Yucatan Peninsula in family

Welcome to Mexico! Upon arrival at Cancun airport, your driver will take you to the rental agency to pick up your vehicle. Drive to your hotel.
Trajet en voiture : Cancun aéroport - Cancun 20km (30min)

Departure for Ek Balam or "black jaguar" in Mayan, an ancient religious centre of great importance in the region and comprising about 40 structures. All the temples are accessible to visitors and allow you to get a good view of the city and the surrounding jungle. Ek Balam does not have the fame of Chichen Itza, yet it is a city full of serenity and mystery at the same time. There are few visitors and this is what makes it so charming. The Xcanche cenote is located about 1500 metres from the town. To get there, you can rent bicycles or go on foot. There is an abseiling trail, hammocks and a zip line to keep you entertained. Lunch is available at the cenote ecotourism centre, surrounded by jungle. You will then head to Valladolid, a charming little town, typically Yucatecan. Visit the Zocalo and its white cathedral. You will then lose yourself in the colonial streets of the city centre, passing by the municipal bazaar and the San Bernardino convent.

Driving directions: Cancun - Ek Balam 175km (2h10) / Ek Balam - Valladolid 30km (30min)

Departure for Rio Lagartos. About 100 km north of Valladolid, this small fishing village is the gateway to the national park reserve of the same name. A real paradise for nature lovers. It is an ideal place to discover the Yucatán "differently". You can embark on a "lancha" - a small motor boat - and go for a ride in the mangrove. Then head to the famous pink lagoon called "Las Coloradas". Return to Valladolid at the end of the day.

Driving directions : Valladolid - Rio Lagartos 110km (1h30)

Free day in Valladolid. You will take time to discover this colonial city and will start with a visit to the Zocalo and its cathedral. You will then take the Calzada de los Frailes street with its pastel facades to reach the San Bernardino convent, one of the first in the country. Valladolid has many museums that are not very touristy and off the beaten track, such as the cocoa museum, the Mayapan distillery, the Xkopek beekeeping centre, the Casa venado and the Murem, which presents the ethnic clothing of Mexico. Of course, you can also take a refreshing dip in the semi-open Zací cenote, just a few blocks from the central square, which offers a unique bathing and spiritual experience, or in the cenotes of Dzitnup, which are completely enclosed in caves.

Today, you will discover the marvellous archaeological site of Chichen Itza, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988, and considered since 2007 as one of the "new wonders of the world". You will be immersed in the majesty of this site and the echo of its past glory. Continue to the "magic village" of Izamal. You will visit the Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, whose atrium is second in size only to that of the Vatican. You can also climb the Kinich Pyramid for a breathtaking view of this yellow city. Departure for Mérida, the cultural capital of Yucatán. City of one million inhabitants, it is famous for its cathedral and its paseo Montejo lined with the sumptuous residences of the old masters of henequen. Walking through the colonial streets of the white city, you will feel the romantic and provincial atmosphere, bearing witness to a past rich in history and legends. Although it has modernised over time, Mérida has retained its colonial "toque", characterised by its lights and colours. At night, it is transformed for the pleasure of passers-by. Several activities are possible: sitting at a café terrace, attending a street performance of dance, music or theatre, which make this city a wonderful cultural crossroads.

By car: Valladolid - Chichen Itza 45km (45min) / Chichen Itza - Izamal 75km (1h10) / Izamal - Merida 70km (1h10)

After breakfast, you will visit Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Located in the middle of the Yucatecan jungle, Uxmal means "three times built" in Maya. The architecture of this site is particularly faithful to the "Puuc" style with its geometric forms, its mosaics and its representations of the god Chaac, god of rain and thunder. In the afternoon, you will go for a swim in the wonderful cenotes of San Antonio Mulix: X'batún y Dzombakal. There is a community centre in the village that manages the entrance to the cenotes as well as mountain bike rental for a more complete experience. Return to Merida at the end of the day.

Driving directions: Merida - Uxmal 85km (1h10) / Uxmal - San Antonio Mulix 50km (45min) / San Antonio Mulix - Merida 50km (55min)

Free day in Merida. Its location is perfect and there are plenty of activities for the whole family to do outside the city. For those who want to relax and enjoy the sun, you can choose between the Costa Esmeralda, north of Merida, from Chuburna to Dzilam de Bravo, or to the west, the Gulf of Mexico with the fishing villages of Sisal or Celestun. For Mayan culture enthusiasts, you can explore two minor sites, not very touristy, but almost intact: Mayapan in the south and Dzibichaltun in the north, a few kilometres from Mérida, or visit the Great Mayan Museum, north of the city, with a collection of more than 1,000 pieces reflecting the daily life of the Maya. Looking for adventure? You will discover what makes the peninsula unique, its cenotes, located in the south. Finally, you can take a leap in time with the hacienda Sotuta de Peon, the last hacienda that still uses henequen fibre and transforms it. An unusual visit of the installations in a vehicle that is somewhat unusual as it is a truck, a cart pulled by a horse on rails.

Early departure for Bacalar. Famous for its seven-coloured lagoon, Bacalar is a pearl of the Caribbean, close to the Belizean border, in the south of the Yucatán peninsula. Bacalar is a small town known for its history and natural riches. The lagoon is made up of seven different cenotes, which gave it its name, and is about 42km long and 2km wide. Bacalar was an important commercial crossroads for the Maya, a real place of exchange between Central America and the Yucatán peninsula. Walk around the city centre and visit Fort San Felipe, built in 1729, an example of the military architecture of New Spain, which saw various battles and conflicts.

Driving time: Merida - Bacalar 350km (4h25)

Day trip to Bacalar. Famous for its seven-coloured lagoon, it is possible to discover it through various activities, such as boat or kayak excursions. It is also possible to visit Fort San Felipe, built in 1729, an example of the military architecture of New Spain, which experienced various battles and conflicts. If you want to learn more about the Mayan culture, you can visit the Kohunlich site, 1 hour from Bacalar and belonging to the Ruta Rio Bec. There you will discover the incredible Temple of the Masks, 5 of which have been restored.

Day trip to Bacalar. Famous for its seven-coloured lagoon, it is possible to discover it through various activities, such as boat or kayak excursions. It is also possible to visit Fort San Felipe, built in 1729, an example of the military architecture of New Spain, which experienced various battles and conflicts. If you want to learn more about the Mayan culture, you can visit the Kohunlich site, 1 hour from Bacalar and belonging to the Ruta Rio Bec. There you will discover the incredible Temple of the Masks, 5 of which have been restored.

Today you leave Bacalar and head north along the coast. Discover Tulum, one of the jewels of the Riviera Maya. Tulum means "wall" in the Mayan language, and it is indeed the case since it has one of the most beautiful vestiges of this civilization. You will discover this ancient city perched on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea, like an ancient fortress. A breathtaking panorama of the Paraíso and Maya beaches awaits you, as much for its contrasting colours as for its proximity to the jungle, the sea and the city. Afterwards, you can go to one of the beaches below and enjoy a moment of idleness. Tulum combines beach paradise with historical sites, making it a popular destination for travellers.

Driving directions: Bacalar - Tulum 215km (2h40)

This morning you will head to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest in Mexico and located near Tulum. The reserve includes rainforests, mangroves and swamps, as well as a vast marine area with a coral reef running through it. It has an impressive diversity of flora and fauna, including jaguars, manatees, turtles, birds and dolphins. To get there, you will pass through Muyil where the entrance to the site is located. There, you can take a boat with a local guide who will accompany you through the lagoons. You will reach the canals created by the Mayans where you will put on your life jacket and let yourself be carried by the current sitting in the water. In the late afternoon you return to Tulum. You are now free to stay in the city or to enjoy the sandy beach.

Drive: Tulum - Muyil 30km (40min)

Departure this morning for Coba. Once you arrive at the archaeological site, you can rent bicycles to get around more easily. You will reach the main and highest pyramid of the region, from where you will enjoy an exceptional view of the jungle. Then you will continue your journey to the nature reserve of Punta Laguna. Here you can take a walk through the Yucatecan jungle and with a bit of luck come across spider or howler monkeys, kayak on the lagoon or explore a cenote with a local guide. Return to Tulum at the end of the day.

Driving directions: Tulum - Coba 55km (1h) / Coba - Punta Laguna 20km (20min) / Punta Laguna - Tulum 70km (1h)

Perhaps it's time to say goodbye to Mexico and its beaches? Your stay is coming to an end. Leave the hotel for Cancun airport for your return flight.

Driving time: Tulum - Cancun airport 125km (1h45)