Mexico Group Tour to Mayan and Aztec Pyramids - INTI Tours

Extensive city tour of, among others: Palace of Fine Arts, Zócalo, Cathedral, seat of government Palacio Nacional and the remains of the Templo Mayor, the religious and spiritual centre of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlán. We drive through different parts of the city to the Anthropological Museum, which gives an excellent overview of ancient Mexican civilisations. The adjacent Chapultepec Park with the castle of Maximilian von Habsburg invites you to take a stroll afterwards. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

The pyramids of Teotihuacán, located about 45 km northeast of Mexico City, are the imposing legacy of one of Mexico's most important advanced civilisations, the Teotihuacán. Founded a good 2000 years ago, the city was the cultural centre par excellence and the largest city in ancient America (UNESCO World Heritage Site). We climb the Pyramid of the Sun and Moon and visit the Quetzalcóatl Palace. After lunch in a typical restaurant (not included in the price), we drive to the world-famous Basilica of Guadelupe with the Black Madonna. In the afternoon, return to the hotel.

Reception at the airport and drive to the hotel. First impressions of the metropolis on the way to the hotel. The remaining day is at leisure.

Passing the proud five-thousand-metre peaks Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, we drive to Cholula, where we visit the largest pyramid in the world. Lunch in Puebla in a typical restaurant. Afterwards, a short walk through the old town past the Cathedral, the Zócalo, the Church of Santo Domingo and the Casa del Alfeñique. Overnight stay at the hotel.

Today we drive for 5 hours through the varied, wild mountain landscape of the Sierra Madre to Oaxaca. In the afternoon, a short city tour through the listed old town (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Particularly impressive are the local indigenous market, the Santo Domingo church and the regional museum with the famous "Treasure of Monte Albán".

On the artificial platform above Oaxaca, the Zapotecs built the imposing ceremonial centre Monte Albán with more than 20 buildings and pyramids almost 2000 years ago. We have enough time to visit the entire complex. The afternoon is at leisure.

Drive to Tehuantepec. On the way, we visit the 2000-year-old cypress tree of Tule, the weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle and Mitla, which, along with Monte Albán, is considered the most important centre of Zapotec culture. Visit of the excavation site and lunch (not included in the price) in a rustic restaurant, where we learn interesting facts about the high-proof speciality Mezcal. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Tehuantepec. Overnight stay in a hotel with pool and beautiful gardens.

Early morning visit to the traditional indigenous market of Juchitan. At noon, impressive boat trip through the up to 1000 m deep Sumidero Canyon. Afterwards lunch in Chiapa de Corzo; here settlement traces of a more than 3500 year old postolmec regional culture were discovered. Our last destination is San Cristóbal de las Casas, melting pot of local indigenous cultures.

In Zinacantán and San Juán Chamula we learn about the culture and ancient rituals of the indigenous people of the Tzotzil Mayan tribe. Lunch in San Cristobál de las Casas. In the afternoon we visit the church of Santo Domingo and then have time for a tour on our own.

Today we leave the highlands of Chiapas for Palenque. On the way we visit the beautiful turquoise waterfalls of Agua Azul in the middle of the jungle and Misol Há, a beautiful cascade. The cool water offers wonderful refreshment. After arrival at the hotel, you will have enough time for a swim in the pool.

Today, an absolute highlight of our trip awaits us: The Mayan site of Palenque, which had its heyday in the 7th century, is one of the most beautiful and best renovated archaeological sites in the country. The Temple of the Inscriptions and the palace complex are particularly impressive. Afterwards, we drive to the Gulf Coast. On the way we enjoy a swim in the sea and fresh sea specialities in a beach restaurant. In the charming colonial city of Campeche we move into a beautiful hotel directly in the historic centre.

In the morning, city tour of Campeche (UNESCO World Heritage Site). The goods stored here for shipment to Europe (silver, cocoa, jade, etc.) attracted many pirates in the 16th and 17th centuries. For protection, the Spanish built a huge city wall and metre-thick defensive bastions in 1686. At noon, the journey continues to Mérida. Caribbean joie de vivre awaits you here. Enjoy the colourful hustle and bustle at the Zócalo. Overnight stay in a hotel.

Excursion to Uxmal, the most important Maya site in the Puuc region (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Apart from pyramids, Uxmal is characterised by so-called Cuadrángulos, large rectangular squares around which buildings in the Puuc style are erected. Unique in the Maya world are the "Pyramid of the Magician" with its oval ground plan and the Nuns' Quadrangle (North Temple). In the evening, an "Espectaculo de Luz y Sonido" (light and sound show) awaits us in the Nuns' Quadrangle. Return to the hotel.

West of Mérida is the Celestún National Park, a paradise for flamingos and pelicans, which we admire in their natural habitat on a two-hour boat trip. Afterwards, we have the opportunity to enjoy fresh sea specialities on the beach. In the evening we return to Mérida.

Visit to the most famous archaeological site in Yucatán ─Chichén Itzá. The Mayan and Toltec site is dominated by the nine-tiered temple of Kukulkán, the Mayan Quetzalcóatl, symbolised by two mighty serpent heads. The architecture of the site was strongly influenced by astronomical-astrological ideas. Then drive to the Caribbean coast to Tulúm.

Visit the extraordinary Mayan fortress of Tulúm, which stands proudly on a rock above the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea. It combines several Yucatecan style elements of different eras and origins. After visiting the site, we enjoy the rest of the day swimming on the beach.

After breakfast, drive to the small Isla Holbox - an island appendage of the long and narrow Holbox headland at the north-eastern tip of Yucatán. Here we move into our hotel directly on the beach.

Enjoy the days on the Gulf Coast with beautiful white beaches and crystal clear water and let your soul dangle.

Enjoy the days on the Gulf Coast with beautiful white beaches and crystal clear water and let your soul dangle.

Enjoy the days on the Gulf Coast with beautiful white beaches and crystal clear water and let your soul dangle.

Transfer to Cancún and return flight to Germany.