Mayan Trail
Experience Overview
Leave the resorts of Cancún behind and embark on a true adventure that will take you from spectacular Mayan ruins to the cobblestoned streets of colonial towns and deep into the jungle of Mexico. Explore the ancient ruins at Chichén Itzá and Palenque and meet the descendants of those who built them in the vibrant streets and colourful markets of picturesque Mayan towns. Get your camera out—you're going to need it!
Highlights
- Explore the ruins of Chichén Itzá and Palenque
- Get lost wandering colonial San Cristobal de las Casas and Antigua
- Cool off with a swim at Roberto Barrios waterfall
- Bargain at colourful local markets
Trip Details
Product Code: 1823
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Public bus, private vehicle, boat.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: CMTM
Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finishes: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala
Duration: 11 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Mérida Your Discover Moment: San Cristóbal de Las Casas
- Chichén Itzá guided tour
- Mérida orientation walk
- Palenque guided tour
- Roberto Barrios waterfall visit
- San Cristóbal de las Casas orientation walk
- Antigua orientation walk
- Free time in Mérida and San Cristóbal de las Casas
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (9 nts), homestay (1 nt).
- 1 dinner
Transport
- Public bus, private vehicle, boat.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1,410 ($128 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Arrive at any time.
As travellers arrive throughout the day, there are no planned activities until the welcome meeting in the evening.
Day 2: Playa del Carmen/Mérida
Take a guided tour of Chichén Itzá and orientation walk around Mérida.
Depart Playa del Carmen and head to the famous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá for a guided tour. Spend time exploring this famous site, known for its huge stepped pyramids and elaborate stone carvings.
Continue on to Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán State, and take a short orientation walk. Also known as la ciudad blanca (the white city), Mérida offers the ideal opportunity to learn about Mexico's fascinating mix of cultural influences.
Day 3: Mérida
Enjoy a free day to explore Merida and surroundings. Opt to visit the ruins of Uxmal or swim in cenotes in the Yucatán. Take a trip to the beach or soak in the history this city has to offer.
The area surrounding Mérida has tons to offer. Choose to visit nearby cenotes (water sink holes) in the town of Cuzamá. Inside, swim in the massive crystal-clear sinkholes. Transportation to the cenotes is half the fun, taking small wooden horse-drawn carts along old rail tracks.
Opt to visit ruins in Uxmal, ride the PUUC Route or go bird-watching. There's something for everyone.
Day 4: Mérida/Palenque
After a long day of travel from the Yucatán to the jungles of Chiapas, arrive to Palenque and settle in for 2 nights.
Day 5: Palenque
Enjoy a guided tour of the Mayan ruins of Palenque. After, go for a swim in the pristine turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios waterfall.
Day 6: Palenque/San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Travel to San Cristóbal de Las Casas located in a high mountain valley at 2110m (6921 ft), via Villahermosa. Enjoy an orientation walk of the city, known for its 16th-century architecture.
Day 7: San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day life or journey to beautiful Sumidero Canyon for a relaxing boat ride.
Day 8: San Cristóbal de Las Casas/Panajachel
Journey from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico to Panajachel, Guatemala. Opt to explore the town on arrival.
The first stop in Guatemala is on beautiful Lake Atitlán. Stay in Panajachel, a lakeshore town surrounded by spectacular volcanoes and small villages.
Day 9: Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna
Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Take part in a cultural tour of San Juan la Laguna where you can opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings from the local artisans.
Day 10: Antigua
Travel to Antigua and head out for an orientation walk. Opt for a final night out in town.
There is so much to do in this charming colonial city, optional activities for the area include a city tour, salsa dancing classes, a Guatemalan cooking class, or relaxing with a massage. Further afield you can rent bikes and ride through the hills, visit a macadamia nut farm or check out some nearby villages.
Day 11: Antigua Guatemala
Depart at any time.
We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this charming city.
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
Trevor S. - Traveled, November 2023
Great tour for younger people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/20/2023
Jaelen S. - Traveled, November 2023
I like G Adventures core values and the trip was very well planned. The drivers were always at the location waiting for us to arrive and it was a good trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Stephanie F. - Traveled, November 2023
Awesome experience and guide but accommodations were not the best
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Jared H. - Traveled, November 2023
it's wonderful to be able to cram so many experiences into a trip without taking on the burden of the logistical details.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Zenon L. - Traveled, November 2023
The quality of accommodation was very poor, hotel must have simple breakfast! Rooms very used up , and need renovations! Possibly for backpackers it is ok ?- for me disappointing, below expectations!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Nigel T. - Traveled, November 2023
This is my 11th trip with G and I did not think it came up to par. Full review emailed to Nicole Todd at G Dec 6, 2023.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/06/2023
Brian H. - Traveled, October 2023
The CEO and a pretty thoughtful itinerary
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/29/2023
Maike K. - Traveled, October 2023
G Adventures as a company, yes, but with the advice to take a close look in advance at what the trip actually entails. I would also not recommend the Maya Trail trip with the current route to anyone. The travel times were just too long. You spend more time sitting in the bus than you can experience anything about the country and it's people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Sarah C. - Traveled, October 2023
It was so well organized and the guide was really friendly and helpful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Anson W. - Traveled, October 2023
As this was our second trip with G Adventures! We weren't sure about the different grading and we will, for ourselves, for future tours, pick the highest grading, such as the National Geographic G Adventures trips!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Serhiy S. - Traveled, October 2023
Good choice of locations to visit and experience central American culture
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Nora K. - Traveled, October 2023
My tour guide was really really bad. She did not do more than the absolute minimum. Whenever I would ask questions about where we were or more information about something she would simply not answer or say ',just because',. I also had the idea that she did not know anything and that that was the reason she did not want to answer questions.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/22/2023
Guy T. - Traveled, October 2023
Absolutely loved this tour. Really well balanced between cultural and activities to do.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/15/2023
Mark H. - Traveled, October 2023
Great for single travelers, but this particular tour has a bit too much time on busses for me.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/08/2023
Nicolas C. - Traveled, October 2023
Good experience across three trips with GA
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/08/2023
Sebastian S. - Traveled, October 2023
Been on multiple trips with G Adventures and it was great all the time
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/08/2023
Joshua R. - Traveled, October 2023
Amazing trip that exceeded my expectations. Pamela went above and beyond for us!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2023
Daniel O. - Traveled, October 2023
G Adventures never fails. Always a great trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2023
Angela C. - Traveled, October 2023
The tour delivered everything it promised, CEO Pamela was also great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2023
Lina P. - Traveled, September 2023
Right now I'm in between. The trip I did recently was my first one, but due to the current situation in Guatemala and the way G handled it, I can't say that I'm fully satisfied and convinced to recommend them to family or friends.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/18/2023
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