Exploring Mexico: From Mexico City to the Riviera Maya

Day 1: Arrival Mexico City

Upon arrival at Mexico City International Airport (AICM) transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities or start exploring the city. Overnight in Mexico City.

Day 2: Mexico City: City Tour & Anthropological Museum

Meet your German/English-speaking guide in the hotel lobby at 7:30 for a welcome briefing before departing on an unforgettable journey through Mexico City's rich cultural, architectural, and historical heritage.  Visit the historic Zócalo, including the National Palace to see Diego Rivera's famous mural on the main staircase. Continue through Plaza Tolsá and admire landmarks such as the National Museum of Art and the Mining Palace. Enjoy a walking tour of the historic centre, passing the Palace of Fine Arts and visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral, the largest cathedral in Latin America. Continue with a panoramic drive along Paseo de la Reforma, where you will see some of the city's best-known monuments, including the Angel of Independence, the Diana the Huntress Fountain, and the monuments to Cuauhtémoc and Columbus.Continue with a visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, including the Aztec Hall. Afterwards, visit Xochimilco, famous for its picturesque canals and colorful trajineras, the traditional boats that have become a symbol of Mexico City. Discover this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its unique cultural heritage, which preserves the legacy of the ancient floating gardens. Enjoy a typical lunch on one of these colorful boats.Following lunch, enjoy a free afternoon to explore Mexico City at your own pace.Overnight in Mexico City.

Day 3: Mexico City – Teotihuacan – Cholula – Puebla (195km – 4hrs)

We begin our journey by road to the well-preserved ruins of Teotihuacán, the "Place Where the Gods Were Created". This ancient city, abandoned in the 6th century, had a profound influence on later civilizations, including the Aztecs. With more than 2,500 years of history, Teotihuacán was an important ceremonial centre where textiles made from natural fibres and obsidian tools were widely used for trade. During your visit, you will explore the Temple of Quetzalpapalotl ("Butterfly Bird"), the Palace of the Plumed Snails, the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, the Ciudadela, and the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. The journey continues to Cholula, a town rich in art and history, where traces of its pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage can be seen throughout the city. Founded long before the Spanish conquest, Cholula was an important religious centre dedicated to Quetzalcoatl, attracting people from across the Valley of Anáhuac. Afterwards, we continue to the colonial city of Puebla de los Ángeles.Overnight in Puebla.

Day 4: Puebla – Oaxaca (338km – 4.5hrs)

After breakfast, discover two of Mexico's most beautiful colonial cities. Begin with a guided tour of Puebla, whose historic centre is home to one of the country's largest collections of 18th-century colonial architecture. Visit the impressive Cathedral, admired for its grand interior and towers, the tallest in Mexico, and continue to the magnificent Chapel of the Rosario, located within the Santo Domingo complex. Later, travel to the charming capital of Oaxaca. On arrival, enjoy a city tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for its colourful facades, colonial architecture, and Zapotec heritage. Visit the Zócalo and the Church of Santo Domingo, considered one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Mexico, and explore the lively artisan market, one of the most vibrant and colourful in the country.Overnight in Oaxaca.

Day 5: Oaxaca – Monte Albán – Oaxaca (60km – 1hr)

After breakfast, visit the archaeological site of Monte Albán, located just 12 km from Oaxaca. Once an important ceremonial centre of the Zapotecs and later the Mixtecs, it remained significant until the rise of the Aztec Empire, shortly before the arrival of the Spanish. Continue along Oaxaca's Artisan Route, showcasing the region's rich cultural and artistic traditions. Visit Arrazola, renowned for its colourful hand-carved alebrijes, and San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its distinctive black pottery (barro negro), one of Oaxaca's most iconic crafts.Overnight in Oaxaca.

Day 6: Oaxaca – Tule Tree – Mitla – Tehuantepec (280km – 5hrs)

After breakfast, depart for Santa María del Tule, where you will make a photo stop at the famous Tule Tree, believed to be over 2,000 years old and measuring more than 50 metres in circumference. Continue to the archaeological site of Mitla, an important Zapotec ceremonial centre where, according to tradition, the dead came to find their final resting place. Admire its distinctive stone mosaics and intricate geometric fretwork, unique in Mesoamerican architecture. The journey then continues to Tehuantepec along a scenic mountain road, passing through dramatic landscapes and lush vegetation before arriving at your hotel.Overnight in Tehuantepec.

Day 7: Tehuantepec – Sumidero Canyon – San Cristóbal De Las Casas (370km – 6hrs)

After breakfast, drive to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon, one of Mexico's most impressive natural attractions. Carved over millions of years by the Grijalva River, this dramatic gorge is best experienced from the water. Enjoy a two-hour boat trip, where you can admire the towering canyon walls, lush vegetation, and local wildlife, including crocodiles, monkeys, and a variety of bird species. Afterwards, continue to San Cristóbal de las Casas, a charming colonial city named after its patron saint, Saint Christopher, and Bartolomé de las Casas, the Dominican bishop known for defending the rights of the Indigenous peoples.Overnight in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Day 8: San Cristóbal De Las Casas – San Juan Chamula – Zinacantan– San Cristóbal De Las Casas (20km – 1hr)

After breakfast, enjoy a walking tour of the colourful historic centre of San Cristóbal de las Casas. Discover the Zócalo, the 16th-century cathedral with its distinctive façade, and the Church of Santo Domingo, renowned for its impressive pink stone façade and richly decorated interior with gilded wooden altarpieces and an intricately carved pulpit. Continue to the indigenous village of San Juan Chamula, known for its unique religious traditions and its whitewashed church, where local customs and rituals are still practised. Afterwards, visit nearby Zinacantán to meet a local indigenous community, learn about the production of a traditional artisanal alcoholic beverage, and discover the craftsmanship behind the region's colourful handwoven huipils. Return to San Cristóbal de las Casas, where the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.Overnight in San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Day 9: San Cristóbal De Las Casas – Palenque (445km – 5hrs)

Early this morning, depart San Cristóbal de las Casas with a breakfast box and travel towards Palenque. Along the way, stop to visit the beautiful Agua Blanca waterfalls before continuing through scenic landscapes of forested valleys on your journey to Palenque. Overnight in Palenque.

Day 10: Palenque – Campeche (360km – 5hrs)

After breakfast, visit the impressive archaeological site of Palenque, one of the most remarkable Maya cities, set amidst the lush tropical rainforest. Explore its magnificent temples and palaces, including the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Inscriptions, which houses the tomb of King Pakal, and the Temple of the Cross. Continue to the fortified colonial city of Campeche. Surrounded by historic walls built to protect it from pirate attacks during the 16th and 17th centuries, its beautifully preserved historic centre has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy a guided walk through its charming streets before continuing to your hotel.Overnight in Campeche.

Day 11: Campeche – Uxmal – Merida (245km – 4hrs)

After breakfast, visit the archaeological site of Uxmal, one of the finest examples of Puuc architecture. Its name means "built three times", reflecting the different phases of its construction. Discover its most iconic monuments, including the striking Pyramid of the Magician and the elegant Governor's Palace. Continue to the colonial city of Mérida, known as the "White City" for its elegant white façades. Here you will see highlights including the Paseo de Montejo, the Cathedral, and the Government Palace before checking into your hotel.Overnight in Merida.

Day 12: Merida

Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Mérida at your own pace. Stroll through the city's charming colonial centre, discover its historic streets and elegant architecture, or simply relax and soak up the local atmosphere. Overnight in Merida.

Day 13: Merida – Izamal – Chichén Itzá – Playa Del Carmen (325km – 5.5hrs)

After breakfast, travel to the charming yellow town of Izamal to visit its historic Franciscan convent. Continue to the ancient city of Chichén Itzá, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Maya world and later influenced by the Toltecs. Explore this remarkable site, where the iconic Temple of Kukulcán stands at the heart of the complex. Its 365 steps symbolise the days of the year, while its remarkable acoustics and intricate carvings, including feathered serpents and masks of the rain god Chaac, reflect the ingenuity of its builders. Enjoy a delicious regional lunch at the charming Hacienda Selva Maya, surrounded by the lush landscapes of the Yucatán Peninsula. Afterwards, visit a beautiful natural cenote, where crystal-clear waters and impressive limestone formations create a unique and tranquil setting. At the end of the day, continue to Playa del Carmen.Overnight in Playa del Carmen.

Day 14: Playa Del Carmen

Enjoy a day at leisure in Playa del Carmen. Spend the day at your own pace; relax on the beach, explore the lively town centre, browse its shops and cafés, or simply enjoy the laid-back atmosphere of Mexico's Caribbean coast. Overnight in Playa del Carmen.

Day 15: Playa Del Carmen Departure

Enjoy a final breakfast at the hotel, then check out and transfer to Cancun Airport for your departure flight.