Viva Mexico: Ancient Ruins & the Mayan Riviera

14 Days
From CAD 1999
Best Rate
Guarantee
Trip Type
Small Group
Activity Level
Light

Rating


(20 reviews)

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. Throw in some ancient Mayan ruins like Palenque and Chichen Itzá — not to mention storied traditions and some of the friendliest people ever — and you have yourself a recipe for one tasty, tasty trip.

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

Product CodeProduct Code: 1814

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Basic

TransportTransport: Public bus, private vehicle, overnight bus, walking.

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: CMMY

StartStarts: Mexico City, Mexico

FinishFinishes: Tulum, Mexico

DurationDuration: 14 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical rating: Light

Includes

Activities

  • Your G for Good Moment: Alebrijes Artisan Community Visit, Oaxaca Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Foodie Moment: Oaxaca Market Visit With CEO, Oaxaca Your Discover Moment: San Cristobal de Las Casas - Free Time, San Cristóbal de Las Casas
  • 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.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 1999 (CAD 143 /day)

Itinerary

1

Day 1: Mexico City

Arrive at any time.

2

Day 2: Mexico City

Start the adventure off with a CEO-led walking tour through La Condesa and Roma neighborhoods. Stroll past bohemian cafes, bars, and restaurants. Your CEO will grab some street food snacks for the group ranging from street tacos to chilaquiles. Savour whatever you sample as you continue to get to know the area. Finish up the tour near the giant Bosque de Chapultepec. Then, spend the afternoon trying out the optional activities in the area like a visit to the ruins of Teotihuacán.

3

Day 3: Mexico City/Oaxaca

Hit the road and travel south to Oaxaca from Mexico City. Once the group arrives we will head out for an orientation walk to the main square and some of the nearby markets. Soak in your first experience of the vibrant culture in Oaxaca. Enjoy a free evening to do as you please. Perhaps, find a lively restaurant and give your tastebuds something to dance about.

4

Day 4: Oaxaca

Today, enjoy a free day for optional activities in Oaxaca until late afternoon. Explore local taverns, discover the vibrant indigenous culture in the area, sample food from lively markets, try mole, and mezcal and fully experience the allure of this Mexican city. Later 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. Cap off the day with a visit to a local chocolate-making shop and a free evening to keep the adventure going.

5

Day 5: Oaxaca/San Cristóbal

The group will have additional free time today in Oaxaca for other optional activities. Afterwards, visit the Alebrijes Artisan Community for your G for Good moment. Meet a local artisan, speak with them, ask any questions the group may have, and learn more about how these handicrafts are made. In the evening board and overnight bus to San Cristobal.

6

Day 6: San Cristóbal

Arrive early to Tuxtla Gutierrez, which is a city in southern Mexico and the capital of Chiapas. The group will travel by private bus to Sumidero Canyon for an included boat ride down the river. The trip is a few hours long and will take you through the canyon with some of the walls towering 2,500 feet above you. It's sure to make you feel small. Keep a lookout for the wildlife in the area and try to spot caves as you journey on. Afterwards, continue on to San Cristobal de las Casas where you will stop for the evening.

7

Day 7: San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal de Las Casas is located in a high mountain valley at 2110m (6921 ft). 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. You have a full day to do as you please and there are plenty of activities to try out.

8

Day 8: San Cristóbal/Palenque

Get ready for a full day of travel from San Cristóbal de Las Casas to Palenque. Along the way the group will stop to swim in the pristine turquoise waters of Roberto Barrios waterfall. Arrive to Palenque in the evening.

9

Day 9: Palenque

Enjoy a guided tour of the impressive Mayan ruins of Palenque followed by free time for an optional jungle trail hike, or just relax at the hotel keeping an eye out for nearby birds and wildlife.

10

Day 10: Palenque/Bacalar

Spend the day travelling to Bacalar in the eastern part of Mexico from Palenque. Sit back as the scenery changes outside your window and rest up for the next part of the trip.

11

Day 11: Bacalar

Spend a full free day enjoying optional activities in the area, or just relax and keep the good vibes going.

12

Day 12: Bacalar/Valladolid

The group is in for a treat this morning with an included boating adventure in the lagoon. In the afternoon it's onward to Valladolid. Travel north and inland from Bacalar to a city on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. Upon arrival your CEO will lead you on an orientation walk of the small Mayan town filled with quaint taverns, vibrant indigenous culture, and loads of street food vendors. Smell the delicious aromas as you walk and sample a few snacks along the way.

13

Day 13: Valladolid/Tulum

After a short, but sweet visit in Valladolid the group will travel to the Chichen Itzá ruins for a guided tour. These ruins hold the history, beliefs, and rituals that defined ancient Mayan civilization. See the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the famous Castillo, the cenote, and the Nunnery. Afterwards, travel to Tulum for a free evening. Tulum is filled with trendy beach clubs where you can dance the night away, or stretch out on white sand beaches to admire the colors at sunset.

14

Day 14: Tulum

Depart at any time.

Tour Operator

G Adventures

G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.

In Business Since 1990

Reviews

 

Mark Jan A.   -  Traveled, November 2023

Overall super satisfied, but there is always room for improvement

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/30/2023

 

William D.   -  Traveled, November 2023

I have enjoyed every tour I've taken with G

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/30/2023

 

Tristan G.   -  Traveled, November 2023

I had a great experience and the group tour made it very easy to travel and much less stressful.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2023

 

Donald H.   -  Traveled, November 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2023

 

AndrŽ H.   -  Traveled, November 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!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2023

 

Sandra B.   -  Traveled, November 2023

Very well organized, good recommendations on site from the guide, very nice group

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2023

 

David T.   -  Traveled, November 2023

It was excellent

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 12/09/2023

 

Eve A.   -  Traveled, October 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

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/25/2023

 

Rebecca H.   -  Traveled, October 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/25/2023

 

Sienna B.   -  Traveled, October 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)

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/25/2023

 

Eleanor J.   -  Traveled, October 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

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 11/25/2023

 

Oliver N.   -  Traveled, September 2023

This tour was my 7th G Adventures tour, the standard and organization of the trip is always 10/10 and never disappoints.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Jessica H.   -  Traveled, September 2023

I had a really good time

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Robert C.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Easier than independent travel but still adventurous.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Grace F.   -  Traveled, September 2023

Detailed, thoughtful, immersive tours & brilliant, educated, kind guides

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Jack W.   -  Traveled, September 2023

I have been on a lot of tours with G Adventures, and really enjoyed them, but the most recent was too crowded.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Janelle P.   -  Traveled, September 2023

I had a really great time, but there were a few things I didn't like

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 10/21/2023

 

Gregory   -  Traveled, May 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!

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 06/06/2024

 

Sarah   -  Traveled, March 2024

Excellent trip. Fabulous guide well informed and extremely helpful. Well organized and so much variety

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/19/2024

 

Willie  -  Traveled, February 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.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 03/28/2024

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