Itinerary
- Day 1
Cancun
You'll land at Cancun International Airport and a tour representative will pick you up for the drive to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to do what you'd like, whether that's settling in at the hotel, grabbing a meal, or taking a walk around the city to get a feel for the area.
Optional Activities
- Explore Cancun independently
- Day 2
Cancun to Valladolid
Travel to Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve on the northern coast and take a two-hour boat tour through mangroves looking for pink flamingos, crocodiles, and other wildlife. After that you'll soak in a Maya mud bath using the mineral-rich white mud and then swim in the salty lagoon waters. Next stop is a cenote for a quick cool-off before heading to Valladolid for check-in. Later that evening take a walking tour of the town to see how it blends Mayan culture with colonial architecture and pre-Hispanic heritage.
Included Activities
- Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve boat tour through mangroves
- Maya mud bath with mineral-rich white mud
- Cenote visit and swimming
- Valladolid walking city tour
Landmarks/POIs Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve Valladolid - Day 3
Valladolid to Merida
Have breakfast early, then head to Chichén Itzá to see one of the most important Maya archaeological sites. You'll walk through the Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo), the Great Ball Court, Skull Platform, Sacred Cenote, and the Temple of the Warriors along with other well-preserved structures. From there, stop in Izamal to visit the Convent of St Anthony of Padua, which was built on top of a former Maya pyramid. After lunch (on your own), travel to Merida and tour the historical center including 19th-century villas on Paseo de Montejo, Plaza Grande with its cathedral and Casa de los Montejo, the Government Palace, and City Hall. The afternoon and evening are free for exploring on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Guided tour of Chichén Itzá archaeological site
- Visit to Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo)
- Visit to Great Ball Court
- Visit to Skull Platform
- Visit to Sacred Cenote
- Visit to Temple of the Warriors
- Visit to Ossuary
- Visit to Nunnery
- Visit to Church
- Visit to observatory (Snail)
- Izamal city tour
- Visit to Convent of St Anthony of Padua
- Merida historical downtown tour
- Visit to Paseo de Montejo
- Visit to Plaza Grande
- Visit to Cathedral
- Visit to Casa de los Montejo
- Visit to Government Palace
- Visit to City Hall
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Izamal (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Chichén Itzá Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) Great Ball Court Skull Platform Sacred Cenote Temple of the Warriors Ossuary Nunnery Church Observatory (Snail) Izamal Convent of St Anthony of Padua Merida Paseo de Montejo Plaza Grande Cathedral Casa de los Montejo Government Palace City Hall - Day 4
Merida to Cancun or Riviera Maya
Eat breakfast at your hotel, then travel to Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set above the jungle. On the guided tour you'll see the 35-metre-tall Pyramid of the Magician, the well-preserved Nunnery Quadrangle with its ornately carved walls, the Governor's Palace, the Great Pyramid (still partially being excavated), and the ballgame court. Next comes a Cocoa Museum where you'll learn about the plant and how important it was to the ancient Maya. Later you'll head back to Cancun or Riviera Maya where your tour wraps up.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Guided tour of Uxmal UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit to Pyramid of the Magician
- Visit to Nunnery Quadrangle
- Visit to Governor's Palace
- Visit to Great Pyramid
- Visit to ballgame court
- Cocoa Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Extension hotel stay in Cancun or Riviera Maya (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Uxmal Pyramid of the Magician Nunnery Quadrangle Governor's Palace Great Pyramid Cocoa Museum
