12 Days / 11 Nights
A classic itinerary to capture the essence of Vietnams’ significant cities and their mani tourist attractions. This trip also presents the opportunity for visitors to
Tulum – Valladolid – Uxmal – Merida – Chichen – Holbox
Day 1: Arrive in Cancun
Upon arrival at Cancun International Airport, meet our representative outside the arrival hall. Transfer to the hotel for a short briefing and enjoy a delicious dinner this first evening.
Day 2: Tulum
Enjoy an exploration of the ruins of Tulum, perched atop rugged cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea with the pristine white beach below. Tulum is an old Mayan castle, a walled city that served as a major port for the Mayan city of Coba in the 13th-15th centuries before the Spanish conquest. Explore the site, admire the views, and learn about the Mayans in the company of an expert guide.
Day 3: Coba
Continue the journey through Mayan history with a visit to Coba. Here, find the tallest pyramid in Riviera Maya, Nohoch Muul – travellers can actually climb to the top and take in the spectacular views of the surrounding ruins. Then, drive to Hacienda Chukum to enjoy a relaxing dip in a magnificent cenote (sinkhole) beside an open-air restaurant. In the restaurant, get to grips with Mexican cuisine with a cooking class. Enjoy a lunch buffet of the creations before driving to Vallodolid.
Day 4: Vallodolid
After breakfast, explore Valladolid’s downtown with the guide and discover the local market housed in a beautiful arched colonial-style building. This market houses vendors offering everyday products such as fruit, vegetables, and meat, but it is also a vibrant, colourful place that provides an excellent opportunity to buy souvenirs. Then, head to Izamal. This city was the centre of worship for two Mayan deities – Itzamnás and Kinich-Kakmó – gods of the sky and the sun, respectively. Today, Izamal is home to the Franciscan convent San Antonio de Padua, with the largest atrium in Latin America. Explore it all with our expert guide.
Day 5: Uxmal and Merida
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Uxmal, home to more fascinating Mayan ruins. Highlights include the steep-sided Pyramid of the Magician and the surprising acoustics found in the Nun’s Quadrangle. After lunch, visit ‘Choco Story’, an interactive museum dedicated to Mexico’s historical relationship with all things chocolate. Head to Merida in the evening.
Day 6: Merida
Enjoy a tour of the vibrant state capital of the Yucatan, the ‘white city’, Merida, which has a rich history celebrating its colonial and Mayan past. The main attractions are focused around the historical centre, and sites include Hidalgo square, the cathedral, the Governor’s Palace, Montejo House and Boulevard, and the local market hall. Explore the city’s intriguing heritage on a full-day tour.
Day 7: Merida
Enjoy a free day of leisure in Merida. Travellers can join one of our excellent options for additional tours if they wish. One option is to visit Hacienda Sotuta – the last working hacienda in Merida, home to a processing plant for agave plants. The tour includes a trip around the delightfully charming main house, packed with antiques, and an explanation of the work done on the hacienda. A trip around the fields ends at a private cenote.
Day 8: Merida – Chichen
Enjoy the morning at leisure before making the transfer to Chichen. There is the option of joining an evening tour of Chichen Itza to see a spectacular light show – a unique chance to see the famous ruins from a different perspective.
Day 9: Chichen Itza Mayan Experience
A full day of educational experiences to understand Mexico’s Mayan past. Besides a full tour of the sacred city of Chichen Itza, travellers will enjoy several immersive experiences. These include; a Mayan spirituality experience, a Mayan cooking class, a numerology lesson, a lesson in Mayan astrology, and a lesson in the intricacies of the Mayan language. The entire day consists of these memorable experiences led by Mayans proud of their culture and heritage.
Day 10: Transfer to Chiquila
Transfer to Chiquila and take a ferry ride to arrive at the last stop of the itinerary – Holbox. There is an optional tour to join on this first evening – witnessing the incredible bioluminescence phenomenon at night on specific Holbox beaches.
Day 11: Holbox
Either relax and enjoy the idyllic laid-back vibes of Isla Holbox or join our optional Three Islands Boat Tour. This trip takes travellers to see Bird Island, Yalahau Lagoon, and Passion Island. On bird island, there are more than 150 species of birds to admire, and the highlight here is definitely the chance to catch a glimpse of the flamingo colony. At Yalahau lagoon, take a refreshing dip next to the mangrove forest before relaxing on Passion Island’s classically Caribbean white sands.
Day 12: Departure from Cancun
Last chance to soak up the magic of Holbox, take a taxi from the hotel to Holbox pier. The driver will pick travellers up at Chiquila pier to transfer to the airport for departure flights.
12 day / 11 night itinerary
Hanoi – Sapa – Mai Chau – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay
12 day / 11 night itinerary
Hanoi – Sapa – Mai Chau – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay
12 day / 11 night itinerary
Hanoi – Sapa – Mai Chau – Hoi An – Hanoi – Halong Bay
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and stay at the forefront of new product offerings, Discova behind-the-scenes, destination news, travel trends and thought leadership articles from our on-the-ground experts