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

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 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).

Afterwards, you will return to Valladolid. Your hotel is located in the heart of the city, providing the perfect starting point for a relaxed evening stroll through the historic center.

Hotel: Valladolid (B)

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: Campeche (B)

Day 5

Melipona Bees, Hacienda Yaxcopoil & Mérida

On your way through the fertile countryside toward Mérida, you’ll stop at a meliponaria, a traditional apiary dedicated to raising stingless Melipona bees. This species of bee played a central role in ancient Mayan culture, not only because of its particularly medicinal honey but also due to its spiritual significance. During a guided tour of the grounds, you’ll learn fascinating details about sustainable beekeeping, the harvesting process, and the cultural significance of these remarkable bees.

Just a few kilometers further, you will reach Hacienda Yaxcopoil, once one of the most important agave estates in the region. Here, you will gain insight into the former lifestyle of the hacendados during the height of the sisal industry. The impressive main house, antique furnishings, ornate floor tiles, and the still-preserved machinery used for agave processing vividly bring this era to life.

In the afternoon, you will finally arrive in Mérida, the elegant capital of Yucatán. During a city walk, you will explore the historic center, including the imposing cathedral, the colonial palaces surrounding the Plaza Grande, and the famous Paseo de Montejo a grand boulevard lined with stately mansions that reflects the city’s economic prosperity in the 19th century.

Hotel: 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