Day 4

Izamal “Yellow City” & Merida City private group tour

*Today, we will tour 2 main Cities of Yucatan; Izamal “Yellow City” and Merida, capital of the Estate of Yucatan.

Our journey will start visiting Izamal, one of the most photogenic Towns in Mexico. During the walking tour, we will visit its most emblematic buildings, San Antonio de Padua Convent and Kinich Kakmó Pyramid.

Izamal before the Spanish conquest was probably one of the biggest Mayan cities in Yucatan. Today, remains of five major temples can still be seen. The city has been called "city of hills", which is in reference to the temples resembling artificial mountains. Although very important pre-Columbian monuments of Izamal were destroyed or occupied by Spaniards, The temple of Kinich Kakmó still stands. We will reach the top of this Temple, where most of the city can be seen from there.

Our tour will continue visiting San Antnio de Padua convent, one of the main attractions and the most photographed site of Izamal. In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited the city as part of a Mexican tour , and some residents say the convent gained its signature colours to honour the Vatican flag.

We will make a stop for lunch (not included) in a local restaurant, to continue our way to Merida City where we will have a short tour at arrival.

After a day full of Spanish – Mexicans history, our tour will end with drop off at the hotel in Merida.

Overnight: Hotel in Merida
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in Valladolid

Day 5

Celestun Flamingo & crocodile private group boat tour

*Enjoy an extraordinary “nature” journey in Celestun Biosphere Reserve. During the tour you will discover one of the most mysterious lagoons of Mexico, also known as “the sanctuary of the pink flamingo”, surrounded by the mangroves and home of uncountable species of birds. Here, we will enjoy the boat ride watching the flamingos and the local flora and fauna including crocodiles.
Our tour continues to “Ojo de Agua”, natural swimming pool, similar to cenotes where we will have time to enjoy swimming for some minutes in their clear warm waters.
Our next stop, Celestun beach, right place for lunch (not included) with the catch of the day; a couple of ours to swim or explore the surrounding areas at your own pace. Transfer back to hotel in Merida.

Overnight: Hotel in Merida
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in Merida.

Day 6

Uxmal private group tour

*Today, have a great day touring one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Mexico, Uxmal. It is situated within a series of hills known as the Puuc or “mountainous area”. The name was later given to describe the architectural style of the region, such as the colossal Magicians Pyramid, impressive Governors Palace, intricate Dove’s Temple, and grand Nuns Quadrangle part of this amazing site..
The archaeological structures and buildings located throughout Uxmal are ornamented with geometrical figures and masks of the God of the rain, Chaac, considered by the Mayas as one of their most important of deities.

We will enjoy lunch (drinks not included) in a local restaurant. To proceed with transfer to the hotel in Campeche.

Overnight: Hotel in Campeche
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in Merida.

Day 7

Palenque private group tour

*We will tour one of the most important and famous archaeological sites of Mexico, Palenque. It is considered to be one of the most fascinating and mysterious cities of the ancient Mayas whose science, astronomy, architecture and religion amaze people even in the XXI century.

During this tour, our experienced tour guide will share with you Palenque history, rise and fall. Palenque is smaller than Chichen Itza, but it contains some of the finest architecture, sculpture, roof comb and bas-relief carvings that the Mayas produced. Much of the history of Palenque has been reconstructed from reading the hieroglyphic inscriptions on the many monuments; historians now have a long sequence of the ruling dynasty of Palenque.

Among others, we will see “the Palace”, The Temple of Inscriptions, The temples of the Sun and the Temple XIII which is adjacent to the Temple of Inscriptions. In 1994 a door was found that led to an underground temple, with three rooms. In the middle room was a sarcophagus which was painted with cinnabar to give it a red colour, inside the sarcophagus was the remains of a woman who became known as the Red Queen.

The site also incorporates a museum containing some of the artefacts found on the site and a reconstruction of the tomb of Pacal as the tomb itself was closed to visitor.

Our tour will end with private group transfer to Palenque downtown.

Overnight: Hotel in Palenque
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in Campeche.

Day 8

La Venta “Olmeca” Museum Park tour

*Enjoy an extraordinary day visiting La Venta Museum Park, a symbol of the Olmeca culture.

La Venta is a pre-Columbian archaeological site of the Olmec civilization located in the the state of Tabasco. They were one of the first and most important civilizations to develop in the Americas; and it is believed it was a civic and ceremonial center.

La Venta Museum Park was created in 1958, when petroleum exploration threatened the ancient Olmec settlement of La Venta archaeological site in western Tabasco. Archaeologists moved the site’s most significant finds, including the three most famous and representative colossal stone heads, to this unique Museum Park. Besides those, we will admire 33 megalithic stone structures that have been erected in this park.

During our walking tour, our licenced experience tour guide will share with you the history, myths and facts of this amazing Mexican civilization.

In the park is home of flora and fauna from this tropical area; among others, we can see spider monkeys and jaguars.

Our tour will end with group transfer to San Cristobal de las Casas.

Overnight: Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in Palenque.

Day 9

San Juan Chamula, Zinacantan
&
San Cristobal de las Casas private group tour

*Enjoy an amazing day getting to know “Tzotzil indigenous communities” traditions and lifestyle, “different” to everything else you have seen.

Our tour will start visiting San Juan Chamula; at arrival, we will visit the emblematic church of San Juan, which is considered one of the most enigmatic in the country for its religious syncretism. Chamula boasts a wariness towards outsiders, a penchant for fascinating ancient rituals and beliefs blended with modern Christianity. Religion, politics and rituals are deeply intertwined; the community leaders are also spiritual leaders & healers. Chamula is one of Mexico’s few autonomous townships, with a startlingly high indigenous population – some 99.5% of the residents speak an indigenous language. It is one of the most visited Tzotzil towns in Mexico.

Our journey will continue visiting Zinacantan, community of traditional weavers. In this town, we will visit a traditional weavers´ house where we will see the process of weaving in a waist loom of pre-Hispanic origin. Here, the group will have the opportunity to eat traditional tacos prepared with handmade corn tortillas; the tortillas might be of different colours (blue, white, brown) depending artisans' the kind of corn used to prepare them. These tortillas are cooked in the “comal” traditional Mexican “tool” to cook tortillas. And of course, you will prepare your own taco with cheese, frijoles, salsa, “chorizo”, etc.

Finally, we will return to San Cristobal de las casas where we will take a tour through the historic center of the city, to see the most representative churches, as well as the artisans' market and Amber Museums, where we will learn about the “art” of this precious and amazing material.

Overnight: Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas

Day 10

Cañon del Sumidero (Sumidero Canyon) boat tour
Tuxtla Gutierrez – Cancun direct flight (Not included)

Today, our journey will continue with Cañon del Sumidero boat tour; one of the most beautiful Canyons in the world!

At early arrival to to Chiapa de Corzo “Embarcadero” (boats terminal), we will get on board a boat to admire the amazing and impressive geological feature and national park.

The canyon began to form around 70 million years ago due to tectonic activity in what was then an underground area. Only Grijalva river flows through the canyon now, providing a habitat for families of crocodiles and an attractive counterpoint to the steep rock walls of the canyon.

Sumidero Canyon is a premier example of mother nature’s wrath. This inexplicable testament to the power of water will blow your mind. Near-vertical walls rise more than 2,500 feet (800 meters) overhead. Monkeys, crocodiles, and birds of all sorts can be spotted in the numerous jungle patches along the shoreline. If you enjoy witnessing amazing natural wonders, you will love taking a Sumidero Canyon boat trip.

At the end of the boat tour, we will enjoy early lunch (not included) in a local restaurant next to the river.

Our tour will finish with transfer to Tuxtla Gutierrez Airport for domestic direct flight (not included) at 18:17 hrs. (except on Thursdays) to arriva at 21:00 hrs. Cancun International Airport. Once we get to Cancun, the group will be transferred to the hotel in Playa del Carmen

Overnight: Hotel in Playa del Carmen Downton (Beach hotel +€)
Meals: Continental breakfast in hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas.

Day 11 & 12

Playa del Carmen free days at leisure

These days, relax on the white sandy beaches in Playa del Carmen. Forget about schedules and enjoy the day, the sun, the beach and your loved ones.

Overnight: Hotel in Playa del Carmen Downtown (Beach hotel + €)
Meals: Continental breakfast

Day 13

Departure from Cancun International Airport

Private group transfer to Cancun International airport for departure (Suggested late night flight departure to enjoy the beach as much time as possible). Overnight in the flight to Europe

Meals: Continental breakfast

Day 14

Arrival in Europe

Home arrival in Europe

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