Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
From AUD $1911 Was AUD $2249
Small Group
Light
Rating
(20 reviews)
Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera
Use code BONUS10 to get an extra 10% off all tours — for a limited time only. T&Cs apply
14 days
Small Group
Basic
Light
English
Experience Overview
This 14-day adventure through the heart of Mexico has so much to love. Kicking off in its buzzing capital and wrapping up on the white sands of the Mayan Riviera, you’ll eat your way through endless tacos and mole, exploring the country’s epic mountains, jungles, and waterfalls too.
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Alebrijes Artisan Community Workshop, Oaxaca Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO, Oaxaca Your Discover Moment: Oaxaca Your Discover Moment: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time, San Cristóbal de Las Casas Your Big Night Out Moment: Tulum
- Mexico City street food crawl
- Alebrijes Artisan Community visit
- Boat trip to Sumidero Canyon
- Stop at Roberto Barrios Waterfall for a swim
- Tour the Mayan ruins in Palenque
- A boat adventure into a gorgeous lagoon in Bacalar
- Chichen Itzá ruins guided tour
- Free time in Mexico City, Oaxaca, Palenque, San Cristóbal de las Casas
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Simple hotels/hostels (12 nts), overnight bus (1 nt).
- 1 breakfast
Transport
- Public bus, private vehicle, overnight bus, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.
Highlights
- Hop on a boat tour and cruise through Sumidero Canyon
- Listen for howler monkeys as you explore the Mayan ruins of Palenque in the jungle
- Go for a dip in the Lagoon of the Seven Colours at Bacalar
- Take a guided tour of Chichen Itzá
Trip Details
14 days
Public bus, private vehicle, overnight bus, walking.
English
Mexico City, Mexico
Tulum, Mexico
Basic
18 - 39 Year Olds Only, Budget
Light
Itinerary
Day 1: Mexico City
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.Activity - Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.Accommodation - Hotel Benedicta
Day 2: Mexico City
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Get the lay of the land during a walking tour of Mexico City with your CEO. Start by visiting the La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. Wander past the bars, restaurants, and cafes. Sample some street food snacks purchased by your CEO. The tour ends at Bosque de Chapultepec.Free_time - Take advantage of free time to get to know Mexico City on your own. Choose from a variety of optional activities in the area, seek out some great food spots, or search for some unique gifts to bring back to your friends and family.Accommodation - Hotel Benedicta
Day 3: Mexico City/Oaxaca
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.Activity - All walks will be slightly different, allowing your CEO to show off their favourite spots. You can expect to see the Santo Domingo Cultural Centre, walk through the zocalo and the famous 20th of November market. Opt to sample some delicious Oaxacan foods along the way such as mole, tlayudas or chapulines.Activity - Your CEO will accompany the group to the market where you can try a tlayuda, a toasted tortilla with tons of different toppings like refried beans, shredded cabbage, salsa, meat, and cheese before capping off the day with a visit to a local chocolate-making shop.Accommodation - Hostal Don Nino
Day 4: Oaxaca
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - From museums and galleries to markets filled with locally produced arts and crafts, it's impossible to run out of things to do in Oaxaca. Choose to stroll down more of the streets off the main square in search of street art, check out the intricately designed black pottery, hand-woven Zapotec rugs in local shops, and take in panoramic views of the city from Cerro del Fortín.Accommodation - Hostal Don Nino
Day 5: Oaxaca/San Cristóbal
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy more free time in Oaxaca. Taste more delicious food from the markets, book an optional cooking class and learn how to make mole, or shop for keepsakes at the many local stores and craft markets with featuring work by the artists who call Oaxaca home.Transport - Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.Activity - Alebrijes were created by a Mexican artisan named Pedro Linares who was known for making piñatas and carnival masks. After falling ill and hallucinating crazy figures and creatures inside his mind, the artist decided to bring what he saw to life by creating the small figurines we know as Alebrijes. Often made of a mash-up between animals, these figurines are now made by Oaxacan artisans out of wood and then painted with vibrant pigments and lots of patterns. Learn more about how these figurines integrated themselves into Oaxacan/Mexican folklore and how the craft expanded from originally being made from cardboard to now being carved from Copal wood. Meet a local artisan and speak with them, ask any questions the group may have and to learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted.Activity - Alebrijes were created by a Mexican artisan named Pedro Linares who was known for making piñatas and carnival masks. After falling ill and hallucinating crazy figures and creatures inside his mind, the artist decided to bring what he saw to life by creating the small figurines we know as Alebrijes. Often made of a mash-up between animals, these figurines are now made by Oaxacan artisans out of wood and then painted with vibrant pigments and lots of patterns. Learn more about how these figurines integrated themselves into Oaxacan/Mexican folklore and how the craft expanded from originally being made from cardboard to now being carved from Copal wood. Meet a local artisan and speak with them, ask any questions the group may have and to learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted.
Day 6: San Cristóbal
Meals included: Breakfast
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Drive an hour before boarding a boat for a 2-hr journey through the deep Sumidero Canyon. Keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife, birds, monkeys and maybe even a river crocodile. Marvel at the tall waterfalls, hidden caves, and unusual rock formations along the Grijalva River. After, stop in a village to visit markets and enjoy lunch.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel San Martin
Day 7: San Cristóbal
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy a free day to experience this city known for its 16th-century architecture. Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day, or visit Lagunas de Montebello National Park and the group of beautiful lakes near the Guatemalan border.Accommodation - Hotel San Martin
Day 8: San Cristóbal/Palenque
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Visit the Zapatista community of Roberto Barrios and swim in stunning turquoise cascade waterfalls. Then, join an agroecological experience at the Pej'Pem Center you will support local entrepreneurship and the sustainable transformation of communities in Chiapas.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Maya Tulipanes
Day 9: Palenque
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Experience the elegant jungle site of Palenque on a guided tour. See the highlights -- the Temple of the Cross Group, Temple of Inscriptions and the Grand Palace. Howler monkeys sound in the distance as the fog rolls in and out of this mystical site, one of the most important centres for trade and culture during the end of the Classic Maya period.Free_time - Enjoy a free afternoon for an optional jungle hike or otherwise just kick back at the hotel and listen to the sounds of the jungle. Ask your CEO for more recommendations should you need them.Accommodation - Hotel Maya Tulipanes
Day 10: Palenque/Bacalar
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Bacalar Magico Hotel
Day 11: Bacalar
Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Take advantage of free time for optionals in the area. Explore the San Felipe Bacalar Fort or visit the lagoon again for some kayaking.Accommodation - Bacalar Magico Hotel
Day 12: Bacalar/Valladolid
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Head out into the Bacalar lagoon by boat this morning for a fun adventure. Start by visiting the Canal de los Piratas for a swim in the clear waters. Then, visit Cenote Negro, an open-air cenote and also the deepest point in the entire lagoon. From there the boat will stop at Cenote Esmeralda to admire the different shades of blue. Finally stop at Cenote Cocalitos, home to stromatolites, which are living stones that are thought to be the oldest form of life on Earth. Here you’ll enjoy a prepared picnic featuring fresh fruit.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Marvel at Valladolid’s colonial buildings, which includes a 16th-century convent of San Bernardino of Siena, and the San Gervasio Cathedral. Walk through the streets of town smelling the delicious aromas from the street food vendors. Sample some delicious treats and get to know this vibrant Mayan town.Accommodation - Hotel Santa Ana
Day 13: Valladolid/Tulum
Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Join up with a local expert and learn about the history of Chichén Itzá and the beliefs and rituals that defined this ancient Mayan civilization. This dramatic site includes a 30m (98 ft) high temple, known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, famous for its balustrade of 91 stairs up each of the four sides, a ball court with a grandstand, and towering walls. Visit the highlights of the site including the famous Castillo, the ball court, the cenote, and the Nunnery.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Free_time - Take this time to soak in the spectacular coastline of Tulum. Swim in the cobalt waters off of the white sand beaches. Hunt down some delicious street food and have a picnic in the sand. Or if you're still feeling adventurous, head out for some cave and cavern exploring in the nearby cenotes.Activity - Enjoy a night out on the town with your travel friends and truly let your hair down in the fun and lively atmosphere of Tulum.Accommodation - Hotel Casa Colonial
Day 14: Tulum
Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.
- Flights to and from origin and destinations
- Airport transfers (unless otherwise stated)
- 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.
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 will do our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.
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.
Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.
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.
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.
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.
From
AUD $2249
Duration: 14 days
Trip Type: Small Group
Activity Level: Light
This 14-day adventure through the heart of Mexico has so much to love. Kicking off in its buzzing capital and wrapping up on the white sands of the Mayan Riviera, you’ll eat your way through endless tacos and mole, exploring the country’s epic mountains, jungles, and waterfalls too.
Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 07 Jun 2026
Customer Reviews
12/30/2023
Overall super satisfied, but there is always room for improvement
12/30/2023
I have enjoyed every tour I've taken with G
Tour Operator
G Adventures, founded in 1990 by Bruce Poon Tip, is a global adventure travel company specializing in small-group tours that emphasize authentic, sustainable, and culturally immersive experiences. Originally launched as GAP Adventures (“Great Adventure People”), the company pioneered the concept of community-driven travel by offering affordable trips that connect travelers with local communities while minimizing environmental impact. Today, G Adventures operates in more than 100 countries, offering a wide range of itineraries across themes such as active adventures, wildlife, wellness, family, and National Geographic–partnered tours, while maintaining a strong commitment to responsible tourism and social enterprise through its Planeterra Foundation.
In Business Since 1990
12/30/2023
Overall super satisfied, but there is always room for improvement
12/30/2023
I have enjoyed every tour I've taken with G
12/09/2023
I had a great experience and the group tour made it very easy to travel and much less stressful.
12/09/2023
Juan Carlos was amazing, he made everything so smooth and got us doing some really adventurous things that we might not have without his encouragement and confidence.
12/09/2023
it's all planned, you've got a guide with you, who you can for help ask anytime! you meet new people from different countries - just perfection!
12/09/2023
Very well organized, good recommendations on site from the guide, very nice group
12/09/2023
It was excellent
11/25/2023
It was great to see things I may have missed had I not been on a tour. It was also great to be surrounded by like minded people who also love to travel
11/25/2023
I travelled with G Adventures this time last year and had an incredible time (I did the Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam trip), so I booked this trip with the same excitement for some more adventures. Sadly, for various reasons, I didn't have a great time, in all honestly ? for reasons this review will go on to talk about. I think the company is great, but for many reasons this trip didn't come together, so in all honestly, it has put me off doing another G Adventures, which is a real shame.
11/25/2023
it was a well mapped out trip but definitely had issues with the CEO (may have been like a one off poor CEO though)
11/25/2023
I had a really good time and really enjoyed the previous trip I did with you around Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. However I did not feel the same about the Viva Mexico trip I just did
10/21/2023
This tour was my 7th G Adventures tour, the standard and organization of the trip is always 10/10 and never disappoints.
10/21/2023
I had a really good time
10/21/2023
Easier than independent travel but still adventurous.
10/21/2023
Detailed, thoughtful, immersive tours & brilliant, educated, kind guides
10/21/2023
I have been on a lot of tours with G Adventures, and really enjoyed them, but the most recent was too crowded.
10/21/2023
I had a really great time, but there were a few things I didn't like
06/06/2024
I've been fortunate to have traveled extensively over the past 20 years to many countries and this was one of my best experiences, thanks in large part to my guide Damaris. Damaris really enjoys her job and loves sharing the true Mexican experience with travelers, many of whom only know Mexico as home to coastal resorts and all-inclusives. She made an extra effort to introduce our group to the "real" Mexico and had many surprises for us along the way. She's also great at keeping everyone together in a group (which is not easy). The structure of the tour is also really nice. It allows more independent travelers such as myself to spend their days exploring on their own, while others who prefer a traditional group tour can join day tours to many sites led by knowledgeable guides. Then everybody reconnects in the evening and shares their stories. I felt totally safe the entire time and Damaris took us on hour-long orientation walks in each city, which were extremely helpful. My arrival transfer didn't show timely at the airport, but I won't hold that against them. Taxi was easy to find and they refunded me immediately. Great experience! Thank you!
04/19/2024
Excellent trip. Fabulous guide well informed and extremely helpful. Well organized and so much variety
03/28/2024
Kevin was an excellent guide. Hotels in all of the centers were very good with the exception of the hotel in Puerto Vallarta. This Hotel was in a very noisy section of town. Time in Mexico city requires fine tuning for example a brief city tour would be useful.
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