18 DAYS ANCIENT HERITAGE OF MEXICO

Transfer: Airport to Hotel

You would be met and 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Transfer: Accommodation to Airport

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