Mexico City to Cancún a Classic Mexican Tour

Day 1 - Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico. After landing, collect your luggage and make your way through arrivals, where your driver will be waiting with a Native Trails sign, before being transferred directly to your hotel in the historic centre of Mexico City to begin your journey.

Hotel: Histórico Central or similar

Day 0 - Dy 2 Mexico City

Visit the fascinating Museo del Templo Mayor, home to the eight tonne stone disc of the moon goddess Coyolxauhqui and the story of ancient Tenochtitlán, before touring the heart of Mexico City, taking in the presidential palace, the vast Zócalo and the grand Catedral Metropolitana. In the afternoon, cruise the floating gardens of Xochimilco, a UNESCO listed waterway created by the Aztecs and still loved by locals and visitors alike, with a snack included along the way.

Hotel: Histórico Central or similar

Day 3 - Mexico City

Explore the Baroque Antiguo Colegio de San Ildefonso and its striking murals, then wander through the historic Plaza Santo Domingo before visiting the Museo Nacional de Antropología, home to treasures of the Olmec, Toltec, Aztec and Maya. Continue to the green oasis of Chapultepec Park and finish at the Torre Latinoamericana, where the viewing platform on the 44th floor offers spectacular views across the city and its ring of volcanoes. 

Hotel: Histórico Central or similar

Day 4 - Mexico City to Puebla

Visit the twin basilicas of the Virgin of Guadalupe before travelling to Teotihuacán, the vast pyramid complex and first great city of the ancient Americas, where the mighty Avenue of the Dead reveals the true scale of this remarkable site. Continue to the colonial city of Puebla, known for its colourful Talavera tiles, and tour its beautiful cathedral and Plaza de la Constitución.

Hotel: Colonial de Puebla or similar

Day 5 - Puebla to Oaxaca

Visit the Jardín Botánico at Zapotitlán Salinas, an untouched landscape of towering cacti and elephant foot trees, before continuing to Oaxaca de Juárez and the hilltop ruins of Monte Albán, once home to around 50,000 people at the height of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilisations. If time does not allow, Monte Albán will instead be visited the following day, with a city tour of Oaxaca taking place this evening.

Hotel: Casa Conzatti or similar

Day 6 - Oaxaca

Visit the Museo Cultural de Oaxaca, housed in a former Dominican monastery and home to treasures recovered from Monte Albán, before touring the beautiful colonial streets of Oaxaca itself, taking in the church of Santo Domingo de Guzmán, the lively Zócalo and the city's many colourful markets.

Hotel: Casa Conzatti or similar

Day 7 - Oaxaca to Salina Cruz

Visit the ancient Tule tree, one of the oldest and largest in the world, before continuing to the archaeological site of Mitla and a mezcal distillery in Santiago Matatlán, where you can taste this famous Mexican spirit. The day ends with a stop at Playa Cangrejo on the Pacific coast, where you can enjoy fresh seafood and, weather permitting, a swim before continuing to Salina Cruz.

Hotel: Misión San José or similar

Day 8 - Salina Cruz to San Cristóbal de las Casas

Take a boat trip through the magnificent Sumidero Canyon, its cliffs rising up to 1,000 metres above the Río Grijalva, home to alligators, toucans, pelicans and herons, before continuing to the colonial highland town of San Cristóbal de las Casas.

Hotel: Mansión del Valle San Cristóbal

Day 9 - San Cristóbal de las Casas

Explore the historic centre of San Cristóbal de las Casas before visiting the nearby villages of Chamula and Zinacantán, where Catholic and Mayan traditions blend inside the local church and the Tzotzil community continues to speak its indigenous language. End the day with a visit to a small weaving workshop, run by three sisters, for a taste of traditional tortillas and the art of weaving.

Hotel: Mansión del Valle San Cristóbal or similar

Day 10 - San Cristóbal de las Casas to Villahermosa

Travel to Villahermosa, stopping along the way at the hacienda style restaurant El Edén for a taste of traditional Tabasco cuisine, with lunch included. On arrival, tour the city, founded in the sixteenth century, taking in its unusual cathedral, the striking MUSEVI museum and the newly restored riverside centre along the Grijalva River.

Hotel: Viva Villahermosa or similar

Day 11 - Villahermosa to Palenque

Travel to the waterfalls of Profesor Roberto Barrios, hidden in the subtropical jungle of Chiapas, where cascades of turquoise blue water flow through natural rock pools perfect for a swim, before continuing to Palenque.

Hotel: Ciudad Real Palenque or similar

Day 12 - Palenque to Campeche

Discover the ruins of Palenque, one of the most beautiful ancient cities in Mexico, including the Temple of Inscriptions, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Sun, before travelling to the walled port city of Campeche, once defended against pirates, for a tour of its colonial streets, Zócalo and cathedral.

Hotel: Plaza Campeche or similar

Day 13 - Campeche to Mérida

Explore the Maya ruins of Uxmal, celebrated for their decorated façades and grand terraces, before continuing to the colonial capital of Mérida, where narrow streets, horse drawn carriages and the elegant Paseo de Montejo reflect a strong Spanish and French influence.

Hotel: Gran Hotel Panamericana or similar

Day 14 - Merida to Cancun

Visit the world famous ruins of Chichén Itzá, including the towering pyramid of El Castillo and the observatory known as El Caracol, before continuing to Cancún for your transfer to the airport or, if extending your stay, to your hotel, with arrival at approximately 17:00.