Mexico Tour, Mundo Maya - Intensive

On this 5-day Yucatán tour, you will visit the most important sights of the peninsula. In addition to the colonial cities of Valladolid and Mérida, the capital of the state of Yucatán, you will stay overnight in the colorful port city of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage site on the Gulf of Mexico. This diverse and balanced Mexico tour provides a comprehensive insight into the history, culture, and nature of Yucatán. The monumental temple structures of the Mayan high culture in Ek-Balam, Chichen Itzá, and Uxmal are just as essential as a boat trip to the pink flamingos in Celestún. This is the ideal tour for those who want to experience as much as possible in a relaxed and entertaining way in a short time.

General Information Itinerary Map

The Highlights of This Tour

The colorful town of Valladolid and its vibrant market
The temple pyramids of Ek Balam and a refreshing swim in a cenote within Yucatán’s underground rivers
Mérida, the capital of Yucatán with its Caribbean flair
Celestún, a boat trip through the mangroves to see the pink flamingos
An authentic market visit in a Mayan village
Uxmal, the intricately decorated temple city
San Francisco de Campeche, a colonial city on the Gulf of Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage site
A visit to a former Sisal Hacienda
The world wonder: the Kukulcán pyramid at Chichén Itzá

Our Services

6 travel days, including transfer IN from Cancún International Airport – Hotel Playa del Carmen
Group size: 2-14 participants
German-speaking tour guide
5 days of round-trip travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned car, van, or minibus
5 hotel nights in 3*/4* double rooms, including breakfast
1 lunch included
Entrance fees, guided tours, and excursions as per tour program
Transfer to your staycation hotel at the Riviera Maya / Cancún for beach extension or to Cancún International Airport

Optional:

Hacienda hotels and luxury class
Hotel beach extension
Airport transfer after the beach extension
Hotel transfer to Holbox or Chiquila ferry terminal
Day trips after the round tour - 15% discount for all participants

MUNDO MAYA Intensive in 6 Days	Price per Person in Double Room	Price per Person in Triple Room	Single Room Surcharge
Private tour from 2 people	from 1950 €	n/a	from 220 €
Private tour from 3 people	from 1570 €	from 1510 €	from 220 €
Private tour from 4 people	from 1470 €	from 1400 €	from 220 €
Private tour from 5 people	from 1350 €	from 1270 €	from 220 €
Group tour from 6 to 14 participants Next group tour dates (RR)	from 1150 €	from 1060 €	from 220 €

Seasonal price surcharge: Christmas from December 15 to January 6 and from Palm Sunday to Easter, as well as on local holidays. Price and offer subject to change / January 2024

Mexico Round Trip: 5 Days Exploring Yucatán Peninsula's Highlights

Day 1 (Arrival Day)

TRF-IN / Airport transfer to your accommodation in Playa del Carmen

Arrival at Cancún International Airport in the Riviera Maya. You will be greeted by our staff, who will transfer you to your hotel in Playa del Carmen, just a short walk from the pedestrian zone and the beach. Depending on your arrival time, you may have time to run some errands.

Hotel: Hacienda Paradise Boutique Hotel, Playa del Carmen

Day 2

Valladolid Market, Ek Balam, and Cenote Swim

After breakfast, you will meet your German-speaking guide at 8:00 AM in the hotel lobby. The bags will be loaded into the vehicle, and your Mexico tour begins. We head west towards Valladolid, a colorful small town that we reach after about two hours. You will visit the weekly market and get to know the variety of regional products. The next stop is Ek Balam, where you will get a first impression of the pre-Hispanic Mayan culture with its massive temple pyramids. Later, you will have the chance to take a refreshing dip in a cenote (a freshwater sinkhole, often underground). After this refreshing break and a hearty lunch with regional specialties (included in the tour price), we return to Valladolid. In the evening, you can enjoy a walk around the main square to end the day.

Hotel: Mesón del Marques, Valladolid (B, L)

Day 3

Izamal, Celestún, and Uxmal

On this day of your Yucatán tour, we first visit the yellow colonial city of Izamal, the former capital of the Itzas. Here, the Franciscan Diego de Landa built a massive convent over one of the largest Mayan temples after the conquest in the 16th century. Today, it’s an important pilgrimage site where Yucatán’s patron saint is worshipped. In 1993, Pope John Paul II visited Izamal for a mass.

We continue our journey through traditional Mayan villages to the Gulf of Mexico, where we will take a 1.5-hour boat trip through the Celestún Nature Reserve, hoping to spot flamingos, pelicans, cormorants, and frigatebirds. The excursion includes a visit to a traditional fisherman's restaurant. Fresh fish and seafood are on the menu, and there's even a chance to take a quick dip in the Gulf of Mexico.

Then it’s off to the hilly landscape of Uxmal.

Hotel: Maya Resorte, Uxmal (B)

Day 4

Ruins of Uxmal, Cocoa Museum, and Campeche

Early in the morning, after the site opens, we will be among the first visitors to the Uxmal ruins, before the heat sets in. The timeless elegance and breathtaking architecture showcase the engineering prowess of the Mayans. It’s no wonder Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your guide, an expert in the field, will tell you about the history of the Tutul Xiú kingdom in the 10th century.

We then visit the Cocoa Museum. During a tour of the botanical garden, you’ll learn about the origin, cultivation, and significance of cocoa and even taste the original drink made with chili.

Afterward, we drive for about two hours through fertile hinterland to the beautifully restored port city of Campeche, where you can stroll through the old town in the evening and end the day with a margarita.

Hotel: Plaza Colonial, Campeche (B)

Day 5

Campeche, Sisal Hacienda, and Mérida

After breakfast, we take a city tour with a few photo stops to capture the essence of Campeche, a world heritage city fortified with massive defenses against pirate attacks. We then head to Yaxcopoil, a hacienda from the golden era of the sisal industry. The grand mansion and the remains of the former factory are testament to the wealth that agave fibers brought to the hacendados.

Next, we drive to the Yucatán capital Mérida. We stop in the historic center, with its lively atmosphere, impressive cathedral, palaces, and shaded plazas. Admire the patrician houses along the wide boulevards in the north of the city and stroll through the many art galleries and shops in the evening.

Hotel: La Misión de Fray Diego, Mérida (B)

Day 6

Chichén Itzá, Cenote, and Journey to the Caribbean

After breakfast, we drive to the most famous archaeological site of the Mayan culture. In Chichén Itzá, you will see the Mayan pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulkan, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Step back in time as you walk among famous monuments like the observatory, the Temple of the Warriors, and the largest pre-Columbian ball court. After a thorough tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, you will enjoy a hearty lunch and take a final refreshing swim in a crystal-clear cenote.

Afterward, we drive about three hours to the Caribbean coast, where you will be transferred directly to your staycation hotel at the Riviera Maya. Guests departing that evening will be taken to Cancún Airport.

End of the Journey

I. The daily itinerary generally begins at 8:00 AM and ends at the hotel between 5:00 and 6:00 PM.

II. Pre- or post-tour programs can be found under day trips: Day Trips