Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Hotel (10 nights), Overnight public bus (1 night), Cabin (2 nights)

Transport

Private vehicle , Public bus , Local bus , Overnight public bus , Taxi

Meals

1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner

Others

Mexico City - Leader-led Taco Crawl Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led Orientation Walk San Cristobal - Santo Domingo Market Visit Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson Lacanja River - Jungle Camp Palenque - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport) Merida – Marquesitas Snack Merida - Leader-led orientation walk Playa del Carmen - Leader-led Orientation Walk Chichen Itza - Archaeological site Yokdnozot Cenote – Visit and Swim

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leader or local representative. The aim of the group leader or local representative is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced group leader or local representative however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your group leader or local representative is new to a particular region or training other group leader or local representative. Your group leader or local representative will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you are interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your group leader or local representative can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.

Not included:

Flights

Flights are not included.

Optional

Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee) - MXN35 Mexico City - Boat ride through Floating Gardens of Xochimilco (Approx. per boat per hour) - MXN600 Mexico City - Chapultepec National History Museum - MXN90 Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN90 Mexico City - Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes) (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays) - MXN80 Mexico City - Frida Kahlo Museum (entrance fee) - MXN250 Oaxaca - Monte Alban archaeological site (entrance fee) - MXN90 Oaxaca - Santo Domingo Cultural Centre (entrance fee) - MXN85 Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - MXN900 Oaxaca - Tule Tree, Teotitlan weaving town, mescal distillery - USD27 Oaxaca - Cooking class - MXN1300 San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65 Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (entrance and transport) - MXN565 Lacanja - Half-day Rafting, Waterfalls & Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) (Minimum 4 people) - MXN800 Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (entrance and transport) - MXN1035 Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN1400 Playa del Carmen - Half-day tour of Tulum Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport) - MXN800 Playa del Carmen - Ferry to Cozumel (Round-trip Ticket) - MXN500 Dos Ojos Cenote - Fresh Water Rock Pool (entrance fee with snorkelling gear & life jacket included) - MXN550

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Start planning your experience

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

Day 1: Mexico City

Bienvenidos! Your adventure starts in Mexico City – one of the world’s largest urban centres – with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, Mexico City has plenty of museums, galleries and walkable streets to keep you busy. Maybe check out the Chapultepec area with its many museums, hop on one of the colourfully painted boats that cruise through the canal district of Xochimilco or head to the National Palace to see the murals of Diego Rivera. After your meeting tonight, you might want to seek out some tacos for dinner (try to place your order in Spanish)! If you want to explore the vibrant nightlife tonight, your trip leader will have the best recommendations.
Day 2 Day 2: Mexico City
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Mexico City

Maybe grab some chilaquiles (a type of breakfast nachos) this morning, then join your leader for an orientation walk around the historic centre of the city. Mexico City can feel overwhelming due to its sheer size and volume of people, but your leader will know where to go. Walking makes you hungry, so it’s time to head on an included taco crawl and sample a couple of tacos from local street food vendors. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy – if you like art, the Frida Kahlo Museum is a must-see, and for all museum lovers, there’s also the Museum of Anthropology or the Palace of Fine Art. Don’t forget to snack your way around the city too, munching on tostadas, tortas, and chicharrones. Alternatively, you can take an optional day trip to the archaeological ruins of Teotihuacan, 50 km out of the city. A local guide will lead you down The Avenue of the Dead, pointing out the historic Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon.
Day 3 Day 3: Oaxaca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Oaxaca

Take a public bus to the smaller but no less beautiful city of Oaxaca (pronounced ‘wuh-haa-ka’). This colourful town in the south is full of colonial buildings, colourful arcades and busy markets. You’ll head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings when you arrive. With two full days here, you’ll have heaps of time to explore the narrow, cobbled streets in the city, as well as the culture and natural beauty of the surrounding area. Indigenous Zapotec and Mixtec selling colourful woven blankets and shawls populate the markets – a great place to shop for textiles, as well as margarita flavours. Here, you’ll also find some tasty regional food specialties – everything from cactus fruit to spicy baked chilli and lime grasshoppers. Make sure you pick up a tejate (a maize and cinnamon-flavoured chocolate drink served cold).
Day 4 Day 4: Oaxaca
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Oaxaca

The city (and state) of Oaxaca is yours to explore on this free day. Perhaps head to the mountaintop temples of Monte Alban just outside the city. Monte Alban was inhabited for 1500 years by the Olmec, Zapotec and Mixtec peoples and is an outstanding example of a pre-Columbian ceremonial centre. The settlement’s terraces, dams, canals and pyramids were carved out of the mountain. You’d better have your camera ready because up here you can get a fantastic view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. Alternatively, you could take a day tour of the nearby Mitla Ruins. Mitla (the Nahuatl word for ‘underworld’) is an important Zapotec archaeological site and was the main religious centre for the Zapotec people. For something more relaxing, drop by the springs of Hierve el Agua – a series of mineral pools and calcified waterfalls dotted on top of a mountain, providing sweeping views of the Mexican countryside.
Day 5 Day 5: Oaxaca / Overnight Bus
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Oaxaca / Overnight Bus

Today is another free day in Oaxaca, but you’ll board an overnight bus later tonight to the mountain-top village of San Cristobal de las Casas. You’ve got today to bask in the colour and sights of Oaxaca, so why not test out your culinary skills at a cooking class. Otherwise, check out the artisan stores in the markets and around town, or head to the historic Templo de Santo Domingo – a grand stone church with a large forecourt.
Day 6 Day 6: San Cristobal De Las Casas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: San Cristobal De Las Casas

This afternoon, say ‘hola’ to San Cristobal, your pastel-hued highland home for the next two days. Your leader will point out the main things to know on a leader-led orientation walk this morning. With its winding cobblestone streets snuggled in the Chiapas highlands, San Cristobal de las Casas has an old-world feel mixed with strong pre-Hispanic roots. After your walk, you’ll head to the colourful Santo Domingo textile market with your group – one of the best spots to shop for jewellery and clothing. After, maybe wander to a local cafe and check out their baked goods or try some pox (a traditional corn-based liquor, often flavoured with other ingredients).
Day 7 Day 7: San Cristóbal De Las Casas
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: San Cristóbal De Las Casas

There’s no alarm clock needed this morning as today is yours to explore San Cristobal de las Casas at your own leisure. Maybe take in the cobblestone streets and architecture, soaking up the old-world feel that’s mixed with strong, pre-Hispanic roots. If you’re in the mood for adventure, maybe take a trip to Sumidero Canyon, where you can take a boat down the mighty Rio Grijalva. Or you might like to get things pumping with further exploration of the villages by mountain bike.
Day 8 Day 8-9: Lacanja River
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8-9: Lacanja River

Today, you’ll travel along a windy road by private vehicle to Lacanja River, stopping at Agua Azul (blue water) waterfall on the way (providing road conditions allow). Here, you’ll have the option to swim in the cascading pools. Then, brush up on your Spanish during the drive with an informal leader-led Spanish lesson. When you arrive, the afternoon and tomorrow are free to relax or explore. A few optional activities are on offer, including a rafting experience over Lacanja River waterfalls and backwaters and to the nearby archaeological site, then travelling back through the jungle and past the waterfalls of Moctuniha. There are also some excellent guided hikes available – just ask your leader. During your time here, you’ll see another side to Mexico, staying right in the middle of the jungle in an eco-cabana, which supports the local community.
Day 9 Day 10: Palenque
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Palenque

This morning, drive to Palenque. When you arrive, you’ll head to the archaeological zone and visit the ruins of Palenque. Sitting on a hilltop surrounded by thick trees, the ruins date back to AD 600 and are some of the most impressive Maya relics in Mexico. As you take a self-guided walk among the temples, listen out for the eerie calls of howler monkeys and screeching parrots echoing from the jungle. There are many ruins that are still un-excavated and remain concealed in the forest. You can opt to take a guided tour of the ruins or through the surrounding jungle to a hidden waterfall (at an extra fee). The area gives you a great idea of what the Spanish invaders must have seen when they arrived.
Day 10 Day 11: Merida
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Merida

Today, head north on a local bus to the old-world Merida – founded in 1542, this city has a large Indigenous population, with approximately 60% of Merida residents of Maya background. Head out on an orientation walk with your leader and wander through the Old Town, checking out some museums and the city streets, alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green, shady Plaza Grande, with the 16th-century cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Montejo on the other. Along the way, you’ll get to taste a marquesita (a crepe rolled like a taco and filled with cajeta, condensed milk, jam, chocolate or edam cheese). After, enjoy a free afternoon. For a taste of Merida’s 19th-century glory, maybe walk along the mansion-lined Paseo de Montejo. When you get hungry again, there’s a bicycle cart on almost every corner selling elotes (corn on the cob) doused in salt, chilli, cheese, lemon juice or other toppings. If you haven’t noticed already, this place really likes corn!
Day 11 Day 12: Merida
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Merida

Today, you’re free to explore Merida – the gateway to the Maya ruins of Uxmal. Maybe a tour of the ruins is on the cards, including a guide and shared transport. Little is known about the site’s origins, but it’s thought that the city was founded around AD 500. Much of the site is decorated with masks of the rain god Chac. You can also visit a nearby bird sanctuary or hunt down one of the hidden cenotes (stunning natural sinkholes filled with water) and take a dip in the crystal-clear fresh water. If you decide to stay in the city, why not throw yourself into the dancing culture. Every Sunday, the town’s streets are transformed into an open-air dance floor, with salsa and merengue bands providing the music. There are also some great local speakeasy bars to hang out in, blasting salsa music and serving good vibes.
Day 12 Day 13: Chichen Itza / Playa Del Carmen
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Chichen Itza / Playa Del Carmen

This morning, head to the Yokdzonot cenote for a refreshing swim in the blue waters and a laze in the sun. Surrounded by hanging vines and lush greenery, the cenote was developed by a group of local Mayan women as a sustainable and communally owned source of employment for people in their local community. After your dip in the cenote, tick one of the new Seven Wonders of the World off you bucket list - Chichen Itza. This site is considered the most important example of the fusion of Maya and Toltec traditions in Yucatan. See the Caracol (a circular stellar observatory), the Great Ball Court (the largest field in Mesoamerica), the main sight in El Castillo (a step pyramid dominating the centre of the site) and many more historic ruins (don’t forget your camera!). Later, you’ll continue to Playa del Carmen. Blessed with clear waters and gorgeous beaches, you can spend your time snorkelling among the mangroves or in underground caverns or strolling along the white sands of the playa (beach). Your leader will take you on an orientation walk around the city when you arrive. Tonight, feast on seafood, kick back with your group and watch the waves with a margarita in hand.
Day 13 Day 14: Playa Del Carmen
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Playa Del Carmen

With no activities planned for today, your trip comes to an end – but that doesn’t mean your adventure has to! Today is a perfect day to travel south on a half-day tour to the Tulum archaeological site, which is quite unique because of its placement on the side of a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. If you wish to spend more time in Playa del Carmen, just reach out to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.

+10

14 days tour

Real Mexico (8 Destinations)

This tour includes:

Not included:

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Real Mexico (8 Destinations)

Day 1: Mexico City

Day 2: Mexico City

Day 3: Oaxaca

Day 4: Oaxaca

Day 5: Oaxaca / Overnight Bus

Day 6: San Cristobal De Las Casas

Day 7: San Cristóbal De Las Casas

Day 8-9: Lacanja River

Day 10: Palenque

Day 11: Merida

Day 12: Merida

Day 13: Chichen Itza / Playa Del Carmen

Day 14: Playa Del Carmen

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