Small Group Mexico Tour

Day 1 — Ek Balam & Valladolid

Clients will be collected from their hotel in or near Cancun before heading inland at the start of this 6 night / 7 day tour of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

First up is a visit to the Mayan ruins at Ek Balam, notable for its massive Acropolis which measures 160 metres in length, as well as its amazing stucco skulls.

Next up is the charming colonial town of Valladolid where you will enjoy a relaxing tour of the town including visits to the Templo de San Bernardino & Convento del Sisal, constructed in 1552 as a fortress and church, as well as to Zaci cenote.

From Valladolid, it is a short drive to Chichen Itza and your overnight.

Accommodation will be at Hotel Villas Arqueologicas or similar.

Day 2 — Chichen Itza, Izamal & Merida

Perhaps the single most famous attraction in the Yucatan Peninsula, the incredible Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza are the most comprehensively excavated Mayan city anywhere in the region, famous for the Kukulkan pyramid, Temple of the Warriors, Ball Court & Observatory amongst others.

After a morning spent exploring the ruins with you guide, you will continue to another of Mexico’s ‘Pueblo Magico’ (magical towns), Izamal, for a brief tour before ending your day in the city of Merida, capital of Yucatan state and renowned for its handsome colonial beautiful buildings, shady parks and wide array of museums, galleries, shops, bars and restaurants.

Accommodation will be at Maison del Embajado, Hotel Real Toledo or similar.

Day 3 — Merida, Celestun, Uxmal & Campeche

Your morning begins with a city tour of Merida, beginning in the Zocalo (main plaza) and taking in the city’s San Ildefonso cathedral, Governor’s Palace and the former residence of the city’s founder, Francisco de Montejo.

Having explored the colonial delights of Merida, you will then head west out of the city for the approximate 1 hour drive to Celestun on the Gulf Coast. Principally famous for its large population of flamingos, Celestun is a UNESCO protected biosphere that is home to a huge variety of birdlife.

After a boat trip through the mangrove at Celestun, you will head back inland to what is often described as the most beautiful Mayan site in the Yucatan Peninsula, Uxmal.

Having visited both Uxmal and nearby Kabah, you will then continue south into Campeche state, ending the day at the capital of the same name.

Accommodation will be at Hotel Castelmar, Francis Drake or similar.

Day 4 — Campeche

After breakfast there will be a morning tour of Campeche city, a beautiful, UNESCO World Heritage city, once entirely surrounded by thick walls to protect it from attack by pirates.

You will visit what is left of these once mighty walls, including the Maya museum in Baluarte San Miguel, as well as taking in the countless, beautifully renovated colonial buildings and plazas, such as the main Plaza de la Indepedencia,  that cover almost the entire historic centre of the city.

Having checked out of your hotel, you will then continue south through the lowlands of Tabasco State to Palenque.

Accommodation will be at Hotel Plaza Palenque or similar.

Day 5 — Palenque

Chichen Itza is probably the best-known Mayan site, the architecture at Uxmal the most beautiful, but many visitors to Mexico rate Palenque as their favourite Mayan city.

An early start will to the ruins, which are surrounded by lush forest and with sweeping views, will include visits to all the main highlights including the Temple of Inscriptions, the Temple of the Cross and the main Palace with its Observatory tower as well as the small museum, accessed by walking down along a picturesque jungle path.

Having explored the ruins, you will continue by road to either Agua Azul or Misol Ha waterfalls before returning to your hotel in Palenque.

Accommodation will be at Hotel Plaza Palenque or similar.

Day 6 — To Chicanna

Departing Palenque, and returning to the Yucatan Peninsula, you will head along the main road linking the west coast to the east coast until you reach your accommodation for the evening.

Having checked in at the hotel, there will be a visit (pretty much across the road) to the small, seldom visited Mayan site at Chicanna.

The remainder of the day is free for you to relax by the hotel pool or within its spacious gardens.

Day 7 — Chetumal, Laguna Bacalar & Tulum

After an early breakfast, you will continue heading east, with your first stop of the day being another small, seldom visited Mayan site, this time the beautiful ruins of Kohunlich.

Departing Kohunlich, you will soon turn off the east – west highway and begin the journey back north through Quintana Roo along the coastal highway that links Chetumal in the south with Cancun in the north.

While famous for its beautiful beaches, the southern half of Quintana Roo is also home to beautiful Laguna Bacalar where, in addition to visiting Fuerte San Felipe, the colonial-era fort that once guarded the lagoon, there will be an opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim in the deep blue Azul cenote.

Continuing north, your final visit to a Mayan site, Tulum, is undoubtedly most memorable for its spectacular location overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Your brief Mexico tour now comes to an end with clients being dropped off at the beach hotel of their choice. For those clients looking to return home, the tour ends too late to catch a same day flight so accommodation will be arranged for a final night in easy reach of Cancun airport.