16-day highlights of Mexico tour

Mexico-city

Day 1: Welcome to Mexico!

Welcome to Mexico City!

Enjoy a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in the historic city center of Mexico City.

Mexico City

Day 2: See the Sights of Mexico City

Your guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning to have a walking tour in the Historic Center of Mexico City. The tour will start at the Diego Rivera Mural Museum, where the guide will describe the characters and the stages of Mexican history that the artist portrayed.

You will stroll through Alameda Central Park, considered the oldest public garden in Mexico and America, take a look at Bellas Artes Beautiful place. Next, you will continue on Madero and Cinco de Mayo streets to enjoy the historical landmarks and architecture until you reach the main Zocalo Plaza, which is among the largest plazas in the world.

Here you will admire the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Aztec Templo Mayor, and the National Government Palace. In the afternoon you will visit the amazing National Museum of Anthropology.

Mexico-city - Teotihuacan Archeological Site - Basilica Of Guadaloupe

Day 3: Visit Magnificent Teotihuacan

After breakfast, your shared transportation will pick you up at your hotel to visit the amazing archaeological site of Teotihuacan: the largest, most influential and most revered city in the history of the New World, which flourished in Mesoamerica's Golden Age.

You will have lunch close by and on your way back, you will visit the famous Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe, a Roman Catholic Church and National Shrine of Mexico.

Tonight, take advantage of your free evening to have dinner in one of Mexico City's traditional restaurants!

Mexico-city

Day 4: Explore the Canals of Xochimilco

After breakfast, visit the canals of Xochimilco. Xochimilco, meaning the "Place of the Flowers" in Náhuatl, is now part of modern-day Mexico City.

Today, you will explore the canals while on a colorful boat called a trajinera. Afterward, you will visit the bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacán or "the place of coyotes," in Nahuatl. It is a relatively quiet neighborhood in central Mexico City. Formerly a rural village, over the years Coyoacán has become a rich pocket of art and history in Mexico’s capital.

You will explore this typically Mexican neighborhood with its many museums, cafés, bookstores, and markets to uncover its history. Finally, you will visit the Casa Azul Museum, where the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo spent most of her life, having lived in the same house until her death, you will see pictures, photographs and personal items of her and Diego Rivera

Mexico-city - Cancun Airport - Valladolid

Day 5: Catch Your Plane to Cancun

Catch your flight to Cancun.

Your local transfer will be waiting for you at the airport, to take you to the colonial town of Valladolid. Check into your hotel and rest.

Valladolid - Chichén Itzá Archeological Site - Yokdzonot Cenote

Day 6: Discover the Sights of Chichen Itza

After your nice breakfast, you will take your private transfer to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, for a guided tour. After the visit, you will head to the lovely cenote (sinkhole) of Yokdzonot.

Cenotes are magical, enigmatic, and unique in the world and were once the only resource for fresh, sweet water in the local Yucatecan jungle. They were the sacred places of the Maya for that reason, but also because they represented the entrance to the underworld. The Yucatán Peninsula is a porous limestone shelf with no visible rivers; all the fresh water rivers are underground. Caverns and caves formed where the fresh water collects – hence the cenotes or water sinkholes.

After a nice swim and lunch in the area (this is operated by a rural cooperative), return to Valladolid.

Valladolid

Day 7: Explore the Sights of Valladolid

Enjoy a free day to have a good rest and enjoy this lovely city. In the evening, go on a walking tour through the city center, to visit the cathedral, the regional museum, the market, and other wonderful corners of Valladolid, all of them full of history and folklore.

Return to the hotel and rest for the night.

Valladolid - Ek Balam Archeological Site - Xcanche Cenote

Day 8: Spend Time at Historic Ek Balam

After breakfast, get ready to visit the amazing Ek Balam, which means black jaguar. This site was at the height of its importance during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD). When the Mayas abandoned the site, it went under cover, as the dense lowlying jungle of the Yucatán engulfed it. The pyramids were discovered when archaeologists and adventurers saw a group of hills with trees and brush growing out of them. Digging in the mounds, they uncovered treasures of buildings and artifacts hidden for hundreds of years. After this interesting visit, you will take your bikes and tour a 1.5-mile Sacbé (Sacbé means "White Road" in Mayan language) to get to the Xcanché cenote.

In the area, you have some options to taste regional food. Learn how to make tortillas by hand, as well as knit hammocks. Participate in an embroidery workshop.

Valladolid - Kabah Archeological Site - Uxmal

Day 9: Visit Amazing Uxmal

Today your private transfer will take you to Uxmal, where you will be able to tour through its wonderful archaeological site. The name Uxmal means "thrice-built" in Mayan. This name refers to the construction of its highest structure, the Pyramid of the Magician which was built on top of existing pyramids.

In this case, five stages of construction have been found. Uxmal was one of the largest cities of the Yucatán peninsula on the Ruta Puuc (Puuc Route), and at its height was home to approximately 20,000 Mayans.

After this, you cannot miss Kabah. This site is home to some very interesting and unusual buildings and sculptures. Transfer to your hotel in Uxmal to rest for the day.

Uxmal - Muná - Mérida

Day 10: Spend a Day in Muna

After breakfast, visit Muná. This cooperative is formed by indigenous people and peasants that created a very nice rural tourism project that combines the conservation of nature and the traditional Mayan culture.

You will participate in a workshop of engraving jícara, which is a natural fruit of the peninsula of Yucatán that was used by their ancestors to store food or water. You will see all the crafts that can be made with natural fruits.

Later, you will have a lovely regional lunch with them. Time to interact with the members of the cooperative (if you like) and transfer to the beautiful city of Mérida. Rest for the night in your lovely hotel hacienda.

Mérida - Tulum

Day 11: Travel from Merida to Tulum

After a lovely city tour through this elegant city, transfer to Tulum making stops on the way.

Arrive at the coast of Tulum, check into your charming hotel and rest for the day.

Tulum

Day 12: Welcome to Tulum

Today, your lovely stay in Tulum begins! Enjoy the beautiful scenery of this place as you spend the next few days here.

Tulum

Day 13: Rejuvenate on the Beaches of Tulum

With its serene beaches and glorious weather, Tulum is a place where you can truly rest your mind and soul. Enjoy your stay here as you relax on the beach!

Tulum

Day 14: Rest and Relax Your Soul

Today, enjoy a delicious breakfast at your hotel. The rest of the day afterward is yours to spend as you desire! There are plenty of things to do!

Tulum

Day 15: Spend One Last Day in Tulum

Today is your last day in Tulum.

Spend some time enjoying its beautiful turquoise waters and lovely atmosphere.

Tulum - Cancun Airport

Day 16: Say Farewell!

Enjoy a transfer to the airport of Cancun to say good-bye to this Mexican Riviera paradise!

Safe travels home, and visit again soon!