Yucatan & Quintana Roo: the Mexican dream

An immense limestone plateau overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Quintana Roo offers dreamlike landscapes worthy of the most beautiful postcards. The Yucatán Peninsula is the land of the Mayas; the land of dense jungle and endless henequen fields will continue to dazzle you throughout your stay.

Live a unique experience in Mexico in 2 weeks!

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Day 1: Cancún - Cancún (Downtown)

Arrival in Cancún and pick up of your vehicle at the rental counter.

The rental agency will offer you additional insurance, be careful, sometimes they are very expensive.

A French-speaking guide will be waiting for you at the rental counter. He will help you with your procedures and give you a road map of the region.

Included: car rental, local guide, room and breakfast

Day 2: Cancún (Downtown) - Ek Balam - X’Canché - Valladolid

The black jaguar pyramids “Ek Balam”

Recently explored, Ek Balam remains the greatest discovery of Mayan archaeology at the end of the 20th century. We will enjoy the pyramids and take in an impressive view of the surrounding jungle.

Note: the entrance to the Ek Balam site is paid on site.

Swimming in the forest at the X’Canché cenote

After our lunch break, we set off by bike from the entrance of the site (1.5 km, 20 minutes) to the X’Canché cenote. If we are lucky, we may see the famous Mayan bird “Toh” with its bright colors. Arrival at the cenote and swimming in this sacred space where you can do ziplining or rappelling.

The capital of the Mayan East – Valladolid

Drive to Valladolid, the stop of the day (30 min). This authentic small Mexican town invites you to stroll around the zócalo, near the San Bernardino convent. We will enjoy the pastel-colored houses and have an ice cream at the end of the day in the central square.

Option includes: entrance to X’Canché, car rental, entrance(s) to the sites mentioned in the program, room and breakfast

Day 3: Valladolid - Chichén Itzá - Yokdzonot Cenote - Izamal

Chichén Itzá, Mayan wonder

Built by the Mayas and later modified by the Toltecs, Chichén Itzá symbolizes the unification of the two religious cultures. The largest archaeological site in Yucatán was at its peak the main religious center of the peninsula.

Swimming at the Yokdzonot cenote

After visiting Chichén Itzá, nothing beats a cenote to cool off. 3 kilometers from the site is the Yokdzonot cenote, off the beaten path (swimming possible). A water basin where it is pleasant to swim in a natural environment. We suggest you stop for lunch at a restaurant right next to the cenote.

The yellow city of Izamal

Then, departure to discover the authentic colonial village of Izamal, a magnificent city colored in bright yellow, whose Franciscan convent San Antonio de Padua, built on a Mayan ceremonial center, remains the largest monastic complex on the continent. Lunch on site.

Option included:

• Entrance Chichén Itzá
• Entrance Yokdzonot
• Local guide at Chichén Itzá

Included: car rental, entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, English-speaking guide, room and breakfast

Day 4: Izamal - Mérida

Suggestion of the day:

Meeting with the artisans of Izamal.

Gabriel will open the doors of his house and show you how he works wood to make jaguar-shaped statues, traditional Mexican toys, or fine chess pieces.

Then it will be Don Esteban's turn to explain his work on Cocoyol and Henequen, with which he makes jewelry. This colorful character, nicknamed “the Indiana Jones of Yucatán”, often captivates his guests with stories and legends… A beautiful encounter.

Then, we head to Mérida.

Mérida, the white city

Visit Mérida, capital of Yucatán. In full economic boom, it has nevertheless retained an enchanting colonial charm and a strong personality.

The historic monuments are numerous and well highlighted, the pleasant little squares invite you to have a drink to the sound of a marimba orchestra, and its craft market will offer you many souvenirs: the famous huipiles, very colorful embroidered women's tunics, an authentic “panama”, a real Yucatán hammock in pure cotton.

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 5: Mérida – Cenote tour – Mérida

The cenotes are natural pools of fresh and translucent water, where the sun's rays create a magical play of light. On the way, we cross a typical Mayan market where the colors of fruits and vegetables compete with those of the women's traditional clothes. Exploration of 2 cenotes, refreshing swim in the forest. One thing is certain, you will come out transformed.

Mayan craft workshop

In the afternoon, we will have a pleasant meeting with Pedro, a passionate and renowned artisan from Yucatán. He will tell us about his career and present his work.

We sit at the sculptor's table and get to work. The children will make a rain stick and the parents will work on the “Jicara”, a traditional Yucatecan fruit with multiple uses.

We leave with our “handmade in Mexico” souvenir.

Option included:

• local craft workshop
• lunch

a Spanish-speaking local guide to accompany you during the day (meeting at 09:00 at the entrance of your hotel)

Included: car rental, entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, local guide, room and breakfast

Day 6: Mérida - Hunucmá - Mérida

Sharing the life of a Mexican family

Departure in the morning to the small village of Hunucmá to enjoy a pleasant day of exchanges and discoveries with a Mexican family.

Upon arrival in the village, we will meet a family member who will welcome us. We will visit the market and, of course, buy all the local products needed for your cooking class.

With the shopping bags full, we leave 10 minutes from the village to discover the family's beautiful country house. After the welcome and the visit of the ranch, we will learn to prepare a typical dish.

While the food is cooking, we will visit the honey production. We will also have the opportunity to see and taste the very rare honey of the Mayan Melipona bees.

It's time to taste. After the meal and a moment of sharing and relaxation, it will be time to say goodbye to the family and return to Mérida at the end of the afternoon.

Option included:

• cooking class
• French-speaking local guide for the day (meeting in the hotel lobby)

Included: car rental, entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, local guide, room and breakfast

Day 7: Mérida – Uxmal – Campeche

Conquer the city of Uxmal

Departure for the Uxmal site. The site is calm and not very busy… guaranteed favorite! Uxmal means “Built three times” in Mayan, but in reality it was built five times. The region is very dry, and images of the rain god, Chac, are omnipresent.

On the way, we will stop to visit the Yaxcopoil hacienda (outside only).

Entrance Uxmal, Spanish-speaking local guide

Included: car rental, entrances to the sites mentioned in the program, local guide, room and breakfast

Day 8: Campeche - Chicanná

This morning, you will discover Campeche, the city with pastel and harmonious colors that highlight the colonial style.

Check-in at your accommodation not far from the Chicanná site, possibility to visit on the way the sites of Xpujil and Chicanná.

Note: The hotel is in the middle of nature, 10 minutes by car from the village of Xpujil.

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 9: Chicanná - Calakmul - Chicanná

Ruins of Calakmul

Early in the morning, you can walk in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve where there are a large number of jaguars. As in Tikal a few years ago, it is possible to observe wild animals roaming freely on the site (toucans, monkeys, ocellated turkeys).

Jaguars come out mostly at night, but you never know… In the afternoon, free visit of the Calakmul site (not included), located in the state of Campeche. This reserve takes its name from Mayan and means “the 2 twin mountains”. During this 4-hour walk, you will discover this still little-known site, one of the jewels of Mayan culture which was, at its peak, the direct rival of Tikal in Guatemala.

Note: The hotel is in the middle of nature, 10 minutes by car from the village of Xpujil.

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 10: Chicanná - Chetumal - Bacalar

Departure in the morning to the village of Chetumal, border with Belize, in the state of Quintana Roo. Walking tour of the city and especially the magnificent museum of Mayan culture (closed on Mondays) where we will learn to count and read in Mayan… child's play. Very beautiful models of most archaeological sites are on display and invite us to compare them.

Note: Entrance is not included, unless otherwise indicated.

Then, stop at the Azul cenote (40 minutes), swimming in this water point.

Arrival in Bacalar at the end of the afternoon.

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 11: Bacalar - Mahahual - Bacalar

Drive to Mahahual. Not far from Belize, this small village is a little paradise along the Caribbean.

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 12: Bacalar - Tulum

This morning, we head north to reach the Caribbean coast. It is advisable to visit the archaeological site of Tulum, which witnessed the arrival of the first settlers in 1518, when Juan de Grijalva, Spanish conquistador, dropped anchor on the beach under the astonished eyes of Batab (Mayan governor of the time). Free visit of this old port (the only known one) built in 1200 and disappeared at the end of the 16th century.

We will spend the afternoon quietly in the beautiful coastal town of Tulum.

NB: please consult us for the family room supplement (with 2 queen size beds)

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 13: Tulum

Free day.

Suggested activities: Enjoy the beach and the sun. We recommend a visit to the archaeological site of Tulum at the foot of the Caribbean Sea.

In the village of Akumal (30 km from Tulum): you can go snorkeling with mask and snorkel to observe the turtles. Equipment rental available on site.

About 30 km from Tulum, the Sac Actun cenote. Cenotes are cavities filled with fresh water. With more than 150 km of underwater galleries, Sac Actun is the largest system of underground rivers discovered to date in Mexico. You can swim in this magical place crossed by a blue ray.

Finally, inland is the ancient and grandiose city of Cobá (41 km from Tulum). It is one of the largest Mayan cities whose ruins are almost intact in the heart of the tropical jungle.

NB: please consult us for the family room supplement (with 2 queen size beds)

Included: car rental, room and breakfast

Day 14: Tulum - Cancún

Hasta luego México

Departure from the hotel 5 hours before the flight time to Cancún airport.

Return the vehicle to the rental agency counter and check in for your international flight.

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