The Yucatan Peninsula & the Colonial City of Campeche
Explore the Yucatan Peninsula on this 5-day tour, including a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Campeche on the Gulf of Mexico. Stay at the charming Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo in the historic center for a delightful change from the exclusive estates of Haciendas San José Cholul, Santa Rosa, and Hacienda Chichen. Enjoy a boat trip through the Celestún Biosphere Reserve, a breeding ground for countless bird species and home to the largest flamingo colonies in the Americas. You might even spot a Morelet’s crocodile.
Highlights of This Journey
Our 5-day tour is the most comprehensive and balanced Hacienda experience we offer, featuring a rich blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Highlights include:
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- Explore Historic Cities: Wander through vibrant cities like Valladolid, Izamal, and Campeche, where you’ll discover lively squares, colorfully restored houses, colonial churches, and historic monasteries.
- Discover Ancient Maya Sites: Explore sacred sites like Ek Balam, Uxmal, Edzná and Chichén Itzá, gaining unique insights into this remarkable civilization.
- Enjoy Nature’s Wonders: Swim in the crystal-clear waters of a cenote, explore the rich flora and fauna in the botanical gardens of the Cocoa Museum, and embark on a boat ride through the Celestún bird sanctuary, home to a diverse array of bird species and the largest flamingo colonies in the Americas.
- Immerse yourself in the vibrant markets of traditional Maya villages and experience the hospitality and craftsmanship of the local population.
- Unforgettable Accommodations: Stay in exclusive haciendas, lovingly restored to their former grandeur, and experience some of Mexico’s most captivating historical guesthouses.
- Luxurious Pampering: Surrounded by tropical gardens, indulge in exquisite cuisine, and relax in serene, beautifully restored haciendas.
Our Services
- Private Tour: For groups of 2 people or more.
- Comfortable Travel: Enjoy a 5-day tour in a luxurious air-conditioned SUV or minivan.
- Expert Guidance: Our experienced guides offer tours in English and German, with additional languages available upon request.
- Luxurious Accommodations: 4 nights in a double room with breakfast included at Haciendas San José Cholul, Hacienda Santa Rosa, Casa Don Gustavo, and Hacienda Chichen Yaxkin & Spa Resort
- Comprehensive Experiences: Includes all entry fees, guided tours, and excursions according to the itinerary
- Celestún Boat Trip: Get up close with the iconic pink flamingos
- Authentic Cultural Visits: Explore traditional Mayan villages, local markets and restaurants.
- Convenient Transfers: End your tour with seamless transfers to your beach hotel on the Riviera Maya, Holbox, or Cancún airport
- Relaxing Itineraries: Our carefully planned daily routes allow you to fully enjoy the exquisit facilities of the haciendas.
Yucatan Haciendas 5-Day Trip | Price per person in a double room | Price per person in a triple room | Single room surcharge |
---|---|---|---|
Private tour from 2 people | from 2750 € | n/a | from 730 € |
Private tour from 3 people | from 2560 € | from 2280 € | from 730 € |
Private tour from 4 people | from 2290 € | from 2050 € | from 730 € |
Private tour from 5 people | from 2170 € | from 1880 € | from 730 € |
Private tour from 6 people |
from 1900 € | from 1650 € | from 730 € |
Seasonal price surcharge: +15% for a double or triple room and 30% surcharge for a single room. / Christmas from December 15th to January 6th and from Palm Sunday to Easter as well as on local holidays
Price and offer changes reserved / January 20245-Day Tour of Yucatan’s Haciendas: From the Colorful Colonial City of Campeche to the Pink Flamingos of Celestún
Day 1: Ek Balam - Izamal - Hacienda San José Cholul
(Overnight at Hacienda San José Cholul)
After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel lobby to begin your Yucatán adventure. Your luggage will be loaded into the vehicle as you embark on a scenic two-hour drive to the ancient Maya site of Ek Balam, meaning “Black Jaguar,” nestled deep in the jungle. Recently uncovered, these remarkably well-preserved ruins reveal mysterious inscriptions, royal tombs, and a fully intact temple. Climb the Acropolis, the tallest pyramid on the site, standing at 30 meters (100 feet), and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding jungle stretching to the horizon.
After lunch at a Palapa restaurant, where Maya women serve traditional Yucatecan cuisine the journey continues to Izamal, known as the city of three cultures. Amid the striking yellow colonial buildings, massive pyramids and temple platforms rise above the town, recalling the grandeur of the Itzá civilisation and their violent downfall. The highlight is the Franciscan convent of Saint Anthony of Padua, now a popular pilgrimage site where the patron saint of Yucatán is venerated. In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited Izamal, marking the first visit of a pope to Mexico since the 19th century, and held an important mass in the convent’s atrium.
Transfer to Hacienda San José Cholul, a beautifully restored former sisal plantation that now radiates the charm and grandeur of its heyday.
Overnight stay at Hacienda San José Cholul, IHG Hotels & Resorts (B)
Distance covered: approx. 250 km
Day 2: Mayan Market - Mérida - Celestún
(Overnight at Hacienda Santa Rosa)
Begin your day with a brief drive to the picturesque village of Tixkokob, renowned for its masterful hammock weavers. Here, you will experience the vibrant colors and rich aromas of the traditional weekly market, where an array of spices, exotic fruits, and fresh vegetables showcase the essence of Yucatecan cuisine.
Following this, we continue to Mérida, the lively capital of the state, for a brief tour along the iconic Paseo de Montejo, famed for its stately mansions built by former hacienda owners. A leisurely stroll around the main square offers a glimpse into the city’s historic charm, with visits to the majestic cathedral, the imposing government palace, and shaded colonial courtyards—ideal for a relaxing coffee break.
Next, our journey takes us to the tranquil shores of the Gulf of Mexico, arriving at the coastal town of Celestún. Here, embark on a serene 1.5-hour boat excursion through the Celestún Biosphere Reserve, where the sight of vibrant pink flamingos, along with pelicans, cormorants, and other rare coastal species, will leave a lasting impression. Afterward, indulge in a traditional seafood feast at a local restaurant, featuring fresh, locally sourced grilled fish and other delicacies.
As the afternoon progresses, we drive through the Yucatecan countryside, passing through Maya villages and the remains of historic haciendas on our way to the exquisitely restored Hacienda Santa Rosa. With its intimate ambiance and limited number of rooms, this elegant estate ensures a personalized and enchanting experience, perfect for unwinding in the lap of refined luxury.
Overnight stay at Hacienda Santa Rosa de Lima, IHG Hotels & Resorts (B)
Distance covered: approx. 210 km
Day 3: Uxmal - Museo de Chocolate - Campeche
(Overnight at Hotel Boutique Casa Don Gustavo)
After an extensive breakfast, we drive for about an hour to the World Heritage site of Uxmal. Timeless elegance and breathtaking architecture testify to the building skills of the Maya engineers. Timeless elegance characterizes structures such as the Governor’s Palace or the Nunnery Quadrangle, which not only inspired modern architects but also delighted the gods for whom they were built. Learn from your tour guide, an expert in the field, about the history of the Tutul Xiu kingdom in the 10th century. After a brief refreshment, we visit the Cocoa Museum. On a tour of the botanical garden, you will learn interesting facts about the origin, cultivation, and significance of cocoa and can sample the original drink prepared with chili.
Next, we drive about two hours to the meticulously restored port city of Campeche, where you will take an evening stroll through the old town and end the day with a margarita. Located next to the city gate, you will stay overnight at the Boutique Hotel Don Gustavo. The centrally located colonial house has been transformed by its owners into a boutique hotel that surprises with its playful and luxurious decor.
Overnight at Hotel Boutique Don Gustavo (B)
Distance covered: approx. 210 km
Day 4: Campeche - Edzná - Hacienda
(Overnight at Hacienda Chichen)
After breakfast, take a city tour with photo stops to capture more impressions of the World Heritage City of Campeche, defended against numerous pirate attacks by powerful fortifications. Then, drive approximately one hour to the less-visited temple city of Edzná. A vast plaza with a massive acropolis testifies to the centuries-long dominance of this classic Maya center. Well-preserved stelae carved with images of powerful god-kings can still be seen today. The Temple of the Five Floors is the tallest structure, used for various astronomical observations.
The afternoon takes you through Campeche’s hinterland to Hacienda Chichen, directly adjacent to the famous temple complex. The historic hacienda was the starting point for the first excavations. All renowned archaeologists of the last century have stayed at the hacienda. In the evening, you can attend the sound and light show at Chichen Itzá (optional, subject to availability).
Overnight stay in a double room, breakfast included. Distance: approximately 450 km.
Day 5: Chichen Itzá - Cenote
Early in the morning at eight o’clock, be among the first visitors of the day at Chichen Itzá, the most famous and visited Maya site in Yucatan. Be transported back in time and space by centuries as you stroll past intricately carved monuments. Chichen Itzá is more thoroughly researched and restored than most Maya sites and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Legends and mysteries still surround its dynamic history.
Learn about the bloodthirsty rituals at the Skull Platform (Tzompantli) and the astronomical significance of the Kukulkan Temple. Explore the Temple of the Warriors, the great ball court, the observatory, and more.
After a thorough tour of the temple city, enjoy a Yucatecan lunch, followed by a visit to a cenote. These unique freshwater pools were formed over hundreds of thousands of years in the Yucatan Peninsula’s extensive karst region when flooded limestone caves collapsed, granting access to crystal-clear groundwater. Thousands of these natural Maya wells have been discovered and studied over the years. The word “cenote” comes from the Maya language, meaning “sacred well.” After a refreshing swim in these natural wells, take a three-hour drive to your beach hotel on the stunning Riviera Maya, Holbox, or Cancun airport. Distance: approximately 250 km.
End of the Journey
The Yucatan Peninsula & the Colonial City of Campeche
Route: 5-Day Hacienda Tour
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