20| Yucatan + Palenque + Bacalar + Extension Playa Del Carmen

20| Yucatan + Palenque + Bacalar + Extension Playa Del Carmen | 15 Days – 14 Nights

Discover the hidden secrets of southern Mexico. Dare to walk along forestry trails of the vast Mayan jungle to find amazing ruins and great pyramids, vestiges of ancient civilizations that once dominated the Yucatan Peninsula and part of Central America. In this reencounter with the nature, you will find a freshwater waterfall behind the trees, hidden paths among the large mangrove roots, 7-color lagoons and do not forget to sneak up on the beautiful pink flamingos of Celestun. And after so many days of action, rest on your beach-chair on…

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.

Celestun Biosphere Reserve: Pink Flamingos sighting, boat ride into mangrove swamps and Sweetwater 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.

Roberto Barrios Waterfalls: Natural waterfalls and swimming.

Bonampak: Temple of the Paintings, the Great Plaza, Stelaes, Frey Group.

Yaxchilan: Great Plaza, The Acropolis, The Labyrinth, Lintels and Stelaes.

Chicanná: archeological site with multiple Mayan structures and stelaes.

Bacalar: San Felipe’s Fort, Lagoon of the Seven Colors, Cenote Xulha.

Kohunlich: The Acropolis, Temple of the King, The Stands, Temple of the Stalls and Temple of The Twin Columns, Building of The Eleven Doors, The Ball Court and The Pyramid of the Masks.

Tulum: Castle of Kukulcan.

Accommodation Overview

As part of this Mayan 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 by Wyndham Cancun 4* or Similar in Cancun on Bed and Breakfast basis.

3 Nights at Mision Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar in Merida City on Bed and Breakfast basis.

3 Nights at Plaza Palenque 4* or Similar in Palenque on Bed and Breakfast basis.

3 Nights at Aires Bacalar 4* or Similar in Bacalar on Bed and Breakfast basis.

4 Nights at Sian Ka’an/Hacienda Paradise/Illusion Boutique 4* or Similar in Playa del Carmen on Bed and Breakfast basis.

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham 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.

Plaza Palenque 4* – Just 15 minutes from the archaeological site of Palenque, this luxury hotel with tropical gardens, pool and restaurant, offers colorful and refreshing rooms. Here you will find comfort and a perfect family atmosphere surrounded by an impressive natural landscape and unique Mexican dishes.

Aires Bacalar 4* – A hotel with a simple and organic design, with multiple spaces for relaxation and with an elegant decoration that reflects the natural beauty of its surroundings in unique murals. Here you will be in the main area of Bacalar and just a few steps from the lagoon.

Hotel Sian Ka’an/Hacienda Paradise/Illusion Boutique 4* – With an strategic location in Playa Del Carmen, each property is located in the main area of the City, just a few steps from the 5th Avenue which is the principal touristic area, near of shops, restaurants, bars, Mayan culture entertainment and local nightlife. Here you will find comfortable and elegantly furnished rooms reflecting the nature and with a minimalist decor.

* 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 Cancun.

Transportation in air conditioned vehicles.

English speaking guide during the days of the tour.

14 nights accommodation at the hotels mentioned above in DBL occupancy.

Daily breakfast at all the above hotels.

One lunch on “Day 2”.

Visits mentioned in the itinerary, including entrance fees to the archaeological sites.

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).

Gratuities for driver & guide.

Information

15 Days - 14 Nights

Departure/Starting City

Cancun
Hotels during Tour

La Quinta Inn & Suites Cancun 4* or Similar (Cancun) | Hotel Mision Panamericana Merida 4* or Similar (Merida) | Plaza Palenque 4* or Similar (Palenque) | Aires de Bacalar 4* or Similar (Bacalar) | Sian Ka'an/Hacienda Paradise/Illusion Boutique 4* or Similar (Playa del Carmen)

From Our Gallery

Day 1: Arrival to Cancun

Welcome at Cancun International airport and transfer to hotel in downtown.

Overnight in Cancun. La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Cancun 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & breakfast basis

Day 2: Cancun - Chichen Itza – Merida

Pick up at the hotel in Cancun and departure to Chichén Itzá, driving over 2 hours to Chichén Itzá the Mayan Post Classic Sacred City, which represents the most intact and impressive of the Ruins of the Mayan Civilization that the modern world preserves. Chichén Itzá, as other Mayan centers was originally a ceremonial and spiritual site, instead of a commercial area. Has maybe the most impressive pyramid of all the Maya World. The Castle with 4 staircases (One for each season of the year) with 91 steps each, totaling 365 with the top platform. The orientation of the pyramid is such that for about an hour around 4 o'clock during the spring and fall equinoxes (March 21 & September 21), the shadow of north-west edge of the pyramid on the side of the north stairway, draws seven triangles of light that imitates a serpent creeping downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head at the bottom of the stairway. This was a Religious message telling the people it is time to seed the land or it is time to harvest with the Blessing of Kukulkan. At Chichén Itzá, you will see an Astrological Observatory with a design similar to others built in the Modern Age. There are many more buildings such as The Temple of the Warriors, part of the "Thousand Columns Complex", the Temple of the Jaguars, the Ball Court, the biggest in Mezzo America. Chichén Itzá was voted One of New Seven Wonders of the World. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is justifiably one of Mexico’s most famous Mayan sites. After the visit we will do a stop at a cenote. These natural fresh water sink holes are an ideal stop for a refreshing dip (Lunch included). Continue to Mérida the cultural capital of the Yucatan state, a city rich in the history of colonial Mexico.

Overnight in Merida | Hotel Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 325 km

Day 3: Merida - Celestun Biosphere - Merida

This day we will travel west onto Celestun Biosphere famed as one of the largest breeding grounds of pink flamingos and home to a wealth of plant species, some endemic. Enjoy a boat ride through the estuaries of the Ria de Celestun, observing the flamingo colonies and countless other species of bird. After free time for lunch (Not included), we will transfer back to Mérida.

Overnight in Merida | Hotel Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 210 km

Day 4: Merida – Uxmal – Merida.

Today, we will travel south of Mérida to visit which means "Three times constructed". The architecture of Uxmal is among the most majestic in Yucatan. Its beauty is characterized by low and horizontal palaces placed around patios and quadrants richly decorated with detailed sculptures. Uxmal, enveloped by legends and myths is situated within a series of hills known as the Pucc or the mountainous area of the Yucatan. You will see many beautiful buildings including the House of the Magician which dominates the site, the Nunnery and the House of Turtles. Return to Mérida.

Overnight in Merida | Hotel Merida Panamericana 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 170 km

Day 5: Merida – Palenque

Today we will travel from Mérida to Palenque (approximately 9 hours). Arrival to Palenque in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Palenque | Hotel Plaza Palenque 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 535 km

Day 6: Palenque – Roberto Barrios waterfalls– 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 enigmatical 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 Roberto Barrios waterfalls. Roberto Barrios is a lovely waterfall visited by both tourists and locals. Some people prefer it to other falls in the area due to its less crowded condition. Make a dive and spend part of the day surrounded by nature and the powerful sound of water falling into a blue natural pool. The falls are not as high as in other similar spots near Palenque, but what makes Roberto Barrios special is how numerous the falls are. After the visit we will return to Palenque.

Overnight in Palenque | Hotel Plaza Palenque 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 78 km

Day 7: Palenque – Bonampak – Yaxchilán – Palenque

Today we will depart early in the morning to visit the Bonampak ruins, discovered in 1946. It is famous for its well-preserved and colorful wall paintings, which adorn the interior of the multi-room temple and reflect the traditions of the Maya. Then we will continue to Yaxchilán. No roads lead to this place, which is located on a large “U” bend on the Usumacinta river, 75 miles south-east of Palenque, in the jungle of the Lacandon Rainforest on the Guatemalan border. No roads lead to the site, it is reached by boat, from Frontera Corozal. Yaxchilan was first inhabited around 200 A.D., but most of the structures at the site date from about 500 to 800 A.D. included in the Classic Period. The sacred city was dominated by the cult of the Jaguar dynasty, beginning with Yat-Balam, or Penis of the Jaguar, in 320 A.D., and reached it's peak during the reigns of Escudo-Balam, or Shield-Jaguar, and his son, Pajaro-Balam, or Bird-Jaguar, who ruled from 681 to 771 A.D., building many of the supreme temples and most of the engraved Stalls and hieroglyphics on the monuments at the site. Like most Classic Mayan sites, Yaxchilan was apparently abandoned shortly after 800 A.D. The city consists of a series of long plazas and terraces, surrounded by numerous buildings situated on the shoreline above the “U” bend of the river; as well as, a series of magnificent hilltop temple complexes set high above the Main Plaza. The site continues to the east, well beyond the Main Plaza, but this area has not been explored and is not open to the public. Numerous large carved stalls and hieroglyphics have been recovered from the site, as well as some of the finest carved lintels in all Mexico. After the visit we will take the boat back to Frontera Corozal and then back to Palenque.

Overnight in Palenque | Hotel Plaza Palenque 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 355 km

Day 8: Palenque – Chicanná – Bacalar

Today we will go direct to Chicanná, an encounter with The Classic Period Architecture. This is an archeological site built taking advantage of natural elevations that create a monumental sensation, where additionally the rainforest embellishes the surroundings creating the perfect frame for your most memorable photographs. Chicanná was discovered and named by Jack D. Eaton in 1966 during reconnaissance of the area, prior to the formal start of the National Geographic/Tulane University archaeological study, centered at Becán. The site was given its name at the time of its discovery and no doubt refers to the facade of Structure II: chi, mouth - can, serpent - and na house; translated this way it alludes to the "House of the Serpent Mouth". In the afternoon, we will continue towards Bacalar.

Overnight in Bacalar | Hotel Aires Bacalar 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 570 km

Day 9: Bacalar – Museum – Kayac tour – Bacalar

Bacalar is one of the “Magic Villages of Mexico”, which is a special award granted by the Ministry of Tourism to a few small towns in Mexico. This day we have an excellent combination, we will visit the San Felipe´s Fort, which has built in order to control the pirate´s sudden attack. We will continue with a hiking jungle tour (45 minutes aprox) and a kayak tour of Laguna Bacalar and its headwaters. We will experience the tropical jungle on foot, walking along the trails in the jungle that surround the lagoon, see the plants and animals of this area and learn how everything interacts. By kayak we will follow the flowing spring to the source of the waters of the Lagoon of the Seven Colors. Paddle along the lakeshore, taking plenty of time to swim in the crystal water. We will also visit the cenote at Xulha. After these activities we will have free time for lunch (not included). Return to the hotel.

Overnight in Bacalar | Hotel Aires Bacalar 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis

Day 10: Bacalar – Kohunlich – Bacalar

Today we will visit Kohunlich which is renowned for its Temple of the Masks. Kohunlich has an Early Classic pyramid which central stairway is flanked by large stucco masks. The temple was built around 500 A.D. Later around 700 A.D., the temple was over covered with a Terminal Classic construction, which protected the masks and accounts for their excellent preservation today. The giant masks represent the Sun God "Kinich Ahau" however they differ in appearance, so it is thought that they also represent the various rulers of Kohunlich. The name Kohunlich comes from two English words " Cohune" (a palm tree native to Belize) and " Ridge " for " Cohune Ridge " or " The ridge where the cohune palm grows ". This archaeological site is surrounded by huge trees. The main buildings you will see on this site are The Acropolis, Temple of the King, The Stands, Temple of the Stalls and Temple of The Twin Columns, Building of The Eleven Doors, The Ball Court and The Pyramid of the Masks. In the afternoon, we will return to Bacalar.

Overnight in Bacalar | Hotel Aires Bacalar 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 140 km

Day 11: Bacalar – Tulum – Playa del Carmen

Departure from Bacalar to Tulum, a walled sacred City of the Mayan Post Classic Period. Tulum stands on a cliff facing the rising sun, with outstanding views of the Caribbean. With over 20 Buildings, you will be able to observe the stalls on the monuments, with the graphic legacy of the stage of the Mayan Culture in that Period; you will also see the First Castle on your Route dedicated to Kukulcan, the God of Gods of the Mayas. Tulum was a major link in the Maya extensive trade network, both maritime and land routes converged here. Tulum will be your first Caribbean Beach to enjoy the white sand and the crystal water of the Ocean. During the afternoon, we will continue to reach our final destination: Playa del Carmen.

Overnight in Playa del Carmen | Selected Hotel 4* or Similar | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis | Travelling Distance Approx. 275 km

Day 12-14: Playa del Carmen

Days at leisure.

Overnight in Playa del Carmen | Selected Hotel 4* | Standard room on Bed & Breakfast basis

Day 15: Playa del Carmen - Cancun International Airport

Departure transfer to Cancun International Airport.

Travelling Distance Approx. 55 km