Tour to Mexico "Discover the best of Mexico!" on 11 days

Mexico
11 days / 10 nights

Mexico City (3N) + Puebla + Oaxaca + Monte Alban + Tule + Sumidero Canyon + San Cristobal + Agua Azul + Palenque + Campeche+ Uxmal + Merida + Chichen Itza + Cancun

Travel through history and spectacular scenery. Discover the best of Mexico. Start your journey at the Zocalo, the heart of Mexico’s capital, one of the world’s largest and most fascinating cities. Then explore the highlights of the South, many of them recognized as World Heritage. Go from Aztecs to Maya, from semi-desert to jungle, and from colonial gems to mystical archaeological sites. Be surprised by the colorful traditions you come across along the journey. Finish your adventure at paradisiacal Caribbean beaches. Viva Mexico!

DAY 01 | MEXICO CITY
Reception at Mexico City Airport and transfer to your hotel.
Day at leisure. As the country's capital, “Ciudad de Mexico” is a mosaic of contrasts but is mostly an experience in which all of Mexico comes together. It’s the perfect place to start your trip in Mexico.
Overnight in Mexico City.

DAY 02 | MEXICO CITY (City Tour with Anthropology Museum)
Breakfast in Hotel. Get to know one of the world’s biggest and most exciting cities! Enjoy a guided visit to the historical center, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage. This exciting tour will include “The Zocalo,” the heart of the city, where you will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the oldest and largest of the Americas, and the National Palace (If open, subject to government activities), the home of the famous murals of Diego Rivera. You will also see the ruins of the Templo Mayor (panoramic visit), one of the most famous temples of the Aztecs in their ancient capital city of Tenochtitlan. Next, we drive down the beautiful Paseo de la Reforma Avenue to arrive at Chapultepec Park, to visit the Anthropology Museum. This museum is considered to be among the world’s most excellent of its kind. Here you will admire, among many other exciting treasures, the famous Aztec calendar stone. The Museum of Anthropology is considered one of the best in the world, and visiting this Museum completely could take days. Our visit is around 2 hours (approx.) to the Aztec Hall. You can consider staying on your own after so you can enjoy the rest of the day at the Museum. Please consider taking a Taxi from the Museum to your Hotel.
Overnight in Mexico City.

DAY 03 | MEXICO CITY (Pyramids of Teotihuacan and Shrine of Guadalupe)
Breakfast in Hotel. After breakfast, we make a stop at the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage place for millions of Mexicans and people from all around the world. Discover Teotihuacán, ‘the place where gods were created’. Teotihuacan is one of the most important archaeological sites in the country. It is assumed that the city may have counted 200,000 inhabitants during its period of prosperity. In those years, Teotihuacán was the biggest city on the American continent and one of the world’s biggest. Until its inhabitants abandoned the town around the 8th century, Teotihuacan was probably the most significant and civilized cultural center of ancient Mexico. During this guided excursion, you see (and climb) the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, walk down the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl with its unique stone sculptures of plumed serpents, the Temple of the Butterflies, and Fortresses. Lunch in a local Restaurant.
Overnight in Mexico City.

DAY 04 | MEXICO CITY - PUEBLA - OAXACA
Breakfast in Hotel. Today we leave Mexico City (at 8:00 am-approx.). We travel to Puebla, Mexico’s fourth-largest city, passing the photogenic, snow-capped volcanoes Popocatépetl (Smoking Mountain, 5464m) and Iztaccíhuatl (Sleeping Lady, 5230m). A visit is planned to Santa Maria Tonantzintla with its beautiful temple decorated by indigenous people. In Puebla (World Heritage), also known as the “City of Angels,” we will have lunch in a local restaurant and visit the extraordinary Rosary Chapel, the Cathedral, the main square, and it's beautiful historic center. Continue to Oaxaca, one of the most picturesque colonial towns of Mexico. Oaxaca (World Heritage) is also famous for its many indigenous traditions, reflected in its beautiful crafts and typical gastronomy.
Overnight in Oaxaca.

DAY 05 | SEP 19. OAXACA - MONTE ALBAN - MITLA - TULE - OAXACA
Breakfast in Hotel. Visit the archaeological zone of Monte Alban, located only a few kilometers outside the city of Oaxaca. Monte Alban, meaning “White Mountain,” is an ancient Zapotec capital, constructed on a plateau at 1,940 meters above sea level. With pyramids, temples, tombs, ceremonial rock carvings, and a court for the pre-Hispanic ball game, we will find here cultural traces from different civilizations among many other mystical constructions. Its spectacular hilltop location guarantees breathtaking views of the valleys of Oaxaca. We then continue to Mitla, an old ceremonial center of the Zapotecs. Mitla is known for its outstanding mosaics in its walls, representing different geometric designs, a unique style of decorating in Mesoamerica. Adjacent to the archaeological site, you can also see the 16th century Church of San Pablo, built by the Spanish with materials from the ruins. On the way back to Oaxaca, we will make a stop to admire the Tule tree, perhaps one of the most influential living beings in the world. Once again, in Oaxaca, we will explore the beauty of this city, with sights such as the Cathedral, the magnificent Santo Domingo church, the Museum of Gold, and the colorful “20 de Noviembre” market.
Overnight in Oaxaca.

DAY 06 | SEP 20. OAXACA - SUMIDERO CANYON - SAN CRISTOBAL
In the early morning (around 04:00 am), we will depart to the beautiful state of Chiapas. Box-Breakfast in Route. Today’s highlight will be a boat ride through the Sumidero Canyon, which measures a thousand meters at its highest point. Admire the beautiful rock formations and enjoy the abundant wildlife that lives on the Grijalva river’s shores (crocodiles, spider monkeys, and many different bird species). Afterward, you will pass through the historically significant town Chiapa de Corzo on our way to San Cristobal de las Casas. Please note this day is a long ride.
Overnight in San Cristobal.

DAY 07 | SEP 21. SAN CRISTOBAL (Indigenous Communities)
Breakfast in Hotel. Scheduled for today is an excursion full of mysticism. Visit the indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, located in the highlands of Chiapas. In both Tzotzil Maya communities, the complex ethnic composition of Chiapas is well-reflected. They still demonstrate a wide variety of customs and beliefs expressed in pagan and Christian traditions. Afternoon at leisure. We recommend you to explore more of the beautiful city of San Cristobal de las Casas with, among its many attractions, a colorful market, the cathedral, and the Jade Museum.
Overnight in San Cristobal.

DAY 08 | SEP 22. SAN CRISTOBAL - AGUA AZUL - PALENQUE
Breakfast in Hotel. On the way to Palenque, we will visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul. The turquoise color, which makes these waterfalls unique, comes from the high water mineral content level. Enjoy the surrounding jungle environment and go for a swim (if time permits). Afterward, we will continue our way through the lush jungle with Palenque as today’s final destination.
Overnight in Palenque.

DAY 09 | SEP 23. PALENQUE - CAMPECHE
Breakfast in Hotel. Visit the archaeological zone of Palenque, one of the most important sites of the Mayan World. Lakamha, as the city was known among the ancient Maya, flourished in the 7th century. It rose to prominence under the reign of legendary King Pakal, whose tomb was found in Palenque ́s most iconic landmarks, the Temple of the Inscriptions. This ruined city is home to some of the most beautiful architecture, exquisite sculptures, and carvings produced by the ancient Maya. Enjoy a guided visit and admire the impressive structures and the breathtaking natural environment of this World Heritage Site. After this visit, we head to Campeche, a charming town full of naval history, Spanish baroque architecture, an aging beauty. The city has spent the past few years restoring hundreds of downtown historical buildings, making it one of the most photogenic colonial towns in all of Mexico. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a panoramic tour of the city.
Overnight in Campeche.

DAY 10 | SEP 24. CAMPECHE - UXMAL - MERIDA
Breakfast in Hotel. On the way to Merida, we will visit Uxmal (meaning “built three times”), located in the Puuc region. Uxmal, also listed as World Heritage, is considered one of the Maya cities most representative of the Puuc style, the region’s dominant architectural style. Explore the Magician Pyramid, the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the Governor’s palace, and the ballgame court. We proceed to Merida, the “White City” was founded in 1542 by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo. Nowadays, Yucatan’s Mexican state is the capital city, with still a strong influence of Mayan cultural heritage, stunning architecture, lovely parks, and delicious gastronomy. Upon arrival in Merida, we will enjoy a panoramic tour, including the city’s highlights (Montejo Avenue and the Plaza Grande).
Overnight in Merida.

DAY 11 | SEP 25. MERIDA - CHICHEN ITZA - CANCUN
Breakfast in Hotel. At the end of the Early Classic Period, around 600 AD, Chichen Itza was one of the largest and most prominent Maya cities. Nowadays, Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the best-preserved Maya site on the Yucatan peninsula, and it was recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Various architectural styles are seen in Chichen Itza. The most famous landmarks are the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Ballgame Court, the Platform of the Skulls, the Temple of the Jaguar, the Observatory, the One Thousand Columns, and the Sacred Cenote. Then take a refreshing swim in the cenote of Ik Kil. Continue to Cancun. Drop off at your hotel in Cancún or Riviera Maya (beach extension available upon request).