Overview & Highlights
The Yucatán Peninsula shelters a plethora of Mayan temples while colonial Spain left a heritage of baroque towns and wealthy estates. Explore at leisure in your self-drive car, staying at converted haciendas and a first class Caribbean resort.
The Yucatán peninsula reveals a multi-layered history which you can explore by self-drive car hire while based at luxury countryside retreats and first class beach accommodation. Your car is pre-booked, your luxury accommodation reservations made in advance and maps provided.
The peninsula is a low, flat pan of marsh-fringed land covered with low forest and jungle. The region was enriched during the Spanish colonial era during a boom in the production of sisal, and vast estates (haciendas) supported grand residences. These fell into disrepair after the boom but have been revived as first class hotel properties retaining the style and character of their origins.
Based there, you’ll discover vestiges of the once supreme Maya civilisation. Sites replete with temples and pyramids festooned with sacred carvings were, once abandoned, swallowed up by a rapacious jungle but are now gradually being revealed. The best known sites, Chichén Itzá and Uxmal are easily accessible; smaller, less well-known sites are always close to minor roads and with your own car you can explore at will.
You’ll also visit graceful Spanish colonial towns with their friendly Maya inhabitants. At your beach resort base on the soft-sand Caribbean coast, the luxury Esencia hotel, there is time to laze on the beach, practice water-sports or visit other sites and villages.
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Transfer to your hotel in Cancún. Collect hire car.
Day 2
Drive to Mérida, continue to your countryside hacienda retreat.
Day 3
At leisure in the Mérida area.
Day 4
Drive to colonial Campeche via Puuc Mayan ruins including Uxmal.
Day 5
At leisure to explore the Campeche region.
Day 6
Drive to Mayan Chichén Itzá via colonial Izamal.
Day 7
Drive to the Mayan Riviera. Hand over hire car at first class beach retreat.
Day 8
At leisure on the Caribbean coast’s Mayan Riviera.
Day 9
At leisure on the Mayan Riviera.
Day 10
Transfer to Cancún airport for international flight home.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
JLA is one of the best Tour Operators I have been with - nothing in the booking process was too much trouble. They stick to specialising in one continent, the staff are very knowledgeable and helpful and the tour groups small. A pity more of their competitors don't take a leaf out of their books.
LS, Didcot
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Consultant
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
