Colonial treasures, ancient Mayan pyramids and golden beaches, this is a wonderful introduction to Mexico’s highlights! After a few days in Mexico City to soak up the vibrant culture, you fly south to the picturesque town of San Cristobal de las Casas famed for its indigenous colours and markets. From there, you drop into the steamy jungle lowlands to visit the beautiful temple complex of Palenque before continuing on to Merida and the colonial glory of the Yucatan Peninsula. After a visit to the country’s most famous site Chichen Itza, you finish your itinerary on the powder-white sand of the Mexican Caribbean.
Itinerary Highlights
What’s included
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
15
Nights
Price Guide
from $7895 pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Arrive Mexico City
Mexico City – Ancient capital of the Aztecs
Arrive into Mexico City and immerse yourself in the historic and cultural highlights of the buzzing metropolis, the perfect way to recover from the jetlag. Mexico City spills over with museums, galleries and monuments, the colonial zocalo the perfect starting-point, home to the national palace, the cathedral and Aztec Templo Mayor. Close by, you can visit the “Casa Azul” museum and former house of Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo at Coayacan or enjoy a boat trip through the floating gardens of Xochimilco, a remnant of the vast Aztec Lake Tenochtitlan that once occupied the city. This Aztec heritage is far more evident in the extraordinary site of Teotihuacán, home to the world’s 3rd and 4th largest pyramids, the enormous Temple of the Sun and the Moon – unmissable in our eyes!
San Cristobal & the Sumidero Canyon
Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez, capital of Chiapas State, where you will be driven south to San Cristobal de las Casas. Time-allowing, you may like to enjoy a boat trip up the impressive Sumidero Canyon along the the Grijalva River. San Cristobal is a pretty colonial town of cobbled streets, colourful churches and excellent boutiques and restaurants, ideal for exploring on foot. Classic architecture aside, the town retains a strong indigenous identity, and you may like to venture out into the hills to visit the traditional Tzotzil Maya communities of Zinacantan and San Juan Chamula, where Catholicism has fused with ancient shamanic rituals.
Palenque & the Tropical Lowlands
A long journey as you drop into the steamy lowlands to visit one of Mexico’s most cherished Maya sites – Palenque. On route, you may like to stop off to visit the impressive hillside complex of Tonina or even enjoy a refreshing swim at the tumbling waterfalls of Agua Azul. Palenque itself was discovered in 1773, a hugely atmospheric site, still only partially excavated; 90% of the complex lies undisturbed swallowed up by the jungle. A morning visit enables you to tour the key structures – the Temple of Inscriptions, Temple of the Cross, Temple of the Sun and Temple of the Lions – before you can explore the surrounding forest trails and out-buildings at your own pace.
Colonial Merida – Haciendas & Henequen
Fly to Merida and stay within the historic city or at a sumptuous colonial hacienda in the surrounding countryside. Merida is graced with beautiful architecture, historic churches and elegant monuments. Explore the city on foot, plunge into the colourful local markets or head out to visit nearby “cenote” sinkholes or the impressive Mayan temples of Uxmal and Kabah. Or step back in time at an historic haciendas, experiencing the workings of a traditional henequen estate that once filled the coffers of the Spanish crown. For birders, the Rio Celestun Bio Reserve is unmissable, home to some 304 species of resident and migratory birds including thousands of breeding pairs of flamingo.
Chichen Itza – Wonder of the Ancient World!
Today you visit arguably the highlight – Chichen Itza, one of the “New 7 Wonders of the World”. Your journey takes you via picturesque Izamal, the “city of three cultures”, where you can climb the “Firebird” pyramid for sweeping views across the surrounding area. Chichen Itza is the largest Mayan site in the Yucatan, an incredible complex that graces the covers of travel magazines across the world. Wander amongst the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Temple of Warriors, the Observatory and the famous Ball Court. Better still, travel during the summer solstice and you can watch the shadow of the “plumed serpent” descend the Kukulkan pyramid as the sun passes over the temple.
The Riviera Maya – Sun, Sand & Cenotes
What better way to finish your itinerary than on the famous Riviera Maya!? From Chichen Itza, it is a short distance to the coast and no matter where you stay, you can wind-down on fine powder-white sand lapped by the turquoise waters of Mexico’s Caribbean Sea. Offshore, you can swim, snorkel and sail off the Great Maya Reef while inland you can visit Maya ruins, colonial towns, cenote sink-holes or take advantage of the excellent nightlife.
Transfer to Cancun for onward connections
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide from $7895 per person
When to travel
Mexico is a wonderful year-round destination although each region has its own separate micro-climate. In the south, temperatures range between 25 – 35° in the lowlands and on the Pacific and Yucatan Peninsula. Here, days are warmer and more humid between May and October, the rainy season where afternoons often end with a short tempestuous downpour. However, Mexico’s Caribbean coast does lie on the hurricane belt which is at its height between the months of September and October. Travelling north through Mexico’s colonial highlands up into the Sierra Madre Mountains, temperatures drop down into the 10’s and beyond owing to the altitude especially over Christmas although days tend to be bright and generally sunny. Baja California is dry, arid and hottest between January and February, a time that coincides with excellent walking in the Copper Canyon and whale-watching in the lagoons of Magdalena Bay.
Add on’s
Continue your journey through the Mayan world with a short flight to Belize which would lead you on nicely to Tikal in Guatemala and the magical lost cities of the Peten. From here, the living Mayan communities of Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlan and Antigua are a short journey away. Or for wildlife and breathtaking national parks, there is no better add-on than Costa Rica. Experience Tortuguero, “Central America’s Amazon” and the dazzling bioversity of the Osa Peninsula before venturing to the adventure capital Arenal for hiking, biking, rafting and kayaking.
A short flight south also opens up Colombia’s colourful coffee region and the colonial gem Cartagena which in turn links beautifully with Ecuador and the Galapagos, the highlight of any trip to the Americas.
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