July 18 – Tapachula, Mexico

Plan for your flight to arrive in Tapachula in the afternoon or evening of July 18.

Your flights take you to Mexico City and then on to Tapachula, Mexico near the southeastern border with Guatemala. Upon arrival you will transfer and check into your deluxe hotel. (No meals included)

July 19 – Tuxtla Gutierrez

Today we will visit the archaeological site of Izapa. While visiting Izapa, we will see Stela 5, the “Tree of Life Stone”. This engraved stone dating back to 300 BC may depict Lehi’s dream as recorded in first Nephi. Following our visit of Izapa we will bus along the Pacific coast passing by an area proposed as the “day and a half’s journey” as well as the area of Ammonihah as we travel to the Chiapas valley, considered by some LDS scholars to have been the Land of Zarahemla where the Nephites had their headquarters for 550 years (Omni 1:13-15 and Mormon 2:28-29).  (Breakfast, Dinner)

July 20 – Tuxtla Gutierrez

Following church services, we will visit the temple at Tuxtla Gutierrez and the Regional Museum of Tuxtla Gutierrez that shows many pre-Classic (Book of Mormon period) sites and artifacts, including an engraved stone that manifests the early long count date of December 9, 36 B.C. In the afternoon we will visit the zoo and see the majestic Quetzal bird, the national bird of Guatemala and the bird used to represent the god Quetzalcoatl.  (Breakfast, Dinner)

July 21 – Villahermosa

We will begin our day with a visit to the archaeological zone of Chiapa de Corzo, a candidate for the City Sidom (See Alma 15:1-8). We will then take a boat ride through the majestic Sumidero Canyon on the Grijalva River, with walls towering 3000 feet above our heads. The Grijalva has been proposed as the River Sidon in the Book of Mormon.  We will then travel to the city of Villahermosa which may represent the western edge of the “land among many waters” described in Mosiah 8:8. (Breakfast, Dinner)

July 22 – Villahermosa

Although only four percent of the population of the country of Mexico live in the State of Chiapas, over 40% of the wild animals live in the Tehuantepec, Chiapas and Lacondone mountains. This is reminiscent of the statement in Ether wherein it states that the “land southward was preserved for a wilderness to get game” (Ether 10:21). We will take a two-hour bus ride to the majestic Classic period Maya ruins of Palenque. We will analyze the panel of glyphs at the Temple of the Cross which shows the lineage of a 7th century AD king named Chan Balaam, that stretches back to a king born on March 8, 993 BC (and some have proposed connects to the Jaredite king named Kish). We will return to Villahermosa where we will spend the night. (Breakfast, Lunch) 

July 23 – Catemaco

This morning we will check out of our hotel and visit the outdoor La Venta Museum, a place that houses large, engraved stone monuments dating to the Jaredite time period. We will also visit the Villahermosa Temple and then bus along Mexico’s “golden lane” passing by both the proposed “place where the sea divides the land” (Gulf of Mexico), and the “narrow neck of land” (Isthmus of Tehuantepec). (See Ether 10:20.) Prior to our arrival at beautiful Lake Catemaco where we will spend the night, we will pass by a candidate for the hill Shim (Cintepec) where some scholars suggest that Mormon obtained the records for his history (See Mormon 1:3, 17). (Breakfast, Dinner)

July 24 – Mexico City

Today is a highlight of the tour. We will check out of our hotel and visit the hill that some Latter-day Saint scholars suggest as the location of the hill Ramah/Cumorah mentioned in the Book of Mormon (Mormon 6:2,6; Ether 15:11). We will travel through the area proposed as the waters of Ripliancum (Ether 15:8), a place that has the same meaning in the Aztec (Nahuatl) language, “exceeding large waters.” We will drive into the city of Veracruz where we will see the Veracruz Temple and have dinner prior to flying to Mexico City. (Breakfast, Dinner)

July 25 – Mexico City

This morning we will visit the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. Occupied from about 200 BC to AD 900, Teotihuacan was one of the largest populated cities in the world during its peak. The inspiring pyramids of the Sun and Moon attract millions of visitors to this most popular archaeological zone in Mexico. This may have been the great city built by King Jacob of the Gadianton Robbers (See 3 Nephi 7). We will return to Mexico City in the afternoon. (Breakfast, Lunch)

July 26 – Mexico City

We begin our day by visiting the National Museum of Anthropology, one of the most spectacular archaeological museums in the world. Touring the museum will provide us with an excellent review of our tour and expose us to many beautiful exhibits ranging from ancient pottery to gold and jade jewelry. Afterward, we will conclude our tour with a visit to the Mexico City temple prior to our return to our hotel for the last night. (Breakfast, Lunch)

July 27 – Arrive home with amazing memories!

Plan for your flight to leave Mexico City the morning of July 27.

Transferring to the Mexico City airport, we will check in for our flights home. Our journey to the Book of Mormon lands has come to an end, but we will take with us memories that will last a lifetime. (No meals included)

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