Private Tour “From Aztecas to Maya”

Embark on a captivating journey from Aztecas to Maya (5 nights/6 days), uncovering the ancient roots of Mexico’s history and culture. This 6-day private tour takes you through iconic destinations: Mexico City, Villahermosa, Palenque, Campeche, Merida, Uxmal, Chichen-Itza, Cenote Ik-Kil, Valladolid, and ends in Cancun or Riviera Maya.

Day 1 – Arrival in Mexico City. The beginning of your journey from Aztecas to Maya.

Upon arrival at Mexico City International Airport, our private driver will greet you and take you directly to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and prepare for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 – Mexico City, Teotihuacan & National Museum of Anthropology

After breakfast, your day begins with a guided walk through the heart of Mexico City. Explore the Zócalo, visit the Presidential Palace with Diego Rivera’s famous murals, and see the ruins of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital.

Next, travel along scenic mountain roads to Teotihuacan, once a sacred city where, according to legend, humans became gods. Walk along the Avenue of the Dead, admire the Pyramid of the Moon, and climb the impressive Pyramid of the Sun.

In the afternoon, return to Mexico City and visit the renowned National Museum of Anthropology, home to the largest collection of pre-Columbian artifacts in the world.

Day 3 – Flight to Villahermosa & Transfer to Palenque

Enjoy a relaxed morning with free time to explore or rest. In the evening, head to the airport for a domestic flight to Villahermosa, capital of Tabasco.

Upon arrival, your guide will meet you for a private transfer to your hotel in Palenque. Rest and prepare for tomorrow’s exploration.

Day 4 – Palenque & Campeche via the Gulf of Mexico

After breakfast, explore the breathtaking ruins of Palenque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by jungle, this once-mighty Maya city still holds many secrets. Visit the Temple of the Inscriptions, where the tomb of King Pakal was discovered. Marvel at ancient palaces and hieroglyphs that remain partially undeciphered.

Then, travel toward the Yucatán Peninsula, passing by the stunning coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. In the evening, arrive in Campeche, a fortified colonial city. Stroll through the historic center and admire the preserved bastions built to defend against Caribbean pirates.

Overnight stay in Campeche.

Day 5 – Uxmal, Cocoa Experience & Mérida

Following breakfast, leave Campeche behind and head to Uxmal, a classic-period Maya city. Unlike most, Uxmal relied on artificial water systems. Its architecture stands out for the Puuc style, especially the unusual Pyramid of the Magician, with its rounded corners.

If time allows, stop at a nearby cocoa plantation to learn about the preparation of chocolate—the drink of emperors—made through ancient rituals.

Continue to Mérida, capital of Yucatán. Drive along the elegant Paseo de Montejo, lined with colonial mansions. Visit the central square, admire Mérida Cathedral, and feel the blend of Spanish and Maya heritage.

Evening at leisure. Overnight stay in Mérida.

Day 6 – Yaxcopoil, Chichen-Itza, Cenote Ik-Kil & Arrival in Cancun / Riviera Maya. The end of your journey from Aztecas to Maya.

On your final day, leave Mérida and visit Hacienda Yaxcopoil, a well-preserved colonial estate. Here, you’ll learn how Spanish landowners lived and the dark history of slavery on these lands.

Next, travel to Chichen-Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Discover the Temple of Kukulcán, the Temple of the Warriors, the Sacred Cenote, and the ancient Observatory. Learn how the Maya combined astronomy, architecture, and ceremony in astonishing ways.

Afterward, cool off at Cenote Ik-Kil, a deep freshwater sinkhole surrounded by hanging vines and carved stone ledges. Swim, relax, or leap from the platforms into the clear, cool waters.

Your tour ends with a comfortable transfer and drop-off at your hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Mexico City
Our driver meet you in the airport of Mexico City and bring you to the hotel.
Day 2: Mexico City – Teotihuacan – Anthropology Museum
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to an overview of Mexico City. We begin a day with the overview of the city center: walk in the main square, the Zocalo, from where began the construction of a modern Mexico city, visit the Presidential Palace, where the frescoes of the famous artist Diego Rivera were immortalized , look at the ruins of the ancient city of the Aztecs – Tenochtitlan. Then we leave the city, and along a picturesque mountain road we move to the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, the sacred city of the Aztecs, where according to their legend, people become Gods. We will hear the story of this mysterious place, walk through the Paths of the Dead and conquer the highest pyramid of the complex, the Pyramid of the Sun. After returning to Mexico City, we will go to visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, which is the pride of the country, where the world’s largest exposition of original items of pre-Columbian America is collected and presented in 22 pavilions.
Day 3: Mexico City – Villahermosa – Palenque
Breakfast in the hotel. Free day. In the evening transfer to the airport for the flight to the capital of Tabasco – Villarmosa. Meeting with the guide at the airport, accommodation in hotel, rest.
Day 4: Palenque – Gulf of Mexico – Campeche
Breakfast and departure to visit the archaeological complex of Palenque, which at the end of the last century were included on the UNESCO list of protected national parks. This is one of the most interesting and the great cities of the epoch of the Mayan Empire reign, whose ruins are surrounded by jungle. Still our days in the territory are proceeding the archaeological excavations. You will observe temples, palaces and the tomb of the great king Pakal, found in the cave of the Temple of the Inscriptions only in the fourth year of studies. It’s interesting that the innumerable hieroglyphs on the Temple walls are not decoded to the end and to this day. After seeing this great city, we leave the mainland of Mexico and head to the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Campeche, on the way stopping to admire the beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. In the evening, we will walk along Campeche and acquaintance with fortifications, built to protect the city of pirates of the Caribbean, which, by the way, served as scenery for many historical films and series.
Accommodation at the hotel. Rest.
Day 5: Campeche – Cocoa – Uxmal – Merida
After the breakfast, we leave Campeche and head towards Uxmal – Mayan settlement of the late Classic period that is different from the other cities, because it’s the unique ancient city, which had an artificial water sources. As only here we can see rare architectural Puuc style. A 35-meter high pyramid of the Magician with the rounded edges crowns Uxmal, which was not typical Mayan buildings. If our forces and time permit, we will visit a cocoa plantation where you will learn the process of making this drink, which in ancient times was considered an exclusively imperial and had a special ritual of cooking and serving. Then we move to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, founded by Spanish conquistadors on the ruins of a large Indian settlement. There we will drive through the main Avenue Paseo del Montejo, the edges of which for several centuries adorn the mansions, built by rich Spaniards after the conquest of these lands, visit the Central Square and we’ll see ancient cathedrals. Accommodation at the hotel. Evening free time for walk and rest.
Day 6: Merida – Yaxcopoil – Chichen Itza – Cenote IK Kil – Cancun/Riviera Maya
On the last day of an eventful sightseeing tour, we leave Merida and visit long abandoned but well-preserved mysterious manor Yaxcopoil, we will see how the Spanish governors lived and listen to the history of slavery. Then we’re going to the most famous archaeological site of Chichen Itza. You will see the famous pyramid of KUKULCAN, is deservedly included in the list of new wonders of the world and which is the original Mayan calendar; the temple of the Warriors, also known as the Temple of the Thousand Columns; the sacred cenote a well-used by the shamans for rituals of sacrifices; the camp of the Indian ball game “pok-TA-pok”; the Observatory, where in ancient times local residents were watching the stars, and more. Next, we move to one of the most famous freshwater karst lakes – cenote IK Kil, where we can relax and swim in the crystal clear waters of this beautiful natural wonder, and the most daring can even jump in the water from the ledges.
In addition, we finish the six-day tour with accommodation at the booked hotels in Cancun or Riviera Maya.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Mexico City
Our driver meet you in the airport of Mexico City and bring you to the hotel.
Day 2: Mexico City – Teotihuacan – Anthropology Museum
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to an overview of Mexico City. We begin a day with the overview of the city center: walk in the main square, the Zocalo, from where began the construction of a modern Mexico city, visit the Presidential Palace, where the frescoes of the famous artist Diego Rivera were immortalized , look at the ruins of the ancient city of the Aztecs – Tenochtitlan. Then we leave the city, and along a picturesque mountain road we move to the archaeological site of Teotihuacan, the sacred city of the Aztecs, where according to their legend, people become Gods. We will hear the story of this mysterious place, walk through the Paths of the Dead and conquer the highest pyramid of the complex, the Pyramid of the Sun. After returning to Mexico City, we will go to visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, which is the pride of the country, where the world’s largest exposition of original items of pre-Columbian America is collected and presented in 22 pavilions.
Day 3: Mexico City – Villahermosa – Palenque
Breakfast in the hotel. Free day. In the evening transfer to the airport for the flight to the capital of Tabasco – Villarmosa. Meeting with the guide at the airport, accommodation in hotel, rest.
Day 4: Palenque – Gulf of Mexico – Campeche
Breakfast and departure to visit the archaeological complex of Palenque, which at the end of the last century were included on the UNESCO list of protected national parks. This is one of the most interesting and the great cities of the epoch of the Mayan Empire reign, whose ruins are surrounded by jungle. Still our days in the territory are proceeding the archaeological excavations. You will observe temples, palaces and the tomb of the great king Pakal, found in the cave of the Temple of the Inscriptions only in the fourth year of studies. It’s interesting that the innumerable hieroglyphs on the Temple walls are not decoded to the end and to this day. After seeing this great city, we leave the mainland of Mexico and head to the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Campeche, on the way stopping to admire the beautiful views of the Gulf of Mexico. In the evening, we will walk along Campeche and acquaintance with fortifications, built to protect the city of pirates of the Caribbean, which, by the way, served as scenery for many historical films and series.
Accommodation at the hotel. Rest.
Day 5: Campeche – Cocoa – Uxmal – Merida
After the breakfast, we leave Campeche and head towards Uxmal – Mayan settlement of the late Classic period that is different from the other cities, because it’s the unique ancient city, which had an artificial water sources. As only here we can see rare architectural Puuc style. A 35-meter high pyramid of the Magician with the rounded edges crowns Uxmal, which was not typical Mayan buildings. If our forces and time permit, we will visit a cocoa plantation where you will learn the process of making this drink, which in ancient times was considered an exclusively imperial and had a special ritual of cooking and serving. Then we move to Merida, the capital of the Yucatan Peninsula, founded by Spanish conquistadors on the ruins of a large Indian settlement. There we will drive through the main Avenue Paseo del Montejo, the edges of which for several centuries adorn the mansions, built by rich Spaniards after the conquest of these lands, visit the Central Square and we’ll see ancient cathedrals. Accommodation at the hotel. Evening free time for walk and rest.
Day 6: Merida – Yaxcopoil – Chichen Itza – Cenote IK Kil – Cancun/Riviera Maya
On the last day of an eventful sightseeing tour, we leave Merida and visit long abandoned but well-preserved mysterious manor Yaxcopoil, we will see how the Spanish governors lived and listen to the history of slavery. Then we’re going to the most famous archaeological site of Chichen Itza. You will see the famous pyramid of KUKULCAN, is deservedly included in the list of new wonders of the world and which is the original Mayan calendar; the temple of the Warriors, also known as the Temple of the Thousand Columns; the sacred cenote a well-used by the shamans for rituals of sacrifices; the camp of the Indian ball game “pok-TA-pok”; the Observatory, where in ancient times local residents were watching the stars, and more. Next, we move to one of the most famous freshwater karst lakes – cenote IK Kil, where we can relax and swim in the crystal clear waters of this beautiful natural wonder, and the most daring can even jump in the water from the ledges.
In addition, we finish the six-day tour with accommodation at the booked hotels in Cancun or Riviera Maya.