Mexico Last Minute Holiday
Itinerary
Day 1 & 2 – Arrival in Playa del Carmen
Upon arrival at Cancun airport, you will be met by our friendly driver in the arrivals hall and taken to Playa del Carmen. You will be staying in a traditional hotel, located between a long sandy beach and the lively Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue). Spend the afternoon relaxing on the terrace with the sounds of Mexican guitar music in the background – the perfect way to recover after your journey.
The following day, grab your towel and head to the beach to enjoy some of the warm Mexican sunshine. In the afternoon, take a stroll along the sands to one of the laid-back beach bars for lunch. Playa del Carmen is a vibrant town with beautiful street art and plenty of restaurants and bars to keep you busy. It’s a great introduction to your Mexico holiday.
Day 3 – Playa del Carmen – Rio Lagartos – San Felipe
Today, you will head to the rental office to collect your hire car for this trip. After a short explanation about the car, you will then drive inland, towards the charming fishing village of Lagartos. Here you can take a break and enjoy a tasty local lunch before taking a boat trip through the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, famous for its striking pink salt lakes. You will cruise past lush mangrove forests, entering lagoons home to over 350 bird species, including the iconic pink flamingos, as well as crocodiles, spoonbills, pelicans, caimans and eagles. You will soon arrive at a large lake where you can have a refreshing dip in the water and enjoy the rejuvenating benefits of the mineral-rich waters, believed to make your skin super-soft.
Later, after the boat trip, you will take a short drive to San Felipe, a tranquil fishing village with colourful, wooden houses, where you can embrace the peaceful atmosphere and soak up the natural beauty of this area.
Day 4 – San Felipe – Chichen Itza
After breakfast, take a stroll through the village and then hop in the car to head to your next destination – the colonial Mexican city of Valladolid. In the central square of Valladolid, you can have a delicious lunch while watching daily Mexican life.
Then, you’ll drive to the famous ruins of Chichèn Itzá, where you will be staying tonight, before visiting the ruins tomorrow morning. If you have time this afternoon, it’s worth stopping at the cenote Dzitnup, where you can have a swim and take in the beautiful surroundings. At Chichèn Itzá, you will stay in an atmospheric hotel with a swimming pool, surrounded by tropical gardens. It is less than a 15-minute drive to the main entrance of the old Mayan city, which you will explore first thing tomorrow morning.
Day 5 – Exploring the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza
This morning, it’s an early start as you will be heading to the entrance of Chichèn Itzá first thing. Exploring the ancient ruins at this time of the morning is ideal as the tourists from the coastal towns haven’t arrived yet, plus the temperatures are lower, so it’s a much more comfortable and peaceful experience. You will make your way to El Castillo, a pyramid-shaped temple dedicated to the god Kulkulkan. Due to its steepness and safety concerns around this, it is no longer possible to climb the temple, however, you can still enjoy wandering around and taking in the impressive architecture, as it is one of the most iconic buildings on the site.
After exploring the old city, you will drive to Izamal, a captivating town known as the “Yellow City”. The ancient Mayan town is filled with vibrant yellow buildings, symbolising warmth and hospitality. Izamal was an important Mayan settlement, long before the Spanish arrived. They later built a Franciscan monastery in the main village square, which you can still visit today. There are also many Mayan ruins scattered around the town, and you can also explore the local market or mercado, for a glimpse into daily life.
Day 6 – Izamal – Campeche
If you are not tired of Mayan temples yet, then you can follow the Puuc Route today, passing various ruins built in the traditional Puuc style. The most famous of these is Uxmal. If you would rather take a more direct route, without the ruins, you can drive on the highway, hugging the coast to Campeche.
Here, you will stay in a colourful hotel with a peaceful terrace in the historical centre of this charming city. Many of the colonial buildings have been beautifully restored in recent years, keeping their historic character while adding some modern touches. This evening, dive into the local cuisine and try the famous seafood dish, Pan de cazón, which is layers of tortillas filled with shredded fish and black beans in a tomato sauce, like a Mexican lasagne! If you’re looking for a veggie option, then you could try the local Panuchos/Salbutes, which are fried tortillas topped with black beans, lettuce, avocado and salsa (just ask for them sin carne – without meat).
Day 7 & 8 – Explore the Palenque ruins
From Campeche, you will continue on your self-driving journey through Mexico. Head south along the coast, taking the ‘quota’ highway towards the jungle. After a drive of about 5.5 hours, you will arrive in Palenque, where you will stay in a village hotel surrounded by tropical gardens, with a swimming pool, just a 10-minute drive to the Palenque ruins.
The following day, you can head to the nearby ruins and explore the ancient temples and jungle-covered pyramids of this former Mayan city. Wander through the site, where you’ll see intricate stone carvings, and you might even hear the howler monkeys calling from the trees above. Stay hydrated and bring a bottle of water with you so you can comfortably explore in the heat. Fortunately, you can cool off at the waterfalls nearby during the hottest part of the day. There are numerous hidden falls in the jungle, such as Misol Ha and Agua Azul (blue water).
Day 9 – Palenque – Chicanna
Take it easy this morning and enjoy the tropical nature around you. As your next stop is a 7-hour drive away, we have broken up the journey for you, and tonight you will stay in the charming eco-village of Chicanna. There are no other hotels here and you will be sleeping in the forest, among the hummingbirds, parrots and toucans. Your wooden bungalow has two floors and is set in a beautiful location next to the swimming pool. This evening, enjoy a delicious dinner at the on-site restaurant that uses fresh ingredients from their vegetable garden and unwind in the peaceful surroundings from the comfort of your rocking chair.
If you leave Palenque early, you can still visit the Mayan city of Calakmul on your way to Chicanna, which is a 1.5-hour drive from your hotel. With its high pyramids, royal burial chambers, jade masks and rare vases, Calakmul used to compete with the largest Mayan city, Tikal. The silence here makes the atmosphere very different from Palenque.
Day 10 – Chicanna – Laguna Bacalar
After breakfast, take a refreshing dip in the pool and enjoy the birdsong around you before you continue your journey. When you have packed your bags, you will leave for the Caribbean Sea and drive along the so-called Riviera Maya coast to the village of Bacalar. Often referred to as “The Lagoon of Seven Colours”, Lake Bacalar is a freshwater lake which has vibrant shades of blue water, from emerald green to turquoise. At the Blue Lagoon of Bacalar, you will stay in a small eco-resort in the jungle. Here, you can take an evening stroll down to the lake and enjoy a refreshing swim to cool off after your journey. A great end to a long day of travel in Mexico.
Day 11 – Laguna Bacalar – Tulum
Today, it’s an early start as you’ll be heading out onto the lake at sunrise for a kayaking adventure. Enjoying the cooler early morning temperatures, you’ll travel at a leisurely pace, paddling across the lagoon, through the lush mangroves. Your knowledgeable guide will help you spot birds above, and it’s fascinating how quickly they can locate herons, spoonbills, and even the occasional osprey hidden amongst the branches. Back at your hotel, you have earned a refreshing shower, and a tasty breakfast is waiting for you.
After breakfast, it’s time to head to Tulum, where you will stay in a simple boutique hotel in the town. The town itself has plenty of restaurants, bars and shops, and your hotel has a nice pool where you can relax. You can also rent bikes – and it’s around a 20-minute ride to the beach, or you can go a little further afield to see the ruins.
Day 12 & 13 – Free time in Tulum
Your time in Tulum is completely free, so you can check out the Tulum ruins near the coast, take a trip to the ancient Mayan city of Cobá, or perhaps head for a swim in one of the nearby cenotes or the Kaan Luum lagoon. Alternatively, you can just sit around on the beach or by the pool and do precisely nothing – you are on holiday after all!
Day 14 – Departure from Mexico
Today, it’s time to check out of your hotel and say goodbye to Tulum. Cancun Airport is just a few hours’ drive away, where you will return your hire car and catch your international flight home.
Accommodation
