Best of Mexico
Best of Mexico
Best of Mexico
15 Days Starting in Mexico City and ending in Playa del Carmen
Visiting: Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, Salina Cruz, San Cristobal de las Casas, Palenque, Merida, Playa del Carmen
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QVKD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
Raise a margarita to the beauty and culture of Mexico on this adventure. Discover Maya history at the incredible Chichen Itza ruins and visit Indigenous communities near the charming San Cristobal de las Casas. Indulge in a traditional pibil feast (slow roasted pork) with a Maya family and learn about Zapotec culture over lunch in a local home. Stroll the charming streets of Merida, be charmed by the alebrijes of Oaxaca and chill out on the beaches of Playa del Carmen. From museums and ruins to canyons and waterfalls, this journey will give you a taste of Mexico’s best.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Mexico City
Location: Mexico City
Accommodation: Hotel
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. When you arrive at the airport, you’ll be met by a local representative for a complimentary transfer to your hotel. You'll meet your leader and other members of your group this evening for a welcome meeting at 6 pm – until then, the day is yours. Perhaps take a stroll to get a feel for this vibrant capital where the ancient and modern collide. After the meeting, you might like to head out with your leader for an optional group dinner, an opportunity to get stuck straight into the many local culinary delights.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Mexico City
Location: Mexico City
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Get to know Mexico City during a guided tour with your leader. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral – the largest and one of the oldest cathedrals in Latin America. You’ll also explore Zocalo, the city’s main square, and the remains of Tenochtitlan – the capital city of the Aztec empire. Check out famous Mexican painter Diego Rivera’s Mural Museum at the Alameda Central. Your tour includes a visit to the Museum of Anthropology – home to an impressive collection of 600,000 pieces of Mexican art and artifacts. After, the day is yours to spend as you please. The Leon Trotsky and Frida Kahlo (La Casa Azul) museums are famous sights worth checking out as an optional activity. Otherwise, maybe visit the colourful floating gardens of Xochimilco just outside the city.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Puebla
Location: Puebla
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Depart Mexico City this morning and visit the ancient Teotihuacan ruins, once one of the biggest cities in the world. Meet with a local guide and discover the ruins known as the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon which dominate the skyline. Stroll down The Avenue of the Dead and get a sense of what life was like here nearly 2000 years ago. Continue to the colourful city of Puebla, joining your leader for an orientation walk to get your bearings around the beautifully preserved city centre. Puebla is known for its delicious food scene and your leader will have tips on the best places to dine on local specialties this evening.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Puebla
Location: Puebla
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, get to know Cholula, a city close to Puebla, by joining your leader on an orientation walk. As Cholula has the most churches in Mexico, you’ll stop at a few on your journey, like Santuario de la Virgen de los Remedios, located on the top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Head back to Puebla after to explore the historic city at your own pace in the afternoon – maybe sit down for a dish of mole pueblano, the speciality of Puebla.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Oaxaca
Location: Oaxaca
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Today you’ll journey to Oaxaca (pronounced wa-ha-ca), the city best known for its mole and mezcal. You’ll see the rest of its best bits on an orientation walk with your leader. Maybe see the main square with its architecture dating back to the 16th century or the 20 de Noviembre Market – a food market loved by the locals. Tonight, maybe join your group for a dinner, where you can try some of the regional specialities, such as tlayudas (Oaxacan pizza) or one of its seven varieties of mole.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Oaxaca
Location: Oaxaca
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Learn about the traditional skill of crafting alebrijes – brightly coloured folk art sculptures of mythical creatures – in a women-run workshop in San Martin Tilcajete. They’ll walk you through the history of the art and how the crafting process works. Then, enjoy a free afternoon in Oaxaca – maybe visit the nearby archaeological site of Monte Alban. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this place was inhabited for over 1500 years by the Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs. The terraces, dams, canals, pyramids and artificial mounds of Monte Alban were carved out of the mountain and are now the symbols of a sacred topography. Have your camera ready to go because you can get a fantastic view across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. Season-depending, a folkloric ballet performance is also a great optional activity, or the Santo Domingo Cultural Centre is also well worth a visit. Otherwise, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of the streets and take the opportunity to feast on some regional delicacies.
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Optional Activities:
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Day 7: Salina Cruz
Location: Salina Cruz
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Set off with your leader this morning, first stopping at the famous Tule Tree, a 1500-year-old Montezuma cypress with a 36 m circumference, making it one of the widest in the world. Travel on to the Mitla archaeological ruins – once the religious centre for the Zapotec people. Lunch today will be at the home of a local Zapotecan family, where you’ll have the chance to try traditional dishes and learn about their culture. Visit a woman-owned mezcal farm and tour the cacti plantation – sampling some of the different mezcals rounds out your day of exploration. Relax on the bus as you travel to Salina Cruz for the night.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: San Cristobal De Las Casas
Location: San Cristobal de las Casas
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Your journey continues as you drive to the Sumidero Canyon, a gigantic natural canyon with walls reaching as high as 1000 m. Here, you’ll hop aboard a boat for an up close and personal tour of this remarkable landscape. Be sure to keep an eye (or an ear) out for howler monkeys along the way! After your boat trip, drive to the charming city of San Cristobal de las Casas. When you arrive in 'San Cris', take a walk and soak up the strong old-world atmosphere of this town, which is due to the grand Spanish architecture, prominent Indigenous cultures and winding cobblestone streets. Your leader will help orientate you with a walk around the town centre, and then you’re free to venture wherever your heart desires.
Included Activities:
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Day 9: San Cristobal De Las Casas
Location: San Cristobal de las Casas
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, your leader will take you on another orientation walk of the city, passing impressive churches, green plazas and countless museums before bringing you to the nearby Maya village of San Juan Chamula. Sitting in the highlands, this village serves as a marketplace and religious ceremonial centre for the Indigenous communities who live in the surrounding hills. The local people have retained their traditional way of life and can often be seen wearing their own distinctive clothes. Make the short drive to the next town of Zincantan. As you explore with your leader, you'll learn more about these mostly Maya communities. Later, during free time back in San Cris, perhaps rent a bike to explore the town further.
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Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Palenque
Location: Palenque
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Say goodbye to San Cristobal de Las Casas as you head for Palenque and its surrounding jungle. It will be an early start to minimise the chance of hitting road closures, which are common in the area. Stretch your legs on the stop or two along the way, before landing at the low and wide Agua Azul Waterfalls, which flow slowly over limestone rocks. Enjoy your lunch in nature and then cool off with a quick dip. Otherwise, take a scenic stroll around the grounds before continuing to Palenque.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Palenque
Location: Palenque
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Set out this morning to the archaeological site of Palenque. Located on a hilltop in an area of hot jungle, these are some of the most astounding Maya ruins in the region, dating back as far as AD 600. Some of the ruins remain unexcavated and are hidden in the surrounding forest. Enjoy a guided tour of the site and listen out for the calls of howler monkeys as you explore this lost city. After, head back to your hotel in the more modern city of Palenque and perhaps spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Merida
Location: Merida
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Settle in for another driving day as you travel from Palenque to the historic city of Merida. Your drive will be broken up with short stops and an included lunch stop. Lunch will be a moreish selection of local seafood, with alternatives available. Founded in 1542, Merida is the capital of the Yucatan state and has retained much of its old-world charm. After the drive, stretch your legs with an orientation walk with your leader where you’ll have the chance to learn about its Maya heritage.
Included Activities:
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Day 13: Merida
Location: Merida
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today is a free day to explore the many sights of Merida. Perhaps visit some of the museums, including the impressive Regional Anthropology Museum of the Yucatan, and stroll the city streets, which are alive with art and culture. Hang out in the green and shady Plaza Grande, with the 16th-century cathedral on one side and City Hall, State Government Palace and Casa Montejo on the other. The outdoor market is another essential visit, with an array of hammocks and Mayan replicas for sale, plus a selection of enticing local cuisine, including the dish cochinita pibil ('little pig') or the incredibly spicy El Yucateco hot sauce. If you can't visit enough Maya sites, you may want to head for the ancient ruins of Uxmal. Here, you'll see the amazing Palace of the Governors, considered by many to be the best example of classic Maya architecture.
Optional Activities:
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Day 14: Playa Del Carmen
Location: Playa del Carmen
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Your first stop today is Chichen Itza, possibly the most famous Maya site in Mexico and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. You'll see the marvellous Temple of Kukulkan standing over the ruins and not far from the temple is the ‘ball court’, where many disputes are known to have been settled by way of a ball game that employed only the elbows, hips and wrists. Stone carvings depicting violence suggest it was not such a casual sport. Following a guided tour of the site, enjoy a special lunch with a family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional pibil feast – a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. Finally, continue to the popular seaside town of Playa del Carmen, where you may like to join your group for a final dinner together.
Included Activities:
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Day 15: Playa Del Carmen
Location: Playa del Carmen
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay in Playa Del Carmen, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (14 nights) -
Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
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Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
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Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the Mural Museum (Entrance Fee)
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Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
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Mexico City - Leader-led orientation walk
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Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
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Puebla - Leader-led orientation walk
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Oaxaca - Leader-led orientation walk
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Oaxaca - Alebrijes workshop visit
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Oaxaca - Tule Tree
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Mexico City - National Museum of Anthropology (entrance fee) (Closed Mondays)
- Mexico City - Leader-led City Tour of Historic Center
- Mexico City - Diego Rivera Murals in the National Palace (entrance fee)
- Mexico City - Metropolitan Cathedral (entrance fee)
- Teotihuacan - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Leader-led Informal Spanish Lesson
- Oaxaca - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Mitla - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Oaxaca - Guided full-day tour including the Tule Tree, a Mezcal distillery, and lunch in a Zapoteca family home
- San Cristobal de las Casas - Leader-led orientation walk
- San Cristobal de Las Casas - Leader-led City Tour
- San Juan Chamula - Maya Church (entrance fee)
- Zinacantan - Maya Church (entrance fee)
- Agua Azul - Waterfall Visit (entrance fee)
- Merida - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Palenque - Archaeological site (Guide, Transport & Entrance fee)
- Izamal - Convento de San Antonio de Padua (Entrance)
- Izamal - Leader-led walking tour
- Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Transport
- Private vehicle
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. 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.
- 2. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
- 3. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking (including any middle names listed on your passport) for entrance tickets. Fees may apply for adding or amending details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
Mode of Transport
- Private vehicle
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
Some included activities, such as guided tours of archaeological sites, can involve a lot of walking. Please ensure you bring sturdy walking shoes and comfortable clothes. To make the most of the trip, it's best if you have at least a moderate level of fitness.
This trip includes time spent travelling in a private vehicle with your group. Extra space can be tight and conditions may feel a little cramped; however, it's all part of the adventure and a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. There are a few long days of travel, as you'll cover a lot of ground. You will, however, make stops at interesting locations to break up the longer drives. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
The tropical climate of Mexico means conditions can be hot and humid. Always carry plenty of water with you and stay hydrated, especially on walking tours. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
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