Mayan Trail

Leave the resorts of Cancún behind and embark on a true adventure that will take you from spectacular Mayan ruins to...

Guatemala, Mexico
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.

Administrative

Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group

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

Below is an example of the hotel we may use in this city. For the actual hotel your specific departure will be using, please check your voucher.

Hotel Nautilus

Hotel
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.

Land Tour

Chichen Itzá Guided Tour

Chichén-Itzá- Chichen Itza2h-3h

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Chichén-Itzá- Mérida1.25h-2h130km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Land Tour

Orientation With CEO

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Playa del Carmen- Chichén-Itzá3h190km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Hotel Santa Lucia by Kavia

Hotel
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.

Free Time

MéridaFULL_DAY

Enjoy free time in this fascinating area.

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Optional Activities - Day 3Show

Accommodation

Hotel Santa Lucia by Kavia

Hotel
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.

Bus

First-class Bus

Mérida- Palenque9h-10h620km

First-class buses in Mexico have very strong air-conditioning. Bring a sweater.

Accommodation

Hotel Maya Tulipanes

Hotel
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.

Land Tour

Palenque Ruins Guided Tour

Palenque2h-3h

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.

Water Tour

Roberto Barrios Waterfalls

Palenque

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.

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Optional Activities - Day 5Show

Accommodation

Hotel Maya Tulipanes

Hotel
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.

Land Tour

Orientation With CEO

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Palenque- San Cristóbal de Las Casas8h220km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Accommodation

Baron de las Casas

Hotel
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.

Free Time

San Cristóbal de Las CasasFULL_DAY

Use a full free day to explore all this area has to offer.

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Optional Activities - Day 7Show

Accommodation

Baron de las Casas

Hotel
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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

San Cristóbal de Las Casas- Panajachel10h-12h380km

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Administrative

Border Crossing (Mexico - Guatemala)

Ciudad Cuauhtémoc- La Mesilla0.5h-1.5h

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

Hotel
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.

Watercraft

Boat

Panajachel- San Juan La Laguna0.5h-0.75h25km

Climb aboard and get your float on.

People

San Juan La Laguna Village Visit

San Juan La Laguna1.5h

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.

Planeterra

Your G for Good Moment: Posadas Mayas Homestay

San Juan La Laguna

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.

People

San Juan La Laguna Village Visit

San Juan La Laguna1.5h

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

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.

Bus

Private Vehicle

Panajachel- Antigua Guatemala3h-4h

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Land Tour

Orientation With CEO

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

Antigua GuatemalaAFTERNOON

Opt to check out more of the city with a little free time.

Watercraft

Boat

San Juan La Laguna- Panajachel0.5h-0.75h25km

Climb aboard and get your float on.

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Optional Activities - Day 10Show

Accommodation

Hotel Bucaros Express

Hotel
DAY 11 Antigua Guatemala

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

Day
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