Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights

Welcome to Mexico! The adventure begins in Playa del Carmen, a coastal resort town on the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its stunning turquoise waters. On your arrival at Cancun International Airport, look for your guide to transfer to your hotel. Here, meet your local leader and fellow members of your group for a 6 pm welcome meeting. If you arrive with time to spare, visit the pedestrian avenue, checking out handmade hammocks, jewelry, and crafts. The Caribbean coast along the Yucatan has some of the freshest seafood around, so after your meeting, head to a local spot for a feast of fresh fish, mussels, shrimp, and clams.

Included Activities:

• Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
• Playa del Carmen- Welcome Dinner

After breakfast, depart Puerto Morelos and head to the secluded Laguna Chabela. Here, meet a local Maya family who has lived here for generations. Gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you tour their farm, see what they grow, and learn how they live off the land. Enjoy a demonstration on how to make delicious tortillas in the Coba style. Take a sit down for a traditional lunch. In the afternoon, continue to the city of Valladolid, known for its delightful pastel-colored colonial buildings. On arrival, settle into your hotel. Located in the city’s main square, this charming hotel was converted from a 16th-century colonial house and offers a perfect base for your explorations. The main square is flanked by excellent local restaurants serving up classic Yucatan cuisine – try one out for dinner this evening.

Included Activities:

• Valladolid - Home-cooked lunch
• Valladolid - Tortilla making demonstration
• Valladolid - Mayan homestead visit

Your travel time today is approximately 3 hours.

After breakfast, spend your day exploring the fascinating complex of Chichen Itza. Named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is considered the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilization in Yucatan by UNESCO. Meet with a local historian for a guided tour to uncover the secrets of the most famous Maya site in Mexico, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo, a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. After the visit, have a special lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Here, enjoy a traditional Pibil feast, a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family has perfected over generations. After lunch, visit a beautiful cenote for a swim, then continue to the historic town of Merida. Founded in 1542,  the city is the Yucatan capital and retains much of its old-world charm. Your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three evenings is the magnificent La Misión de Fray Diego – a 17th-century mansion turned boutique hotel. Spacious rooms flaunt elegant decor with traditional touches, surrounding a glowing courtyard with a wonderful swimming pool. Enjoy exceptional service and a privileged location in the heart of the city.

Included Activities:

• Chichen Itza - Archaeological Site
• Chichen Itza - Cenote swim stop
• Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch

Your travel time today is approximately 2.5 hours.

This morning, join your leader on a walking tour of downtown Merida to take in the splendor of its many colonial buildings and learn more about the Maya heritage of the town. Visit the market for a look at local life, and stop by the city museum, Montejo's House, and the cathedral. Step inside the Palacio del Gobierno to admire the murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco, a famous Mexican artist from Merida. The paintings depict the history of the city and the interactions between the Maya and the Spanish. The afternoon is free for further discoveries – take a relaxing green and shady Plaza Grande, or browse the outdoor market selling Maya replicas. Regroup for dinner at a fantastic local restaurant serving up Yucatan specialties – the SOPA da lima (lime soup). If you wish for additional excursions during your time in Merida, pick from the following optional activities and contact us for current excursion pricing.

Included Activities:

• Merida - Leader-led orientation walk

After breakfast, head out for another Exclusive Experience at the Celestún Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve. One of the first destinations for migratory birds in winter, the reserve offers a birdwatching experience like no other. Tour the area by small boat while learning about its unique flora and fauna. Watch for the Yucatán woodpecker, Mexican sheartail, and tropical mockingbird. If visiting between December and March, witness thousands of flamingos streaking across the landscape. Step off the boat for a short walk to view bubbling springs, then cruise back through the mangrove canals. Stop in a fishing town for lunch—maybe enjoy fresh seafood with your toes in the sand. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico before returning to Mérida for a free afternoon.

Included Activities:

• Merida - Celestun Biosphere Reserve tour

Your travel time today is approximately 3 hours.

Leave Merida this morning and travel toward Muyil, stopping for lunch in the village of Coba. Continue to the little-known Muyil Archaeological Site, one of the oldest Maya trading posts in the country, dating back to 350 BC. Explore the ruins with your leader, who explains what life here once looked like. Next, reach the banks of the Maya River and board a small boat to navigate the canals and lagoons of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. One of Mexico’s largest protected areas, this UNESCO World Heritage site spans more than 400,000 hectares of land, lagoon, and marine environments, home to diverse flora and fauna. Join local community guides who enhance the experience with their knowledge. Admire the ruins along the riverbanks before disembarking in the ancient Mayan mangrove canals. Experience a natural "lazy river" as you float through the serene waters, carried by a gentle current. After 45 minutes of floating, continue to Tulum.

Included Activities:

• Tulum - Muyil river float
• Tulum - Muyil archaeological site

Your travel time today is approximately 4.5 hours.

Enjoy a morning at leisure in Tulum. You may like to unroll a towel and relax on the beach or take a dip in the calm and clear Caribbean waters. A stroll through the town will reveal an array of independent shops selling handicrafts and Fairtrade goods. In the afternoon, head to the Tulum archaeological site for a special after-hours visit, allowing you to appreciate the incredible history of the ruins without the crowds. One of the last cities built by the Maya, your leader will paint a picture of how life played out here as you explore the complex against a spectacular ocean backdrop. This evening you will dine at one of Tulum’s most celebrated restaurants. Set within the jungle and inspired by the freshest local produce, this final dinner with your newfound friends will certainly be one to remember.

Included Activities:

• Tulum - After hours visit of Tulum archaeological site
• Tulum - Farewell Dinner
• Tulum – Beach Club Visit

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning before going back home.