8-day Yucatan Peninsula: Small-group For Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam And Tulum

Itinerary

Day 1: Your arrival

Pass By: Gray Line Cancún-Yucatán, local 41, Calle Robalo 30, 3, 77500 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
We will greet you at Cancun International Airport and transfer you to Chichen Itza.

Pass By: Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows, Km.120 Chichén Itzá Highway Merida Cancun, 97751 Chichén Itzá, Yuc., Mexico
Your accomodation in the very heart of the archaeological park with its own entrance to the temples. Enjoy time to relax and enjoy the stars before heading back to your room (if you are already staying at Cancun, we pick you up at your hotel or meeting point).

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 2: Chichen Itza archaeological park

Pass By: Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows, Km.120 Chichén Itzá Highway Merida Cancun, 97751 Chichén Itzá, Yuc., Mexico
Begin your day with breakfast at your hotel.

Stop At: Chichen Itza Mexico
Then, a private guided tour of the site begins at the Great Plaza, the heart of Chichen Itza. Visiting the Ball Game Court, the Temple of the Jaguars, the famous Temple (pyramid) of God KuKulcan, the Tzompantli Platform, the Temple of the Warriors or Temple of The One Thousand Columns. Then you will visit the Mayan Observatory and the set of buildings constructed during the Classic Maya Period, The Nunnery.
Duration: 2 hours

Pass By: Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows, Km.120 Chichén Itzá Highway Merida Cancun, 97751 Chichén Itzá, Yuc., Mexico
Lunch will be served at Mayaland Hotel. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing by the pool or taking an additional horseback riding tour (not included). You can also stroll through our beautiful gardens and watch the birds. The Yucatan boasts more species than the United States and Canada combined.
Dinner will be served at the Mayaland Hotel El Mural dining room and terrace.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 3: Ek Balam-Rio Lagartos pink flamingo reserve

Pass By: Ek' Balam, Temozon Mexico
After breakfast, we will depart to the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula via the magnificent site of Ek Balam to Rio Lagartos on the Mexican Gulf coast. Ek Balam is one of the most mysterious cities ever discovered. Its main temple features a Jaw of jaguar with delicate stucco relieve and feathered sculptures.

Pass By: Rio Lagartos, Unnamed Road, Río Lagartos, Yuc., Mexico
At arriving to Rio Lagartos, we will take a wonderful boat ride through the mangroves to visit the feeding ground of the beautiful pink flamingoes. A box lunch will be provided. Return to the hotel for a late afternoon at leisure.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Box lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 4: Izamal-Merida-Uxmal

Pass By: Convento de San Antonio de Padua, Calle 31-A, Izamal 97540 Mexico
After breakfast, we will depart to Merida calling at the colonial city of Izamal on the way, where we will visit the Convent of San Francisco de Padua, the central park, the regional market and the pyramid of Kinich Kakmo located downtown.


Pass By: Merida, Local 1, Calle 63 No. 482, Centro, 97000 Mérida, Yuc., Mexico
Upon arrival in Merida, we will take a walking tour of the city center visiting the Zocalo or Main Square, site of the stately Cathedral; the Casa de Montejo, a 16th century home of Don Francisco de Montejo, the founder of the city; the City Hall and palace of the State Government. We will take a walking tour of the city market for authentic arts and crafts.
Lunch is served at a typical Mexican restaurant where you will taste a sample of authentic local cuisine. We continue our walking tour to the church of Tercera Orden, a beautiful 17th century monastery; the Peon Contreras Theater and the University of Yucatan.
At the end of this visit, a deluxe vehicle tour around the Monument to the Nation and past the 19th century mansions on Paseo de Montejo and Avenida Colon concludes our city tour.

Pass By: Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum, KM.78, Antigua, Campeche-Mérida, 97844 Uxmal, Yuc., Mexico
We continue to Uxmal for hotel check-in and dinner at the Hacienda Uxmal ® Hotel.



Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 5: Uxmal Archaeological Park

Pass By: Zona Arqueologica Uxmal, Carretera Federal No. 261, Uxmal 97899 Mexico
Breakfast. We will walk to the temples at Uxmal for a guided tour that includes the oval-shaped Magician´s Pyramid; the Nun´s Quadrangle with its magnificent friezes depicting the Mayan Rain God; the magnificent Palace of the Governor and the impressive Great Pyramid.

Free afternoon for relaxing at the hotel where you can swim in our beautiful sparkling swimming pools or enjoy our spa.

In the evening you are invited to attend the Uxmal light and sound show, staged nightly in the Nun´s Quadrangle, Uxmal´s central plaza. The music, dialogue (spanish only) and illumination take place in a magnificent setting and the event is an unforgettable introduction to the history and legends of the ancient city and the magnificent Puuc Mayan culture. When inaugurated in 1975, this sound and light spectacle was acclaimed to be the finest in the world. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 6: Town of Becal and city of Campeche

Pass By: Centro Historico de San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche Mexico
Breakfast will be served at the hotel. We will take you to the village of Becal, famous for the Panama hats made by artisans who work in caves to preserve the quality of the palm fronds. Afterwards we shall proceed to the city of Campeche once a fortified Pirate haven. Here one of the United Nations World Heritage Sites, as are Chichen Itza and Uxmal. Enjoy a delicious seafood lunch at a local restaurant. We will do a walking city tour and visit a number of small museums and places of interest in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 7: Kabah Sayil- Ticul Labna Loltun

Pass By: Kabah, Carretera Federal 261 Mexico
Depart from the hotel after breakfast. First stop is Kabah where you will see the Codz Pop, a palace famous for its facade of 250 Chaac masks and statues of ancient rulers of the site; the Palace and the Arch of Kabah which marks the entrance to the Sacbe or linking path between Kabah and Uxmal.

Pass By: Zona Arqueologica de Sayil, Carretera Internacional No. 261, Sayil 97885 Mexico
We will then visit Sayil, a very unique site in the land of the Maya for its gracious three-tiered palace: a labyrinth of 70 rooms adorned with columns and beautifully Chaac masks carved in stone.

Pass By: Labna, Mexico
Labna is a lovely classical Puuc Maya village that among its temples of note we find The Palace and The Mirador.

Minutes away are the town of Ticul, where the living Maya will show us the makings of their pottery and reproductions of ancient Mayan figurines.

Pass By: Loltun Cave, Yucatan, Mexico
A box lunch will be provided along the way to the caves of Loltun, natural masterpieces with pre-Maya engravings dating back over four thousand years as well as interesting geological formations and markings of The Yucatan Peninsula´s resurgence from the sea in the Quaternary Era. Next to Loltun is the city of Tekax. We will visit a 17th century convent and fortress like chapel that is a silent testimony to Yucatan´s turbulent past: Maya revolts against Spanish rule that resulted in the war of castes. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch: Box lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: One night´s accommodations at room of the house


Day 8: Uxmal Tulum - Cancun or Riviera Maya

Pass By: Tulum Archaeological Site, Carretera Federal, Cancun - Chetumal Km 230, 307, Tulum 77780 Mexico
After breakfast we will depart to the archaeological site of Tulum located in the Caribbean Coast. After a brief visit, your deluxe van will take you to the hotel of your choice in Cancun or the Riviera Maya or on to the airport.


Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.