Mexico's Mayan Trail

Mexico's Mayan Trail

Emerald jungles, sapphire-blue waters and powdery white sands meet towering ancient temples and colonial towns in the captivating country of Mexico. But a trip here is just as much about its fascinating history and culture as its idyllic landscapes. Our comprehensive Mexico tours will have you reaching for your sombrero as we comb through spectacular Mayan sites, uncovering the history of Mexico’s ancient people - the Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs - and the influence of Spanish settlers.

What's Included:

• 14 nights in hotels and 1 in flight (accommodation as specified or similar)
• 14 meals: 14 breakfasts (days 2-15)
• Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service
• Services of a Titan tour manager
• International flights (prices are based on return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow or Gatwick. Supplements may apply from other airports)
• Best available coaches with experienced drivers
• Porterage

• All airport taxes and duties

  Excursions:

• Tours of Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Cristobal and Campeche
• Visits to the ruins of Teotihuacan; Monte Alban; Tule Tree, Mitla & Teotitlan Del Valle; San Juan Chamula; Zinacantan; ruins of Palenque; Kabah & Uxmal; Convent of San Antonio de Padua; Chichen Itza
• Sumidero Canyon boat cruise

Day 1: UK - Mexico City

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Mexico City. On arrival, our coach will transfer us to our hotel, for our three-night stay.

Day 2: Mexico City

Cosmopolitan and cultured, Mexico City is a true melting pot of all cultures and classes. The city proudly showcases both ancient civilisation and modern city life. We’ll waste no time in getting to know this city sprawl on our tour, which takes us to the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace with its famous collection of murals illustrating the history of Mexico.

Later, there’ll be plenty of time to soak up the treasures of the National Museum of Anthropology - one of the top attractions the city has to offer and an introduction to the sights that await us later in the holiday.

City tour of Mexico City (morning)

Day 3: Teotihuacan - Guadalupe

Today we’ll uncover Teotihuacan, one of the most important Aztec sites in Mexico and also one of the most impressive. The ruins of Teotihuacan are vast and spread over a large distance. You’ll have time to wander, walk the ‘Avenue of the Dead’ (the walkway running between the pyramids) and view the magnificent 70-metre-high Sun Pyramid, which can be climbed for a breathtaking view.

After our explorations we return to our hotel in Mexico City, visiting the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe en route to view the image of the miraculous Virgin Maria.

Visit the ruins of Teotihuacan (morning)

Day 4: Puebla

Today we travel to Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s best-preserved Spanish colonial treasures. The city retains a fantastically well-preserved centre, boasting a beautiful cathedral and a wealth of pretty churches.

We’ll soak it all up on a city tour when we arrive, then you’ll have the afternoon to explore the many squares.

City tour of Puebla (morning)

Day 5: Oaxaca

Our destination today is Oaxaca. Steeped in history, Oaxaca was pronounced a city by King Carlos V of Spain in 1532. Bursting with colonial charm, it’s easy to fall in love with this intensely attractive city. Handsome, tranquil streets pulsate with regional flavour and lead to a puzzle of plazas and squares - perfect for getting lost in. But first, we’ll take a brief walking tour of the central district.

Walking tour in Oaxaca (afternoon)

Day 6: Monte Alban

We begin the day at Monte Alban, the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and arguably one of the most outstanding with a fabulous mountaintop location. We view the ruins of buildings dating between AD 250-800; however, the origins can be traced as far back as 500 BC when Monte Alban was first settled. Over 180 tombs have been discovered here so far.

Following our arrival back into Oaxaca the afternoon is at leisure to explore as you wish.

Visit Monte Alban (morning)

Day 7: Tehuantepec

Our day starts at Santa Maria del Tule to view the famous Tule Tree, located in the atrium of the Santa Maria de la Asuncion temple and thought to be over 2,000 years old, with a circumference of over 50 metres.

We continue to Mitla, where the Zapotecas believed the dead came to find their last resting place. Many of the buildings here are festooned with beautiful fretwork.

We travel on to Teotitlan del Valle, a village famous for its locally made rugs and blankets. Later we drive to Tehuantepec for an overnight stay.

Visit Tule Tree, Mitla and Teotitlan del Valle (all day)

Day 8: Tehuantepec - San Cristobal

This morning we travel by road to Tuxtla Gutierrez where for a boat tour along the Grijalva River and through the impressive Sumidero Canyon. Then, we’ll continue to San Cristobal de las Casas for a two-night stay.

Sumidero Canyon boat cruise (afternoon)

Day 9: San Juan Chamula - Zinacantan

This morning we’ll discover the Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, where we gain an insight into the lives of the local communities. The people of both these communities are Tzotzil. In San Juan, you’ll see the locals dressed in the traditional homespun white wool tunics. In Zinacantan, the dress is more vivid with pink and purple shawls and embroidered blouses - perhaps to reflect the art of flower growing, which the people here are particularly good at.

This afternoon we’ll enjoy a walking tour of well-preserved colonial San Cristobal, where we’ll be staying for the night.

Visit to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan (morning) Walking tour of San Cristobal (afternoon)

Day 10: San Cristobal - Palenque

This morning we leave San Cristobal behind as we journey for the city of Palenque. Our scenic route takes us past stunning vistas of forested valleys before arriving at Palenque.

Day 11: Palenque

Prepare for a real day of discovery. We’ll be exploring one of the best examples of Mayan architecture in all of Mexico today, at the Palenque ruins.

In their jungle setting, swathed in jungle mist and echoing the howler monkeys and parrots, these ruins have a certain excitement and mystery about them. At its height, the area was ruled by kings and queens in AD 600-700. When belief in the system was lost, the city crumbled, only to be re-discovered in 1785. While the site itself is large, the majority of the city is still unexcavated, buried in the surrounding jungle.

Following plenty of time to explore, we return to our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Visit Palenque ruins (all day)

Day 12: Campeche

We travel to the coastal city of Campeche, which was founded in the 1540s and was the main port for the Spanish in the Yucatan. They built the huge fortifications here, designed to protect their goods from piracy.

This afternoon we’ll enjoy an orientation tour of the city and visit the Fuerte de San Miguel Museum.

Orientation tour of Campeche and Fuerte de San Miguel Museum (afternoon)

Day 13: Kabah - Uxmal - Merida

Our first stop today is at the semi restored site of Kabah, to view the huge array of sculptures illustrating the rain god Chac, with its characteristic long nose. A short drive then takes us to the Mayan archaeological site of Uxmal where we visit many temples, the Pyramid of the Wizard and the Quadrangle of the Nunnery and take time to view the intricate bas-relief stonework. Our day finishes at the white city of Merida on the northwest coast of the Yucatan peninsula. We stay at the Hotel El Castellano, Gamma by Fiesta Inn (4T).

Day 14: Toledo - Chichen Itza

Seeing Chichen Itza right in front of you truly is a breathtaking moment. One of the largest and most famous Mayan sites in the world and an icon of world travel. We’ll stay just walking distance from the ruins, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore. On our way, we’ll stop in Toledo to visit the 16th-century Convent of San Antonio de Padua.

Visit Convent of San Antonio de Padua, Toledo (morning)

Day 15: Chichen Itza - Cancun - In flight

We make a sunrise visit to Chichen Itza, a site that showcases some of the best Mayan architecture including the 24m-high Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors and the largest ball court found to date. You’ll also visit the 22m-deep Sacred Cenote, a well where over 50 skeletons have been found. We’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and later in the day, we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 16: UK

Upon arrival, your Titan vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.