Itinerary
- Day 1
Mexico City
You'll arrive in Mexico City where a welcome meeting kicks off at 6 pm. If you get there early, there's time to walk through the city's museums and galleries, or head out to see the colorful boats at Xochimilco. After the meeting wraps up, grab some tacos and check out the nightlife spots your trip leader recommends.
Optional Activities
- Visit Chapultepec area with its many museums
- Cruise through the canal district of Xochimilco on colorfully painted boats
- Visit the National Palace to see Diego Rivera's murals
- Explore Mexico City's nightlife
Landmarks/POIs Chapultepec Xochimilco National Palace - Day 2
Mexico City
Start with chilaquiles for breakfast, then your leader takes you on an orientation walk through historic Mexico City. You'll visit Gastromotiva, an Intrepid Foundation partner working on food scarcity issues. Later, join a taco crawl with local street vendors. The afternoon is yours to spend at the Frida Kahlo Museum, Museum of Anthropology, or Palace of Fine Art, or just wander around trying street food.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk around historic centre
- Visit Gastromotiva (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 Art
- Snack on tostadas, tortas, and chicharrones around the city
Landmarks/POIs Frida Kahlo Museum National Museum of Anthropology Palace of Fine Arts - Day 3
Mexico City to Oaxaca
Take a public bus south to Oaxaca, a colorful colonial town. Your leader guides you through an orientation walk when you arrive. With two full days here, you'll have plenty of time to wander cobbled streets, browse indigenous markets selling woven textiles, and try regional food specialties. Don't skip tejate, a maize and cinnamon-flavored chocolate drink that's local to the area.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Oaxaca
Optional Activities
- Explore indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec markets for woven blankets and shawls
- Sample regional food specialties including cactus fruit, spicy baked chili, and lime grasshoppers
- Try tejate (maize and cinnamon-flavored chocolate drink)
Landmarks/POIs Oaxaca Historic Centre - Day 4
Oaxaca
This day is completely free in Oaxaca. You could head to Monte Alban, a mountaintop pre-Columbian ceremonial center with fantastic valley views, or check out the Mitla Ruins, an important Zapotec religious site. If you want something more relaxed, Hierve el Agua has mineral pools and calcified waterfalls with sweeping countryside views.
Optional Activities
- Visit Monte Alban mountaintop temples and pre-Columbian ceremonial center
- 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 in Oaxaca to spend however you like. A cooking class is an option if you want to try your hand at local cuisine, or you could explore artisan stores in the markets and visit the historic Templo de Santo Domingo, a grand stone church. Later tonight, you'll board an overnight bus heading to San Cristobal de las Casas.
Optional Activities
- Take a cooking class in Oaxaca
- Explore artisan stores in markets and around town
- Visit Templo de Santo Domingo (historic stone church)
Landmarks/POIs Templo de Santo Domingo - Day 6
San Cristobal de las Casas
You'll arrive in San Cristobal de las Casas, a highland village with pastel-colored buildings, winding cobblestone streets, and pre-Hispanic roots. After settling in, your leader points out the main highlights during a morning orientation walk. Then visit the colorful Santo Domingo textile market to shop for jewelry and clothing, and explore local cafes or try pox, a traditional corn-based liquor.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in San Cristobal de las Casas
- Visit Santo Domingo textile market
Optional Activities
- Visit local cafes for baked goods
- Try pox (traditional corn-based liquor)
Landmarks/POIs Santo Domingo Market - Day 7
San Cristobal de las Casas
No early start today. Explore San Cristobal at your own pace, soaking in the cobblestone streets and old-world architecture mixed with pre-Hispanic influences. If you want adventure, take a boat trip down the Rio Grijalva through Sumidero Canyon, or explore nearby villages by mountain bike.
Optional Activities
- Explore cobblestone streets and architecture of San Cristobal
- Visit Sumidero Canyon and boat ride down Rio Grijalva
- Mountain bike exploration of nearby villages
Landmarks/POIs Sumidero Canyon Rio Grijalva - Day 8
San Cristobal de las Casas to Palenque
Head out from San Cristobal toward Palenque, a central town in a steamy jungle close to nearby Maya ruins. The afternoon is free to relax or wander around and check out the area.
Optional Activities
- Explore Palenque town
- Relax in the afternoon
- Day 9
Palenque
Visit the archaeological ruins of Palenque, impressive Maya structures dating back to around AD 600 sitting on a hilltop surrounded by thick jungle. During a self-guided walk among the temples, you'll hear howler monkeys and parrots calling from the forest. Many ruins remain unexcavated and hidden in the jungle. Guided tours or trips to a hidden jungle waterfall are available for an extra fee. Later, head to Misol-Ha waterfall for a refreshing time in nature.
Included Activities
- Palenque archaeological site entrance and access
- Misol-Ha waterfall visit
Optional Activities
- Guided tour of Palenque ruins (extra fee)
- Guided jungle tour to hidden waterfall (extra fee)
Landmarks/POIs Palenque Archaeological Zone Misol-Ha Waterfall - Day 10
Palenque to Campeche
Take a local bus to the coast and arrive in Campeche, a seaside town with colorful streets lined with multi-colored low-rise buildings. Your leader guides you through an orientation walk to get your bearings. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore on your own. For dinner, find fresh seafood almost anywhere in town, or try the local restaurants at Portales de San Martin.
Included Activities
- Leader-led orientation walk in Campeche
Optional Activities
- Explore Campeche's colorful streets
- Dine at seafood restaurants or Portales de San Martin
Landmarks/POIs Portales de San Martin - Day 11
Campeche to Valladolid
You're heading to Valladolid, known for its pastel-colored buildings. On the way, stop in Becal, called 'the Hat Town', where you'll meet an artisan who weaves traditional jipi hats. Learn how palm bunches are dried, dyed, and braided into beautiful hats by skilled artisans working in humidity-controlled caves. After arriving in Valladolid, visit a local market with your leader, then you'll have a free evening to explore the town.
Included Activities
- Visit Becal jipi hat artisan cave studio and meet weaver
- Valladolid local market visit with leader
Optional Activities
- Explore Valladolid in the evening
Landmarks/POIs Becal - Day 12
Valladolid
A free day to explore Valladolid and the surrounding area. Start with a morning walk around the city's nice streets, then head to one of the nearby cenotes like Xkeken, Samula, Nool-Ha, or Suytun. These natural swimming holes let you hang out in underground caves with huge stalactites above you, swimming in electric blue waters. Later, ask your leader for recommendations on the best local food spots for dinner.
Optional Activities
- Morning walk around Valladolid's streets
- Visit Xkeken cenote
- Visit Samula cenote
- Visit Nool-Ha cenote
- Visit Suytun cenote
Landmarks/POIs Xkeken Cenote Samula Cenote Suytun Cenote - Day 13
Valladolid to Playa del Carmen
This morning, visit Chichen Itza, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and the most important example of Maya and Toltec fusion in Yucatan. You'll see the Caracol stellar observatory, Great Ball Court, and El Castillo step pyramid. For lunch, enjoy a pibil feast with a local family, featuring traditional Maya cooking with food wrapped in banana leaves and barbecued underground. After that, swim at Yokdzonot cenote, developed by local Maya women as a sustainable community project. Later, continue to Playa del Carmen with clear waters and nice beaches. Your leader walks you around to get oriented, and you can relax, snorkel among mangroves or underground caverns, or stroll the white-sand beaches. End the day with seafood and margaritas with your group.
- Meals
- Lunch (Home-cooked pibil feast with local family in Piste (traditional Maya style cooking with food wrapped in banana leaves and barbecued underground))
Included Activities
- Chichen Itza archaeological site entrance and access
- Home-cooked pibil lunch with local family in Piste
- Yokdzonot cenote visit and swim
- Leader-led orientation walk in Playa del Carmen
Optional Activities
- Snorkel among mangroves in Playa del Carmen
- Snorkel in underground caverns
- Stroll white-sand beaches of Playa del Carmen
- Dine on seafood
- Enjoy margaritas with the group
Landmarks/POIs Chichen Itza El Castillo (Chichen Itza) Great Ball Court (Chichen Itza) Caracol (Chichen Itza) Yokdzonot Cenote - Day 14
Playa del Carmen
Your tour ends today, but you don't have to leave yet. With no planned activities, this is a good day to take a half-day tour south to Tulum archaeological site, positioned on a cliff overlooking turquoise Caribbean waters. Or spend more time in Playa del Carmen and contact your booking agent if you want to arrange extra accommodation.
Optional Activities
- Half-day tour to Tulum archaeological site
Landmarks/POIs Tulum Archaeological Site
