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.
- Explore the colonial cities of the Yucatan
- Discover ancient Mayan ruins
- Relax on the white sand beaches of the Caribbean
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.
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.

Mexico / Caribbean coast: Riviera Maya and Holbox
Intercontinental Presidente Cancun Resort

Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan / Mexico
Hacienda San Jose Cholul

Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan / Mexico
Hacienda Uayamon

Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan / Mexico
Hacienda Chichen

Mexico / Caribbean coast: Riviera Maya and Holbox
Hotel Esencia
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
Where do we start? 25 condors at Colca Canyon, vicuna, llama and alpaca at every turn, fabulous weather, the surprising majesty of the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the amazing Iguassu Falls in full flow after heavy rain in the interior. 6 equally wonderful experiences.
MR, St Albans
A very well organised and fascinating holiday. An excellent tour leader who helped make the experience very special. Thank you all for all your efforts on our behalf.
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.

Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.
Inspired by this trip
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Papagaio
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Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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