DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1. Fly to Mexico
Upon arrival in Cancun, your Tour Director greets you and escorts to your comfortable beach-front hotel. Spend the remainder of the day at leisure – try a refreshing swim, shop in some of the colorful boutiques that line the sidewalks, or explore the local craft markets.

Day 2. Cancun
Crystal-clear blue waters and white sand make up the coast of Cancun, truly a Caribbean escape. Enjoy one free day of swimming and basking on the sun-soaked shores of this warm aquatic resort. Alternatively, join an optional excursion to Isla Mujeres, a Caribbean island with white sand beaches and turquoise waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.

Day 3. Chichen Itza – Cenote Ik-Kil – Merida
As your make your way west across the Yucatan, stop in Valladolid, a cute little town with Spanish style mansions and churches. During a Tour Director-led walking tour, view St. Servacio’s Cathedral and the 16th-century Church of San Bernardino. Next stop is the sacred Mayan city of Chichen Itza. On your guided visit, you’ll see the mighty pyramid of El Castillo (its 365 steps once served as a giant calendar), the Ball Court and the astronomical Observatory. You’ll then have time to swim in the crystal-clear waters of Cenote Ik-Kil, a fresh-water well found deep inside a subterranean cave. Enjoy an included buffet-style lunch before continuing to the colonial city of Merida.

Day 4. Santa Elena – Uxmal
Experience how hammocks and tortillas are made by a Mayan family during your visit to Santa Elena, a traditional Mayan village located in the south of the state of Yucatan. The excursion then leads to the Mayan ruins of Uxmal, featuring the legendary Pyramid of the Magician (allegedly built overnight by a dwarf borne by a witch), the impressive Nunnery Quadrangle (decorated with figures of the Mayan rain god, owls and serpents) and the state-of-the-art Governor’s Palace. Attend a sound and light show before returning to Merida.

Day 5. Merida – Progreso Beach
A professional local guide leads this morning’s sightseeing tour of Merida. You’ll see the 16th-century St. Ildefonso’s Cathedral, the baroque Montejo House (historic residence of Merida’s founder), and the Government Palace, with its extensive murals depicting Mayan history. Included in your tour is a visit to the pristine beaches of the Gulf of Mexico resort of Progreso. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon to spend at your leisure in Merida. You may want to visit a museum or gallery, walk through the city’s inviting parks or browse the markets at the zócalo (town square) for some hand-made souvenirs.

Day 6. Tulum – Cozumel
Today, you’ll visit the cliff-top Mayan ceremonial center of Tulum, overlooking the turquoise Caribbean. On your guided tour, have a look at El Castillo and the Temple of the Frescoes, which still has visible paintings on its walls. Continue to Playa del Carmen, from where you’ll board your ferry for your transfer to Cozumel, an island that consistently ranks as one of the top five diving and snorkeling sites in the world.

Day 7. Free day in Cozumel
With a full day to spend at your leisure, you may decide to stay at the beach, snorkel or scuba dive amidst the island’s brilliant coral reefs, do some shopping at the local markets or explore the island’s interior jungle.

Day 8. Return home
Your Tour Director assists with the transfer to the airport, where you’ll check in for your return flight home.

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