Itinerary
- Day 1
Mexico City
You'll arrive in Mexico City and get settled at your hotel. There's a welcome briefing this evening to help everyone get oriented and meet the group before things really get started.
- Day 2
Mexico City
Starting in the bohemian neighborhood of Coyoacán, you'll walk through colonial churches and check out the bustling markets. Casa Azul, Frida Kahlo's former home turned museum, is next on the agenda. By evening, you're heading to Xochimilco for a scenic boat ride past the floating gardens through the canals.
Included Activities
- Visit Coyoacán with pebbled streets, colonial churches and markets
- Casa Azul museum visit (subject to availability)
- Pre-Hispanic boat ride along Xochimilco canals
Landmarks/POIs Coyoacán Casa Azul Xochimilco canals 
- Day 3
Mexico City
Early start to Teotihuacán where you'll explore the massive pyramids with a local guide who can explain what you're seeing. Back in Mexico City for the afternoon, you'll walk around the historic centre hitting the Zócalo, Cathedral Metropolitana, and finishing at the Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Teotihuacán archaeological zone
- Walking tour of Mexico City historic centre including Zócalo, Cathedral Metropolitana, and Palacio de Bellas Artes
Landmarks/POIs Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Sun Pyramid of the Moon Zócalo Cathedral Metropolitana Templo Mayor Palacio de Bellas Artes - Day 4
Mexico City to Puebla
You'll spend the morning at the Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City before heading south to Puebla. You arrive in the colonial City of Angels in the late afternoon and can start noticing the famous blue-and-white talavera pottery around town.
Included Activities
- Museum of Anthropology visit
Optional Activities
- Talavera factory visit to watch artisans (payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Anthropology Puebla de los Angeles 
- Day 5
Puebla to Oaxaca
The morning is spent checking out Puebla's colonial architecture, specifically the Patio de los Azulejos and the Ex-Convent of Santa Rosa with their distinctive talavera tiles. After that, you're driving to Oaxaca, another World Heritage city known for its creative vibe and indigenous traditions.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Puebla colonial architecture
- Visit Patio de los Azulejos
- Visit Ex-Convent of Santa Rosa
Landmarks/POIs Patio de los Azulejos Ex-Convent of Santa Rosa Oaxaca - Day 6
Oaxaca
You'll visit Monte Albán, a Zapotecan archaeological site built on a levelled mountaintop with impressive subterranean structures. Then it's on to San Antonio Arrazola to see traditional alebrijes wood carvings before returning to Oaxaca to explore the historic city and the Museum of Cultures Santo Domingo.
Included Activities
- Visit Monte Albán archaeological site
- Visit San Antonio Arrazola village
- Exploration of Oaxaca historic city
- Museum of Cultures Santo Domingo visit
Landmarks/POIs Monte Albán San Antonio Arrazola Museum of Cultures Santo Domingo 
- Day 7
Oaxaca
Today involves hands-on cooking with a local Zapotec cook. You start at a market selecting ingredients, then head to a rustic kitchen to learn making tortillas, a main course, and dessert. Working together at shared stations, you'll prepare and then eat what you've made. The afternoon is yours to explore Oaxaca freely.
Included Activities
- Local market exploration with tour leader
- Authentic cooking class with Zapotec cook including tortillas, main course, and dessert
- Day 8
Oaxaca to Tehuantepec
You'll drive to Teotitlán del Valle to see hand-woven rugs, then continue to Santiago Matatlán for a mezcal distillery tasting where you can sample the agave-based spirit. After that, you're driving on to Tehuantepec for the night.
Included Activities
- Visit Teotitlán del Valle hand-woven rug village
- Mezcal distillery tasting in Santiago Matatlán
Landmarks/POIs Teotitlán del Valle Santiago Matatlán - Day 9
Tehuantepec to San Cristóbal
The drive takes you to San Cristóbal, arriving in the afternoon. You'll get a short orientation tour of this city with its whitewashed buildings and red-tiled roofs before checking in to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Short orientation tour of San Cristóbal historic city
Landmarks/POIs San Cristóbal 
- Day 10
San Cristóbal
This is a free day to explore San Cristóbal on your own terms. You can wander the colonial streets, relax at the lively cafés, and look through handicrafts from local Tzotzil indigenous groups. If you're interested, there's an optional boat trip through Sumidero Canyon or visits to nearby Maya communities.
Optional Activities
- Boat trip through Sumidero Canyon
- Visit traditional Maya communities in surrounding villages
Landmarks/POIs Sumidero Canyon - Day 11
San Cristóbal to Palenque
You're leaving San Cristóbal and driving to Palenque, stopping in Villahermosa along the way. After getting to your hotel, those interested can take an optional trip to Roberto Barrios Waterfalls hidden in the subtropical jungle.
Optional Activities
- Roberto Barrios Waterfalls visit (70 minutes drive each way)
Landmarks/POIs Villahermosa Roberto Barrios Waterfalls Palenque National Park - Day 12
Palenque to Campeche
You'll explore the impressive Maya ruins of Palenque with their sculpted temples and pyramids. Then you transfer to the Caribbean town of Campeche on the Yucatán Peninsula and tour this World Heritage colonial city with its historic walls that were built to protect against pirates.
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Palenque Maya ruins
- Orientation tour of Campeche colonial town
Landmarks/POIs Palenque Campeche - Day 13
Campeche to Mérida
Driving to Uxmal, an open Maya archaeological site that contrasts with Palenque's jungle ruins, you'll check out the Pyramid of the Magician, Nunnery Quadrangle, and the ball court. Lunch happens at a Maya family restaurant where you'll try traditional pollo pibil and cochinita pibil. After that, you're heading to Mérida for an afternoon walking tour and can enjoy the main square at night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional Maya lunch at family restaurant featuring pollo pibil and cochinita pibil (slowly cooked chicken and pork roasted approximately 5 hours with achiote paste and wrapped in banana leaves))
Included Activities
- Guided visit to Uxmal Maya site including Pyramid of the Magician, Nunnery Quadrangle, and ball court
- Lunch at Maya family restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Uxmal Pyramid of the Magician Nunnery Quadrangle Muna Mérida 
- Day 14
Mérida to Chichén Itzá
You're driving to Izamal, known for its yellow-and-white buildings and the 16th-century Franciscan monastery built on top of a Maya pyramid. Next is Yokdzonot cenote, a natural swimming hole with dramatic mangrove-root walls where you can swim or try the zipline. Later, you transfer to Chichén Itzá and check in near the site.
Included Activities
- Visit Izamal pueblo mágico with Franciscan monastery
- Yokdzonot cenote visit with swimming and optional zipline
Landmarks/POIs Izamal Franciscan Monastery Yokdzonot cenote Chichén Itzá 
- Day 15
Chichén Itzá to Cancún
An early start at Chichén Itzá gets you there before the day-trippers from beach resorts. You'll explore the Pyramid of Kukulkan, Temple of Chac Mool, Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and Playing Field of the Prisoners to see the extraordinary Maya architecture. By afternoon, you're transferring to Cancún airport where the tour ends.
Included Activities
- Early morning visit to Chichén Itzá Maya site including Pyramid of Kukulkan, Temple of Chac Mool, Hall of the Thousand Pillars, and Playing Field of the Prisoners
Landmarks/POIs Chichén Itzá Pyramid of Kukulkan Temple of Chac Mool Hall of the Thousand Pillars Playing Field of the Prisoners Cancún Airport
