Mexico's Yucatán Adventure

Begin your adventure in the tranquil colonial city of Valladolid. Around 6pm, say hola to your tour leader and fellow travellers, when we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead. Your tour leader then ensures a big Mexican welcome by arranging dinner at the hotel, which serves traditional Yucatecan cuisine. Want more time in Valladolid? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Journey into the Maya world today at the ruins of Ek’ Balam, a 30-minute drive away. Navigating the jungle-shrouded archaeological site with our tour leader, we enjoy our first introduction to the civilisation, while also keeping an eye out for various birdlife and iguanas. Visit the nearby Xcanché cenote after, a rainforest sinkhole filled with deep-blue fresh water. Before taking a refreshing swim, you need to descend 50ft (15m) via steep wooden stairs – or overcome the distance by rappelling, mountaineer-style. We then return to Valladolid for downtime at the hotel. Refreshed, we explore the city on a guided tour, walking cobblestone streets, seeing Franciscan churches and monasteries, and soaking in the romantic atmosphere of the main square (zócalo).

Explore an icon of Mexico today: Chichén Itzá, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Just a one-hour drive away, it’s home to some of the most impressive surviving ruins from the Maya civilisation, including: the 80ft (24m) tall pyramid of El Castillo (also known as the Temple of Kukulcan); the Great Ball Court; Sacred Cenote; and El Caracol observatory. Our tour leader shows us the incredible structures, while also sharing the secrets and extraordinary planning that went into building the city. After, we transfer (3hr 20min) to Uxmal, where we visit the Ecomuseo del Cacao, exploring the beautiful gardens and traditional Maya houses to learn all about growing and cultivating cocoa plants and producing chocolate. Also try a traditional Maya drink made from cocoa beans and spices, enjoying the sweet and spicy taste. Finally, we head to Hacienda Uxmal. Built in 1683, its former guests include Queen Elizabeth II and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, though you’ll be the VIP guests for our three-night stay.

We visit the Uxmal ruins this morning, our next great foray into the Maya world. Though not as well known as Chichén Itzá, the buildings here, which include the towering Pyramid of the Magician, Nunnery Quadrangle and Ball Court, are equally impressive. Returning to Hacienda Uxmal, we explore in style, taking turns to drive classic Land Rovers around the extensive grounds, where they grow a wide range of fruit and vegetables. As we head to a lookout point for a view over the tropical forest and Uxmal ruins, learn about the cultivation of limes, Maya pumpkins, broccoli and tomatoes, with a chance to try some of the produce. Feeling brave? Test yourself against the habanero, the hottest chilli in the Yucatán.

Transfer (1hr 35min) to Mérida this morning, capital of the Yucatán state with a fascinating mix of Maya heritage and colonial influences. Here, we learn the secrets of Yucatecan cuisine in an immersive six-hour cooking class. It starts at the local market, where we taste delicious local fruits, learn about Yucatecan customs, and purchase our ingredients. Then, we take a public bus to our chef’s home, where our host shows us how to cook a traditional menu. To increase everyone’s enjoyment and learning, the specific menu is tailored to the dietary requirements of the group, but is generally a starter, main course (such as pollo pibil or papadzules) and a dessert. After, we have a relaxed walking tour of downtown Mérida, before returning to Hacienda Uxmal.

We’re off to Izamal (a 1hr 40min drive), named a Pueblo Mágico by the Mexican tourism board and known for its collection of bright-yellow buildings. Here, we visit a centre for traditional medicine to learn about Maya healing under the expert tutelage of Anilú Patrón Canché, who shares her ancestral knowledge with you. After, tuck into traditional Yucatán dishes at Kinich restaurant for lunch – the homemade salsas are particularly good. Then, we stretch our legs on a bike tour of the city. Visit the main streets and central square, climb the Kinich Kakmó Pyramid for views over the city, explore the Itzamatul Pyramid, and visit the former railway station. We also stop at three traditional workshops (where they make papier-mâché products, hammocks, and woodcraft/miniatures) for a first-hand look at the artisanal heritage of Izamal. Finally, we transfer (3hr 30min) to the little-known beach town of El Cuyo, our last base of the adventure.

Head into nature today, driving (1hr 50min) to Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, where mangrove forests, vast swamps and saline wetlands protect numerous wildlife, including crocodiles, sea turtles and flamingos. Here, we join a Maya cooperative on an educational boat tour through the winding mangrove channels and past the pink salt ponds of Las Coloradas (where you might want to take a mineral-rich mud bath!). After the tour, we have a boxed lunch before returning to El Cuyo, where you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, before we head out for a final group dinner, a chance to relive our adventures together!