The discovery of the Mayan World - Tour between Mexico and Guatemala

Welcome! Upon arrival you will be received and transferred to your hotel. After the check-in, your afternoon will be available at leisure. 

Discover Teotihuacán, ‘the place where gods were created’.

Teotihuacan is one of the most impressive archaeological sites of the country. The history of Teotihuacan is quite mysterious. The earliest buildings were constructed around 200 BC. It is assumed that the city may have counted 200,000 inhabitants during its period of prosperity. During this guided excursion you will encounter the magic and mystery of Teotihuacan.

Admire the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Walk down the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl with its unique stone sculptures of plumed serpents, the Temple of the Butterflies, and the Fortresses.

Before arriving back at your hotel, we make a stop at the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage place for millions of Mexicans and people from all around the world.

Get to know one of the world´s biggest and most exciting cities! Enjoy a guided visit in the historical centre, listed by UNESCO as World Heritage. This interesting tour will include “The Zocalo”, the heart of the city, where you will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the oldest and largest of the Americas, and the National Palace, home of the famous murals of Diego Rivera. You will also see the ruins of the Templo Mayor, one of the most important temples of the Aztecs in their ancient capital city of Tenochtitlan. The Templo Mayor is thought to be located on the exact spot where the Aztecs saw the eagle perching on a cactus with a snake in its beak. This symbolized for the Aztecs that they had reached their promised land.

Next, we drive down the beautiful Paseo de la Reforma Avenue to arrive at Chapultepec Park. In pre-Hispanic times a summer residence for the noble class of the Aztecs, now it is Mexico City’s largest park and one of the largest city parks in the world. We will visit the Museum of Anthropology (closed on Mondays). This museum is considered to be among the world’s finest of its kind. Here you will admire the famous Aztec calendar stone, models of Tenochtitlán, a fascinating market place diorama, giant stone Olmec heads from the jungles of Tabasco and Veracruz, among many other interesting treasures.

In the morning transfer to the airport of Mexico City to catch the flight to Guatemala City, the capital and the biggest city of Guatemala. Upon arrival, you'll meet the guide, which will accompany you to the hotel.

Drive to Chichicastenango, visit Santo Tomas church and the indigenous market. In Chichicastenango market Mayan and Spanish traditions merge; every Thursday and Sunday (market days), the little village becomes a sort of handicraft bazaar where you can admire and buy various types of textiles, ceramics and carved wood objects.

Representatives of nearby villages assigned to the cults of various saints gather in Santo Tomas church, situated in the main square: it is indeed possible to see the natives offering incense and praying to their gods and saints in an evocative mix of prehispanic and Christian rituals. Lunch.

Departure to Lake Atitlan, one of the most beautiful in the world, dominated by three volcanoes and inhabited on the shores by several communities belonging to various ethnic groups. Arrive in Panajachel, the main settlement on the shores of the lake, and check-in to the hotel.

Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Flores. Upon arrival visit Tikal Mayan city, undoubtedly the best example of the classical Mayan culture. Overnight.
 

In the morning we will visit the archaeological site of Palenque.

At the edge of the tropical jungle there is one of the most beautiful Mayan ritual centers of the region that was in operation from the third to the seventh century AD. The famous Temple of the Inscriptions is the place where the tomb of the great lord "Pakal"  was discverde. The tomb was adorned with a precious jade mask, an authentic masterpiece of Mayan art.

Lunch at restaurant.

After lunch we will proceed to Campeche, capital of the same State of the Mexican Confederation. Brief visit of the Old City enclosed and fortified with towers and walls erected to defend the colony from pirates' attacks. Within the old walls, the city boasts, even nowadays, a typical colonial flavor characterized by beautiful patrician houses and austere churches.

Departure for Merida and visit of the archaeological area of Uxmal, where you can visit the ruins of the Mayan city flourished between the III and tenth centuries. The Pyramid of Magician and the Governor's Palace are worth a visit.

Lunch at restaurant. In the afternoon arrival in Merida, known as "The White City" where its residences made up of colonial French, Italian and Arabic style, testify the old prosperity provided from the market of fibers and agave. Stop in the Main Square, where you can admire the main monuments of the city: the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Municipal Palace and the House of Montejo. At the end of the visits, hotel accommodation in private rooms. Overnight at hotel.

On the way to Cancun, you will visit Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the best-preserved Maya site on the Yucatan peninsula. It is not only recognized as UNESCO World Heritage, it was also recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It's definitely one of the most iconic buildings of the country, a site that can´t be missed on a trip to Mexico. Various different architectural styles are seen in Chichen Itza. Most famous landmarks are the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Ballgame Court, the Platform of the Skulls, the Temple of the Jaguar, the Observatory, the One Thousand Columns, and the Sacred Cenote.

Lunch at a local restaurant near the archaeological site, and arrival in Cancun.

Today you have a full day at leisure in Cancun, to enjoy the hotel facilities, the magnificent beaches, or you can head into town. Playa del Carmen is full of restaurants, bars, and shopping facilities, and offers all types of activities. If you are interested, countless optional activities and excursions are available.

The end of our tour has come. After breakfast, you will have freetime until the transfer to the airport.