Mexico's Mayan Trail

Mexico City • Teotihuacan • Guadalupe • Puebla • Oaxaca • Monte Alban • Tule Tree • Mitla • Teotitlan Del Valle • Sumidero Canyon • San Juan Chamula • Zinacantan • Plantation • Palenque • Campeche • Kabah • Uxmal • Merida • Chichen Itza

This holiady includes 14 breakfasts

Explore the best that Mexico has to offer on our 16-day adventure in this truly diverse country. From the hustle and bustle of Mexico City to the city of Merida in the Yucatan, we experience a huge variety of natural and archaeological sights along the way. Experience the legacy of the Zapotec, Mayan and Aztec civilisations who, akin to the ancient Egyptians, erected their imposing religious and cultural structures, many of which remain today as a reminder of their vast and often brutal empires. Our holiday allows you the time to soak up the immense significance of the historical sights at a comfortable pace, enabling you to make the most of this unforgettable experience. Not only will you have the services of a Titan HiTours Tour Manager throughout your holiday but local guides are also on hand to impart their knowledge of the area.DAY 1 LONDON • MEXICO CITY
We begin with Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service™ to London Heathrow airport and your direct scheduled British Airways flight to Mexico City. On arrival our coach will transfer you to the Hotel Florencia, your base for a four night stay.

DAY 2 MEXICO CITY
With a population of over 20 million, vast Mexico City spreads through an immense valley nearly 7,500ft above sea level. A true melting pot of all cultures and classes, the city showcases both ancient civilisation and modern city life. After breakfast we begin a city tour, which will include exploration of the Metropolitan Cathedral, which stands at the huge Zocalo, together with the National Palace with it's famous collection of murals highlighting the history of Mexico. Later we make an extensive visit to the National Museum of Anthropology, one of the premier attractions the city has to offer and an introduction into sights to be seen later in the holiday.

DAY 3 TEOTIHUACAN • GUADALUPE
Following breakfast we depart for our splendid day at Teotihuacan, one of the most important Aztec sites in Mexico and also one of the most impressive. The ruins of Teotihuacan are spread over a large distance and activities here include a walk along the "Avenue of the Dead" and to witness the imposing view of the magnificent 70 metre high Sun Pyramid, which can be climbed for a breathtaking view. After our explorations we return to our hotel in Mexico City, visiting the Basilica de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe en-route to view the image of the miraculous Virgin Maria.

DAY 4 MEXICO CITY
A free day to relax or explore as you wish. Alternatively you can take an optional full day excursion to Cuernavaca and Taxco. The excursion starts at Cuernavaca, "the city of everlasting spring" where you visit the cathedral with its impressive 16th century Franciscan frescos, before continuing to Taxco, spread over many hills along the Atachi Mountains known for its amazing silver jewellery. After time to explore we return to Mexico City.

DAY 5 MEXICO CITY • PUEBLA • OAXACA
We depart Mexico City today, with our first stop at Puebla, famous for its chocolate based Mole sauce. Following a walking tour you are free to explore and take lunch. Later, we arrive in Oaxaca, steeped in history and pronounced a city by King Carlos V of Spain in 1532. We stay for three nights at the Hotel La Noria.

DAY 6 MONTE ALBAN • OAXACA
We begin the day at Monte Alban, the most important archaeological site in Oaxaca and arguably one of the most outstanding with a fabulous mountaintop location. We view the ruins of buildings dating between 250-800AD, which include a ball court and pyramids, however the origins can be traced back to 500BC when Monte Alban was first settled. Over 180 tombs have been discovered here so far. Following our arrival back into Oaxaca we take a brief walking tour of the central district to help acquaint ourselves to this beautiful city.

DAY 7 TULE TREE • MITLA • TEOTITLAN DEL VALLE
Our day starts at Santa Maria del Tule to view the famous Tule Tree, located in the atrium of the Santa Maria de la Asuncion temple and thought to be over 2000 years old, with a circumference of over 50 metres. We continue to Mitla, where the Zapotecas believed the dead came to find their last resting place and view the buildings here, many festooned with fretwork, before travelling on to Teotitlan del Valle, a village famous for its locally made rugs and blankets. Later we return to Oaxaca where the remainder of the day is free.

DAY 8 OAXACA • SUMIDERO CANYON
This morning we travel to the airport for our flight to Tuxtla Gutierrez, which operates via Mexico City. On arrival we transfer to the impressive Sumidero Canyon for our included boat tour along the Grijalva River. Later we take the Pan-American Highway to San Cristobal de las Casas where we stay for two nights at the Hotel Plaza Magnolias or Hotel Diego de Mazariegos.

DAY 9 SAN JUAN CHAMULA • ZINACANTAN
After breakfast we visit the renowned Indian villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan, where we gain an insight into the lives of the local communities. This afternoon we take a walking tour of San Cristobal.

DAY 10 PLANTATION • PALENQUE
This morning we depart San Cristobal for the city of Palenque. Our route takes us past stunning vistas of forested valleys before arriving at Palenque in time for a late lunch. This afternoon we visit a local plantation for a fascinating insight into the extraction of latex from the rubber tree, and the growing of cocoa, coffee and spices. Our hotel this evening is the Ciudad Real.

DAY 11 PALENQUE
Today we make an extensive visit to the ruins of Palenque in their mysterious jungle setting, which at its height of 600-700AD was ruled by a dynasty of kings and queens. When belief in the system was lost, the city crumbled, only to be rediscovered in 1785. While the site itself is large, the majority of the city is still as yet unexcavated, buried in the surrounding jungle. Following plenty of time to explore we return to our hotel where the remainder of the day is free to relax.

DAY 12 PALENQUE • CAMPECHE
Leaving Palenque behind, we travel to the coastal city of Campeche, which was founded in the 1540s and was the main port for the Spanish in the Yucatan, who built huge fortifications to protect their goods from piracy. This afternoon we enjoy an orientation of the city and visit the Fuerte de San Miguel Museum. This evening we stay at the Hotel Plaza Campeche.

DAY 13 CAMPECHE • KABAH UXMAL • MERIDA
Our first stop today is at the semi restored site of Kabah, to view the huge array of sculptures illustrating the rain god Chac, with it’s characteristic long nose. A short drive then takes us to the Maya archaeological site of Uxmal where we visit many temples, the Pyramid of the Wizard and the Quadrangle of the Nunnery and take time to view the intricate bas-relief stonework. Our day finishes at the white city of Merida on the northwest coast of the Yucatan peninsula. We stay at the Hotel El Castellano for two nights.

DAY 14 CHICHEN ITZA
Today we travel to one of the largest and most famous Mayan sites in the world. Chichen Itza showcases some of the best Mayan architecture including the 24 metre high Pyramid of Kakulcan, the Temple of the Warriors and the largest ball court found to date. You will also visit the 22 metre deep Sacred Cenote, a well where over fifty skeletons have been found. After a truly memorable time to explore Chichen Itza we return to Merida and our hotel.

DAY 15 MERIDA • LONDON
Today we transfer to Merida airport for our flight to Mexico City. Later we take our direct scheduled British Airways flight to London Heathrow. Or extend your stay - call for details

DAY 16 LONDON
Arrival at London Heathrow Airport where our staff will greet you and transfer you to Titan HiTours transport for your return journey home to your front door.Duration 16 days, 14 nights in hotels – 4 Mexico City, 3 Oaxaca, 2 San Cristobal, 2 Palenque, 1 Campeche, 2 Merida, & 1 in flight

Titan HiTours VIP Home Departure Service™

Check-in service by Titan HiTours staff.

Services of an experienced Titan HiTours tour manager, plus local guides

Scheduled British Airways direct flights. Internal flights as detailed in the itinerary

First class air-conditioned coaches with experienced drivers

Accommodation as specified or of a similar standard

Hotel porterage (one bag per person)

Meals: Breakfasts on days 2-15

Excursions, tours and entrances as detailed in the itinerary

All airport taxes, security charges, UK Air Passenger Duty (APD) and applicable fuel surcharge