Overview & Highlights
Our covid-conscious holiday to Mexico gives you the chance to discover the colonial cities and jungle-shrouded Mayan pyramids of the Yucatan Peninsula, as well as the idyllic island of Holbox and Caribbean beaches of the Riviera Maya with your own car. If you'd rather not drive this holiday can be done with private transfers and guides, just ask us.
Our Trailblazer holiday to Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula shows you the highlights of this wonderful, diverse region whilst avoiding the busiest areas. It’s a perfect destination to explore and relax with plenty of sunshine, sandy beaches and jungle ruins. Exploring by self drive hire car is not only economical; it gives you the freedom to travel at your own pace, stopping wherever you would like a better look, but with the security of a pre-planned itinerary and accommodation booked.
The Yucatán Peninsula offers sunny Caribbean beaches on the Mayan Riviera both and the ruined pyramids and temples of the Maya shrouded in jungle. Following a direct flight from the UK you collect your hire car and set off on good, well-signed roads to explore - distances between attractions are relatively short, there are service stations to fill up your car and a huge range of fantastic eateries to fuel yourselves on.
From Cancún airport you set off in your car to discover the peninsula. There, you’ll find vestiges of the once supreme Mayan 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. There’re all rather Indiana Jones. You’ll visit the best known sites, Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, both easily accessible.
You’ll also be based near the beautiful colonial town of Mérida, a friendly place to see a different side of Mexico with street markets, restaurants of all types and lively entertainment, should you wish to do so. Alternatively the sleepy fishing village of Celestún is just a short drive away - famous for its Biosphere Reserve and large flocks of flamingoes. Finally, you will drive up to the Gulf coast for your island break on laid-back, peaceful and up-and-coming Holbox.
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Cancún. Collect hire car and drive to your hotel
Day 2
Drive to Chichén Itzá, Mayan archaeological site.
Day 3
Explore Chichén Itzá.
Day 4
Drive to your hacienda on the outskirts of colourful Mérida
Day 5
Optional food tour of Merida or visit Celestun
Day 6
Optional visit to the Mayan site of Uxmal.
Day 7
Drive to Chiquila and Holbox island.
Day 8
Relax on Holbox island; optional swimming with whale sharks.
Day 9
Day at leisure on Holbox.
Day 10
More time on Holbox Island
Day 11
Drive 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.

Visit Chichen Itza, ruined Mayan city

Visit Uxmal ruined Mayan temple complex

Walking tour of Merida

Visit an underwater sculpture gallery

Yucatan self-drive

Visit the flamingos of Celestun

Visit the Yucatan’s colonial haciendas and bathe in limestone cenotes

Go snorkelling on the Riviera Maya

Swim with whale sharks
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.
Trailblazer Mexico
As the world begins to open up again, we have put together a selection of covid-conscious itineraries specifically designed for travels in these times. Our Trailblazer Mexico holiday stays in carefully selected locations that avoid the crowds, allowing you to see the highlights whilst always staying within your comfort zone.

Ben Line - Travel Expert
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.
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