Breakfast daily (B), 2 lunches (L), and 3 three-course dinners (D); Local Host service throughout the vacation; Destination Guide; sightseeing and transportation as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary (inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE).
Itinerary:
Day #1 Cancun–Chichen Itza, Mexico. Arrive in Cancun and enjoy a private transfer to Chichen Itza. Your hotel for the next two nights has its own entrance to the archaeological site, offering a mystical atmosphere that will take you back to ancient times.
Day #2 Chichen Itza. Begin your day with a GUIDED TOUR of the Chichen Itza Archaeological Site, designated one of the New Seven Wonders of the World®. Visit the Ball Court, the Temple of Jaguars, the famous pyramid of Kukulcan, and the sacred Cenote. Your Local Guide is on hand to explain the history of this incredible site, share in its ancient stories, and answer all your questions. This afternoon, your may wish to spend more time exploring the ruins on your own, enjoy a dip in the hotel’s pool, shop for souvenirs from the local artisans, or perhaps join an optional horseback-riding excursion. You are also invited to attend an included MAYAN COOKING or LANGUAGE CLASS during your free time. Later tonight, let the play of lights on the ancient buildings and tales of warlike rulers, priests, and Mayan gods weave their spell on you when you attend the LIGHT & SOUND SHOW at Chichen Itza. (B,L,D)
Day #3 Chichen Itza–Merida–Uxmal. This morning we visit Merida, capital of the Yucatan and its colonial heart. Enjoy a WALKING TOUR that visits the Zocalo (main square), the stately cathedral, City Hall, and a city market, where you can shop for authentic arts and crafts. You’ll also visit the MUSEUM OF ANTHROPOLOGY with its excellent displays of Mayan artifacts from various Yucatan sites. We continue to Uxmal, located in the dense jungle, for a 2-night stay. (B,D)
Day #4 Uxmal. Excursion to Kabah. On your morning GUIDED TOUR, explore Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best restored and maintained ruins in the Yucatan. Its dramatic architecture includes the oval-shaped Magician’s Pyramid, the Nun’s Quadrangle with its magnificent friezes depicting the Mayan rain god, the magnificent Palace of the Governor, and the impressive Great Pyramid. After exploring Uxmal, continue to KABAH, where you will see the Codz Pop, a palace famous for its façade of 250 Chac masks and statues of ancient rulers. In the evening, you are invited to attend the Uxmal LIGHT & SOUND SHOW, where the music and dialog take place in a magnificent setting. (B,L,D)
Day #5 Uxmal–Cancun. After breakfast, depart for Cancun International Airport. Please schedule flights after 2 pm. (B)
