The Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico is a fascinating blend of pristine beaches, turquoise blue water, spectacular nature, ruins of ancient civilizations, and residents who have not forgotten their traditions and culture. This Yucatan trip visits the Maya sites of Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba, and Uxmal and the colonial cities of Campeche and Merida. Spend 3 nights on the Maya Riviera in Tulum, known for its Maya ruins situated on high cliffs above the Caribbean. There is time to relax on the beach as well as to explore the Tulum ruins and the Sian Kaan biosphere reserve's mangrove waterways for great wildlife viewing during this Mexico tour on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Highlights
Visit Edzna, a Maya archaeological site
Stroll through "the Yellow City", Izamal, known for its yellow buildings
Explore the well-restored Yucatan Maya site Chichen Itza with your guide
Boat through channels, mangroves, and estuaries of Sian Ka'an
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Arrive to Campeche and transfer to your charming hotel in the historic city center of this beautiful, colonial city. The afternoon is free to explore on your own.
Meet your guide after breakfast for a short drive to Edzna, the Maya archaeological site outside of Campeche. Built on a platform of 40 meters high, Edzna’s major temple, Edificio de los Cinco Pisos (Five-Story Building), provides a great view of the plazas below as well as a panorama of the countryside.
Return to Campeche in the afternoon for a guided visit of the walled city center. Campeche is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with restored cobblestone streets, pastel-colored mansions, and impressive fortified walls that protected this former Spanish port from marauding pirates. It is a perfect place for an afternoon stroll along the malecon, the waterfront promenade, or a visit to the scenic Plaza Principal.
Depart Campeche and drive two hours north to Uxmal. Uxmal is located in the Puuc region, the Maya term for “hill”. Puuc architecture is a style found at Uxmal that is characterized by using mosaics to make facades over cement-covered walls and intricate cornices depicting Maya symbols. This ornate style abounds in Uxmal, considered by many to be the finest example of classic Maya architecture, particularly the Governor’s Palace. Arrive to the hotel to relax for dinner, and there is an optional evening excursion to return to Uxmal for the light and sound show at the ruins.
Start the day with a visit to the Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. This working plantation was started in the late 1800’s to produce henequen, an agave plant with sword-shaped leaves with fibers that were used to make rope, twine, and paper. Henequen was a major source of the Yucatan’s wealth, and the beautiful main house and grounds are evidence of this prosperity. Take a swim in the hacienda’s cenote, a limestone sinkhole filled with cool, clear water that held important significance for the Maya.
Continue to Merida for lunch and then Izamal to visit the Franciscan monastery. Izamal was a center of worship of the Maya sun god, Itzamna. During the Spanish conquest of the Yucatan, the Spanish boldly constructed their monastery on top of a Maya temple with the foundation brandishing the Maya style and architecture. Stroll through “the Yellow City”, named for the yellow paint adorning the buildings, with your guide, and in the evening, drive to Chichén Itzá.
Day 5: Explore New Wonder of the World Chichén Itzá and Coba
An early start allows for you to visit Chichen Itza before the groups arrive from Cancún. Explore the famous and well-restored Yucatán Maya site with your guide. Chichén Itzá’s iconic temple, El Castillo, also called the Pyramid of Kukulcan, rises up and greets you as you enter. Spend the morning visiting the great ball court, plazas, observatory, and temples of this beautiful area. Your guide will share Chichen Itza’s troubled history as a settlement that was largely abandoned in the 9th century and then resettled almost 100 years later to then be invaded by the Toltecs from the Mexican highlands near present-day Mexico City. This brought a fusion of highland and Puuc Maya styles to Chichen Itza’s temples and buildings.
Next travel to Coba. An expert guide will lead you in exploring the temples and stelae (inscribed columns) that remain at the site despite early looting when Cobá was first rediscovered. Climb the 130 steps to the top of the steep Nohoch Mul pyramid, the highest pyramid in the Yucatán Peninsula, and look out over the site dense with jungle where pyramids poke out through the trees.
The site is so large, and there are so many things to see, it is recommended that you traverse the site on bikes or be driven on a tricycle, light-heartedly called "Maya Limousines."
Continue to Tulum and “home” on the Caribbean coast.
Take a boat tour to explore the channels, mangroves, and estuaries of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest protected areas in Mexico. Sian Ka’an is home to a diverse selection of birds and mammals, notably howler monkeys, pumas, ocelots, osprey, jaguars, flamingos, cormorants, frigatebirds, and spoonbills. Float quietly through Sian Ka’an with a local naturalist guide before visiting an archeological site in the reserve amongst the mangroves.
Return to the beachfront hotel in the afternoon to relax on the white sand beach and take a swim in the turquoise Caribbean sea. Grab a hammock and enjoy the sea breeze!
Visit the Tulum ruins that are situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking a white beach and turquoise water. Modest compared to other sites explored during the trip, the location along the Caribbean coast sets Tulum apart. Tulum is Maya for “wall” and this fortress resisted attacks from other Maya city-states as well as the Spanish. It is believed that Tulum was one of the last of the ancient cities to be abandoned.
Return to your hotel for lunch, and the remainder of the day is free. The hotel can arrange optional snorkeling, diving, and fly-fishing excursions.
Day 8: Transfer to Cancun | Return home
1 Breakfast
Transfer to Cancun to connect with a flight home. With more time, extend your stay in Cancun or along the Maya Riviera or visit another region in Mexico.
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Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
The trip might have been the absolute best of our lifetime (thus far). We particularly want to commend our guide Peter in the Guilin area-he was so incredibly attentive, energetic, enthusiastic-and absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our meals were 100% vegetarian.
Jack Charney
TrustScore 4.8 | 176 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 176 reviews on
9 hours ago
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.