Will the world come to an end on Dec. 21, 2012, as predicted by the Mayan calendar and used as the theme of the movie "2012"?
Not according to Jorge Ruz, co-owner of Hacienda Xcanatun, a restored 18th-century hacienda on the outskirts of Merida.
To explore Mayan history and culture, the hacienda added three new day trips, ranging from $120 to $250 per person.
Exploring Maya Lost Civilizations visits semiexcavated Mayapan or Chacmultun, two sites that provide a contrast to the restored archaeological sites at Uxmal and Chichen Itza.
Chacmultun contains hundreds of carved stone jaguar skulls. Mayapan's ceremonial center is small and its massive central pyramid in ruins. A small central temple has a fine high-relief mask of the Mayan rain god, Chaac.
A second trip offers horseback riding across a private ranch, kayaking through canals in the Ria Lagartos Biosphere, home to snowy and red egrets, great white herons, white ibis and a flamingo colony and a visit to Las Coloradas giant, coastal salt mines.
The third trip offers a look at the villages of Ek Balam and Yaxunah, both close to Chichen Itza.
Each day a limited number of visitors are welcome to take part in normal village life and, accompanied by a local guide, guests hike around unexcavated Maya ruins and prepare lunch with the villagers in the traditional open-pit oven. Visit www.xcanatun.com.
