Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights Tour by Intrepid Travel

8 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

12 peopleMaximum group size

15 - 99 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

Light physical activity suitable for most people with average fitness levels.

Starts

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Ends

Tulum, Mexico

Highlights

Visit the spectacular ruins of Chichen Itza (one of the new Seven Wonders of the World), Muyil and Tulum where your local leader and expert guides will bring thousands of years of Maya history to life.

Gain a deeper understanding of local life during an Exclusive Experience to the secluded Laguna Chabela Maya community, where you’ll learn how modern Maya people preserve the traditions of their ancestors and try your hand at making a tortilla before a delicious feast in the jungle.

Experience the old-world charm of your Feature Stay accommodation in Merida – a historic 17th century mansion turned boutique hotel with elegant decor and traditional touches.

Enjoy an Exclusive Experience at the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve – a bird-lover’s dream. Learn about conservation efforts while looking out for colourful flora and fauna on a boat ride and see the natural springs before stopping by the Gulf of Mexico for a swim.

Swim in a cenote, float down the crystal-clear Muyil canals created by the Maya over 1000 years ago and visit a laid-back beach club in Tulum to make the best of the Yucatan peninsula.

Itinerary

Discover the mesmerizing Yucatan Peninsula with the "Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights" tour, an 8-day journey that combines ancient wonders and culinary delights. Begin in Playa del Carmen and wind your way through vibrant Valladolid, mystical ruins like Teotihuacan and Mitla, and the white beaches of Tulum. Savor street food in Mexico City, enjoy a home-cooked Zapotecan meal, and attend artisan workshops for a hands-on cultural experience. With a gentle pace and expert local guidance, this trip is especially suited for those who appreciate both relaxation and discovery. The highlight? A feast for the senses, blending archaeological marvels with Mexico’s famed flavors and artisan traditions.

day 1 - Playa Del Carmen

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. Your adventure begins in Playa del Carmen – a coastal resort town on the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its turquoise waters and nightlife. You’ll be met at Cancun International Airport and transferred to your hotel. Here, you’ll meet your local leader and fellow group members at your welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you might like to stroll along pedestrian avenue while perusing handmade hammocks, jewellery and crafts. After your meeting, head into town for your first dinner in Mexico at a local restaurant.

included:Complimentary Arrival Transfer, Playa del Carmen - Welcome Dinner

accommodation:Fiesta Inn Playa del Carmen or similar

meals:1 Dinner

day 2 - Valladolid

After breakfast, depart Playa del Carmen and head to the secluded Laguna Chabela. Here, you’ll meet a local Maya family who have lived here for generations. Gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you walk through the low jungle full of medicinal plants, see what they grow and learn how they live off the land. Watch a demonstration on how to make delicious tortillas in the Coba style with the family matriarch then sit down to a traditional lunch prepared by hand using a mortar and pestle found in the nearby ruins, still used after 1000 years. You’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time, with stones from ancient Maya structures emerging from the jungle and the sounds of birds as your backdrop. In the afternoon, continue to the city of Valladolid, known for its pastel-coloured buildings. Set on the city’s main square, your hotel was converted from a 16th century house and offers a perfect base for your explorations.

included:Valladolid - Home-cooked lunch, Valladolid - Tortilla making demonstration, Valladolid - Mayan homestead visit

accommodation:Hotel El Meson del Marques or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 3 - Merida - Chichen Itza

This morning will be spent exploring the complex of Chichen Itza. Named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is considered the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilisation in Yucatan by UNESCO. Meet with a local guide for a tour to uncover the secrets of what is perhaps the most famous Maya site, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo – a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. After, you’ll have a home-cooked lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional Pibil feast – a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. After lunch, visit a local cenote for a swim. These limestone sinkholes were viewed by the Maya as doorways to the underworld. Continue to Merida – founded in 1542, this city is the Yucatan capital and retains much of its old-world charm. Your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three evenings is in the historic Hotel Casa Lucia. Spacious rooms feature traditional touches, surrounding a courtyard that features a swimming pool.

included:Chichen Itza - Cenote swim stop, Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch, Chichen Itza - Archaeological site with local guide

accommodation:Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 4 - Merida

This morning, you’ll join your leader on a walking tour of downtown Merida to learn more about the Maya heritage of the town. Visit the market for a look at local life and stop by the city museum, Montejo's House and the cathedral. Step inside the Palacio del Gobierno to admire the murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco – a famous Mexican artist from Merida. The paintings depict the history of the city and interactions between the Maya and the Spanish. The afternoon is free for further discoveries – you might like to relax in the green and shady Plaza Grande or browse the outdoor market selling Maya replicas. Regroup for dinner at a local restaurant serving up Yucatan specialties – the sopa de lima (lime soup) is especially delicious here.

included:Merida - Leader-led orientation walk

accommodation:Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 5 - Merida

After breakfast, you’ll head out for another Exclusive Experience at the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary. One of the first places migratory birds arrive for the winter, the reserve offers a birdwatching experience like no other. Tour the area by small boat while you learn about its unique flora and fauna. Look out for the Yucatan woodpecker, Mexican sheartail, tropical mockingbird and depending on the season (usually December to March), you might witness the thousands of flamingos streaking across the landscape. Hop off the boat for a quick walk to view bubbling springs then cruise back through the mangrove canals. Stop in a fishing town for some time for lunch – maybe grab some fresh seafood and eat it with your toes in the sand. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico before returning to Merida for a free afternoon.

included:Merida - Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve tour

accommodation:Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar

meals:1 Breakfast

day 6 - Tulum

Depart Merida this morning and head towards Muyil, stopping off for lunch in the village of Coba. Continue to the virtually unknown Muyil Archaeologic Site – this ancient Maya trading post is one of the oldest once-inhabited sites in the country, with a history stretching back to 350 BC. Explore the ruins with your leader who will explain what life here once looked like. Next, head to the banks of the Maya River and board a small boat to explore the canals and lagoons of the Sian Ka'an biosphere. One of the largest protected areas in Mexico, this UNESCO World Heritage site covers more than 400,000 hectares of land, lagoon and marine areas, including countless flora and fauna. You’ll be joined by guides from the local community who will help you get the most out of this experience. Admire the ruins on the riverbanks before disembarking in the waters of the ancient Mayan mangrove canals, where you’ll experience a natural ‘lazy river’ and float through the peaceful canals in a slow but steady current. After 45 minutes of floating, carry on to Tulum.

included:Tulum - Muyil river float, Tulum - Muyil archaeological site with local guide

accommodation:Aloft Tulum or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch

day 7 - Tulum

In the morning, head to the Tulum archaeological site and learn about the history of the ruins and their views of the ocean. One of the last cities built by the Maya, your leader will paint a picture of how life played out here as you explore the complex against the ocean backdrop. Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun at a beach club, where you can swim in the Caribbean Sea or nap in a comfortable lounge chair. Tonight, dine at one of Tulum’s best restaurants. With laid back vibes and inspired by the freshest local produce and seafood, this final dinner with your newfound friends will certainly be one to remember.

included:Tulum - Archaeological site visit, Tulum - Farewell Dinner, Tulum – Beach Club Visit

accommodation:Aloft Tulum or similar

meals:1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner

day 8 - Tulum

Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend some more time in Tulum, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

meals:1 Breakfast

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What's Included

Accommodation

Comfortable Hotel (4 nights), Feature Stay (3 nights)

Meals

7 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches

Transport

Private vehicle, Boat

Guide

An expert tour leader

Included Activities

Complimentary Arrival TransferPlaya del Carmen - Welcome DinnerValladolid - Home-cooked lunchValladolid - Tortilla making demonstrationValladolid - Mayan homestead visitChichen Itza - Cenote swim stopChichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunchChichen Itza - Archaeological site with local guideMerida - Leader-led orientation walkMerida - Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve tourTulum - Muyil river floatTulum - Muyil archaeological site with local guideTulum - Archaeological site visitTulum - Farewell DinnerTulum – Beach Club Visit

What's Excluded

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