Yucatan Explorer

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 in the hotel lobby and lead you to explore Campeche's historic city. head to the Maya archaeological site of Edzna, approximately 1 hour away (51 km/ 31 miles). Edzna features diverse Maya architecture, which your guide will point out as you explore. As you enter the temple area, you'll see the impressive Building of Five Stories, standing 40 meters high. Masks of corn gods once adorned this temple, and they remain visible today. This site was used for ceremonies, with acoustics designed to project the priest’s voice across the courtyard. You'll also learn how the city relied on water from a lagoon 3 km away, using waterways and underground wells, some of which are still visible. Before leaving, walk through an ancient Maya tunnel shaped like a birthing canal, said to add seven years to your life. Afterward, you'll be driven back to your hotel in Campeche.

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.

On this half-day private tour, visit Hacienda Sotuta de Peon, one of the few remaining working haciendas. Learn about henequen production from agave, swim in the Hacienda’s cenote, and enjoy traditional Mexican snacks. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted with a fruit cocktail before starting the tour. Explore the Casa Principal and admire its architecture, which reflects the wealth of the "green gold" era, named for the riches from henequen fibers. Your guide will explain the process of extracting henequen fibers using antique machinery, and you'll see the manual rope-making process at the Casa de Máquinas. In the Museo Fuerza Motriz, learn about the evolution of machinery used for production. Take a ride around the grounds in a horse-drawn truck and visit Casa Maya to learn about Mayan customs. End your tour with a refreshing swim in the 20-meter-deep cenote, Dzul-Ha, surrounded by natural rock formations. Enjoy a plate of traditional Mexican antojitos at the Hacienda’s restaurant before continuing to Izamal. Explore the Franciscan monastery, built on a Maya temple foundation, and stroll through the Yellow City. You will be dropped off at your hotel in Chichén Itza in the evening.

Start the day with an early visit to Chichen Itza before larger groups arrive. Explore this well-preserved Maya site with your guide, beginning with El Castillo, the Pyramid of Kukulcan. Visit the ball court, plazas, observatory, and temples while learning about Chichen Itza's complex history, including its abandonment, resettlement, and influence from Toltec invaders.

Next, travel to Coba to explore its temples and stelae, with the option to climb the 130 steps of Nohoch Mul, the tallest pyramid in the Yucatán. Traverse the vast site by bike or tricycle before your private transfer to Tulum for the next three nights.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel for a visit to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of Mexico's largest protected areas with over a million acres of marine, coastal, and terrestrial ecosystems. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this reserve is home to diverse wildlife, including crocodiles, manatees, and a variety of birds. Explore the northern part of the reserve, where you'll see canals created by ancient Mayans and temples once vital for trade routes. Take a short jungle hike to a Mayan temple, then float along a 900-meter freshwater channel. Enjoy a traditional seafood lunch at a local restaurant and relax at the beach before your return to the hotel.

Start your day with a private pick-up, then visit the ancient city of Tulum, the only Mayan city overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Once a key trading hub, the site offers rich history and stunning views. As you explore the ruins, your guide will share insights into Mayan civilization and cosmology. Visit temples dedicated to the gods of wind and rain, and climb to the famous "Castillo," perched high on a cliff, offering sweeping ocean views. After your tour, return to your hotel with a private driver.

A private driver will pick you up in Tulum and drive you 120 km/ 74 miles (approximately 2 hours) to Cancun Airport 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.