Moon Maya 2012: A Guide to Celebrations in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras (Moon Handbooks)

December 21, 2012 is an important date for the Maya; it marks the end of the Long Count, a 5,125-year cycle of the Maya calendar, and the world’s transition into a new era. Some believe this transition will be peaceful; others warn it will be nothing short of explosive. But there's one thing everyone can agree on: Traveling to the Mundo Maya in the year 2012 is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—and it’s not to be missed.

Travelers to Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras in 2012 can expect a yearlong celebration of Maya culture, past and present—and Moon Maya 2012 is the guide to the best of these celebrations. From Palenque and Tulum to Tikal and Uaxactún, from Caracol to Copán, Central America expert Joshua Berman details the top offerings of each destination: Maya-themed sporting events and reenactments, ceremonies, dances, festivals, important archaeological sites, and more. Packed with strategies for planning a 2012 trip, lists of the organizations and tourism boards offering the best packages and tours, and easy-to-read maps to help you navigate your way through them all, Moon Maya 2012 gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

 (8 customer reviews)

As an author myself, I wasn't sure what to expect from Josh Berman's latest MOON guide. I had just been down to Honduras in June 2011, and we'd spent two days in Copan, visiting the Mayan ruins there. Reading "Maya 2012," I realized that there was so much that I missed out on while we were in Copan even though we had a top-notch guide with us. But that's not the reason why I give Josh 5 stars and why I say this book is THE essential guide for your Maya 2012 planning.

Josh knows the Mayan countries and the Mayan culture. His book takes you on a journey through the most important sites to visit; why you want to visit them; how to visit them; he even tells you which ones to skip. The book is full of so many details, with maps, websites, detailed descriptions -- that if you have any interest at all in the Long Count Calendar and the importance of December 21,2012 -- you MUST read this book. Once you read it for the first time, then go back, read it again and take notes of the...Read more

This book will give you a good overview of the tours available in Yucatan for the 2012 happenings, BUT I do not think I would do many of these, they are WAYYYYY over priced. We live in Yucatan, and you can just arrive at a site and hire a VERY knowledgable guide for $20 US.
Some of these tours are priced at $2500 for 5 days. wow. I think you could stay in a wonderful bed and breakfast hotel, or even the Hyatt and go on your own tours.
I do plan on going to as many festivals as I can throughout the year of 2012, but am not sure where I will end up on Dec 21, 2012.

Anyone planning o visit or start touring or wanting to learn more should own and keep this book. It inspires me to learn more about Mundo Maya and the culture and people...and of course the Long Count.