Tour Overview
Embark on the "Mini Wonders of the Maya" tour and explore the rich cultural tapestry of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. This captivating journey begins in Cancun, where you can unwind and explore at your leisure. Discover the vibrant wildlife of Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, home to flamingos and crocodiles, and take a refreshing dip in a cenote. Delve into the mysteries of Chichen Itza, marvel at the colonial charm of Izamal, and stroll through the historic streets of Valladolid. In Merida, the "White City," admire the elegant 19th-century architecture before venturing to Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to witness the majestic Pyramid of the Magician. Conclude your adventure with a visit to a Cocoa Museum, learning about the significance of cacao in Maya culture. Enjoy comfortable accommodations, multilingual guides, and air-conditioned transport throughout this unforgettable cultural experience. ...more ...less
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : ARRIVAL CANCUN
Location: Cancun
Accommodation Name: Fairfield Airport Cancun or similar 4*
After landing in Cancun International Airport, you will be met by a tour representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Cancun. Then you can spend the rest of the day at leisure, getting to know this fantastic new location at your own rhythm. Make the most of the services available at the hotel, or hit the streets and start exploring the wonders of Cancun.
- Overnight in Cancun
Day 2 : CANCUN – RÍA LAGARTOS – CENOTE – VALLADOLID (390 km – 5 hrs)
Location: Ría Lagartos, Valladolid
Accommodation Name: Ecotel Quinta Regia or similar 3*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today’s adventure starts with a visit to Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve on the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, home to the largest flocks of pink flamingos in Mexico, in addition to the almost 400 bird species that have been identified here. Take a two-hour boat trip through the mangroves in the reserve’s estuary to observe flamingos, crocodiles and other animals. The trip also includes a visit to feeding areas, a stop for a Maya mud bath with mineral-rich white mud and a dip in the salt-rich waters of the lagoon. We then visit a cenote – a natural sinkhole – for some time to cool off with a swim . After the visit, continue to the hotel in Valladolid. After of the check in at the hotel, we will have time for refreshing. Continue with a walking city tour by Valladolid, this is a city that preserves the tradition of Mayan culture in every corner and its historical legacy is unique. Discover the passage of time from pre-Hispanic times to the present walking through its streets
- Overnight in Valladolid.
Day 3 : VALLADOLID –CHICHEN ITZA - IZAMAL – MERIDA (135 km – 2 hrs)
Location: Chichen Itza, Izamal, Merida
Accommodation Name: Del Gobernador or similar 4*
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy your morning breakfast before departing to Chichen itza, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Maya. Learn about the Maya and this ancient city reclaimed from the jungle. Behold the Temple of Kukulkan, popularly known as El Castillo (‘the Castle’), built both as a representation of the mystical Maya calendar and to reflect the optical illusion of a serpent slithering up and down the pyramid during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Admire the Great Ball Court, the haunting Skull Platform where the heads of human sacrifice victims and prisoners of war were impaled, and the Sacred Cenote, where sacrifice victims were dumped. Other extremely well-preserved areas include the Temple of the Warriors, the Ossuary, the Nunnery and adjacent Church, and the large observatory known as the Snail. Next, we make our way to the Maya town of Izamal, which combines remnants of its pre-Hispanic past, the colonial period and the present. Visit the Convent of St Anthony of Padua, which stands on a former Maya pyramid. After lunch (not included), continue to the ‘White City’ of Merida, the capital of Yucatan, to enjoy a tour of the historical downtown. See the 19th-century villas and palaces that line the Paseo de Montejo, and continue to the splendid Plaza Grande, home to the cathedral and the 16th-century Casa de los Montejo. Also visit the Government Palace and City Hall, before enjoying some free time to discover the city on your own.
- Overnight in Merida
Day 4 : MERIDA – UXMAL – CACAO MUSEUM - CANCUN (450 km – 6 hrs)
Location: Uxmal, Cancun
Meals Included: Breakfast
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning exploring the ruins of another former Maya city clawed back from the vegetation. Arrive at Uxmal and enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site that rises into view above the jungle canopy. Unlike other Maya cities, Uxmal was devoured by the rainforest after the Spaniards had arrived. The most famous structure is the 35-metre-tall Pyramid of the Magician, towering over the remarkably well-preserved Nunnery Quadrangle with its ornately carved interior and exterior walls. Across the central plaza, just beyond the ballgame court, is the Governor’s Palace. At the southern end of the main complex is the Great Pyramid, of which only one side has been excavated with the other three still unclaimed from the bush. After this, visit a Cocoa Museum where the plant and its importance for the ancient Mayans will be explained. Then return to Cancun or Riviera Maya to your extension hotel (not included), where the tour ends.
- Breakfast included.
What's Included
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Tour Guide
Operated with a multilingual English-Spanish speaking licensed local guide on a shared basis.
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Transport
Air-conditioned transportation with pickup/drop-off as indicated in the itinerary on a shared basis.
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Entrance Fees and Activities
All monuments and visits as indicated: Rio Lagartos boat tour, entrance to cenote, Chichen Itza Visit, Valladolid walking tour, Izamal City Tour, Merida City Tour and Uxmal, Cacao Museum.
What's Not Included
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Personal Expenditures
Expenditures of a personal nature, drinks and meals if not stated explicitly in the programme.
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Environmental Sanitation Tax
Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Riviera Maya environmental sanitation right tax (payable on spot).
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Optional Tours
Optional tours are not included.
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International Flights and Visa
International flight tickets or Mexican visa fees and local taxes are not included.
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Airport Departure Tax
Airport departure tax is not included.
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Gratuities
Gratuities for drivers and guides are not included.
Please Note
- The estimated arrival time in Cancun or Riviera Maya hotel is 20:00 hrs. Departure transfer to the airport is not provided
- Please note that there are ongoing road works on the access road to the Cancun Airport which are affecting the traffic. As it is required to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure we suggest booking an additional night stay in Cancun
- Clients may be mixed with other guests of other nationalities, but the guide in the vehicle will speak your desired language and maximum one more language
- There is no guarantee that you will be part of the same group during the tour
- The assigned guide and group size may change during the itinerar
- Local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to the tour contents without prior notice.
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1; Cancún:
- Standard Hotel Category = Fairfield Airport Cancun or similar 4*
Day 2; Valladolid:
- Standard Hotel Category = Ecotel Quinta Regia or similar 3*
Day 3; Mérida:
- Standard Hotel Category = Del Gobernador or similar 4*
OPTIONAL EXTRA
Pre/Post-Night in Cancun:
- Standard Hotel Category = Fairfield Airport Cancun or similar 4*
- Superior Hotel Category = Beachscape or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Rennaissance or similar 5*
Accommodation options
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Day 1; Cancún:
- Standard Hotel Category = Fairfield Airport Cancun or similar 4*
Day 2; Valladolid:
- Standard Hotel Category = Ecotel Quinta Regia or similar 3*
Day 3; Mérida:
- Standard Hotel Category = Del Gobernador or similar 4*
OPTIONAL EXTRA
Pre/Post-Night in Cancun:
- Standard Hotel Category = Fairfield Airport Cancun or similar 4*
- Superior Hotel Category = Beachscape or similar 4*
- Deluxe Hotel Category = Rennaissance or similar 5*
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with air-conditioned transportation, including pickup and drop-off as per the itinerary. Enjoy shared basis travel, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey throughout the tour.
Accommodation
Enjoy 3 nights of comfortable accommodation with options ranging from standard to deluxe hotels. Stay at Fairfield Airport Cancun, Ecotel Quinta Regia in Valladolid, and Del Gobernador in Mérida, with optional pre/post-nights in Cancun at various hotel categories.
Check out our Q&As
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What languages are spoken by the tour guide?
The tour is operated with a multilingual guide who speaks both English and Spanish.
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What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour includes air-conditioned transportation with pickup and drop-off as indicated in the itinerary on a shared basis.
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Are entrance fees to attractions included in the tour?
Yes, entrance fees to all monuments and visits as indicated in the itinerary are included, such as the Rio Lagartos boat tour, entrance to a cenote, Chichen Itza visit, Valladolid walking tour, Izamal City Tour, Merida City Tour, Uxmal, and the Cacao Museum.
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What meals are included in the tour package?
The tour package includes 3 breakfasts.
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Is there a possibility to extend the stay in Cancun?
Yes, there is an optional extra to book a pre/post-night stay in Cancun with different hotel categories available.
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What is the estimated arrival time back in Cancun at the end of the tour?
The estimated arrival time in Cancun or Riviera Maya hotel is 20:00 hrs.
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Are flights included in the tour?
No, they are not included
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What does the price include?
What is included is stated specifically on the product Description. Gratuities are at your discretion. Prices do not include (unless stated otherwise) - gratuities to the guide, driver or tour manager.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Booking confirmation with Itinerary and confirmation vouchers
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Are Visa fees included in the price?
No, visa fees are not included
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You can change it by logging into your profile and click on Bookings. Please check your cancellation policy.
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When are there specific hotel names confirmed?
Confirmed hotel names are informed latest 10 days prior to client's arrival
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Do you offer any travel insurance?
We do not offer Travel Insurance but would strongly recommend that you purchase a comprehensive Travel Insurance Policy prior to departure.
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Is there any option for solo traveller?
Yes of course. Please note that the default selection shows the price per person per double room. For solo travellers, you will have to select a single room when available.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
CTS demo white label allows you to make 20 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
CTS demo white label requires a minimum deposit of 55% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 30 days before departure.
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Terms and Conditions
Mini Wonders of the Maya
4 Days Starting and ending in Cancun, Mexico
Visiting: Cancun, Ría Lagartos, Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Izamal, Merida, Uxmal
Tour operator:
Tour code:
60773
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
115 - 30
Age range:
10-99
