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A coast to volcano discovery of ancient civilisations and vibrant cultures

Travel from coast to highland via ancient ruins, colourful colonial towns, lakeside market towns and modern Maya villages on this 11-day tour through some of the key highlights of Mexico and Guatemala. Kick off from the coast then snake down through the Central American highlands, clambering over crumbling temples, falling in love with colourful colonial architecture and feasting on dishes like cochinita pibil (pork, annatto and citrus) and elote (grilled corn). With plenty of walking tours and chances to interact with local people, this immersive tour is the perfect introduction to two incredible countries.

Start
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finish
Antigua, Guatemala
Destinations
Guatemala, Mexico
Style
Original
Theme
Explorer
Code
QVSJ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Explore the ruins of Chichen Itza and wonder at the pyramids, carvings and observatory, all of which give a sense of just how complex and advanced this ancient city was.

  • Encounter one a unique kind of modern Maya culture in San Juan Chamula, a Tzoyzil community where the locals practise a blend of animism, Catholicism and ancient ritual.

  • Ease into life in Guatemala with a stay in lakeside Panajachel and enjoy free time to explore the myriad highland villages or get active on the water.

  • Climb step pyramids carved from limestone over 1300 years ago during a locally-guided tour of the Palenque ruins, an abandoned Maya city surrounded by thick jungle.

  • Beat the Central American heat with a refreshing dip in the turquoise waters of the multi-tiered Agua Azul waterfalls.

Is this trip right for you?

  • The tropical climate of Central America means conditions can be really hot and humid. Please carefully consider what time of year you want to travel in. Always carry plenty of water with you and stay hydrated, especially on walking tours.

  • Try to learn as many Spanish words as you can before your trip. Even though your leader will be on hand to help you hop over language barriers, attempting to communicate in Spanish is a great way of showing you care.

  • Want more culture and coastal paradise? This adventure can be combined with a trip through Belize to become a Maya Adventure. Contact your booking agent or enter code QVSKC on our website for more information.

Map of Mexico & Guatemala Highlights including Guatemala and Mexico
The ancient mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Mexico
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Mexico, Palenque. Mayan temple
Guatemala_Lake_Atitlan
Experience traditional Guatemalan hospitality and local dishes
Enjoy the view with a stay in lakeside Panajachel

Itinerary
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Bienvenidos! Welcome to this beachside playground. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and travel group. If you have time, why not kick off your shoes and walk along one of Playa's beaches. The evening is yours. Full of energy and craving a party? Try one of the many clubs that line the beachfront. Don't despair if you're not a techno-head, you can find a venue for every taste here, from rock and roll to jazz.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

If you’ve just arrived in Mexico it is possible you will experience lethargy and loss of appetite. This is nothing to be concerned about and is just your body acclimatising to the heat and humidity. Be sure to drink plenty of water and try not to do too much in any one day, you'll soon adjust.

Rise and shine! At 8 am take a private minivan to the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza, and on the 3-hour journey you can practice your Spanish and spot charming villages. You’ll have a good couple of hours to explore the remains of Chichen Itza, an ancient city that fuses of religion, architecture and geometry. Then, travel on to the Yucatan capital of Merida for a beguiling dose of old-world charm. After a 2-hour ride, take a brief tour of the town centre and main attractions and then do as you please for the rest of the evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport)
  • Merida - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Founded in 1542, Merida retains much of its old-world charm with a well-preserved Old Town, wonderful museums and city streets alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green and shady Plaza Grande, with the twin-towered 16th-century Cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Mantejo on the others. For a taste of Merida's 19th=century glory go for a walk along the mansion lined Paseo de Montejo. Mornings are the best time to visit the outdoor markets. It's a great place to try out the local food specialities, like cochinita pibil (barbecue pork) or the head-blowingly spicy El Yucateco hot sauce. Merida is also the gateway to the Maya ruins of Uxmal and there is an opportunity to visit these impressive ruins. Little is known about the site's origins but it is thought the city was founded around AD500.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Merida - Fernando Garcia Ponce-Macay Contemporary Art Museum (Entrance Fee) - Free
  • Merida - Celestun Bird Sanctuary (Entrance and Transport) - MXN1035
  • Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) - MXN810
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today we have an early start in order to jump on one of the very comfortable first- or second-class buses heading to Chiapas. These buses are equipped with bathrooms and TVs, though you may want to spend your journey staring out the window. There's plenty to admire in the landscape of Mexico's South, particularly once you reach the mountainous region of Chiapas. There will also be time for an informal Spanish lesson. Arrive at your hotel in the evening and get some rest for tomorrow—a day full of archaeological wonder.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today we will hit the ruins with a local guide in Palenque to give you all the information that you need on the impressive Maya city state, entry fee included. The pyramids and structures that formed this once thriving hub are now swallowed by jungle. Whilst walking amongst the ruins it is often possible to hear the eerie calls of howler monkeys echoing from the jungle, giving an added dimension to this magnificent site.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

After breakfast you'll grab a seat on a bus bound for San Cristobal de las Casas.The roughly 5-hour journey will be broken up with a refreshing dip in the the turquoise waters of the multi-tiered Agua Azul falls. Continue southward to San Cristobal de las Casas and explore this lovely city in a guided tour. With winding cobblestone streets and colonial Spanish architecture, San Cristobal maintains a lovely old-world feel mixed with strong indigenous roots. Maybe make a note of any particular points of interest during your tour, which you can then come back to during your free evening.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led City Tour
  • Agua Azul Waterfall - Visit with option to swim (Entrance Fee)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The local Zapatista movement in the region around Palenque has been quite active in recent years, occasionally holding protests or blocking roads. Our local operations team is constantly monitoring this situation to ensure the safety of our passengers and leaders. In some cases we might need to use an alternative route from Palenque to San Cristobal to avoid this activity – more so to bypass long traffic delays than any real danger.

Travel to nearby San Juan Chamula, you'll find an insular indigenous community where life is heavily informed by a spiritual blend of ancient ritual, animism and Catholicism. Make sure to visit the church, where the floor is covered with pine needles and the air is heavy with incense. Shamans come here to carry out cleansings with firewater, ancient prayer and sometimes chickens. There are also markets with colourful handicrafts for sale. Back in town, why not go for a stroll and try to spot the cafe with the most locals in it for a taste of the traditional 'elote', a corn cob which makes a common snack in the highlands of Chiapas.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (Entrance Fee)
  • Zinacantan - Maya Church (Entrance Fee)
Optional Activities
  • San Cristobal de las Casas - Jade Museum - MXN65
  • Sumidero Canyon - Boat Excursion (Entrance & Transport) - MXN565
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Now entering Guatemala! From San Cristobal we head down by shuttle bus. It takes about 4 hours to get to the Guatemalan border, just make sure you have your passport ready and the tour leader will give you detailed instructions on what to do once at the border. Continue on to Lake Atitlan, and settle in Panajachel which has a thriving market, good eateries and many water-based activities to enjoy. The surrounding area is dotted with villages which can be reached on foot or by boat. After a leader-led orientation walk, why not pick one and start exploring? In each village the local life has changed little over the last few hundred years. Each village has its own typical dress and make all the textiles themselves in designs passed down through generations.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Panajachel - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today is wide open for you to continue exploring this fascinating region of Guatemala. You could go for a swim or hire a kayak, soaking up the sun and the breathtaking mountain views. If you're feeling adventurous, you could jump on the zipline that takes you through lush forest and spits you out over the lake. Just chat to your leader about the various optional activities you can partake in today.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Panajachel - Water taxi to Santiago, San Pedro or San Juan (Return) - GTQ40
  • Panajachel - Kayak rental (per hour) - GTQ45
  • Panajachel - San Pedro Volcano hike - GTQ400
  • Panajachel - Bicycle rental (per day) - GTQ55
  • Panajachel - Zipline - GTQ280
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

The old colonial capital of Guatemala, Antigua remains the cultural centre of the country. Its cobbled streets, local markets, colonial buildings, and indigenous marimba music emanating from the many bars and restaurants create a fantastic atmosphere. After a 4-hour drive, an orientation walk will get you started in the city, then it's up to you. If you're into salsa dancing or you'd like to learn some steps, Antigua is the place to be. Many dancing schools offer hourly lessons that give you the preparation to hit the discos at night and show your moves.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Antigua - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Optional Activities
  • Antigua - Pacaya Volcano hike - GTQ85
  • Antigua - Chocolate-making workshop - GTQ130
  • Antigua - Bike tour - GTQ210
  • Antigua - Coffee/Macadamia nut plantation tour - GTQ240
  • Antigua - Salsa lesson (per hour) - GTQ35
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

If you plan on staying in Antigua for a day or two more, have a chat to your booking agent and they will be able to help you with securing extra accommodation (subject to availability). Even though your tour is officially over, we still have stuff to recommend! The ‘Holy Guatemole! Food & Market Tour’ with Urban Adventures, for example, is a great way to immerse yourself in Guatemala’s food culture.
Optional Activities
  • Guatemala City - Holy Guatemole! Food & Market Tour (departing from Antigua) - Urban Adventures - USD107
  • Antigua - Antigua by the Bean - Urban Adventures - USD77
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

5 breakfasts

Transport

Private vehicle, Taxi, Public bus

Accommodation

Hotel (10 nights)

Included activities

  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee & Transport)
  • Merida - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
  • Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
  • San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led City Tour
  • Agua Azul Waterfall - Visit with option to swim (Entrance Fee)
  • San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (Entrance Fee)
  • Zinacantan - Maya Church (Entrance Fee)
  • Panajachel - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Antigua - Leader-led Orientation Walk

Dates & availability

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Travel lightly with Intrepid. We’ve offset the main sources of carbon emissions from this trip on your behalf, including transport, accommodation & waste. Read more

Important notes

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. There are no activities planned for the final day so you may depart at any time.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Please be careful when booking flights from Antigua; make sure you fly out of Guatemala City Airport [GUA]. Guatemala City Airport is the closest airport to Antigua. Please do not book flights from Antigua & Barbuda Airport [ANU] as this is an island in the Caribbean.

Essential trip information

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