Mexico - The Extraordinary Maya

Itinerary

Day One  
Fly direct to Mexico City and transfer to our hotel.

Day Two
Mexico City is built on the lagoon and islands which once formed the Aztec city of Tenochtitlán. The remains of the Templo Mayor lie at the centre of this vibrant, chaotic and colourful place. The wonderful world-class museum here brings the ‘Mexica’ capital vividly back to life. The even more superlative National Museum of Anthropology houses vast collections of material belonging to all the major civilisations of early Mexico.

Day Three
All day at the vast metropolis of Teotihuacan, a military and trading centre so powerful that its influence spread throughout Mesoamerica, and a site that by AD500 was without equal anywhere in the ancient Americas with a population of around a quarter of a million.

Day Four  
Fly south to the Chiapas Highlands, and drive through the hills to the handsome colonial town of San Cristóbal. This is a peaceful, cool and beautiful Spanish town. Anywhere you walk through San Cristóbal you will see groups of local Maya, distinguished by their colourful indigenous costumes. Many hundreds of weavers from local communities bring their weavings, and other handicrafts here to display and sell. Free afternoon to explore and browse.

Day Five  
Discover the colonial churches, markets and buildings in and around San Cristóbal.

Day Six
Drive east to Toniná, another spectacular site, in the lush, fertile Ocosingo valley. Here we are in the transition zone between the pine forests of the Chiapas Highlands and the jungles which envelop Palenque. The ceremonial heart of the city was carved into the hillside in a series of 7 terraces.

Day Seven
Full day in Palenque, nestling in the jungle. It possesses art and architecture of unique quality and originality. Most famous of all is the Temple of the Inscriptions, with Palenque’s greatest king, Pakal, buried deep within it in a massive sarcophagus. The royal families were believed to have participated in rituals on the summit of the temple pyramids whilst the common people gathered in the piazzas below.

Day Eight
Early start in off-road vehicles to see the wonderfully preserved, but gruesome painted murals and the detailed carved stelae of Bonampak. Then an adventurous journey by motor-launch along the wide Usumacinta River (cayman and giant iguana have been seen) to the remote jungle site of Yaxchilán.

Day Nine
Drive north to Edzná, away from the main tourist trail, with a lengthy history revealed in 40 stelae. It is famed for its extensive early canal systems and elaborate architecture. Continue to the coastal colonial city of Campeche.

Day Ten
A causeway links K’abah, famed for its façade of monster masks on the main palace and the city of Uxmal, 18 km away. The Pyramid of the Magician looms over buildings and courtyards of striking elegance.

Day Eleven
The walled city of Mayapan covers over 1.5 sq miles, with thousands of dwellings and many temples and adminstrative buildings. Colonial Mérida (founded on Maya Tihoo), with its excellent Museum of History and Anthropology; continue to Chichén Itzá.

Day Twelve
In AD 950 Chichén Itzá was transformed into one of the most important centres for the worship of Kukulkan, the feathered serpent, who is represented repeatedly on the major monuments. Ek Balam - great discoveries have been made here over the last decade.

Day Thirteen
Tulum, spectacularly situated against a backdrop of white sandy coves and the brilliant blue of the Caribbean. Exploration of Cobá ruins, where intriguing stucco figures of the “diving god” adorn the highest pyramid.

Day Fourteen
Free morning at beach-side hotel before flight, Cancún to London.

Day Fifteen
Arrive in London.