Overview

The states of Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo form the huge wedge of low-lying, forest-covered territory of Mexico’s south-east. It is here that vestiges of the Mayan civilisation loom out of the undergrowth at every turn. 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, Uxmal, Tulum are easily accessible and have been spruced up for visitors. There are lesser-known sites rising from an untouched natural setting including Edzná, a huge ceremonial centre featuring the 30m high Temple of the Five Storeys, and Calakmul, the biggest archaeological area in Mesoamerica with 7,000 buildings in the central zone.

There are some pretty Spanish colonial towns too, the arched colonnades of Izamal and Mérida, a  bustling  place where colonial churches and mansions cram the grid of streets;  plazas host markets and impromptu musical and theatrical performances.

The nearby Riviera Maya spans the peninsula’s soft-sand Caribbean coast with its resort hotels and fishing villages, while the coastal mangrove-draped marshes at Sian Ka’an host a biosphere reserve heaving with wildlife.

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Holidays Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan

From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.

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Palenque

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Eagle: Aztecs, Mayas and conquistadores

15 days from £3,718pp

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Palenque

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Highlights of the Mayan world

13 days from £3,170pp

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Self-drive Mexico: Discover the Yucatan Peninsula

13 days from £1,900pp

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Things to do

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Where to go when - our guide to Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan

Campeche

The weather in Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan is wide and varied

Explore pretty colonial towns, soft white-sand beaches and sacred Mayan temples hidden in lush, tangled jungles. The Yucatán Peninsula and Mayan Riviera enjoy hot and sunny weather throughout the best part of the year, with temperatures which rarely drop below 25°C. From May to July, humidity can be uncomfortably high and there is a risk of tropical storms and hurricanes between August and October. The best months to visit for dry weather and clear skies are December to April.

View our Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan weather guide

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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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Real Latin american experts

  • Paul
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

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    Millie Davies - Travel Expert

    Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.

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    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.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    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.

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