Mexico & Guatemala overland tours
| country: | Guatemala, Mexico |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 1 - 3 departures a month throughout the year |
| price: | From £1155 (31 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Prepare for a unique adventure packed full of cosmopolitan cities, breathtaking ruins, idyllic beaches and incredible natural beauty as you journey from the madness of Mexico City, through the Yucatan Peninsula, to the colour of colonial Antigua. Discover the spicy flavours of Oaxaca, admire Palenque’s stunning ruins, swim in the turquoise waters off Caye Caulker and arrive at volcano rimmed Antigua. Join us as we discover places of astounding beauty, visit vibrant and colourful cities, explore ancient ruins and uncover the hidden gems of Central America along the way.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Mexico City. Take the subway through an old temple in caotic Mexico City. |
| Days 3-4: | Puebla. Enjoy the Spanish vibe in this City of Angels, a place that blends the colonial past with modern development. There are many well-kept churches and buildings to admire. |
| Days 5-7: | Oaxaca. Watch the sunset over the impressive skyline and try traditional mole, stuffed chillies, chocolate-coated grasshopers or hit the mezcal, a distilled liquor made from the agave plant, for a real taste of Mexico. |
| Days 8-9: | San Cristobal de las Casas. Worlds away from the lowland cities, here you can experience a blend of rich indigenous culture and bohemian flair. |
| Days 10-11: | Palenque. Why not climb the Maya temples of Palenque for stunning jungle views. |
| Days 12-13: | Merida. Come face-to-face with the rain god Chac at an optional visit to the ruins of Uxmal. |
| Days 14-15: | Chichen Itza/Playa del Carmen. Take the option of exploring the pyramids of Chichen Itza, or cool off with a refreshing swim and an icy margarita. |
| Days 16-17: | Tulum. Chill out on Tulum's white sand beaches, or head to the nearby ruins to watch the sunset over these impressive beachside structures. |
| Days 18-19: | Caye Caulker. It's impossible not to relax in this Rastafarian paradise. Swin in the marine park watching manta rays and barracuda or just chill-out beachside. |
| Days 20-21: | San Ignacio. Walk among the butterflies in specially-made gardens, head off on a tubing adventure or take a hand-cranked ferry to the ruins of Xunantunich. |
| Days 22-23: | Flores/Tikal. Make like a local and take to the lake in a dug-out canoe, or just fall into the easy-going pace of life. There's free time to visit the highest Maya structure in the world at Tikal. |
| Days 24-25: | Rio Dulce. Jump in a lancha and head up river to visit nearby hot springs, or hike through the jungle-strewn trails of nearby nature reserves. |
| Day 26: | Antigua. Take an evening stroll along this city's heritage-listed streets or chill out with the locals in Central Park. |
| Days 27-28: | San Jorge/Chichicastenango. Find a bargain at the famous Chichicastenango markets, explore Lake Atitlan or take off on a mountain bike to explore the surrounding landscape. |
| Days 29-31: | Antigua. End a fantastic adventure with an optional day trip to the steaming Pacaya Volcano. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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We just can't get enough of the Amazon, not only as a jaw-dropping travel destination but also as a global treasure and this trip will help to ensure that the incredibly Amazon Rainforest is here for us to enjoy for generations to come! Our Amazon Fund will help support on the ground projects by the Foundation's long time partners Greenpeace and WWF. By booking your Latin American adventure with us you're helping us work towards a sustainable future for the Amazon.
This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey. Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. Local guides are employed to help explain as much as possible about the cultural differences and the historically significant places that we visit. This also allows us to appreciate the importance of preserving and respecting these sites and to help us minimise the impact of our visits. There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |