Mexico City > Oaxaca > Tehuantepec > San Cristobal de las Casas > Atitlan > Flores > Palenque > Campeche > Cancun
12 Days / 11 Nights
Day 1
Mexico City - Arrival
Start your journey with a transfer from Mexico City airport to the hotel, about 30-40 minutes away.
Day 2
Mexico City - Teotihuacan - Anthropology Museum
Explore the bustling capital of Mexico; this is a true melting pot of cultures. Visit the "Zocalo," the main national square, and explore the ruins of the ancient Aztec city, Tenochtitlan. At the National Palace, see the murals painted by Diego Rivera that depict the history of Mexico. Stop at the National Museum of Anthropology to witness various civilizations and its most famous relic, the Aztec Calendar Stone. Proceed with a trip to Teotihuacán late in the afternoon, exploring along the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, Avenue of the Dead, and Jaguar Palace.
Day 3
Mexico City to Oaxaca via Puebla
This morning, begin the drive to the Caribbean coast and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Puebla, famous for its colonial architecture and gastronomic specialties. Continue on to Oaxaca and check into your hotel.
Day 4
Oaxaca and Monte Alban
This morning, visit Monte Alban, an ancient Zapotec city-state perched 2,000 meters above sea level. Explore its ball court, observatory, and the famous Danzantes carvings. Continue on to Tehuantepec for the night.
Day 5
Tehuantepec to San Cristobal de Las Casas
Transfer to the Sumidero Canyon and take a boat tour through its high walls covered with exotic flora and fauna. Proceed to San Cristobal de Las Casas, the old capital of the Chiapas State, and check into your hotel.
Day 6
San Cristobal de Las Casas to Lake Atitlan
Cross into Guatemala and head to Lake Atitlan, described by Aldous Huxley as the most beautiful lake in the world. Surrounded by three spectacular volcanoes: Toliman, San Pedro, and Atitlan, check into your hotel for the night.
Day 7
Lake Atitlan to Antigua
Visit the archaeological city of Copan in Honduras, known for its stelae and altars, and the Acropolis. Transfer to Antigua for overnight accommodation.
Day 8
Copan to Flores via Quirigua
Explore Quirigua, the Mayan city that boasts massive stelae and the largest stele discovered anywhere. Proceed for overnight in Flores.
Day 9
Tikal Exploration
Get familiar with one of the Mayan Empire's capitals, Tikal. Main buildings to explore: Temples I and II, the North Acropolis, and the Great Jaguar; see many stelae and altars. Have lunch in the park. Drive back to Flores.
Day 10
Flores to Palenque via Bonampak
Visit Bonampak, an ancient Maya site famous for its murals in Structure 1 (The Temple of the Murals). The site dates back to the Early Classic period. Continue to Palenque and check into your hotel.
Day 11
Palenque to Campeche
Explore Palenque’s ancient Mayan ruins, including the Temple of the Sun, Temple of the Cross, and Temple of the Inscriptions. See the tomb of Pakal II, a Mayan emperor. Travel through the scenic Gulf of Mexico road to Campeche, known for its 17th-century walls. Check into your hotel.
Day 12
Campeche to Cancun via Chichen Itza
Arrive at Chichen Itza, a "Wonder of the New World," representing Mayan and Toltec culture. Explore the Pyramid of Kukulkan, the ball game field, the observatory, and more. Swim in Ik-Kil cenote, one of the Yucatan’s most beautiful karst lakes. Transfer to Cancun or Riviera Maya, your final destination.