Some of the world’s most impressive and enigmatic archaeological sites can be found in Mexico, home to the Aztecs and the Mayans, among other great pre-Columbian civilizations.
This itinerary includes some of the most famous ruins, but we also make sure to visit atmospheric sites off the beaten track, where the ghosts of the Mayans still feel palpable. Activities such as a hot air balloon ride over ancient pyramids, visits to contemporary Mayan villages and easy hikes in wildlife reserves ensure that this journey is no dry parade of ruin after ruin.
End along the Riviera Maya, where you explore an underground river and unspoiled mangroves, as well as some of the continent’s best beaches and largest archaeological sites.
Our itineraries are for your inspiration. Please contact a travel advisor to customize this itinerary to fit your needs.
Meet your driver outside of customs for your private transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner at Dulce Patria, one of the best restaurants in Mexico City.
Visit the world-renowned Museum of Anthropology, followed by The National Museum of History. Take an afternoon cooking class led by Ruth Alegria, a former New York chef and restaurant owner who trained with Diana Kennedy.
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby for today’s adventure, a hot air balloon ride over the pyramids before a guided walking tour through the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon in Teotihuacán.
Visit Mexico City's historic center, including the Palacio Nacional, Metropolitan Cathedral & Palacio de Bellas Artes.
Fly to Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Transfer to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure.
Meet your guide for a private excursion to Edzná, a Mayan archaeological site in the region. After lunch return to Campeche for a city tour.
Leave Campeche and head to the ancient ruins of Uxmal to view the amazing Governor's Palace and the mystical Pyramid of the Magician.
After seeing the ruins, savor a typical pibil (earth-cooked) meal of chicken or pork and a visit with a Mayan family.
Take a privately guided tour of the wildlife sanctuary Reserva de la Biósfera Ría Celestún. In the afternoon tour the "White City" of Mérida, founded in 1542 by the Spaniard Francisco de Montejo.
Take a two-hour bike tour north of the city, with free time to swim in the Dzibilchaltún cenote.
Afterward, have a delicious Yucatán meal and enjoy time in the historic city center, ending with a ride in a calesa, a light carriage pulled by horses.
Visit Izamal, one of the oldest cities in the Yucatán, founded in the fourth century A.D. Then journey to the Ek' Balam archaeological site, with its enormous, elaborate Acropolis pyramid that is a striking sight after driving miles through the surrounding jungle.
Travel with your guide to the famed archeological site of Chichén Itzá, which is a testament to the Mayans' advanced mathematical knowledge and their incredible understanding of the solar system.
Return to your hotel for a tranquil evening as we transition to the magical Mexican Caribbean.
Enjoy a group private excursion to Río Secreto, a surreal locale near Playa del Carmen where you can observe natural history dating back millions of years as you hike and swim through a 600‐meter route full of beautiful stalactites and stalagmites.
Go deep inside an underground cave to experience true silence among some of the most dramatic mineral formations in the world. It’s like stepping back in time to witness something mysterious and truly spectacular.
Visit the fascinating Sian Ka'an biosphere reserve for a tour of the mangroves and wetlands that constitute one of Mexico’s most extensive and important protected areas. Use the natural tides and currents to navigate through the narrow canals while floating in a lifejacket and exploring the marine wilderness of the mangroves and estuaries.
Later is a privately guided excursion to Tulum and one of the most impressive Mayan archeological sites in the area.
Private transfer from hotel to airport.
Contact a travel advisor to book your custom itinerary. Fill out the form or call (630) 734-4610.
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