Enjoy this travel and vacation in Mexico, finding out why Cancun has become one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. Not only does it offer the most incredible beaches, entertainment, dining options, and shopping facilities, it is also the gateway to discover the mysterious Mayan World. Follow the world famous Mayan Riviera, get to know the legends of ancient civilizations, visit some of the most impressive Mayan ruins, discover one of the Seven New World Wonders, travel through colonial history in Merida and learn about the traditional henequen industry in an authentic hacienda. Explore the wetlands of Celestun and watch flamingos in their natural habitat. Finish your adventurous journey where you started it: the paradisiacal Caribbean beaches of Cancun. And all this while enjoying the hospitability of the Maya people who still inhabit the region. The Mayan World didn’t end in 2012, on the contrary, it’s alive and you’re in it!

Read more

Enjoy this travel and vacation in Mexico, finding out why Cancun has become one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations. Not only does it offer the most incredible beaches, entertainment, dining options, and shopping facilities, it is also the gateway to discover the mysterious Mayan World. Follow the world famous Mayan Riviera, get to know the legends of ancient civilizations, visit some of the most impressive Mayan ruins, discover one of the Seven New World Wonders, travel through colonial history in Merida and learn about the traditional henequen industry in an authentic hacienda. Explore the wetlands of Celestun and watch flamingos in their natural habitat. Finish your adventurous journey where you started it: the paradisiacal Caribbean beaches of Cancun. And all this while enjoying the hospitability of the Maya people who still inhabit the region. The Mayan World didn’t end in 2012, on the contrary, it’s alive and you’re in it!

The highlights of your travel and vacation in Mexico, in North - Central America, are:

  • Cancun, characterized by wonderful and untouched white sandy beaches lapped by crystal-clear sea
  • Tulum, the only place where you can find beachfront Mayan ruins
  • Merida, the so called "white city" due to the color of its colonial buildings
  • Chichen Itza, listed in Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the Seven New World Wonders, a must-see on every trip to Mexico.

If you would like to stay a couple of day more on the beach in Cancun, or in the Riviera Maya, you can ask for an extension of this travel package.

Trip summary

  • Travel style Tailor-made travel
  • Departure Cancun
  • End Cancun
  • Countries
    • Mexico
  • City
    • Cancun
    • Tulum
    • Uxmal
    • Celestun
    • Chichen Itza
  • Theme History, art and culture
  • Accommodation Standard
  • Flight Excluded
  • Guide Not Included
  • The tour has met our standards

Detailed itinerary

Expand
  • 1
    Cancun
    Day 1

    Welcome! Upon arrival you will be received and transferred to your hotel. After the check-in, your afternoon will be available at leisure. 

    Overnight at hotel.

    Visited places:
    • Cancun
    Accommodation offered:
  • 2
    Tulum and Coba
    Day 2

    Tulum is the only place where you can find beachfront Mayan ruins. It was one of the last cities inhabited and built by the ancient Maya and it even managed to survive for another 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico. Due to its location on the cliffs of the Caribbean Coast, it used to be an important commercial and political center. Today it is one of the most popular Mayan sites to visit, certainly also because of its magnificent white-sandy beaches with the sublimely turquoise waters, rivaling the best of the Caribbean.

    At the archaeological site, don't miss the “castle”, “the temple of the frescoes”, and “the house of the columns”. Let's continue with a visit to Coba, one of the most important and oldest Mayan treasures in the region. The archaeological site contains many temples as well as a legendary ball game area. After a 1.5km walk we arrive at the Nohoch Muul Pyramid (the tallest pyramid in the region) from the top of which you will enjoy a wonderful view of the sub-tropical jungle that surrounds Coba. We then travel to Merida, also known as “The White City”.

    Mérida was founded in 1542, by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo. Nowadays, Merida is the capital city of the Mexican state of Yucatan, with still a strong influence of Mayan cultural heritage. It features a fascinating combination of art, history and culture, with cobbled streets, stunning architecture, lovely parks, and delicious gastronomy.

    Visited places:
    • Cancun
    • Tulum
    • Cobà
    • Merida
    Accommodation offered:
  • 3
    Uxmal
    Day 3

    Today is devoted to the visit of Uxmal, one of the greatest ceremonial centers of the ancient Maya civilization and it can still be considered one of the most beautiful pre-Hispanic archaeological sites on the American continent, thanks to the proportion of its majestic constructions. Uxmal is the most important and famous archaeological site of the Puuc Route, a series of ancient Mayan cities that share the same architectural patterns.

    The tour takes you to visit the Pyramid of the Magician, the Quadrangle of the Nuns, and the Governor’s Palace. Tehn, we’ll move southwards to explore Kabah. Here, we will see the renowned Arch that connects the city with Uxmal, the Great Pyramid, and the stunning Temple of the Masks.

    Visited places:
    • Merida
    • Uxmal
    Accommodation offered:
  • 4
    Beauties of Yucatan
    Day 4

    For today you can choose between 2 day trips. The first option is to visit Celestun, located 96 km west from Merida. Celestun is a tranquil fishing town with some nice pristine beaches. But the main reason for visiting Celestun is the biosphere reserve Ría Celestun. It´s an important wildlife sanctuary with white-tailed deer, armadillos, crocodiles, ocelots, bush turkeys, ducks and many birds. The greatest attraction in this ecological reserve is without doubt the flamingo colony, a unique natural spectacle. During this tour you will explore the wetlands of Celestun by boat. You will be amazed by the local flora and fauna in this tropical paradise, with the unique opportunity to observe the superb pink flamingo in its natural habitat, an unforgettable experience! The best season to see flamingos is from 1 November until 31 March.

    Alternatively, you can make a trip into the past and visit the Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. This tour gives you a true glimpse of what was once a fully operational henequen hacienda, in the grand style and tradition of the nineteenth century. A unique experience! Travel to the ecological reserve of Cuxtal, where the Hacienda Sotuta de Peon is located, about 25 km south of Merida. Start the visit with one of the hacienda´s most important attractions: the machine house, where the henequen shredder was used to generate fibres (Sisal) from the henequen plant.

    Continue with the sisal factory, where the plant was converted into distinct strands of what would become twine, rope or burlap bags. We will then ride a wagon, pulled by mules on narrow tracks, through the henequen plantation to a Mayan house, where you can experience how the local Mayan people used to live. Refresh at the cenote (sinkhole) Zhul-Ha, where you can swim in the clear waters. Towels, goggles and safety jackets are provided. Finally, return to the Hacienda where you have the chance to taste some delicious Yucatec specialties.

    Visited places:
    • Merida
    • Celestun
    Accommodation offered:
  • 5
    Chichen Itza
    Day 5

    Its extraordinary beauty and convenient geographic location makes Chichen Itza one of the most visited archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula.

    At the end of the Early Classic Period, around the year 600 AD, Chichen Itza was one of the largest and most prominent Maya cities. Nowadays, Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the best-preserved Maya site in the region. It is not only recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, it was also recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It's definitely one of the most iconic places of the country, a site that cannot be missed on a trip to Mexico.

    Most famous landmarks are the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Ballgame Court, the Platform of the Skulls, the Temple of the Jaguar, the Observatory, the One Thousand Columns, and the Sacred Cenote. After this guided visit, continue to Cancun.

    Visited places:
    • Merida
    • Chichen Itza
    • Cancun
  • Prices and conditions

    Price includes
    • 4 nights accommodation in standard room at the hotels mentioned or similar category
    • 4 American breakfasts or buffet if available
    • All transfers and excursions as mentioned in program, seat in basis
    • English speaking guide for transfers and excursions
    • V.A.T. and lodging tax and service charge on meals
    Price does not include
    • Airfares (domestic and international)
    • All services, meals or items not mentioned
    • Personal expenses such as: phone calls, laundry, beverages, etc
    • Tips to bellboys, room-maids, drivers, and guides

    Please let us know if you are interested in a beach extension.