Great Mayan Capitals (TUR)

Dejando Cancun temprano en la mañana haremos un recorrido de 300 km. para llegar a la zona arqueológica de Ek Balam a 30 minutos de la ciudad de Valladolid

Departure from Cancun to go to Ek Balam, known as the "City of the Black Jaguar", with imposing constructions sheltered in the dense vegetation; most of them date from the Late Classic period (550-830 A.D.). Ek Balam was the capital of the Kingdom of Tah, which dominated the entire eastern Yucatan peninsula between 600 and 850 AD. Here the great Acropolis stands out, which contains the imposing tomb of the ruler Ukit Kan Lek Tok' where an offering with more than 7,000 objects was found. Its facade is beautifully decorated with magnificent masks, friezes and stone statues; its 31 meters high, 160 meters long and almost 70 meters wide make it the largest structure in the Yucatan Peninsula. After an exhaustive hike, we will refresh ourselves in the crystalline waters of a cenote; these natural wonders were a vital source for the development of the Mayan civilization.

We will continue with a panoramic tour of the colonial city of Valladolid; it was founded on May 28, 1543 on the remains of the ancient Mayan settlement of Zací. It is the second most important city in Yucatán.

The grand finale will be in one of the main archaeological zones of the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza, religious capital of the Itzaes, and whose greatest apogee occurred during the Early Postclassic period (900-1200 A.D.); its name means "the mouth of the well of the water sorcerers". In 1988, the site was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco, and in its constructions two architectural styles can be distinguished: Puuc (600-800 A.D.) and Maya-Toltec (800-1100 A.D.). The tour begins at the Castillo, or Temple of Kukulcan. This imposing building, the most emblematic of the site, was recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World on July 7, 2007. Transfer to Merida and check-in at the hotel.

Rest, free night and overnight in Merida

Visit to the capital of the state of Yucatan. Founded on January 6, 1542, Merida was built over the ancient Mayan city of Ichcaanziho, also known as T'Hó. Among its magnificent and elegant constructions--traces of its different historical stages--are the Casa de Montejo, the Cathedral of San Ildefonso (the oldest in continental America) and the Government Palace, located around the famous Plaza Grande, as well as the impressive Peón Contreras Theater. During the panoramic tour of Paseo de Montejo, one of Mexico's most important avenues, we will be able to see the Twin Houses, the Canton Palace and the Monument to the

Homeland. Merida was named American Capital of Culture in 2000 and later in 2017.

We will continue our day to the spectacular archaeological site of Uxmal. This beautiful Mayan city, belonging to the Classic period (250-950 A.D.), was the capital of the ancient Xiu Kingdom, which exercised rigid control over the communities of the northern Maya, until it became the political and economic capital of the Puuc region. Among its constructions, of the architectural style also known as Puuc, stand out the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the Ball Court, the Dovecote, the House of the Old Woman, the House of the Turtles, and the Pyramid of the Soothsayer, the most outstanding, for its singular elliptical structure and its 35 meters of height. The Governor's House House is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Mesoamerica; its façade was exquisitely decorated with very detailed mosaic-like sculptures. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since December 7, 1996.

Transfer to San Francisco de Campeche and check-in at the hotel, and free night.

Campeche, more than 480 years of history, mestizaje and resistance of the walled city. Arrival for rest, dinner and overnight.  

Tour of the Historic Center of Campeche. Founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1540, it served as a base for the colonization of the rest of the peninsula. Due to its successful monopoly and commercialization of palo de tinte, it was the victim of attacks by the most famous pirates of the 17th century. To protect the population, they built a wall around the city, and thanks to the preservation of the picturesque old town, the city was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  We will then drive along the coast until we reach the junction in Sabancuy, where we will head towards Palenque.

Check-in at the hotel in Santo Domingo de Palenque, and free time.

Night at leisure in Palenque, rest and overnight stay.

Located in the heart of the high jungle of Chiapas, Palenque was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of B'aakal, developed one of the most powerful dynasties of the Mayan World. Initially known as Lakam Hó, "place of the great waters", it was later changed to Otulun, which means "fortified houses". After the first visit of Fray Pedro Lorenzo de la Nada in 1567, the site was renamed Palenque, which means "fortification" in Catalan. It reached its splendor in the Late Classic period (550-830 A.D.), was the seat of the powerful dynasty to which King Pakal belonged, and rivaled other great capitals such as Calakmul, Tikal, Copán and Toniná. In its main structures, we can observe the Palace, which contains the Observatory; the Aqueduct; the Temple of the Inscriptions, the tomb of the great lord Pakal; the Ball Court; and the temples of the Cross, the Foliated Cross, the Sun, the Jaguar and the Count. The National Park and archaeological zone of Palenque were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1987. We will continue our tour until we reach one of the most beautiful natural sanctuaries in the area: the Misol-Há waterfall.

Return to the hotel in Santo Domingo de Palenque.

Once the visit to Palenque is over, and having enjoyed its grandeur, we will spend the night in the same community of Palenque to continue the next day going deep into the jungle.

Rest and spend the night in Xpuhil to regain strength before traveling to the next destination.

Departure from the hotel (checkout) to transfer to. During the trip, we will stop at the viewpoint on the Usumacinta River to appreciate its beautiful scenery. We will continue our tour until we reach the archaeological site of Becán. This is a peculiar archaeological site, since its main constructions are surrounded by a moat, which is why its name means “path or cavity left by the running of the water”, or “snake path”. The site served as the political capital of the area from the Late Classic to the Early Postclassic period (550-1200 A.D.). Its Rio Bec-style buildings contain magnificent façade decorations, large checkerboard panels, and tall, slender towers on the sides of its main temples.

Transfer to a hotel in the middle of the jungle for check-in and overnight.

Tour of the archaeological site of Calakmul, one of the most important capitals of the Mayan World. Because of its grandeur and its difficult access, we have reserved a whole day to enjoy it. We will go deep into the jungle along paths adapted to the environment for approximately two hours, during which we will be able to observe the flora and fauna in their natural state. The archaeological zone was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2002. Calakmul, whose name means "two adjacent mounds" was the most important settlement of the Classic period (250- 950 A.D.) and capital of the ancient kingdom of Kan; together with Tikal and Palenque, they headed the political organization of the highlands. Within its 30 square kilometers of extension, more than 6,000 structures have been found, divided into five architectural groups, among which are pyramids, palaces, temples and ball games, including the largest in the Maya World. The more than 400 stelae found at the site have provided political and religious information that demonstrates the great importance of this great city. Calakmul's area of influence covered 13,000 square kilometers, and is located near Tikal, with which it fought bloody battles for control of the territory.

Transfer to Chetumal, capital of the state of Quintana Roo, and check-in at the hotel.

Leaving behind the wonderful history of Calakmul and its grandeur we will arrive in Chetumal to spend the night. 

Transfer to Bacalar. This Magical Town is known for being home to one of the most beautiful natural treasures: the “Lagoon of the Seven Colors” which, due to its different depths and the effects of the sun's rays on its crystalline waters, shows us spectacular shades of blue. It is also a sanctuary for colonies of prehistoric microorganisms, called stromatolites, which represent the oldest known evidence of life on Planet Earth. The visit includes a tour of the Fort of San Felipe with its museum of the Caste War, and the imposing Blue Cenote, where we can refresh ourselves in its crystalline waters.

Afterwards, we will continue to Tulum, and if we have time, we will make a brief visit to the site. Tulum is the only Mayan city located on a cliff, and due to its strategic location, it was a vital nexus for the commercial routes -both maritime and terrestrial- of the Mayan World, which is why it became one of its main cities during the 13th and 14th centuries. Among its most important constructions, whose style is known as of the Eastern Coast, and belong to the Late Postclassic period (1200-1539 A.D.), are the Castle, which served as a lighthouse; the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of the Frescoes. The archaeological site is located within a zone that was declared a Protected Natural Area in 2016.

At the end of the tour, we will continue to the city of Cancun, where we will drop you off at your hotel. 

At the end of the tour in Tulum, we headed to the north of the peninsula towards Cancun to take you to your place of lodging and finish our tour.