Mexico City to Riviera Maya: An Odyssey Through Mexican Wonders (Private / 15 Days)

Mexico City to Riviera Maya: An Odyssey Through Mexican Wonders (Private / 15 Days)
から USD $2,494.00
  • 期間: 15 日 (約)
  • 製品コード: PSP08W

Overview

Join our 15-day “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” tour to see the top natural & cultural attractions of 8 Mexican states. Start from metropolitan Mexico City and go all the way south crossing the whole country and finishing in paradisiacal Playa del Carmen.

Highlights

  • Get to know Mexico City – the largest city in Latin America and a world-class cultural hub.
  • Climb huge Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon in UNESCO-listed Teotihuacan.
  • See dinosaur footprints and hundred-year-old cacti in the Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve.
  • Have a swim and see the sunset in Hierve el Agua, a series of spectacularly sited mineral springs in Oaxaca.
  • Take a boat trip in awe-inspiring Sumidero Canyon to enjoy the sight of impressive waterfalls, enter mystical caves, and see the cliff where Chiapanec Warriors committed suicide instead of being force
  • Witness fascinating ancient rituals and beliefs blended with modern Christianity in San Juan de Chamula.
  • Admire the elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted reliefs with their Mayan mythological themes in Palenque.

Itinerary 

Day 1: Mexico City

Bienvenidos a la Ciudad de Mexico – the largest city in Latin America where ancient and modern coexist in harmony. The city is a world-class cultural hub that offers a huge variety of museums, galleries, and architectural gems, along with bustling nightlife and diverse gastronomic culture. Arrive on Saturday or some days before and take your time to explore this diverse city before meeting your group and Tour Leader on Saturday evening: informational meeting, welcome dinner & optional get-together with the rest of the group.

  • Transportation: walking
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
  • Meals Included: dinner
  • Activities Included: welcome meeting

Day 2: Mexico City

Join your Tour Leader and start “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” with a walking tour around the UNESCO-listed historic center of Mexico City and a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology. Then, choose by yourself what to do next  – your Tour Leader will be happy to give suggestions. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.

  • Transportation: walking, public transportation
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Mexico City
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: walking tour of the Historic Center of Mexico City; guided visit to the National Museum of Anthropology

Day 3: Mexico City – Teotihuacan – Puebla

In the morning go to UNESCO-listed Teotihuacán, a fabulous archaeological zone lies in a mountain-ringed offshoot of the Valle de México. The site of the huge Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, it was Mexico’s biggest ancient city and the capital of what was probably the country’s largest pre-Hispanic empire.

In the afternoon, after a walking tour and lunch in Teotihuacan, continue our “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” tour in Puebla. Once a bastion of conservatism and tradition, the city has come out of its colonial-era shell. Puebla retains a fantastically well-preserved center, a stunning cathedral, and a wealth of beautiful churches, while younger poblanos (people from Puebla) are embracing the city’s increasingly thriving art and nightlife scenes. Optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Puebla
  • Meals Included: breakfast, lunch
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Teotihuacan Archeological Zone, walking tour in Puebla

Day 4: Puebla – Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve – Oaxaca

After breakfast and checkout,  go to Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve. Located in a complex system of mountain ranges and valleys, this UNESCO-listed area generates great biodiversity and different ecosystems. The region has played an important role in the development of agriculture in Mesoamerica. Exploration by car and walking.

In the afternoon, move to Oaxaca City. A cultural colossus that fits to rival anywhere in Latin America for history, gastronomy, and colorful manifestations of indigenous culture, Oaxaca is a complex but intensely attractive city whose majestic churches and refined plazas have deservedly earned it a UNESCO World Heritage badge.

Optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B in Oaxaca
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Biosphere Reserve, walking tour in Oaxaca.

Day 5: Oaxaca – Monte Alban – Hierve el Agua – Mitla

In the morning, go to Monte Alban. Now an illustrious ruin, this former capital of the Zapotec empire served as the second-largest ceremonial site in Mesoamerica after Teotihuacan for over a thousand years. After exploring Monte Alban, move to Hierve el Agua. The location for some of the “Top posts” on Instagram, this series of spectacularly sited mineral springs is a great place to enjoy the impressive landscapes and sunsets.

Afterward, transfer to a nearby “Magical Town” of Mitla.  Orientation walk of the historic center, check-in, optional dinner & get-together with the group in one of the local restaurants.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house near Hierve el Agua
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visits to Monte Alban Archeological Zone and Hierve el Agua; orientation walk of Mitla

Day 6: Mitla – Puerto Arista

In the morning, move to Puerto Arista, a quiet regional beach town famous for its extensive golden-sand beaches. Once there, ride an ATV and enjoy the stunning sunset on the beach. Finally, join an optional dinner and get-together with your group in one of the local restaurants.

  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Puerto Arista
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: ATV ride on the beach in Puerto Arista

Day 7: Puerto Arista - Canyon Sumidero - Chiapa de Corzo

Enjoy the sea and sun in the morning and immerse yourself in the awe-inspiring Sumidero Canyon on a boat trip to enjoy the sight of impressive waterfalls, enter mystical caves and see the cliff where Chiapanec Warriors committed suicide instead of being forced to surrender to the Spanish Conquistadores. After that, head to Chiapa de Corzo, one of the most beautiful towns in Chiapas, it is well known for its warm people and colorful Renaissance architecture. In January, you can enjoy the Fiesta Grande, one of the most attractive events in the country, declared a UNESCO Intangible Heritage. Accommodation, orientation walk in a historic center, optional dinner & get-together with the group.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Chiapa de Corzo
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: boat tour in Sumidero Canyon; walking tour in Chiapa de Corzo

Day 8: Chiapa de Corzo – San Juan de Chamula – San Cristobal de las Casas

In the morning, move for an orientation walk and optional lunch to San Juan de Chamula, the center of strongly independent Tzotzil ethnic group famous for their unique religious practices. In the evening, arrive at San Cristobal de las Casas. Set in a gorgeous highland valley surrounded by pine forest, this beautiful colonial city has been a popular travelers’ destination for decades. Check-in, orientation walk, optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in San Cristobal de las Casas
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: orientation walks in San Juan de Chamula and San Cristobal de las Casas

Day 9: San Cristóbal de las Casas – Agua Azul & Misol-Ha Waterfalls – Palenque

In the morning, continue our “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” tour visiting 2 stunning waterfalls. First, see the unique cascading falls of Agua Azul, then swim in a mineral-rich pool beneath 35-meter-tall Misol-Ha. Hereafter, move to our last stop of the day – “Magical Town” of Palenque. Check-in, an orientation walk of the historic center of the town, and an optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house near Palenque
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visits to Agua Azul & Misol-Ha waterfalls; orientation walk of Palenque

Day 10: Palenque – Miguel Colorado Cenotes – Campeche

In the morning, after breakfast and check-out, go to explore the UNESCO-listed Palenque Archeological Zone. A prime example of a Mayan sanctuary of the classical period, it flourished between AD 500 and 700, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. In the afternoon, continue to Miguel Colorado – two large scenic cenotes with a spiffy new eco-center and a private nature reserve. Optional lunch, kayaking, swimming, zip-lining over one of the cenotes. There, we will also hike along hilly, rocky trails keeping an eye out for spider and howler monkeys.

Evening arrival, optional dinner & get-together in Campeche. A true historical fairyland, its UNESCO-listed colonial center represents a tight enclave of restored pastel buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, fortified ramparts, and well-preserved mansions. Check-in, an orientation walk of the historic center of the Campeche, and an optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.

  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Campeche
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Palenque, Miguel Colorado Cenotes (kayaking, swimming, zip-lining, monkey watching), orientation walk in Campeche

Day 11: Campeche – Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve – Celestun

In the afternoon,  after a visit to the 19th-century Fort of San Miguel in the suburbs of Campeche, continue our “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” tour in Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve. This UNESCO-listed protected area is a gift of great beauty where you can observe pink flamingos together with a wide variety of bird species in their natural habitat. Flamingos-watching boat tour, swimming in a local cenote, and transfer to the nearby beach town of Celestun. Check-in, an orientation walk of the town, optional dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Celestun
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Fort of San Miguel (Campeche); entrance and boat tour in Ria Celestun UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (flamingo watching + visit to cenote)

Day 12: Celestun – Chichen Itza – Cenote Ik Kil – Valladolid

In the morning, after breakfast and checkout, head for UNESCO-listed Chichen Itza. The most famous and best restored of the Yucatán Maya sites, it is considered one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Many mysteries of the Maya astronomical calendar are made clear when one understands the design of the ‘time temples’ here.

In the afternoon, continue to Ik Kil – arguably one of the most beautiful cenotes in Mexico that was considered sacred by the Mayans who performed here human sacrifices to their rain god. In fact, in order to reach the water, you have to climb down 26 meters. The water is 40 meters deep while its diameter is 60 meters. Evening arrival, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with the group in Valladolid. Once known as the Sultana of the East, Yucatán’s third-largest city is known for its quiet streets and sun-splashed pastel walls.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Valladolid
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included: guided visit to Chichen Itza; entrance to Cenote Ik Kil

Day 13: Valladolid – Tulum – Playa del Carmen

In the morning, after an orientation walk of Valladolid, go to explore Tulum – the only Mayan ruins located directly on the beach. Once there, you will earn the history behind this location as you will walk through different areas of the site. You can also walk down to the amazing beach and enjoy the white sand and turquoise water, see wild iguanas and beautiful tropical foliage.

In the afternoon, arrive in Playa del Carmen, an idyllic place located in the heart of the Riviera Maya with fine white sand and blue-green waters, where you will always find a hammock and an umbrella to sunbathe and rest, especially on the edge of town that offers the quietest beach areas. If you prefer action, in Playa del Carmen you will find water activities such as windsurfing, jet skis, kayaking, or diving in the impressive Mayan coral reef. Accommodation, orientation walk, optional dinner & get-together with the group.
  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Playa del Carmen
  • Meals Included: breakfast
  • Activities Included:  guided visit to Tulum Archeological Zone; orientation walk in Playa del Carmen

Day 14: Playa del Carmen

Free program: relax on the beach sipping a cocktail, try numerous outdoor activities (scuba diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, parasailing, ATV riding, etc.) or take a day trip to some of the nearby natural attractions or Mayan ruins. Optional farewell dinner & get-together with the group in the evening.

  • Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Playa del Carmen
  • Meals Included: breakfast

Day 15: Playa del Carmen

Last day of our “Mexico: North 2 South Adventures” tour. Choose by yourself when to leave – Cancun Airport is just 50 km away and is well served by taxis and buses.

  • Meals Included: breakfast

Notes

  • ACCOMMODATIONS: An exact list of accommodations is sent together with trip notes 2 weeks before the departure date. All accommodations are centrally located, tourist-class, locally-owned properties with private facilities in each room. We can arrange pre- & post-tour accommodations but not earlier than 2 weeks before the departure when we send you final trip notes.
  • ROOM TYPES:
    • Shared Twin Room: Single bed in a twin room shared with another co-traveler of the same gender. This option is specifically designed for solo travelers and applies just to group departures.
    • Double/Twin Room: Private room for 2 people. You can choose between 1 double bed or 2 single beds.
    • Triple Room: Private room for 3 people. It normally has 1 double bed for 2 people and 1 single bed for 1 person.
    • Quad Room: Private room for 4 people. It normally has 2 double beds for 2 people each.

    If none of the room types above fits you, please contact us and we will send you a personalized quote.

  • TRANSPORT: The type of vehicle depends on the size of the group and may include car, 7-seater, minivan.
  • FOOD: Meals and Gastronomic Experiences included in this tour can normally meet most of the common dietary restrictions. However, due to the active program of the tour and different menus in each place, satisfying a special diet or food preferences of a particular traveler will depend on circumstances and cannot be fully guaranteed.
  • PHYSICAL CONDITION: This tour involves a decent amount of walking & hiking. Therefore, travelers should have at least moderate physical fitness condition.
  • ACTIVITIES: Participation in all activities is optional – just be sure to be in time for daily departures. Most of the included activities such as walking tours (>2h, normally in historic centers of bigger cities), orientation walks (<2h, normally in smaller towns & villages), guided visits & hikes focus on local nature, history, culture & gastronomy and are led by a Tour Leader. You will receive suggestions for optional activities in trip notes. Extra day tours and activities can be booked by your Tour Leader for an extra fee.
  • GROUP VS. PRIVATE: Our multi-day tours offer both group and private departures (see pricing at checkout). Group tour – take a scheduled trip with other travelers. Private tour – take a trip on your own, with friends or family. Private tours are customizable (you can depart any day and we can add additional stops & activities on your request) and thus may cost more than group tours.
  • PRICING: * The price of the tour/person depends on the number of travelers and the room/tour option you choose.
  • VISA: All foreign visitors, regardless of their nationality, traveling to Mexico for tourism, business, or in transit to another destination, are exempt from presenting a Mexican visa as long as they have a valid visa issued by any of the following countries: Canada, Japan, the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any of the countries comprising the Schengen Area (more info).

Why go with us?

  • Small groups of up to 13 travelers: closer communication, easier coordination, more adventures & fun!
  • Off-the-beaten-track tours with maximum immersion in local nature, culture, and traditions.
  • The easy-going atmosphere of our tours is perfect for informal travel & making new friends among co-travelers and locals.