Yucatan Encompassed

After breakfast, we will head to Chiquila Dock for a boat journey across the Caribbean Sea to the idyllic island paradise of Isla Holbox. We will have a free afternoon to settle in and enjoy the spectacular beaches to soak up some rays while relaxing on the soft, white sands of this idyllic Mexican-Caribbean island. 

Today we will enjoy a private snorkelling trip to swim with the elusive whale sharks that are found in these waters from June to September. These magnificent sea creatures can reach up to 10 meters long, making them the largest fish in the world, but are actually very docile. After this unforgettable experience, we will return to the hotel for a free afternoon in paradise.

After breakfast, we will head out on another whale shark snorkelling tour to spend some more time with these giant and impressive fish. In the afternoon, we will return to the  Chiquila Dock for an onward to the city of Merida. Along the way, we will make a stop in Tixkokob to visit a hammock weaving family and learn all about how they make these famous Mexican artisanal products. After lunch at the Hacienda Teya, we will continue to Merida, where we will enjoy an orientation tour of the city. In the evening, we will head to the hotel for an evening of relaxation. 

Today we will take part in a traditional Mexican cooking class with one of Merida’s finest chefs, Mario Canul, at his beautiful colonial cooking school, Los Dos. In the afternoon, we will head out on a private tour of Merida City to visit the Palacio de Gobierno, Paseo de Montejo and the Anthropology Museum. We will then head to the ancient citadel of Uxmal to the hotel for the evening. 

Bright and early, we will head out to marvel at the world-renowned Maya temples and ball courts of Uxmal. Our guide will explain all about this magnificent temple and one of the finest examples of classic Maya architecture on the planet. This archaeological site has spectacular palaces, 15 groups of buildings, including the Adivino Pyramid and the Palacio del Gobernador. After this visit, we will enjoy a delicious "pibil" lunch, a regional delicacy, before we return to the hotel in the afternoon. 

Today, our day begins at the living-museum of Hacienda Sotuta de Peon. Here, we will learn about the traditional henequen haciendas, which was the source of the Yucatan’s wealth during the Colonial era. We will visit the processing plant, which is still working today, visit the beautiful main house, and take a mule-drawn rail cart to tour the fields, ending at a refreshing cenote. We will have a traditional lunch at the hacienda before heading to the city of Izamal to visit the magical Franciscan monastery and a crafts co-operative. We will then continue to the Chichen Itza temple, where we can find the hotel…almost inside the archaeological site!. 

Today, we will explore Chichen Itza before the crowds arrive with our private guide. We will witness the most important feature, such as the ball courts, temples, and plazas of this ancient citadel. We will be heading out of the site as the heat rises and the crowds begin to arrive, towards a little known cenote “pool” to access the cool, deep-blue, crystal-clear waters of the vast underground river system that zigzags through the Yucatan Peninsula!

Today is the final day of this spectacular tour. We will take you to the Cancun Airport in time for your flight back home or on to your next exciting destination.