Mayan Discovery
Experience Overview
Mayan ruins peeking out from verdant jungle, street vendors hawking their wares on colonial streets, pristine white-sand beaches sparkling under the Caribbean sun — now this is the real Yucatán. On this unique 15-day journey, you’ll tour the ruins at Chichén Itzá and Palenque, and head deep into the jungle of Guatemala to experience the ruins of Tikal. You're free to choose your own adventure! So escape the resort packages and witness all the incredible wilderness, wildlife, and Mayan culture — past and present — that you can imagine.
Highlights
- Explore Mayan temples
- Spot monkeys in the jungle
- Chill out on a Belizean island
- Stare out into the Caribbean blue from a Mayan Riviera beach
Trip Details
Product Code: 1785
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Public bus, private vehicle, water taxi, taxi, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: CMMD
Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finishes: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Duration: 15 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Pottery Cooperative and Local Lunch, San Ignacio Your G for Good Moment: El Hongo Mexican Community Restaurant & Youth Art Program, Playa del Carmen Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Mérida Your Discover Moment: San Ignacio Your Discover Moment: Caye Caulker Your Discover Moment: Playa del Carmen
- Chichén Itzá guided tour
- Mérida orientation walk
- Palenque guided tour
- Tikal guided tour
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (14 nts).
- 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Transport
- Public bus, private vehicle, water taxi, taxi, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $2,294 ($153 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities before an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2: Playa del Carmen/Mérida
Travel to Mérida, stopping en route for a guided tour of Chichén Itzá. Enjoy an orientation walk of Mérida.
Stop for a guided tour of the popular Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá. Explore this famous site, known for its huge stepped pyramids and elaborate stone carvings.
Continue on to Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán State. Follow your CEO on an orientation walk to get the lay of the land.
Day 3: Mérida
Opt to visit the ruins of Uxmal or swim in cenotes (underground pools) in the Yucatán.
Opt to visit ruins of Uxmal, ride the PUUC Route, go bird-watching in Celestún, hit the beach in Progreso, visit cenotes in the nearby town of Cuzamá, or walk around town and soak in all of the history this city has to offer.
Day 4: Mérida/Palenque
Sit back and relax on a travel to Palenque in the lush jungle of Chiapas.
Day 5: Palenque
Enjoy a guided tour of the Mayan ruins of Palenque.
Take a guided tour of the ruins of Palenque. Later, choose from one of the many optional activities in the area.
Day 6: Palenque
Enjoy a free day to explore Palenque and surroundings. Opt to visit the Roberto Barrios Waterfalls or go for a jungle hike to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings.
Day 7: Palenque/Flores
Journey through the jungle by private vehicle, crossing into Guatemala and continuing on to Flores. Explore Lake Petén Itzá and the island of Flores.
Day 8: Flores
Learn about Mayan culture and history on a guided tour of Tikal archaeological site. Relax on Lake Petén Itzá and go for a swim.
Day 9: Flores/San Ignacio
Cross the border into Belize and travel to San Ignacio. Enjoy an included pottery demonstration and local lunch at a G Adventures-supported women's pottery cooperative.
Continue on to Belize, a country with a decidedly Caribbean flavour. The relaxed atmosphere of San Ignacio allows for options including horseback riding, canoeing, caving, or exploring the Mountain Pine Ridge area.
Day 10: San Ignacio
Enjoy free time to visit the sacred Mayan cave, Actun Tunichil Muknal, explore the Mountain Pine Ridge area or see the lesser-known Mayan ruins of Xunantunich or Caracol.
Optional acitivities abound around San Ignacio. Choose to see the Mountain Pine Ridge area or take a day trip to the astounding Actun Tunichil Muknal cave. Explore the cave's water systems using a helmet and headlamp. An experienced local guide will provide insight into the fascinating practices of the ancient Maya.
Alternatively, opt for a trip to the impressive Maya ceremonial centre of Xunantunich. Getting there includes crossing a narrow river by a hand-cranked ferry.
Day 11: San Ignacio/Caye Caulker
Travel to Caye Caulker and enjoy this tropical paradise. Rent a bike and organize activities for the next day.
Caye Caulker is a relaxed and easy going island with friendly and welcoming local residents. Snorkel boats leave daily for full- or half-day outings to the reef, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and for manatee spotting tours.
Try your hand fishing and be rewarded with a fresh catch, then barbecue it on the beach.
Day 12: Caye Caulker
Spend the day exploring Caye Caulker and the marine life in the area.
Opt to snorkel with stingrays, nurse sharks, and green turtles at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, rent a bike, or just chill out, Belizean style.
Day 13: Caye Caulker/Playa del Carmen
Full travel day to reach Playa del Carmen, the last stop of the adventure.
Head to Playa del Carmen, located on the beach just a 45-minute drive south of Cancún. Enjoy some nightlife, buy last minute souvenirs and relax and swim in the Caribbean.
Just off the coast is the island of Cozumel. Take the ferry from Playa del Carmen (30-75 mins depending on the boat) across the turquoise waters and explore the towns and the reefs of the island. For a final dose of ruins, Tulúm is just a 45-minute drive south of Playa.
Day 14: Playa del Carmen
Enjoy a free day in Playa del Carmen. Explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm on your own or book an optional tour. Opt to visit a cenote or reserve a canal float in Sian Ka'an, one of Mexico's most important protected areas. Later, enjoy dinner at a G Adventures-supported community restaurant with a youth-focused art program.
Day 15: Playa del Carmen
Depart at any time.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Laura F - Traveled, November 2023
I have been on 6 G trips now and they are always well organised with a good itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Anna F - Traveled, December 2023
This was my fourth trip with G and my 10th+ small group adventure style tour. Can always rely on G to have great CEOs, an interesting itinerary, strong safety record, and good value for money.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Letitia P - Traveled, December 2023
Range of itinerary options, easy to book & easy to communicate with
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Ammarenzia W - Traveled, December 2023
It was an amazing tour with a great tour guide and it was safe
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Micha B - Traveled, December 2023
Knowledgible local tour guides, invests in the local communities, good value for money, variety and adventure.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Waldemar S - Traveled, November 2023
Overall this round trip is a great chance to experience different facets of life in the Yucatan. However, a focus could be still more on Mayan heritage (only three of the obligatory Mayan sites are not sufficient).
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Pooja P - Traveled, November 2023
It's an adventure everyday!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Xenia S - Traveled, November 2023
With G Adventures you discover things that you wouldn't find on your own and support the local population at the same time. You don't have to worry about anything, everything is organized and you get lots of exciting impressions. What's more, as a solo traveler you are never alone and get to meet great people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/30/2023
Emily A - Traveled, November 2023
This is my third trip with G Adventures and I've had great experiences all three times. I like that all hotels and transport are organized, that there is a guide to support and lead you, and also that I can meet new friends. As a woman, I also feel safer travelling solo in these groups so I am not alone and have a CEO to help recommend what is safe to do.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Sam B - Traveled, November 2023
The CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/16/2023
Gillian A - Traveled, November 2023
I have always had great experiences on G Adventures tours, they cover many countries I'm interested in visiting and I've always had good experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Helena G - Traveled, November 2023
Very organise, good quality, lovely guide and warm people
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Kim F - Traveled, November 2023
This is my first private group tour and when booking a private tour, I understood that this would mean taking the hassle out of researching the most effective/comfortable transportation and accommodation in order to get the most out of the destinations/sights/activities. The majority of the accommodation was cheap, hostal like, and not age appropriate for the classic tour. The customers on this trip were in their 30',s, 40',s, 50s, and 60',s. Also, the transportation used in parts was of the lowest level public buses where we were scrambling with the local people for a seat for a 3.5hr journey.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Martin S - Traveled, November 2023
This was my third G Adventures trip (after India, Vietnam/cambodia). Usually there are one or two difficult co-travellers in one group, who get in line during the trip. Unfortunately the last group consisted of more annoying persons, who weren't aware of the travel style of G Adventures and hadn't read the itinerary carefully. Our great guide Alonso managed the situation with a lot of patience and commitment. But due to this group constellation the travel experience was affected negatively. that's why I can only give a 7.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Nathalie E - Traveled, November 2023
nice organized group travel to not just touristic places, sometimes with homestays and projects which support the locals
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Karin W - Traveled, November 2023
G Adventures Discovery Nov. 25 to Dec 9 2023 Pretty much the worst trip I have ever experienced due to 4 incidents. The last one being the worst and caused me to leave a day early. Caye Caulker to Mexican Border by Local Bus ? As it turns out there are faster and safer ways to get to the Mexican border from Belize city (e.g. water taxi, express bus) ? Once we reached the local bus station the sight was a scene of chaos. We got there about 10:30 after taking a water taxi from Caye Caulker to Belize city and private taxis to the bus station. What a waste of time ? I had hopes when I saw buses similar to the one taken from Merida to Palenque (ADO) but the bus that showed up for us was a broken-down school bus with no AC ? The mob scene to get on this bus was something out of a bad movie and I stayed well back (with my mask on) to avoid the crush. I wish I was left behind. And the bus was late ? Once on board there was standing room only and we were packed in. No wonder since 17 people were taking up seats that the locals would use. ? I stood and at some point, a seat became available towards the front of the bus. I sat down for a little while. ? The bus stopped everywhere. A pregnant woman got on and I stood up to give her my seat. The conductor came down and was screaming at me for doing that. I told her to go away as the woman is pregnant and I would pay extra for her to sit down. ? So now I am standing again (still sick) when a woman behind me was trying very hard to get into my backpack (my money was in the front of me). It got so bad I had to turn around and grab her wrist and tell her to stop. She the proceeded to faint and nearly took me down too. One of our group got up from his seat and gave it to her. ? Where was our tour guide ? having a nap in the back ? The bus ride took a good 5 hours to reach the border with standing room only most of the way and no toilet breaks. ? The scene at the border was very long. The Belize side had only 1 agent. The Mexican side had more forms to fill in. That took well over an hour ? Then we took a private bus to Bacalar for dinner which again took a long time because service is slow. We did not reach our hotel in Playa del Carmen until midnight. I was exhausted and upset by the whole unnecessary experience. ? After the local bus experience, I had a relative arrange for me to leave the next day.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Craig H - Traveled, January 2023
Alonso the CEO really added to the whole experience, compared to travelling solo.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Marco G - Traveled, October 2023
Very intensive experience, well designed route, good value for money
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/09/2023
Melvin T - Traveled, October 2023
1. Bianca our leader was exceptional. 2. Great group dynamics. 3. tour was fabulous from content to organization
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
Dirk D - Traveled, October 2023
Great people, perfect organization, enjoying travel
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/02/2023
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