Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Mexico – Yucatan Peninsula
100% customisable for you
Your Mexican adventure starts today. Head to the airport, speed through security and settle in for your ten-and-a-half-hour flight to Cancun International Airport. When you land in the late afternoon, pick up your hire car and drive for 25 minutes to your hotel in Puerto Morelos, where you’ll be staying overnight.
Want to beat the jet lag? Acclimatising your stomach to local time can help, so we recommend dinner and turning in for an early night.
After breakfast, hit the road for the two-hour drive to Valladolid, a historic colonial city where you’ll be staying for the next couple of nights. En route is the Punta Laguna Nature Reserve, which is well worth visiting, so stop and stretch your legs amid the lush scenery. Run by the local Maya community, the reserve is home to over 600 spider and howler monkeys alongside other exotic wildlife, including pumas, crocodiles, white-tailed deer and tropical birds. Adventurous visitors can also canoe on the lagoon and swoop over the jungle landscape on a zip line.
After you arrive in Valladolid, spend some time unwinding at your hotel before venturing out to explore. This photogenic city is jam-packed with colonial architecture, buildings bathed in eye-catching colours and churches with beautifully carved facades. Take a stroll along the narrow streets or head to the leafy zocalo (main square) for some tasty marquesitas – these waffle-like crepes are a popular street food in Yucatan, served rolled and typically filled with cheese, chocolate or caramel.
Foodies are in luck today, as we’ve arranged a half-day cooking class with a top-notch chef. The traditional cuisine of the Yucatan Peninsula is a fusion of Maya, Spanish and Yucatecan influences, so you’ll have some exciting flavours to play with. Under expert guidance, start the morning at the bustling market, browsing fresh produce and handpicking local ingredients. Back in the kitchen, learn how to make your dishes, before tucking in and enjoying a cocktail to round things off.
Wildlife enthusiasts could also visit the Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Lagartos, home to one of Mexico's most important bird sanctuaries. This vast protected area covers over 23 square miles and is rich in biodiversity, featuring lagoons, mangroves, beaches and salt marshes. Be sure to bring your binoculars: Rio Lagartos hosts the country's largest colony of flamingos, alongside herons, pelicans, cormorants and occasionally crocodiles.
Rise and shine: you’ve got an action-packed couple of days ahead in Merida, the capital of Yucatan. During the two-hour drive, stop at Chichen Itza for a private tour of this ancient Maya city.
This iconic archaeological site has become emblematic of Mexico and is so impressive that it was voted one of the Seven New Wonders of the World in 2007. Marvel at the majestic Temple of the Warriors, step onto the ancient ball court, gaze into the sacred cenote and learn about Maya cosmology and religion as you meander with your local guide.
On arrival in Merida, unpack and make yourself at home – this colonial city is your base for the next two nights. Spend the rest of the afternoon checking out the city’s eateries and strolling its leafy boulevards, dotted with 19th-century mansions and neo-classical facades.
Spend the next two days discovering Merida and the local area at your own pace. Nature lover? Take a two-hour kayak tour at the Reserva de la Biosfera Ria Celestun. As you glide through the mangroves with binoculars in hand, learn about the reforestation of this protected area and spot pink flamingos – they’re usually on show all year, but best viewed from November to mid-March.
If you’re more of a history buff, take an hour’s drive out of the city for a self-guided tour of La Ruta de Los Conventos, also called the Convent Route. Starting in Mani, this route showcases the region’s grandest colonial-era churches and convents.
In the city, take a private walking tour with our clued-up guide, soaking up the atmosphere as you wander the zocalo (main square) and historical centre. Along the way, discover the Cathedral of Merida and the Monument to the Homeland, an iconic sculpture depicting the history of Mexico.
This morning, wave goodbye to mesmerising Merida and drive two-and-half hours to Uayamon, just outside Campeche. En route, stop for a private guided tour at the ancient Maya site of Uxmal, where you’ll learn about the achievements and mysterious demise of the ancient Maya people. Spread over 150 acres, there’s plenty to explore – ancient ball courts and water systems, photo-worthy temples, the towering Magician's Pyramid and the Governor's Palace, built as a shrine to the gods.
When you arrive at your hotel, spend the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.
Pull on your comfiest shoes and hit the road for a 30-minute drive to Campeche, as you’re going on a walking tour of the city. Founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, this city is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Spend the day with your guide, learning about Maya life, delving into history, strolling the city’s walls and admiring rainbow-hued architecture.
Fancy seeing another pyramid? Hop in the car for a 40-minute drive to see the ancient Maya city of Edzna and its five-story-high Temple of the Masks (cameras at the ready…).
Back in Campeche, foodies will be in their element on a gastronomy tour around the city. Stroll through food markets, visit a family-run chocolatier, mingle with locals in a traditional canteen and queue for tasty tacos and panuchos candy.
Feast on a hearty breakfast this morning before embarking on the five-hour drive to Calakmul, 20 miles from the Guatemalan border. On arrival, check into your charming hotel, which lies in the heart of the jungle. You’ll likely be tired after all that driving, so feed your rumbling bellies, unwind and listen to the melodic local bird song – there’s plenty of time for exploring tomorrow.
Today’s all about immersing yourself in nature and discovering Maya heritage as you head out to explore Calamul. With a friendly guide leading the way, hike through the protected Tierras Bajas tropical forest, rich with vibrant orchids, flora and fauna, then on to the ancient city of Calakmul.
Hidden in the jungle, this fascinating archaeological site was inaccessible for a long time, but visitors can now see its beautifully preserved pyramids, courtyards and stelae (slabs featuring carved figures and hieroglyphs) and imagine what ancient Maya life was really like.
Back at your hotel, fuel up with a tasty lunch before hitting the road for a three-hour drive to Bacalar, where you’ll be staying for the next two nights.
This morning, venture out to discover Bacalar’s dazzling lagoon. This quaint Mexican town is famed for its otherworldly freshwater lake, nicknamed ‘La Laguna de Los Siete Colores’ (The Lagoon of Seven Colours) thanks to its array of electrifying blue shades, from sky blue to sapphire.
Spend your day bobbing around in the crystalline waters or sitting back and relaxing with a good book before heading off on a private cruise aboard a glorious catamaran. Around 26 miles long and over a mile wide, the lagoon is home to seven cenotes, and this boat tour is your chance to discover three of them. As you glide along the lagoon, feel free to don a mask and snorkel and dive in to see the flora and fauna up close.
Say goodbye to Bacalar because today you’re driving three hours to Tankah Bay, where the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea are calling. Your tranquil hotel, set near a pristine beach with breathtaking views, is the perfect spot for snorkelling among the vibrant coral reef. Kick back and relax and enjoy a delicious dinner as the sun sets over the water, ready for exploring tomorrow.
If you’ve loved seeing cenotes in Mexico, we’ve got good news. In Chemuyil, a 30-minute drive away, a local community project works to raise awareness about preserving the beautiful natural sites, emphasising their significance to the Maya community. Once you arrive, hop on a bike and follow your guide along jungle tracks to visit three different cenotes. Once there, dive in to snorkel and swim in their crystal-clear waters.
Afterwards, head back to your hotel for well-earned R&R or, depending on your vibe, check out the nearby town of Tulum for dinner and sundowner cocktails or a beach-bar DJ party.
Fancy a final day of relaxation before you head home? Spend today soaking up the sun or strolling down the beach. If you’re still raring to go, however, head out on a private tour of the Tulum Ruins, just a 15-minute drive from your hotel.
Perched on a towering cliff above the white-sand beach and Caribbean Sea, this ancient site is perfect for history buffs (and makes for scroll-stopping photos). Roam the fortress walls that once protected this ancient city, marvelling at its ceremonial buildings and palaces: El Castillo square, the Templo Del Dios Descendente shrine and the Templo de las Pinturas, an observatory used to track the sun.
Afterwards, find a great place to eat for a final blow-out dinner – ask your knowledgeable Concierge for recommendations and hidden gems.
Sadly, it’s your last day in Mexico. Before your evening flight home, spend some time relaxing at your hotel – join a yoga class, have a pampering spa treatment or enjoy the beach views.
After a late check out and leisurely lunch, drive an hour and a half to Cancun International Airport and drop off your hire car before catching your overnight flight. Leaving in the evening, the flight takes around nine hours, arriving in the UK the next morning.
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
