Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension




Overview
Highlights
- Explore the impressive Aztec & Mayan sites of Mexico, plus enjoy the best of the Yucatan
- Experience the local life & colour of Indigenous villages
- Discover little-explored ruins, hidden by rainforest
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Itinerary

Our tour starts today in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and the bustling heart and soul of the country. CDMX, as the city is also known, gives 'metropolis' a whole new meaning with a new landmark, museum or gallery at every turn, not to mention the countless colou...
We'll head out to explore the city like a local this morning, on foot and by public transport. The Zocalo is the vibrant heart of the city; the main square that has been a cornerstone in public gatherings since ancient times. We'll walk down to the centre from the hot...
Our destination today is Teotihuacan, a mysterious complex of pyramid ruins, abandoned 13 centuries ago. En route, we'll make a stop at the Basilica de Guadalupe, an important pilgrimage site for Mexicans which has a miraculous story to tell (our tour leader will fill...
Leaving the capital behind, today we'll drive south through cactus country to Oaxaca, one of the most charming colonial cities in Mexico. The drive will take around eight hours, but we'll make several stops along the way. During the latter half of our journey, we'll b...
As with many of Mexico's colonial cities, Oaxaca was built in the 16th century using stones from ancient civilisations in the surrounding areas. Today, we'll visit Monte Alban which was built by the Zapotec people who flourished here over 1,500 years ago. This complex...
We have a long journey ahead of us today as we begin to head towards San Cristobal. The drive will lead us up through the winding roads of the Sierra Madre Mountain range and we'll make several stops along the way. Our first port of call is a 2,000-year-old swamp cypr...
Leaving early this morning, we'll have a five-hour drive to Cahuare, the starting point for our visit to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon. The canyon is a unique rift measuring 41 kilometres long and up to 1000 metres deep, cut by the Rio Grijalva. This is the spot whe...
San Cristobal has a unique atmosphere, located high in the scenic Chiapas Mountain range. The indigenous groups from the surrounding hills fill the town and marketplace with their colourful dress including the distinctive Tzotzil community who still retain much of the...
Leaving the highlands behind us, today we have a long driving day ahead of us (approximately eight hours, plus stops). The road is slow and winding, but there are scenic views as we descend to the jungles of Palenque. We'll be driving via the town of Villahermosa, whe...
Today's guided visit to the ruins of Palenque is one of the highlights of our tour of Mexico. Palenque is both a fascinating and important site and we'll explore it in depth with a guide. Once the choking forest was cleared, the ruins revealed the tomb of the high pri...
We'll leave Palenque early in the morning and travel for around 3 hours to the El Ceibo Border. After crossing into Guatemala, we'll continue for another 3 hours to the picturesque town of Flores. Located on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, Flores is a very laid-back ci...
After breakfast, we'll leave Flores and drive for an hour and a half to Yaxha, where we'll enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent ruins. This ancient city is located on the shores of two lakes, Yaxha and Sacnab, within the UNESCO-listed Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo biosphere r...
Today we'll visit Tikal, the great Maya metropolis set amid the rainforest, which can justly be compared with the celebrated ancient cities of Egypt and Greece. Initially settled in about 600 BC, Tikal was abandoned by its rulers around 890 AD and totally deserted a h...
Today we'll say goodbye to Guatemala and drive over the border to San Ignacio in Belize. En route, we'll visit the little-known site of Xunantunich, with its fantastic array of pyramids and temples. Then, we'll make our way to our hotel, where the rest of the afternoo...
Today, we'll drive to Belize City and catch our first glimpse of the Caribbean. In the city, we'll board our water taxi for the one-hour journey to the tropical island of Caye Caulker. Once a pirate lair, this tiny but beautiful island lies 34 kilometres/21 miles nort...
The island of Caye Caulker remains uncrowded and authentic - the local fishermen catch lobster, conch, fish and crab to supply domestic and foreign markets. It's a popular place with backpackers, so there's a good number of reasonably priced restaurants. Today, th...
This morning, we'll leave Caye Caulker by boat, sailing back to the mainland and driving north to the Belizean border before crossing into Mexico via Chetumal. We'll then continue by vehicle to the small town of Bacalar, situated on the banks of the beautiful Lake Bac...
We'll head northeast from Bacalar this morning, towards the ruins of Tulum - situated on a clifftop perch overlooking the turquoise water and golden sands below. The ruins date back to the late period of Mayan civilisation. During this time, there was a developing enm...
This morning, we'll visit the ruins of Chichen Itza. Founded in AD432, re-founded in 987 and conquered by the Toltecs in the 10th century, the culture of the Maya and the Toltec gradually fused. The pyramids, palaces, temples and ballcourt (where death was the penalty...
We'll have our final site visit this morning; to those in the know, Uxmal is one of the Yucatan's most underrated ancient cities. Encircled by hills, Uxmal is expansive in its design with majestic palaces and pyramids, and long geometrical friezes that rank among the ...
Our trip ends this morning at our hotel in Merida. There are no activities planned today, so you're free to depart from Merida at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you'd like an airport...
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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.

Explore! Reviews & Ratings
Trusted Customer
Feb 2025
Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension
Tour guide and itinerary excellent but some of the accommodation was poor eg dark with no fridge and in some cases the bathrooms were not clean. Often better accommo...
Trusted Customer
Feb 2025
Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension
Tour leader and itinerary excellent but accommodation and breakfasts generally poor Having a fridge as a basic standard in a hot climate is a must but most accommod...
Trusted Customer
Feb 2025
Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension
Excellent itinerary and leader. Generally poor accommodation
Sheila
Jan 2025
Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension
This is a varied and interesting tour with many unexpected cultural experiences. Ana Davila is an excellent tour leader who brings the archaeological sites, history...
Trusted Customer
Dec 2024
Contrasts of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension
Absolutely fabulous trip. Experienced so many different cultures and saw such a contrast of beautiful countries. Our guide Mayra made the trip so special, her knowle...
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