Mexico City to Guatemala - 22 day tour

Hola Mexico! Upon arrival at Mexico City Airport you'll be met and transferred to our joining hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to independently explore this buzzing metropolis which is home to over 20 million people!

Mexico's capital is a fascinating city of contrasts with colonial buildings, ancient ruins and towering modern high-rises. At the heart of the city is Zocalo - the lively main square, which is home to the magnificent 16th century Catedral y Sagrario Metropolitano with its Latin-Baroque style facade. The city was founded by the Aztecs in the 14th century and if you look through glass flooring outside of the cathedral you can see the ancient Aztec city beneath. Other sights of interest include the renowned Anthropological Museum and the National Palace.
Overnight: Mexico City

Mexico City - Puebla. Leaving Mexico City our first stop today is the magnificent ancient ruins of Teotihuacan which date back to 300BC. Teotihuacan was Mexico's largest ancient city and the crowning glory of this amazing historic complex are the iconic Piramides del Sol y de la Luna (Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon) which could rival the great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

After enjoying a guided tour of Teotihuacan, we travel to UNESCO World Heritage listed Puebla - one of Mexico's oldest towns. Puebla, which means "City of the Angels" was founded in 1531 and is located in a valley with a spectacular backdrop of volcanoes and snow-topped peaks.
Overnight: Puebla

Puebla - Oaxaca - San Cristobal. Today we travel to Oaxaca, a beautiful city surrounded by mountains and dense forests, with a charming Plaza de la Constitución where you can eat, drink and watch the world go by. Oaxaca has a wonderfully relaxed vibe and is a great place to shop for traditional handicrafts, with an array of shops and markets.
Overnight: Oaxaca   |  Breakfast

Today we enjoy a guided excursion to Monte Albán, the holy city of the ancient Zapotecs located 400 metres above the Oaxaca valley. There are many structures to explore around the Grand Plaza including numerous tombs, ceremonial altars, tunnels, pyramids and palaces, many decorated by glyphs, paintings and intricate carvings. After spending time exploring we take a night bus bound for San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
Overnight: Overnight bus

On day 5 we arrive into the charming colonial city of San Cristobal de las Casas in theheart of Mexico's highlands. San Cristobal is surrounded by 21 indigenous villages, each with their own distinct dress, customs and languages. Our 3 night stay here provides a fascinating insight into Mexico's indigenous culture. Brightly coloured red tiled houses dominate the city and there are several interesting museums to visit.

On day 6 enjoy a guided tour of the nearby villages where you can buy beautifully made local handicrafts and get a true feel for how modern descendents of the ancient Maya people live today and learn about their pre-Colombian beliefs and daily struggles.

Whilst in San Cristobal you can also opt to visit the magnificent Sumidero Canyon, where you're likely to see crocodiles basking in the sun and other wildlife on a guided speedboat tour along the Grijalva river to the hydro-electric dam.
Overnight: San Cristobal   |  Breakfast x 2

San Cristobal - Palenque. Departing San Cristobal we travel north to Palenque in the state of Chiapas, where we spend the next two nights. Surrounded by the lush and colourful Chiapas jungle, Palenque is home to one of Mexico's most beautiful and important Mayan sites. The Palenque ruins include a series of hilltop temples, towers, tombs and pyramids and Palenque is famous for the discovery of tombs filled with treasure in honour of Lord Pakal and the Red Queen. Palenque highlights include the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Crypt, the Palace complex, the Temple of the Cross, the Temple of the Foliated Cross, and the Temple of the Sun which date back to 400-700 AD. Paths through the jungle will lead you to various temples.

Whilst in Palenque there is also an optional excursion to the beautiful Agua Azul Nature Reserve with its myriad of waterfalls, and the spectacular Misol-Ha waterfall with a 30 metre drop.
Overnight: Palenque  |  Breakfast x 2

Palenque - Merida. We spend day 10 on the road as we travel on to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan state. Known as the 'White City' Merida is an attractive town with colonial buildings, plazas and colourful markets which offer a wonderful array of handicrafts. The next day is free to wander around the town or choose from an exciting range of optional excursions including a free city tour, a hop on hop off bus tour and a Sound and Light show at the beautiful Mayan ruins of Uxmal.
Overnight: Merida  |  Breakfast x 2

Merida - Playa del Carmen. En route to Playa del Carmen we enjoy a guided tour of Mexico's most famous Mayan site - Chichen Itza, recently voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Constructed between the 7th and 10th century AD, Chichen Itza was a centre of pilgrimage for the Maya for over 1000 years. The most famous attraction at the site is the great Pyramid of Kukulcan, dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulcan.

After soaking up the beauty of Chichen Itza, we will take the bus for approximately three hours to Playa del Carmen. Playa del Carmen is the perfect place for relaxation. The beaches are coated with sugar-white sand with shimmering turquoise waters to swim in. You can also take advantage of one of the several interesting optional activities available in the area such as visiting the island of Cozumel or the amazingly located Maya/Toltec ruins of Tulum. There are also many 'cenotes' in the area. Cenotes (se-note-tays) are fresh water swimming holes connected to underground limestone cave systems once sacred to the ancient Maya.
Overnight: Playa de Carmen  |  Breakfast x 2

Playa del Carmen - Caye Caulker. On day 15 we cross the border into Belize and catch a water taxi out to Caye Caulker one of an idyllic chain of islands which form the Belize Barrier Reef, renowned for it's superb diving, snorkelling and laid back atmosphere. We kick off our shoes to explore the sandy streets of the island and enjoy some blissful relaxation! You can do as little or as much as you please, a range of optional activities are available from snorkelling and diving excursions to taking a bike around the island, or enjoying a spot of fishing.
Overnight: Caye Caulker  |  Breakfast x 1

Caye Caulker - San Ignacio. Travelling back to the mainland we continue our journey to San Ignacio which is known as "Cayo" by the locals. San Ignacio is the adventure and nature capital of Belize and it's also the centre of agricultural. Surrounded by lush, wildlife rich jungle, waterfalls, rivers and caves, there's no shortage of optional activities to enjoy in Cayo, from canoeing downriver and tubing through caves, to visiting the famous caves Actun Tunichil Muknal.
Overnight: San Ignacio  |  Breakfast x 1

San Ignacio - Flores. Leaving San Ignacio we cross the border into Guatemala and head to Flores today, a lovely island-town which is uniquely located in the centre of Lake Peten Itzá. Flores is our base for exploring the great Mayan city of Tikal, located deep in the jungle this is one of the largest Mayan cities ever discovered. You will have most of the day to explore and learn about the flora, fauna, and amazing Mayan history with our knowledgeable local guide.
Overnight: Flores  |  Breakfast

Flores - Rio Dulce. Today we travel to the riverside town of Rio Dulce where we spend the night in cabins right on the water. This afternoon we take a boat trip to Livingston, which is situated at the mouth of the Rio Dulce and is one of the most scenic areas of Guatemala. Livingston is a vibrant little town which is inhabited by the Garifuna people and has a uniquely Caribbean atmosphere.
Overnight: Rio Dulce

Livingston - Antigua. Today we travel to the enchanting colonial town of Antigua, our final destination. Set against a spectacular backdrop of towering volcanoes, this picturesque town as cobbled streets and plazas, ornate churches and colourful markets. The local indigenous in their unique costumes, sell their crafts and textiles in the streets and as the cultural centre of Guatemala, Antigua is an ideal place to experience the traditional music, architecture and art of the country.
Overnight: Antigua  |  Breakfast