Itinerary
- Day 1
Cancún
After picking up your rental car at the airport, you'll drive to your hotel in Cancún for the night. This is your chance to settle in and get some rest before the archaeological exploration begins.
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 2
Cancún to Playa del Carmen to Tulum to Cobá to Valladolid
You'll start by driving through Playa del Carmen and head to Tulum, where you can see a Mayan ceremonial center sitting right on a cliff overlooking the water. The Templo de los Frescos and the Castillo are the main structures to check out, and you'll have time to swim in one of the nearby bays. From there, the route takes you inland to Cobá, which is buried deep in the jungle and home to the Yucatán's tallest pyramid plus about 45 stone-lined roads the Maya called sacbés. You'll cover roughly 245 km and finish the day in Valladolid.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Tulum ceremonial center
- Visit Templo de los Frescos at Tulum
- Visit El Castillo at Tulum
- Swim in bays near Tulum
- Visit Cobá archaeological site
- Explore Mayan sacbés (walled paths)
Landmarks Tulum Templo de los Frescos El Castillo (Tulum) Cobá - Day 3
Valladolid to Chichén Itzá
The drive to Chichén Itzá covers around 45 km and takes you to what's probably the most well-known pyramid complex in the region. You'll walk through the excavations and see the Kukulkan pyramid, the warrior temple, and the ball court. El Castillo is the standout structure here, and El Caracol is worth your time too since the Maya built it as an observatory to track Venus and its movements. You'll spend the night here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Chichén Itzá pyramid complex
- Visit Kukulkan pyramid
- Visit Warrior Temple at Chichén Itzá
- Visit Ball Court at Chichén Itzá
- Visit El Castillo at Chichén Itzá
- Visit El Caracol (Maya Observatory)
Landmarks Chichén Itzá Kukulkan Pyramid El Castillo (Chichén Itzá) El Caracol - Day 4
Chichén Itzá to Mérida
Today you're driving roughly 125 km to Mérida, known locally as the 'white city' because of all the whitewashed buildings. You'll check into your hotel for a two-night stay and get oriented with the city layout.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
- Day 5
Mérida
You'll spend this day getting to know Mérida, the state capital. The Zócalo main square is a good starting point, and from there you can see the white Palacio Municipal and the cathedral. Taking a walk along Paseo de Montejo gives you a sense of how the city was designed after Paris's Champs-Élysées. If you visit on a Sunday, Mérida en Domingo transforms streets into a pedestrian zone with food stalls and live music. The romantic horse-drawn carriages are still around too, and Parque Hidalgo offers a quiet spot to sit and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Zócalo main square in Mérida
- Visit Palacio Municipal in Mérida
- Visit Cathedral in Mérida
- Stroll Paseo de Montejo boulevard
- Explore Parque Hidalgo city park
Landmarks Zócalo (Mérida) Palacio Municipal (Mérida) Cathedral (Mérida) Paseo de Montejo Parque Hidalgo - Day 6
Mérida to Celestún to Uxmal
In the morning, you'll drive to Celestún National Park on the Gulf coast. From the small fishing village there, a boat tour takes you out to see colonies of pink flamingos in their natural setting, and you might spot other bird species too. After that, you'll swim and cool off at two freshwater springs. Then you're back on the road for about 210 km to Uxmal, one of the more impressive Mayan sites often called 'the thrice-built.' The Pyramid of the Magician and the Nuns' Quadrangle are the main attractions, featuring intricate stone work and large open plazas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat tour to observe pink flamingos at Celestún National Park
- Observe bird species at Celestún National Park
- Swim and relax at freshwater springs
- Visit Uxmal archaeological site
- Visit Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal
- Visit Nuns' Quadrangle at Uxmal
Landmarks Celestún National Park Uxmal Pyramid of the Magician Nuns' Quadrangle 
- Day 7
Uxmal to Edzná to Campeche
You'll drive to Edzná, a former ceremonial center known for its 'building of five floors,' which is one of the more interesting structures in Mayan architecture. After that, continue on to Campeche, roughly 200 km total. This city was once one of the wealthiest in the Yucatán and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. The old town has restored colonial buildings, and the historic walls that once protected against pirates are still standing. Check out the Zócalo and La Concepción Cathedral while you're there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Edzná archaeological site
- Visit building of five floors at Edzná
- Explore Campeche old city alleyways
- Visit Zócalo in Campeche
- Visit La Concepción Cathedral in Campeche
- Tour Campeche fortifications and city walls
Landmarks Edzná Campeche La Concepción Cathedral - Day 8
Campeche to Palenque
An early morning drive of about 370 km takes you to Palenque, a Mayan site hidden in the rainforest on the jungle's edge. The Temple of Inscriptions here contains over 620 hieroglyphs documenting King Pakal's story, and you'll also see the large palace, the Temple of the Sun, and the North Temple with its stucco carvings and scenes of warfare. You'll be staying for two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Palenque archaeological site
- Visit Temple of Inscriptions at Palenque
- Visit Palace at Palenque
- Visit Temple of the Sun at Palenque
- Visit North Temple at Palenque
Landmarks Palenque Temple of Inscriptions Temple of the Sun North Temple (Palenque) - Day 9
Palenque
Today you can take your time exploring Palenque more thoroughly. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized since 1987, has layers of detail worth returning to and examining more closely than a quick visit allows.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Further exploration of Palenque archaeological site
Landmarks Palenque - Day 10
Palenque to Escárcega to Chicannà
You'll drive via Escárcega to Chicannà, a temple district with unusual façade decorations that look almost grotesque in their detail. The towers sit on pyramidal bases with temple structures on top, but here's the thing: they're completely hollow inside, designed purely for visual effect. You'll spend the night in Mayan-style bungalows set in a garden with a pool. The drive covers approximately 360 km.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Chicannà archaeological site
- Explore grotesque façade decorations at Chicannà
Landmarks Chicannà - Day 11
Chicannà to Kohunlich to Chetumal
The route takes you to Kohunlich, an archaeological site featuring buildings in the Río Bec style. The Pyramid of Masks is the highlight here, built during the classical period's early days. Five of the masks still show their original red paint, which is pretty rare. After exploring, you'll continue about 150 km to Chetumal for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel
Included Activities
- Visit Kohunlich archaeological site
- Visit Pyramid of Masks at Kohunlich
Landmarks Kohunlich Pyramid of Masks - Day 12
Chetumal to Cancún
Your final drive heads back to Cancún, approximately 380 km, where you'll return the rental car at the airport and wrap up your trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast
