AZTECS & MAYAS

After your plane lands at Mexico City International Airport, our tour representative will meet and greet you before assisting you with the shared transfer to your hotel. Once you are checked in, you can spend the rest of this first day at leisure. If you can’t wait to start exploring, hit the streets and start becoming acquainted with the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. Alternatively, if you want to put your feet up after the flight, you can stay at the hotel relaxing and taking advantage of all the available services. In any case, make sure you get enough rest for tomorrow your adventure begins. Please note that the itinerary order may change depending on the weekday of arrival (considering the days of operation of tours and days in which the places to visit open).  Overnight in Mexico City.

DAY 2 : MEXICO CITY – TEOTIHUACAN – MEXICO CITY (100 KM – 2 HRS)

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide will be waiting for you at the hotel at 8.00 hrs. to take you to visit the ‘Zocalo’ – the city’s main square. Here you’ll find the cathedral and presidential palace. Later, visit the National Anthropology Museum, which houses a priceless collection of artifacts, some of which is 35,000 years old. Enjoy a guided tour of this facility featuring 11 sections dedicated to different eras and civilizations. Perhaps the most famous exhibit is the Aztec sunstone, but Olmec sculptures and Mayan murals have not lost their beauty after all these centuries. The scale models of pre-colonial cities are also fascinating. After the museum, continue with a visit to the well-preserved ruins of Teotihuacan, an ancient civilization that seems to have gone into decline in the sixth century but had a large influence on later civilizations such as the Aztecs. Then travel back in time as you stroll along the Avenue of the Dead towards the imposing 2,000-year-old Pyramid of the Sun, the third largest in the world. At the end of the visit, you’ll have some free time to explore the site and climb one of the colossal pyramids to take in the views from the top. Lunch is not included. Then return to the city and stop at the famous Guadalupe shrine to visit both the old and new basilicas. . In the evening, return to the hotel and have the rest of the day at leisure.  Overnight in Mexico City

DAY 3 : MEXICO CITY – TONANTZINTLA – CHOLULA & PUEBLA – MEXICO CITY (370KM – 5.30 HRS)

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel before your guide picks you up to take you on a full-day adventure beginning in Santa María Tonantzintla. Visit its Baroque church, which has a noteworthy talaveresque façade and a beautiful interior decorated with polychrome. Continue then to the archaeological area of Cholula, which features the largest pyramidal basement in the Americas. Its roof is made of 49 domes that cover the seven bodies of the temple and two lateral chapels. You’ll then be transferred to the ‘City of Angels’, Puebla, where you’ll have free time for lunch (not included). Visit the majestic historic center, which concentrates the largest number of 18th-century colonial buildings. Walk into its Cathedral to admire its interior and contemplate its front facade and towers, considered the highest in Mexico. Continue to the Chapel of the Rosary, added to the Santo Domingo church in the 17th century. Its vibrant interior features polychrome and gold leaf decorations. Now is the time to buy some souvenirs (typical sweets or objects from Talavera). You’ll be dropped off back in Mexico at dusk. Overnight in Mexico City

DAY 4 : CIUDAD DE MEXICO – TUXTLA GUTIERREZ – SUMIDERO CANYON – SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (70KM – 2 HRS)

Today breakfast at the hotel is followed by a transfer to Mexico City Airport, where you’ll catch a flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez (airfare not included). You should land at Tuxtla Gutierrez Airport at 13:00 at the latest. There a tour representative will meet and greet you before taking you to the Sumidero Canyon, one of Mexico’s most outstanding natural attractions. This spectacular gorge carved into the earth over millions of years by the river Grijalva has to be one of Mother Nature’s least celebrated masterpieces. This makes visiting it even more exciting. During a two-hour boat tour along the imposing canyon bed, you will be able to appreciate just how deep this ravine gorge is. Find yourself dwarfed by the sheer scale of its high walls, which are covered in a thick coat of vegetation. Admire the beautiful wildlife, including crocodiles, monkeys, and birds, and the wide range of flora in the surrounding rainforests. After the boat ride, continue to San Cristobal de las Casas, where you’ll be dropped off at your hotel late in the afternoon.  Overnight in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

DAY 5 : SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS– SAN JUAN CHAMULA AND ZINACANTAN – SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS (30KM – 1.5 HRS)

After breakfast, head out to visit San Juan Chamula, famed for its whitewashed cathedral with colorful ornamentation and pine-scented, candlelit interior. Here you can observe the religious rituals that the locals perform. The town is almost entirely inhabited by Tzotzil Maya, who apart from speaking their own language also have distinctive clothing, with the men wearing tunics called ‘chujes’ and the women favoring blouses known as’ huipils’. Chamula is renowned for the quality of its weavers and the local shops and markets offer a great variety. Upon your return to San Cristobal, spend the afternoon at leisure. We recommend visiting the baroque church of Santo Domingo as well as its colorful art and food markets, where you can admire the clothes of the Maya cultures that inhabit the region.  Overnight in San Cristobal de las Casas.

DAY 6 : SAN CRISTOBAL – WATERFALLS – PALENQUE (230KM – 5.5 HRS)

We will collect you from the hotel early in the morning ready to begin your trip to Palenque. Enjoy your breakfast en route as we begin traveling northeast towards the beautiful waterfalls in Chiapas, perhaps some of the most impressive waterfalls in the world! Don’t forget your swimsuit today, as you will have the opportunity to take a dip in one of the natural pools full of bright blue water. This fascinating area of natural beauty is a wonderful place to relax and refresh yourself. After spending some time admiring the waterfalls and swimming in the water, we will continue our journey to the city of Palenque, where we will arrive in the afternoon. Upon arrival, check in to the hotel and spend the rest of the day at your leisure in Palenque. Overnight in Palenque.

DAY 7 : PALENQUE – CAMPECHE (360KM – 4.5 HRS)

Today’s breakfast will be followed by a visit to the Temples of Palenque. This archaeological site boasts some of the finest examples of Mayan architecture, including sculptures, roof combs, and bas-relief carvings. Enjoy a fascinating guided tour of the premises, admiring its beauty and learning interesting information. The impressive Temple of Inscriptions, which reaches a height of almost 23 meters, is where the tomb of the Maya ruler was found and excavated in the early 1950s. In its heyday, Palenque was a sprawling city-state that spanned almost 60 square kilometers. However, archaeologists estimate that they have excavated only 5-10% of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. So far, over 200 structures have been unearthed, with the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Palace, the Temple of the Count, and the Temple of the Cross being the most prominent. At the end of the tour, continue to Campeche and check in at the hotel.  Overnight in Campeche.

DAY 8 : CAMPECHE – UXMAL – MERIDA (250KM – 3.5 HRS)

Today, after breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a panoramic tour of this historic coastal city, driving through the heart of the picturesque old town with its colonial houses, arcades, and churches. Alight and explore further on foot, visiting sights such as the old city walls and St Francis’ Cathedral. Leave Campeche and visit the impressive archaeological site of Uxmal and enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, which rises in to view above the canopy of the jungle as you approach. Unlike other Maya cities, Uxmal was engulfed by the rainforest after the Spanish arrived. The most famous structure is the 35-meter Pyramid of the Magician, which towers over the remarkably well-preserved Nunnery Quadrangle. Across the central plaza, just beyond the ballgame court, is the Governor’s Palace with its elaborately decorated roof. At the southern end of the main complex is the Great Pyramid, of which only one side has been excavated. Then, visit the beautiful white colonial city of Merida, where we will take a panoramic tour of its most prominent sites including the residential area, the monument to the homeland, and Montejo Avenue.  Overnight in Merida.

DAY 9 : MERIDA – CELESTUN BOAT – MERIDA (215 KM – 3 HRS)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel then prepare for a day enjoying the beach and stunning scenery in a fishing village located approximately two hours away from Mérida. Upon arrival, observe the natural beauty of the surroundings, particularly the virgin beaches, which are ideal for swimming, and spot the beautiful pink flamingos that inhabit this region. Flamingos can be seen all year round, although they are less frequently spotted during the months of September and October due to the rains. Take a boat ride through the mangrove to observe the extraordinary exotic flora and fauna of the region. Then, enjoy some free time on the beach to relax, swim or sunbathe. Later, we will take you to a typical seafront restaurant for a traditional lunch (included). After eating, return to Merida and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.  Overnight in Merida.

DAY 10 : MERIDA – CHICHEN ITZA – CANCUN / RIVIERA MAYA (315KM – 4 HRS)

Start the day with breakfast at the hotel, then head deep into the rainforests of the Yucatan peninsula in search of the legendary Maya city of Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Learn about the Maya and their civilization as you admire the scale and beauty of this ancient city. Behold the geometric perfection of the 25-meter Temple of Kukulkan, popularly known as El Castillo (‘the Castle’). This temple was built both as a representation of the mystical Maya calendar and to reflect the optical illusion of a serpent snaking its way up or down the pyramid during the spring and fall equinoxes. Admire the Great Ball Court, the largest of 13 discovered at the site; see the haunting Skull Platform, where the heads of human sacrifice victims and prisoners of war were impaled; and the Sacred Cenote, where sacrifice victims were dumped. Enjoy lunch at a typical restaurant. Continue to Cancun or Riviera Maya where we will drop you off at your selected extension hotel (not included).

TOUR GUIDE: Operated with local English & Spanish speaking licensed guides on a shared basis

ACCOMMODATION: 9 nights’ accommodation

MEALS: 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches on days 9 and 10

TRANSPORT: 

• Air-conditioned transportation on a shared basis
• Airport arrival transfer from Mexico City International airport to the selected hotel on a shared basis 
• Departure Transfer to Hotel in Cancun or Riviera on a shared basis

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES: 

• All entrance fees and activities mentioned in the itinerary: Mexico City tour on day 2, Anthropological Museum on day 2, Teotihuacan on day 2, Basilica de Guadalupe on day 2, Tonantzintla on day 3, Puebla tour on day 3, Cholula on day 3, Sumidero boat trip on day 4, San Juan Chamula and Zinacatan on day 5, Agua Azul or Misol-Ha waterfalls on day 6, Palenque ruins on day 7, Campeche city tour on day 8, Uxmal on day 8, panoramic tour in Merida on day 8, Celestun BT on day 9 and Chichen Itza on day 10.

OTHER:  Meet & greet on day 1 

EXCLUSIONS

• Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks, and meals if not stated explicitly in the program
• Optional tours 
• International and domestic flight tickets or Mexican visa fees and local taxes
• Gratuities for drivers and guides

Please note

• The estimated arrival time in Cancun or Riviera Maya hotel is 18.30 hrs. Departure transfer to the airport is not provided
• Please note that there are ongoing road works on the access road to the Cancun Airport which are affecting the traffic. As it is required to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure we suggest booking an additional night stay in Cancun
• The itinerary order may change depending on the weekday of arrival (considering the days of operation of tours and days in which the places to visit open)
• In San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, photographs or video are prohibited within the temples, of traditional authorities, processions, and rituals
• Please consider your flight to Mexico City / Tuxtla Gutierrez arriving latest 13:00 hrs. in order to take part in the Sumidero Canyon boat tour. For arrivals, after 13:00 hrs. the transfer to San Cristobal will be offered (you will not take part in the Sumidero boat tour). Airfare is not included in the package.
• Please note that during transfers between zones there will be no guide service
• Local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to the tour contents without prior notice.

What do I need to bring?

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for traveling in Mexico. However, the climate in Chiapas can be wet and cold, especially in winter, therefore we recommend bringing warm clothes, a raincoat, and an umbrella. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or skimpy clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings. Sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.