7-8 days including airfare from $1,220

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
Savor one free day amidst the natural splendor of Cancun! Activities to choose among include swimming, fishing, water skiing and windsurfing. 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. Ek-Balam – Cenote X’-Keken – Valladolid
Journey through the Yucatan to the ruins of Ek-Balam, the remains of a once-great Mayan city. On your guided tour, view a splendid central plaza bordered by three massive ceremonial structures. The largest pyramid, some 100 feet tall, has a huge jaguar mouth. Then get ready to refresh and swim in the clear, blue waters of Cenote X’Keken, a natural pool inside a cavern. Continue on to Valladolid, a charming colonial city founded by the Spaniards in 1543. Check in to the colonial-style Meson del Marques Hotel. This evening, savor an authentic Mayan dinner in the lovely hotel restaurant. Later, join a Tour Director-led walking tour of Valladolid, featuring visits to St. Servacio’s Cathedral and the Franciscan Church of San Bernardino.

Day 4. Mayan village of Kaua – Chichen Itza – Cenote Ik-Kil
First stop today is the Mayan village of Kaua, where you’ll visit a traditional Mayan family and experience first-hand how they make hammocks and tortillas. Continue on to the ancient ruins of Chichen Itza. Climb to the top of the central pyramid, El Castillo, whose 365 steps served as a giant calendar. Your guided tour also features the well-preserved Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors and the astronomical Observatory. After climbing the pyramids, a pleasant cool freshwater swim awaits you at Cenote Ik-Kil, a natural pool inside a gigantic gap carved out by nature over the years. Enjoy an included buffet-style lunch before returning to Valladolid. Spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure. You might decide to browse the shops at the zócalo (town square) for some hand made souvenirs or simply relax by the hotel pool.

Day 5. 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 6. 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 among the brilliant coral reefs, do some shopping at the local markets or explore the island’s interior jungle.

Day 7-8. Cozumel Extension
Fly home on day 7 or stay for one more day of sun and surf on this spectacular island paradise.

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