Yucatan & the Maya: Chichen Itza, Uxmal & Merida

Today you explore beautiful white Merida, the gracious capital of the Yucatan. You wander its lovely historic centre, the shady Plaza Grande framed by the twin-towered cathedral (one of the oldest on the American mainland), the colonial Casa de Montejo, and arcaded government buildings glowing with murals of Maya and Spanish history. You stroll the grand, tree-lined Paseo de Montejo, past the belle-epoque mansions built in the henequen boom, and explore the bustling markets piled with tropical fruit, chillies, hammocks and crafts. You might visit the excellent Gran Museo del Mundo Maya. The elegance and culture are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having explored the white city. This evening, enjoy the marimba music and folk dancing that fill Merida's squares. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore the exquisite ruins of Uxmal.

Today you explore the exquisite Maya ruins of Uxmal and the Puuc hills. You visit Uxmal, one of the finest and most beautiful of all Maya sites, a masterpiece of the elegant Puuc style set amid low jungle hills, marvelling at the extraordinary rounded Pyramid of the Magician, the vast and intricately carved Nunnery Quadrangle, and the elegant Governor's Palace, adorned with delicate stone latticework and masks of the rain god Chaac. You may continue along the Puuc route to smaller, atmospheric sites such as Kabah, with its facade of a hundred masks, before returning to Merida. The beauty and craftsmanship are captivating. As the day ends, you return to your hotel, having explored the loveliest of Maya cities. This evening, savour more of Merida's fine cuisine. Rest well, for tomorrow you journey to colourful Campeche on the Gulf coast.

Today you journey to colourful Campeche, the beautifully restored walled city on the Gulf coast. You travel across the Yucatan, perhaps pausing at a cenote or a colonial hacienda along the way, and arrive in Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage port of pastel houses, cobbled lanes, ramparts and colonial churches, once fortified against pirates. You explore its charming historic centre, walking sections of the old city walls and bastions, admiring the brightly painted houses and the sea-front malecon, and soaking up the relaxed, colourful atmosphere of this lovely and often-overlooked city. The colour and history are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your Campeche hotel within the walls. This evening, savour fresh Gulf seafood and the pastel-lit streets. Rest well in colourful Campeche, ready to journey on towards the Caribbean tomorrow.

Today you journey across the peninsula to the charming colonial town of Valladolid, swimming in a magical cenote along the way. You travel east across the Yucatan, and along the way you swim in one of the region's beautiful cenotes, its clear turquoise water pooling in a jungle cavern hung with roots and light, wonderfully refreshing in the heat. You arrive in Valladolid, a lovely and tranquil colonial town of pastel houses, a fine convent and cathedral, and its own cenote in the heart of town, and explore its relaxed, colourful streets and craft shops. The colour and refreshment are captivating. As the day ends, you settle into your Valladolid hotel. This evening, savour Yucatecan cuisine in a colonial courtyard in this charming town. Rest well, for tomorrow you visit the wonder of Chichen Itza on your way to the coast.

Today you explore the wonder of Chichen Itza on your way to the Caribbean coast. You visit Chichen Itza, the most famous of all Maya cities and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, standing before the mighty stepped pyramid of El Castillo, perfectly aligned with the equinox sun, and exploring the great ball court (the largest in the Maya world), the Temple of the Warriors, the observatory and the sacred cenote, as your expert guide brings the Maya-Toltec world vividly to life. You then continue south to the Caribbean coast at Tulum. The history and scale are breathtaking. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel near Tulum, on the beautiful Riviera Maya. This evening, savour a relaxed dinner by the Caribbean, reflecting on the ruins you have explored. Rest well on the beautiful coast.

Today you explore the dramatic cliff-top ruins of Tulum and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean coast. You visit the Maya ruins of Tulum, uniquely and spectacularly perched on a cliff above the turquoise sea, its temples and walls glowing against the Caribbean in one of the most beautiful settings of any ancient site, and you can swim from the beach below the ruins. You spend the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing on the white sand, swimming and snorkelling in the warm sea, or exploring another jungle cenote or the lagoons of the Sian Kaan biosphere nearby. The history and beauty are magical. As the day ends, you return to your hotel on the coast. This evening, savour a final Caribbean dinner, reflecting on your journey through the Maya world. Rest well on the beautiful coast, ready for your departure tomorrow.

After a final morning on the beautiful Caribbean coast, perhaps a last swim in the turquoise sea or a stroll along the sand at Tulum, you are transferred to Cancun International Airport for your onward international departure. You leave having immersed yourself in the ancient and living Maya world of the Yucatan, the wonder of Chichen Itza and the exquisite ruins of Uxmal, beautiful white Merida, magical jungle cenotes, colourful Campeche and Valladolid, and the cliff-top ruins of Tulum above the Caribbean, all warmed by the warmth of the Yucatan. The images stay vivid long after you land, El Castillo rising above Chichen Itza, the rounded Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal, the turquoise cenote pools, and Tulum glowing above the sea. The Yucatan offers history, culture, beauty and adventure in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of a return to this captivating land of the Maya.