16 DAYS ECHOES OF THE MAYA: MEXICO & GUATEMALA

Transfer: Airport to Hotel

You will be transferred to your accommodation for the night.

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.

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.

Transfer: Mexico City to Chichen Itza

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Merida, followed by a transfer to Chichen Itza.

Transfer: Chichen Itza to Merida with Sightseeing

You will be transferred to Merida 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.

Merida City, Market & Cantinas

Set out with a local expert to discover the rich flavors and cultural landmarks of Merida. Visit landmarks around Plaza Grande like Merida Cathedral and Palacio de Gobierno. You will also visit the lively local market with its traditional food and regional crafts, as well as vibrant cantinas in Merida, from spirited venues to laid-back spots. Sample 5 carefully curated drinks, paired with authentic botanas made with local ingredients and traditional Yucatecan dishes like taquitos de poc chuc.

Transfer: Merida to Campeche with Sightseeing

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

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.

Kabah Archaeological Site

Visit the Mayan archaeological site of Kabah, which was incorporated in UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside with Uxmal in 1996.

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.

Transfer: Campeche to Palenque

You will be transferred from Campeche to Palenque.

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.

Transfer: Palenque to Flores

You will be transferred to the Guatemalan border at El Ceibo, followed by a transfer to Flores.

Wonders of Tikal & Uaxactún

Journey deep into the Petén jungle to Uaxactún, one of the Maya world’s most enduring cities and home to the earliest known astronomical complex in Mesoamerica. Enjoy a traditional lunch prepared with local ingredients and visit Tikal National Park, where you can stroll through plazas once ruled by divine kings, with colossal temples piercing through the emerald canopy and the sounds of birds, howler and spider monkeys echoing through the air.

Transfer: Flores to Lake Atitlan

You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Guatemala City, followed by a transfer to Lake Atitlan.

Artisanal Village of San Juan

Set sail across Lake Atitlán to the serene village of San Juan La Laguna, a vibrant Tz’utujil Maya town framed by sweeping lake and volcano views. Ascend the hillside past artisan shops, galleries and visit a cozy café to savor some of the region’s finest coffee. Visit a women’s cooperative to witness traditional backstrap loom weaving, where natural plant dyes are transformed into scarves, blankets, and even iPad covers! The village is also a haven for naïf painters, whose whimsical works capture local customs, folklore, and the surrounding landscapes in vibrant color. Conclude at an artist’s studio before returning to your hotel by boat.

Into the Maya Highlands

Today’s journey brings us into Almolonga, a valley so fertile it has earned the nickname as “the Garden of Central Market”. Its produce market bustles with gorgeous vegetables and locals dressed in colourful traditional garments.

A further drive away, in Zunil, lies a town where Catholic devotion and older Maya cosmology coexist in delicate balance. You will visit the enigmatic Maximón, a Maya deity to whom locals offer gifts of cigarettes, alcohol and colorful candles. Step into the town’s striking Catholic Church, the local cemetery and a weaving cooperative where huipiles bloom with intricate embroidery.

Head to San Andrés Xecul, where a dazzling yellow church façade erupts in symbolism of saints, flowers, vines, and animals. Stroll across the town into its humbler church replica, alongside which you will find ceremonial grounds where locals perform Maya rituals with sweeping views of surrounding valleys and pine forests as the backdrop.

Transfer: Lake Atitlan to Antigua Guatemala

You will be transferred to Antigua Guatemala for the night.

Option 1: Antigua Street Eats

Shoes and appetite ready, we will stroll along the cobblestone streets through beloved local comedores where culinary magic happens. Sample Guatemalan classics like chuchitos (tamales), pupusas (cheese-filled corn tortillas), rellenitos (fried plantain with beans) and even pigs’ feet for the daring! Explore Antigua’s bustling community market (open Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays), where the scent of exotic fruits, vegetables and spices fill the air!

Option 2: Textiles of Guatemalan Villages

Journey into the surrounding lesser-visited villages that cradle Guatemala’s rich textile traditions. In Santa María, you will rub shoulders with indigenous women dressed in vibrant traje much like their Maya ancestors did. Wander through the historic streets of San Pedro and Ciudad Vieja as you experience local village lives. Visit a weaving cooperative in San Antonio, where skilled artisans transform traditional back-strap looms into brightly-coloured textiles. If time permits, you can stop at an organic macadamia farm in San Miguel Dueñas to sample the local produce.

Antigua Walking Tour

This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour reveals Antigua’s rich tapestry of culture, architecture, and history. Step inside the Cathedral of San José, San Francisco El Grande, and La Merced to admire intricate altars, gilded carvings, and centuries-old frescoes, and visit the tomb of Guatemala’s first saint, a quiet testament to devotion and local faith.

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.