Mexico’s Mayan Trail
🕐 DURATION
15 days, 14 nights
📅 DEPARTURE MONTHS
Multiple Departures are available between 29 Oct 2025 & 16 Nov 2026
Book by 30 June 2025 & Save $1000 per person!
☀Enjoying the view from the Moon Pyramid at Teotihuacan, an amazing Aztec complex that was once a thriving city.
Emerald jungles, sapphire-blue waters, and powdery white sands meet towering ancient temples and colonial towns in the captivating country of Mexico. But a trip here is just as much about its fascinating history and culture as its idyllic landscapes. Our comprehensive Mexico tours will have you reaching for your sombrero as we comb through spectacular Mayan sites, uncovering the history of Mexico’s ancient people – the Zapotecs, Mixtecs, and Aztecs – and the influence of Spanish settlers.
Below price is for 3 Nov 2025 departure
- From
$4,775$3,755 per person twin share* - From
$7,025$6,005 per person sole traveller*
Call our team today to find out more on 02-8208-8888. Our team can also assist with booking International flights and accommodation as part of your overall travel plans.
Please note: prices are subject to availability at the time of booking and may change or be withdrawn at any time without notice.
Itinerary
| Arrive | Details | Depart | Day 1 | Mexico City - Join your tour group at the hotel. | 12:00 | Day 2 | Mexico City - We’ll waste no time in getting to know Mexico City on our tour, which takes us to the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the National Palace with its famous collection of murals illustrating the history of Mexico. (National Palace has limited opening times, if closed an alternative visit will be arranged). Later, there’ll be plenty of time to soak up the treasures of the National Museum of Anthropology - one of the top attractions the city has to offer and an introduction to the sights that await us later in the holiday. Please note: The National Palace is often closed for visits to the public at late notice. If you're unable to visit during the city tour, then your guide will visit an alternative location. | Day 3 | Teotihuacan - Guadalupe - Today we’ll uncover Teotihuacan, one of the most important Aztec sites in Mexico and also one of the most impressive. The ruins of Teotihuacan are vast and spread over a large distance. You’ll have time to wander, walk the ‘Avenue of the Dead’ (the walkway running between the pyramids) and view the magnificent 70-metre-high Sun Pyramid. After our explorations we return to our hotel in Mexico City, visiting the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe en route to view the image of the miraculous Virgin Maria. | Day 4 | Puebla - Today we travel to Puebla, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s best-preserved Spanish colonial treasures. On arrival we’ll head just outside the city to visit the vast Cholula archaeological complex, home to the Great Pyramid of Cholula. The city of Puebla retains a fantastically well-preserved centre, boasting a beautiful cathedral and a wealth of pretty churches. We’ll soak it all up on a city tour this afternoon. | Day 5 | Puebla - Oaxaca - We leave Puebla for Oaxaca. | Day 6 | Monte Alban - Oaxaca - We begin the day at Monte Alban, the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and arguably one of the most outstanding with a fabulous mountaintop location. We view the ruins of buildings dating between AD 250-800; however, the origins can be traced as far back as 500 BC when Monte Alban was first settled. Over 180 tombs have been discovered here so far. Following our arrival back into Oaxaca we’ll take a brief walking tour of the central district. Steeped in history, Oaxaca was pronounced a city by King Carlos V of Spain in 1532. Bursting with colonial charm, it’s easy to fall in love with this intensely attractive city. Handsome, tranquil streets pulsate with regional flavour and lead to a puzzle of plazas and squares - perfect for getting lost in. | Day 7 | Tehuantepec - Our day starts at Santa Maria del Tule to view the famous Tule Tree, located in the atrium of the Santa Maria de la Asuncion temple and thought to be over 2,000 years old, with a circumference of over 50m. We continue to Mitla, where the Zapotecas believed the dead came to find their last resting place. Many of the buildings here are festooned with beautiful fretwork. We travel on to Teotitlan del Valle, a village famous for its locally made rugs and blankets. Later we drive to Tehuantepec for an overnight stay. | Day 8 | San Cristobal - This morning we travel by road to Tuxtla Gutierrez where for a boat tour along the Grijalva River and through the impressive Sumidero Canyon. Then, we’ll continue to San Cristobal de las Casas for a two-night stay. | Day 9 | San Juan Chamula - Zinacantan - This morning we’ll discover the Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, where we gain an insight into the lives of the local communities. The people of both these communities are Tzotzil. In San Juan, you’ll see the locals dressed in the traditional homespun white wool tunics. In Zinacantan, the dress is more vivid with pink and purple shawls and embroidered blouses - perhaps to reflect the art of flower growing, which the people here are particularly good at. This afternoon we’ll enjoy a walking tour of well-preserved colonial San Cristobal, where we’ll be staying for the night. | Day 10 | Palenque - This morning we leave San Cristobal behind as we journey for the city of Palenque. Our scenic route takes us past stunning vistas of forested valleys before arriving at Palenque. | Day 11 | Palenque - Prepare for a real day of discovery. We’ll be exploring one of the best examples of Mayan architecture in all of Mexico today, at the Palenque ruins. In their jungle setting, swathed in jungle mist and echoing the howler monkeys and parrots, these ruins have a certain excitement and mystery about them. At its height, the area was ruled by kings and queens in AD 600-700. When belief in the system was lost, the city crumbled, only to be rediscovered in 1785. While the site itself is large, the majority of the city is still unexcavated, buried in the surrounding jungle. Following plenty of time to explore, we return to our hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. | Day 12 | Campeche - We travel to the coastal city of Campeche, which was founded in the 1540s and was the main port for the Spanish in the Yucatan. They built the huge fortifications here, designed to protect their goods from piracy. This afternoon we’ll enjoy an orientation tour of the city and visit the Fuerte de San Miguel Museum. | Day 13 | Kabah - Uxmal - Merida -Our first stop today is at the semi-restored site of Kabah, to view the huge array of sculptures illustrating the rain god Chac, with its characteristic long nose. A short drive then takes us to the Mayan archaeological site of Uxmal where we visit many temples, the Pyramid of the Wizard and the Quadrangle of the Nunnery and take time to view the intricate bas-relief stonework. Our day finishes at the white city of Merida on the northwest coast of the Yucatan peninsula. | Day 14 | Izamal - Valladolid - Chichen Itza - This morning, we’ll visit the 16th-century Convent of San Antonio de Padua in Izamal. We’ll then transfer to our hotel in Valladolid and check in. This afternoon, we make a visit to Chichen Itza, a site that showcases some of the best Mayan architecture including the 24m-high Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors and the largest ball court found to date. | Day 15 | Chichen Itza - We make a visit to Chichen Itza, a site that showcases some of the best Mayan architecture including the 24m-high Pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors and the largest ball court found to date. You’ll also visit the 22m-deep Sacred Cenote, a well where over 50 skeletons have been found. Then it's time to say goodbye to your tour group for your onward travel. | 06:00 |
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Highlights
- City tour of Mexico City
- Visit to Chichen Itza
- Visit Convent of San Antonio de Padua, Izamal
Inclusions
- 15 Meals – 15 breakfasts
- 14 nights in hotels
- Transport – Travel To Destination By Coach
- 15 Excursions & Visits
- Tours of Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Cristobal and Campeche
- Visits to the ruins of Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Tule Tree, Mitla & Teotitlan del Valle, San Juan Chamula, Zinacantan, ruins of Palenque, Kabah & Uxmal, Convent of San Antonio de Padua, Chichen Itza
- Sumidero Canyon boat cruise
Accommodation
- Hotel Historico Central, Mexico City (3 Nights)
- NH Puebla Centro Histórico
- Hotel Abu, Oaxaca (2 Nights)
- Hotel One Salina Cruz or Hotel City Express Salina Cruz
- Hotel Sombra del Agua, San Cristobal (2 Nights)
- Chan-Kah Resort Village, Palenque (2 Nights)
- Hotel Plaza Campeche
- Hotel Caribe Merida Yucatan
- Hotel Real Hispano, Valladolid
Exclusions
Travel insurance is strongly recommended, and we provide exclusive discounts on travel insurance policies for our clients.https://goinsurance.com.au/?PromoCode=tc
- Airfares
- Travel Insurance
Fine Print
- Prices are subject to availability
- Fare includes all taxes and port charges
- Travel insurance not included; customers are advised to purchase appropriate cover after booking
- Itinerary is subject to change without notice
- Visas/ESTA’s are not included
- All travellers must have a valid passport for international travel and many countries require at least 6 months validity from the date of return and some countries require a machine-readable passport.
Extras
TRAVEL ADVICE: We recommend that you contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or visit their website at www.smartraveller.gov.au for general travel advice, as well as specific advice (including safety alert levels) relating to the destination you wish to visit. You can also register your travel plans with DFAT, so that you may be more easily contacted in an emergency.
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