Insurance

SPECIAL FEATURES

  • Led by Host Hugh Newman and JJ Aisnworth
  • Escorted throughout by our spiritually knowledgeable Mexican guide, Memo Gonzales
  • Visit to Tula
  • Visit Teotihuacan
  • Visit  to Cuicuilco
  • Entrance to the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City
  • Visit Chalcatzingo
  • Entrance to Cholula site  and Museum
  • Visit to Museum La Venta
  • Entrance to the  Anthropology Museum at Xalapa
  • Entrance to the Tres Zapotes Museu and  Santiago Tuxtla Museums
  • Visit, to  San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
  • Visit to  El Azuzul
  • Entrance to the  Antropology Musum Carlos Pellicer, Park and Museum La Venta, in Comalcalco
  • Visit to the Palenque and Misol Ha Waterfalls

Featured Hotels or similar:

  • Mexico City – Royal Reforma Hotel
  • Xatapa – Holiday Inn
  • Catemaco – La Finca Resort & Spa
  • Acayucan – Joalica Hotel
  • Villahermosa – Holiday Inn Express

ANCIENT OLMECS TOUR ITINERARY

Day 1, Friday, February 3:  Arrival in Mexico City (D)
Tour starts in Mexico City. Upon arrival and after going through Immigration and Customs, take the provided taxi for your transfer to our hotel. Check into our hotel and some time to relax before our “Welcome to Mexico” dinner. We will meet personal guide, Memo that will be with us for the duration of the journey. Overnight and welcome dinner in Mexico City

Day 2, Saturday, February 4:  In Mexico City: Toltec complex of Tula and Pyramids of Teotihuacan (B/L)
Olmec TulaAfter breakfast we are off to visit to Tula, 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 30 feet 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’. TeotehuacanThese 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 another temple to the Plumed Serpent. The complex is said to have been built around 200BC, but it could be much older. Evening on your own. Overnight in Mexico City.

Day 3, Sunday, February 5: In Mexico City : Visit anthropological museum, historical centre with Templo Mayor, plus the circular pyramid of Cuilcuilco (B/L)
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. Continue to the Cuicuilco circular pyramid, a fascinating and unique structure, again with discoveries of Olmec artifacts at the site. Controversy over the age of this site has 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 fault 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 2000 BC, although the official date is around 100 AD. Overnight Mexico City.

Day 4, Monday, February 6: In Mexico City:  Visit to Chalcatzingo (B/L)
Today, we will visit one the most important sites of the Olmec culture: Chalcatzingo, a rarely visited, but incredibly impressive Olmec site far from their homeland featuring two pyramids, incredible rock carvings and a breathtaking landscape. The huge carvings have Olmec symbols and styles (photo above right). This special site visit is not found on other  tours.  Overnight in Mexico City.

Day 5, Tuesday, February 7: To Xalapa: Cholula, Site Museum at Cholula and Xalapa (B/L/D)
CholulaWe leave Mexico City and depart for a 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 – 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. Dinner and overnight in Xalapa.

Day 6, Wednesday, February 8: To Catemaco: Xalapa Antropology Museum and Catemaco (B/L/D)
elongated skullVisit 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 basalt andweighing up to 20 tons each. Particularly noteworthy are the smaller sculptures of jade and obsidian. Continue to Catemaco, that is considered Mexico’s center of healers (curanderos) and sorcerers (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. Dinner and overnight in Catemaco.

Day 7, Thursday, February 9: In Catemaco: Santiago Tuxtla Museum and Tres Zapotes (B/L/D)
Tres ZapotesAfter breakfast, we will drive to Santiago Tuxtla and visit the museum in Santiago Tuxtla where some incredible Olmec carvings that show clearly negroid features can be seen. We’ll see two Olmec heads, including the only one with closed eyes, and weighing in at 40 tons. We then take a 13 km (10 miles) drive to Tres Zapotes to visit the museum there, seeing more Olmec heads, evidence of acoustics, plus the stelea showing the controversial 31BC Long Count date, indicating that the Olmec, in fact, invented the famous ‘Mayan’ Calendar.
Return to Catemaco for dinner and our overnight.

Day 8, Friday, February 10: To Acayucan:  San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan and Acayucan (B/L)
After breakfast we depart Catemacoisit for San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, the ancient capitol of the Olmec, with a small museum featuring an Olmec head and several other fascinating carvings and megalithic oddities. We’ll see here how sophisticated the stonework really is. We will also visit the site of El Azuzul, an Olmec pyramid on private land where several important Olmec statues were discovered.  Continue to Acayucan for our overnight and time on your own.

Day 9, Saturday, February 11: To Villahermosa: La Venta Pyramid Site, Museo Regional de Antropología Carlos Pellicer & Villahermosa (B/L)
Our morning visit starts with a visit to 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 much more. We continue with a visit to 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 focusing on the Olmecs and the Zapotecs. Continue to Villahermosa for an overnight.

Day 10, Sunday, February 12:  In Villahermosa: Parque Museo la Venta and Comalcalco (B/L)
Olmec headAfter breakfast it’s onto the La Venta archaeological park, where several Olmec heads, altars and stelae are housed in a beautiful outdoor museum. These were saved from the La Venta site in the 1950s, and are an incredible collection. In addition, you can also discover interesting artifacts from Teotihuacán and from the Totonac, Mixtec, Toltec, Mexican 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. Return to Villahermosa for our overnight.

Day 11, Monday, February 13: In Villahermosa:  To  Palenque:  To Misol Ha Waterfalls (B/L/D)
PalenqueDrive to 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 and overnight in Villahermosa.

Day 12: Tuesday, February 14: Depart Mexico (B)
This morning depart via taxi to the Villhermosa city airport to board your flight back home. You will return renovated and full of new vibes, beautiful memories and new knowledge of ancient cultures. Hasta pronto Mexico.

Please read the Terms and Conditions of this tour.

** Bonus! SAVE! You will receive a 5% discount if ALL payments are made by check or money order. This discounted price is noted below in red.

*Special No Interest + No Payments for 6 Months Plan Now Available!
RMC Travel now offers the “PayPal Credit” Plan (Click here for details)

PRICING

All prices are in US dollars

Tour – Land Only Costs Per Person, double occupancy:
$4,295 payments via check or wire transfer
$4,519 payments via credit card

Tour – Land Only Costs Per Person, single room occupancy:
$4,995 payments via check or wire transfer
$5,259 payments via credit card

 NOTE: The Single Room Supplement applies for those who would like to secure a private room throughout the tour.

ROOMMATES: We will be happy to try to find a suitable roommate for those who are traveling alone and would like to share a room. Per our Terms and Conditions, registration for the tour will be held open until four weeks before the departure date in order to try to match everyone with a roommate. If, by that date, we have not been able to match you with a suitable roommate, you will be responsible to pay for the single supplement. An early registration will facilitate this process.

Deposit Schedule:
Non-Refundable Deposit Payment – due as soon as possible in order to ensure a place on the tour
Per Person Double or Single accommodations: $500 by check or money order, $525 by credit card

Final Payment (final instalment due on or before December 3, 2022)

If you have already registered and would like to go to the payment page, Click Here.

 

Air Reservations for USA & Canadian Citizens

BMSJ is pleased to announce that it has opened an expanded Air Reservation Desk headed by Jeannifer Brady. Jen can be reached at 1-800-545-1300 or travelbyjeannifer@gmail.com. Jen will be happy to answer your questions and assist you in making your airline reservations to join your BMSJ Spiritual Journey. 

 

Travel Insurance

As travel professionals, Body Mind Spirit Journeys highly recommends travel insurance. Sometimes unexpected circumstances can arise. A sudden emergency just before or during your trip could spoil your vacation and deplete your resources.

We have recently seen some of our valued travelers lose not only their non-refundable deposits, but also their entire tour payments because they hoped they would not need trip cancellation insurance.

You should protect your trip investment and yourself in regards to health, property and trip payments. That is why we provide you with an easy way to contact BMSJ’s preferred USA insurance provider, Allianz Global Assistance. If you need additional information or have questions, please call Allianz directly at 1-800-284-8300, and refer to code F025323.

For Non-USA participants, we recommend World Nomads.

 BMSJ will be sending you additional details and a brochure with your confirmation on trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

 

Photo Credits:
Teotihuacan: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net)., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Tula birdman:HJPD, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Palenque ruins: ben_kitchener3, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons