When to go
February – April and October – November
Price
From £3,295 pp (including flights) | Private: £3,995pp (including flights)
Flight time
11hrs 37mins
Introduction
On this memorable tour of Mexico, you will explore 2,000 year-old pyramids, feel the cool breeze as you drive across the tropical lowlands, and take a morning tour of an ancient Mayan site. And that’s just in the first 9 days! What’s more, you will learn about the cultural significance of the Aztec, Mayan and Spanish empires, and marvel at the natural beauty of the many waterfalls and rivers.
Good For
At a Glance
Duration
14 days & 12 nights
Guide price
Group: £3,295pp (including flights) | Private: £3,995pp (including flights)
Cities/Destinations (in order)
Mexico City | Teotihuacán | Oaxaca | Monte Albán | Tuxtla Gutierrez • San
Cristóbal de las Casas | Agua Azul waterfalls • Palenque | Campeche | Kabah • Uxmal • Mérida | Chichén Itzá | Cancun
Tour Type
Experienced local tour manager and guided sightseeing
Tour Theme
Group Tour
Activity Level
Age Range
N/A
Star Rating of Tour
Standard
Accommodation
Galeria Plaza Hotel | Parador San Miguel | Hotel Diego de Mazariegos | Chan Kah Resort | Hotel Plaza Campeche | Casa del Balam | Hacienda Chichen
Board Basis
Varied - please see the sample itinerary for details
Min|Max Group Size
Average 12 people with a maximum of 18
Start/Finish
Mexico City | Cancun
Extensions
Copper Canyon + Tour (6 day & 5 nights) from £1,295pp
Tour + Guatemala (8 days & 6 nights) from £1,595pp
Tour + Caribbean Coast (5 days & 3 nights) from £625pp
Highlights
Boat Ride Through the Sumidero Canyon
Take a boat trip through the Sumidero Canyon at water level. The journey will take you 20 miles from the Belisario Domínguez Bridge to the hydroelectric dam, and then 20 miles back to the start. The journey takes about 2 hours to complete. Along the way, you can appreciate the detailed, intricate rock formations, and even spot some local wildlife if you’re lucky.
Fly to Indigenous Villages and Mayan Sites
Avoid the long road trips with convenient flights to Oaxaca and Tuxtla Gutierrez. Oaxaca is famous for its combination of authentical regional cuisine and big city vibes, while Tuxtla Gutierrez is a modern city that treasures its time-honored traditions such as its architecture, street food, and rituals. Tuxtla Gutierrez also takes influence from the Zoque culture, who mainly live in the mountains of the northwestern state of Chiapas.
Partake in Local Traditions During Easter and the Day of the Dead
Easter in Mexico is unlike any other part of the world. If you travel at this time of year, you will enjoy a multi-week extravaganza, with notable events like Ash Wednesday and lively carnivals that bring entire neighborhoods together to dance, party, and enjoy amazing food.
Of course, a Mexican trip is not complete without the Day of the Dead. It is celebrated between October 31 and November 6. During this week, the locals remember and honor their deceased loved ones by visiting cemeteries, decorating the graves, and treating the spirits to special food such as sugar skulls and pan de Muertos, a special sweet bread enhanced with anise seeds.
Recommended Hotels
Galeria Plaza Hotel | Parador San Miguel | Hotel Diego de Mazariegos | Chan Kah Resort | Hotel Plaza Campeche | Casa del Balam | Hacienda Chichen
Sample Itinerary
The Vibrancy of Mexico
From 40-day long Easter celebrations to the Day of the Dead, Mexico is a fascinating place steeped in mystique, a tantalizingly upbeat social dynamic, and curious places of historical significance. This sample itinerary will give you a taste of what Mexico has to offer. Whether you wish to marvel at the spellbinding waterfalls, party until sundown, or visit Mayan sites that were first discovered in the 16th century, you will be spoilt for choice.
Day 1: Fly to Mexico City
Fly from London to Mexico City. Regional connections are available. Then transfer to the Galeria Plaza Hotel for 3 nights. The hotel graciously combines modern technology and amenities with touches of antiquity, such as rustic furniture and wooden architecture.
(N)
Day 2: Mexico City
Enjoy a full-day tour of Mexico City. Visit Zócalo, the main square in central Mexico City, which is home to the largest Cathedral in Latin America, and has the El Cardenal Mexican breakfast spot. Then visit the murals of famed 20th century artist, Diego Rivera, who actively painted for 50 years from 1907 to 1957. Finally, explore the Anthropological Museum, which ties together the country’s entire indigenous Mexican heritage into one secure, captivating, and memorable building.
(B, L)
Day 3: Teotihuacán
At morning, visit to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, a Catholic shrine on Tepeyac Hill, devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Then, visit the pyramids of Teotihuacán, home to the second largest structure in the city, the Pyramid of the Moon, rising to 140 feet high and 526 by 511 feet at its base.
(B, L)
Day 4: Fly to Oaxaca
Fly to Oaxaca, a rich colonial city, home to a vibrant arts and craft scene, delicious savory cuisine, and an engaging cultural hub. Originally occupied by Aztecs in the 15th century, Oaxaca was eventually conquered by the Spaniards, then recognized as a city by Hernán Cortés in 1529. Many of the 16th century art and buildings still stand today. In particular, the Church of Santo Domingo.
Stay 2 nights at the Parador San Miguel.
(B)
Day 5: Monte Albán
In the morning, visit the Zapotec capital of Monte Albán. Once home to the Zapotec culture from 500 B.C.E to 700 C.E, the early inhabitants were mostly farmers. They made distinctive pottery vessels, and traded frequently with other civilizations, including the Teotihuacan and Mixtec cultures.
Enjoy afternoon leisure or make an optional visit to the Mitla ruins.
(B)
Day 6 & 7: Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez • San Cristóbal de las Casas
Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez via Mexico City. Then, take a boat trip across the Grijalva River, passing under the Sumidero Canyon, marveling at the impressive, natural rock formations up close.
Proceed to the colonial town of San Cristóbal de las Casas, set in a highland valley surrounded by pine forest. Here you will stay 2 nights at the Hotel Diego de Mazariegos. In the morning, tour the town and nearby indigenous villages. Then enjoy afternoon leisure.
(B)
Day 8: Agua Azul Waterfalls • Palenque
Drive past the Agua Azul Waterfalls and arrive at the Palenque Palace, a royal residence set on a 10-meter-high platform, largely comprised of rooms arranged around internal courtyards.
Stay 1 night at the Chan Kah Resort.
(B, L)
Day 9: Palenque • Campeche
Morning tour of Palenque. The ruins date from 226 B.C to 799 A.D. After generations of being engulfed in overgrown jungle, mahogany, and sapodilla trees, the site has been lovingly excavated and restored for public viewing.
Take an afternoon drive to Campeche via the Sabuncuy coast (5 hours). Stay overnight at the Hotel Plaza Campeche.
(B, L)
Day 10: Kabah • Uxmal • Mérida
At morning, drive to the Palace of Masks at Kabah, which features over a hundred depictions of the rain deity, Chaac. Then visit Uxmal to tour the Mayan ceremonial center. In the afternoon, proceed to Mérida and stay at the Casa del Balam for 2 nights.
(B, L)
Day 11: Mérida
Take a morning walking tour of the city. Enjoy afternoon leisure.
(B)
Day 12: Chichén Itzá
Transfer to Chichén Itzá and visit the ancient Mayan city. The ruins occupy up to 4 square miles in south-central Yucatán. At its peak, the building is said to have been the center of all religious, military, political, and commercial activity, with capacity for up to 35,000 people.
Stay overnight at the Hacienda Chichen.
(B)
Day 13 & 14: Fly to London
Transfer to Cancun. Take a direct overnight flight to London.
(B) (N)
