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south-america·Multi-day tour·14 days

14-Day Viva Mexico Tour from Mexico City: Oaxaca, San Cristóbal, Palenque, Bacalar, Valladolid and Tulum | Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera | Small Group Tour

★ 4.7· 28 reviewsSelect Meals Included

What you'll experience

Highlights

• Maya and Aztec Civilizations: Explore ancient civilizations in Mexico City and at the legendary Chichen Itzá
• Diverse Natural Scenery: Experience the landscapes of Sumidero Canyon and the Lagoon of Bacalar
• Immersive Cultural Experience: Discover the culture of Oaxaca and the charmful streets of San Cristóbal
• Two Cities Contrasting: Journey from the vibrant capital Mexico City to the relaxing beaches of Cancun

14 days

Day-by-day itinerary

  1. 1

    Day 1 — Mexico City

    Arrive at any time.
    【Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends】
    Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
    【Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group】
    Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Soy Local CDMX
  2. 2

    Day 2 — Mexico City

    Start the adventure off with a CEO-led walking tour through La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. Stroll past bohemian cafes, bars, and restaurants. Your CEO will grab some street food snacks for the group ranging from street tacos to chilaquiles. Savour whatever you sample as you continue to get to know the area. Finish up the tour near the giant Bosque de Chapultepec. Then, spend the afternoon trying out the optional activities in the area like a visit to the ruins of Teotihuacán.
    【Mexico City Walking Tour】
    Get the lay of the land during a walking tour of Mexico City with your CEO. Start by visiting the La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. Wander past the bars, restaurants, and cafes. Sample some street food snacks purchased by your CEO. The tour ends at Bosque de Chapultepec.
    【Free Time】
    Take advantage of free time to get to know Mexico City on your own. Choose from a variety of optional activities in the area, seek out some great food spots, or search for some unique gifts to bring back to your friends and family.
    Teotihuacan Pyramids

    Teotihuacan Pyramids

    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Soy Local CDMX
  3. 3

    Day 3 — Mexico City - Oaxaca

    Hit the road and travel south to Oaxaca from Mexico City. Once the group arrives we will head out for an orientation walk to the main square and some of the nearby markets. Soak in your first experience of the vibrant culture in Oaxaca. Enjoy a free evening to do as you please. Perhaps, find a lively restaurant and give your tastebuds something to dance about.
    【Orientation Walk】
    All walks will be slightly different, allowing your CEO to show off their favourite spots. You can expect to see the Santo Domingo Cultural Centre, walk through the zocalo and the famous 20th of November market. Opt to sample some delicious Oaxacan foods along the way such as mole, tlayudas or chapulines.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hostal Don Nino
  4. 4

    Day 4 — Oaxaca

    Today, enjoy a free day for optional activities in Oaxaca until late afternoon. Explore local taverns, discover the vibrant indigenous culture in the area, sample food from lively markets, try mole, and mezcal and fully experience the allure of this Mexican city. Later your CEO will accompany the group to the market where you can try a tlayuda, a toasted tortilla with tons of different toppings like refried beans, shredded cabbage, salsa, meat, and cheese. Cap off the day with a visit to a local chocolate-making shop and a free evening to keep the adventure going.
    【Free Time】
    From museums and galleries to markets filled with locally produced arts and crafts, it's impossible to run out of things to do in Oaxaca. Choose to stroll down more of the streets off the main square in search of street art, check out the intricately designed black pottery, hand-woven Zapotec rugs in local shops, and take in panoramic views of the city from Cerro del Fortín.
    【Your Foodie Moment: Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO】
    Your CEO will accompany the group to the market where you can try a tlayuda, a toasted tortilla with tons of different toppings like refried beans, shredded cabbage, salsa, meat, and cheese before capping off the day with a visit to a local chocolate-making shop.
    Monte Alban

    Monte Alban

    Mitla

    Mitla

    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hostal Don Nino
  5. 5

    Day 5 — Oaxaca - San Cristóbal

    The group will have additional free time today in Oaxaca for other optional activities. Afterwards, visit the Alebrijes Artisan Community for your G for Good moment. Meet a local artisan, speak with them, ask any questions the group may have, and learn more about how these handicrafts are made. In the evening board and overnight bus to San Cristobal.
    【Free Time】
    Enjoy more free time in Oaxaca. Taste more delicious food from the markets, book an optional cooking class and learn how to make mole, or shop for keepsakes at the many local stores and craft markets with featuring work by the artists who call Oaxaca home.
    【Your G for Good Moment: Alebrijes Artisan Community Visit】
    Alebrijes were created by a Mexican artisan named Pedro Linares who was known for making piñatas and carnival masks. After falling ill and hallucinating crazy figures and creatures inside his mind, the artist decided to bring what he saw to life by creating the small figurines we know as Alebrijes. Often made of a mash-up between animals, these figurines are now made by Oaxacan artisans out of wood and then painted with vibrant pigments and lots of patterns. Learn more about how these figurines integrated themselves into Oaxacan/Mexican folklore and how the craft expanded from originally being made from cardboard to now being carved from Copal wood. Meet a local artisan and speak with them, ask any questions the group may have and to learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Overnight Bus
  6. 6

    Day 6 — San Cristóbal

    Arrive early to Tuxtla Gutierrez, which is a city in southern Mexico and the capital of Chiapas. The group will travel by private bus to Sumidero Canyon for an included boat ride down the river. The trip is a few hours long and will take you through the canyon with some of the walls towering 2,500 feet above you. It’s sure to make you feel small. Keep a lookout for the wildlife in the area and try to spot caves as you journey on. Afterwards, continue on to San Cristobal de las Casas where you will stop for the evening.
    【Sumidero Canyon】
    Drive an hour before boarding a boat for a 2-hr journey through the deep Sumidero Canyon. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, birds, monkeys and maybe even a river crocodile. Marvel at the tall waterfalls, hidden caves, and unusual rock formations along the Grijalva River. After, stop in a village to visit markets and enjoy lunch.
    Sumidero Canyon

    Sumidero Canyon

    Meals: B: Included, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel San Martin
  7. 7

    Day 7 — San Cristóbal

    San Cristóbal de Las Casas is located in a high mountain valley at 2110m (6921 ft). Enjoy a free day to experience this city known for its 16th-century architecture. Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day, or visit Lagunas de Montebello National Park and the group of beautiful lakes near the Guatemalan border. You have a full day to do as you please and there are plenty of activities to try out.
    【Your Discover Moment: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time】
    Enjoy a free day to experience this city known for its 16th-century architecture. Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day, or visit Lagunas de Montebello National Park and the group of beautiful lakes near the Guatemalan border.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel San Martin
  8. 8

    Day 8 — San Cristóbal - Palenque

    Get ready for a full day of travel from San Cristóbal de Las Casas to Palenque. Along the way the group will stop to swim in the pristine turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios waterfall. Arrive to Palenque in the evening.
    【Roberto Barrios Waterfalls】
    Visit the Zapatista community of Roberto Barrios, Chiapas, have a swim and explore the cascading waterfall. If it hasn’t rained for a few days, you will be astonished how bright the light blue water can get.
    Palenque

    Palenque

    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Maya Tulipanes
  9. 9

    Day 9 — Palenque

    Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Mayan ruins of Palenque followed by free time for an optional jungle trail hike, or just relax at the hotel keeping an eye out for nearby birds and wildlife.
    【Palenque Ruins Guided Tour】
    Experience the elegant jungle site of Palenque on a guided tour. See the highlights -- the Temple of the Cross Group, Temple of Inscriptions and the Grand Palace. Howler monkeys sound in the distance as the fog rolls in and out of this mystical site, one of the most important centres for trade and culture during the end of the Classic Maya period.
    【Free Time】
    Enjoy a free afternoon for an optional jungle hike or otherwise just kick back at the hotel and listen to the sounds of the jungle. Ask your CEO for more recommendations should you need them.
    Palenque

    Palenque

    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Maya Tulipanes
  10. 10

    Day 10 — Palenque - Bacalar

    Spend the day travelling to Bacalar in the eastern part of Mexico from Palenque. Sit back as the scenery changes outside your window and rest up for the next part of the trip.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Bacalar Magico Hotel
  11. 11

    Day 11 — Bacalar

    Spend a full free day enjoying optional activities in the area, or just relax and keep the good vibes going.
    【Free Time】
    Take advantage of free time for optionals in the area. Explore the San Felipe Bacalar Fort or visit the lagoon again for some kayaking.
    Bacalar Lagoon

    Bacalar Lagoon

    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Bacalar Magico Hotel
  12. 12

    Day 12 — Bacalar - Valladolid

    The group is in for a treat this morning with an included boating adventure in the lagoon. In the afternoon it's onward to Valladolid. Travel north and inland from Bacalar to a city on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Upon arrival your CEO will lead you on an orientation walk of the small Mayan town filled with quaint taverns, vibrant indigenous culture, and loads of street food vendors. Smell the delicious aromas as you walk and sample a few snacks along the way.
    【Boat Trip Laguna Bacalar】
    Head out into the Bacalar lagoon by boat this morning for a fun adventure. Start by visiting the Canal de los Piratas for a swim in the clear waters. Then, visit Cenote Negro, an open-air cenote and also the deepest point in the entire lagoon. From there the boat will stop at Cenote Esmeralda to admire the different shades of blue. Finally stop at Cenote Cocalitos, home to stromatolites, which are living stones that are thought to be the oldest form of life on Earth. Here you’ll enjoy a prepared picnic featuring fresh fruit.
    【CEO-led Orientation Walk】
    Marvel at Valladolid's colonial buildings, which includes a 16th-century convent of San Bernardino of Siena, and the San Gervasio Cathedral. Walk through the streets of town smelling the delicious aromas from the street food vendors. Sample some delicious treats and get to know this vibrant Mayan town.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Santa Ana
  13. 13

    Day 13 — Valladolid - Tulum

    After a short, but sweet visit in Valladolid the group will travel to the Chichen Itzá ruins for a guided tour. These ruins hold the history, beliefs, and rituals that defined ancient Mayan civilization. See the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the famous Castillo, the cenote, and the Nunnery. Afterwards, travel to Tulum for a free evening. Tulum is filled with trendy beach clubs where you can dance the night away, or stretch out on white sand beaches to admire the colors at sunset.
    【Chichen Itzá Guided Tour】
    Join up with a local expert and learn about the history of Chichén Itzá and the beliefs and rituals that defined this ancient Mayan civilization. This dramatic site includes a 30m (98 ft) high temple, known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, famous for its balustrade of 91 stairs up each of the four sides, a ball court with a grandstand, and towering walls. Visit the highlights of the site including the famous Castillo, the ball court, the cenote, and the Nunnery.
    【Free Time】
    Take this time to soak in the spectacular coastline of Tulum. Swim in the cobalt waters off of the white sand beaches. Hunt down some delicious street food and have a picnic in the sand. Or if you're still feeling adventurous, head out for some cave and cavern exploring in the nearby cenotes.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: ExcludedStay: Hotel Casa Colonial
  14. 14

    Day 14 — Tulum

    Depart at any time.
    Meals: B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: Excluded

What's included

Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Alebrijes Artisan Community Visit, Oaxaca
  • Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
  • Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Your Foodie Moment: Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO, Oaxaca
  • Your Discover Moment: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time, San Cristóbal de Las Casas
  • Mexico City street food crawl
  • Alebrijes Artisan Community visit
  • Boat trip to Sumidero Canyon
  • Stop at Roberto Barrios Waterfall for a swim
  • Tour the Mayan ruins in Palenque
  • A boat adventure into a gorgeous lagoon in Bacalar
  • Chichen Itzá ruins guided tour
  • Free time in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Palenque, San Cristóbal de las Casas
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Accommodations: Simple hotels/hostels (12-night), overnight bus (1-night)
  • Transportation: Public bus, private vehicle, overnight bus, walking
  • Staff & experts: CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides
  • Meals: 1 breakfast (Allow USD350-455 for meals not included)

Not included

  • Airfares or related transportation between your home and destination
  • All personal expenses including hotel room service and meals; however, you have the option to pay for meals that tour guide arranges
  • Optional tours (Items and prices may vary due to different seasons and are subject to the final confirmation made by tour guide when on tour.)
  • It is customary in Latin America to tip service providers such as waiters, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is an expected - though not compulsory - component of your tour program and an expression of satisfaction with the persons who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. There are several times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from $5-10 USD per day depending on the quality and length of the service; ask your CEO for specific recommendations based on the circumstances and culture. Tipping of your Chief Experience Officer is very much appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however as a guideline $5- 7 USD per person, per day is our recommendation in the region. However, if you felt your CEO did an especially outstanding job, any additional amount will always be welcome.

Cancellation policy

When you cancelRefund
0–31 days before0%
32–61 days before50%
62+ days before90%
Read the full cancellation terms
• We are not responsible for any incidental expenses or consequential losses that the Client may have incurred as a result of the booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights or rail, non refundable car parking or other fees, loss of earnings, or loss of enjoyment, etc. If the Client is offered a refund but requests an alternative tour of a higher value than that originally booked, then the Client must pay the difference in price.

Important info

Special notes
  • Dossier Disclaimer
    * The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary.
    * VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.
  • Itinerary Disclaimer
    * While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission.
    * Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
  • Important Notes
    * Please note there may be a $271MXN (approximately $14 USD) tourist tax at Cancún International Airport, however it is usually included in international tickets. Please verify with your airline if the departure tax is included in your airfare.
  • Group Leader Description
    * All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders, a representative, or an expedition team. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting- we think it's the best of both worlds.
  • What to Take
    * We recommend the use of a duffel bag or backpack (whichever you find easiest to carry). You will be responsible for carrying and handling your own luggage. You must be able to carry your luggage to our accommodations and should be prepared to load it on and off of transportation, as porters are usually not on hand. A good size daypack is also essential.
    * Luggage weight restrictions may apply on the internal flight during the tour.
  • Meals
    * Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with the local operator you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. The above information applies to group trips. Please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.
  • Laundry
    * Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
  • Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Pricing notes (children, single supplement)

* Price for Single Occupancy applies when you're travelling solo and would prefer to have your own private room.
* Age requirement: 18-39.

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