Educational tours, student tours, adult and student trips, travel to Yucatan Mexico

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1. Fly to Mexico
Board your flight to Mexico City. After clearing customs, you’ll be met by your Tour Director, who will escort you to your hotel. You’ll have the rest of the day to unpack, settle in and begin your explorations of Mexico City.

Day 2. Mexico City – Teotihuacan
Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Mexico’s capital city! Visit the National Palace and see Diego Rivera’s renowned murals, depicting Mexico’s history throughout the ages. Upon exiting, look for the Bell of Dolores, once rung to inspire the Mexican people to fight for their independence. Also step inside the Metropolitan Cathedral for a view of the Altar of the Kings. A short drive outside the city brings you to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, which stands on the site where a peasant had a vision of the patron saint of Mexico. You’ll then travel to the pyramids of Teotihuacan, featuring the pyramids of the Moon and the Sun. Travel back to Mexico City. This evening, join an optional excursion to the Ballet Folklórico, a dazzling performance of music and dance.

Day 3. Tuxtla Gutierrez – Sumidero Canyon – San Cristobal
Fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez, capital of Chiapas. Upon arrival, transfer to Chiapa de Corzo, a small colonial town on the banks of the Grijalva River. Here you will take a boat trip into the awe inspiring Sumidero Canyon, a spectacular, sheer-sided gash in the landscape that extends northwards for over 12 miles and with walls over 3300 ft. high. As you ride through the canyon, you’ll view not only the gaping cliffs but the river’s green waters and the surroundings forest’s alligators, monkeys, exotic birds and colorful butterflies. Then travel to the highlands of Chiapas on your way to San Cristobal de las Casas, a colonial city with arcaded porticoes, cobblestone streets, Baroque churches, and red-roofed houses.

Day 4. San Cristobal – San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan
Your guided sightseeing tour of San Cristobal takes you to the Plaza Mayor (city’s main square), home to the 17th-century Cathedral and the Palacio Municipal (town hall). You’ll also visit the 17th- century Church of Santo Domingo, a gorgeous example of classic European baroque architecture, and the colorful Market, where you can find beautifully colored hand-woven textiles created locally by surrounding villagers. Also included is a visit to the nearby indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, with their bustling Indian markets. In Chamula’s colonial church, ancient Indian rituals intermix with Catholicism. The rest of the afternoon is free to spend at your leisure in San Cristobal.

Day 5. Agua Azul Waterfalls – Palenque
Today you’ll leave the mountains for the lowlands, stopping to swim at Agua Azul Waterfalls—a long series of turquoise cascades set against a deep green jungle background. It’s then on to Palenque, one of the most impressive Mayan sites in Mexico. Located in the middle of a tropical rainforest, its pyramids, palaces and temples are magnificent examples of Mayan artistry. As you tour the site, climb to the top of the 90-foot-tall Temple of the Inscriptions, which is the funerary monument of Pacal, the king who ruled Palenque for almost 70 years. Also view the tomb inside the temple, at the foot of a long staircase. Spend the night in Palenque.

Day 6. Campeche
Journey 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 defensive walls and fortresses built in the 17th century to protect it against pirates. On a guided tour, visit the Cathedral, the Church of San Francisquito, and the Fort San Miguel, home to the Museum of Mayan Culture. 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 7. Uxmal – Merida
Journey to the Mayan city of Uxmal. While sightseeing with a local guide, you’ll see the oval-shaped Pyramid of the Magician (allegedly built overnight by a dwarf borne by a witch) and the Governor’s Palace, a stunning testament to Mayan architectural sophistication. You’ll also see the fascinating carved friezes that adorn the walls of the Nunnery Quadrangle, called this way because it is similar to a convent. Continue on to Merida, capital of the Yucatan state. After checking in to your hotel, you’ll have free time to relax and explore the city, with its rich Indian heritage and colonial architecture. Many of the city’s buildings date back to the 17th and 18th centuries

Day 8. Merida – Progreso Beach
All the highlights of Merida await you on this morning’s sightseeing tour. Visit the stunningly attractive interior of the Government Palace, featuring some wonderful paintings and murals that depict Yucatan’s rich Mayan history. Also visit the 16th-century St. Ildefonso’s Cathedral and the Baroque Montejo House. You’ll then enjoy a panoramic view of the city’s stately French-style mansions along Montejo Avenue, followed by a visit to Progreso Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Afterwards, return to Merida and enjoy free time to wander the city’s narrow streets, small tree-filled plazas, and colorful markets.

Day 9. Chichen Itza – Cenote Ik-Kil – Cancun
Gaze up at the 365 steps of the mighty pyramid of El Castillo, during your visit to Chichen Itza, one of the most awe-inspiring archaeological sites in Mexico. 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. Then savor Mexico’s fine cuisine in our included buffet-style lunch at El Xaybeh. Afterwards, journey to the Caribbean resort of Cancun.

Day 10. Free day in Cancun
Enjoy a free full day of swimming and basking on the sun-soaked shores of Cancun. Or, you may want to participate on an optional excursion to Isla Mujeres, a Caribbean island boasting palm-lined beaches and crystal-clear waters. The excursion includes a full day of relaxing, swimming, snorkeling and shopping at the island’s downtown area.

Day 11-12. Cancun Extension
Fly home on day 11 or extend your stay one more day and relax on the sunny beaches of Cancun.

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