Head out on the sandy coastal roads of the Yucatan Peninsula and discover the treasures that lay hidden amongst lush jungle or in the crystal clear waters of a glittering cenote. Enjoy included car rental and visit the grand colonial cities of Valladolid, Izamal and Merida, and choose an optional excursion pack to visit the magnificent archaeological wonders of Uxmal, Ek Balam and Chichen Itza, ancient Mayan civilizations with mysterious histories...

End your marvellous Mexican adventure with a salty sea breeze and the soft sounds of the Caribbean Sea lapping at the white-sand shores of the Riviera Maya, in Holbox.

Your itinerary:

Day 1: Arrive in Cancun

Day 2: Valladolid

Day 3: Rio Lagartos - Las Coloradas - Ek Balam

Day 4: Pueblo Magico de Izamal - Merida

Day 5: Uxmal

Day 6: Merida - Chiquila - Holbox

Day 7 & 8: Holbox

Day 9: Return to Cancun - Departure

Please note that the order of the activities can be modified.

Touch down in Cancun, a lively Mexcian city on the gorgeous Yucatan Peninsula, bordering the Caribbean Sea, famous for its picturesque beaches, tropical resorts and wild nightlife.

Collect your rental car and head to your first hotel. Night in Cancun. 

DAY 2: VALLADOLID

Leave for Valladolid, and visit the Zocalo and its cathedral, the colourful Calzada de los Frailes street, and San Bernardino convent.

End the morning with a visit to the Xkopek beekeeping centre, accompanied by a local guide. Learn about unique Mayan bees, who have no sting! Taste some delicious honey, before heading out for an afternoon of relaxation and swimming in some of the region's most beautiful cenotes - mystical freshwater pools. Night in Valladolid.

Not included: entrance fees for the beekeeping centre and the cenotes.

DAY 3: RIO LAGARTOS - LAS COLORADAS - EK BALAM

Depart for Rio Lagartos, located around 100km north of Valladolid. This small and charming fishing village rests beside the Rio Lagartos National Park Reserve, home to more than 200 species of birds!

Take an optional boat trip through the lush mangroves in the surrounding area. Continue to the famous pink lagoon of Las Colorades, where the salinity of the water tints it an incredible pink!

In the afternoon, head to Ek Balam, a little-known but beautiful Mayan ruin. Night in Valladolid. 

Not included: entrance fees to Ek Balam. Optional: boat to Rio Lagartos. 

Discover the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site of Chichen Itza, where the echoes of an ancient past are around every corner.

Continue to Yokdznonot cenote, and plunge into the refreshing waters before heading to Izamel, a pretty colonial village home to the impressive San Antonio de Padua convent. Construction began in 1553 and much of the stone used for the foundations was taken from the surrounding Mayan temples. Night in Merida.

Optional: guided tour of Chichen Itza + entrance and cooking class at the Yokdzonot cenote. 

DAY 5: UXMAL

Continue your tour to Uxmal, and spend the morning admiring the ancient city's unique architecture. In the afternoon, why not rent a bike and cycle from cenote to cenote? Return to Merida at the end of the day and spend an evening exploring the nightlife in the heart of Yucatan's capital. Night in Merida. 

Optional: guided tour of Uxmal + bike ride between the cenotes. 

DAY 6: MERIDA - CHIQUILA - HOLBOX

Today you will head to the small, unspoiled island of Holbox, where pristine beaches meet the Gulf of Mexico, home to spectacular marine life such as sea turtles and whale sharks! Drive to the pier in the village of Chiquilà, board the ferry to Holbox, and arrive at your dreamy tropical island destination. Night in Holbox.

Please note: Holbox is a car-free island, but there are plenty of secure covered car parks just moments from the pier, costing around 4.50 GBP for 24 hours. Ferry departures are every 30 minutes, and crossing tickets are not included (approx. 9 GBP per person).

Wander the narrow sandy streets of Holbox, feeling the island vibes and admiring the charming shops and cafes settled around the main square. Soak up the sunshine and cycle from Punta Coco in the south all the way to Las Nubes, a hotel in the north.

Try some kayaking through the shady mangroves, snorkelling with whale sharks (from May to September), kitesurfing, or hire a boat for the afternoon. 2 nights in Holbox.

Optional: boat tour.

DAY 9: CANCUN - DEPARTURE

Pack your bags and head to Cancun Airport, around 3 hours away. Return your rental car and head home after a marvellous tour of Mexico. 

Please note: it is possible to arrange an earlier return of your car and book a transfer back to the airport. 

At each of your stops, you will be staying in comfortable Standard Rooms in thoughtfully chosen hotels. 

 
Your hotels during the tour: 

Cancun: Ambience Suites 3* (or similar) 

Valladolid: Saastah Hotel 4* (or similar) 

Mérida: Merida Hotel 3* (or similar) 

Holbox: Casa Chujuk 3* (or similar) 

Hygiene and safety measures :  

Throughout your tour, your establishments are committed to respecting the sanitary measures in force to ensure your safety and well-being.   

Experience the natural beauty of Yucatan and choose a Nature Pack, with a private boat trip to Rio Lagartos, a trip to the Yokdzonot cenote with a cooking lesson, and a cenote tour with visits to 3 beautiful cenotes; Cascabel, Chaksikin and Xoch'. 

Experience the culture of the Yucatan region with private visits to both Chichen Itza (3 hours) and Uxmal (2 hours). The price includes entrance to the sites and a local English-speaking guide.  

Discover all the treasures of the Yucatan region with this complete pack of excursions! Discover lagoon-like cenotes, ancient archaeological wonders, and the unique pink beaches of Rio Lagartos. 

Cancun offers something for everyone, promising the best of the country's sun-soaked beaches, opulent all-inclusive resorts and dazzling turquoise waters, alongside fascinating Mayan ruins, quintessential Mexican culture and authentic cuisine.

By day, Cancun offers its visitors first-class service and total relaxation, as the sprawling hotels showcase endless entertainment, delicious dining opportunities, blissful wellness facilities and contemporary furnishings, all nestled on a stretch of unspoiled sand. By night, entertainment beckons as the legendary clubs open up their doors and the party begins!

For those hoping for a sense of tradition and culture during their stay on the Yucatán Peninsula, Cancun also offers up ancient treasures, where towering stone temples and astounding cities that date back centuries lay nestled in verdant surroundings. From the dramatic coastal setting of Tulum to the jungle scenery and magical lagoons of Coba and the iconic Es Castillo pyramid of Chichen Itza, Cancun's surrounding ruins provide an incredible day trip in total, sun-kissed paradise.

Please note, Mexico’s coastline is susceptible to large amounts of Sargassum seaweed and can be extreme quantities at times.