Itinerary
- Day 1
Cancún
You'll arrive in Cancún and get transferred to your hotel. Take time to settle in and rest up before the Mayan ruins exploration starts tomorrow.
- Day 2
Cancún to Valladolid
After breakfast, you'll head to Rio Lagartos National Park for a boat trip where pink flamingos and pelicans hang out along the water. Later you'll cool off with a swim at Cenote Xcanché, where the water alternates between blue and green shades. There's an optional visit to the Mayan ruins at Ek Balam if you want to go on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour in Rio Lagartos National Park to observe flamingos and pelicans
- Swim at Cenote Xcanchê
Optional Activities
- Visit Mayan ruins of Ek Balam (admission approx. €40)
Landmarks Rio Lagartos National Park Cenote Xcanchê Ek Balam - Day 3
Valladolid to Mérida
Starting early to beat the crowds, you'll get to Chichén Itzá as one of the first visitors. You can walk through the UNESCO site and see the Kukulkan pyramid, the ball court, and Palace of a Thousand Columns. At Yokdzonot cenote, there's an 18-meter free fall descent to a wooden platform where you'll swim in cool water. By evening you'll drive to Mérida.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mayan site of Chichén Itzá (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Yokdzonot cenote
Landmarks Chichén Itzá Kukulkan Pyramid Yokdzonot Cenote - Day 4
Mérida to Santa Elena
You'll walk through Mérida's historic center, known as the 'white city' because of its white-painted buildings. The boulevard Paseo de Montejo is nice to stroll along with its elegant architecture. After that, you'll drive to Santa Elena for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Mérida's historic center
- Explore Paseo de Montejo boulevard
Landmarks Paseo de Montejo - Day 5
Santa Elena
Check out the excavations at Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with interesting structures and layouts. Then you'll go through the Chocantes caves to see the calcium carbonate waterfalls and formations like stalactites, stalagmites, and columns.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Uxmal (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Explore Chocantes caves with calcium carbonate waterfalls and formations
Landmarks Uxmal Chocantes Caves - Day 6
Santa Elena to Campeche
You'll drive to Campeche, stopping at the Mayan ruins of Kabah along the way. In Campeche, explore the historic city center with its massive colonial wall surrounding colorful buildings, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mayan ruins of Kabah
- Explore Campeche historic city center and colonial city wall (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Landmarks Kabah - Day 7
Campeche to Palenque
This is a long drive with changing scenery. You'll head from the Gulf Coast past the Champoton naval base and into the Chiapas rainforest foothills. Before reaching Palenque, you'll take a boat tour through the Catagazá lagoons.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour on Catagazá lagoons
Landmarks Catagazá Lagoons - Day 8
Palenque
You'll see the Mayan site of Palenque hidden in the rainforest and tour the Temple of Inscriptions, the palace, Temple of the Sun, and Temple of the Cross. There's also a visit to Roberto Barrios waterfalls. You'll sleep in rustic cabanas in a Lacandon village.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Palenque (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Roberto Barrios waterfalls
Landmarks Palenque Temple of Inscriptions Roberto Barrios Waterfalls - Day 9
Lacandon Village to Palenque
A Lacandon guide will lead a jungle hike and explain the local plants and animals. You'll visit Bonampak, a Mayan site with around 144 square meters of well-kept wall and cave paintings from the 20th century discovery. Then you'll drive back to Palenque.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jungle hike with Lacandon guide
- Visit Bonampak Mayan site with wall and cave paintings
Landmarks Bonampak - Day 10
Palenque to Tikal
You'll head to Tikal and cross into Guatemala. Relax during the drive and watch the landscape change around you. If time works out, there might be a short walk through the village of Flores.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Optional walk through Flores village
Landmarks Flores - Day 11
Tikal to San Ignacio
Wake up early to watch the sunrise from Temple IV at Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important Classic Mayan cities. You'll see temples, stelae, and palaces showing the city's development from the 5th century. In the afternoon, cross into Belize and check into your hotel in San Ignacio.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Sunrise experience at Temple IV, Tikal (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Explore Tikal temples, stelae, and palaces
Landmarks Tikal Temple IV - Day 12
San Ignacio
You'll hike through lush landscape to a stalactite cave system in a national park. There's an optional cave tubing tour available for an extra fee that you can book on site. You'll also visit the Baboon Sanctuary howler monkey reserve, known as one of the country's top conservation projects.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike through national park to stalactite cave system
- Visit Baboon Sanctuary howler monkey reserve
Optional Activities
- Cave tubing tour (optional, bookable on site)
Landmarks Baboon Sanctuary - Day 13
Burrell Boom to Bacalar
Check out the Mayan site of Altun Ha, then stop in Orange Walk to see the regional market and learn about Mennonite life. You'll cross back into Mexico and drive to Cocolitos in Bacalar for a picnic lunch. Spend the night at an eco-hotel on the lagoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Picnic (Picnic lunch at Cocolitos in Bacalar)
Included Activities
- Visit Altun Ha Mayan site
- Picnic lunch at Cocolitos in Bacalar
Optional Activities
- Visit regional market and Mennonite community in Orange Walk
Landmarks Altun Ha Orange Walk Bacalar Lagoon - Day 14
Bacalar to Tulum
Start with a boat trip on the Bacalar lagoon in the morning. Later you'll head to Tulum and visit the Mayan site sitting high above the Caribbean Sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour on Bacalar lagoon
- Visit Tulum Mayan site
Landmarks Tulum - Days 15 - 16
Return Flight
You'll leave for your return flight to Frankfurt, arriving the following day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
