Overview & Highlights
This short break delivers the two big attractions of the Yucatán Peninsula in a nutshell: the impossibly grand, Mayan city Chichén Itzá and the white-sand Caribbean beaches of the Mayan Riviera.
This holiday of just over a week takes you to the relatively flat, tropical Yucatán Peninsula in the sunny south east coast of the country. Inland, among the jungles, scrub and farmland, sitting alongside charming Spanish colonial towns and villages, is Chichén Itzá, the greatest archaeological achievement of the Mayan Empire.
You’ll explore the ruins on a guided tour. You’ll also discover Mérida, the Yucatán’s colonial capital infused with Mayan culture, and visit historic haciendas (country estates) before heading to the beach for a couple of days relaxing or indulging in water sports or the lively nightlife at family-friendly Playa del Carmen, where there’s a huge range of excursions on offer from visits to other Mayan sites to scuba-diving.
- Visit Chichén Itzá ruins – New Seven Wonders of the World
- Full day excursion to historic haciendas and cenotes
- Guided tour of Mérida
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Travel Expert
Outline itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Cancún, Mexico, transfer to hotel at the resort.
Day 2
Transfer to Chichén Itzá, ruined Mayan city.
Day 3
Re-visit Chichén Itzá, move on to Mérida.
Day 4
Day trip to visit historic Yucatán haciendas and swim in cenotes.
Day 5
Guided tour of Mérida.
Day 6
Transfer to Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera.
Day 7
At leisure on the Caribbean coast.
Day 8
Transfer to Cancún airport for your international flight.
Things to do
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Accommodation
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What our clients say
Our Expert's Opinion
With direct flights from London to Cancún and Mexico City, accessibility to this diverse country is not a problem. And with this extremely good value holiday, affordability shouldn't be either. This trip has been designed to cover the main highlights of the Yucatán in just over a week. You'll discover the tropical Yucatán Peninsula and visit one of the top Mayan sites, Chichén Itza. You'll also absorb the colonial charm of Mérida and finish up on the lively beach resort of Playa del Carmen for a spot of scuba diving. This whistle-stop tour of Mexico will give you a taste of its charm, and believe me, you'll be back for more.
Inspired by this trip
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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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