Guide

Tour Leaders are quite simply the glue that holds our tours together. They are chosen for their travel experience and people skills and are thoroughly trained by Explore, widely acknowledged as some of the best training in the industry. A Tour Leader’s ultimate aim is to ensure everyone is well looked after and have a fantastic trip. They are there to ensure that the tour logistics run smoothly, that health and safety is adhered to and provide comprehensive briefings at the beginning and throughout the tour.

Accommodation

19 nights standard hotel 1 nights simple lodge

Meals

A key facet of our responsible approach to tourism is that we encourage our groups to eat in local restaurants that prepare locally grown food. We give customers choice as to their meals and do not use rather bland and impersonal hotel restaurants or all- inclusive options 20 Breakfasts

Others

All accommodation, activities and meals that are shown in the itinerary are included in the total cost of your trip You will also receive a complimentary transfer to and from the airport if you arrive on day 1 of the trip and depart on the last day and have provided your international flight information.

Transport

Bus, Boat

Not included:

Insurance

Travel Insurance is not included

Flights

International flights not included in the tour cost

Others

Any visa costs, spending money and tips are not included in the trip price. You can also book extra nights’ accommodation at the beginning and end of the trip and the cost of this accommodation along with any transfers would be quoted separately.

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Join Tour In Mexico City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Join Tour In Mexico City

Arrive in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and truly the heart and soul of the country. With so much rich history to discover, the city is filled with historic buildings, landmarks and the largest number of museums in the world. Due to the number of evening flights into the international airport, your Leader plans to do the welcome meeting on the morning of day two, and will leave a message in reception with details on timings and everything else that you’ll need for the day. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive into Mexico City at any time. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you’ll need to arrive into Mexico City International Airport (MEX) which is approximately a 30 minute to one hour drive from the hotel. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, perhaps you might choose to have a stroll around Alameda Central, Mexico City’s oldest municipal park, or visit the Templo Mayor Museum, which is known for its exhibits relating to the Aztec civilization.
Day 2 Day 2: Mexico City Tour Including The Museum Of Anthropology
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Mexico City Tour Including The Museum Of Anthropology

On our first day in Mexico City we’ll be exploring like a local, on foot and by public transport. The Zocalo is the beating heart of the city; the main square that has been a cornerstone in public gatherings since the ancient times. The National Palace is located on the east side of the square - the President lives here as his permanent residence, so we’ll take a look at it from the outside, along with the grand metropolitan cathedral. The Zocalo also gives us our first taste of Mexico’s wealth of ancient history - the remains of the ancient Aztec Templo Mayor were discovered here and are still well preserved, right in the downtown of the city. From the area around the central Zocalo, we take public transport to the enormous Chapultepec Park, Mexico City’s main green space, and walk through to the National Anthropology Museum. One of the finest museums in the world, its exhibits offer a taste of the history ahead of us. Our city tour ends here at the museum. Opt to stay here longer, or return together with your Tour Leader. Today’s walk in the city may reach approximately 10km including the time at the museum.
Day 3 Day 3: Visit The Teotihuacan Pyramids And The Basilica De Guadalupe
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Visit The Teotihuacan Pyramids And The Basilica De Guadalupe

Our destination today is the mysterious pyramids of Teotihuacan. En route, we will visit the Basilica de Guadalupe - an important pilgrimage site for Mexicans, with a miraculous story behind it that our Tour Leader will recount. Continuing to Teotihuacan, we enter into this complex of ruins that were abandoned thirteen centuries ago. Once the largest city in the Americas with perhaps 100,000 inhabitants, its influence continued through Middle America, and Maya craftsmen borrowed its decorative motifs and building designs. Centuries later the Aztecs revered Teotihuacan as ’the Place of the Gods’. We’ll have lunch nearby (not included), and we may have the chance to see some of the ancient uses of agave and obsidian in a workshop and craft shop nearby. We’ll return to Mexico City in the late afternoon. If you wish, you may like the chance to climb the Torre Latinoamericana this evening - one of the tallest buildings in the city, with a panoramic viewing platform that gives fantastic views across the downtown and beyond.
Day 4 Day 4: Journey To Oaxaca; Free To Explore The Colonial City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Journey To Oaxaca; Free To Explore The Colonial City

Leaving the capital we drive south through cactus country to Oaxaca, one of the most charming colonial cities in Mexico. Our drive time will be approximately 8 hours, including several stops. During the latter half of the drive we’ll have some beautiful views of the Sierra Madre mountains, and the cactus-covered landscape. We’ll arrive in the late afternoon, and we can expect the historical centre to be extremely busy with people who have come from across Mexico as well as the rest of the world to take part in the Day of the Dead celebrations. The origins of the Dia de los Muertos can be traced back as far as the indigenous people of Mesoamerica; the Zapotecs, Aztecs and the Maya all had ancient rituals for celebrating the lives of their ancestors. The modern day festivities take place between the 31st October and 2nd November each year, when it is believed to be easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living. Relatives tend to gather in cemeteries where they build private shrines and altars and bring along food, drink, toys and other sentimental items to share with their returning relatives. The ceremonies are a fascinating insight into local culture and beliefs. Oaxaca is one of the best places to witness the Day of Dead celebrations, as the traditions are very much alive in this part of Mexico. The city is often full at this time, and the streets will be busy - not just with local markets, street vendors, entertainers and parades (events change from year to year), but with visitors spilling out from cafes, restaurants and bars. Many of the festivities take place at night in the local cemeteries as well as in the streets of Oaxaca. Depending on your departure date, you will be in Oaxaca on one or two of the nights of the 31st, 1st and 2nd, and you will experience the different festivities taking place on those days.
Day 5 Day 5: Visit The Ancient Complex Of Pyramids Of Monte Alban; Free Afternoon In Oaxaca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Visit The Ancient Complex Of Pyramids Of Monte Alban; Free Afternoon In Oaxaca

As with many of the colonial cities in Mexico, Oaxaca was built in the 1500s with stones taken from ancient civilisations in the close surroundings. Today we’ll visit Monte Alban, the most important site in the Oaxaca area, built by the Zapotec people who flourished here over 1,500 years ago. This impressive complex of temples, pyramids and enigmatic rock carvings was built literally on top of a hill, which means that there will be some hill walking and steps to conquer in the site today. The incredible views over the Sierra Madre and the fertile valley are well worth the effort. Unlike sites like Teotihuacan, Monte Alban was lived in until the arrival of the conquistadors, as the Mixtec civilisation took over from the Zapotecs and continued its use. This afternoon we have free time at leisure in Oaxaca. Depending on your departure date, there will still be Dia de los Muertos celebrations to enjoy this afternoon in the beautiful historic centre.
Day 6 Day 6: Journey To Tehuantepec Via Teotitlan Del Valle And The Mitla Ruins
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Journey To Tehuantepec Via Teotitlan Del Valle And The Mitla Ruins

It’s a long journey today, through the winding roads of the mountainous Sierra Madre range, making several interesting stops en route. Our first port of call is close to Oaxaca - the 2000-year old swamp cypress tree in Santa Maria del Tule, which, at 54 metres in circumference, has the stoutest trunk of any in the world. We continue to the small town of Teotitlan del Valle, a region where the Zapotec language is spoken more commonly than Spanish. Here the people have been weavers since the ancient times, and we should be able to see how this fine work is created, as well as getting an understanding how natural colours are achieved from the plants that they have around them. Our next short stop is at the ancient Mixtec site of Mitla, where we will have a short exploration of these ruins. The largest part of the drive is ahead of us, with our destination this evening being the hot and windy isthmus of Tehuantepec, a convenient stopping point on our journey towards San Cristobal. The journey today will take approximately 10 hours including stops.
Day 7 Day 7: Sumidero Canyon Boat Trip Then Head To San Cristobal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Sumidero Canyon Boat Trip Then Head To San Cristobal

Leaving early this morning we have a roughly 5 hour drive to Cahuare, the starting point for our visit to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon, a unique rift 41km long and up to 1000mts deep, cut by the Rio Grijalva. This is the spot where, in the 16th century, some 1000 Chiapa indigenous people committed suicide rather than submit to Spanish rule. We take a trip on a speed boat to fully appreciate the towering gorge, before driving up a scenic mountain road to San Cristóbal de las Casas. At 2210m above sea level, it can get cold at night, a sharp contrast to the heat of Tehuantepec.
Day 8 Day 8: Discover The Indigenous Villages Of San Juan Chamula And Zinacantan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Discover The Indigenous Villages Of San Juan Chamula And Zinacantan

There is a unique atmosphere to the small colonial town of San Cristobal, high in the scenic Chiapas range. The indigenous groups from the surrounding hills fill the town and marketplace with their colourful dress including the distinctive Tzotzil community who still retain much of their Mayan customs and language. We will be visiting San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, indigenous villages close to San Cristobal that practice an interesting blend of Catholicism and traditional Maya beliefs. This area is noted for the bright textiles and weavings in bold designs, and when we return to San Cristobal we’ll have the afternoon free - you may like to bargain for some colourful souvenirs here. Much like Oaxaca, San Cristobal is a charming town to explore on foot and has its fair share of museums on a variety of themes. The Na Bolom, House of the Jaguar, is dedicated to the preservation of the Lacandón tribe and displays many of their artefacts, while the Textiles Centre is a superb showcase of the weaving traditions found both in Chiapas as well as the rest of Mexico and Central America. There are also museums dedicated to amber and jade, that not only display historical pieces, but also give an understanding of the importance of these materials to the ancient civilisations.
Day 9 Day 9: Travel To Palenque
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Travel To Palenque

Leaving the highlands, we have a long driving day ahead of us, approximately 8 hours plus stops. The road is slow and winding, but there are scenic views as we descend to the jungles of Palenque. We’ll be driving via the town of Villahermosa, where we stop for lunch. If we have time, we will stop in the small town of Chontalpa, renouned for it ’piña miel’ pineapples, before arriving at our hotel.
Day 10 Day 10: Discover The Important Maya Site Of Palenque
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Discover The Important Maya Site Of Palenque

One of the highlights of our tour is today’s guided visit to the famous jungle ruins of Palenque, a fascinating and important Mayan site. Once the choking forest was cleared, the ruins revealed the tomb of the high priest Pakal, his body adorned with a marvellous jade death mask - one of the most prized relics of the Maya culture, discovered only in 1952. The entire site, shrouded by the steamy rainforest, has an aura of deep mystery. During the afternoon you can continue to explore the site, or take a bus back to Palenque.
Day 11 Day 11: Cross The Border Into Guatemala And Continue On To Flores.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Cross The Border Into Guatemala And Continue On To Flores.

We’ll leave Palenque early in the morning and travel for around 3 hours to the El Ceibo Border. After crossing into Guatemala, we’ll continue for another 3 hours to the picturesque town of Flores. Located on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, Flores is a very laid-back city with a rich history. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the Americas and was the last Maya city to fall to the Spanish. Today will be a long travel day, and we expect to arrive in Flores in the mid-afternoon.
Day 12 Day 12: Visit The Yaxha Ruins And Enjoy An Optional Boat Trip On Lake Peten Itza.
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Visit The Yaxha Ruins And Enjoy An Optional Boat Trip On Lake Peten Itza.

After breakfast, we’ll leave Flores and drive for an hour and a half to Yaxha, where we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent ruins. This ancient city is located on the shores of two lakes, Yaxha and Sacnab, within the UNESCO-listed Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo biosphere reserve. This area is rich in rainforests and wetlands, teeming with wildlife. The ruins span several square kilometers and include 500 structures uncovered so far. The city’s name, meaning ’green-blue water,’ was given thanks to its picturesque lakeside location. We’ll spend around two hours exploring the site before stopping for lunch (not included) and returning to Flores. Back in Flores, there will be an opportunity for an optional boat trip on Lake Peten Itza.
Day 13 Day 13: Explore The Great Maya Metropolis Of Tikal (Guatemala)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Explore The Great Maya Metropolis Of Tikal (Guatemala)

Today we visit Tikal, the great Maya metropolis set in the midst of the rainforest, which can justly be compared with the celebrated ancient cities of Egypt and Greece. Initially settled in about 600BC, Tikal was abandoned by its rulers around 890AD and totally deserted a hundred years later. The city covered an area of 16 square kilometres. Re-discovered in 1848, only a few of its great temples and pyramids have been excavated. The site is extensive, so we include a guided tour in the morning followed by free time to let you explore. We can appreciate the prolific birdlife in the surrounding rainforest and take in amazing views of the forest canopy from the tops of the pyramids. We drive back to Flores at around 3.30pm.
Day 14 Day 14: Travel To San Ignacio (Belize)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Travel To San Ignacio (Belize)

Today we drive over the border to San Ignacio in Belize, visiting the little known site of Xunantunich en route, with its fantastic array of pyramids and temples. We make our way to our hotel, where the rest of the afternoon is at our leisure. If you still have room for one more Mayan site, the ruins of Cahal Pech are worth a visit, high up on a hill near the centre of San Ignacio town. Alternatively, walk into the town and check out the lively local market (not Sundays).
Day 15 Day 15: Drive To Belize City And Boat To Caye Caulker
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Drive To Belize City And Boat To Caye Caulker

We drive to Belize City for our first view of the Caribbean and board our water taxi for the one-hour journey to the enchanting tropical island of Caye Caulker. Once a pirate lair, this tiny but beautiful island lies 34km northeast of Belize City and about 1.6km inside the greatest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. Please note that the seven days in Caye Caulker and the Yucatan are designed as an extension to our Contrasts of Mexico tour, and some of your fellow group members may leave the tour today in Belize City. Whilst the extension has been designed to complement the trip, we wish to point out that it may not be a group experience and you may not be travelling with other customers. Your Tour Leader from the Contrasts of Mexico tour will be accompanying you throughout the extension.
Day 16 Day 16: Relax On Caye Caulker; Optional Snorkelling Trip
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Relax On Caye Caulker; Optional Snorkelling Trip

The island remains uncrowded and unluxurious, and the local fishermen catch lobster, conch, fish and crab to supply domestic and foreign markets. It’s a popular place with backpackers, so there is a proliferation of good, reasonably priced restaurants. There’s time to relax or enjoy a number of optional trips. You may take a snorkelling trip out to the nearby Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark and Ray Alley, or take a full-day trip out to Goff’s Caye to observe manatee in their natural mangrove habitat. Scuba diving is also available.
Day 17 Day 17: Boat Back To The Mainland Then Drive To Bacalar
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 17: Boat Back To The Mainland Then Drive To Bacalar

We leave Caye Caulker by boat this morning, sailing back to the mainland and driving north to the Belizean border, crossing into Mexico via Chetumal. We then continue by vehicle to the small town of Bacalar, situated on the banks of the beautiful Lake Bacalar in the Riviera Maya. The lake is frequently named ’the Seven Coloured Lagoon’ for its many different shades of blue, and has strikingly clear waters due to the white limestone bottom. Just next to the lake we plan to take a swim in the Cenote Azul, one of the Yucatan’s famous water-filled limestone pools that have great spiritual importance for the Yucatan Maya people. We have this afternoon free, with the possibility of taking a boat trip across the lake.
Day 18 Day 18: Visit Tulum Before Driving To Valladolid
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 18: Visit Tulum Before Driving To Valladolid

We head northeast from Bacalar this morning, towards the dramatically situated site of Tulum, situated on its clifftop perch overlooking the turquoise water and golden sands below. The ruins of Tulum date back to the late period of the Mayan civilisation when there was developing enmity between Mayan provinces, so the city is guarded by thick ramparts and a watch tower. After visiting the site we will continue on to the colonial city of Valladolid, arriving in the late afternoon. We’ll be free here to enjoy the picturesque and colourful town centre. Valladolid even has its own cenote just a few blocks away from the main Zocalo, which is a great option for a late afternoon swim.
Day 19 Day 19: Explore Chichen Itza; Travel To Merida
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 19: Explore Chichen Itza; Travel To Merida

This morning we visit the ruins of Chichen Itza. Founded in AD432, re-founded in 987 and conquered by the Toltecs in the 10th century, the culture of the Maya and the Toltec gradually fused. The pyramids, palaces, temples and ballcourt (where death was the penalty for defeat) are adorned with astonishing sculptures. Under the pressure of the civil war, the great monuments deteriorated and the Maya civilisation collapsed, but undeniably Chichen Itza remains one of the most outstanding sites in the Americas, and its main pyramid was denoted as the Seventh New Wonder of the World in 2007. After our visit to this extensive site, we will continue to the city of Merida, famed for its beautiful Spanish-Moorish style architecture.
Day 20 Day 20: Visit The Ancient Maya City Of Uxmal
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20: Visit The Ancient Maya City Of Uxmal

We have our final site visit this morning; to those in the know, Uxmal is one of the Yucatan’s most underrated ancient cities. Encircled by hills, Uxmal is expansive in its design with majestic palaces and pyramids, and long geometrical friezes that rank among the most splendid examples of ancient American Art. The incredible Pyramid of the Magician and the beautiful Governor’s Palace are two of the finest examples of Mayan art found in Meso America. Later in the day we return to Merida, where we have time to wander along the narrow streets watching the horse-drawn carriages rattle past. Alternatively there is an option to visit Celestun, the pink flamingo sanctuary.
Day 21 Day 21: Trip Ends In Merida
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 21: Trip Ends In Merida

The trip ends in the morning at our hotel in Merida. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from Merida at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive an airport transfer today, you need to depart from Manuel Crescencio Rejon International Airport (MID) which is approximately a 20 minutes’ drive from the hotel.

+18

21 days tour

Contrasts Of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension (Day Of Th

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Contrasts Of Mexico + Yucatan Peninsula Extension (Day Of Th

Day 1: Join Tour In Mexico City

Day 2: Mexico City Tour Including The Museum Of Anthropology

Day 3: Visit The Teotihuacan Pyramids And The Basilica De Guadalupe

Day 4: Journey To Oaxaca; Free To Explore The Colonial City

Day 5: Visit The Ancient Complex Of Pyramids Of Monte Alban; Free Afternoon In Oaxaca

Day 6: Journey To Tehuantepec Via Teotitlan Del Valle And The Mitla Ruins

Day 7: Sumidero Canyon Boat Trip Then Head To San Cristobal

Day 8: Discover The Indigenous Villages Of San Juan Chamula And Zinacantan

Day 9: Travel To Palenque

Day 10: Discover The Important Maya Site Of Palenque

Day 11: Cross The Border Into Guatemala And Continue On To Flores.

Day 12: Visit The Yaxha Ruins And Enjoy An Optional Boat Trip On Lake Peten Itza.

Day 13: Explore The Great Maya Metropolis Of Tikal (Guatemala)

Day 14: Travel To San Ignacio (Belize)

Day 15: Drive To Belize City And Boat To Caye Caulker

Day 16: Relax On Caye Caulker; Optional Snorkelling Trip

Day 17: Boat Back To The Mainland Then Drive To Bacalar

Day 18: Visit Tulum Before Driving To Valladolid

Day 19: Explore Chichen Itza; Travel To Merida

Day 20: Visit The Ancient Maya City Of Uxmal

Day 21: Trip Ends In Merida

Experience Style

Accomodation level

Experience Type

Physical Rating

Age range

Who talk about us:

Best cities to travel to

America

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania