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Home > Mexico > 18 DAYS ANCIENT HERITAGE OF MEXICO

18 DAYS ANCIENT HERITAGE OF MEXICO

MEXICO CITY / VILLAHERMOSA / COATZACOALCOS / PALENQUE / CALAKMUL / CAMPECHE / MERIDA / CHICHEN ITZA / TULUM / OAXACA

Highlights

  • Visit 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1 trip
  • Guided by expert archaeologists at key archaeological sites
  • In-depth insights into the ancient Mesoamerican world of Olmec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztec, Maya civilizations
  • Discover lesser known yet amazingly preserved ruins that reveal the ingenuity of pre-Columbian architectures
  • Uncover the gastronomic world of Yucatan culinary in Merida

Embark on an immersive journey through the ancient heritage of Mexico, where history, archaeology, and culture come together across 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Guided by expert archaeologists at key archaeological sites, gain deeper insights into the fascinating civilizations of the Olmec, Zapotec, Teotihuacan, Toltec, Aztec, and Maya peoples.

Beyond the iconic landmarks, uncover lesser-known yet exceptionally preserved ruins that showcase the brilliance and ingenuity of pre-Columbian architecture. From majestic pyramids and sacred temples to ancient ceremonial cities, each destination reveals a different chapter of Mesoamerica’s rich past.

From

SGD 29,980 Per Person

18 Days 17 Nights

DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 01 MEXICO CITY

Circulo Mexicano
Nil

Transfer: Airport to Hotel

You would be met and transferred to your accommodation for the night.

Day 02 MEXICO CITY

Circulo Mexicano
Breakfast included

Best of Mexico City

Step into the city’s historic center (UNESCO) at Zocalo. Admire the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Palace, the lively Avenida Francisco I. Madero and the dazzling Palace of Fine Arts, which seamlessly blends Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. Visit the National Museum of Anthropology to uncover a vast collection of Mesoamerican artefacts, housed within a renowned architectural building by Pedro Ramirez Vasquez.

Evening Folklorico Ballet

Featuring over 70 choreographic pieces founded by Amalia Hernandez, the folkloric ballet represents the finest of Mexican culture and folklore through artistic representations that has captured the hearts of people worldwide.

Day 03 MEXICO CITY

Circulo Mexicano
Breakfast included

Echoes of Teotihuacan

Journey approximately 75 minutes to the monumental ruins of Teotihuacan (UNESCO). Walk along the colossal Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, as well as the legendary Avenue of the Dead, as you uncover temples, palaces and murals which reveal the rituals, beliefs and daily lives of the Teotihuacano civilization.

Day 04 MEXICO CITY

Circulo Mexicano
Breakfast included

Tula: Ancient Capital of Toltec

Today’s adventure brings you to Tenayuca (a striking ceremonial centre famed for its pyramid encircled by carved serpent heads that is associated with the Chichimec people) and Santa Cecilia (lesser known but mesmerizing pyramid reconstructed within a colonial neighborhood). Visit Tula Archaeological Zone, the former capital of the Toltec civilization with its legendary Atlantean statues which once supported the roof of the Temple of Tlahuizcalpantecuhtli. Conclude with a visit to Castillo Quemado, which enigmatic ruins offer a window into the rituals, architecture and mysteries of the ancient past.

Day 05 MEXICO CITY / VILLAHERMOSA

Quinta Eden
Breakfast included

Transfer: Mexico City to Villahermosa

You will be driven approximately 45 minutes to the Mexico City Airport, where you will board your flight to Villahermosa. Upon arrival, you will be driven approximately 1 hour to your accommodation for the night.

Day 06 VILLAHERMOSA / COATZACOALCOS

Fiesta Inn Hotel
Nil

Transfer: Villahermosa to Coatzacoalcos via La Venta

Today, you will be driven approximately 15 minutes from your accommodation to Parque Museo La Venta, followed by another 1 hour 45 minutes to La Venta Archaeological Site. Thereafter, you will be driven approximately 1 hour 45 minutes to your accommodation in Coatzacoalcos.

Into the World of Olmecs in La Venta

Uncover the mesmerizing world of early Olmec civilization at Parque Museo La Venta and La Venta Archaeological Site, known as the oldest planned trace of a pre-Hispanic city. Its main basement is associated with six tombstones carved in bas-reliefs and there is an underground Massive Offerings beneath the site. The Olmecs were also known for transporting huge masses of stones from distant regions, with themes combining human figures with animal features.

Day 07 COATZACOALCOS

Fiesta Inn Hotel
Breakfast included

Colossal Olmec Heads of San Lorenzo

Explore San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, one of the earliest and most powerful capitals of the Olmec civilization, which was first settled around 1500 BC before developing into a thriving ceremonial and political centre. San Lorenzo is famed for its colossal Olmec heads, elaborate thrones and ceremonial monuments. At its height, San Lorenzo is believed to have supported as many as 13,000 inhabitants!

Day 08 COATZACOALCOS / PALENQUE

Chan-Kah Resort Village
Breakfast included

Transfer: Coatzacoalcos to Palenque

You will be transferred approximately 4.5 hours to your accommodation in Palenque. The rest of the day is free at leisure for you to soak in the tranquil jungle atmosphere of this charming town.

For guests with more time, we also recommend extending another night in Palenque to do a full day trip experience to the Maya archaeological sites of Bonampak and Yaxchilan. Bonampak is known for its well-preserved murals which reflect Maya life and ritual, while Yaxchilan can uniquely only be reached through a boat trip down the Usumacinta River.

Day 09 PALENQUE / CALAKMUL

Standard Ecovillage
Breakfast included

Transfer: Palenque to Calakmul with Sightseeing

Today, you will be transferred from Palenque to Calakmul. En route, you will make a visit to the Palenque Archaeological Zone.

Palenque: Temples of the Rainforest

For centuries, Palenque (UNESCO) lay hidden beneath dense rainforest until its temples and palaces gradually emerged from the jungle canopy. Discover the remarkable hieroglyphic inscriptions which recount nearly two centuries of royal history, revealing the lives of powerful rulers who once governed this thriving city. Climb the ancient temples for sweeping views across the emerald jungle.

Day 10 CALAKMUL

Standard Ecovillage
Breakfast included

Calakmul: Wild Heart of the Maya World

Located approximately 1.5 hours from your accommodation, deep within the dense tropical rainforest of Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (UNESCO) lies one of the oldest and most impressive Maya sites, which has been declared patrimony of mankind by the UNESCO. You will also visit the nearby ruins of Chicanna, smaller yet exquisitely detailed construction which combines two Maya styles: the richly-decorated zoomorphic facades of the Chenes and the distinctive towered structures of the Rio Bec tradition.

Day 11 CALAKMUL / CAMPECHE

Hotel Casa Don Gustavo
Breakfast included

Transfer: Calakmul to Campeche

You will be transferred approximately 3.5 hours to Campeche.

Campeche: Fortified Jewel of the Mexico Gulf

Once a prosperous trading hub, the UNESCO-listed Campeche’s colorful streets are beautifully lined with colonial mansions and lively plazas. Passing sections of old defensive walls, you will learn about the stories of merchants and pirates who once shaped the life of this coastal city.

Day 12 CAMPECHE / MERIDA

Casa Lecanda
Breakfast included

Transfer: Campeche to Merida via Uxmal

You will be driven approximately 2 hours to Uxmal, followed by another 1 hour to Merida.

Legends of Uxmal

Step into the ancient Maya world at Uxmal (UNESCO), renowned for its rounded architecture and intricate stone latticework. Uncover the legends surrounding the towering Pyramid of the Magician and the Maya cosmology in the Nuns’ Quadrangle.

Day 13 MERIDA

Casa Lecanda
Breakfast included

A Taste of Merida

Set out with a local expert to discover the rich flavors and cultural landmarks of Merida. Visit a legendary taqueria where steaming tortillas are filled with a colorful array of Yucatecan stews, the lively local markets, peek into the tortilla factory to witness a staple of the Mexican table, and taste mouth-watering regional dishes such as Cochinita pibil and Lechon al horno. Admire the elegant architecture of the historic centre where you can find Yucatan-style buildings and Mexico’s oldest cathedral, as well as the Governemnt House with works by celebrated local painter Fernando Castro. Head to a hidden local favorite to sample tacos paired with a crisp artisanal beer on the way to the Paseo de Montejo Avenue. Conclude with a visit to a traditional candy shop known for its tangy sorbet and creamy, fruit-filled Champola.

Day 14 MERIDA / CHICHEN ITZA

Hacienda Chichen
Breakfast included

Transfer: Merida to Chichen Itza with Sightseeing

You will be driven 75 minutes to Izamal for sightseeing, followed by another 1 hour to Chichen Itza.

Pueblo Magico of Izamal

Listed in UNESCO’s tentative heritage list, Izamal is known as the “Yellow City” and believed to be the largest Mayan city of the northern Yucatan Peninsula. You will visit the impressive Convento de San Antonio de Padua built atop the base of an ancient Mayan pyramid, as well as its expansive atrium—one of the largest in the Americas!

Day 15 CHICHEN ITZA / TULUM

Conrad Tulum
Breakfast included

Transfer: Chichen Itza to Tulum with Sightseeing

You will be transferred to Tulum with sightseeing along the way.

Chichen Itza, Sacred Cenotes & Valladolid

Explore the legendary Chichen Itza (UNESCO): the Temple of the warriors, the Great Ball Court, and the iconic El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulkan). Uncover the Maya cosmology, religion, as well as their profound understanding of life and death. Visit the magical sinkhole of Cenote Dzit Nup hidden within a mystical underground chamber, with its dramatic stalactites hanging from the rock ceiling as a shaft of sunlight pierces through the small opening. Let us whisk you to the colonial town of Valladolid with its elegant Convent of San Bernardino de Siena.

Day 16 TULUM / OAXACA

Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique
Breakfast included

Transfer: Tulum to Oaxaca

You will be driven approximately 2 hours to Cancun airport for your flight to Oaxaca. Upon arrival, you will be transferred approximately 30 minutes to your accommodation for the night.

Day 17 OAXACA

Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique
Breakfast included

Monte Alban: Empires Above the Valley

Journey to the remarkable ruins of Monte Alban (UNESCO), one of the earliest great cities of Zapotec civilization in Mesoamerica. Perched dramatically atop a flattened mountain overlooking the Oaxaca Valley, this ancient capital once commanded political, economic, and spiritual influence across the region. You will also explore the historic Zocalo de Oaxaca (UNESCO), from its bustling central square to its largest central market where you will gain insights into different local handicrafts.

Day 18 OAXACA

Image of a plane flying
Breakfast included

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred approximately 30 minutes to the airport for your onward journey.

Hotels & Tour Price

Intriq Journey's Curated Hotels

Indicative Cost Per Person (HKD)

Double Occupancy S$ 179,980

Circulo Mexicano • Quinta Eden • Fiesta Inn Hotel • Chan-Kah Resort Village • Standard Ecovillage • Hotel Casa Don Gustavo • Casa Lecanda • Hacienda Chichen • Conrad Tulum • Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Mexico City

Mexico City

Circulo Mexicano

Villahermosa

Villahermosa

Quinta Eden

View More
Coatzacoalcos

Coatzacoalcos

Fiesta Inn Hotel

Palenque

Palenque

Chan-Kah Resort Village

Calakmul

Calakmul

Standard Ecovillage

Campeche

Campeche

Hotel Casa Don Gustavo

Merida

Merida

Casa Lecanda

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Hacienda Chichen

Tulum

Tulum

Conrad Tulum

Oaxaca

Oaxaca

Casa Oaxaca Hotel Boutique

Intriq Journey's Curated Hotels

Indicative Cost Per Person (HKD)

Double Occupancy S$ 209,980

Four Seasons • Quinta Eden • Fiesta Inn Hotel • Hotel Boutique Quinta Chanabnal • Standard Ecovillage • Hotel Casa Don Gustavo • Chable Yucatan • Hacienda Chichen • La Valise Tulum • Quinta Real Oaxaca

Mexico City

Mexico City

Four Seasons

Villahermosa

Villahermosa

Quinta Eden

Coatzacoalcos

Coatzacoalcos

Fiesta Inn Hotel

Oaxaca

Oaxaca

Quinta Real Oaxaca

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza

Hacienda Chichen Resort

Tulum

Tulum

La Valise Tulum

La Valise Tulum is an intimate luxury beachfront hotel in southern Tulum's hotel zone, blending boho-chic design with Riviera Maya jungle and sea views.

Merida

Merida

Chable Yucatan

Campeche

Campeche

Hotel Casa Don Gustavo

COST INCLUDES:

  • Accommodation as stated on twin sharing basis
  • Meals as stated
  • Tours as stated in private basis with English speaking guide
  • Transfers as stated

COST EXCLUDES:

  • Airfares and airport taxes
  • Beverages where meals are included
  • Travel insurance
  • Visa (if required)
  • Personal expenses such as gratuities, telephone, spa, laundry, telephone and bar bills, etc

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