Itinerary
- Day 1
Airport Arrival
Your guide will meet you at the airport and take you directly to the hotel for check-in. This gives you time to settle in and get your bearings before the tour officially starts.
- Day 2
Mexico City
Meet up with your guide at 08:30 to start exploring Mexico City's main attractions. You'll see colonial buildings at the Colegio de San Ildefonso and Plaza Santo Domingo, then head to the floating gardens of Xochimilco. Later in the day, the Anthropological Museum rounds out the experience with displays of pre-Hispanic artifacts and cultural heritage.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Colegio de San Ildefonso
- Visit Plaza Santo Domingo
- Visit Xochimilco
- Visit Anthropological Museum
Landmarks Colegio de San Ildefonso Plaza Santo Domingo Xochimilco Anthropological Museum - Day 3
Mexico City - Puebla
Start by visiting the two basilicas dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe and walk through their gardens. After that, you'll travel to the Teotihuacán pyramid complex outside Puebla, one of the largest pre-Hispanic cities in the Americas. Walk the famous Street of the Dead and get a sense of how massive this ancient site really was.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit the two basilicas of the Virgin of Guadalupe
- Visit basilica gardens
- Visit pyramid complex of Teotihuacán
Landmarks Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Teotihuacán Street of the Dead - Day 4
Puebla
Begin early with a hike up La Malinche volcano starting at 3,100 m altitude. A local guide leads the way and shares knowledge about medicinal herbs found along the route. The hike adjusts to your fitness level and weather conditions. Once you're done, explore Puebla's colonial center with its distinctive Talavera tiles, colorful buildings, cathedral, and Plaza de la Constitución.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Hike La Malinche volcano
- Tour center of Puebla
- Visit cathedral
- Visit Plaza de la Constitución
Landmarks La Malinche Puebla Cathedral Plaza de la Constitución - Day 5
Puebla - Oaxaca
Hike through the Zapotitlán Salinas biosphere reserve, known for its striking cactus landscape. Along the way, you'll sample traditional dishes made with cactus. From there, travel to Oaxaca and check into your accommodation for the next part of the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional cactus dishes)
Included Activities
- Hike through Zapotitlán Salinas biosphere
- Taste traditional cactus dishes
Landmarks Zapotitlán Salinas - Day 6
Oaxaca
Head to the pre-Hispanic ruins of Monte Albán, built on an artificially flattened ridge and serving as the ceremonial center of the Zapotec civilization. Then visit the Museo Cultural de Oaxaca to see impressive Mixtec gold works. Finish with a walking tour through Oaxaca's colonial center, wandering the lively markets, cobblestone streets, and checking out the magnificent church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Monte Albán ruins
- Visit Museo Cultural de Oaxaca
- Tour center of Oaxaca
- Visit church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
- Visit Zócalo
- Visit colorful markets
Landmarks Monte Albán Museo Cultural de Oaxaca Church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán Zócalo of Oaxaca - Day 7
Oaxaca - Santa María del Tule - Mitla
Visit Santa María del Tule to see the Ahuehuete tree, one of the largest and oldest trees in the world at 2,000 years old with a 58 m circumference. Later, explore the ruins of Mitla, the ancient Zapotec religious center with its impressive pre-Hispanic architecture and the famous Patio de las Grecas featuring distinctive column designs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Santa María del Tule and the Ahuehuete tree
- Visit Mitla ruins
- Visit Patio de las Grecas
Optional Activities
- Hike 8.2 km on Needa Queta Miru trail in Pueblos Mancomunados (connecting Zapotec communities of Benito Juárez and La Nevería at altitudes 2,000 to 3,200 m; may encounter motorized vehicles)
Landmarks Santa María del Tule Ahuehuete Tree Mitla Patio de las Grecas - Day 8
Oaxaca - Tehuantepec
Stop at Playa Cangrejo on the Pacific coast for fresh seafood at a beachfront Las Palapas hut, and take a swim if you'd like. Then move on to the small town of Tehuantepec, starting at the Casa de la Cultura, visiting the cathedral and the Zócalo, and browsing the colorful market with regional produce and goods run by the strong women of the community.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Stop at Playa Cangrejo
- Visit Tehuantepec
- Visit Casa de la Cultura
- Visit cathedral
- Visit Zócalo
- Visit colorful market
Optional Activities
- Swim in the Pacific (weather permitting)
Landmarks Playa Cangrejo Tehuantepec Casa de la Cultura - Day 9
Tehuantepec - San Cristóbal de las Casas
Take a boat through Sumidero Canyon and the deeply carved Rio Grijalva gorge with steep walls rising to 1,000 m. You'll see dramatic waterfalls, tropical vegetation, and wildlife like crocodiles, toucans, pelicans, and herons. After the boat trip, travel to San Cristóbal de las Casas at 2,133 m altitude and visit the cathedral and Iglesia del Convento Santo Domingo church.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip through Sumidero Canyon
- Boat trip on Rio Grijalva
- Visit San Cristóbal de las Casas cathedral
- Visit Iglesia del Convento Santo Domingo
Landmarks Sumidero Canyon Rio Grijalva Sumidero National Park San Cristóbal de las Casas Cathedral Iglesia del Convento Santo Domingo - Day 10
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Visit the Mayan village of Chamula, where Catholicism and Mayan rituals blend uniquely in the church's interior with no seating and pine needles on the floor. Families and healers perform ceremonies throughout. Hike from Chamula to Zinacantán through forests and fertile valleys with vegetable and spice fields. In Zinacantán, see the colonial church and meet three sisters in their weaving workshop where you'll learn about traditional weaving and local life over tortillas.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chamula village
- Visit Chamula church
- Hike from Chamula to Zinacantán
- Visit Zinacantán colonial church
- Visit weaving workshop
- Experience with three sisters
Landmarks Chamula Chamula Church Zinacantán Zinacantán Colonial Church - Day 11
San Cristóbal de las Casas - Villahermosa - Palenque
Travel toward Palenque with a stop in Villahermosa to see La Venta Park, an open-air museum with impressive Olmec sculptures and information about one of Mesoamerica's oldest cultures. Continue on to Palenque and settle into your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit La Venta Park
- View Olmec sculptures
Landmarks La Venta Park 
- Day 12
Palenque
Explore the Palenque ruins and hike to Templo Olvidado, a remote temple deep in the jungle with a mystical atmosphere. Then head to Roberto Barrios waterfalls roughly 40 km south, where spectacular cascades drop over terraces for several hundred meters in the subtropical jungle. Swim in the turquoise rock pools and experience this green oasis that blends adventure with relaxation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Palenque ruins
- Hike to Templo Olvidado
- Visit Roberto Barrios waterfalls
- Swim in rock pools
Landmarks Palenque Templo Olvidado Roberto Barrios Waterfalls - Day 13
Palenque - Calakmul
Travel to the Rio Bec region to see the remarkable Mayan ruins of Chicannà, about 300 km from Campeche. These ruins have unique identical twin towers on pyramidal bases topped with temple-like structures that you can't actually climb, a style of pure mock architecture found only in this region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chicannà Mayan ruins
- View twin tower complexes
Landmarks Chicannà - Day 14
Calakmul
Visit the ruins of Becán in Campeche state, which has the oldest architectural defense system in Mexico. Check out the palace with its darkened inner rooms and the well-preserved mask of the sun god Kinichna. After that, hike through rainforest to the Mayan city of Calakmul on the Guatemala border where you might spot rare jaguars and pumas, climb ancient pyramids, and see panoramic jungle views.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Becán ruins
- Visit palace
- Hike through rainforest to Calakmul
- Climb ancient pyramids
- View panoramic vistas
Landmarks Becán Calakmul - Day 15
Calakmul - Campeche
Visit the ruins of Edzná in northwest Campeche, roughly 60 km from the capital. This site became a power center in 400 BC, dominating large parts of the Yucatán. The main attraction is the distinctive five-storey building, one of the most interesting structures in Mayan culture. Then explore the walled city of Campeche, once protected from pirates, touring its restored colonial buildings, Zócalo, and La Concepción Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Edzná ruins
- View five-storey building
- Tour Campeche
- Visit colonial buildings
- Visit Zócalo
- Visit La Concepción Cathedral
Landmarks Edzná Five-Storey Building of Edzná Campeche Zócalo La Concepción Cathedral - Day 16
Campeche - Mérida
Explore Uxmal, the thrice-built Mayan city constructed between 600-950 AD with ornate facades, huge terraces, squares, columns, and archways whose significance is still being deciphered. Travel to colonial Mérida, founded in 1542 and the economic and cultural heart of Yucatán. Visit the cathedral, Palacio Municipal, Casa de Montejo, and walk the charming streets with their Spanish and French influences.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Ecotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Uxmal ruins
- Visit Mérida cathedral
- Visit Palacio Municipal
- Visit Casa de Montejo
- Tour center of Mérida
Landmarks Uxmal Mérida Cathedral Palacio Municipal Casa de Montejo Paseo de Montejo 
- Day 17
Mérida
Head to Chichén Itzá, one of the most important Mayan centers. Explore the massive 30 m high pyramid El Castillo and the observatory El Caracol where Mayan astronomers tracked Venus. Later, relax at Yokdzonot cenote, a reopened site with a beautiful oval body of water surrounded by 18 m vertical walls covered in mangrove roots. You can swim or zip-line across the cenote, then enjoy a traditional Mayan meal at the cooperative restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Chichén Itzá
- Visit El Castillo
- Visit El Caracol observatory
- Visit Yokdzonot cenote
- Swim in cenote
Optional Activities
- Zip-line over cenote
- Enjoy meal at restaurant (traditional Mayan food prepared by cooperative women at fair prices)
Landmarks Chichén Itzá El Castillo El Caracol Yokdzonot Cenote - Day 18
Mérida - Tulum
Travel to Tulum, the Mayan rock fortress dramatically set on the Caribbean coast. Explore the ruins of this great Mayan city, including the palace, Templo del Dios Descendente, and Templo de los Frescos. Tulum's appeal comes from its striking setting where ancient ruins blend right into white sand beaches and turquoise waters.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Tulum Mayan fortress ruins
- Visit Templo del Dios Descendente
- Visit Templo de los Frescos
Optional Activities
- Transfer on request to individual extension in Tulum and surrounding area
Landmarks Tulum Templo del Dios Descendente Templo de los Frescos - Day 19
Tulum - Departure
Enjoy your morning at your own pace with no structured activities scheduled. Later in the day, transfer to the airport for your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
