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Mexico’s Mayan Trail

£2,801.00

Enjoying the view from the Moon Pyramid at Teotihuacan, an amazing Aztec complex that was once a thriving city.

Emerald jungles, sapphire-blue waters and powdery white sands meet towering ancient temples and colonial towns in the captivating country of Mexico. But a trip here is just as much about its fascinating history and culture as its idyllic landscapes. Our comprehensive Mexico tours will have you reaching for your sombrero as we comb through spectacular Mayan sites, uncovering the history of Mexico’s ancient people – the Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs – and the influence of Spanish settlers.

  • 15 excursions & visits
  • 14 meals
  • Adventurer pace
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Description

Day 1 – Mexico City

Our door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Mexico City. On arrival, our coach will transfer us to our hotel, for our three-night stay.

Hotel Historico Central, Mexico City (4-star)

Day 2 – Mexico City

Cosmopolitan and cultured, Mexico City is a true melting pot of all cultures and classes. The city proudly showcases both ancient civilisation and modern city life. We’ll waste no time in getting to know this city sprawl on our tour, which takes us to the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace with its famous collection of murals illustrating the history of Mexico. Later, there’ll be plenty of time to soak up the treasures of the National Museum of Anthropology – one of the top attractions the city has to offer and an introduction to the sights that await us later in the holiday. Please note: The National Palace is often closed for visits to the public at late notice. If you&re unable to visit during the city tour, then your guide will visit an alternative location.

Hotel Historico Central, Mexico City (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: City tour of Mexico City (morning)

Breakfast

Free time

Exterior Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City, Latin America.

Day 3 – Teotihuacan – Guadalupe

Today we’ll uncover Teotihuacan, one of the most important Aztec sites in Mexico and also one of the most impressive. The ruins of Teotihuacan are vast and spread over a large distance. You’ll have time to wander, walk the ‘Avenue of the Dead’ (the walkway running between the pyramids) and view the magnificent 70-metre-high Sun Pyramid, which can be climbed for a breathtaking view. After our explorations we return to our hotel in Mexico City, visiting the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe en route to view the image of the miraculous Virgin Maria.

Hotel Historico Central, Mexico City (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit the ruins of Teotihuacan (morning)

Breakfast

View of Moon Pyramids in ancient city Teotihuacan, Mexico

Day 4 – Puebla

Today we travel to Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s best-preserved Spanish colonial treasures. On arrival we’ll head just outside the city to visit the vast Cholula archaeological complex, home to the Great Pyramid of Cholula. The city of Puebla retains a fantastically well-preserved centre, boasting a beautiful cathedral and a wealth of pretty churches. We’ll soak it all up on a city tour this afternoon.

NH Puebla Centro Histórico (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: City tour of Puebla (afternoon)

Breakfast

Free time

Day 5 – Puebla – Oaxaca

We leave Puebla for Oaxaca.

Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca Centro Historico (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast

Callejon de los Sapos, Puebla, Mexico

Day 6 – Monte Alban – Oaxaca

We begin the day at Monte Alban, the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and arguably one of the most outstanding with a fabulous mountaintop location. We view the ruins of buildings dating between AD 250-800; however, the origins can be traced as far back as 500 BC when Monte Alban was first settled. Over 180 tombs have been discovered here so far. Following our arrival back into Oaxaca we’ll take a brief walking tour of the central district. Steeped in history, Oaxaca was pronounced a city by King Carlos V of Spain in 1532. Bursting with colonial charm, it’s easy to fall in love with this intensely attractive city. Handsome, tranquil streets pulsate with regional flavour and lead to a puzzle of plazas and squares – perfect for getting lost in.

Holiday Inn Express Oaxaca Centro Historico (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Monte Alban (morning)Walking tour in Oaxaca (afternoon)

Breakfast

Mexican pyramids complex in Monte Albán, Oaxaca State, Mexico

Day 7 – Tehuantepec

Our day starts at Santa Maria del Tule to view the famous Tule Tree, located in the atrium of the Santa Maria de la Asuncion temple and thought to be over 2,000 years old, with a circumference of over 50m. We continue to Mitla, where the Zapotecas believed the dead came to find their last resting place. Many of the buildings here are festooned with beautiful fretwork. We travel on to Teotitlan del Valle, a village famous for its locally made rugs and blankets. Later we drive to Tehuantepec for an overnight stay.

Hotel One Salina Cruz or Hotel City Express Salina Cruz (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Tule Tree, Mitla and Teotitlan del Valle (all day)

Breakfast

The church in Santa Maria del Tule, Mexico

Day 8 – San Cristobal

This morning we travel by road to Tuxtla Gutierrez where for a boat tour along the Grijalva River and through the impressive Sumidero Canyon. Then, we’ll continue to San Cristobal de las Casas for a two-night stay.

Hotel Sombra del Agua, San Cristobal (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Sumidero Canyon boat cruise (afternoon)

Breakfast

A boat travels through lush Sumidera Canyon in Mexico

Day 9 – San Juan Chamula – Zinacantan

This morning we’ll discover the Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, where we gain an insight into the lives of the local communities. The people of both these communities are Tzotzil. In San Juan, you’ll see the locals dressed in the traditional homespun white wool tunics. In Zinacantan, the dress is more vivid with pink and purple shawls and embroidered blouses – perhaps to reflect the art of flower growing, which the people here are particularly good at. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a walking tour of well-preserved colonial San Cristobal, where we’ll be staying for the night.

Hotel Sombra del Agua, San Cristobal (3.5-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan (morning)Walking tour of San Cristobal (afternoon)

Breakfast

Aerial view of the Mayan temple ruins of Palenque, with a tropical rainforest setting during daytime near the city of Palenque, Chiapas state, Mexico.

Day 10 – Palenque

This morning we leave San Cristobal behind as we journey for the city of Palenque. Our scenic route takes us past stunning vistas of forested valleys before arriving at Palenque.

Ciudad Real Palenque (4-star)

Today includes…

Breakfast

Mariachi on the streets of colonial Campeche city, Mexico

Day 11 – Palenque

Prepare for a real day of discovery. We’ll be exploring one of the best examples of Mayan architecture in all of Mexico today, at the Palenque ruins. In their jungle setting, swathed in jungle mist and echoing the howler monkeys and parrots, these ruins have a certain excitement and mystery about them. At its height, the area was ruled by kings and queens in AD 600-700. When belief in the system was lost, the city crumbled, only to be rediscovered in 1785. While the site itself is large, the majority of the city is still unexcavated, buried in the surrounding jungle. Following plenty of time to explore, we return to our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Ciudad Real Palenque (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Palenque ruins (all day)

Breakfast

The panoramic view from the pyramid of Inscriptions and the Palace of the observatory tower in the ancient Mayan city of Palenque.

Day 12 – Campeche

We travel to the coastal city of Campeche, which was founded in the 1540s and was the main port for the Spanish in the Yucatan. They built the huge fortifications here, designed to protect their goods from piracy. This afternoon we’ll enjoy an orientation tour of the city and visit the Fuerte de San Miguel Museum.

Hotel Plaza Campeche (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Orientation tour of Campeche and Fuerte de San Miguel Museum (afternoon)

Breakfast

View of a historic colonial street in Campeche, Mexico

Day 13 – Kabah – Uxmal – Merida

Our first stop today is at the semi-restored site of Kabah, to view the huge array of sculptures illustrating the rain god Chac, with its characteristic long nose. A short drive then takes us to the Mayan archaeological site of Uxmal where we visit many temples, the Pyramid of the Wizard and the Quadrangle of the Nunnery and take time to view the intricate bas-relief stonework. Our day finishes at the white city of Merida on the northwest coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

Hotel Caribe Merida Yucatan (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visits to Kabah and Uxmal (morning)

Breakfast

Pyramid of the Magician, Old Lady&s House, Uxmal, Mexico

Day 14 – Izamal – Valladolid

On our way to Valladolid, we’ll stop in Izamal to visit the 16th-century Convent of San Antonio de Padua.

Hotel Real Hispano, Valladolid (4-star)

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit Convent of San Antonio de Padua, Izamal (morning)

Breakfast

Day 15 – Chichen Itza – Cancun – In flight

We make a visit to Chichen Itza, a site that showcases some of the best Mayan architecture including the 24m-high Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors and the largest ball court found to date. You’ll also visit the 22m-deep Sacred Cenote, a well where over 50 skeletons have been found. We’ll transfer to the airport later in the day, for your return flight.

Chichen Itza – Cancun – In flight

Today includes…

Excursions & visits: Visit to Chichen Itza (morning)

Breakfast

Pyramid in Mexico in Chichen Itza

Day 16 – departure

Upon arrival, our vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.