12-Day Yucatán Peninsula Road Trip

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Today, you'll check out and leave Cancun behind, ready for your next adventure. First, you'll explore the hidden ruins of Ek Balam. This recently explored site remains a major discovery in Mayan archaeology at the end of the twentieth century. You can climb the pyramid of the "Black Jaguar"! After lunch, you'll go for a swim in the sacred Cenote X’canche or be adventurous and go on a zip-line or do some rappelling. In the evening, you'll arrive in the small colonial city of Valladolid.

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Today after breakfast, you'll head out to do some exploring. Getting the day off to a great start, you'll visit Las Coloradas where you'll be amazed by the colours of the lagoons; from emerald green to turquoise, pink and orange. Then, you'll take a boat tour of Rio Lagartos, a biosphere reserve on the north coast of the peninsula where you can find the largest colony of pink flamingos in Mexico! It is an amazing sight. You'll then return to land where you'll drive back to Valladolid.

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Today, you'll explore the wonder of Chichen Itza, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The site, which at its height was the most important religious centre of the Yucatan Peninsula, is the largest archaeological site in Yucatan. Cool down after this visit in a cenote, an underground magical pool which is unique to this part of the world. In the afternoon, you'll journey to the gorgeous colonial town of Izamal, entirely painted in yellow, before continuing to Merida.

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This morning, you'll take some time to explore two cenotes and take a refreshing swim in the forest. Cenotes are natural pools of fresh and crystalline water where the sun's rays create spectacular lighting effects. Cenotes are unique to this region due to the soft earth created when a meteor struck millions of years ago. Each cenote is different - look out for the toh bird with their beautiful blue feathers. Then, go to Uxmal, an archaeological site peaceful and not widely visited by tourists.

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This morning, you'll visit the Hacienda Sotuta de Peón where you will learn about the production process of henequen from the 1900s. A true living museum, Sotuta de Peon is the last Mexican hacienda where henequen (or Sisal) is still produced. You'll visit the fields on a small trolley pulled by a horse. After, you'll go swimming in a cenote on the property of the hacienda. You'll arrive in the colourful town of Campeche at the end of the day.

Today, after breakfast, you'll depart early for the journey to the archaeological site of Calakmul. The road is long but enchanting and you'll arrive in Calakmul in the afternoon and relax in the ecological retreat Puerta Calakmul which is hidden away in the jungle. It is a very special place where resting, relaxing and totally disconnecting from your daily routine is natural and that's what you shall be doing this afternoon.

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This morning, you'll visit the archaeological site of Calakmul, located in the state of Campeche, at the heart of a biosphere reserve, home to numerous Jaguars. This still quite unknown site is one of the jewels of the Mayan culture and was, at its peak, the direct rival of Tikal (Guatemala). Like in Tikal a few years ago, it's possible to observe wildlife wandering freely on the site (toucans, monkeys and oco pheasants). You'll arrive in Bacalar at the end of the day.

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This morning, after breakfast at your eco-resort, you'll take a trip on a small boat and discover the Lagoon of Bacalar, as well as the canal which was used by the pirates as access to the lagoon and the town during their repeated assaults to plunder Bacalar. You can swim all morning in the multi-coloured water and even a cenote, which is an underground collection of water. You'll then spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

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Spend your morning at leisure around the lagoon at Bacalar before heading to the white beaches of Tulum in the afternoon. Tulum is a small 'Magic Town' with amazing beaches, an archaeological site with views of the Caribbean and a really laid back vibe. Upon arrival, you'll have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish. You may want to go swimming in Cenote Sac Actun, or perhaps snorkelling with turtles or alternatively, visit the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka'an.

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Spend the day in the Magic Town of Tulum, either shopping in the small boutiques, strolling up the central street, relaxing on the white sand, swimming in the crystal clear blue, Caribbean waters or sampling some local seafood. Don't forget to visit the archaeological site. This World Heritage Site sits on a cliff edge facing the Caribbean sea and witnessed the arrival of the first colonists. Visit this ancient harbour built in 1200 and which disappeared at the end of the sixteenth century.