DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City

Arrive at Mexico City Airport where you will be met and transferred to this high altitude city, that is the oldest capital in the Americas and one of the largest cities in the world.

Check in to your hotel and embrace this colourful and vibrant city, originally established by the Aztec Indians (the 'Mexica').

Day 2: At Leisure

At leisure to independently explore the sights of colourful Mexico City, before joining your tour. The world class National Museum of Anthropology in Chapultepac Park is not to be missed, with its many ancient Olmec, Aztec, Mayan and other pre-Colombian artefacts - including the Stone of the Sun (the Aztec calendar stone) and the statue of Xochipilli. Chapultepec Castle is nearby.

The Palace of Fine Arts with its magnificent dome is well worth a visit, as well as the historic Frida Kahlo Art Museum (or Blue House) dedicated to her work. With its numerous world-class museums, dramatic art murals, thriving music scene and exploding culinary scene, in Mexico City you will be spoilt for choice.

You can also enjoy a boat ride on a colourful 'trajinera' through the canals and floating gardens of Xochimilco (meaning ‘Place of the Flowers’), a small village south of the city. These fertile riverbeds called 'chinampas' are all that is left of the lake on which the Aztecs first built their capital city, but are now used for growing flowers rather than food crops and will give you an interesting cultural glimpse into modern urban life.

Note: Try and avoid visiting museums on a Sunday, as they are free for locals so very crowded.

On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of similar quality.

Day 3: City Tour & Pyramids

Today your small group tour begins with a full day escorted tour of the highlights of Mexico City.

At the heart of the city is the Zócalo (or Plaza de la Constitución), a huge central square built by the conquering Spanish over the ceremonial centre of the vanquished Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. Ruins of the 13th century Templo Mayor can be seen here, as well as the baroque Metropolitan Cathedral built by the Spanish and the National Palace, which houses historic murals by the famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera. There is a dense concentration of museums and art galleries in this area.

West of the Zócalo the historic centre stretches through the main commercial district, past the National Art Museum to the Tower of Latin America skyscraper and the Palace of Fine Arts, with its magnificent Art Deco interior. Both overlook Alameda Central Park, which is the oldest public park in Mexico.

Leaving the city, we make a brief stop at the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe - one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites on the American continent.

After an included lunch, we continue 1 hour to the mysterious Teotihuacan Pyramids, ancient archaeological ruins that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This enormous city was built in 300 BC but was inexplicably abandoned centuries before the arrival of the Aztecs, who called it the ‘Birthplace of the Gods’. This is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Americas and includes the third largest pyramid in the world, constructed according to precise astronomical measurements and filled with sacrificial victims.

You can climb the magnificent Pyramids of the Sun and Moon and view the Butterflies Temple, the Avenue of the Dead and Temple of Quetzalcoatl. Admire the majestic plazas and stone temples, covered with stone statues and faded murals, before returning to Mexico City.

Day 4: Fly to Tuxtla Gutiérrez & transfer to San Cristobal

This morning we fly from Mexico City Airport to the state capital of Tuxtla Gutiérrez. Here you will be met and transferred 1.5 hours to San Cristobal de las Casas, one of Mexico's oldest colonial cities situated in the Central Highlands.

Along the way we stop at the Sumidero Canyon and enjoy a boat ride on the dam, where you may see crocodiles, monkeys and abundant birdlife. Lunch at a local restaurant is included today.

We continue to San Cristobal, which is also known by its native name of Jovel. Nestled in a small valley surrounded by hills, it is the cultural capital of the state of Chiapas.

Day 5: Indigenous Villages

This morning we explore the charming colonial city of San Cristobal de la Casas, which has a local market where hundreds of indigenous people sell their textiles and handicrafts. We admire the beautiful baroque Santo Domingo church, founded in 1547 and view the red-tiled houses and narrow winding streets.

We then head to two indigenous towns nearby. In San Juan Chamula we visit a church where the blending of pre-Hispanic traditions and Catholicism is evident in its rituals and where ceremonies are held to counter the influence of paganism.

The village of San Lorenzo Zinacantán is known for its traditional textiles and indigenous population. The men wear pink/red jackets with embroidery and tassels, and the women wear vivid pale blue shawls and navy skirts. Every day at midday, the women prepare a communal meal that the men eat in shifts.

In these villages you can see backstrap weaving, the making of tortilla and many other aspects of village life. You can enjoy a simple but tasty meal cooked on a hotplate over an open fire and sample local tortilla. If you are adventurous also try a shot of 'pox' - a very strong local alcohol made from sugarcane flavoured with cinnamon and hibiscus flower.  Lunch is for your own account today.

Note: Please be aware it is regarded as very disrespectful to take photographs of indigenous people without their permission. They are particularly sensitive to inappropriate dress, so don’t wear shorts or revealing clothing. In Chamula you are not allowed to take photos inside the church.

Day 6: Drive to Palenque

Today we leave San Cristobal and drive 5 hours along a mountain road to Palenque, the largest Mayan city ever discovered in Mexico, with some of the countries best Mayan temples.

Along the way we stop at the Agua Azul Waterfall (or 'Blue Water Fall'), with its turquoise waters and crystal clear swimming pools, where a boxed lunch is included. Here you can swim in its bright blue waters. The best time to see the blue glow that makes these waterfalls so remarkable is during the dry season (December to July), as at other times of the year the waters are not blue.

We continue to Palenque situated deep in the dense jungle far from the outside world, giving it a wonderful atmosphere.

Day 7: Palenque Ruins & Campeche

This morning we visit the famous Palenque Ruins enclosed by the Chiapanecan jungle, before driving 5 hours to the historic colonial port of Campeche.

Palenque is a relatively small archaeological site dating from around 226 BC to 799 AD, but it contains some of the finest architecture, sculpture, roof comb and bas-relief carvings that the Mayans ever produced and much of their history has been reconstructed from reading the hieroglyphic inscriptions on these monuments. The most famous ruler of Palenque was Pakal the Great, whose tomb containing his astonishing jade green death mask has been excavated in the Temple of the Inscriptions. Less than 10% of this ancient city has been excavated so far, leaving over a thousand structures still to be discovered.

Afterwards we drive through the pretty fishing village of Sabancuy to Campeche with its captivating port filled with naval history, baroque Spanish architecture and aging beauty. A restaurant lunch is included today.

Day 8: Travel to Merida

This morning we leave Campeche and travel 4 hours to Mérida, the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula since the Spanish conquest.

Along the way we stop at Uxmal (meaning 'built in three stages'), an ancient Mayan city known for its rounded architecture, intricate latticework and palaces arranged around patios and courtyards. These homes are richly sculptured and decorated with thousands of small polished stones, set in geometric mosaics. The key buildings on this archaeological site include the Fortune Teller’s Pyramid, the Governor’s Palace and the Quadrangle of the Nuns.

After an included lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Mérida - known as the 'White City' - the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula since the Spanish conquest. This is a town steeped in history with narrow streets, broad central plazas, thriving markets and the region’s best museums. It has colonial houses as well as houses that date back to the beginning of the last century in Arabic, French and Italian styles, thanks to wealth generated from the sisal trade. From Mérida’s Zócalo you can admire the city’s main monuments - the Cathedral, Government Palace, Municipal Palace and Francisco de Montejo’s House.

Day 9: Chichen Itza & Mayan Riviera

Today we leave Merida and drive 3.5 hours to Playa del Carmen on the spectacular Mayan Riviera.

Along the way we visit Chichen Itza (meaning 'Entrance to the Witches Well'), the most visited Mayan ruins in all of Mexico. It was the focal point of the Northern Mayan empire from AD 600 until AD 1200 and had an extremely diverse population, as a result of which you can see a wide variety of architectural styles at this site.

The most spectacular structure is El Castillo Pyramid (or Kukulcán Temple) with its rich cosmological symbolism - it has 365 steps (number of days in a solar year), 52 rectangles (years in a Mayan century) and 18 terraces (months of their religious calendar). During the spring and autumn equinox, its ingenious structure results in the sun creating the illusion of a serpent crawling down the steps of the pyramid - making it one of the great wonders of the ancient world. Other structures include the enormous Ball Court, the Observatory, Temple of a Thousand Columns, Warrior’s Temple, Convent of the Nuns, El Mercado (market place) and the Sacred Cenote (pool) where human sacrifices were carried out.

After an included lunch at Chichen Itza, we continue to your beach resort at Playa del Carmen, stopping along the way at the Cenote Saamal for a refreshing swim. You will then be dropped off at your hotel to relax on the shores of the Caribbean Sea with its warm turquoise waters, sandy beaches and wonderful snorkelling and diving.

Days 10 to 12: At Leisure

At leisure to relax at your tropical resort on the spectacular Mayan Riviera, lapped by the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

The Great Mayan Reef (Mesoamerican Barrier Reef) stretches from the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula to the islands off the coast of Honduras and is the largest coral reef in the northern hemisphere. Hundreds of species of fish and many endangered and protected marine animals are found here – including loggerhead, leatherback, green, hawksbill and Olive Ridley sea turtles, and West Indian manatees – making this a paradise for snorkelling and diving. It is possible to swim with whale sharks from June to September.

There are many optional activities in this holiday town, including day visits to snorkel at Xel-Ha waterpark (the largest natural aquarium in the world); zip-lining at Xplor adventure park; visits to the famous archaeological sites at Chichen Itza or Tulum; the Mayan caves in Aktun Chen; Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve and the Xcaret cultural theme park.

Try a Mayan spa treatment or simply stroll along the beach and absorb the holiday atmosphere of this town with its wide variety of bars, restaurants and shops.

Day 13: Fly Home

Transfer 1.5 hours to Cancun Airport for your flight home.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

PRICING

Price is based on two adults sharing en-suite accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. English speaking guide, all transfers and specified sightseeing are included. International and domestic flights are not included and will be quoted separately.

We offer a choice of hotels at different prices, so please discuss your requirements with us. All hotels are subject to availability.

It is essential that you have personal holiday insurance. The FCO should also be consulted.