Explore Chichen Itza, Merida, and Cancun
Roadtrip in Mexico! Spend 7 nights driving through Yucatan as you explore its many highlights: Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Merida, and Cancun. Have the freedom to explore on your own and find hidden gems.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Cancun (CUN)
- Automatic, mid-sized car rental for 7 nights (Dodge Attitude, or similar)
- Pick up and drop off at Cancun Airport
- 1 night in Chichen Itza at the Hacienda Chichen Resort, or similar
- 1 night in Uxmal at the Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum, or similar
- 2 nights in Merida at the Hotel Gran Real Yucatan, or similar
- 3 nights in Cancun at the Hotel Flamingo Cancun Resort, or similar
- Breakfast daily
*Note: Driver must be at least 26 years old
Great Ways to Explore
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Drive across the Yucatan Peninsula, one of Mexico's most culturally and ecologically diverse regions.
- Explore two of Mexico's famous Mayan ruins on this trip: Chichen Itza and Uxmal!Â
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Taste the unexpected and unique flavors of Yucatan cuisine, from cochinita pibil to paunches.
-
Stroll past colonial mansions and leafy squares in Merida, also known as the "White City."
-
Spend your last days in Mexico lounging on the beach in Cancun on the Caribbean Coast!
Get behind the wheel and explore Mexico's Yucatan! The southern tip of Mexico is brimming with fascinating hidden gems, from Mayan ruins to colonial cities to beautiful cenotes.
Arrive in Cancun and drive to Chichen Itza, home to the most famous Mayan city in Mexico. See the magnificent El Castillo pyramid, recently named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
You'll then drive to Uxmal, home to the best preserved Mayan city built of limestone. Explore the fascinating ruins before heading to the Yucatan capital of Merida. Discover the cultural and culinary delights of this charming city!
End your vacation in paradise, also known as Cancun. Whether you choose to spend your days at the beach or learning about history in town, you'll be enamored with the bright blue waters of the Caribbean Sea that surround Cancun.
Helpful links for
travel to Mexico:
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Cancun (CUN)
- Automatic, mid-sized car rental for 7 nights (Dodge Attitude, or similar)
- Pick up and drop off at Cancun Airport
- 1 night in Chichen Itza at the Hacienda Chichen Resort, or similar
- 1 night in Uxmal at the Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum, or similar
- 2 nights in Merida at the Hotel Gran Real Yucatan, or similar
- 3 nights in Cancun at the Hotel Flamingo Cancun Resort, or similar
- Breakfast daily
*Note: Driver must be at least 26 years old
-
Drive across the Yucatan Peninsula, one of Mexico's most culturally and ecologically diverse regions.
- Explore two of Mexico's famous Mayan ruins on this trip: Chichen Itza and Uxmal!Â
-
Taste the unexpected and unique flavors of Yucatan cuisine, from cochinita pibil to paunches.
-
Stroll past colonial mansions and leafy squares in Merida, also known as the "White City."
-
Spend your last days in Mexico lounging on the beach in Cancun on the Caribbean Coast!
Get behind the wheel and explore Mexico's Yucatan! The southern tip of Mexico is brimming with fascinating hidden gems, from Mayan ruins to colonial cities to beautiful cenotes.
Arrive in Cancun and drive to Chichen Itza, home to the most famous Mayan city in Mexico. See the magnificent El Castillo pyramid, recently named one of the Seven New Wonders of the World.
You'll then drive to Uxmal, home to the best preserved Mayan city built of limestone. Explore the fascinating ruins before heading to the Yucatan capital of Merida. Discover the cultural and culinary delights of this charming city!
End your vacation in paradise, also known as Cancun. Whether you choose to spend your days at the beach or learning about history in town, you'll be enamored with the bright blue waters of the Caribbean Sea that surround Cancun.
Helpful links for
travel to Mexico:
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Cancun!
Welcome to Cancun! Pick up your rental car from the airport and drive approx. 2 hrs and 15 mins to your first destination in Chichen Itza. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.
Try your first taste of Yucatan cuisine! The most popular dish is cochinita pibil, slow-roasted pork flavored with citrus and annatto seeds, which gives the dish its signature burnt orange color.
Check-in - Hacienda Chichen Resort
Eco-friendly and resting within Chichen Itza, the Hacienda Chichen Resort offers understated elegance within the Mayan city. Guests can enjoy an outdoor swimming pool, holistic Mayan healing therapies and beauty treatments in the spa, and eco-awareness activities such as bird-watching and sustainable tourism tours. The hotel also has a restaurant specializing in organic Mayan Fusion cuisine, a bar, and a library along with a lounge.
Rooms offer air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a safe, ironing facilities, and a private bathroom complete with a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. The rooms also boast colonial design including hand-woven bedspreads, pictured of the local flora and fauna, and colonial tiles. The villages of Piste and Xcalacoop are also within 5-10 minutes drive from the resort.
Day 2. Chichen Itza - Uxmal
Explore Chichen Itza today! Built by the Mayans between 600 and 900 AD, it was abandoned by the end of the 10th-century and re-established in the 11th and 12th centuries, possibly by the Toltecs.
Visit the Ball Court, site of sacrifices; El Castillo, a formidable building dedicated to the high priest; and the Cenote Sagrado, the sacred well once filled with priceless treasure offered to the gods.
Just outside Chichen Itza is Ik Kil cenote, one of the most beautiful cenotes (natural sinkholes) in Mexico! Take a dip in the crystal clear water, one used as sacrificing sites for the Mayans!
After spending a few hours exploring Chichen Itza, drive approx. 2 hrs and 15 mins to your next destination in the Mayan town of Uxmal, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Check-in - Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum
Stay at the historic Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum near Merida, directly across the street from the Uxmal Pyramids. The resort boasts 2 swimming pools, a working plantation, the Uxmal Cacao and Chocolate Museum, 2 restaurants, and an archaeological gallery.
Rooms at the Plantation & Museum offer terraces overlooking the pools and tropical gardens, or views of the plantation, air conditioning, a flat-screen satellite TV, private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and a ceiling fan. Enjoy visiting the Uxmal Pyramids across the street, Mayan Temples, and exploring the galleries, museum, and plantation on site.
Day 3. Uxmal - Merida
Today, visit the most famous ruins of the Puuc region, Uxmal! The existence of this city is a testament to the engineering abilities of the Maya who built reservoirs to provide water to it during the dry season. See the House of the Pigeons, Nunnery Quadrangle, and the Pyramid of the Magician.
Then drive approx. 1 hr and 10 mins to Merida, the capital and largest city of Yucatan. Settle into your accommodation, then head out into town for an authentic Mexican meal and a drink at a cantina!
Check-in - Hotel Gran Real Yucatan
Just a 10-minute walk from Parque Principal and the plaza in downtown Merida, the Gran Real Yucatan Hotel offers elegance among the city, including pools with garden views, free Wi-Fi, a business center, and a concierge desk. Guests can use the on-site laundry facilities, arrange poolside massages, and indulge in the full-service restaurant. Guests can enjoy sitting out on the terrace overlooking the gardens, sipping drinks and nibbling light snacks from the bar as well.
Rooms are styled modernly with dark wood furniture and ceramic floors, with a private balcony overlooking the pool or garden, LCD TVs, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, a safe, and private bathrooms. You could walk to the Government Palace and the Museum of Anthropology if you're looking for quick fun off the premises.
Day 4. Merida
Explore Merida at your leisure! Roam around the roomy halls and courtyard of the Palacio de Gobierno (Governor's Building), built in the late 1800s. From the balcony, you will have excellent views of San Ildefonso Cathedral.
You can't visit Merida without strolling down the Paseo de Montejo, the city's main boulevard like Paris' Champs Elysees!
Later, consider a visit to the Museum of Anthropology, which is home to a collection of exclusive artifacts from the Maya civilization to present day.
Day 5. Merida - Cancun
Say goodbye to Merida as you make the approx. 3 hr and 10 min drive to your last destination, Cancun! On the way, make a stop in the charming colonial city of Valladolid, known for its charming streets and sun-splashed walls. Have lunch and take a stroll in town!
Continue your drive to Cancun and check into your accommodation. Watch your first sunset dip over the Caribbean Sea!
Check-in - Hotel Flamingo Cancun Resort
Just 20 minutes from downtown Cancun and within walking distance of the beach, the Hotel Flamingo Cancun Resort offers guests a luxurious stay with 2 pools, 4 restaurants, a swim-up bar, a gym, and entertainment like music and outdoor activities. Guests can enjoy oceanfront views, unwind in the relaxing atmosphere of the lounges and bars within the hotel, some with beach views, and sample Caribbean and international cuisine.
Rooms offer views of the lagoon or the Caribbean Sea, as well as air conditioning, a flat-screen satellite TV, a safe, a desk, complimentary bottled water, and private bathrooms including a hairdryer and complimentary toiletries. Those looking for beach sports can enjoy Playa Delfines, which is particularly wonderful for swimming surfing.
Day 6. Cancun
Enjoy your first full day in paradise! Cancun's crystal clear waters and white-sand beaches are some of the finest in Mexico, if not the world - spend the day snorkeling, swimming, or sunbathing near your resort.
In the evening, consider heading into downtown Cancun for a Mexican meal and a night of dancing!
Day 7. Cancun
After a hearty breakfast at your resort, consider visiting the Maya Museum, which holds one of Yucatan's most important collections of Maya artifacts. Besides a museum, there is an archaeological site called San Miguelito on the same grounds that is worth exploring.
For an authentic feel of Mexican culture, visit Mercado 23, an open-air market that's the oldest in the city. Treat yourself to yummy tacos or a fresh juice at this locals-only market!
Day 8. Depart Mexico
Your Yucatan adventure ends today. After breakfast this morning, depart for Cancun Airport to drop off your rental car and board your flight home.