Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip

Yucatan for Two
Mayan Cities, Jungle & Caribbean Coast

Mexico - Yucatan

TWO'S COMPANY IN MAYAN COUNTRY

Starting from between £3,460 to £4,465 per person for 11 days depending on the time of year, type of accomodation and activities

Itinerary Highlights

  • Experience the real Yucatan peninsula, full of old stone relics and fine sand, perfect places for stopovers


  • The Caribbean seaside: delicious food on the Mayan Riviera and a bit of gentle adventure in Holbox


  • The colonial charm of Valladolid. Visit Chichen Itza at sunrise, without the crowds - both included in your itinerary.


Because the ruins of ancient Mayan cities alone are worth the trip and the vision of white sandy beaches against a turquoise Caribbean background is an irresistible attraction, this journey of flexible rhythms is an excellent compromise. Drive across the Yucatan Peninsula, between old stones and palm trees, haciendas and palapa roofs. After arriving in Cancun, you take refuge on the Riviera Maya. Large stretches of fine sandy beaches, fringed by a turquoise sea, calm and shallow. Offshore there's Cozumel and its coral reef . The heart of the peninsula is also beating to the rhythm of its small colonial towns; you can feel it in Valladolid - soak up the colourful Mexican atmosphere. A few miles away is one of the largest archaeological sites in the Yucatan: Chichen Itza - to avoid crowds, we suggest you visit it at sunrise, with a private guide. Then stop at Tixkokob, a peaceful village in the Merida region renowned for its crafts. Here's you'll experience life in a traditional hacienda. The last stop is Holbox, a cosy tropical island in the Caribbean Sea, off Chiquila. The sandy tracks are ideal for cycling alongside a jade seafront which, from June to September, is visited by a gentle giant, the whale shark. Along with flamingos, pelicans and other exotic birds.



YOUR JOURNEY

This itinerary is designed so you can take things at your own pace. Highlights already in the itinerary: Chichen Itza in the early morning and a tasting dinner at your hacienda in Tixkokob. Other activities are optional: introduction to cenote diving, the Río Lagartos peninsula, a day trip on a private boat. We can tailor which hotels you stay at to your exact requirements, from laidback haciendas to intimate boutiques and larger resorts. Our local Concierge will be on hand throughout your trip to help with suggestions and any last-minute organisation.
Maya city - Mexico © flu4022/stock.adobe.com
Maya city - Mexico © flu4022/stock.adobe.com
Casa de las Tortugas - Isla Holbox - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Casa de las Tortugas - Isla Holbox - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Chichen Itza - Yucatan - Mexico © Prill Mediendesign & Fotografie / Getty Images / iStockphoto
Chichen Itza - Yucatan - Mexico © Prill Mediendesign & Fotografie / Getty Images / iStockphoto
Street of Mexico © Droits reservés
Street of Mexico © Droits reservés
Isla Holbox - Yucatan - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Isla Holbox - Yucatan - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Isla Holbox - Yucatan - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Isla Holbox - Yucatan - Mexico © Olivier Romano
Valladolid - Yucatan - Mexique © Ivan Sgualdini/fotolia.com
Valladolid - Yucatan - Mexique © Ivan Sgualdini/fotolia.com

Itinerary

100% customisable for you

On arrival in Cancun, you will be welcomed at the airport before a quick transfer to the Mayan Riviera for two-night stay at a coastal hotel. Enjoy its relaxed environment and activities, from yoga, cooking lessons and wine tastings to golf and snorkelling.

There is a relaxed atmosphere on the Riviera Maya and numerous salubrious spots to while away a lazy afternoon. Offshore islands fringed by coral reefs are also on offer for any diving fanatics, as well as introductory classes. At the end of the day, enjoy a traditional Mexican feast along one of the coast’s many seafront restaurants.

Pick up your hire car and drive to Valladolid, in the heart of the Yucatan peninsula. Stay in its historic centre and spend your day touring the city’s sights, including the church of San Cervacio o Gervasio, Francisco Canton Rosado park and the Zaci cenote, a signature natural wonder of the Yucatan region.

Take the short drive from Valladolid to Chichen Itza. Take the time to get acquainted with one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; and if you want to head further afield, enjoy a private tour of the Río Lagartos peninsula, just over 100 miles north of Valladolid.

Head to Chichen Itza at sunrise, where you’ll get a crowd-free, front row seat to the largest and most famous archaeological site on the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as Kukulkan's magnificent pyramid, El Castillo – one of Mexico's best-known and most recognised archaeological sites. Located here due to the region’s number of natural wells - the cenotes - it was the groundwater springs that gave the area its name: Chi Chen ('near the well'). This sacred city was one of the largest Mayan centres in the region. The imprints left by the Mayans and Toltecs are what make it one of the most wonderful attractions to this day. In the afternoon, continue westward to Tixkokob, in the Merida region, where you’ll stop off for two nights at a hacienda in the middle of the jungle.

Tixkokob is an excellent spot for some real R&R. Spend your day watching weavers make hammocks, visit the Celestun bird sanctuary and Izamal, a small colonial gem, as well as the Ake, an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, which is known for its unique sacbeo'ob or road system. In the evening, enjoy a romantic candlelight dinner.

Drive to the small village of Chiquila, where you can then take a ferry ride to reach the paradise Isla Holbox. While here, stay in a quiet hotel just off the beach.

Holbox isn’t just a bohemian beauty, filled with sandy streets, colourful Caribbean buildings and lazing sun-drunk locals, it is actually one of the most eco-friendly islands around. Belonging to the Yum Balam Ecological Reserve, it is forward thinking when it comes to sustainable tourism and isn’t short of adventure. Spend two days bird watching (flamingos and pelicans are always on the lagoon) and spotting crocodiles and whale sharks. Take a boat trip to Yalahau lagoon or Isla Pajaros for a dose of deserted beach and one of the best birding spots in the area. And for any adrenaline junkies, the conditions are almost always perfect for kiteboarding, fishing and diving.

Drive to Cancun, return your hire car to the airport and catch your overnight flight home.

Suggestions

Everything in this itinerary is entirely customisable, down to the smallest details. Here are some more suggestions of what could be included

DIVING IN A CENOTE AND SNORKELLING IN THE LAGOON

Cenotes only exist on the Yucatan Peninsula so diving in them is a real bucket list activity. The outing begins with an introduction to speleological (the study of caves) diving in one of the best preserved cenotes of the region, before continuing towards the coast to a natural lagoon for a second snorkelling session, where you'll see the likes of turtles, corals, rays and numerous tropical fish species.

Optional



THE RIO LAGARTOS PENINSULA

The Rio Lagartos Peninsula (Las Coloradas), located over 60 miles north of Valladolid, is one of Mexico's main ornithological reserves, devoted mainly to the protection of flamingos. You'll also find other wildlife, such as crocodiles, as well as local flora characteristic of the north coast of Yucatan, which borders many deserted beaches. A veritable paradise for ornithologists with more than 200 species of birds, cormorants, pelicans, ibis, stilts, herons, as well as several kinds of egrets. Return to the port of San Felipe after two hours of walking and dining in a local restaurant. This four-and-a-half hour tour with a private English-speaking guide includes motor boating (two and a half hours in total), admission to the reserve and lunch at a local restaurant.

Optional - Trip starting in Valladolid, with private guide



CABO CATOCHE, ISLA PAJAROS AND ISLA

PASION 15 miles from Isla Holbox, Cabo Catoche is the northernmost point of the Yucatan Peninsula. Take a private boat from Holbox Island to enjoy the best of the cape: fishing and snorkelling. After lunch with your feet in the sand, continue to sail towards Isla Pasaros and Isla Pasion, where flamingos can be observed from May to November. This day includes the services of a boat skipper, the loan of equipment for fishing and snorkelling and lunch on the beach.

Optional



Mexico City - A tumultuous and sprawling capital, it combines vestiges of Aztec culture and futuristic skyscrapers, traditional tianguis (markets) and designer galleries, 100% regional cuisine and trendy pavement cafes.

The Convent Route - Learn about Mexico in the 16th and 17th centuries and New Spain, through the successive arrivals of Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits who came to evangelise this indigenous land. They built convents, monasteries, colleges and missions that now constitute Mexico's colonial architecture. Acanteh, Tecoh, Chumayel, Arachide...

Bacalar Lagoon is a must-see, if only for the variety of beautiful colours of the lagoon. Other activities include sailing on the lake, exploring the Cenote Azul (whose transparent waters have visibility of up to 100 feet), and a trip to the fort of San Felipe. Nearby, a string of Mayan sites: Kohunlich, Dzibanché, Kinich-Na... and even a Mennonite community, where life goes on as it did in the 17th century.

Optional - Contact us

Why visit Mexico with Original Travel

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.

ENQUIRE NOW

A few of the benefits of travelling with us to Mexico

  • Our local Concierges
  • The Original Travel app
  • Airport lounge access
  • Wi-Fi router and e-Sim
  • Destination Dossier
  • 24-hour helpline
  • Expert guides
  • 100% carbon absorption

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A rough idea of the price

Depending on the time of year, type of accommodation and activities

The estimated cost for this trip starts from £3,460 to £4,465 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be shown on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £4,105 per person.
Included in this suggestion

  • International flights with a scheduled airline
  • Airline taxes and fuel surcharge
  • Access to the Air France business lounge at Roissy 2E (for departures from Paris)
  • Private transfer from Cancun airport to Playa del Carmen
  • Car hire for eight days
  • Two-night stay in Playa del Carmen in a junior suite and full board included
  • Overnight stay in Valladolid in a double room with breakfast included
  • Overnight stay in Chichen Itza in a double room with breakfast included
  • Two-night stay in Tixkokob in a double room with breakfast included
  • Three-night stay in Holbox in a double room with breakfast included
  • Tour of the archaeological site of Chichen Itza at sunrise, without crowds, with private expert guide
  • Three-course tasting dinner in your Tixkokob hacienda
  • Our local Concierge service
  • Our app, loaded with your itinerary, hotel details and recommended places to visit

100% tailor-made holidays

Understanding Your Needs

Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday

Personalisation

We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities

Our Services

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