Yucatan Explorer
5 amazing days

Description

Day 1: Cancun/Riviera Maya – Ek Balam – Izamal – Merida

Pick up by English speaking driver/guide and transfer to Ek Balam. The archeological site is built up of several temples, two large palaces and a pyramid in the center of the city. The enormous dimensions of its buildings are particularly striking. The complex is surrounded by two walls. Walk through this site and admire the Acropolis an amazing structure with a length of 480 ft. On top of the acropolis stands a massive pyramid with very well conserved frescos and representations of gods in stucco figures. We continue to the city of three cultures, Maya, Mexican, and Spanish, where Bishop Diego de Landa built a convent over a Maya temple. Climb the firebird pyramid for a breathtaking 360° degrees view over colonial Izamal and its surroundings. Late afternoon arrival in hotel Hacienda Merida.

Day 2: Merida – Corchito – Xcambo -Telchac – Merida

The city tour begins on the Zocalo (main plaza). We will visit the oldest cathedral of Yucatan, the Governor’s Palace, with the stunning murals painted by local artist Pacheco, and the city founder’s former residence, casa de Montejo, as well as a lively city market. Your journey will continue to the Nature Reserve of El Corchito, we will cross by boat where you can swim in cenotes and maybe see some raccoons and coatis. Then we go off to Xcambo where we will visit the century old maya salt field and archeological site of Xcambo after which we will continue to the beach of Telchac Puerto where you can enjoy your lunch with a ceviche or pan de cazon. Afternoon arrival at the hotel.

Day 3:  Merida – Uxmal – Choco Story – Kabah – Merida

Transfer to Uxmal. The place name is pre-Columbian and it is usually assumed to be an archaic Maya language phrase meaning built three times. Uxmal holds some of the most complex and beautiful examples of the regional Puuc-style architecture, and its magnificent pyramids and structures make it a popular tourist destination. Visit the pyramid of the dwarf, the nunnery, the ball court and the governor’s palace. Your journey will continue to Choco Story where you will learn about the history of Cacao and witness a Maya ceremony. The journey continues to another Maya site called Kabah where you will see the Codz Pop a temple covered with rain god masks. Afternoon arrival in hotel.

Day 4:  Merida – Sotuta de Peon – Dzibichaltun – Merida

Transfer to live hacienda Sotuta de peon, built in the late 1800’s in Tecoh, Yucatan. Sotuta de Peon is the restoration project of a landmark located in the heart of the ancient henequen zone in the Yucatan State, and gives a true glimpse of what was once a fully operational Henequen Hacienda in the grand style and tradition of this period. When touring Sotuta de Peon, you will literally travel back in time, transported on wooden platforms called “Trucks” which are pulled by mules over Cauville rails, as were originally used by the workers. Here you will witness the step by step process of the transformation of the Henequen (or green gold as it was known throughout the region), from plant to fiber and from fiber to finished product. And add to this the unique geological formations of our secret attractions, the cenote or beautiful underground rivers of crystal-clear water, highly sought after, alkaline waters. Take the time for a refreshing swim at the end of your tour, where you can safely swim in the cool waters of the cenote. Afternoon visit of Maya site Dzibichaltun approximately 10 miles north of the state capital Merida. The most famous structure is the Temple of the Seven Dolls, so named because of seven small effigies found at the site when the temple was discovered under the ruins of a later temple pyramid by archeologists in the 1950s. On the vernal equinox, the sun rises so that it shines directly through one window of the temple and out the other. This is a similar event to the descending snake of Chichen Itza, designed to show the power of the gods. The temple is connected to the rest of the site by a sacbe, or “white road”, so-called because they were originally coated with white limestone, built over stone-and-rubble fill. Afternoon arrival at hotel.

Day 5: Merida – Chichen Itza – Cenote – Cancun

Transfer to Chichen Itza. Dominating the center of Chichen Itza is the Temple of Kukulkan (the Maya name for Quetzalcoatl), often referred to as “El Castillo” (the castle). This step pyramid has a ground plan of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. Along the south wall are a series of what are today exposed columns, although when the city was inhabited these would have been supported an extensive roof system. On our way back to the Caribbean coast you can refresh yourself in a cenote, a water sinkhole. Arrival late afternoon in your accommodation.