Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera

5.0Based on

Carbon neutral

14 daysDuration

Small Group TourUsually 8-12 participants, maximum 18 travelers

18 peopleMaximum group size

18 - 39 yearsAge range for participants

EnglishGuide language

Easy

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

Starts

Mexico City, Mexico

Ends

Tulum, Mexico

Highlights

Hop on a boat tour and cruise through Sumidero Canyon.

Listen for howler monkeys as you explore the Mayan ruins of Palenque in the jungle.

Go for a dip in the Lagoon of the Seven Colours at Bacalar.

Take a guided tour of Chichen Itzá

Itinerary

Ready for an adventure that’s equal parts ancient wonder and modern energy? Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera is a spirited 14-day explorer tour crafted for young adults hungry for vibrant experiences and cultural immersion. Beginning in Mexico City and culminating on the pristine shores of Tulum, this trip guides you through a kaleidoscope of destinations including Valladolid, Palenque, and Oaxaca, with every leg offering something new to savor.

You’ll indulge in Mexico’s famed cuisine—think endless tacos and rich mole—while uncovering dramatic landscapes, from jungle waterfalls to epic mountain scenery. Stand in awe at legendary Mayan sites like Palenque and Chichen Itzá, then immerse yourself in local traditions and community life. The tour’s easy activity rating means there’s plenty of time for spontaneous exploration, late-night adventures, and connecting with fellow travelers.

A standout feature of this tour package is its seamless blend of historical depth and lively social atmosphere. Whether you’re swapping stories over street food or wandering ancient ruins, you’ll find yourself surrounded by some of the friendliest people imaginable.

If you crave a trip that’s as flavorful and diverse as Mexico itself, this journey delivers non-stop highlights, unforgettable sights, and a contagious sense of fun—making it the perfect getaway for those who want more than just a vacation, but a true Mexican adventure.

day 1 - Mexico City

Arrive at any time.

Accomodation:Hotel Benedicta (or similar)

Included Activities:Connect With New Friends, Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Duration : 1.0 hr

day 2 - Mexico City

Start the adventure off with a CEO-led walking tour through La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. Stroll past bohemian cafes, bars, and restaurants. Your CEO will grab some street food snacks for the group ranging from street tacos to chilaquiles. Savour whatever you sample as you continue to get to know the area. Finish up the tour near the giant Bosque de Chapultepec. Then, spend the afternoon trying out the optional activities in the area like a visit to the ruins of Teotihuacán.

Accomodation:Hotel Benedicta (or similar)

Included Activity:Mexico City Walking Tour

Optional Activities:Teotihuacán Pyramids Visit

day 3 - Mexico City/Oaxaca

Hit the road and travel south to Oaxaca from Mexico City. Once the group arrives we will head out for an orientation walk to the main square and some of the nearby markets. Soak in your first experience of the vibrant culture in Oaxaca. Enjoy a free evening to do as you please. Perhaps, find a lively restaurant and give your tastebuds something to dance about.

Accomodation:Hostal Don Nino (or similar)

Transport:Local Bus Duration : 6.0 hr - 7.0 hr Distance : 470 km

Included Activity:Orientation Walk

day 4 - Oaxaca

Today, enjoy a free Day for optional activities in Oaxaca until late afternoon. Explore local taverns, discover the vibrant indigenous culture in the area, sample food from lively markets, try mole, and mezcal and fully experience the allure of this Mexican city. Later your CEO will accompany the group to the market where you can try a tlayuda, a toasted tortilla with tons of different toppings like refried beans, shredded cabbage, salsa, meat, and cheese. Cap off the Day with a visit to a local chocolate-making shop and a free evening to keep the adventure going.

Accomodation:Hostal Don Nino (or similar)

Included Activity:Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO

Optional Activities:Monte Albán Tour The max price includes a tour guide. , Hierve el Agua Day Trip Begin this activity in the morning with included transport to Hierve el Agua. This stunning natural formation consists of a series of mineral pools near the edge of a cliff. Over thousands of years, the heavily calcified water has flowed over the cliff, leaving mineral deposits as it goes. The result is known as a "petrified waterfall" – nearly white rock formations that resemble a cascading fall. Upon arrival, enjoy a few hours of free time to explore the area and perhaps go for a swim in one of the mineral pools. Then, travel to a Mezcalería for a tour of the distillery which includes an explanation of the production process of mezcal and a tasting. The group will return to Oaxaca in the late afternoon. Please note these approximate travel times below: Oaxaca to Hierve el Agua - Between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 2 hours Hierve el Agua to Mezcalería- 1 hour Mezcalería to Oaxaca - 45 minutes., Cooking Class Test out your culinary skills and learn to make traditional Oaxacan cuisine. The teacher will teach the class to create authentic dishes that can be replicated at home, when you're finished dig in and enjoy your dish!, Valley of Mitla Ruins Visit The UNESCO World Heritage site of Mitla is 38km (24 mi) from Oaxaca. Its name derives from the Nahuatl language, meaning “Place of the Dead”. Occupied from 900 BC by the Zapotecs and then the Mixtecs, the ruin features five groups of structures on either side of the Mitla River. Look for ancient cut-stone mosaics and intricate stone carvings throughout. The region is also famous for its hand-dyed, foot-loomed woven rugs.

day 5 - Oaxaca/San Cristóbal

The group will have additional free time today in Oaxaca for other optional activities. Afterwards, visit the Alebrijes Artisan Community for your G for Good moment. Meet a local artisan, speak with them, ask any questions the group may have, and learn more about how these handicrafts are made. In the evening board and overnight bus to San Cristobal.

Transport:Overnight Bus Duration : 8.0 hr - 9.0 hr Distance : 570 km

Included Activities:Alebrijes Artisan Community Workshop

day 6 - San Cristóbal

Arrive early to Tuxtla Gutierrez, which is a city in southern Mexico and the capital of Chiapas. The group will travel by private bus to Sumidero Canyon for an included boat ride down the river. The trip is a few hours long and will take you through the canyon with some of the walls towering 2,500 feet above you. It’s sure to make you feel small. Keep a lookout for the wildlife in the area and try to spot caves as you journey on. Afterwards, continue on to San Cristobal de las Casas where you will stop for the evening.

Meal:Breakfast

Accomodation:Hotel San Martin (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 0.5 hr Distance : 20 km, Private Vehicle Duration : 2.0 hr - 2.5 hr Distance : 90 km

Included Activity:Sumidero Canyon Duration : 3.0 hr

day 7 - San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal de Las Casas is located in a high mountain valley at 2110m (6921 ft). Enjoy a free Day to experience this city known for its 16th-century architecture. Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day, or visit Lagunas de Montebello National Park and the group of beautiful lakes near the Guatemalan border. You have a full Day to do as you please and there are plenty of activities to try out.

Accomodation:Hotel San Martin (or similar)

Included Activity:San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time

Optional Activities:Lagunas de Montebello Visit , Indigenous Villages Tour Visit the communities of San Juan Chamula and Zinancantán with a local guide and learn about this unique way of life. Visit the main plaza and places of worship to better understand the life of the local Tzotzil people. Buy carpets, textiles and hand-made "Zapatista" dolls made to honour former rebel leader, Subcomandante Marcos. Please be respectful when taking photographs here, it's not always welcomed by the residents.

day 8 - San Cristóbal/Palenque

Get ready for a full Day of travel from San Cristóbal de Las Casas to Palenque. Along the way the group will stop to swim in the pristine turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios waterfall. Arrive to Palenque in the evening.

Accomodation:Hotel Maya Tulipanes (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 5.0 hr - 6.0 hr Distance : 215 km

Included Activity:Roberto Barrios Waterfalls

day 9 - Palenque

Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Mayan ruins of Palenque followed by free time for an optional jungle trail hike, or just relax at the hotel keeping an eye out for nearby birds and wildlife.

Accomodation:Hotel Maya Tulipanes (or similar)

Included Activity:Palenque Ruins Guided Tour Duration : 2.0 hr - 3.0 hr

Optional Activities:Jungle Trail Hike Only two percent of the ruins in the Mayan capital of Palenque are out in the open. Follow a local guide into the jungle along a trail, visit ruins that are now overgrown with moss and vines. Learn about the wildlife and different medicinal trees and plants that grow in and around the Usumancinta River of this mountainous forest area of Chiapas.

day 10 - Palenque/Bacalar

Spend the Day travelling to Bacalar in the eastern part of Mexico from Palenque. Sit back as the scenery changes outside your window and rest up for the next part of the trip.

Accomodation:Bacalar Magico Hotel (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 7.0 hr - 8.0 hr Distance : 487 km

day 11 - Bacalar

Spend a full free Day enjoying optional activities in the area, or just relax and keep the good vibes going.

Accomodation:Bacalar Magico Hotel (or similar)

Optional Activities:Kayaking Throw on a lifejacket and paddle the pale blue waters of Laguna Bacalar. Bring a camera to capture the surreal beauty of the mineral-infused lake. , Fortress Exploration Built in 1729, the San Felipe Bacalar fort was built by the Spanish hoping to fend off further pirate attacks. See the original stone walls, with canons facing out to the sea. The fort is built in the form of a four-pointed star and is surrounded by a moat.

day 12 - Bacalar/Valladolid

The group is in for a treat this morning with an included boating adventure in the lagoon. In the afternoon it’s onward to Valladolid. Travel north and inland from Bacalar to a city on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Upon arrival your CEO will lead you on an orientation walk of the small Mayan town filled with quaint taverns, vibrant indigenous culture, and loads of street food vendors. Smell the delicious aromas as you walk and sample a few snacks along the way.

Accomodation:Hotel Santa Ana (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 4.0 hr Distance : 270 km

Included Activities:Boat Trip Laguna Bacalar, CEO-led Orientation Walk

day 13 - Valladolid/Tulum

After a short, but sweet visit in Valladolid the group will travel to the Chichen Itzá ruins for a guided tour. These ruins hold the history, beliefs, and rituals that defined ancient Mayan civilization. See the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the famous Castillo, the cenote, and the Nunnery. Afterwards, travel to Tulum for a free evening. Tulum is filled with trendy beach clubs where you can dance the night away, or stretch out on white sand beaches to admire the colors at sunset.

Accomodation:Hotel Casa Colonial (or similar)

Transport:Private Vehicle Duration : 0.75 hr - 1.0 hr Distance : 43 km, Private Vehicle Duration : 1.5 hr Distance : 105 km

Included Activities:Chichen Itzá Guided Tour Duration : 2.0 hr, Big Night Out

Optional Activities:Tulum Ruins Visit Catch a shared van (colectivo) to Tulum at the corner of Avenida 20 Norte and Calle 2 Norte. These run every 10-20 minutes (or whenever they're full!) throughout the day. To return, walk out to the road from Tulum and flag one down when they pass by. If you opt to take a colectivo, you will need to pay the entrance fee to the ruins when you arrive and decide if you'd like to also pay for a guide. You can also book a tour with private transportation and a guide from one of the many agencies in Playa del Carmen. Facilities are located outside of the site as are various restaurants and souvenir stands. Bring sunscreen, bathing suit, and camera.

day 14 - Tulum

Depart at any time.

Included Activity:Departure Day

Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera

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What's Included

Accommodation

Simple hotels/hostels (12 nts), overnight bus (1 nt).

Meals

1 breakfast
Note: Allow USD350-455 for meals not included.

Transport

Public bus, private vehicle, overnight bus, walking.All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Guide

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Included activities

Your G for Good Moment: Alebrijes Artisan Community Workshop, OaxacaYour First Night Out Moment: Connect With New FriendsYour Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and GroupYour Foodie Moment: Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO, OaxacaYour Discover Moment: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time, San Cristóbal de Las CasasYour Big Night Out Moment: TulumMexico City street food crawlAlebrijes Artisan Community visitBoat trip to Sumidero CanyonStop at Roberto Barrios Waterfall for a swimTour the Mayan ruins in PalenqueA boat adventure into a gorgeous lagoon in BacalarChichen Itzá ruins guided tourFree time in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Palenque, San Cristóbal de las Casas

What's Excluded

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