Highlights of the Yucatan

Fly direct from London to Cancún. On arrival, transfer to the 3-star Hotel Adhara Cancún, in the downtown area, for an afternoon check-in and overnight stay.

Depart Cancún this morning to begin your discovery of the Yucatan Peninsula, driving first to Ek Balam (Black Jaguar), with forty structures hemming the courtyards and passages of its walled enclosure, a huge stairway to the top of its 30m-high Acropolis, and carvings varying from serpent heads to a stucco frieze of angels. Continue, with lunch included, toward the colonial town of Valladolid, stopping en route at the Cenote Saamal Selva Maya for a dip in the open-topped, rock-encircled, natural swimming pool. Arrive at Valladolid in the early evening for overnight at the charming 4-star Ecotel Quinta Regia.
(B, L)

Drive to the Puuc Region hub of Mayan history and culture, to visit its standout site at Uxmal, where temples are adorned with crests, masks and panels of hieroglyphs, the Governor’s Palace is a superbly preserved pyramid, and the Nunnery Quadrangle is hemmed by four buildings, each decorated with Chac figures. We visit a traditional rural home and enjoy a typical Yucatan lunch with the Mayan family. Continue to the harbour city of Campeche, arriving in the early evening for a short tour of the Spanish-colonial enclave, replete with cobbled streets, pastel-painted mansions, and restored baroque façades. Two nights at the centrally located 3-star Hotel Plaza Colonial or Plaza Campeche.
(B, L)

A morning tour takes you off the beaten track to ancient Edzná, its splendid buildings giving a glimpse of its glorious heyday, from remarkably well-preserved stuccoed temples to a unique five-storey pyramid. Return to Campeche for a walking tour of the city’s historic heart, its 16th-century rampart walls built to defend the then wealthy city from pirate attacks.
(B)

Drive north to Bécal, a small town with a big reputation as the home of the Panama hat. The town has a long tradition of weaving the palm-frond headwear, and we see the hand-dug ‘caves’ where much of the work is carried out, as humidity keeps the fibres flexible for handling. Continue to Mérida and enjoy a drive-through and on-foot tour of the ‘White City’, its limestone churches built with the remnants of ruined Mayan temples. Three nights at the simply styled 3-star Hotel Caribe.
(B)

A refreshing tour today takes you to the Gulf Coast village of Celestún, the gateway to a Biosphere Reserve, where pelicans, herons, and pink flamingos flock to its beautiful lagoon. Enjoy a boat trip on the lake and in the maze of mangrove channels, the habitats of fabulous fauna from iguanas to endangered sea turtles.
(B)

Enjoy time at leisure in Merida. 
(B)

Travel by road to peaceful Izamal, known as a town of mystic and magic, famed for the golden-yellow façades of almost all its buildings. Continue to Chichén Itzá for two nights at the 3-star Villas Arqueológicas Hotel.
(B, D)

Explore the impressive site of Chichén Itzá. Continue to the Chichén Itzá Museum.
(B)

Drive to the Yaxunah Mayan community for an insight into their culture, including a tasting of corn-based drinks, a visit to the weaving workshops and a demo of preparing the ‘recado’ spicy paste for the ‘cochinita’ pork. Enjoy a walk through Yaxunah’s archaeological zone and continue to Cancún to the 4-star Beachscape Kin Ha Villas & Suites for overnight.
(B, L, D)

At leisure until the afternoon transfer to Cancún for your return flight to London.
(B)

Morning arrival in London.