Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadors

Name: Mexico: Mayans, Aztecs & Conquistadors
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 4.9 (8 reviews)

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15 Days from

16 Days from

USD 4,079

4.9/5 from

Culture

Ways to Travel :

Guided Group, Private Group Adventures

Activity :

Culture

Activity Levels :

1 out of 7 - Leisurely

Group Size :

6 - 15

Ages :

16+

Trip Code :

AHM

Discover lost civilisations, Spanish colonial heritage, natural beauty and a rich culture

Few countries can unleash your inner Indiana Jones quite like Mexico, where jungle temples and the abandoned cities of ancient civilisations make way to Colonial towns with cobbled streets and Spanish architecture. This fusion of history has led to a unique culture, encompassing the art of Frida Kahlo and the delicious cuisine of Oaxaca. Uncover the historical and cultural layers of the country as we journey from the highlands of Mexico City to the jungles and beaches of the Yucatan via the lands of Aztecs, Zapotec, Mayas and Conquistadors.

Highlights

Enjoy incredible culinary and artistic traditions
Visit ancient temples, cities and colonial towns
Explore highlands, jungles and coastlines

Key Information

14 nights in a mixture of standard and comfortable hotels
Travel by private minibus and boat
Some long drives
Special Day of the Dead Festival departures

Countries visited: Mexico

What's Included

All breakfasts and two lunches
All accommodation (see below)
All transport and listed activities
Tour leader throughout

What's Not Included

Travel insurance
Single accommodation (available on request)
Visas or vaccinations
Departure tax from Cancun Airport

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. The small group number enables us to stay at a unique family-run hotel, La Aldea del Halach Huinic.
We visit a family of weavers of the Zapotec community. They make woven goods following ancient traditions that have remained unchanged for hundreds of years. Purchasing items from these families provides direct support for the local economy.
We tour Oaxaca market to learn about local foods and then enjoy a cooking class with a local chef. This is a great way to gain an appreciation for the local culture while sampling the cuisine.
We eat at the Donys family restaurant Halach Huinik (close to Uxmal). During the visit, the waiters are very pleased to have the chance to practice their English with our guests.
During the visit to the traditional Maya village of Tixkokob, we learn about the age-old tradition of hammock weaving at a local family’s home.
Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
Our local partner is an active member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and sit on the Board of Advisors of the Oceanic Society. They are also involved in the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Illegal Wildlife Trade Working Group. This pioneering group helps to combat illegal wildlife trade and encourages responsible wildlife-based tourism by raising awareness among customers, staff and professional trade networks.
Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Itinerary

Those on the group flights normally arrive in Mexico City in the evening. Land only passengers can arrive at any time.

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Reforma (or similar)

Today we explore the bohemian side of Mexico City. We start by making our way to the south of the city and a particular house hidden behind cobalt blue walls known as Casa Azul. This is where artist Frida Kahlo was born, grew up and, eventually, lived with her muralist husband, Diego Rivera, until she died in 1954 at the age of 47. Now a museum, the colonial house, set around a luxuriant garden, showcases the collections and personal effects of the two great artists and provides a window into the life of affluent Mexican bohemians in the first half of the 20th century.

Next, we visit the quaint neighbourhood of Coyoacan (meaning place of coyotes) with its pebbled streets, colonial churches, bustling little markets and quiet squares. This area was inhabited before the arrival of the Spanish and it is said conquistador Hernan Cortes made this the first capital of New Spain.

Finally, we enjoy a relaxing ride on a pre-Hispanic boat along the Xochimilco canals. These scenic waterways would have been used by the Aztecs and today see us enjoying a relaxing journey past floating gardens and little floating kitchens selling local food. We return to our hotel in the late afternoon.

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Reforma (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The ancient city of Teotihuacan reached its zenith around 1,000 CE when it was the sixth-biggest city in the world with a population of about 125,000. Among the avenues and structures are the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, the third and fourth largest pyramids in the world. We explore this impressive archaeological zone with an expert local guide.

Returning to Mexico City, we visit the historic centre on a walking tour. Our exploration starts in the main square, known as the Zócalo, but officially named the Plaza de la Constitución. It was an important gathering place for the Aztecs, and remains so in modern Mexico, often hosting book fairs and concerts. On the north side of the Zócalo is the Cathedral Metropolitana, the largest cathedral in the Americas. It was constructed over the Aztec temple, the Templo Mayor, as a sign the Spanish were now in power. Our tour finishes outside the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Construction of this massive neoclassical building began in 1904, on the remains of the Santa Isabel convent, under the Italian architect Boari. It has an art nouveau style and its facade is made of marble from Carrara.

Accommodation: Hotel Royal Reforma (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Before leaving Mexico City, we visit the Museum of Anthropology with its impressive collection of artefacts from the many civilisations of Mexico. We continue to the Palacio Nacional*, which not only contains the offices of the president, the Federal Treasury and the National Archives, but also murals depicting pre-Hispanic life and a large mural filling the central stairway depicting the entire history of Mexico from the conquest on.

Starting our journey south, we head towards the city of Puebla (about 2hr 30min). In the late afternoon, we arrive in Puebla de los Angeles, the City of Angels, named after a legend in which angels came from heaven to place bells in the cathedral towers when builders were unable to do so. The colonial city is known for its traditions, especially its handicrafts, including blue-and-white pottery, and its cuisine, which is considered among the best in Mexico.

*The Palacio Nacional occasionally closes at short notice due to official events involving the president.

Accommodation: Hotel Colonial Puebla (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

We spend this morning exploring Puebla, which has been named a Unesco World Heritage site for its colonial architecture. We visit the Patio de los Azulejos and the ex-Convent of Santa Rosa, both of which provide classic examples of how talavera tiles were incorporated into buildings, inside and out. Early settlers who came from Talavera de la Reina in Spain introduced these tiles and associated ceramics. Today the glazed pottery has become synonymous with Puebla.

After our city tour, we drive (about 4hr 30min) to Oaxaca, another Unesco-badged city. With a colonial centre of shaded pedestrian streets, indigenous traditions and a creative atmosphere, Oaxaca has attracted and inspired many artists and artisans alike.

The city has such sights as the beautiful zocalo (main square), the cathedral and the vast Convento de Santo Domingo, along with museums, fascinating markets and charming inns.

Accommodation: Hotel Oaxaca Real or Hotel Victoria (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our next exploration of Mexican history takes us to the Zapotecan site of Monte Alban. While the name dates to a 16th-century Spanish landowner, previous names come from the Mixtec word Sahandevul, meaning at the foot of the sky, or from the Zapotecan Danibaan, meaning sacred mountain.

In 500 BCE, the Zapotecans moved into the Oaxaca region and began the monumental task of levelling the top of a 5,250ft (1,600m) high mountain that intersects and divides three valleys. Here they built the city of Monte Alban with a maze of subterranean passageways, rooms, drainage and water-storage systems.

We later return to Oaxaca and explore the cobbled streets, vibrant squares and churches of the historical town. We also visit the Museum of Cultures Santo Domingo.

Accommodation: Hotel Oaxaca Real or Hotel Victoria (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Oaxaca is possibly the most famed region in Mexico for its cuisine and we get more acquainted with it as we head for a cooking class, learning dishes that can easily be recreated at home. The exact menu can change but we generally learn how to make two types of tortilla, three salsas, guacamole, mole, a starter, soup, desert and drink. We visit a local market where different ingredients are showcased and explained before returning to the restaurant for our class and a delicious lunch.

The afternoon is free to wander around Oaxaca on your own.

Accommodation: Hotel Oaxaca Real or Hotel Victoria (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

A short distance from Oaxaca is Teotitlan del Valle, a village known for colourful, hand-woven rugs and our first stop today. From here, we continue to the Don Agave distillery to taste the agave-based spirit mezcal. After the tasting, we drive to Tehuantepec where we spend the night (the total drive time is about seven hours plus stops)

Accommodation: Hotel Calli (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today we drive to San Cristobal (about six hours plus stops), one of the most popular cities in Mexico for visitors. It is filled with cobbled alleyways of whitewashed buildings with red-tiled roofs that lead to plazas and picturesque arcades.

Arriving in San Cristobal in the afternoon, we have a short orientation tour of the historic city before checking into our hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel Diego Mazariegos (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Today is a free day to explore San Cristobal at your own pace. Wander the colonial streets, take in the lively cafes, or buy handicrafts produced by the local Tzotzil indigenous groups. It’s also possible to do an optional boat trip through the Sumidero Canyon and/or visit one of the traditional Maya communities who live in the villages surrounding the city (see money section for prices).

Accommodation: Hotel Diego Mazariegos (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

The road we take towards Palenque is very windy but picturesque. En route we visit Agua Azul (after about five hours of driving plus stops), a group of beautiful waterfalls that create wonderful natural pools. Due to the strong and unpredictable currents, we do not recommend swimming here.

After our stop, it’s a further 2hr 30min to the town of Palenque, named after the impressive ruins nearby.

Accommodation: Hotel La Aldea del Halach Huinic (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Emerging from the jungles of Chiapas is one of the most impressive ruins in Mexico: the Mayan site of Palenque. The temples, sanctuaries and pyramids, with sculptured walls and ceilings, are some of the best-preserved and finest examples of Mayan buildings despite the city-state having peaked in the seventh century.

We explore this magnificent site before continuing on the road towards the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean town of Campeche (about five hours plus stops).

Yet another Unesco World Heritage site, the colonial town has impressive city walls built to protect it from the constant attacks by English and Dutch buccaneers and pirates during the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Accommodation: Hotel Lopez (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

About two hours’ drive from Campeche is our second Maya site: Uxmal. Quite open, it contrasts the jungle ruins of Palenque we visited yesterday. This site, which dates to the Late Classic era (500 CE to 800 CE), features the Pyramid of the Magician; the Nunnery Quadrangle, which has long, elaborately carved facades; and a ball court, where a traditional ball game was played, sometimes ending in human sacrifice.

Having worked up an appetite, we have lunch at a Mayan family restaurant. Here we get to eat pollo pibil and cochinita pibil (slowly cooked pork and chicken). The meat is roasted for about five hours with achiote paste and wrapped in banana leaves.

After lunch, it’s about a 1hr 30min drive to Merida, where several colonial buildings, including the cathedral, were built using stones from nearby Mayan ruins. Arriving mid-afternoon we have a walking tour of Merida, returning later to enjoy the main square, which is particularly delightful at night.

Accommodation: Hotel Caribe (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Our first stop is the traditional Mayan village of Tixkokob, where local families carry out the age-old craft of hammock weaving and we learn how hammocks are made.

We then continue to Izamal, a one-time Maya settlement now marked as a Pueblo Magico (magic town) by the Mexican government. The town is covered in yellow-and-white buildings and is known for the 16^th-century Franciscan monastery built on top of a huge Maya pyramid.

From here, we transfer to Chichen Itza, possibly the best known and most impressive of all Maya sites (total drive time of about 3hr 30min plus stops).

Accommodation: Hotel Puerta Chichen (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

Our final day starts with a visit to the most famous Maya temple city: Chichen Itza. Having spent the night near the site, we can get in nice and early before the day-trippers arriving from the beach resorts.

Chichen Itza served as the political and economic centre of the Maya civilisation and thrived from around 600 CE to 1200 CE. The pyramid of Kukulkan, the Temple of Chac Mool, the Hall of the Thousand Pillars and the Playing Field of the Prisoners can still be seen today and demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to architecture, space and composition. The pyramid itself was the last, and possibly greatest, of all Maya pyramids.

This afternoon, we drive about 2hr 30min to Cancun airport, where the tour ends.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Essential Info

Visa

Mexico

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

If flying via the US, you will have to clear immigration during transit. In this case, you will be required to get an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (US$21) prior to flying. Please see our USA visa page for more information.

Vaccination

Mexico

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and rabies. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

The risk of malaria is slight but you may wish to consult your doctor or travel clinic for further advice. Additionally, dengue, zika and chikungunya are known risks in places visited on this trip. All are spread by biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxes available, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts and two lunches are included.

Breakfast generally consists of fruits, cereals, beans and eggs.

Meals vary in price from around 275-365 Mexican pesos (US$15-US$20) for lunch and 275-550 pesos (US$15-US$30) for dinner. A beer costs on average 55-90 pesos (US$3-US$5).

We have the opportunity to discover the richness of Mexican cuisine on this trip. In Oaxaca, we attend a cooking class, the exact dishes we learn to cook can vary but generally include tortillas, salsas, mole (chocolate-based savoury dishes) and guacamole. We also learn about Mexican drinks, visiting a mezcal distillery.

Note, drinking water will be provided on the bus in large containers to minimise the amount of single-use plastic bottles; please bring a refillable bottle with you.

Weather

On the coast and in the lowland areas there is little variation in temperatures between the seasons. These are likely to be 28C-33C (82F-91F) average daytime maximum and 18C-23C (64F-73F) night-time minimum. On the coast, the heat and humidity are moderated by sea breezes, but inland it is likely to be quite humid.

In the hills, the temperatures are moderated by the altitude, and there is more seasonal variation. Between November and February, the daytime maximum is around 20C (68F), rising to 27C (81F) in summer. Nights are much cooler, around 6C (43F) in winter and 12C (54F) in summer. Note that it can be surprisingly cold in the highlands on winter nights.

The wet season is from June to October, when it rains one day in three on average. The rains tend to be short and heavy, alternating with pleasant clear spells. During the other months, rain is much less likely, but there is the chance of an occasional storm at almost any time.

Is this trip for you?

Covering a lot of ground from Mexico City to Cancun does mean there are some long drives, some of which are on windy mountain roads. Some of the trip, in the lowlands of Chiapas and the Yucatan in particular, is likely to be hot and humid, especially in summer (drinking plenty of water and dressing in loose cotton clothing will help). While this is a leisurely trip, walking city tours and visits to various pre-Hispanic sites does mean a lot of time on your feet. Many of the areas visited on the trip are at high altitude and some short walks (normally one to three hours) are planned. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this trip.

Please note, this trip includes a water-based excursion on the Xochimilco canals, where local safety standards may differ from those you are used to. There are unlikely to be personal flotation devices (ie lifejackets or buoyancy aids) available for you to use. If you cannot swim, you should not take part in this activity/excursion. If you are concerned about taking part in this activity, please discuss with your leader at the start of the tour so they can make alternative arrangements.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Patricia Arlt

Arturo was, quite simply, excellent. He has immense empathy, knowledge, good humour and patience. His command of English, including technical archaeological and geological terms, was outstanding. He also looked after me very, very well when I had a slight altercation with a park bench!

Suggestions

I would have liked to have had more opportunities for sampling street food and maybe a free day in Oaxaca.

kathy tuggey

Reviewed November 2018

Super trip exceeding expectations

Saw so much of Mexico including Day of the Dead Festival. Lots of fantastic scenery, culture and history not to mention food and art.

Be prepared for some long days and windy, mountain roads.

Most Inspirational Moment

Loved swimming in cenotes which was added to the tour as well as Frida Kahlo house and the Mayan sites.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our guide Arthuro couldn’t do enough for the group and had extensive and humour!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Booked group flight via Washington and on reflection should have booked my own flight either direct or via non US hub. Transfer queues were worse part of holiday!

R. Perry

Arturo was a very good leader. He knew so much about his local history, and passed on his knowledge with humour and a great sense of pride.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for mosquitoes. Although it wasn't Malaria season, I still got bitten. Take a good repellent with you.

Suggestions

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Covid-19 refund commitment

You will get a refund if you have to cancel your trip due to COVID-19.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

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Availability

This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.

View Trip Notes

Availability