Itinerary
- Day 1
Mexico City
You'll arrive in Mexico City and settle into your accommodation in one of the world's largest urban centers. A welcome meeting is set for 6 pm tonight. If your flight gets in early, the city has plenty to explore on your own, from Chapultepec's museums to the colorful boats at Xochimilco or the Diego Rivera murals inside the National Palace. After the meeting wraps up, grab some tacos for dinner and check out the nightlife if you're still energized from travel.
Optional Activities
- Visit Chapultepec area and its museums
- Take a boat ride through the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco
- Visit the National Palace to see Diego Rivera murals
- Explore Mexico City's nightlife
Landmarks/POIs Chapultepec Xochimilco National Palace - Day 2
Mexico City
This morning starts with chilaquiles for breakfast, then you'll head out with your leader for an orientation walk through Mexico City's historic center. You'll stop by Gastromotiva, an Intrepid Foundation partner focused on food scarcity and sustainability. After that comes an included taco crawl where you'll sample street food from local vendors throughout the city. The afternoon is free for you to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum, Museum of Anthropology, or Palace of Fine Arts if art interests you, or just wander around trying tostadas, tortas, and chicharrones from street stalls.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk through historic center
- Gastromotiva visit (Intrepid Foundation partner)
- Leader-led Taco Crawl with local street food vendors
Optional Activities
- Visit Frida Kahlo Museum
- Visit Museum of Anthropology
- Visit Palace of Fine Arts
- Snack on tostadas, tortas, and chicharrones
Landmarks/POIs Frida Kahlo Museum National Museum of Anthropology Palace of Fine Arts - Day 3
Mexico City to Oaxaca
You'll take a public bus down to Oaxaca (pronounced 'wuh-haa-ka'), a colorful colonial town in southern Mexico with arcades and busy markets everywhere. When you arrive, your leader will take you on an orientation walk to help you get oriented. Since you'll have two full days here, there's time to walk the narrow cobbled streets, browse indigenous markets selling woven blankets, and try regional food specialties like cactus fruit, spicy baked chili, lime grasshoppers, and tejate, a cold maize and cinnamon chocolate drink.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk
Optional Activities
- Explore indigenous markets for textiles
- Sample regional food specialties including cactus fruit, baked chili, and lime grasshoppers
- Try tejate (maize and cinnamon-flavored chocolate drink)
Landmarks/POIs Oaxaca Historic Center - Day 4
Oaxaca
Oaxaca is entirely yours to explore today. Consider heading to Monte Alban, a mountaintop pre-Columbian ceremonial center with temples, pyramids, and terraces carved into the mountain, with fantastic valley views. Or visit the Mitla Ruins, an important Zapotec archaeological site that was a former religious center. If you'd rather take it easy, Hierve el Agua offers mineral pools and calcified waterfalls on a mountainside with sweeping countryside views.
Optional Activities
- Visit Monte Alban archaeological site with mountaintop temples and pyramids
- Take a day tour of Mitla Ruins (Zapotec archaeological site)
- Visit Hierve el Agua mineral springs and calcified waterfalls
Landmarks/POIs Monte Alban Mitla Ruins Hierve el Agua - Day 5
Oaxaca
Another free day to soak in Oaxaca's color and culture before your overnight bus ride to San Cristobal de las Casas later tonight. You could take a cooking class to test your culinary skills, explore artisan stores and markets, or visit the historic Templo de Santo Domingo, a grand stone church with a large forecourt. It's a good day to pick up any souvenirs or snacks for the bus ride ahead.
Optional Activities
- Take a cooking class
- Explore artisan stores and markets
- Visit Templo de Santo Domingo historic church
Landmarks/POIs Templo de Santo Domingo - Day 6
San Cristobal de las Casas
You'll arrive this afternoon in San Cristobal de las Casas, your pastel-hued highland home for the next two days. Your leader will take you on a morning orientation walk through the winding cobblestone streets in the Chiapas highlands, where old-world architecture blends with pre-Hispanic roots. You'll visit the colorful Santo Domingo textile market, one of the best spots for jewelry and clothing, then wander to a local café for baked goods or try pox, a traditional corn-based liquor.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk
- Santo Domingo textile market visit
Optional Activities
- Visit local café for baked goods
- Try pox (traditional corn-based liquor)
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo textile market - Day 7
San Cristobal de las Casas
No schedule today, so you'll explore San Cristobal de las Casas at your own pace. Take time to walk the cobblestone streets and soak in the architecture and old-world feel mixed with pre-Hispanic roots. For more adventure, you could take a boat ride down the Rio Grijalva through Sumidero Canyon, or explore surrounding villages by mountain bike with time to spare.
Optional Activities
- Explore cobblestone streets and architecture
- Take a boat trip to Sumidero Canyon along the Rio Grijalva
- Explore villages by mountain bike
Landmarks/POIs Sumidero Canyon - Day 8
San Cristobal de las Casas to Zinacantan
This morning you'll visit the village of Zinacantan with your leader to see the Iglesia de San Lorenzo, where Maya and Catholic beliefs blend together. Located in the highlands, this marketplace and religious center serves Indigenous communities in the surrounding hills who maintain their traditional way of life and distinctive clothing. Back in San Cristobal later, you'll have free time to rent a bike and explore the town further on your own.
Included Activities
- Visit Zinacantan village
- Visit Iglesia de San Lorenzo church (entrance fee included)
Optional Activities
- Rent a bike to explore San Cristobal further
Landmarks/POIs Zinacantan Iglesia de San Lorenzo - Day 9
San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque
You'll leave San Cristobal de las Casas and head to Palenque, a central town situated in a steamy jungle near the Maya ruins of the same name. Once you arrive, the afternoon is free for you to relax or explore the town before visiting the archaeological site tomorrow morning.
Optional Activities
- Relax or explore Palenque town
Landmarks/POIs Palenque - Day 10
Palenque
This morning you'll head to the Palenque archaeological zone to explore ruins dating back to AD 600, some of the most impressive Maya relics in Mexico. The temples sit on a hilltop surrounded by thick jungle trees where you'll hear howler monkeys and screeching parrots echoing through the forest. You'll walk through the ruins at your own pace, with many structures remaining un-excavated and hidden in the forest. Afterward, visit Misol-Ha where cascading waterfalls and quiet surroundings offer a refreshing escape into nature.
Included Activities
- Visit Palenque archaeological zone (entrance fee and transport included)
- Visit Misol-Ha waterfall
Optional Activities
- Take a guided tour of the ruins
- Take a guided tour through surrounding jungle to a hidden waterfall
Landmarks/POIs Palenque Archaeological Zone Misol-Ha - Day 11
Palenque to Merida
You'll travel north by local bus to Merida, a city founded in 1542 with approximately 60% of residents of Maya background. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk through the Old Town, checking out museums and culturally vibrant streets. You'll relax in the shady Plaza Grande, surrounded by the 16th-century cathedral, City Hall, State Government Palace, and Casa Montejo. Try a marquesita, a crepe rolled like a taco with sweet fillings. The afternoon is free, so you can walk the mansion-lined Paseo de Montejo or grab elotes (corn on the cob) from bicycle carts around nearly every corner.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk
- Marquesitas snack
Optional Activities
- Visit museums in Old Town
- Walk along Paseo de Montejo
- Eat elotes (corn on the cob) from bicycle carts
Landmarks/POIs Plaza Grande Paseo de Montejo - Day 12
Merida
Merida is yours to explore today as the gateway to the Maya ruins of Uxmal. You could join an optional tour of Uxmal (founded around AD 500), which is decorated with masks of the rain god Chac. Or visit a nearby bird sanctuary, hunt down hidden cenotes for a dip, or embrace the dancing culture. On Sundays, streets transform into an open-air dance floor with salsa and merengue bands, or you can hang out in local speakeasy bars with salsa music playing.
Optional Activities
- Tour Uxmal archaeological ruins with guide and shared transport
- Visit nearby bird sanctuary
- Find and swim in hidden cenotes
- Experience Sunday dancing culture in town streets
- Visit local speakeasy bars
Landmarks/POIs Uxmal Celestun Bird Sanctuary - Day 13
Merida to Playa del Carmen
You'll start with a refreshing swim at Yokdzonot cenote, surrounded by hanging vines and lush greenery developed by local Maya women as a sustainable employment source. Then head to Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and the most important example of Maya and Toltec fusion. You'll see the Caracol stellar observatory, Great Ball Court (the largest in Mesoamerica), and El Castillo step pyramid. For lunch, enjoy a pibil feast with a local family in Piste, then continue to Playa del Carmen with gorgeous beaches. Your leader will take you on an orientation walk. Tonight you'll feast on seafood and watch the waves with a margarita.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked pibil feast in Piste—traditional Maya style cooking with food wrapped in banana leaves and barbecued underground, shared with a local family)
Included Activities
- Yokdzonot Cenote visit and swim
- Chichen Itza archaeological site visit
- Home-cooked pibil lunch in Piste with local family
- Leader-led orientation walk in Playa del Carmen
Optional Activities
- Snorkel among mangroves in Playa del Carmen
- Snorkel in underground caverns
- Stroll along white sand beaches
- Enjoy seafood dinner
- Watch waves with margarita
Landmarks/POIs Yokdzonot Cenote Chichen Itza Playa del Carmen 
- Day 14
Playa del Carmen
With no activities planned, your trip comes to an end, but your adventure doesn't have to stop. Today works well for an optional half-day tour south to Tulum, a unique archaeological site perched on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Or you can simply spend more time in Playa del Carmen. Reach out to your booking agent if you'd like to arrange additional accommodation to extend your stay.
Optional Activities
- Half-day tour to Tulum archaeological site with entrance fee, guide, and transport
Landmarks/POIs Tulum
