Majestic Mexico Culture, Castles, and Coasts

Welcome to Mexico City – we arrange your transfer to the hotel and you have free time to settle in. Our guide will contact you later in the afternoon.
Please note: This tour may have travellers joining or departing at various points along the route, meaning group composition can change during the tour. Please also be aware that depending on group composition, guiding may be in additional languages as well as English.

After breakfast, we begin at the Plaza of the Three Cultures before heading to Teotihuacan – about 40 km from the capital, with entrance included – to explore the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Temple of Quetzalpapalotl, the Citadel and the Avenue of the Dead. We then visit a local artisan centre and, on the way back, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. After returning to the hotel, you have the remainder of the day free.

You have a free morning in Mexico City to explore as you wish. After lunch, we transfer you to the bus station for the regular coach to Puebla, about 135 km away. On arrival, we include a transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you have time to discover this charming city founded in 1531, renowned for its colonial architecture, ornate churches and rich history, and its vibrant cultural and culinary scene – highlights to seek out include the cathedral, the historic Palafoxiana Library, Calle de los Dulces and the Callejón de los Sapos.

We set out on a five–hour excursion – admission included – to the Ex Hacienda de Chautla, an 18th–century estate with an English–style castle set on an artificial lake amid scenic forests. We continue to Val’Quirico, a picturesque complex evoking a medieval European village, ideal for a leisurely stroll among artisan shops and cafés. We return to Puebla and you have free time to enjoy the city. Note: this excursion operates as a regular service with a local tour company.

Today we enjoy an included six–hour excursion. We first explore Cholula, a Pueblo Mágico, visiting San Francisco Acatepec, Santa María Tonantzintla, the San Gabriel Convent, the Royal Chapel and Soria Park, and we climb to the Virgin of Los Remedios Sanctuary atop the Great Pyramid. We continue to Chipilo for a cheese tasting, then on to Atlixco to see its Historic Centre, the Wide Staircase murals, the Floral Clock, the Magical Garden and the Glass Viewpoint. We return to Puebla and you have free time. Note: this excursion operates as a regular service with a local tour company.

We travel through mountain scenery into the state of Oaxaca and arrive in Oaxaca City. We then head up to Monte Albán – tickets and guided visit included – the most magnificent of the Zapotec cities, set on a mountain rising about 400 metres above the Oaxaca Valley. Afterwards, we return to Oaxaca for a panoramic tour of its historic centre, a World Heritage Site, then you have free time to continue exploring at your own pace.

We depart early, making a brief stop in San Pablo Villa de Mitla, a charming Pueblo Mágico, where you have time for a stroll near the 16th–century Church of San Pablo and along its rustic streets. We continue through the mountains of Oaxaca towards the Isthmus – lunch included en route – and arrive by late afternoon in Tuxtla Gutiérrez, capital of the state of Chiapas.

Today we sail through the Sumidero Canyon by boat – an impressive gorge almost 1 km deep and 14 km long. We take a stroll in Chiapa de Corzo, a colonial town rich in tradition and culture, then delve into Mayan heritage in Tzotzil communities. In Zinacantán we admire the women’s dress and the weaving workshops, and in San Juan Chamula we witness a church where Christian and pre–Columbian rites coexist. We continue to San Cristóbal de las Casas and you have the afternoon free in this beautiful colonial city founded in 1528.

A day of beautiful mountain landscapes in the heart of Chiapas, passing through areas where communities preserve their Mayan language and traditions. After crossing the Ocosingo region, we continue to Agua Azul – entrance to the National Park included – with lunch included and free time to walk or swim among more than 50 waterfalls, from 3 to 30 metres high. We then continue to Misol–Há, an impressive waterfall with a path behind the cascade, before travelling on to Palenque, where dinner and accommodation are included. Note: occasional road closures may occur in the Ocosingo region due to local social tensions.

We visit the impressive archaeological site of Palenque – entrance and guided tour included – to explore its temples, pyramids and ball court. After the visit, we travel towards the Gulf of Mexico through the state of Tabasco and arrive in Campeche, a port city famed for its colonial architecture and 17th–century fortifications built to defend against pirate attacks. Dinner included.

We head into the state of Yucatán and, after just over two hours, arrive in Mérida. We enjoy a guided tour of this vibrant capital, rich in colonial and Maya heritage, including the fortified Cathedral of Mérida, the limestone Church of the Third Order and the House of Montejo, a 16th–century mansion and emblem of Plateresque colonial architecture. You have the afternoon free – we suggest you visit the Museum of the Maya World independently. In the evening, we include a transfer to the Zócalo, where you can dine and soak up the local atmosphere.

Today we travel through Yucatán. We stop in Izamal, one of Mexico’s prettiest towns and designated a Magic Town. In Chichén Itzá – admission and visit included – we discover the most renowned vestige of the Mayan civilisation, a World Heritage Site, seeing the Pyramid of Kukulcán and the Temple of the Warriors. After the visit, we include a Mayan–cuisine lunch. We continue to Río Lagartos, a small fishing village in the heart of a biosphere reserve.

Nature takes centre stage today. In the morning we include a boat ride of over two hours into the biosphere reserve to spot crocodiles among the mangroves and abundant birdlife, including pelicans and pink flamingos – you can also try the mud experience, applying mineral–rich clay that leaves the skin feeling soft. We then travel to Valladolid, the third–largest city in Yucatán with a delightful historic centre – you might like to have lunch in one of the restaurants on the main square. In the afternoon, we visit Cenote Choj Há, managed by the local Maya community, walking a short jungle path to explore its dry cave and, if you wish, swimming in the beautiful lake inside the wet cave. We continue to Cancún, arriving late in the afternoon.

Our services end after breakfast. If you wish to extend your stay, you can relax for a few days by the beautiful beaches of Cancún or the Riviera Maya.