Mexico: Maya, Aztecs & Conquistadors
Overview
Highlights
- Enjoy incredible culinary and artistic traditions
- Visit ancient temples, cities and colonial towns
- Explore highlands, jungles and coastlines
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Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Activities
Min Group Size
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- All breakfasts and two lunches
- All accommodation (see below)
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
Itinerary
The adventure begins in Mexico City, one of the most exciting capital cities in the world. Take time to settle into the hotel before our welcome briefing this evening. Accommodation: Hotel Century Reforma (or similar)
Today we explore the bohemian side of Mexico City. We start by visiting the quaint neighbourhood of Coyoacán (meaning place of coyotes) with its pebbled streets, colonial churches, bustling little markets and quiet squares. This area was inhabited before the arrival o...
The ancient city of Teotihuacán reached its zenith around 1,000 CE when it was the sixth-biggest city in the world with a population of about 125,000. Among the avenues and structures are the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the third and fourth largest pyramids in t...
Before leaving Mexico City, we visit the Museum of Anthropology with its impressive collection of artefacts from the many civilisations of Mexico. We continue on to the Colegio de San Ildefonso, considered the birthplace of Mexican muralism. Artists including Diego Ri...
We spend this morning exploring Puebla, which has been named a Unesco World Heritage site for its colonial architecture. We visit the Patio de los Azulejos and the ex-Convent of Santa Rosa, both of which provide classic examples of how talavera tiles were incorporated...
Our next exploration of Mexican history takes us to the Zapotecan site of Monte Albán. While the name dates to a 16th-century Spanish landowner, previous names come from the Mixtec word Sahandevul, meaning at the foot of the sky, or from the Zapotecan Danibaan, meanin...
Oaxaca is possibly the most famed region in Mexico for its cuisine and we get more acquainted with it as we head for a cooking class, learning dishes that can easily be recreated at home. The exact menu can change but we generally learn how to make two types of tortil...
A short distance from Oaxaca is Teotitlán del Valle, a village known for colourful, hand-woven rugs and our first stop today. From here, we continue to a mezcal distillery in Santiago Matatlán to taste the agave-based spirit. Mezcal is produced from the heart of the a...
Today we drive to San Cristóbal (about six hours plus stops), one of the most popular cities in Mexico for visitors. It is filled with cobbled alleyways of whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs that lead to plazas and picturesque arcades. Arriving in San Cristób...
Today is a free day to explore San Cristóbal at your own pace. Wander the colonial streets, take in the lively cafes, or buy handicrafts produced by the local Tzotzil indigenous groups. It’s also possible to do an optional boat trip through the Sumidero Canyon and/or ...
We depart San Cristóbal de las Casas early and spend much of today on the road as we head to Palenque. We break the journey (6-7 hours) at Roberto Barrios Waterfalls, hidden in the sub-tropical jungle of Chiapas state. Here, water cascades along several hundred metres...
Emerging from the jungles of Chiapas is one of the most impressive ruins in Mexico: the Maya site of Palenque. The temples, sanctuaries and pyramids, with sculptured walls and ceilings, are some of the best-preserved and finest examples of Maya buildings despite the c...
About two hours’ drive from Campeche is our second Maya site: Uxmal. Quite open, it contrasts the jungle ruins of Palenque we visited yesterday. This site, which dates to the Late Classic era (500 CE to 800 CE), features the Pyramid of the Magician; the Nunnery Quadra...
Our first stop is the traditional Maya village of Tixkokob, where local families carry out the age-old craft of hammock weaving and we learn how hammocks are made. We then continue to Izamal, a one-time Maya settlement now marked as a Pueblo Mágico (magic town) by th...
Our final day starts with a visit to the most famous Maya temple city: Chichén Itzá. Having spent the night near the site, we can get in nice and early before the day-trippers arriving from the beach resorts. Chichén Itzá served as the political and economic centre o...
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- Travel insurance
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- Visas or vaccinations
- Departure tax from Cancun Airport
Accommodation
The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Adventure Travels.
If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.
Period before departure in which you notify us
From the date your Booking Confirmation is issued up to, and including, 90 days prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 89 to 52 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 51 to 31 days (inclusive) prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation.
- 30 days or less prior to the departure date specified on the Booking Confirmation, or after the booking has started
Cancellation charge
Deposit can be transferred to a new booking which must be made within 3 months of the date the original booking was cancelled, and depart within 12 months of the new booking date. If a new booking is not made within this period then the deposit will be forfeited. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 50% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 75% of the total holiday cost. Any remaining balance will be refunded excluding any non-refundable costs.
- 100% of the total holiday cost.
For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made:
Cancellation period (before departure) - Cancellation Fee (per person)
Outside of 180 days - No fee if cancelled within 15 days of booking date. US $1,250 cancellation fee if cancelled 16 days or more of booking date.
179 to 120 days - Loss of deposit.
119 to 90 days prior to departure - 50% of the holiday cost.
89 to 60 days prior to departure - 75% of the holiday cost.
59 to 0 days prior to departure - 100% of the holiday cost.
For more additional details, see the booking conditions of Exodus Adventure Travels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions
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