12 Day Mexico & Mayan Discovery
Experience a superior level of comfort. Our Small Group tours have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Travel with no more than 26 people, allowing for a more personalised and immersive experience. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for the exact group size.
This tour is fully escorted by a dedicated tour leader who will accompany you throughout the tour. If your tour includes multiple countries, you will be met by a new tour leader in each country and any internal flights included will be unescorted.
This tour is categorised as 4 out of 5
Packed itinerary with maximum exploration: Embark on a whirlwind sightseeing tour with minimal downtime. This tour maximises your exploration, keeping you on the move and ticking off must-see locations. A good fitness level and mobility are required to keep pace with this action-packed adventure!
As a general requirement across all of our trips, you may be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off transportation, handle your own luggage, and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability and where required, supporting documentation may be requested to ensure that we are comfortable that you will enjoy your trip.
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Hola! And welcome to Mexico City!
Upon arrival at Benito Juarez International Airport, make your own way to the hotel where the rest of the day is at leisure to settle in and, if you have time, take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant and rapidly growing capital where the ancient and modern collide.
After breakfast, head out for an epic day of exploration through Mexico’s incredible capital. First we’ll enjoy a guided tour of Mexico City where your expert guide will bring 700 years of history back to life as you uncover little-known facts and hidden hotspots, from Aztecs to art, in one of the biggest cities in the Americas.
Head into the heart of Mexico City, the Plaza de la Constitucion, and hear about the remains of an ancient city located under the modern metropolis. Visit iconic sites like the Templo Mayor and the Metropolitan Cathedral – the biggest cathedral on the continent.
Following this, enjoy an included inspiring taste as we stop for lunch with local family. Get to understand the true life of Mexico City as you are invited into a family home for a memorable meal where you’ll be served authentic dishes bursting with local flavors and plenty of Mexican hospitality.
Afterwards enjoy a truly inspiring sight as we travel to Teotihuacan archaeological site, once one of the biggest cities in the world, approximately one hour away from Mexico City. With the help of a local, archaeological guide, discover the amazing ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down the ‘Avenue of the Dead’ and see the clues to what life was like here nearly 2,000 years ago. After a guided visit of the site, enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace before returning to the city hustle this evening.
We leave Mexico this morning and travel approximately three hours to Puebla, the culinary capital of Mexico. Prepare your taste buds for another inspiring taste as we arrive in time for an included lunch to sample the local cuisine of the region. This city is renowned for dishes which combine Spanish and pre-hispanic influences, such as chiles en nogada (stuffed chillies covered in creamy walnut sauce).
Following our lunch, we take a small tour of the city to admire the historic architecture, parks and alleys before traveling another 30 minutes to arrive at the town of Cholula. Considered one of the State of Puebla’s ‘magical towns’, we’ll visit the iconic church, built on the Tlachihualteptl pyramid (which means handmade hil) in honor of the Virgen de los Remedios.
Later, we’ll continue to Cholula, a municipality known for one of the most beautiful churches - the Santa María Tonantzintla which dates back the the 16th century. The decoration of the interior of the temple corresponds to the indigenous baroque or New Spain baroque style consisting of an exuberant decoration with indigenous motifs, such as angels with plumes of feathers, flower garlands, eagle knight outfits and with indigenous features, fruits and plants. All this shows a mixture between the pre-Hispanic world and the Christian world.
This morning we’ll be transferred to the airport and take a flight from Mexico City to Tuxtla. On arrival, we will make our way to San Cristóbal de las Casas, stopping en route to visit Sumidero Canyon, an 800-metre deep canyon dating from the same time as the Grand Canyon. Take a boat tour on the Sumidero River to view this incredible canyon from a different perspective. Following our cruise, we continue a further hour and a half drive to San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, San Cristóbal de las Casas is known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, such as the centuries-old, yellow San Cristóbal Cathedral on the Parque Central. Check into your traditional hacienda styled hotel and this afternoon, get to know the area on an orientation walk with your tour leader before enjoying an evening to spend at your leisure.
Embark on a half-day tour this morning to the Maya villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan. Only a short 20 minute drive from San Cristóbal and nestled in the highlands, these villages serve as marketplaces and religious ceremonial centers for indigenous communities who live in the surrounding hills. The local people have retained their traditional way of life and are often seen dressed in their own distinctive colorful clothing. You’ll have time to explore these villages with your guide and learn more about the culture and history of these mainly Maya people.
Return to San Cristóbal where the rest of your day is at leisure to explore this charming town on your own.
Say goodbye to San Cristóbal de Las Casas this morning as we embark on a day of travel to reach Palenque, the ruined ancient Mayan city that has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
We’ll first drive approximately four hours to reach the picturesque low and wide Agua Azul waterfall, which flows slowly over limestone rocks with time for a quick dip — so remember to pack your swimsuit! Otherwise, enjoy a scenic stroll around the beautiful surroundings before continuing a further two hour drive to Palenque.
Today you’ll visit an inspiring sight as we tour the ruins of Palenque. Archaeologists have been hard at work uncovering the secrets of this ancient city, but around 90% of the site remains unexcavated and concealed in the forest. Sitting on a hilltop surrounded by thick trees, the ruins date back to 600AD and are some of the most impressive Maya relics in Mexico. The area gives you an idea of what the Spanish invaders must have seen when they first came across the hidden ruins. Try to listen out for the eerie calls of howler monkeys and the echoes of screeching parrots as you walk through the jungle.
Following our visit in the morning, we’ll drive approximately five hours to the historic port town of Campeche, known for its preserved baroque colonial buildings, military architecture and walled historic district.
Leave Campeche behind and drive approximately two hours to another inspiring sight; one of Mexico's best-preserved Maya sites, Uxmal. Spend two hours exploring the ruins with your guide to see the Pyramid of the Magician, one of Mexico’s most impressive, marvel at the decorative details of the Governor’s Palace, and take the opportunity to climb one of the pyramids for an astounding view of the surrounding area.
Continue another hour’s drive to Mérida, founded in 1542 on the site of Tho, an ancient Maya city. This colonial city retains much of its old-world charm thanks primarily to its people and architecture. On arrival, check into our inspiring stay for the next two nights, the 5-star La Misión de Fray Diego. Originally an old mansion dating back to the 17th century, the building has now been carefully restored and converted into an unique, boutique hotel.
This afternoon, take an orientation walk with your guide before enjoying some free time for the rest of the day. Take a trip to the Mérida Contemporary Art Museum for an interesting perspective on contemporary life in the city, head to the outdoor markets where you can find local food specialties like the seriously spicy El Yucateco hot sauce, or perhaps just spend some time wandering the Plaza Grande: a green, shady square enclosed by a 16th-century cathedral, City Hall, the State Government Palace and Casa Mantejo — the choice is yours!
After breakfast, drive to the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve for a boat tour through the reserve. Look out for the Yucatan woodpecker, Mexican sheartail, tropical mockingbird and, depending on the season (usually November–March), you may be lucky enough to witness thousands of flamingos painting a pink streak across the landscape.
Return to Mérida for an afternoon at leisure. For a taste of Mérida's 19th-century glory, you may like to take a walk along the mansion-lined Paseo de Montejo. Be sure to ask your leader for some great local recommendations for dinner this evening.
This morning we travel approximately two hours to reach our final inspiring sight, the fascinating complex of Chichen Itza. Named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, uncover the secrets of what is perhaps the most famous Maya site in Mexico, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo, a Mesoamerican step-pyramid.
Following our visit, enjoy an inspiring taste as we stop at the nearby town of Piste and experience a traditional Maya family lunch, a great opportunity to experience the culture and have the opportunity to interact with the locals while being served traditional Yucatecan cuisine.
Afterwards, we continue and stop at a beautiful cenote (sinkhole) for a swim before reaching Playa del Carmen this afternoon. This idyllic coastal resort is located along the Yucatán Peninsula's Riviera Maya strip of Caribbean shoreline and is known for its palm-lined beaches and coral reefs. This evening is yours to explore as you will.
Today is yours to relax and unwind in Playa del Carmen. Be sure to wander the Quinta Avenida pedestrian thoroughfare that runs parallel to the beach, filled with blocks of shops, restaurants and nightspots ranging from laid-back bars to dance clubs.
Today your journey through Mexico comes to an end after breakfast. We hope you’ve been inspired!
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This package is sold as land only, however you do have the option of adding domestic & international airfares to your booking. Simply click on’ book now’, and under upgrades , you will be asked “Would you like us to contact you around our flight service?”. By selecting this option Inspiring Vacations will contact you to discuss adding flights to your chosen destination. We can then assist with turning your booking into a flight inclusive package.
Upon completing the purchase of your package and fulfilling the following booking requirements, you will be granted access to our flight portal via your Traveller Hub.
Once these criteria have been met, access will be made available to you via Traveller Hub to book your flights via our flight portal.
The following requests are able to be processed through the online flight portal:
The online flight portal is unable to process the following requests and you must book these yourself independently:
Online check-in
Some airlines may not permit online check-in where flights have been booked by a travel company. Where unavailable to do so online, you will be required to check-in at the airport. Inspiring Vacations cannot check-in online on behalf of our customers.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a”4”
Active Tour: A very good level of fitness and mobility is required for you to enjoy all aspects of the itinerary, as this is considered a fast-paced tour. While there is some free time scheduled either in the morning or afternoon, there are many full days of sightseeing with minimal rest and some early starts. You will be required to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and participate in all scheduled sightseeing that may be conducted on uneven ground and terrain. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations.
You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $1,169.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
We have partnered with nib to offer our customers competitive rates for their travel insurance. You can book Comprehensive or Essentials cover for your domestic, international or multi-trip journeys simply by clicking HERE.
Note that Inspiring Vacations cannot provide advice with regards to any insurance product.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return.
Visas may be required.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://smartraveller.gov.au for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Group Size
6-20 people
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre Tour Accommodation
Post Tour Accommodation
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Please select the number of extra nights required in the 'Additional Nights Accommodation' field when making your purchase. The additional cost for these arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
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