Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights

Intrepid Travel · 8 days
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights
8 Days
From AUD $4630
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights

Premium Mexico Yucatan Highlights

Intrepid Travel · 8 days
Duration

8 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Unknown

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

When it comes to vibrant culture and varied cuisine, there’s nowhere quite like Mexico. Get a taste of the country’s best on an eight-day Premium adventure through Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca.

Highlights

  • Visit the spectacular ruins of Chichen Itza (one of the new Seven Wonders of the World), Muyil and Tulum where your local leader and expert guides will bring thousands of years of Maya history to life.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of local life during a Exclusive Experience to the secluded Laguna Chabela Maya community, where you’ll learn how modern Maya people preserve the traditions of their ancestors and try your hand and making a tortilla before a delicious feast in the jungle.
  • Experience the old-world charm of your Feature Stay accommodation in Merida – a historic 17th century mansion turned boutique hotel with elegant decor and traditional touches.
  • Enjoy an Exclusive Experience at the Celestun Bird Sanctuary and Biosphere Reserve – a bird-lover’s dream. Learn about conservation efforts while looking out for colourful flora and fauna on a boat ride and see the natural springs before stopping by the Gulf of Mexico for a swim.
  • Swim in a cenote, float down the crystal-clear Muyil canals created by the Maya over 1000 years ago and visit a laid-back beach club in Tulum to make the best of the Yucatan peninsula.

Trip Details

Duration

8 days

Transportation

Private vehicle,Boat

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Finishes

Tulum, Mexico

Accommodations

Unknown

Travel Style

Explorer

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

1
Day 1: Playa Del Carmen
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Mexico. Your adventure begins in Playa del Carmen – a coastal resort town on the Yucatan Peninsula, known for its turquoise waters and nightlife. You’ll be met at Cancun International Airport and transferred to your hotel. Here, you’ll meet your local leader and fellow group members at your welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, you might like to stroll along pedestrian avenue while perusing handmade hammocks, jewellery and crafts. The Yucatan’s bountiful Caribbean coastline means it’s home to some of the freshest seafood in the country, and after your meeting, you’ll head to a local restaurant and sit down for a traditional feast of fresh fish, mussels, shrimp and clams.

Included Activities:

  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Playa del Carmen - Welcome Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
2
Day 2: Valladolid
After breakfast, depart Playa del Carmen and head to the secluded Laguna Chabela. Here, you’ll meet a local Maya family who have lived here for generations. Gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you walk through the low jungle full of medicinal plants, see what they grow and learn how they live off the land. Watch a demonstration on how to make delicious tortillas in the Coba style with the family matriarch then sit down to a traditional lunch prepared by hand using a mortar and pestle found in the nearby ruins, still used after 1000 years. You’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time, with stones from ancient Maya structures emerging from the jungle and the sounds of birds as your backdrop. In the afternoon, continue to the city of Valladolid, known for its pastel-coloured buildings. Set on the city’s main square, your hotel was converted from a 16th century house and offers a perfect base for your explorations.

Included Activities:

  • Valladolid - Home-cooked lunch
  • Valladolid - Tortilla making demonstration
  • Valladolid - Mayan homestead visit

Accommodation:

  • Hotel El Meson del Marques or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
3
Day 3: Merida - Chichen Itza
This morning will be spent exploring the complex of Chichen Itza. Named as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza is considered the most important archaeological vestige of the Maya-Toltec civilisation in Yucatan by UNESCO. Meet with a local guide for a tour to uncover the secrets of what is perhaps the most famous Maya site, dominated by the Temple of Kukulkan, or El Castillo – a Mesoamerican step-pyramid. After, you’ll have a home-cooked lunch with a local family in the town of Piste. Tuck into a traditional Pibil feast – a Maya style of cooking that involves barbecuing underground, which the family have perfected over generations. After lunch, visit a local cenote for a swim. These limestone sinkholes were viewed by the Maya as doorways to the underworld. Continue to Merida – founded in 1542, this city is the Yucatan capital and retains much of its old-world charm. Your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three evenings is in the historic Hotel Casa Lucia. Spacious rooms feature traditional touches, surrounding a courtyard hat features a swimming pool.

Included Activities:

  • Chichen Itza - Cenote swim stop
  • Chichen Itza - Home-cooked pibil lunch
  • Chichen Itza - Archaeological site with local guide

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
4
Day 4: Merida
This morning, you’ll join your leader on a walking tour of downtown Merida to learn more about the Maya heritage of the town. Visit the market for a look at local life and stop by the city museum, Montejo's House and the cathedral. Step inside the Palacio del Gobierno to admire the murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco – a famous Mexican artist from Merida. The paintings depict the history of the city and interactions between the Maya and the Spanish. The afternoon is free for further discoveries – you might like to relax in the green and shady Plaza Grande or browse the outdoor market selling Maya replicas. Regroup for dinner at a local restaurant serving up Yucatan specialties – the sopa da lima (lime soup) is especially delicious here.

Included Activities:

  • Merida - Leader-led orientation walk

Optional Activities:

  • Merida - Regional Museum of Yucatan (100 MXN)
  • Merida - Uxmal Ruins tour (inc. shared transport and guide) (2200 MXN)

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
5
Day 5: Merida
After breakfast, you’ll head out for another Exclusive Experience at the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary. One of the first places migratory birds arrive for the winter, the reserve offers a birdwatching experience like no other. Tour the area by small boat while you learn about its unique flora and fauna. Look out for the Yucatan woodpecker, Mexican sheartail, tropical mockingbird and depending on the season (usually December to March), you might witness the thousands of flamingos streaking across the landscape. Hop off the boat for a quick walk to view bubbling springs then cruise back through the mangrove canals. Stop in a fishing town for some time for lunch – maybe grab some fresh seafood and eat it with your toes in the sand. Take a dip in the Gulf of Mexico before returning to Merida for a free afternoon.

Included Activities:

  • Merida - Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve tour

Accommodation:

  • Hotel Casa Lucia (Feature Stay) or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
6
Day 6: Tulum
Depart Merida this morning and head towards Muyil, stopping off for lunch in the village of Coba. Continue to the virtually unknown Muyil Archaeologic Site – this ancient Maya trading post is one of the oldest once-inhabited sites in the country, with a history stretching back to 350 BC. Explore the ruins with your leader who will explain what life here once looked like. Next, head to the banks of the Maya River and board a small boat to explore the canals and lagoons of the Sian Ka'an biosphere. One of the largest protected areas in Mexico, this UNESCO World Heritage site covers more than 400,000 hectares of land, lagoon and marine areas, including countless flora and fauna. You’ll be joined by guides from the local community who will help you get the most out of this experience. Admire the ruins on the riverbanks before disembarking in the waters of the ancient Mayan mangrove canals, where you’ll experience a natural ‘lazy river’ and float through the peaceful canals in a slow but steady current. After 45 minutes of floating, carry on to Tulum.

Included Activities:

  • Tulum - Muyil river float
  • Tulum - Muyil archaeological site with local guide

Accommodation:

  • Niik Tulum or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
7
Day 7: Tulum
In the morning, head to the Tulum archaeological site and learn about the history of the ruins and their views of the ocean. One of the last cities built by the Maya, your leader will paint a picture of how life played out here as you explore the complex against the ocean backdrop. Spend the afternoon soaking up the sun at a beach club, where you can swim in the Caribbean Sea or nap in a comfortable lounge chair. Tonight, dine at one of Tulum’s best restaurants. With laid back vibes and inspired by the freshest local produce and seafood, this final dinner with your newfound friends will certainly be one to remember.

Included Activities:

  • Tulum - Archaeological site visit
  • Tulum - Farewell Dinner
  • Tulum – Beach Club Visit

Accommodation:

  • Niik Tulum or similar (Number of Nights: 1)
8
Day 8: Tulum
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you would like to spend some more time in Tulum, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Exclusions
  • Flights to and from origin and destinations
  • Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
  • Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
  • Recommended gratuities/tipping
  • Optional activities/tours
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.
Important Information
Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

  • It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
  • Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
  • Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.
Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.
AUD $4,630
(Tour only)
Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 8 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

When it comes to vibrant culture and varied cuisine, there’s nowhere quite like Mexico. Get a taste of the country’s best on an eight-day Premium adventure through Mexico City, Puebla and Oaxaca.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 11 Jul 2026

Customer Reviews

Overall Rating
Excellent
4.5
Guide
Excellent
4.5
Itinerary
Excellent
4.5
Accommodations
Excellent
4.5
Transportation
Excellent
4.5
Tour Operator
Excellent
4.5
Food
Excellent
4.5
4.5
Rebecca
Traveled, April 2024

04/17/2024

I had a wonderful time on the tour of the Yucatán. Susana is very warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable.

4.5
Carolyn
Traveled, April 2024

04/14/2024

I loved this trip. A great mix of historical sites and cities, natural attractions, culture and delicious food. Susana our tour leader was knowledgeable, efficient, helpful and ensured we had a fantastic trip.

Tour Operator

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