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15-Day Off-the-Beaten-Track Mexico

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Overview

On this 2 week Mexico itinerary, you're invited you to explore southern Mexico in depth by discovering its wilderness and local populations. This loop through Oaxaca State, Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula will give you a complete view of the impressive history of Mexico.

You'll visit internationally-recognised sites such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal, must-see landmarks in southern Mexico. But, it is undoubtedly in the heart of the jungle that Mexico will reveal its most beautiful surprises.

Delve into the incredible landscapes of Oaxaca, explore small, colourful towns and meet the local craftsmen who live there. The lush forest on the Guatemalan border offers exciting encounters with howler monkeys, toucans and if you're lucky, jaguars! The visit to the Yaxchilan site - only accessible by boat - is imbued with a "first adventurers" atmosphere.

This is an off-the-beaten-track trip that will end with a few days of sun and relaxation on the Caribbean Coast.
Culture & Arts
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing

Itinerary

Day 1

Bienvenidos a Mexico!

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Bienvenidos a Mexico!

Upon arrival at the airport, you'll meet your driver who will transfer you to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can take a stroll around the historical centre of Oaxaca or simply settle into your hotel for the evening, ready to start your Mexico trip in the mañana!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Oaxaca International Airport to Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oaxaca

Day 2

Monte Alban: The Most Beautiful Panoramic View of Oaxaca

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Monte Alban: The Most Beautiful Panoramic View of Oaxaca

In the morning after breakfast, you'll head out with your driver to visit the large pre-Columbian archaeological site of Monte Alban and enjoy an amazing view over the valleys of Oaxaca. Then, you'll explore some of the local towns such as San Bartolo Coyotepec, home of the beautiful, centuries-old handicraft of making black pottery and San Martin Tilcajete with its the bright copal-wood animal figures. In the early evening, you'll return to your hotel in Oaxaca.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Monte Alban

    San Bartolo Coyotepec

    San Martin Tilcajete

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere to Monte Albán

    Private Driver from Monte Albán, Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Mexico to San Bartolo Coyotepec

    Private Driver from San Bartolo Coyotepec to San Martín Tilcajete

    Private Driver from San Martín Tilcajete to Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oaxaca

    Monte Albán

    San Bartolo Coyotepec

    San Martín Tilcajete

Day 3

Water That Boils: Hierve el Agua

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Water That Boils: Hierve el Agua

Start your day with a short tour around the centre of Oaxaca. Then, you'll travel towards Santa Maria el Tule, where you will find a 2000-year-old giant cypress tree. Next, you'll head to the village of Teotitlan del Valle to discover the secrets of natural colouration, weaving and spinning. Have some lunch with Doña Karina in the town of Tierra Antigua before heading towards the incredible waterfalls of Hierve el Agua where you'll enjoy the natural pools of mineral waters and the view.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Oaxaca

    El Tule

    Teotitlan del Valle

    Hierve el Agua

    Tlacolula Market

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere to Oaxaca

    Private Driver from Santa María del Tule to Teotitlan del Valle

    Private Driver from Teotitlan del Valle to Hierve el Agua

    Private Driver from Hierve el Agua to Tlacolula de Matamoros

    Private Driver from Tlacolula de Matamoros to Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oaxaca

    Teotitlan del Valle

    Tlacolula de Matamoros

Day 4

Romantic Pueblo Magico of San Cristobal de las Casas

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Romantic Pueblo Magico of San Cristobal de las Casas

Today after breakfast, you'll head to the airport and take a domestic flight from Oaxaca to Tuxtla Gutierrez. From here, you'll travel the rest of the way by car to the romantic town of San Cristobal de las Casas, in the state of Chiapas. You'll have the afternoon to settle into your surroundings in the mountains of Chiapas! Stroll the cobbled streets, get lost in the markets and admire the views from the highest points of this colourful city!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Casavieja4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Casa de la Tía Tere to Oaxaca International Airport

    Plane from Oaxaca to Tuxtla GutiérrezRequest to Book

    Private Driver from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to San Cristobal de las Casas

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Oaxaca

    San Cristobal de las Casas

Day 5

A Trip Through Natural Wonders

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A Trip Through Natural Wonders

Today, you'll travel through the amazing Canyon del Sumidero, a deep natural canyon on the Rio Chiapas. Dating back to a similar period to the Grand Canyon in the US, this is one of Mexico's greatest natural wonders! Afterwards, you'll learn about syncretism in the village of San Juan de Chamula: this is a mixture of Christian beliefs and ancestral rituals. In San Juan Chamula, virtually the entire population is indigenous and speaks an indigenous language.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Casavieja4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Sumidero Canyon

    San Juan Chamula

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Casavieja to Chiapa de Corzo

    Boat from Sumidero Canyon to Sumidero Canyon

    Private Driver from Chiapa de Corzo to Chamula

    Private Driver from Chamula to Hotel Casavieja

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    San Cristobal de las Casas

    Chiapas

    Chamula

Day 6

Hike to El Chiflon

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Hike to El Chiflon

In the morning, you'll drive to the starting point for your one-hour hike to the El Chiflon waterfalls. These wonderful waterfalls are hidden in a valley surrounded by mountains and dense jungle. The five waterfalls here form magical pools of turquoise water. Here, here you can wander through the forest paths and dive into the azure blue pools. You'll then travel to your next destination where you'll spend the night in the village of Tziscao, situated on the shores of a glorious lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Ecolodge and Villas Tziscao3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    El Chiflón Waterfalls

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Casavieja to Cascada El Chiflón

    Private Driver from Cascada El Chiflón to Cabañas Tziscao

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    San Cristobal de las Casas

    Chiapas

Day 7

The Many Lakes of Laguna de Montebello

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The Many Lakes of Laguna de Montebello

Today, you'll take a short drive to visit the Montebello Lakes where you can take a short one-hour hike around the lake to visit some of the 59 small lakes in total. The beautiful landscape here is made up of unique limestone karst formations, lakes and pine and oak forests. Later in the day, you'll continue to the Las Guacamayas campsite, located in the jungle, where you will spend the night. This is a really off-the-beaten-track campsite where you can enjoy the quiet sounds of jungle life.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Las Guacamayas Ecotourism Project

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Lagunas de Montebello National Park

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Cabañas Tziscao to Lagos de Montebello

    Private Driver from Lagunas de Montebello National Park to AraMacao Las Guacamayas

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chiapas

Day 8

Admire the Colourful Bonampak

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Admire the Colourful Bonampak

Today, you'll get up close and personal with nature as you travel through the jungle by boat. During this journey, you'll marvel at the landscapes of the Reserva de los Montes Azules before travelling to the majestic Mayan site of Bonampak. In the heart of the jungle, these ruins feature gorgeous and incredibly well-preserved frescos depicting wild fight scenes on the inside walls of the temples. In the evening, you'll arrive at your ecotourism camp run by a local family.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Campamento Top Che

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Montes Azules Natural Park

    Bonampak

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from AraMacao Las Guacamayas to Parque Natural Montes Azules

    Private Driver from Parque Natural Montes Azules to Bonampak

    Private Driver from Bonampak to Lacanja Chansayab

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chiapas

Day 9

Explore the Majestic Yaxchilan

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Explore the Majestic Yaxchilan

This morning, you'll embark on a trip to the archaeological site of Yaxchilan. In the Maya language, it means 'Place of the Green Stones' and is a site of amazing temples, plazas and sculptures. Sitting on the border with Guatemala, you will reach the site by paddling down the Usumacinta River on a pirogue. Here, you can take a walk between the many Mayan temples and imagine life in the time of the Mayan people. You'll then continue your journey to Palenque where you'll stay overnight.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel La Aldea3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Archaeological Site of Yaxchilán

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Lacanjá to Archaeological Site of Yaxchilán

    Boat from Archaeological Site of Yaxchilán to Archaeological Site of Yaxchilán

    Private Driver from Archaeological Site of Yaxchilán to Hotel la Aldea del Halach Huinic

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chiapas

Day 10

Explore the Maya City of Palenque

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Explore the Maya City of Palenque

Continue your 2 week Mexico itinerary by visiting the archaeological site of Palenque, one of the most magical sites of Mexico. The surrounding jungle and the buried ruins create awe-inspiring scenery and it's easy to imagine the magnificence of the place, back when the temples and the palace stood in their full glory, adorned with richly animated esplanades, columns and ceilings. In the afternoon, you'll travel to Campeche, a colourful colonial City on the coast.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel López Campeche3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Palenque Archaeological Site

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel la Aldea del Halach Huinic to Palenque

    Private Driver from Palenque to Hotel López Campeche

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Chiapas

    Campeche

Day 11

Conquer the City of Uxmal

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Conquer the City of Uxmal

Today, you'll explore the village of Becal, where the inhabitants here make their living weaving jipijapas, as the soft, pliable hats are known locally. You'll spend some time with Don Alfredo who opens his house to share with you the fabrication secrets of his Panama hats, the typical hat of Yucatan. In the afternoon, you'll hit the road to the archaeological and peaceful site of Uxmal and explore these Mayan ruins whilst learning about some of the old Mayan Legends.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    The Pickled Onion

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Bécal

    Uxmal

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel López Campeche to Bécal

    Private Driver from Bécal to Uxmal

    Private Driver from Uxmal to The Pickled Onion

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Campeche

    Bécal

    Uxmal

    Santa Elena

Day 12

Encounter Locals in Yucatán

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Encounter Locals in Yucatán

This morning, you'll travel through some small towns of the Yucatán Peninsula. First, you'll visit Muna and meet the local community. You'll then continue to Ticul, the shoe-making and typical dress weaving town. Here, you can visit a family's shoe-making workshop. Later, you'll head to the mighty Chichen Itza, one the seven wonders of the modern world and the largest archaeological site in Yucatan. You'll take a tour of this huge site, once the centre of the Mayan Kingdom!

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Hotel Okaan3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Muna

    Ticul

    Chichén Itzá

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from The Pickled Onion to Muna

    Private Driver from Muna to Ticul

    Private Driver from Ticul to Chichén-Itzá

    Private Driver from Chichén-Itzá to Hotel Okaan

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Santa Elena

    Muna

    Ticul

    Yucatan

Day 13

Boat Trip in the Reserve of Rio Lagartos

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Boat Trip in the Reserve of Rio Lagartos

Today, you'll take a boat tour of Rio Lagartos, a biosphere reserve that has the densest concentration of pink flamingos in Mexico. You'll discover this amazing lagoon and look out for the rich concentration of wildlife here: pelicans, ibis, cormorants, ospreys, egrets, crocodiles and more. You'll then head to Isla Holbox, a peaceful island, still unreached by mass tourism. You'll check into your villa surrounded by tropical trees where you can enjoy total tranquillity.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Villas HM Paraíso del Mar4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Rio Lagartos

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Hotel Okaan to Río Lagartos

    Boat from Río Lagartos to Río Lagartos

    Private Driver from Río Lagartos to Chiquilá

    Ferry from Chiquilá to HolboxRequest to Book

    Taxi from Holbox to Villas HM Paraíso del MarRequest to Book

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Yucatan

    Río Lagartos

    Holbox

Day 14

Holbox Paradise

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Holbox Paradise

Today, you'll have the entire day to discover this peaceful island, its beautiful beaches and its welcoming population of fishermen families. You will find no mass tourism and no cars here, just sandy tracks with the occasional golf cart. If you come in the right season it's possible to see whale sharks just off the coast of this island! Treat the island as your playground for the day, you never know what experiences you might encounter.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Villas HM Paraíso del Mar4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Isla HolboxOptional Activity

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Holbox

    Quintana Roo

Day 15

Hasta Luego Mexico!

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Hasta Luego Mexico!

Today is the last day of your 2 week Mexico itinerary. This morning, you'll depart from the hotel on Isla Holbox and make your way to the pier to catch a ferry across to Puerto Chiquila. You'll then travel to Cancun Airport and arrive at the terminal at least three hours before your flight is due to take-off. It's been a pleasure to show you a different side of Mexico!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Taxi from Villas HM Paraíso del Mar to HolboxRequest to Book

    Ferry from Holbox to ChiquiláRequest to Book

    Private Driver from Chiquilá to Cancún

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Holbox

Included in Price

  • 14 nights accommodation
  • 21 activities
  • 15 breakfasts
  • Airport transfer
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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