Home                                                  About Me                                                                           

I was born on the Maya Long Count date of 12.17.14.13.4 and grew up in Alabama. In 1993, I moved to South Carolina to work as a crewman on a professional drag racing team and did so for 2 years. I fulfilled a life-long dream and worked for the 6-time IHRA Pro-Modified World Champion Scotty Cannon and helped him win 2 championships. I fell in love with the area and decided to buy a home there, once I left racing. 

I work as an ammonia refrigeration service technician these days and have been in the field for 13 years. I am 41 years old, have never been married, nor do I have any children either. This website is simply a hobby. I don't take ads from vendors or make any money from it. The upkeep of this website only costs me $35/year and it helps keep some of my spare time occupied.      

I have people tell me all the time that they would like to travel somewhere, but can't afford to. So, I offer a free trip each year to a family member of people that I have traveled with in the past and am grateful to be able to do so. I only do this out of kindness to others and don't expect any glory by doing so. I also help children in Guatemala when I can, who are in need and poor. Every time I go there, I take educational books and audio cd's for learning English and children's bibles as well. I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to various Latin American countries 40 times in the past 6 1/2 years and for nothing more than pleasure. 

I have visited the countries of Belize, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Even though it can be dangerous at times in ANY country you visit, I generally find that if you don't wear jewelry or appear to have a lot of money on you, you probably won't have any problems with thieves and such while on a trip. I travel a lot to some pretty remote and poor places during my trips. I stay very alert of my surroundings and at all times. Always remember, if someone sees an opportunity they will usually take advantage of it. Don't make yourself vulnerable!      

I was introduced to the Maya World in August of 2003, on a brief solo trip to Cancun. I visited the sites of Chichen-Itza and Tulum while there. After that, trips to visit Maya ruin sites became my greatest passion in life. I average going on 6 adventure trips each year, mostly for visiting Maya ruin sites. Sometimes I go on these trips alone and I do have some regular travel companions, but continually search for others also. Anyone is more than welcome to join me on one of my trips as long as they are well mannered and don't cause problems. 

My trips are not always glamorous, for some sites are rather secluded and are hard to get to. I do prefer to sleep in a hotel each night with a/c and a shower, but some places require sleeping in the jungle in a swinging hammock under a mosquito net, in order to visit them. Also, one might have to go four or five days without bathing, which I am not fond of at all. It takes dedication to visit some ruin sites. 

I also try to make a couple of scuba diving trips to somewhere in the Caribbean each year as well, of which I don't write an account of for posting here on my website. This is a Maya website, not a scuba diving website, although I may include a photo slideshow here of some diving photos in the future. By the way, I am a Master Scuba Diver through SDI.  

My friends tell me I am on a mission to see as many Maya ruin sites as possible, and I guess I would have to agree with them, to an extent. I am considered by most to be a serious Maya enthusiast, but I don't consider myself to be a scholarly person about the subject. I simply know more than the average person does. 

I have visited 89 different Maya sites over the years. These include: (Mexico) Dzibilnocac, Rio Bec, Ramonal, Xtampak, Hochob, Tabasqueño, San Gervasio, El Castillo Real, El Cedral, Tulum, Xel-Ha, Coba, Ek Balam, Chichen-Itza, Mayapan, Acanceh, Dzibilchaltun, Kabah, Labna, Sayil, Uxmal, Xlapak, Edzna, Kohunlich, Chacchoben, Dzibanche, Kinichna, Lamay, Palenque, Yaxchilan, Bonampak, Oxtankah, Chicanna, Becan, Hormiguero, Xpuhil, Calakmul, Balamku, Muyil, (Guatemala) Quirigua, Tzikintzakan, Buenos Aires, El Venado, El Tintal, El Mirador, Paxcaman, Naranjo, Motul de San Jose, Nixtunchich, Ceibal, Dos Pilas, Aguateca, Punta de Chiminos, Arroyo de Piedra, La Blanca, Hamontun, Naranjito, Kinal, Rio Azul, Holmul, Poza Maya, Nakum, Tayazal, Piedras Negras, El Peru, Cancuen, Tikal, Kaminaljuyu, Topoxte, Yaxha, Uaxactun, Ixlu, Zacualpa, Utatlan and Iximche (Belize) Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, Lamanai, Altun-Ha, (Honduras) Copan, El Puente, Las Sepulturas, Los Sapos, (El Salvador) Joya de Ceren, Cihuatan, San Andres, Casa Blanca, and Tazumal.

I have also visited the stunning Inca Ruins of Machu Picchu and the interesting site of Sacsayhuaman in Peru, as well as a few other Inca sites there which I feel don't deserve mention here.

Happy travels,

Greg Vandiver