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Mayan Trail

11 Days
From CAD $1,716 Was CAD $2,019

Best Rate
Guarantee

Trip Type
Small Group

Activity Level
Light

Rating

(20 reviews)

Experience Overview

Leave the resorts of Cancún behind and embark on a true adventure that will take you from spectacular Mayan ruins to the cobblestoned streets of colonial towns and deep into the jungle of Mexico. Explore the ancient ruins at Chichén Itzá and Palenque and meet the descendants of those who built them in the vibrant streets and colourful markets of picturesque Mayan towns. Get your camera out—you're going to need it!

Highlights

Explore the ruins of Chichén Itzá and Palenque
Get lost wandering colonial San Cristobal de las Casas and Antigua
Cool off with a swim at Roberto Barrios waterfall
Bargain at colourful local markets

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Trip Details

Product Code: 1823

Tour Type: Small Group

Accommodation: Budget

Transport: Public bus, private vehicle, boat.

Guide Language: English

Travel Styles: Classic

Supplier Code: CMTM

Starts: Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Finishes: Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala

Duration: 11 days

Departures: Guaranteed

Physical rating: Light

Includes

Activities

Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay, San Juan La Laguna Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Mérida Your Discover Moment: San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Chichén Itzá guided tour
Mérida orientation walk
Palenque guided tour
Roberto Barrios waterfall visit
San Cristóbal de las Casas orientation walk
Antigua orientation walk
Free time in Mérida and San Cristóbal de las Casas
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

Hotels (9 nts), homestay (1 nt).

1 dinner

Transport

Public bus, private vehicle, boat.

Group Leader

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $1716 (CAD $156 /day)

Itinerary

Day 1: Playa del Carmen

Arrive at any time.
As travellers arrive throughout the day, there are no planned activities until the welcome meeting in the evening.

Exclusive inclusions: 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 Nautilus

Day 2: Playa del Carmen/Mérida

Take a guided tour of Chichén Itzá and orientation walk around Mérida.
Depart Playa del Carmen and head to the famous Mayan ruins of Chichén Itzá for a guided tour. Spend time exploring this famous site, known for its huge stepped pyramids and elaborate stone carvings.

Continue on to Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán State, and take a short orientation walk. Also known as la ciudad blanca (the white city), Mérida offers the ideal opportunity to learn about Mexico's fascinating mix of cultural influences.

Exclusive inclusions: 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.Activity - Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Hotel Santa Lucia by Kavia

Day 3: Mérida

Enjoy a free day to explore Merida and surroundings. Opt to visit the ruins of Uxmal or swim in cenotes in the Yucatán. Take a trip to the beach or soak in the history this city has to offer.
The area surrounding Mérida has tons to offer. Choose to visit nearby cenotes (water sink holes) in the town of Cuzamá. Inside, swim in the massive crystal-clear sinkholes. Transportation to the cenotes is half the fun, taking small wooden horse-drawn carts along old rail tracks.

Opt to visit ruins in Uxmal, ride the PUUC Route or go bird-watching. There's something for everyone.

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Enjoy free time in this fascinating area.Accommodation - Hotel Santa Lucia by Kavia

Day 4: Mérida/Palenque

After a long day of travel from the Yucatán to the jungles of Chiapas, arrive to Palenque and settle in for 2 nights.

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - First-class buses in Mexico have very strong air-conditioning. Bring a sweater.Accommodation - Hotel Maya Tulipanes

Day 5: Palenque

Enjoy a guided tour of the Mayan ruins of Palenque. After, go for a swim in the pristine turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios waterfall.

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.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.Accommodation - Hotel Maya Tulipanes

Day 6: Palenque/San Cristóbal de Las Casas

Travel to San Cristóbal de Las Casas located in a high mountain valley at 2110m (6921 ft), via Villahermosa. Enjoy an orientation walk of the city, known for its 16th-century architecture.

Exclusive inclusions: Activity - Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Accommodation - Baron de las Casas

Day 7: San Cristóbal de Las Casas

Opt to visit nearby indigenous Mayan villages to see their unique day-to-day life or journey to beautiful Sumidero Canyon for a relaxing boat ride.

Exclusive inclusions: Free_time - Use a full free day to explore all this area has to offer.Accommodation - Baron de las Casas

Day 8: San Cristóbal de Las Casas/Panajachel

Journey from San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico to Panajachel, Guatemala. Opt to explore the town on arrival.
The first stop in Guatemala is on beautiful Lake Atitlán. Stay in Panajachel, a lakeshore town surrounded by spectacular volcanoes and small villages.

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.Accommodation - Hotel Chinimaya

Day 9: Panajachel/San Juan La Laguna

Embark on a boat ride across the lake before participating in a G Adventures-supported homestay with a local family. This area is known for stunning scenery and great shopping for Mayan handicrafts. Take part in a cultural tour of San Juan la Laguna where you can opt to bargain for colourful textiles and paintings from the local artisans.

Meals included: Dinner

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.Activity - Visit the town of San Juan la Laguna and immerse yourself in the Tz’utujil culture for an afternoon. Focus on three different associations originating in San Juan la Laguna; textiles, medicinal plants, and paintings. See groups of women making textiles using natural dyes. Your guide will explain the dyeing techniques and observe the waist loom in action. Next, see how plants are used for their medicinal properties within these communities. Enjoy the sights of traditional paintings by local artists/painters who portray their traditional way of life, ceremonies, customs and traditions through large scale murals found throughout the town of San Juan la Laguna. Souvenirs/products from all points of this tour will be available for purchase if you'd like to bring something home and also support this village community.Activity - Submerge yourself in Mayan culture during this home stay run by a Planeterra community tourism project. Set on the northwest shore of Lake Atitlán, arrive by boat to the laid-back village of San Juan La Laguna and immediately feel at home. Meet your host family, stash your stuff, then set off to explore the area. Admire the paintings of local artists, watch weavers who use traditional techniques to dye wool, go for a hike and admire the view across the lake. Feel good knowing you are supporting local families eager to benefit from tourism in their community.Activity - Visit the town of San Juan la Laguna and immerse yourself in the Tz’utujil culture for an afternoon. Focus on three different associations originating in San Juan la Laguna; textiles, medicinal plants, and paintings. See groups of women making textiles using natural dyes. Your guide will explain the dyeing techniques and observe the waist loom in action. Next, see how plants are used for their medicinal properties within these communities. Enjoy the sights of traditional paintings by local artists/painters who portray their traditional way of life, ceremonies, customs and traditions through large scale murals found throughout the town of San Juan la Laguna. Souvenirs/products from all points of this tour will be available for purchase if you'd like to bring something home and also support this village community.Accommodation - Rupalaj Kistalin Posada Homestay

Day 10: Antigua

Travel to Antigua and head out for an orientation walk. Opt for a night out in town.
There is so much to do in this charming colonial city, optional activities for the area include a city tour, salsa dancing classes, a Guatemalan cooking class, or relaxing with a massage. Further afield you can rent bikes and ride through the hills, visit a macadamia nut farm or check out some nearby villages.

Exclusive inclusions: Transport - Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.Activity - Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.Free_time - Opt to check out more of the city with a little free time.Transport - Climb aboard and get your float on.Accommodation - Hotel Bucaros Express

Day 11: Antigua Guatemala

Depart at any time.
We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to fully experience this charming city.

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Tour Operator

G Adventures

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

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Reviews

Trevor S. - Traveled, November 2023

Great tour for younger people.

Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/20/2023

Jaelen S. - Traveled, November 2023

I like G Adventures core values and the trip was very well planned. The drivers were always at the location waiting for us to arrive and it was a good trip.