Mexico Your Way Round Trip

Arrive to Cancun airport. Meet & Greet at the airport. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in Cancun. Evening free.
Meal plan: None.

Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Kabah archeological site, where we start our program with one of the most important settlement of PUUC culture. Kabah is located at a quite flat country covered with jungle at the border of Campeche that is “Strong and Majestic hand’s master” in Mayan language. Here we can learn about the buildings of the Puuc civilization. Puuc means “mountain” in Maya language that refers to the mountains surrounding Kabah city, as in the area hills are not very commonly are part of the view. The city did have its splendor at the 9th-10^th century, but its history goes back to the early classic era (260-600 AD). The city did fade in the 11th century, like Uxmal. We visit the Tiscali palace, the building of “Cods Pop – Red hands” being the most spectacular relic of the Maya civilization. Its western façade has 250 mask picturing Chaac goddess. In Kabah every stone represents the completeness that connects men with universe. We continue our trip to Uxmal, another Mayan city flourishing in the same era as Kabah.

This city was one of the main cities of the Mayan civilization in the early ages of the cultural rising. Uxmal features the best conserved ruin city of the Yucatan, where the most known building is the Governor’s palace built on a hill facing to South where the Venus rises emphasizing the connection between the governor’s person and the planet. After visiting the archeological site we visit the Chocolate museum, where we can learn the process of the making of chocolate from planting to production. We also taste the fresh chocolate made locally, and learn how the local Maya families live and also we participate in a Maya ceremony to the gods of Chaac. Optional lunch in a local restaurant. Later we continue our trip to Merida, founded by the Spaniards in 1542. The city gained its richness by its sisal plantations and the textile industry based on this plant. This richness can be observed at the city’s palaces, squares and buildings. Check in, evening for leisure. Not to be missed a night walk in the city where the warm evenings have its charm together with the locals.

Meal plan: Breakfast in the hotel. Optional lunch during the program.

Breakfast in the hotel. We start our day with an authentic program: we visit the Lucas de Galves Mercado functioning more than 130 years already, where local farmers sell their fresh produce.

Here we can get an insight of the life of locals here in Mexico. After the market experience we depart to Chichen Itza, the most popular Toltec-Maya site that is part of the UNESCO World Heritage sites since 1988, and part of the World’s 7 New Wonders since 2007. A New York lawyer rediscovered the city in 1842 and brought in amateur archeologists to begin restoration. Real restoration and reconstruction by the Carnegie Institute and Mexican government began in 1922, and continued for 20 years. Today, preservation of this influential Mayan city continues. Chichen Itza (chee-chehn eet-sah) means “Mouth of the well of the Itza” named for the large cenote and water source by the first settlers of the city. The first settlers of the land were the Itza’s around 400 A.D. where the city was developed as an agriculturally based society. The Sacred Cenote supplied water to the farmers and continues to be the focal point of Chichen Itza’s evolution as a central city. We will visit the Kukulkan Pyramid, the Ball Court, the Sacred Well, The Observatory and the Platform of the Skulls and will learn about the Toltec-Maya history, the empire and the religion of the era. it is believed that Chichen Itza was an important pilgrimage place for the Mayas. As we can see the architecture, it is believed that all the buildings are made out of stone and were transported by hands, not wheels. The four sides of the Kukulkan pyramid contain 365 steps in total, 91 steps per side and the final 365th step on top representing the solar year, 52 panels (for each year in the Mayan century as well as each week in the solar year) and 18 terraces (for the 18 months in the religious year). The height of the pyramid is 75 feet and is a monumental representation of the Mayan calendar.

After visiting the Archeological site, we will have an optional lunch in a local restaurant, then continue to Valladolid. Valladolid combines Mayan, Spanish and Yucateco history into one day trip. Once a sacred Mayan city, the Spanish saw some great potential in this location and decided to ‘renovate’ the city to make it more to their liking. Mayan buildings were torn down and the stones reused for the construction of Churches, a cathedral, municipal offices and more. Three wars were featured in this town, three different communities fought for control of the city. All of this happened in the last 500 years. The wars are over, but the history remains. The result of this turmoil is a day of Mexican history, culture and food housed in one location. Yup, you heard my right. A visit to Valladolid could teach you more about Mexico in one small day trip than you could ever imagine. Check in at hotel in Valladolid. Evening free.

Meal plan: Breakfast in the hotel. Optional lunch during the program.

Breakfast in the hotel, then departure to Coba. Archaeologists believe Cobá was one of the most important ruin sites on the Yucatan Peninsula. The design and purpose of this settlement was very different from other Mayan cities, with various settlements existing in one area. The white roads lead from each settlement to the main pyramid, Nohoch Mul. Learn more about this off-the-beaten track Mayan Ruin. Coba means ‘waters stirred by the wind’, an appropriate Mayan name as this settlement is surrounded by two large lagoons. For many years Coba was an ignored piece of Mayan history due to its location. Located between Tulum in the state of Quintana Roo, and Valladolid in the state of Yucatan, archeologists first learned about the site in the mid 1800’s, but dense jungle, the Caste War and lack of funds made this site a difficult area to penetrate. This Mayan site is still largely unexcavated making it a true wonder in the Yucatan. Visitors can enjoy shaded walkways that are the original sacbe (white  roads), three settlements that show the architecture and vast area of this once large city, 2 ball courts and climb the highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan, Nohoch Mul. After an optional lunch we continue our trip to Tulum, the most beautifully settled Maya town. The greatest attraction at the Tulum Ruins is its location. Built on a bluff facing the rising sun, this ruin site is the only Maya settlement located on the beaches of the Caribbean. The views continue to be described as spectacular as millions of people visit this Maya ruin in the Riviera Maya. In the Yucatec language, Tulum means “wall”, referring to the large barricade that surrounds the settlement. In the Mayan language, Tulum was called Zama, meaning “dawn,” an appropriate name given its eastern location. We visit the Archeological site: El Castillo and Temple of the Descending God. After visit we continue to our all inclusive Riviera Maya hotel where we end our round trip. Here we say goodbye to our guide and start our beach vacation.

Meal plan: Breakfast in the hotel. Optional lunch during the program, all inclusive lunch at the hotel.

Free time at Riviera Maya; relax on the beach, use of All inclusive hotel services. The non-motorized water sports of the hotel are free for your use: Hobie-Cat, Kayak, surf. Daily animation programs and night shows ensure your entertainment in the resort. Option for optional excursions from the hotel.

Meal plan: All inclusive

The basic package can be extended with extra nights!

Free time in the morning. Check out until noon. You can use the hotel facilities until the transfer.

For extra cost, you can buy „Late check-out” services on site. In the afternoon transfer to the airport, leaving to home country. End of services