Itinerary
- Day 1
Cancun to Chichen Itza
Start in Cancun and head south through the Yucatan Peninsula toward the coast. You'll reach Tulum first, a Mayan city perched on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean, which gives you a sense of how the ancient Maya used their landscape. From there, it's inland to Coba, where you can walk or bike around thousands of acres dotted with pyramids and connected by ancient sacbeob (white stone roads) that stretch for miles. The day wraps up at Chichen Itza, one of the largest pre-Columbian sites in the region. If you're interested, there's an optional light and sound show in the evening that highlights the history of the site and its main structures.
Included Activities
- Visit Tulum, Mayan coastal city
- Visit Coba, largest Mayan city on the peninsula
- Transfer to Chichen Itza
Optional Activities
- Light and sound show at Chichen Itza
Landmarks/POIs Tulum Coba Chichen Itza - Day 2
Chichen Itza to Uxmal
After breakfast, you'll spend the morning and early afternoon at Chichen Itza focusing on its most significant structures. The Castle (Pyramid of Kukulcan) dominates the site and shows the Maya's understanding of astronomy and geometry. You'll also see the Ball Game Court where they played a ritual ball game, the Observatory used for tracking celestial events, and the Sacred Cenote, a sinkhole that held religious significance. Later, you head west to Uxmal. The drive takes a couple hours, so you'll have time to settle in before the optional evening light and sound show, which offers another perspective on Mayan history and architecture.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Chichen Itza
- Visit Castle or Pyramid of Kulkulcan at Chichen Itza
- Visit Ball Game Court at Chichen Itza
- Visit Observatory at Chichen Itza
- Visit Sacred Cenote at Chichen Itza
- Transfer to Uxmal
Optional Activities
- Light and sound show at Uxmal
Landmarks/POIs Chichen Itza Pyramid of Kulkulcan Ball Game Court at Chichen Itza Observatory at Chichen Itza Sacred Cenote Uxmal - Day 3
Uxmal to Merida
After breakfast, you'll tour Uxmal, known as the 'thrice-built city' because it was constructed and rebuilt multiple times over centuries. The architecture here is different from Chichen Itza, featuring the Puuc style with geometric patterns and precise stonework. The Governor's House and Magician's Temple are the standouts. Next, you'll head to Kabah, another important Puuc site famous for its elaborate representations of Chaac, the rain god, which cover many of the structures. Seeing how different sites represent similar deities gives context to how widespread these beliefs were. From there, it's back to Merida for the night, so you'll have time to grab dinner and rest before the next day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Uxmal
- Visit Governor's House at Uxmal
- Visit Magician's Temple at Uxmal
- Visit Kabah
- Transfer to Merida
Landmarks/POIs Uxmal Governor's House at Uxmal Magician's Temple at Uxmal Kabah - Day 4
Merida to Izamal and Cancun
After breakfast in Merida, the 'White City' founded in 1542, you'll head out on horseback to Izamal, a colonial town with colorful buildings and Spanish architecture layered over older structures. The main stop is the impressive Franciscan convent, which has the world's second-largest atrium after St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, giving you a sense of its massive scale. You'll see how Spanish colonial religious buildings were constructed with considerable grandeur in the Yucatan. After exploring Izamal, you'll head back to Cancun for your final drop-off, ending your tour through the peninsula's mix of ancient Maya sites and colonial history.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Brief visit to Merida city
- Horseback ride to Izamal
- Visit colonial city of Izamal
- Visit convent of Izamal
- Transfer to Cancun
Landmarks/POIs Merida Izamal Convent of Izamal
