Yucatan Highlights
| country: | Mexico |
| location: | Yucatan |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 31 May, 26 Jul, 18 Oct, 13 Dec 2011: 7 Feb, 4 Apr |
| price: | From £737 - £769 (10 days) excluding flights plus US $5 daily food kitty. Price includes guided jungle walking tour, admission to all archaeological sites en route, admission to the Misol Ha waterfalls and guided Cenote snorkel tour |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Yucatan Highlights
From the beautiful white sand beaches and exciting nightlife of Playa del Carmen and the charming colonial city of Merida to the well preserved Mayan archaeological sites of Uxmal, Palenque, Chichen Itza and Tulum, enjoy the perfect balance of adventure and Mexican culture. Snorkel or SCUBA, sunbathe or salsa to your heart's content on this Mexican adventure!
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Cancun & Merida. This journey of adventure and discovery begins with a visit to Chichen Itza, one of the most excavated and best preserved of all archeological sites in Mexico. Climb El Castillo pyramid and gaze beyond the largest ball court in Meso-America for a fantastic glimpse into the Mayan past. Move on to the beautiful city of Merida, the capital of the Yucatan. From our hotel, spend the day in the many shops, museums and zocalos of this charming city and mingle with descendants of the Maya whose culture is now laced with Spanish influence. Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally. |
| Day 3: | Campeche. Travel next to the ruins of Uxmal where intricately carved temple facades pay homage to Chac, the Mayan rain god. Drive on to the city of Campeche, the only coastal walled city in the New World, where, from our hotel deep in the heart of the city, we can explore the remnants of its colourful past. Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally. |
| Days 4-5: | Palenque. Continue down the ancient Mayan trade route to the ruins of Palenque, lost in the jungle for hundreds of years. Marvel at the magnificent pyramid known as the Temple of the Inscriptions and take a guided jungle tour to learn about this unique ecosystem and its plant and animal life. After such an adventurous day, relax and cool off in the inviting waters of Misol Ha waterfall. Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally. |
| Days 6-7: | Bacalar, Tulum & Playa del Carmen. Cross the Yucatan peninsula for a night on the shores of the beautiful lagoon of seven colours at Bacalar. Take a refreshing swim in the Cenote Azul before heading up the coast to the ruins of Tulum, the only Mayan city built along the sea. Discover Hidden Worlds Cenotes Park where you can snorkel beneath the jungle and explore underground caverns. Accommodation: Hotel included. Meals paid locally. |
| Days 8-10: | Playa del Carmen & Cancun. Enjoy personal time relaxing on miles of palm fringed sugar white beaches or take a scuba lesson to get a closer look at this underwater paradise. Spend your final nights enjoying Caribbean nightlife in Playa del Carmen, before ending this magical trip in Cancun. Accommodation: Hotels included. Meals paid locally. Tour ends at approx 17:00 hrs in Cancun on day 10. |
small group adventure holiday
You will be sharing your experiences with a maximum of 13 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its 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 new people as well as seeing new places.
how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip is designed for those who enjoy Mayan culture and adventure, want to explore Mexico’s natural beauty and discover why visitors are so passionate about this beautiful region.
We travel in small, intimate groups (maximum of 13 passengers) and have the benefit of a professionally trained local guide who knows the best places in the national parks, national monuments and wilderness areas to respectfully observe wildlife, to enjoy fun, adventurous activities and appreciate the flavours of the local culture. This tour is lodging based and we will overnight in locally owned 3 star hotels and lodges. When lodging we eat our meals in locally owned restaurants, and throughout the trip we utilize established local suppliers for activities that help support local business and keep money in the community. We have over 35 years of experience operating small-group adventure tours (13 client maximum) throughout North/Central/South America that foster understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments we visit. We are committed to working with our clients and the peoples of our host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level. We aim to operate beyond best practice guidelines and to provide a tour programme that creates a positive impact on the lands that we visit and a lasting impression for those who travel with us. The tour is led by one of our fully trained local guides. Prior to leading our groups, guides must successfully complete our pre-season intensive training programme. During this time we support the guides with accommodation, activities and supplemental salary. We utilize private vehicle and local suppliers for accommodation and activities throughout to ensure the economic benefit stays in the local community. This includes working with local operators and lodging in locally owned hotels/lodges whenever possible. Also, we include guided hiking in the jungle, a “cenote” snorkeling tour, and more on this incredible journey. When staying in hotels/lodges en route, we endeavor to eat our meals in locally owned, family run restaurants which supports local business, as well as allows passengers to experience local flavour and mix with local people when appropriate. On this tour, we also include visits and entry admission to all national parks and monuments listed in the itinerary. Fees support park upkeep and conservation projects, and we encourage our clients to visit the visitor centres for additional information about the region. Our published traveller’s code of conduct is further promoted by our leaders throughout the tour, and particularly in the first night’s orientation talk. Our RT policy or traveller’s code of conduct is made available to all travellers prior to departure. This includes policies on the following: • Established policy to support recycling (and to educate our clients on recycling) on all of our tours in North/Central/South America. We aim to utilize properties that recycle glass and plastics. When this service is not available, we will pack and store recycling in our own containers and drive them to a suitable facility • Leave No Trace is a national and international campaign designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts about how to reduce their impacts when enjoying the outdoors. Because this trip spends much time exploring the National Parks and "wilderness" areas, familiarizing clients with the "Leave No Trace" ethic will help minimize the impact on the natural environment. 100% of our UK corporate headquarters’ power is green (renewable). We contribute to local charities and projects such as “Tourism Cares for America” (of which we are a founding member), “Friends of Big Bend” and the “Mojave Desert Land Trust”- organizations dedicated to improving and/or expanding national parks. |
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. |
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