12| Mexico & Belize | 12 Days – 11 Nights
The Mayan culture developed in southern Mexico and northern Central America, the rainforest of these states (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco) and countries (Guatemala and Belize) is still full of several settlements and ruins. Belize was one of the main Mayan territories, it is said that only in this community, the Mayan population reached the Million inhabitants, something credible since the archaeological settlements in this area are abundant and there are many ruins that do not have been discovered yet. The Mayans were in this area from 2000…
The Mayan culture developed in southern Mexico and northern Central America, the rainforest of these states (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco) and countries (Guatemala and Belize) is still full of several settlements and ruins. Belize was one of the main Mayan territories, it is said that only in this community, the Mayan population reached the Million inhabitants, something credible since the archaeological settlements in this area are abundant and there are many ruins that do not have been discovered yet. The Mayans were in this area from 2000 B.C. and they lived exploiting the natural resources of the mountains, cays and coastal swamps of the place. In this escorted tour we will see some of the main sites of the Mayan civilization, following some of the trails that were used for commerce and communications during this pre-Hispanic period.
Monuments / Attractions Envisaged
Chichen Itza: Temple of Kukulkan, Great Ball Court, Skull Platform, Sacred Cenote, Temple of the Warriors, Group of a Thousand Columns, El Mercado, The Osario, Las Monjas, El Caracol.
Cenote Ik Kil: waterhole, swimming and exploring.
Merida: Sightseeing on the City: Governor Palace, Montejo Palace, San Idelfonso Cathedral of Merida.
Celestun Biosphere Reserve: Pink Flamingos sighting, boat ride into mangrove swamps and Sweet water springs.
Uxmal: Pyramid of the Magician, The Governor’s Palace, The Nunnery Quadrangle.
Palenque: Temple of Inscriptions, Royal Pakal Tomb, The Palace, The Temples of the Cross, The Temples of the Jaguar, The Temple of the Sun.
Welib-Ha: Waterfall and waterhole.
Chicaná: Structure II: chi, mouth – can, serpent – and na house; translated this way it alludes to the “House of the Serpent Mouth”.
Belize: Sightseeing on the City.
Lamanai: Jaguar Temple, Mask Temple and High Temple.
Caye Caulker “La Isla Carinosa”: sandy beaches, cerulean seas and island living.
Belmopán: Sightseeing on the City.
Xunantunich: El Castillo, Ballcourt, Burial chamber.
Altun Ha: Temple of the Masonry Altars.
Chetumal: Sightseeing on the City.
Tulum: Castle of Kukulcan.
Accommodation Overview
As part of the tour you will be staying at a selection of four star hotels.
Equipped with modern day facilities, these hotels are known to offer the utmost care and comfort along with high standards of service.
Accommodation for your tour will be as described below, at the following properties:
1 Night at La Quinta Inn & Suites Cancun 4* or Similar in Cancun on Bed and Breakfast
2 Night at Mision Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar in Merida City on Bed and Breakfast basis.
1 Night at Hotel Tucan Siho Playa 4* or Similar in Siho Playa on Bed and Breakfast basis.
2 Nights at Hotel Tulija Express 4* or Similar in Palenque on Bed and Breakfast basis.
1 Night at Eco Village 4* or Similar in Chicanná on Bed and Breakfast basis.
3 Night at Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* or Similar in Belize on Bed and Breakfast basis.
1 Night at Capital Plaza 4* or Similar in Chetumal on Bed and Breakfast basis.
La Quinta Inn & Suites Cancun 4* – Located in Cancun, 8 minutes drive from the beach, recently received an AAA 3 Diamond award and the TripAdvisor Excellence Award, located right on the financial area of the city, close to Plaza Malecon and Plaza Las Americas shopping areas. Spacious guest rooms and suites are well furnished with contemporary décor and amenities including Wi-Fi throughout the property and outdoor swimming pool.
Mision Merida Panamericana 4* – Mision Merida Panamericana will surround you with its unique architecture of a traditional colonial house. Located near of the most important historical sites in the beautiful city of Merida, in the historic city centre, less than 10 minutes walk from the downtown; is surrounded by museums, theatres, restaurants and colonial buildings, its location will allow you to visit the most important tourist sites including the Main Plaza and The Cathedral. Its airy rooms with a mix of streamlined and Spanish Colonial–style decor provide free Wi-Fi, flat-screens and sitting areas, as well as desks.
Hotel Tucan Siho Playa 4* – Hotel Tucán Siho Playa is a colonial construction dating from the 19th century it is located in the outskirts of Champotón, Campeche. It offers its guests a private beach area and an outdoor pool. With its architecture as Hacienda Henequera built on the seafront of the Gulf of Mexico, this hotel will involve you in its charm.
Hotel Tulija Express Palenque 4* – Hotel Tulija Express Palenque is located in the commercial zone of Palenque, Chiapas. Tulija Express Palenque by Excellent City Hotels is the 4 stars Palenque hotel that reflects the unique mysticism of southeast Mexico. In addition to comfortable rooms, Tulija Express will offer you a restaurant, room service, swimming pool, free Wi-Fi and a full list of services that guarantees your satisfaction.
Eco Village 4* – Surrounded by nature you will be able to rest pleasantly in the bungalows of the Chicanna Ecovillage Resort. With its Mayan handmade details, swimming pool and the most delicious regional cuisine, this eco-friendly hotel will take you beyond de Mayan Culture.
Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* – The ideal place to stay in Belize City. You will love the high-quality service plus an extensive array of amenities such as: an onsite Biltmore Bistro Restaurant, fitness center and the outdoor pool with relaxing courtyard. With its modern and minimalist decoration and air-conditioned rooms, you will have a pleasant stay.
Capital Plaza Chetumal 4* – Located in Chetumal city centre, near from the main business zone, commercial shops and entertainment. The air-conditioned rooms at Capital Plaza are decorated in elegant light colours. Offering an outdoor pool, a gym and stylish rooms with free Wi-Fi, this modern hotel is situated opposite Chetumal’s Mayan Culture Museum.
* Please note that should accommodation in the above listed hotels not be available at the time of your visit we will offer a similar standard.
Board Basis (Meal Plan) & Included Services
Welcome greeting at the airport in Mexico City.
Transportation in air conditioned vehicles.
English speaking guide during the days of the tour.
09 nights accommodation at the hotels mentioned above on DBL occupancy.
Daily breakfast at all the above hotels.
Visits mentioned in the itinerary, including entrance fees to the archaeological sites.
One lunch in Mexico City. Fixed menu in local restaurant (No drinks included).
Government taxes.
Exclusions
Expenses of personal nature like tipping, laundry, telephone/fax calls, alcoholic/non- alcoholic beverages, camera/video camera fee at monuments, medical expenses, airport taxes, any insurance etc.
Any meals other than the mentioned.
Gratuities in hotel (maids and bell boys).
Information
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Hotels during TourLa Quinta Inn & Suites Cancun 4* or Similar (Cancun) | Mision Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar (Merida City) | Hotel Tucan Siho Playa 4* or Similar (Siho Playa) | Hotel Tulija Express 4* or Similar (Palenque) | Eco Village 4* or Similar (Chicanná) | Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* or Similar (Belize) | Capital Plaza 4* or Similar (Chetumal) |
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Day 1: Arrival to Cancun
Welcome and transfer to Cancun downtown hotel.
Overnight in Cancun | La Quinta Inn & Suites Cancun 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis
Day 2: Cancun – Chichen Itza – Merida
en Itza. It was one of the largest Maya cities and it was likely to have been one of the mythical great cities, or Tollans, referred to in later Mesoamerican literature. The city may have had the most diverse population in the Maya world, a factor that could have contributed to the variety of architectural styles at the site. The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site’s stewardship is maintained by Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History). The land under the monuments had been privately owned until 29 March 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatán. Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico; an estimated 1.2 million tourists visit the ruins every year. After the visit we will do a stop at Cenote Ik Kil, where the people can swim and take the lunch (lunch included). Afterwards we will continue to Merida, the City Capital of the State Yucatán.
Overnight in Merida | Mision Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 320 km
Day 3: Merida – Celestun – Merida
We will visit a Port where the most exotic species of the Yucatan geography coexist, like the pink flamingo. Nothing better than to take a trip by the long tidal inlet which will bring you this spectacular encounter with the sea. The Reserve of the Biosphere of Celestun is the ideal spot to enjoy and to interact with nature with its 21 Km in lenght and its shallow marsh named La Esperanza, perfect habitat for many species of birds and especially for the pink flamingo that lives in the Peninsula, located in the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.The tour offers a ride in a motorboat across the tidal inlet and the mangrove swamps, a visit to the natural spring, and later a visit to the locality of Celestun where one can enjoy the beach and the food in a restaurant facing the sea (Lunch Not included).
Overnight in Merida | Mision Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis| Travelling Distance Approx. 210 km
Day 4: Merida – Uxmal – Tucan Siho Playa
Morning departure from Merida on to Uxmal. Uxmal is a true jewel of the Mayan classic style, a place where this culture gave expression to its mythology in the design of its temples. The Temple of the Fortune-Teller, that according to the myth of the Mayas was constructed by a dwarf king; the Quadrangle of the Nuns where one can admire the splendor of the Puuc style (smooth wald and decorated frieze), and the Governor's Palace, where the architect used more tan 20,000 tiles for the facade, thus being considered the most beautiful in the Mayan territory, are examples of the beautiful and fascinating found in this city. After the visit, we will have time for lunch (Not included). Continue to our overnight destination.
Overnight in Siho Playa | Hotel Tucan Siho Playa 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 280 km
Day 5: Tucan Siho Playa – Palenque
Travel for about 5-6 hours on to Palenque, with an stop for lunch (Not included). The people can leave a little bit later from the Hotel and will arrive in the late afternoon in Palenque.
Overnight in Palenque | Hotel Tulija Express 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 320 km
Day 6: Palenque – Welib Ha – Palenque
In the morning of day 6 we will visit the archaeological site of Palenque. This ancient Mayan City reached its peak from the sixth to the eighth centuries A.D. Palenque, is a more rigidly conservative architecture compared to other Classic Maya sites. Still Palenque is one of the most enigmatic sites and has held its secrets for over twelve hundred years. The setting is nestled against the mountain wall, surrounded by flourishing vegetation deep in the rain forest. You will see endless levels of Maya man-made terraces, bearing uncounted structures, most of which appear to have been mausoleums. You will find a marked contrast between Palenque and other Classic Maya sites. The most outstanding buildings are: The Temple of the Inscriptions, a majestic pyramid with a secret crypt; The Fabulous Royal Pakal Tomb; with an exquisitely engraved monolithic sarcophagus; The Palace with a four story high square tower, probably used as an astronomical observatory; The Temples of the Cross, The Temples of The Jaguar and The Temple of The Sun. Palenque added additional roof toppings to its buildings producing an extra height, compared to other Classic Buildings. Continue to Welib Ha waterfalls (swimming is optional and under own risk). After the visit we will return to Palenque for afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Palenque | Hotel Tulija Express 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 68 km
Day 7: Palenque – Chicanná
Early morning departure from Palenque towards Chicanná, located in the southeast of Campeche State, not too far from Calakmul. In Maya, Chicanná means “The Mouth of the Snake”. The earliest civilization known of at this site dates back to the Late Prelatic Period (300BC to 250BC) and was occupied until 1000 AD. Due to the elegance and ornamental wealth of its buildings, Chicanná is considered by some scholars to have been an elitist center of the region. After visiting Chicanná, we will continue to our overnight in Chicanná Eco Village.
Overnight in Chicanná | Eco Village 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 355 km
Day 8: Chicanná – Belize City
After breakfast, we will depart from Chicanná towards Sub Teniente López border with Belize to clear immigration. Once in Belize territory, we will travel for 3 hours to reach first stop to board a boat towards the archeological site of Lamanai. One hour boat trip to Lamanai while we admire the vegetation and fauna from Belize. Lamanai is surrounded by foliage on the banks of the New River in Orange Walk. This Pre-Classic Maya site gets its name from the Maya term “submerged crocodrile” thanks to the many crocodriles that inhabit in this región. Visit to the site (about 2 hours). After the visit we will have time for lunch (Not Included) which should include the typical dish Rice & Beans. Return to the dock and we will continue to Belize City.
Overnight in Belize | Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 270 km
Day 9: Belize City – Caye Caulker
Departure from the hotel in Belize City to the dock (30 minutes). We will board a boat for a trip onto Caye Caulker (45 minutes) for a relaxing day on the beach. Caye Caulker affectionately known as “La Isla Carinosa”, is the picturesque depiction of sandy beaches, cerulean seas and island living. The worry free and go slow ambiance of Caye Caulker makes it the ideal getaway for travelers to bask in the sun, relax, rejuvenate and soak up the island vibes. This beloved island is five miles long and 1.2 miles wide with a population of less than 1,500 people.A model town that makes it easy for you to immerse yourself in the Belizean culture, brilliantly displayed in its boutiques and inspiring handcrafted local art. Of course, being only a mile away from the Belize Barrier Reef makes it ideal for sea enthusiast; visitors can enjoy sailing, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, fishing and other water activities (Not Included).
Overnight in Belize | Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 70 km
Day 10: Belize City – Belmopan – Xunantunich - Belize City
Departure from Belize City to Belmopan, for visiting the City. Belmopan is the capital city of Belize. Belmopan is the third-largest settlement in Belize, behind Belize City and San Ignacio. Founded as a planned community in 1970, Belompan is one of the newest national capital cities in the world. Since 2000 Belmopan has been one of two settlements in Belize to hold official city status, along with Belize City. Belmopan is located in Cayo District at an altitude of 76 metres (249 feet) above sea level. Belmopan was constructed just to the east of the Belize River, 80 km (50 mi) inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970. Its National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple. Continue to Xunantunich archeological site. The Xunantunich Maya Ruins are by far the ruins with the most archeological importance in the country of Belize. Situated in tropical rainforest the Temples of Xunantunich are West of Belize City close to the Guatemalan border in the beautiful Cayo District. Xunantunich contains one of the tallest Mayan structures found in Belize, built on grandiose hilltops overlooking the Mopan River. Additionally, the sculptures found here at Xunantunich are the most detailed and intricate of those found in Belize. Lunch in San Ignacio (Not Included). Return to Belize City.
Overnight in Belize | Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 212 km
Day 11: Belize City – Chetumal
Departure from Belize City to Sub Teniente López Border. On our way we would visit the archeological site of Altun ha. Altun Ha is a clear example of the Mayan architectural accomplishments well over 2000 years ago. Altun Ha is one of the most famous Mayan Centers, founded around 600bc, perhaps a few centuries earlier, the Mayan Center was undoubtedly one of the smallest but extremely important Trading Post for the Mayan Civilization at the time. Continue to the border onto our final destination: Chetumal.
Overnight in Chetumal | Capital Plaza 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 150 km
Day 12: Chetumal - Tulum – Riviera Maya/Cancun
Departure from Chetumal to visit Tulum. After visiting Tulum, we will continue for drop off at your selected hotel in Riviera Maya or Cancun.
After the visit we will continue to your final destination: Riviera Maya or Cancun | Travelling Distance Approx. 380 km
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