9-Day Zarahemla to Cumorah


                                  $2,145 per person double occupancy
                                            Does not include airfare
                           (United States to Tuxtla Gutierrez, Veracruz to
                       Mexico City and Mexico City to the United States)

                                               Departure Dates:
                                                   July 17, 2010
                                              November 6, 2010
                                               February 26, 2011
                                                   July 16, 2011

Includes eight nights hotel accommodations, two or more meals daily except on first and last days, first-class bus transportation, entrance fees and guide service to places listed on the itinerary, taxes and tips on group items, literature and maps pertaining to your tour, and escorted by professional tour director Blake Allen.

The tour deposit is $500 per person. The total payment is due 60 days prior to departure. The deposit is non-refundable; however, it may be transferred to another tour if taken within 12 months of the original scheduled tour departure. See terms and conditions for details. Prices and itineraries are subject to change.

Inasmuch as the hill Cumorah and the hill Ramah are one and the same, and inasmuch as The Book of Mormon requires the hill Cumorah to be located by the narrow neck of land in Jaredite territory, then we conclude that the hill Ramah/Cumorah is located in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Since we now know that the Olmec nation dating from 1800 to 250 BC living along the Gulf of Mexico is the same people spoken of in Ether in the Book of Mormon, we can increase our understanding of the ancient Jaredites and the final years of the Nephites by visiting the states of Chiapas, Tabasco and Veracruz.  Maya names, such as Kish, Mormon, waters of Ripliancum and Shim are identifiable on this all-inclusive Book of Mormon Tour.

The price of the tour is $2,145 per person based on double occupancy.  Airfare is extra and is currently around $600-$700 per person for round-trip flights from the USA to Mexico and back and internal flights to Tuxtla Gutierrez and from Veracruz.  Everyone needs a passport.  If you need information on obtaining a passport, help on booking your airline tickets or if you have any other questions, please contact us by email at blake@ldstours.com, 

On this tour you will see the Book of Mormon history come to life as we travel throughout the area proposed as the land of Zarahemla and the river Sidon, the land among many waters and the land northward where Cumorah was located. You will visit the LDS temples in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Villahermosa, Veracruz, and Mexico City, ten archaeological sites and museums, thirteen locations associated with the Book of Mormon and other places of interest.  Call today to book your space on this deluxe Book of Mormon experience. 1.801.226.5200 or email us at blake@ldstours.com

Itinerary
 
Day 1: Saturday, Tuxtla Gutierrez
Our air flights will take us to Mexico City and then on to Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of the state of Chiapas where we will transfer and check into our hotel.  (No meals provided)

Day 2: Sunday, Tuxtla Gutierrez
Following church services, we will see the temple at Tuxtla Gutierrez.  We will also visit the Regional Museum of Tuxtla Gutierrez that shows many pre-Classic (Book of Mormon time period) sites and artifacts, including an engraved stone that manifests the early long count date of December, 36 B.C. (See Helaman chapter 4). (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 3: Monday, Palenque
We 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. In the afternoon we will bus to Palenque where we will spend the evening.  This area represents the “land among many waters” described in Mosiah 8:8. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4: Tuesday, 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 Lacandone 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 explore the majestic Classic time 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, which dates back to a Jaredite king named Kish, who was born on March 8, 993 BC. Afterwards, we will bus to Villahermosa where we will spend the night. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 5: Wednesday, Catemaco
Today we will visit the outdoor La Venta Museum, a place that houses large engraved stone monuments dating to the Jaredite time period. We will visit the Villahermosa Temple and then bus along Mexico’s “golden lane” passing by both the “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 the hill Shim (Cintepec) where Mormon obtained the records for his history (See Mormon 1:3, 17). (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 6: Thursday, Veracruz
Today is a highlight of the tour.  We will visit the hill where leading Latter-day Saint scholars are in agreement as to 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 of 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 prior to catching a flight to Mexico City. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7: Friday, Mexico City
This morning we will visit the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. Occupied from about 200 BC to 900 AD, 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). Returning to Mexico City in the afternoon, we will stop at the Shrine of Guadalupe where we will learn about the origin of the Catholic Church in Mexico. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 8: Saturday, Mexico City
This morning we will visit the National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology, 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. After lunch we will have the opportunity to visit the National Palace, National Cathedral and the remains of an Aztec temple in downtown Mexico City.  We will also visit the Mexico City Temple.  We will return to the hotel for our last night. (Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 9: Sunday, Flights Home
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.

Provided meals are noted at the end of each day.  Prices and itineraries are subject to change.

The second edition of Exploring the Lands of the Book of Mormon can help you in preparing for the tour. Once you have made your initial deposit, we will send one complimentary copy of the new edition.

               BOOK OF MORMON TOURS - Since 1970
                                PO Box 970250  ♦  Orem, UT  84097
                                              blake@ldstours.com
                                        Telephone: 1.801.226.5200

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