Day 01: Mexico City, Mexico
Arrive in Mexico, the world's largest metropolis! You are met and transferred to your hotel for check-in.
Mexico City is also the oldest urban center in the Western Hemisphere, when it was called Tenochtitlan. Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes and his men were awestruck by the sight of the imposing temples of the Aztecs. Reporting back to King Carlos V, Cortes was struggling to convey the majesty of what he saw. Imagine the King's surprise at learning that "one of the plazas is twice the size of that of Salamanca ", and "the principal pyramid is taller than the tower of the cathedral at Seville ", or that the stone and wood craftsmanship that adorned these monuments "could nowhere be bettered." Balance of your day at leisure. Hotel Camino RealDay 02: Mexico City
Morning city tour. Your driver-guide takes you along the main boulevard Paseo de la Reforma to the Centro Histórico (historic center.) Nowhere is Mexico 's explosive past better depicted than at its central plaza, the Zócalo. Surrounded by some of the finest buildings of the colonial era, lay the remnants of one of the Aztecs' principal monuments, the Templo Mayor. Its mysterious shapes stand as a haunting tribute to the pre-Hispanic civilization that flourished here long ago.
Continue to Teotihuacán, at its peak a city of over one hundred thousand people - not only was it the largest city in America, it was one of the largest cities in the ancient world. This grand civilization, which arose in the second century BC, would dominate the culture of the valley of Mexico for almost a millennium and stands as the most significant cultural influence throughout the history of Central American civilizations.
The site is impressive for its scale, both in the size of the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world) and the majesty of the Calle de los Muertos (Street of the Dead) - originally 4km long and flanked by temples, palaces and platforms. Return to your hotel. Hotel Camino Real (B)Day 03: Mexico City - Oaxaca
Transfer to the airport for flight (not included) to Oaxaca.
This town, located in a valley surrounded by the Sierra Madre del Sur, was once the center of the Mixtec and Zapotec civilizations. After the Spanish conquered Oaxaca in 1533, the city quickly took on a Spanish flavor, with ornate buildings, churches, elegant archways, balconies, decorative grillwork and charming plazas. Yet despite its colonial heritage, the city remains basically Indian at heart, wherein lies its charm.
You are met at the Oaxaca airport by your local driver-guide for private tour of Monte Albán, the ancient capital of the Zapotecs. The city was founded in 500 BC, and it was the center of political authority throughout the Valley of Oaxaca until 700 AD. Monte Albán also had significant cultural contact with Teotihuacán near Mexico City, and it’s collapse is suggested to be linked with the collapse of Teotihuacán, perhaps due to loss of an important trading partner. Monte Albán has truly amazing constructions, like the Great Plaza, the Ball Court, the Palace, and more. Transfer to your hotel for check-in. Hotel Camino Real (B)Day 04: Oaxaca - San Cristobal de Las Casas
Transfer to the airport for your flight (not included) to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, Chiapas' lively state capital.
You are met by your local driver-guide and transferred to exhilarating [800 meter-deep] Sumidero Canyon. Created by the mighty River Grijalva that runs northwards through it, a boat ride will take you on a spectacular journey through the canyon!
Continue to San Cristóbal de las Casas, an Indian market town nestled in the heart of the jungle highlands. The clear mountain air and the remoteness give San Cristóbal a truly magical atmosphere! Transfer to your hotel for check-in. Casa Mexicana (B)
Day 05: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Palenque
Morning visit to Tzotzil-Maya villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacatán, where Indian culture and tradition is very evident. Religion is a mixture of Catholicism and native Tzotzil. They believe that the world is a cube supported by 4 columns and surrounded by water. Gods are considered as inhabitants of the moon, heaven, and mother sun.
Continue to Palenque for overnight. Located in the foothills of the Tumbalá Mountains, Palenque sits on a ledge overlooking the swampy plains that stretch northward all the way to the Gulf coast. Hotel Ciudad Real (B)Day 06: Palenque - Villahermosa - Merida
Morning excursion to Palanque. The ancient Maya site was at its height between 500 and 700 AD, when its influence extended throughout the basin of the Usumacinta River. The elegance and craftsmanship of the buildings, as well as the lightness of the sculpted relief’s with their Mayan mythological themes, attest to the creative genius of this civilization.
Drive to Villahermosa [founded in 1596 by the Spaniards] on the banks of the River Grijalva. Here, board your flight (not included) to Mérida - your base for the next four nights from where you will explore the most important archaeological sites of the Yucatán Peninsula. Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Villa Mercedes (B)Day 07: Uxmal Excursion
Full-day excursion to Uxmal, which means "'built three times" in the Mayan language, and though its name is a mystery, its beauty is not. As a World Heritage site, it is one of the best-restored and maintained ruins on the Yucatán Peninsula, and certainly one of the most magnificent. Its architecture is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with rich sculptural elements and details. Return to your hotel this afternoon. Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Villa Mercedes (B,L)Day 08: Merida
Full day at leisure in Merida. You may add the following optional (fees apply) excursions; half-day city tour of Merida, full-day excursion to Celstun Ecological Park or full day excursion to Puuc Route and Loltun Cave. Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Villa Mercedes (B)Day 09: Merida - Chichenitza
Full day excursion to famous Mayan pyramids Chichén Itzá. The name Chichén Itzá is a Mayan word: CHI (mouth) CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the witch water.) Some say this is because people were often thrown into the nearby cenote as sacrifices, and those who survived were believed to be seers.
The site is divided into three sections. The North grouping of structures is distinctly Toltec in style. The central group appears to be from the early period. The southern group is known as "The Old Chichén.” You will find a large ball court where Mayan men played a game called pok ta pok. Anthropologists believe that the object of the game was to hurl a ball through a ring that was mounted on a wall, seven meters above the ground. Each team had six field players who would attempt to pass the ball - using any body part except their hands - to their captain who would attempt the shot using a racket of sorts. The captain of the team that made the first successful shot was then decapitated as a sacrifice to the gods. This was seen as an honor and guaranteed entrance into heaven. Return to your hotel this afternoon. Hotel Presidente Intercontinental Villa Mercedes (B,L)Day 10: Merida - Depart
Transfer to the airport to board your homebound flight. (B)
