Mundo Maya Blog
About this blog
Travelers to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras in 2012 can expect a yearlong celebration of Maya culture, past and present—and Moon Maya 2012 author Joshua Berman is blogging about all of it.
Recent Posts
- Maya 2012: A Round-up of Celebrations in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize & Honduras
- Reporting for National Geographic on Maya winter solstice in Belize
- Maya calendar cycle celebrated throughout Central America
- Feliz B'aktun! The New Dawn is Here: The First Sunrise in Caracol, Belize
- Maya Calendar 101: What Does “December 21, 2012” Really Mean?
- Gifts for Mayaphiles
- Books on the Maya: Suggested Reading for 2012
- Izapa Sunrise Story by Mary Jo McConahay
- Tranquilo Radio Tour 2012: Seven hours straight of talking about travel
- Tune in this Wednesday! Maya 2012 author Josh Berman on a radio show near you!
- End Maya-Aztec calendar confusion now!
- Q&A with Maya Experts on Satellite Imagery of Archaeological Sites
- Maya response to 'doomsday' 2012 stories
- Only a couple of rooms left for "The Great Return: Copan 2012" tour of a lifetime!
- 5 Questions about Traveling in the Mundo Maya for Rafael Garcia
Equinox and Solstice Dates in the Mundo Maya
Happy autumnal equinox, amigos! The ancient Maya were well aware of equinox and solstice dates, and modern day keepers often hold ceremonies on these dates. 2012 is no exception. The most well-known event in 2012 is, of course, December 21, the day the Long Count ends. But there will be events and ceremonies on each solstice and equinox date at different sites throughout the Mundo Maya. Plan your trip around one of these dates if you’re curious how they may be observed:
IN 2012:
•• Spring equinox: March 20
•• Summer solstice: June 20
•• Fall equinox: September 22
•• Winter solstice: December 21
The winter solstice also happens to fall in the middle of the peak holiday season in most tourist areas. Accommodations near major Maya sites may be fully booked in advance—and rates may increase closer to the date. more >>
The Mundo Maya's Chocolate Trail
Of the many special tours being offered throughout the Mundo Maya countries in the year 2012, the most delicious are no doubt the chocolate tours. It is no secret that the Maya have a long history of consuming cacao. A new book by Sharon Greenhill, Chocolate: Pathway to the Gods, also celebrates this.
The two best places to hop on the modern chocolate trail are southern Belize and Mérida, Mexico. In Belize, you'll find the annual Cacao Festival in late May, 2012, will be celebrated with all kinds of special events for next year. For the specifics of where to go in Belize, check out my article and slide show in Budget Travel, "On the Chocolate Trail." more >>
Photography in the Mundo Maya
The Mundo Maya -- a region that spans southern Mexico and a large chunk of Central America -- is a photographer's paradise, filled with super-golden golden hours and alluring subjects in every direction: The oranges of the chile peppers, the blues of Tulum's waters, the screaming tropical flowers... it's all there, waiting for you and your lens.
I've posted this photo album of Mundo Maya travel shots to give you a taste of what I'm talking about. These are all images which appear in my new book, Moon Maya 2012. This is a sneak-peek, just for you. Enjoy! more >>
2012: The Time to Travel to the Mundo Maya
December 21, 2012 is a big date. This is the day Mesoamerican astronomers inscribed on a stone tablet over a thousand years ago, at a site in southern Mexico. In the Maya Long Count Calendar, the date is called “13 b’aktun,” and refers to the end of a measured period of 5,125 years. Some say this cycle will click over, triggering a new spiritual era. Others say nothing will happen; and some associate the date with the apocalypse to help them sell movies, gas masks, and elaborate bunker designs.
No matter what you think will happen—there’s no denying that it’s an auspicious time to travel to an already alluring corner of the North American continent. This is why I decided to embark on writing my new book, Moon Maya 2012: A Guide to Celebrations in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize & Honduras, set to be released next month. more >>
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