The Long Count Calendar of the Ancient Mayans ends on Dec 21 2012.
What does that mean? Your guess is a good as anybodies as the variations in hypothesis is as varied as the region in which the Mayan inhabited at the peak of their civilization.
Occupying the Yucatan peninsula and what is modern day Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala the civilization came into being 2000 BC reaching its zenith between 250 and 900 AD the Mayans the fist pre Colombian society to have a fully developed written language as well as complete and complicated mathematical and astronomical systems. This astronomical system or calendar (Long Count Calendar) and the end of one cycle is what all the fuss is about as we approach 2012.
Though the Mayans have calculated that the date of December 21st, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count) marks the end of a cycle and a beginning of a new one - they did not stipulate or predict what this ending and new beginning may denote.
There are generally two schools of thought. One is a more holistic spiritual view where we see simply see the ending of one phase and the beginning of a new.
The other is the more "Hollywood view" where a catastrophic event may take place with some evening predicting the end of the world as we know it.
Despite what view you may ascribe to, in 2012 there is an amazing coinciding of mother natures "pieces" falling in to place and alignment.
"The date December 21st, 2012 A.D. (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator (Equator of the Milky Way) and the Ecliptic (path of the Sun), what that ancient Maya recognized as the Sacred Tree."
Many of the famous Mayan sites in and around the Yucatan peninsula display images of the Milky Way and the Sacred Tree motif it being a vital part of the Mayans belief.
This crossing of the Galactic equator and the path of sun represents to the Mayans a sacred doorway where a human being enters into life, and enters or exits into death as well.
The web is a buzz with all different theories as to what will happen in 2012 as well as detailed recounting of the histories and structures of the astronomical calendars and the history and records of the Mayan.
So if you believe great physical change will take place in 2012 travel now and be at the "source" of a global change. More a believer in the spiritual transformation then plan your journey for 2012 or even plan to be there Dec 21st 2012.
No matter what happens Goway will be there with our fantastic itinerary taking in the best of modern day and ancient Mayan culture - 10 day World of the Maya - visiting El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala with great opportunities to extend your journey in to Belize or south to Costa Rica and or Panama.
With departures every Wednesday or Saturday you will visit local workshops witnessing handicraft techniques dating back to Mayan times as well Copan ruins in Honduras and Tikal as well as the famous markets of Chichicastenango and Antigua de Guatemala in Guatemala.
Want to be in the heart of the Mayan World - Tikal - on December 21st then join our dedicated World of the Maya departure 15th December 2012.*
Also on offer are itineraries such as the Best of Guatemala 8 days, Tikal & Belizean Adventure, 9 days or Honduras in Depth 9 days.
Change is good, change is healthy but travel is priceless. Join us and venture into one of the great mysteries as it plays itself out in our life time in the "World of the Maya".
*Conditions apply
Almond Beach Resort, days
Belize & Tikal Adventure, 15 days
Belize City Stop Over, 3 days
Central America Explorer, 46 days
Central American Adventure, 32 days
Mayan Encounter, 17 days
Pelican Beach Dangriga, days
Pelican Beach South Water Caye, days
Tikal & Belizean Adventure, 9 days
Tikal Overnight, 2 days
African Small Groups, 9 trips available
Asian Small Groups, 13 trips available
Australasian Small Groups, 5 trips available
European Small Groups, 10 trips available
Latin American Small Groups, 11 trips available
Middle Eastern Small Groups, 5 trips available