Guatemala & Mexico: Land of the Maya

Day 4 | Antigua – Atitlán

After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to Antigua and travel on to Lake Atitlán, where you’ll be taken to your hotel. The route takes you through stunning countryside. You’ll drive along mountain roads and get a glimpse of daily life in rural Guatemala. The fairytale-like Lake Atitlán was formed by volcanic activity and is surrounded by three volcanoes on the southern shore and by a mountain range 1,000 metres high on the northern shore. Dotting the shores of the lake are numerous villages where the inhabitants still live in the traditional way and wear traditional dress.
Accommodation: Hotel Atitlán | bed and breakfast

Day 5 | Atitlán

Today you’ll be exploring Lake Atitlán and the surrounding villages. Your guide will collect you from your hotel, after which you’ll set off on a pleasant motorboat trip to Santa Cruz La Laguna, a small Kakchiquel village surrounded by rugged mountains. From here, you can set off in a kayak to enjoy unique views of the volcanic landscape and discover the way of life along the waterfront. Watch as local fishermen cast their lines from their ‘cayucos’ (small fishing canoes) whilst waterbirds circle overhead. After the kayaking trip, take a walk through this traditional Maya village, situated on a steep, forest-covered mountainside. From here, continue along a well-trodden path to the village of Jaibalito. Jaibalito is situated on the waterfront and offers stunning panoramic views of the lake and the towering volcanoes. (Please bear in mind that cloud cover or mist may affect the view.) You will then travel by boat to Santiago Atitlán, a town renowned for its traditions and unique art and textiles. Enjoy lunch and then take a stroll to the market, the church and the main square. Your guide will also take you to the house where Guatemala’s favourite indigenous saint, Maximón, lives. (Each year, a different ‘brotherhood’ has the privilege of looking after Maximón, so his location changes.) You’ll be back at your hotel in good time for a drink at sunset or a relaxing dip in the pool.
Overnight: Hotel Atitlan | bed and breakfast

Day 6 | Atilán – Cobán

You will be collected this morning and travel with a guide to Cobán. This region is renowned for the Lanquín stalactite caves, where you can go on adventurous tours by candlelight, and for Semuc Champey, a geological wonder of nature where the natural pools are the highlight. On the way, you’ll stop* at the Ram Tzul Nature Reserve, which, with its lush primeval forest, bamboo plantation and waterfall, offers a relaxing walk through nature. You’ll also have lunch here before continuing on to Lanquín. You will then be given a guided trip of the unique stalactites and stalagmites in the Lanquin caves and witness the twilight flight of thousands of bats.
Overnight stay: La Posada Cobán | bed and breakfast

* If this day of the trip falls on a Thursday or Sunday, you can also make an extra stop in Chichicastenango to visit the market, subject to consultation.

Day 7 | Cobán

Today you will visit the geological wonder of Semuc Champey. Here you will find a 300-metre-long limestone ‘bridge’, atop which are several natural pools filled with crystal-clear water. The Cahabón River flows beneath the ‘bridge’, and at the end of the ‘bridge’, the water from the pools joins the river, creating a 40-metre-high waterfall. The colour of the water changes throughout the year depending on the season, the sun and other natural factors. You can float peacefully in the pools, and there is also a viewpoint offering a magnificent view of the entire spectacle.
Accommodation: La Posada Cobán | bed and breakfast

Day 8 | Cobán – Petén

Today you will be picked up from the posada and taken to the Candelaria Caves, a vast natural cave system situated in the provinces of Chisec and Raxruha. The total length of the cave system is estimated at around 80 km, of which 22 km are accessible to visitors. A further 12.5 km lie underground. Daniel Freux, a Frenchman, claims to have discovered the caves in 1974. In reality, he was the first to explore the caves using professional equipment. He was assisted and guided by members of the local Q’eqchi’ Maya community, who had been aware of the caves’ existence for centuries. The Maya civilisation believed that the caves were the gateway to ‘Xibalba’, the underworld. For this reason, Maya artefacts are still being discovered there. The Q’eqchi Maya community still comes here to pray and make offerings. The Lacandon Maya community (based in Mexico, west of the border with Guatemala) believes that every evening the sun is offered in a basket to the gods of the underworld, who dwell in the caves. A distinction is made between the dry and wet caves: in the dry caves you can walk around and view the Mayan artworks, whilst in the wet caves you can go ‘tubing’. Afterwards, you’ll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing on to Petén. At the end of the afternoon, you’ll be dropped off at your hotel in Petén. You’ll be staying at La Lancha, a wonderful lodge situated in the rainforest, not far from Tikal National Park.
Overnight: La Lancha | bed and breakfast

Day 10 | Uaxactún – Tikal – Guatemala City

You’ll start the day with breakfast and have a little time to take a look at the remarkable Uaxactún ruins. After a short drive of about 45 minutes, you’ll arrive at another remarkable Mayan ruin: Tikal. Tikal, or Tik’al, was one of the largest Mayan cities during the Classical Period. It was not until 1848 that it was rediscovered by a team of Guatemalan explorers. The first large-scale archaeological excavations began in the 1950s. In 1979, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, accompanied by your guide, you will visit the ancient Mayan city and learn a great deal about the history of Guatemala’s Mayan people. You will have lunch at a small restaurant in the park. Afterwards, you’ll drive back to Flores, where you’ll be dropped off at the airport. From here, you’ll take a domestic flight to Guatemala City, where a transfer will be waiting to take you to your hotel for the night.
Overnight stay: Westin Camino Real | bed and breakfast

Day 11 | Guatemala City – Mérida (Mexico)

It’s time to leave beautiful Guatemala and travel on to Mexico! You’ll be picked up from your hotel and taken to Guatemala City airport. You’ll fly to Cancún in around 2.5 hours, where our local representative will be waiting for you on arrival to take you to your hotel in the city of Mérida. Mérida is the capital of the Yucatán Peninsula and boasts a colonial city centre. The city was founded by the Maya and later conquered by the Spanish. They demolished the Maya structures and used the remains to build new churches and a cathedral. Mérida was founded in 1542 by El Mozo and stands on the site of the Maya city of T’ho. Remains of this historic city can still be found here and there throughout Mérida.
Accommodation: Niuk Casa Tropical | bed and breakfast

Day 12 | Mérida

This day is free to spend as you wish. For example, you could visit the historic centre of Mérida. Here you’ll find, amongst other things, the Paseo de Montejo, a boulevard lined with various colonial buildings that will remind you of the Champs-Élysées in Paris. Be sure to visit the main square, where you can admire the magnificent cathedral, the elegant Casa Montejo and the famous murals at the Palacio Nacional. The Anthropological Museum houses an impressive collection of Mayan artefacts.
Be sure to visit the cathedral with its impressive Baroque façade. Construction was completed in 1559, making it the oldest cathedral in Latin America. Inside the cathedral stands the statue ‘Jesus with the Blisters’. The statue was carved from a tree that was once struck by lightning and burnt for an entire night. Miraculously, the tree suffered no damage whatsoever. When the cathedral itself once caught fire, the statue sustained only a few scratches. Furthermore, the town and its surroundings are ideal for cycling trips.
Accommodation: Niuk Casa Tropical | bed and breakfast

Day 13 | Mérida

Today you will explore the natural beauty of the Celestún Biosphere Reserve. This is a protected nature reserve which, thanks to its unique flora and fauna, is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Celestún, known for its large population of flamingos during the winter months, features a vast saltwater lagoon teeming with pink birds. This area is home to one of the largest colonies of pink flamingos in the world, with over 2,000 flamingos and hundreds of other bird species gathering here every season. The marshland consists of a vast network of natural waterways. You’ll explore the lagoon by boat; you might even spot the alligators that live here. You’ll also stop at freshwater springs where the water is fresh, clear and ideal for swimming.
Accommodation: Niuk Casa Tropical | bed and breakfast

Day 14 | Mérida – Uxmal

(85 km | approx. 1.5 hours’ drive)
You will be collected from your hotel and taken to the car hire company, where your rental car will already be waiting for you. You’ll drive from Mérida to the Mayan city of Uxmal. This site dates back to the 10th century AD and is considered one of the most complex and impressive examples of Puuc architecture. Literally, Uxmal means ‘built three times’, which may be explained by the many earthquakes that ravaged the area for years. Today, your private guide will take you on a trip of this magical place, whilst you learn more about the myths and highlights of Mayan art and culture. Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Uxmal is gracefully set amidst lush greenery, featuring the Temple of the Magicians, a rectangular nuns’ quarter, the Palacio del Gobernador with its beautiful stone mosaics, and another temple dedicated to the rain god Chac. After your visit to Uxmal, you’ll drive to your accommodation where you can check in and freshen up. Once evening has fallen, something special awaits you. You’ll be treated to the ‘Echoes of Uxmal’ light show. A team has created a magical journey through sound and light. You’ll be taken to the three sides of the pyramid, where you’ll watch a 20-minute projection featuring original artwork, animations and music that tell the story of a local legend.
Overnight stay: The Lodge at Uxmal | bed and breakfast

Day 16 | Uxmal – Bacalar

(318 km | approx. 5 hours’ drive)
Today you’ll drive on to your next destination, Bacalar. Bacalar is situated in the southernmost part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Laguna Bacalar is a large turquoise freshwater lake near the Yucatán coast. There are several spots where you can jump straight into the lake for a refreshing swim. On the edge of the lake stands the old Spanish fort of San Felipe, which once offered protection against pirate raids. Today, it houses a military museum.
Accommodation: Hotel Boa Boa Bacalar | bed and breakfast

Day 17 | Bacalar

Free day. Today you can relax and enjoy yourself on the shores of the beautiful Laguna Bacalar. You can also choose to take a boat trip past some interesting spots on and around the lake, or go on a kayaking trip. Be sure to visit the historic San Felipe Fort as well.
Accommodation: Hotel Boa Boa Bacalar | bed and breakfast

Day 18 | Bacalar – Tulum

(210 km | approx. 3 hours’ drive)
You’ll be leaving Bacalar behind and driving on to your next – and final – destination: Tulum. Unlike Cancun and Playa del Carmen, this is a smaller town that offers everything you need without the crowds. It’s a wonderful place to relax. The Mayan archaeological site of Tulum is, without a doubt, one of the most beautifully situated Mayan sites.
Accommodation: The Yellow Nest | bed and breakfast

Day 19 | Tulum

Get up early today for your visit to Sian Ka’an. This is a biosphere reserve in Quintana Roo which has been a national park since 1986 and a World Heritage Site since 1987. The name Sian Ka’an comes from the Maya language and means ‘gift from heaven’. Sian Ka’an lies partly in the Caribbean Sea, meaning that a number of atolls form part of the reserve. Furthermore, there are 23 (known) Mayan ruins within the reserve. With sixty thousand hectares of unspoilt land, this is one of Mexico’s largest nature reserves. Off the coast lies a hundred kilometres of coral reef, making it the largest such area after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Sian Ka’an encompasses all ecosystems: lagoons, mangroves, dunes, marshes, grasslands and rainforest. Everything here influences everything else; one ecosystem transitions abruptly into the next. This explains the area’s immense biodiversity: over two hundred species of trees, more than three hundred species of birds, tapirs, turtles, manatees, black howler monkeys, coatis and jaguars – though the latter are rarely spotted.
Accommodation: The Yellow Nest | bed and breakfast

Day 20 | Tulum

A free day to spend in Tulum or the surrounding area. Today you can relax on the beach or by the pool, or set off for the day in your rental car. Tulum is not far from the rim of the ancient Chicxulub crater. Not much of this famous crater – formed by the impact that probably brought about the end of the dinosaurs – is visible on the surface, apart from the cenotes, the underground pools formed within the crater’s system of fissures. Snorkelling or diving in the cenotes is a popular tourist activity.
Accommodation: The Yellow Nest | bed and breakfast

Day 21 | Tulum – Mérida – Amsterdam

(285 km | approx. 4.5 hours’ drive)
Today marks the end of your unique journey through Mexico. You’ll drive to Mérida Airport, where you can return your rental car. You’ll then board your intercontinental flight to Amsterdam.

Day 22 | Amsterdam

You will arrive in Amsterdam today.