Day 1: Cancun
Arrival at Cancun airport, private transfer to the Ambiance Suites Cancun hotel or similar.
Free afternoon to explore the city.
Day 2: Cancún /Tulum/Bacalar/Chetumal
Meet at the hotel at 8:00 a.m.
Continue to Tulum. Known for its archaeological site perched on the edge of a magnificent white sand beach.
Tulum was founded in the 6th century during the Ancient Mayan Empire. The city was surrounded by walls that defended the three land fronts, while the cliffs protected the sea front. Tulum is a very small place, but its beauty bursts at the seams.
Quick visit, lunch at EL CAPITAN restaurant, where you can enjoy grilled fish, then continue to Chetumal. On the way, we will make a stop in Bacalar, nicknamed the Lagoon of Seven Colors, which surprises travelers with its variety of shades of blue. We will head to the Blue Cenote. It is a must-see for visitors to the region and a great way to cool off in its crystal clear waters. Arrival in Chetumal, free time to stroll through the streets of this city, which was an ancient Mayan port. Taqueria Grill and overnight stay at the Continental Caribe hotel or similar.
Day 3: Chetumal/Becan /Palenque
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit to Becan. It is located within the Río Bec region, which is characterized by its architecture featuring large checkerboard or chessboard panels, as well as tall, narrow towers on either side of the main temples. These towers have stairways and visible temples. Lunch at an old ranch, then continue on to Palenque. Dinner and overnight stay at La Aldea hotel or similar.
Day 4: Palenque / Agua Azul / Palenque
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure for the blue waterfalls. The waters turn turquoise blue as they drip onto mineral deposits during the dry season.
The crystal blue water combined with the surrounding vegetation makes this waterfall one of the most beautiful in the country. In addition to a fairytale view, you can enjoy a swim in one of the many natural pools that form at the foot of the falls. For lunch, we will serve you a whole grilled fish at the foot of the waterfalls. Return to Palenque and visit the archaeological site at the foot of the mountains, nestled in a dense jungle. This ancient Mayan city is one of the best preserved in Mexico.
Its architectural and sculptural heritage will leave you speechless. Among its monuments, the Temple of Inscriptions and the extraordinary tomb of King Pakal stand out. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful place you can admire. You have to be able to dream to relive the ancient city, which, in its original state, was covered in gleaming multicolored stucco. Today, try your hand at breaking a piñata. You'll have a great time discovering a local tradition. Dinner and accommodation at La Aldea hotel or similar.
Day 5: Palenque/Campeche
Breakfast. Departure for the Gulf of Mexico. This route will gradually take you out of the forest landscape and into large floodplains where the less lush vegetation is, however, a sign of the proximity of the Gulf of Mexico. Stop in Champotón to watch the pelicans and enjoy a swim. Lunch by the sea. Continue to Campeche and visit this port city.
The only fortified city in Mexico, it has recently been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Visit the city and stroll through the historic center, with its many cobbled streets and old colonial houses. Discover the Cathedral and the famous Malecón, a magnificent avenue by the sea. Dinner in the city center. Overnight stay at the Castelmar Hotel or similar.
Day 6: Campeche / Celestún / Mérida
Breakfast. En route, brief stop at a Mayan cemetery in Pomuch to discover the brightly colored and highly decorated tombs. Here, the bones and skulls of the deceased are displayed for all to see in small niches in the vaults, carefully arranged on beautiful embroidered cloth in small wooden boxes. Don't forget that Mexicans have a very important cult of death. Second quick stop in Becal, famous for its hats made from Jipijapa leaves in caves so that the fibers remain flexible. Visit the hat workshop, the main activity of the village. The hats are made from the leaves of a palm tree called “jipi-japa.” Production is essentially artisanal and family-based.
Departure for Celestún. A small fishing village on the Gulf of Mexico. Celestún's main attraction is the Ría Biosphere Reserve, a large coastal wetland reserve and forest wildlife refuge. Take a boat trip to admire the impressive diversity of water birds, including more than 18,000 flamingos that give the scene a pink hue. Explore the mangroves and crystal-clear freshwater springs of the biosphere reserve. Lunch by the sea. You will taste the famous Ceviche (typical Mexican raw fish in a marinade of lemon juice, cilantro, and onion). Continue to Mérida, capital of Yucatán, to explore the city.
The first impression is one of lightness, simplicity, and purity. But the joy of the city quickly adds to this first impression, as it seems to be set to the rhythm of marimba orchestras. Most of the inhabitants dress in the traditional manner, all in white, which has earned the city the nickname “white city.” This is the Mexican capital of hammocks. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Visit the covered market where items made from henequen fiber are sold, mainly hammocks, but also embroidered huipiles, jewelry, and textiles. Dinner and accommodation at the Hotel Residencial or similar.
Day 7: Mérida / Izamal / Chichén Itzá
After breakfast, we will depart for Izamal, a beautiful colonial city founded in the mid-16th century on the ruins of an ancient Mayan city. It is known as the “City of Hills.” We will visit an important archaeological site dedicated to Kinich Kakmó located in the city, then continue on to the Xcajum cenote. The word cenote comes from the Mayan “ts'ono'ot,” which means “cavity with water.” These are freshwater wells that are part of a large system of caves, tunnels, and underground rivers. Cenotes were very important to the ancient Mayans, as they were their main source of fresh water and represented the entrance to the underworld, where many deities were found. Lunch at the Puerta Chichen hotel, free time to enjoy the pool, dinner, and overnight stay.
(Option to attend the light and sound show at an additional cost, ask your guide).
Day 8: Chichén Itzá / Valladolid / Cancún
Early breakfast.
Departure for a visit to the site of Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The main monuments are the Pyramid of Kukulkan (also known as El Castillo), a palm tree complex, and the Temple of the Jaguars. The juxtaposition of Toltec feathered serpents and Mayan deities, and the depiction of Toltec and Mayan dignitaries in the frescoes demonstrate the admirable success of the fusion of the two civilizations. Also on hand is the Sacred Cenote, a huge natural sinkhole that provides access to the underground water table at a depth of about 20 meters.
Free lunch.
