Experience Overview
From tropical beaches and colourful old cities to spectacular ancient ruins, the Yucatan Peninsula’s draws are many and varied. On this eight-day adventure, learn more about the lives of mysterious civilisations at the Maya ruins of Chichen Itza and Tulum, try traditional cuisine and get cultured in the likes of Merida and Campeche and hop on board a tour of Bacalar’s hidden cenotes and pristine beaches. Thousands of years of history mixed with a modern, laidback lifestyle means Mexico, and the Yucatan in particular, should be high on everyone’s list.
Highlights
- Cruise around Bacalar’s Lake of Seven Colours during a boat tour, leaping into the stunning blue water for refreshing swims along the way.
- Escape the crowds and take a refreshing dip at Yokdzonot, a lesser-known cenote in the heart of the Yucatan managed by the local Maya community.
- Travel to Tulum and explore the archaeological site of Mayan ruins with a local guide. Then, enjoy some free time to find the best snorkelling spots or local bars.
- Experience Chichen Itza – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Your tour of the ancient ruins includes a visit to the nearby Piste community and a traditional lunch.
- Sip zingy margaritas, munch on local cuisine and soak up as much culture and history as you can in Merida, Yucatan’s charismatic capital.
Trip Details
Product Code: 2431
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private vehicle
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Intrepid Travel
Supplier Code: QBSY
Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Finishes: Tulum, Mexico
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Light
Includes
Meals: Breakfasts (7), Lunch (1),Accommodation: Hotel (7 nights)
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) $2,673 ($334 /day)
Itinerary
Hola! Welcome to Playa del Carmen – a popular resort town famed for its coral reef and sparkling warm waters. You’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers at the welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not spend the day lounging on the beach with a good book? You could also head to Dos Ojos Cenote and take a dip at the incredible turquoise freshwater swimming hole, or jump on a local ferry to explore the nearby island of Cozumel. When the introductions are out of the way, experience your first Mexican meal of the trip at an optional dinner with the group.
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Depart early, travelling by private vehicle towards Merida, learning some Spanish phrases from your leader on the way. You’ll stop at Chichen Itza – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, for a guided tour. This is perhaps the most famous Maya site in Mexico, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo), a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. Then take a cooling dip in one of the region’s lesser-known cenotes: Yokdzonot. Operated by a cooperative set up by local women, your visit will support their efforts to empower their Mayan community. After your swim, visit the local Piste community. You’ll spend time with the locals – perhaps trying out some of your Spanish – while sampling traditional Yucatecan cuisine. When you arrive in Merida – the charming capital of the Yucatan region – get your bearings on an orientation walk with your leader. Wander the centuries-old streets and take in the grand buildings, learn about the town’s Maya heritage and swing by Mercado 60 – a buzzing food market with great margaritas and live music.
Included Activities:
- Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Piste - Traditional Maya Family Lunch
- Merida - Leader-led orientation walk
- Merida - Visit to Cenote Yokdnozot Piste
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Your day is free for you to explore the many sights of Merida. You could visit the Regional Museum of Yucatan, located within the pretty Palacio Canton, chill out in the shady Plaza Grande admiring the 16th-century cathedral or seek out cochinita pibil, a slow-roasted, citrus-marinated pork dish that's a Yucatan speciality. Alternatively, take a trip to one of Mexico's best-preserved Maya sites in Uxmal. Spend two hours exploring the ruins and see the impressive so-called Pyramid of the Magician, marvel at the decorative details of the Governor’s Palace and take the opportunity to climb one of the pyramids for astounding views of the surrounding area. Merida is a people-pleaser when it comes to nightlife and has something for all tastes, whether you’re after a low-key bar, cultural show or some live music and dancing.
Optional Activities:
- Merida - Regional Museum of Yucatan (95 MXN)
- Merida – Rio Lagartos (entrance and transport) (1365 MXN)
- Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) (1470 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Leave the city of Merida behind and drive to the coast to spend the night in Campeche – a seaside town with photogenic streets lined with multi-coloured low-rise buildings. On the way, visit the town of Becal, known as ‘the Hat Town’, where your group will meet with an artisan who works in a cave to weave the traditional jipi hats. When you arrive in Campeche, head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. For dinner tonight, you’ll find good seafood almost anywhere, and other tempting restaurants at Portales de San Martin.
Included Activities:
- Campeche - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Becal - Visit to Jipi hat artisan cave studio
Optional Activities:
- Campeche - San Miguel Fort (Entrance Fee) (68 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Rise and shine for the long cross-peninsular drive to Bacalar today. Bacalar is said to be the first settlement of the Itza tribe, who would go on to create Chichen Itza. Today it’s a quiet spot to sit back, relax and take in the surrounding nature. When you're there, take a short leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings, followed by a free afternoon and evening to relax after a long travel day. Cerveza, anyone?
Included Activities:
- Bacalar - Leader-led orientation walk
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
This morning, head out on a half day boat tour of Lake Bacalar. Also known as the Lake of Seven Colours – thanks to the various stunning shades of blue it adopts throughout the day – you’ll explore the different cenotes and islands that make up the lagoon including plenty of stops for swims along the way! Return to town around midday. The rest of the day is then free for you to uncover more cenotes or sit back and relax in Bacalar. You could visit Cenote Azul – a beautiful fresh water rockpool, perfect for swimming. The sparkling water and stalactites and stalagmites in the cave are a sight to behold.
Included Activities:
- Bacalar - Lagoon of 7 Colours Boat Tour
Optional Activities:
- Cenote Azul - Natural rock pool with option to swim (Entrance fee & Transport) (37 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
Enjoy a free morning relaxing around Bacalar’s lake before heading in a private vehicle towards Tulum. Along the way, you’ll visit the Tulum archaeological ruins that sit on the cliffs of the Yucatan Peninsula. With a local guide, explore the pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba. Carry on to the town of Tulum and when you arrive, take an orientation walk with your leader. There may be time to fit in a visit to another cenote or find a bar to keep working on that Spanish with the locals. In the evening, why not get the group together for a final meal to say farewell and ‘salud’ to Mexico.
Included Activities:
- Tulum - Leader-led orientation walk
- Tulum - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
Optional Activities:
- Dos Ojos Cenote - Fresh Water Rock Pool (entrance fee with snorkelling gear & life jacket included) (578 MXN)
- Tulum- Bike rental (263 MXN)
Accommodation:
- Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)
After breakfast, there are no activities planned for the day and your adventure will come to an end. If you would like to spend some more time exploring Tulum’s famous turquoise water, snorkelling spots, ancient ruins and general magnificence, just speak to your booking agent. Otherwise, you can choose to book a transfer to Cancun if you’re leaving today.
Tour Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.
In Business Since 1989
Reviews
Heidi - Traveled, April 2024
Our tour group leader Lucila was knowledgeable, friendly and all you could hope for. The archeological sights were more than I expected. In all an awesome trip
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/19/2024
Stephanie - Traveled, March 2024
What an experience! So many memories made on this tour and I enjoyed getting to know our group while travelling across areas of Mexico that felt like not too many tourists were seeing. Highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024
Graeme - Traveled, March 2024
Fabulous week in Mexico, our leader Lu was superb, full of knowledge and ideas and enthusiasm, could not praise her more.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/05/2024
Robert - Traveled, March 2024
Lovely trip! It was a 7-day whirlwind, but time kind of stood still for us all the while, allowing us to learn and experience a lot.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/24/2024
David - Traveled, March 2024
Travelling in a spacious van with a total of 10 people including our driver and friendly Group leader, who speaks fluent English and his native Spanish, we cruised from the bustling Playa Del Carmen to the provincial administrative center of Merida. Then to the picturesque fishing Village of Campeche, and across to Bacalar and its turquoise, pristine lagoon. We visited the impressive Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, Uxmal and finally Tulum, where we ended our 8 day tour, dipping into two refeshing Cenotes along the way. We enjoyed an interesting, relaxing, safe and friendly yet adventurous travel time. Well recommended.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/06/2024
Gabriella - Traveled, February 2024
Highly recommend to anyone wants to see the real Mexico.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/11/2024
Dee - Traveled, February 2024
Overall a really enjoyable trip. I learned a lot about Mexico and got a taste of several places in the Yucatán area. Despite having a variety of ages in the group, from mid twenties to late sixties we all got on extremely well and coming from a variety of places (Australia, Switzerland and the UK) we also learned a lot about one another’s home countries.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/11/2024
Jacqueline - Traveled, January 2024
Overall the trip was enjoyable as we had a friendly group but poor value for money with some disappointing hotels.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/27/2024
Alexandra - Traveled, January 2024
Mariana our tour guide was absolutely excellent - I cannot speak highly enough of her. Locations like Merida, Balacar and Campeche were lovely, with Bacalar being one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The tours of ruins were really very interesting and Uxmal was fascinating and much more easily navigated than Chichen Itza in my view as there were far fewer people. Tulum and Playa were very very commercialised, overwhelmingly expensive, and not my thing at all and I was pleased we only spent 1 day there. The accommodation was VERY variable and completely sub-par in Playa (right next door to a thumping night club, no working shower etc). The best bit of this trip was the middle section involving smaller cities and ruins etc. Intrepid need to drastically improve the quality of the accommodation in some places however as (having gone on 5 intrepid trips and backpacked) this was by far the lowest quality I've experienced on an organised trip, and that includes some of the poorest countries in Asia, Cuba etc.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/31/2024
Jonas - Traveled, January 2024
Great introduction to Mexico. Exploring this country beyond the beautiful beaches is a must! Only frustrating thing about this trip was that most of the great activities had to be added on. We kept spending more money on an already expensive trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/26/2024
Christine - Traveled, December 2023
The Yucatán Peninsula is worth exploring and this trip intrepid plans out includes so many interesting, fun, adventurous aspects and cool places to visit. I highly recommend it to those that want to learn more about the ancient Mayan civilization as well as the Mexican culture of today.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/03/2024
Lara - Traveled, December 2023
Lots of activities and great experiences had. I would thoroughly recommend
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/27/2023
Carol - Traveled, November 2023
The Yukatan Peninsula Tour was exciting, not too taxing physically. There was a lot of travelling but worth it. Highly recommend it
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/25/2023
Italo - Traveled, November 2023
Mariana Becerra was one of the best tour guides. She wasn't just a well versed tour guide but an experienced, enthusiastic traveller herself that liked to have fun with the group.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/12/2023
Lorraine - Traveled, October 2023
Ended up here because a trip was cancelled.. exceeded all expectation. Highly recommend.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/24/2023
Kevin - Traveled, October 2023
Great trip that introduces you to the Yucatán as advertised. Different stop/start points is odd and expensive. I recommend the ADO bus to/from the airport for 400 pesos.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/22/2023
Martin - Traveled, September 2023
An outstanding quick introduction to Mexico. No time wasted in major resort areas and plenty of quieter, less frequented sites visited.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 09/10/2023
Charmaine - Traveled, January 2023
This was an adventure of a lifetime that ticked all my boxes. I was able to see Mayan sites, do some swimming in beautiful cenotes and eat local meals cooked by Mayans. Intrepid took us away from the tourist destinations to see fascinating cities with amazing cultural heritage including Merida and Bacalar
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/20/2023
Diane - Traveled, May 2023
This wad a mother/daughter trip just time time for Mother’s Day and was thoroughly enjoyed by both of us. The lazy river float was almost a religious experience and walking among the ruins was impactful.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/28/2023
Zachary - Traveled, April 2023
trip was amazing, very well oranginsed, didnt really need 2 days in merida would have rathered another day in balacar but was still very informative on each destination and amazing too see differnt parts of mexico
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/05/2023
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