5-Day Yucatan Peninsula & Chichen Itza Tour, Mexico

Wherever you’re staying on the Caribbean coast, we’ll arrange a ticket for you on a comfortable, air-conditioned bus which will take you all the way to the gates of Chichen Itza, usually 3-4 hours away. You’ll arrive in the afternoon when the site is at its busiest and hottest, so we’d recommend taking the short taxi ride to your hotel – a pleasant hacienda where you can rest up and while away the afternoon beside the pool.

Get up early to make the most of today, as the morning is when the site is quieter and cooler – perfect for exploring these world famous ruins. You can wander freely around at your own pace, and it’s a spellbinding look back into the past, with a whole host of areas which will give you a vivid picture of Mayan life.

After a few hours it’ll be time to escape the heat and retreat back to your hotel, where you can have some lunch before catching your next bus to the city of Merida, around 3 hours away. You’ll be spending 2 nights in this charming colonial gem, with its host of great eateries, bars, markets and live music. Your hotel is near to the centre, so you can easily explore on foot and take in the highlights of the city.

This morning you’ll meet with a small group for a trip to explore one of Yucatan’s natural wonders, cenotes. These are natural pits or sinkholes which have appeared, creating an underground grotto which provides an unforgettable spot for swimming. We’ll also arrange for a guided snorkelling trip so you can get a glimpse of the unique underwater world, before you sit down for a freshly prepared lunch before returning to Merida for a second evening in the city.

After breakfast, it’s time to catch your next bus on to Campeche, around 3 hours away. Campeche is a picturesque former pirate city on the Gulf of Mexico, with a UNESCO listed walled centre packed with colonial buildings and narrow streets. Your hotel is within the old centre, close to the major historical sites, as well as some great bars and restaurants. There’s nothing planned for your time here, so you can explore at will and enjoy this final stop on your journey across the Yucatan.

We can slow this trip down a little for you if you’d like to stick around anywhere for a little longer, otherwise you’ll be heading to the next stop on your journey today, perhaps south to San Cristobal or Palenque..