Mayan ruins and colonial charm in Mexico
Explore the wonders of Mexico's Yucatan on this 7-night escorted vacation! From the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza to the colonial charm of Merida and Valladolid, Yucatan is a culture and history gold mine.
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Cancun (CUN)
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar
- 1 night in Cancun at The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun
- 2 nights in Uxmal at the Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum
- 1 night in Campeche at the Hotel Plaza Campeche
- 1 night in Merida at the Hotel Casa del Balam
- 2 nights in Chichen Itza at the Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows
- Guided sightseeing as described in the itinerary, including the following:
- Sound & Light Show in Uxmal
- Visit to the Uxmal ruins (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to the Choco-Story Museum and make your own beverage
- Mayan cooking demonstration
- Campeche city tour (UNESCO World Heritage Site) including visit to the historic fort of San Francisco de Campeche
- Visit to a local hat maker in Becal
- Visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Merida
- City tour of Paseo de Montejo
- Sound & Light Show in Chichen Itza and pyramid of Ek' Balam
- Breakfast daily and four 3-course dinners
- Services of a Professional Travel Director
- Headsets throughout the tour
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
- Hotel tips, taxes, porterage and service charges
**Note: Children must be 8 years or older at time of travel.
Great Ways to Explore
-
Discover the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the most culturally and ecologically rich regions in the world!
- See the genius of Mayan engineering at Chichen Itza, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
-
Stay in a former colonial mansion in Merida, the capital of Yucatan known as the "White City."
-
Visit a Panama hat maker in Becal and enjoy a cooking demonstration in Uxmal, two of many tours on this trip.
-
Taste the unexpected and unique flavors of Yucatan cuisine, from cochinita pibil to panuchos!
This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation.
Vibrant colonial cities, ancient Mayan ruins, unmissable culture and history...Yucatan truly has it all! On this 7-night vacation, you'll visit the highlights of this ecologically and culturally rich region in Mexico.
Arrive in Cancun to meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers before setting off to the colonial city of Valladolid and Uxmal, an impressive Mayan archaeological site in the Puuc region. Stroll through the Mayan settlement and learn all about chocolate at a museum in Merida, Yucatan's capital.
From Uxmal, travel to the colorful walled city of Campeche where you will enjoy a tour of this photogenic city known for its rich colonial history. Visit a Panama hat maker in the village of Becal before returning to Merida for one night.
Your vacation ends with two of the most famous Mayan ruins in Mexico: Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam. See the Pyramid of Kulkulcan (El Castillo) - the most iconic structure at Chichen Itza - and off the beaten path Ek' Balam.
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)
- Round-trip airport transfers
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar
- 1 night in Cancun at The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun
- 2 nights in Uxmal at the Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum
- 1 night in Campeche at the Hotel Plaza Campeche
- 1 night in Merida at the Hotel Casa del Balam
- 2 nights in Chichen Itza at the Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows
- Guided sightseeing as described in the itinerary, including the following:
- Sound & Light Show in Uxmal
- Visit to the Uxmal ruins (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit to the Choco-Story Museum and make your own beverage
- Mayan cooking demonstration
- Campeche city tour (UNESCO World Heritage Site) including visit to the historic fort of San Francisco de Campeche
- Visit to a local hat maker in Becal
- Visit to the Museum of Anthropology in Merida
- City tour of Paseo de Montejo
- Sound & Light Show in Chichen Itza and pyramid of Ek' Balam
- Breakfast daily and four 3-course dinners
- Services of a Professional Travel Director
- Headsets throughout the tour
- Transportation by private first-class air-conditioned motorcoach (with complimentary Wi-Fi)
- Hotel tips, taxes, porterage and service charges
**Note: Children must be 8 years or older at time of travel.
-
Discover the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the most culturally and ecologically rich regions in the world!
- See the genius of Mayan engineering at Chichen Itza, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
-
Stay in a former colonial mansion in Merida, the capital of Yucatan known as the "White City."
-
Visit a Panama hat maker in Becal and enjoy a cooking demonstration in Uxmal, two of many tours on this trip.
-
Taste the unexpected and unique flavors of Yucatan cuisine, from cochinita pibil to panuchos!
This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation.
Vibrant colonial cities, ancient Mayan ruins, unmissable culture and history...Yucatan truly has it all! On this 7-night vacation, you'll visit the highlights of this ecologically and culturally rich region in Mexico.
Arrive in Cancun to meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers before setting off to the colonial city of Valladolid and Uxmal, an impressive Mayan archaeological site in the Puuc region. Stroll through the Mayan settlement and learn all about chocolate at a museum in Merida, Yucatan's capital.
From Uxmal, travel to the colorful walled city of Campeche where you will enjoy a tour of this photogenic city known for its rich colonial history. Visit a Panama hat maker in the village of Becal before returning to Merida for one night.
Your vacation ends with two of the most famous Mayan ruins in Mexico: Chichen Itza and Ek' Balam. See the Pyramid of Kulkulcan (El Castillo) - the most iconic structure at Chichen Itza - and off the beaten path Ek' Balam.
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! At 6pm, meet your fellow traveling companions for a welcome drink. At this time, your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure. Enjoy the remainder of the night 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.
Transfer to Cancun hotel
Check-in - The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun
Offering private white-sand beaches, stunning views of the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon, and the tranquility of the end of Cancun's Hotel Zone, the Westin Resort & Spa in Cancun is ready to meet all of your needs. Enjoy a lovely atmosphere of botanical arrangements, the smell of white tea, and signature music. Indulge in gourmet cuisine at one of the restaurants on site, from international to local gastronomy, take a dip in any of the 4 on-site pools, luxuriate in the spa, or engage in leisure activites like golf, tennis, surfing, and more.
Wi-Fi is free throughout the property, while rooms are airy and bright, offering air conditioning, a hair dryer, a safe, private bathrooms, and a TV. Enjoy taking a short stroll along the beach to enjoy the sea.
Day 2. Cancun - Valladolid - Uxmal
Leave Cancun this morning for the colonial city of Valladolid, known for its charming streets and sun-splashed walls. After a short orientation tour, explore the town on your own. Named a pueblo mágico (magic town) in 2012, Valladolid is rich in tradition and boasts beautiful Moorish-style architecture like the Church of San Servicio.
In the afternoon, arrive in the Mayan town Uxmal, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening enjoy a dazzling sound & light show full of magic and mystery at the Uxmal ruins. Queen Elizabeth II visited the ruins in 1975 and was amazed by this show!
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
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.
After traversing ruins, visit the Choco-Story Museum in Merida, where you’ll learn the history of coca, its importance to the Mayans, and see how chocolate was prepared using an ancestral recipe. You’ll have the chance to make your own beverage with ingredients of your choice!
Day 4. Uxmal - Campeche
In the morning, enjoy a cooking demonstration where you'll learn the traditions still practiced in most of the rural Mayan communities of Mexico. Learn about the special ingredients and spices used and how the food is prepared.
Continue to the coastal town of Campeche, once a fortified pirate haven and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you’ll find a captivating port filled with history, baroque Spanish architecture, and natural beauty.
This afternoon’s city tour includes visits to the vibrant malecón (waterfront) area, the historic fort of San Francisco de Campeche, and the downtown area. Have your camera handy, as Campeche has spent the last few years restoring hundreds of downtown buildings, making it one of the most photogenic colonial cities in all of Mexico!
Check-in - Hotel Plaza Campeche
Sitting right next to San Martin Park near the center of Campeche, the Hotel Plaza Campeche offers excellent access to the seafront as well as activities throughout the city. The modern hotel includes an outdoor pool, free private parking, a restaurant offering Mexican and international cuisine, a 24-hour cafe, and a chic bar.
Rooms come with air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a coffee machine, a safe, private bathrooms, a hairdryer, and a flat-screen TV. The beachfront is 1, 650 feet away, and a three minute walk will deliver you to Campeche Cathedral and Independencia Park. The Campeche International Airport is only a 10-minute drive away.
Day 5. Campeche - Becal - Merida
Your first stop today is the village of Becal. For more than a century, the skilled hat weavers of Becal have been weaving Panama hats using ancient Mayan techniques. Visit a local hat maker to learn about the history and the hat-making process, and pick up one for yourself!
From Becal, journey to Merida, the capital of Yucatan and its colonial heart. Visit the Museum of Anthropology, home to a collection of exclusive artifacts from the Maya civilization to present day.
Your hotel this evening is a former colonial mansion that is within walking distance of shopping and the historic city center.
Check-in - Hotel Casa del Balam
Spend your nights in a restored Art Deco mansion, Casa del Calam. Offering an outdoor pool, free Wi-Fi, a garden courtyard, a bistro, and 24-hour reception that can help with information about Merida and Yucatan or arrange airport transportation, the Casa del Calam makes for an excellent and informative stay.
Rooms are air conditioned and include cable TV, a minibar, a hairdryer, private bathrooms, and toiletries. Rooms overlook either the nearby Peon Contreras Theater or Yucatan University. A short 2-block walk can bring you to the Merida Cathedral or Merida's Plaza Grande Square. A wide array of art galleries, shops, and cafes are all withing 5 minutes of walking.
Day 6. Merida - Chichen Itza
In the morning, enjoy a city tour of Merida including the cathedral, Governor’s Palace, and the tree-lined avenue of Paseo de Montejo.
Continue on to Chichen Itza, where the renowned Hotel Mayaland is your home for the next two nights. Take a dip in the pool, stroll through the beautiful gardens, or just enjoy a cool drink.
After dinner, enjoy your second dazzling sound & light show at Chichen Itza!
Check-in - Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows
The Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows has been resting in the heart of the Chichen Itza Archaeological Park since the 1920s, and has been ranked among the top hotels in the world by National Geographic and Conde Nast Traveler. Surrounded by flourishing tropical gardens and boasting a Mayan planetarium, a private entrance to Chichen Itza's temples, 4 restaurants, 3 swimming pools, a hot tub, spa treatments, and wildlife dwelling within the park, the hotel makes for an amazing and otherworldly stay.
Rooms, bungalows, and suites are all outfitted with satellite TV, private bathrooms, air conditioning, and some even have views of the Mayan observatory or temples. The staff on site can help you interpret the archaeological site and give you an insight to the local culture. The Cancun International Airport is about a 2 hour drive away.
Day 7. Chichen Itza
Your last full day in Mexico begins at Chichen Itza, built by the Maya 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.
You'll then visit the enormous and elaborate pyramid inside the Mayan site of Ek’ Balam. Translating to “Black Jaguar,” Ek’ Balam was at the height of its importance as a Mayan city during the Late Classic Period (600-900 AD). When the Mayas abandoned the site, it went undercover as the dense low-lying jungle of the Yucatan engulfed it.
Found by archaeologists and adventurers, its restoration has been ongoing since 1997. Return to Chichen Itza, where you will enjoy a festive farewell dinner.
Day 8. Depart Mexico
Your Yucatan adventure ends today. After breakfast this morning, depart for Cancun for your flight home.
Transfer to Cancun airport (CUN)
Fly home!
We have selected the most economical flight schedule for you. Please note that shorter and more convenient flight options may be available at an additional cost.
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