DETAILED
ITINERARY
Day 1. Fly
to Mexico
Upon arrival in Merida, capital of the Yucatan,
meet your Tour Director, who will escort you to
your hotel. After check-in, your Tour Director
leads a walking tour of the city – once
the ancient Mayan city of T´ho. In addition
to the walk, you may decide to take a horse-draw
carriage ride along the Montejo Avenue, Merida’s
version of the Champs-Elysées.
Day
2. Merida – Progreso Beach
Discover the beauty of Merida on this morning’s
guided sightseeing tour. Admire the massive 16th-century
St. Ildefonso’s Cathedral, partially built
from the stones of Mayan temples destroyed by
the conquistadores. You’ll also see the
baroque Montejo House and the Government Palace,
with its interior walls adorned with a collection
of 27 mural-size paintings depicting Mayan history.
Your tour then continues on to the nearby Gulf
of Mexico port of Progreso, where you’ll
have the chance to take a refreshing swim. The
rest of the afternoon is free to explore Merida
on your own – browse the shops inside the
Public Market for some hand-made dresses, blankets
or the most popular souvenir, hammocks.
Day
3. Uxmal – Santa Elena – Campeche
Journey to the Mayan city of Uxmal. While sightseeing
with a professional guide, you’ll see the
oval-shaped Pyramid of the Magician, the Governor’s
Palace and the fascinating Nunnery Quadrangle.
Next stop is the Mayan village of Santa Elena,
where you’ll have a hammock and tortilla-making
demonstration from a local family. Continue on
to Campeche, a charming colonial town founded
by the Spaniards in 1540. Located along the Gulf
of Mexico coast, Campeche is still surrounded
by remains of hefty defensive walls and fortresses
built in the 17th century to protect it against
pirates. On a walking tour along the cobblestone
streets, view the city’s churches, parks
and elegant 18th and 19th century houses painted
soothing pastel shades of blue, pink, yellow,
and green.
Day
4. Campeche
On your guided tour of Campeche, visit the 17th-century
Cathedral; the Church of San Francisquito, a wonderfully
lush piece of Mexican Baroque; and the Casa 6,
a colonial house containing several high-ceilinged
rooms crammed with colonial furniture and paintings.
Then visit the hilltop Forts of San Jose and San
Miguel, offering sweeping views of the Gulf of
Mexico. Also included is a visit to the striking
museum housed at Fort San Miguel, showing off
Campeche’s Mayan treasures at their best.
Return to
your hotel and spend the afternoon by the pool,
or take a stroll along the Malecon, a waterfront
avenue from where you can have spectacular views
of the wonderful sunsets.
Tonight, visit the Land Gate bastion and enjoy a boisterous Sound and Light Show that uses exploding cannons and actors in costumes to simulate a pirate attack.
Day
5. Chichen Itza – Cenote Ik-Kil
– Valladolid
Today you’ll travel back to the state of
Yucatan. First stop will be the ancient Mayan
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 continuing to Valladolid. Check in to the
charming colonial-style Meson del Marques Hotel.
After a delicious Mayan-style dinner in the lovely
hotel restaurant, enjoy free time in this cute
little town with Spanish colonial mansions and
churches.
Day
6. Tulum – Cancun
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 the tropical resort of Cancun.
Day
7. Free day in Cancun
Beautiful, crystal-clear waters and soft white
sand make up the coast of Cancun, truly a Caribbean
escape. Spend a free day relaxing by the beach,
or explore underwater reefs full of brilliantly
colored tropical fish on an optional excursion
to Isla Mujeres.
Day
8-9. Cancun Extension
Fly home on day 8 or extend your stay one more day and
relax on the sunny beaches of Cancun. |
