Mayan Adventure

This itinerary starts at your hotel along the Rivera Maya or at Cancun airport. Depending on your flight arrangements, you may need accommodation the night before. Please speak to your consultant regarding these logistics. 

For the duration of your private tour within Mexico you will have a private vehicle and a driver guide to accompany you for the duration of your Mexican adventure. While your driver guide does speak English, the level may be slightly more basic than city based guides you will encounter on other guided tours. 

This is an amazing opportunity to interact with a local Mexican who will be incredibly proud to show you their country on this unique road trip. 

Please speak to your consultant if you would like to have a driver and a guide for your private tour. 

You will meet your driver/guide at your hotel or at the airport in the morning and transfer you to Merida. Along the way you will stop at the famous Chichén Itzá & the town of Izmal.

Your first stop will be in approximately 2.5 hours at Chichén Itzá  – one of the New 7 Wonders of the World – is the best restored of Yucatan’s Mayan sites. To date, only about 30 of the many buildings buried at Chichén Itzá and overgrown by the jungle have been uncovered and restored. “El Castillo,” the most impressive building (30 m high), rises far beyond the site. “El Caracol” reminds us of a snail shell. The observatory was used by the Maya, among other things, for observing Venus and its orbit.

After a tour of this famous site, you will head back in the car towards the town of Izmal arriving in about 1.5 hours. The “city of hills” is one of the oldest towns in Yucatán. The former religious center of the peninsular Maya population features the pyramid temple of Kinich Kakmó, the god of the Sun. The monastic church San Antonio de Padua in the town center has one of the largest church forecourts in all of Mexico.

Your last stop will be where you'll check in to your accommodation in Merida, the colonial capital of Yucatán.

Gamma Mérida El Castellano has an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers. It is just 350m from Mérida’s main square and 16th century cathedral. On-site parking and free Wi-fi are available.

El Castellano’s rooms are classic in design with tile flooring. All rooms have cable TV and ironing facilities. The rooms are air-conditioned and have private bathrooms with amenities.

The hotel restaurant serves typical Yucatan cuisine, as well as international dishes.

This morning your driver/guide will take you for a city tour of Merida before getting into the car to head towards Campeche. 

Founded in 1542, Mérida is the economic and cultural capital of Yucatán up to the present day. The town impresses visitors with colonial charm, narrow streets, and romantic horse-drawn carriages. The influence of Spain and France can be noticed all over the city. The Champs-Elysées, for example, became a model for the Paseo de Montejo. On your tour, you will see the cathedral, the Palacio Municipal, and the Casa de Montejo, the house where the founder of the city was born.

Continuing on your journey, you will have your next stop in about 2 hours at the small fishing village of Celestún. You'll take a boat tour to observe the colonies of pink flamingos in their natural habitat. Enjoy the impressive variety of birds in this sensitive ecosystem, then visit of two fresh water sources which are ideal for swimming and relaxing.

Your next stop will be the Yaxcopoil hacienda. This hacienda dates back to the 17th century and tells the story of the three great epochs of Yucatán. Once one of the most important landed estates, Yaxcopoil, due to political, social and economic changes, now comprises less than 3% of its original area. On a tour through the ruins of the hacienda, you will feel the heyday of the hacienda to be revived. You will then continue the last 2 hours before arriving into Campeche where you will check in and enjoy the evening at leisure. 

Situated next to San Martin Park in central Campeche, Hotel Plaza Campeche offers an outdoor pool, free private parking and air-conditioned rooms with free Wi-Fi. The seafront is just 500 m away.

Decorated in a classic style, each modern room at the Plaza Campeche includes a flat-screen TV, a safe and a coffee machine. Bathrooms come with a hairdryer.

The hotel’s Bicentenario restaurant serves Mexican and international cuisine, including typical regional dishes. There is also a 24-hour café and an elegant bar where you can enjoy drinks and snacks.

Hotel Plaza Campeche is located in the historic city centre, a 3-minute walk from Campeche Cathedral and Independencia Park.

This morning after breakfast, you will have a sightseeing tour of Campeche and surrounding areas. The city of Campeche is surrounded by a wall that was necessary to defend the rich city against pirates. On this tour you will visit the narrow streets of the major port city with its restored colonial buildings, the Zócalo and the Cathedral of La Concepción. Go back to the era of the Spanish conquistadores. 

Afterwards head to the Fort Fuerte de San Miguel. This fortress was built between 1688 and 1706. It is still in good condition and has been listed and protected as a UNESCO Cultural World Heritage site. Where in former times were the cannons to shoot pirate ships, is today the archaeological museum with a large collection of finds from Mayan times, including valuable jade masks from Calakmul.

The next stop will be the Centro Ich Haa Lol Xaan. The Centre has adventure and athletic activities combined with observation of nature and environmental awareness. The center, which shares in the ecosystems of forest, freshwater and saltwater, is the home of spikes, iguanas, turtles, and many different bird species. You can unite the exploration of the fauna and flora with a refreshing swim in the natural pools. And if you like a bit more adventure, mount the zipline to “fly” through the wood. After enjoying this centre you will return to your hotel.

Today your drive will transfer you from Campeche to Uxmal and will stop at both Edzná & Uxmal ruins along the way.

The ruins of Edzná are located in the northwest of the state of Campeche, about 60 km from the capital Campeche. The early settlement began to spread at an explosive rate about 400 BC and became a center of power, which ruled large parts of Yucatán. The most beautiful building of Edzná is certainly the building “Edificio de los Cinco Pisos”, one of the most interesting buildings in the entire Maya culture.

After touring these ruins, you'll jump back into the car and drive for 2.5 hours to arrive at the next destination, the Uxmal Ruins. Immerse in the history of the late Classic Maya period. The name Uxmal means “built three times.” Built around 600 to 950 AD, the meaning of many buildings has not yet been fully unraveled. The site impresses the visitors with decorated façades, vast terraces, squares, columns, and archways. You will have time here to explore this ruin before heading to your hotel. 

In the evening, your guide will pick you up for this unique experience. You will be able to experience the impressive Sound & Light Show in the ruins of Uxmal. Before the tremendous background of the Pyramid of the Magician, you'll set out on a virtual journey back into the Mayan world. Accompanied by sound and light effects, the history of a fascinating civilization is being told. 

Only a few minutes away by foot from the archaeological center of the Mayan city of Uxmal you’ll find the “Hacienda Uxmal”. This hotel, with its colonial style, offers a lot of charm and a feeling of coziness. 

Carefully placed details like the hand painted tiles in the bathrooms and the spa bear witness to the enchantment of an hacienda from times long past. In addition to the cozy swings on the terraces and the wooden arches, the Hacienda also boasts a botanical garden that presents the typical flora and fauna of Yucatán. 

The two pools and the jogging track make sporting activities easy and attractive. The chefs, all originally from the area, often use self-made ingredients in the gourmet restaurant to further spoil guests with specialties from Yucatán. 

Enjoy a cool drink in the evening at the outdoor bar or listen to a guitar trio. The Hacienda looks back on a long tradition and remains faithful to Uxmal’s historical character.

Today's drive will take you from Uxmal to Valladolid. Your fist stop will be at Sotuta de Peón after about 1.5 hours of driving. Step back into the times of the mighty 19th century henequén barons. While you are visiting the plantations, the production plant, and the sumptuous main building from colonial times, you'll learn interesting details about the cultivation of the green henequén agave and its processing to fibers. They are used to produce tear-resistant ropes, carpets and hammocks to this very day.

After this, you will head back in the car for the 3 hour drove to your overnight destination, Valladolid

Characterized by its environmental awareness and the preferred use of biodegradable materials, the eco-hotel “Quinta Regia” is located on the site of an Hacienda with over 100 years of antiquity in the historic center of Valladolid. 

The hotel offers guests a pleasant stay in the colonial Mexican-style rooms, thanks to its family atmosphere. Enjoy the beautiful garden with local vegetation at the spacious terrace or take a relaxing break at the pool or spa. Every room provides a private balcony or terrace and free Wi-Fi. The Colonial Mexican styled rooms at Ecotel Quinta Regia include cable TV and a safety deposit box. Select suites provide a hot tub and kitchenette.

The hotel’s restaurant, which serves local and international cuisine, offers special pre-ordered services as well as room service. Explore the archaeological sites of Yucatán from the ideal starting point that is the hotel.

Today's transfer will take you from Valladolid to the white sandy beaches of the Riviera Maya.

Your first stop will be one of the many cenotes surrounding this area, cenote Dzitnup. The Mayans believed that cenotes (sacred sources in the Mayan language) were the entrance to the underworld. When visiting the cenote Dzitnup, you can get an idea of this myth. Stalactite formations line the edge of the crystal clear freshwater lake, which is accessible via steep and wet stairs cut into the subterranean limestone.

After an enjoyable swim and visit to this cenote, you will may your way into the Rivera Maya and stop at the Tulum ruins before heading to your accommdation. The Tulum ruins are located directly on the Caribbean Sea. What remained of the great Mayan city is only the temple area with the palace. Other buildings include the Templo del Dios Descendente and the Templo de los Frescos. Tulum's appeal lies in the interaction of the ruins with the white sand and turquoise water. You will then continue the drive to your hotel in Tulum and have the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

*Note: Mandatory service fee USD $8 per room per night to be paid directly at the hotel.

Situated within Tulum National Park, this stylish hotel offers private access to a beautiful white sand beach. Each room has a veranda overlooking the tropical gardens or the Caribbean Sea.

Enjoy a complete beach experience in the eco-chic environment by spending the day at the gorgeous Beach Club. Spoil yourself savouring great food, delightful drinks, and a unique, natural vibe.

Hip Hotel Tulum is located just 1 km from the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum. The Sian-Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which includes rainforests and coral reefs, is a 15-minute drive away.

The Hip Hotel’s beachfront bar-restaurant serves Mexican fusion cuisine and offers panoramic sea views. There is also coffee lounge with free Wi-Fi.

Rooms have simple, elegant décor and a modern bathroom. All rooms include a safe, a ceiling fan and mosquito nets. Free bottled water is also provided.

Optional: Not included in starting price

Today you will have the chance to visit the island of Cozumel. You will be picked up from your hotel in Tulum and taken to Palya del Carmen where you will board a ferry towards Cozumel. 

Your first stop will be the Archaeological Zone of San Gervasio. As a visitor with a special interest in history, you should not miss San Gervasio, the largest archaeological site of Cozumel. Established about 300 AD over the most important aquifer of the island, the place had its heyday in the last centuries preceding the arrival of the Spanish. Since it maintained intense trade and religious relations with Yucatán, you will find that its buildings show distinct references to the mainland architecture besides elements of the original local style.

You will then visit the Punta Sur Eco Beach Park which is the largest protected nature preserve of Cozumel Island. Discover the unique nature of the southernmost point of the island, the intense surge breaking on the open eastern shore, the historic lighthouse of Celarain with its small maritime museum, and the small archaeological zone along the access road.

By way of contrast, you can enjoy protected bays, which are ideal for a refreshing swim, and a boat tour through the mangrove forests of Laguna Colombia; just a bit of luck, and you will see crocodiles and a lot of other inhabitants of this nature preserve.

Another stop today will be at the Chankanaab theme park. Chankanaab means “little sea” in Mayan language. The large amusement park is located directly in the “National Marine Park” on the western coast of Cozumel Island. Enjoy the wide sandy beach with its many offers – from snorkeling along Chankanaab Reef to just dangling your feet in the water of Chankanaab Lagoon. The fully equipped park features many attractions, e.g., replicas of Mexican archaeological sites, Mayan houses, a crocodile station, and, of course, the sea lions show.

After a full day on this island you will ferry back to palya del carmen and transfer back to your hotel in Tulum.

Note: Entrance fee is not included, $30USDpp

Tulum has a New Age vibe, jungle-shrouded restaurants and white sand beaches that have made it Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula hot spot. Once a sleepy off-the-grid beach town, Tulum is now a popular Mexican Caribbean vacation destination that offers countless activities and adventures for visitors. Here’s our pick of the best activities around.

Dive into the Gran Cenote: One of the advantages to being in the Yucatan Peninsula is that you’re surrounded by natural sinkholes, otherwise known as cenotes. In Tulum, you’ll be within a stone’s throw of some of the area’s most magnificent examples – El Gran Cenote, Calavera and Carwash are some of the most well known

Go swimming in the Caribbean: Yes, OK, it sounds obvious, but it’s actually one of the very best things to do in Tulum. When the ocean is calm, it’s crystal clear and you can see right down to the bottom.

Check out turtles in their natural habitat: If you’re into nature, then this is undoubtedly one of the must-do things to do when visiting Tulum. Each year from May to October, most of the coastline experiences sea turtle nesting season.

Visit the Mayan ruins: This is arguably the biggest cultural pull Tulum offers, and it’s easy to see why, as year after year tourists flock to these superbly located Mayan ruins.

Try out the ceviche at El Camello: This has long been one of Tulum’s favorite food spots due to the ridiculously fresh and flavorsome ceviche and seafood served on the daily.

Stop off at multidisciplinary museum Sfer IK: This multidisciplinary museum located in a huge sphere made from natural materials features visual artists, workshops and artist residencies focusing on interdisciplinary projects and new ways of experiencing and creating art.

Big farewell to your private driver-guide today as you will have the morning at leisure before your driver will transfer you to Cancun airport for your onward flight. This transfer will take approximately 2 hours.