Experience the delights of the Peninsula!

Day 1 : Cancún

Arrival at the airport

Pick up your vehicle at the rental counter. An French-speaking guide will be waiting for you with a sign. He’ll help you with all the formalities and give you a road map of the region.

Overnight at the Jolie Jungle hotel.

Day 2 : Valladolid

The pyramids of the black jaguar Ek Balam

Recently explored, Ek Balam remains the major Mayan archaeological discovery of the late 20th century. Climb the pyramid steps for breathtaking views of the surrounding jungle.

Note: Admission not included, unless otherwise indicated.

Suggestion: swimming in the forest at the X’Canche cenote.

After your lunch break, depart by bicycle from the site entrance (1.5 km, 20 minutes) for the cenote X’canche. Arrive at the cenote and take a dip in this sacred space, where you can also go zip-lining.

Return to Valladolid at the end of the day.

Day 3 : Valladolid

The pink flamingos of Rio Lagartos

Head for Rio Lagartos, a unique wildlife reserve with pink saltwater ponds (Las Coloradas) and mangrove-lined rivers, home to Mexico’s most spectacular flamingo colony.

Boat trip on lanchas for a photo safari (pelicans, ibises, cormorants, fish eagles, egrets, crocodiles, horseshoe crabs).

Return to Valladolid at the end of the day.

Overnight at Hotel Le Muuch.

Day 4 : Chichen Itza

Visit to the Mayan wonder of Chichen Itza

Early in the morning, we set off for the largest archaeological site in the Yucatan: from 6 to 8 a.m., an exclusive visit before the site opens.

Built by the Mayas and then remodeled by the Toltecs, Chichen Itza symbolizes the unification of two religious cultures. Yucatan’s largest archaeological site was, at its peak, the peninsula’s main religious center.

Bathing at Cenote Yokdzonot

3 kilometers from the site is the off-the-beaten-track cenote Yokdzonot (bathing possible). A pleasant pool to swim in, in a natural environment. We suggest you stop for lunch at a restaurant right next to the cenote.

The yellow city of Izamal

Then off to discover the authentic colonial village of Izamal, a magnificent town colored in bright yellows. Stroll through this charming little town, and don’t forget to climb the main pyramid in the center of town for a panoramic view of the region.

Overnight at Hotel Hacienda Sacnicte. Room suite.

Day 5 : Hunucmá

Share the life of a Mexican family

Depart in the morning for the small village of Hunucmá to enjoy a day of exchanges and discoveries with a Mexican family.

When you arrive in the village, you’ll meet a member of the family who will welcome you. You’ll visit the market and buy all the local produce you’ll need for your cooking course.

10 minutes from the village, discover the family’s beautiful country home. After visiting the ranch, prepare a typical dish. You’ll have to get your hands dirty preparing the tortillas and mixing the spices and condiments. You’ll become a real chef.

While cooking, visit the honey production area. You’ll also have the chance to taste the very rare Melipona Mayan bee honey.

PS: Allergy sufferers will not be able to take the tour: clothing cannot provide 100% protection against a bee sting.

Return to Mérida at the end of the day.

Overnight at Hotel El Palacito Secreto.

Day 6 : Mérida

Cenote tour

Cenotes are natural pools of translucent freshwater, where the sun’s rays create a magical play of light. Explore 2 cenotes and take a refreshing dip in the forest. One thing’s for sure, you’ll come away transformed.

Conquering the city of Uxmal

In the early afternoon, we set off to discover Uxmal. It’s a peaceful, little-frequented site… you’re guaranteed to fall in love! Uxmal means “Built Three Times” in Mayan, but in reality it was built five times. The region is very dry, and images of the rain god Chac are omnipresent.

Return to Merida.

Overnight at Hotel El Palacito Secreto.

Day 7 : Mérida

Cooking classes at Mikaela restaurant

Get your aprons on! At the end of the morning, the chef of the famous Mikaela restaurant will teach you all the secrets of cold seafood cooking: shrimp aguachiles, scallops, fish ceviche… Delights from the sea like you’ve never tasted them before!

Merida, the white city

In the afternoon, visit Mérida, capital of Yucatan. In the midst of rapid economic development, it has nonetheless retained an enchanting colonial charm and a strong personality. The city’s many historic monuments are well-presented, and its pleasant little squares invite you to enjoy a drink to the sound of a marimba orchestra.

Its handicraft market offers a wide range of souvenirs: the famous huipiles, colorful embroidered women’s tunics, an authentic Panama hat and a genuine Yucatecan hammock made from pure cotton.

Overnight at Hotel El Palacito Secreto.

Day 8 : Celestun

The pink flamingos of Celestun

Celestun is a small village whose main activity is fishing. Board a motorboat for a tour of the lagoon. Discover the pink flamingo sanctuary and mangrove canals. End your tour with a surprising swim in the tropical forest.

Return to the center of Celestun for lunch and a late afternoon in the sand. Treat yourself to a delicious grilled fish overlooking the sea!

Overnight at Hotel Xixim. Deluxe junior suite garden.

Day 9 : Celestun

Free day in Celestun.

Celestun, a small fishing village on the Gulf coast. Board a motorboat for a tour of the lagoon. Discover the flamingo sanctuary and mangrove canals.

End your tour with a surprising swim in the rainforest.

Overnight at Hotel Xixim. Deluxe garden junior suite.

Day 10 : Campeche

Explore the Forts of Campeche.

After breakfast, head for Campeche, the city of harmonious pastel colors that enhance the style of the colonial era. UNESCO designated it a model of colonial Baroque urbanism and declared it a World Heritage Site in 1999. Campeche exudes charm around every corner. Take time to stroll around the magnificent colonial port, visit various Mayan ceremonial centers, walk down the malecon (boulevard) and explore the fort. Here, you can admire and imagine the assaults that Caribbean pirates launched on the city during colonization.

Overnight at Hotel Hacienda Puerta Campeche.

Day 11 : Calakmul

Early departure for Calakmul.

This little-known site is one of the jewels of Mayan culture and, at its peak, was the direct rival of Tikal in Guatemala. As at Tikal a few years ago, it is possible to observe wild animals roaming freely on the site (toucans, monkeys, oco-faisans).

Arrive late afternoon at Xpujil.

Overnight at Hotel Casa Ka’an. Standard (breakfast is prepared in your room).

Day 12 : Becan

Today, explore the Bécan site,

Surrounded by a moat and boasting numerous well-preserved monumental structures, this is undoubtedly one of the most complete sites in the region. Climb the pyramids and explore the bowels, and enjoy the colors and sounds of the wild jungle.

In the afternoon, discover the site of Hormiguero, remarkable for its well-preserved antropomorphic facades. Time has not yet taken its toll on the stucco decorating these buildings. The walk from one monument to the next through a barely-cut jungle gives this visit a touch of magic.

Then on to the sumptuous Explorean Kohunlich, nestled in the heart of the jungle.

Overnight at The Explorean. Nature suite.

Day 13 : kohunlich

This morning, visit the Kohunlich, site.

Next door to the hotel, this site is a unique example of what is currently being uncovered.

Then on to Dzibanché and Kinichná, two little-known sites discovered in the 1930s, whose size and architectural variety are a match for the peninsula’s major sites.

Late afternoon arrival at Bacalar Lagoon.

Overnight at Hotel Azul No Me Olvides.

Day 14 : Bacalar

Boat tour of Bacalar Lagoon (3-hour tour):

50 kilometers long and 2 kilometers narrow, the lagoon is set in a beautiful mangrove forest. Its incredible variations in shades of blue have earned it the nickname of the Seven-Colored Lagoon.

Take a small boat out to explore the lagoon. You’ll discover 3 cenotes, Bird Island, and the canal that was used by pirates as an entrance during their repeated assaults to plunder Bacalar.

End of the day at leisure by the lagoon.

Overnight at Hotel Azul No Me Olvides.

Day 15 : Tulum

This morning, visit the Chacchoben site, which means colored corn. Let yourself be sucked into the relaxing atmosphere of this little-visited site and its lush vegetation. Many spider monkeys and howler monkeys make their homes in the surrounding trees.

Then head for Tulum, along the paradisiacal beaches of the Caribbean.

Overnight at Hotel Serenity Eco. Harmony room.

Day 16 : Riviera Maya

Cenote Sac Actun

Set off this morning for the extraordinary Cenote Sac Actun. With over 150km of underwater galleries, Sac Actun is the largest underground river system discovered to date in Mexico. The Mayans considered it a gateway to the underworld.

Take a dip in this magical place, where a blue beam runs through the water.

Overnight at Hotel Serenity Eco. Harmony room.

Day 17 : Cobá

Depart this morning for the mainland.

Cobá is one of the largest Mayan cities, its ruins virtually intact in the heart of the tropical jungle. Archaeologists have unearthed a 42-metre-high pyramid, a 9-storey palace, a pelota court and the largest network of wide limestone pavements (sacbé) ever discovered.

Return to the Aaktun ecotourism project, a traditional Mayan village of 250 inhabitants in the middle of the forest. The community has retained a strong cultural identity: most villagers still speak Mayan and ancestral customs are important.

The villagers have formed an eco-tourism cooperative to offer a variety of activities (please consult us):

– visit to a network of sacred caves (3 possible tours: family, adventure and extreme)

– swimming in a cenote accessible only by abseiling (20-metre descent, specialized guide and Petzl equipment)

– night tours of the surrounding forest

– bike tours

– visit to the village museum

Return to your hotel on the Riviera Maya.

Day 18 : Riviera Maya

Free day to enjoy the beach and the sun.

Relaxation by the sea

Let yourself be tempted by a massage from Serenity Spa’s wide range of treatments! Enjoy a well-deserved moment of relaxation in the heart of nature.

Overnight at the Serenity Eco Hotel. Harmony room.

Day 19 : Riviera Maya

Journée libre pour profiter de la plage et du soleil.

Nuit à l’hôtel Serenity Eco.

Day 20 : Cancun

Departure from the hotel 3 hours before take-off time for Cancun airport. Vehicle drop-off at the rental agency counter at the airport.