Mexico Adventure: Mayan Mysticism

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

The sun is tickling your face - are you ready? In the morning, you enjoy a leisurely breakfast before taking the shuttle back to the airport to pick up your faithful companion on four wheels for the next few days (transfer included). Put the seat in position, straighten the rear-view mirror and put your foot on the gas pedal: road trip, here I come! With the Caribbean Sea always on your left, you drive south along the coast to Tulum. This place magically combines the mysticism of Mayan culture with Caribbean dream beaches and a relaxed atmosphere. You first check into your deluxe room and enjoy the view of the greenery around you. Your hotel is located right next to Tulum National Park, which you definitely want to explore! Quickly grab your sunglasses and you're right in the middle of it! If you want to get a first impression of Mexico's famous Mayan ruins, head for the archaeological zone of Tulum, which is located on a steep bank with an unobstructed view of the sea. Stroll between the sites and feel the mysticism that surrounds this place. Just a few meters further and you have warm sand under your feet and are standing right on Playa Paraiso - is there anything more beautiful than sun, beach and the sound of waves in your ears? Yes, a perfect place to enjoy it all! Decide on a beach bar of your choice (e.g. Coco Tulum Beach Bar) and round off the evening.

• Breakfast

Still a bit of sand in your sandals and salt in your hair? Rent a bike in the morning and head to one of the many small cafés in the city for a hearty breakfast (e.g. Ki'bok Coffee). Afterwards, you're spoiled for choice: what do you want to explore today? Either ride through the forests to hidden cenotes or along the countless dream beaches. Or simply both! Don't forget your swimsuit, because a little cooling off on your chosen route is a must! The most beautiful cenotes around Tulum include Grand Cenote and Cenote Calavera. How convenient that they are easily accessible by bike! If you want to immerse yourself a little more in the flora and fauna, then take a trip to the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve. You can reach it via Chunyaxché (Muyil) or Punta Allen. The nature reserve is known for its numerous turtles, dolphins and mangrove forests with crocodiles. You can book guided boat tours on site (optional). Regardless of how you spend your day in Tulum, in the evening you can put your toes back in the warm, soft sand on the beach and enjoy the relaxed evening atmosphere.

Snorkeling in caves and discovering the gates to the underworld is something for you? Start your discovery tour by bike (bookable in advance)! Swim and snorkel in the Cenote Cristal and Cenote Escondido! Relax briefly with an unforgettable view of the majestic treetops, then it's onwards - pure adventure!

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

Good morning! Did you sleep well? Today is all about the road trip - through the jungle and along small villages! You're heading west, but before you really get going, you make your first stop in Cobá. Pyramids, ruins and other impressive buildings are surrounded by the dense green of the rainforest. Soak up the nature around you and close your eyes for a moment to feel the moment. A real highlight awaits you around the next corner: the Nohoch Mul pyramid. Unfortunately, it is no longer allowed to be climbed, but even from down here it is an incredibly impressive sight. Can you feel the goosebumps on your body? You can hardly believe that it was built so long ago without any machines and is still standing here today! Then you head to your car and press the gas pedal: now it's time to really get going! Your route takes you along smaller roads through the Yucatán countryside - the wind in your hair as one panorama after another passes you by "Mexico, you wonderful pearl!", you keep thinking. Your accommodation today welcomes you in a special way, as it is reminiscent of colonial-style villas. Sort through the images in your head as you sit in a rocking chair on the veranda and imagine times gone by. Enjoy the evening to the full, as your hotel was named the best historic hotel in the world in 2019 (according to Historic Hotels Worldwide).

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

It's best to set off early in the morning so that you have the highlights in Uxmal largely to yourself! Quickly grab your camera and you're already standing in front of the Piramide del Adivino, the "Pyramid of the Magician". Its size and unusual oval shape alone will immediately blow you away! Take enough time to explore and take your own personal souvenir photos! Got the best picture? Good, then it's on to the bean next, and probably the tastiest in the world: the cocoa bean. The surrounding cocoa plantations belong to the Hacienda Uxmal Plantation & Museum, where you stayed last night. In small huts surrounded by jungle, the Choco Story vividly demonstrates how cocoa is grown, harvested and consumed and what the Maya had to do with the discovery. Finally, you will take part in a small cocoa ceremony (optional museum entrance fee payable on site). Towards the afternoon, you will move on from Uxmal to Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán. The city is one thing above all: vibrant, lively and colorful! If you want to dive straight into the hustle and bustle, visit the Mercado Lucas de Gálvez. But beware: sensory overload is inevitable! It mainly sells fresh fruit, vegetables and Mexican specialties. If you're looking for some peace and quiet afterwards, stroll through the alleyways, sit down in a cozy café and take in the hustle and bustle.

• Breakfast

Mmmhh, delicious! A good breakfast is a great way to start the day full of energy! Your hotel is located in the center of Mérida, so you can explore the city on foot. You walk to the Plaza Grande, the heart and main square of the city, where many of the most important buildings can be found. These include the Catedral de San Ildefonso, the oldest church in Mexico, which, although rather simple, is a strong expression of how closely faith and culture are linked in the country. Don't miss out on a short visit! The town hall, the Palacio Municipal, is also located here on the square and is hard to miss with its pink coloring and tall tower. The square regularly hosts cultural events, such as traditional dances (every Monday evening at 8 pm). Tip: From the balcony of the Palacio de Gobierno, you have a great view of the Plaza Grande. Around 1.5 kilometers from the bustling city center, you can walk along the Paseo de Montejo under trees and past impressive houses. There are always statues and monuments in the middle of the street - a completely different cityscape! Do you fancy another excursion? The lagoon near Celestún is known for its flamingo colonies. Here you can see the fascinating pink animals in the wild and observe them on a boat tour (can be optionally booked on site, approx. €15 per person).

Want to experience the authentic cuisine of Mexico? This is your chance! You will experience the vibrant gastronomy of the city (bookable in advance): whether markets or restaurants - your taste buds will embark on an unforgettable adventure into the culinary history of the country! Try Mayan specialties that can only be found here!

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

After breakfast, you head east. Your first stop is in Izamal, the "yellow city". The small colonial town owes its special color scheme to the visit of Pope John Paul II. In his honor, the entire town was painted in the colors of the Vatican: Yellow and white. Next, you'll visit THE highlight of Mexico that you've seen countless times in travel guides: Chichén-Itzá. One of the seven new wonders of the world - and rightly so. Your mouth is wide open as you stand in front of the 24-metre-high pyramid of Kukulcán. The Maya are known for their art of calendaring and their intelligence in calculating astronomical facts precisely - let yourself be captivated by the myths and legends and decide for yourself how much you believe them. Is it a coincidence that the steps add up to 365 and that one side of the pyramid sinks completely into shadow at the equinox? With a lot of Mayan culture and even more images in your head, it's time for some relaxation. How about a refreshing dip in a cenote? Cenotes are karst caves with groundwater access, which are often doline-like large limestone holes filled with fresh water due to the collapse of the cave ceiling - natural pools at their best! The Ik-Kil Cenote is located near Chichén-Itzá - let's go there! The light bathes the entire cave in a magical atmosphere, the turquoise blue water and the hanging lianas make the picture perfect. Would you like to visit several cenotes? Not far from your hotel in Valladolid are the Samula, Suytun (with a jetty and platform on the water) and X'keken cenotes. How often would you like to jump into the cool water and feel the magic?

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

So, have you been able to digest all the impressions from yesterday? If not, that's not too bad, because today you're taking the ferry to the island paradise of Holbox and you'll have plenty of time to sort out the images in your head. Before heading to the port, you make a stopover at the pink lake of Las Coloradas. "Is it really pink?" you might ask yourself. In fact, these are salt pans that have their unusual coloration due to a completely natural background: Microorganisms, algae and saltwater crustaceans, some of which produce the pigment beta-carotene, give the water of the Las Coloradas lagoon such a unique pink glow. Enough colors in your head? Then drive on to the port of Chiquila and park your rental car here before boarding the ferry. You are not allowed to take your 4 wheels with you, but that doesn't matter, because the next few days will be packed with beach, sun and sea.

Your temporary home: a 4* design hotel consisting of individual villas right on the water - a dream! Arrive relaxed and toast the coming days with a cool drink in the evening!

• Breakfast

Flip flops, sun cream, bath towel: that's all you need today! Your day today is all about paradise between dream beaches and palm trees. Quickly put on your sunglasses and you can already feel the warm, soft sand between your toes and the salty sea breeze on your skin. "Oh, how good I feel!" Switch off and enjoy doing nothing. In the evening, however, you shouldn't miss out on one highlight: the sunset! The best place to watch it is from one of the beach bars (e.g. the Rooftop Alma Bar) and enjoy a delicious cocktail!

Would you like to get to know the beautiful landscape around the island of Holbox? Hop into a kayak and paddle off on an adventure (bookable in advance)! Experience Mexico's wilderness up close through the deep green of the mangroves. Discover crocodiles, flamingos, rays and pelicans! Admire the diverse flora and fauna around you and enjoy nature!

• Breakfast
• Stay Included

Did you enjoy yesterday so much that you could easily repeat it today? No problem, because you can do it again if you like! So slip back into your flip-flops and enjoy the paradise around you. Your toes are tingling and you'd rather do something? That's also possible, of course. Hire a bike and whizz around Holbox! Where to? Punta Mosquito is located north-east of your hotel and is easy to reach on foot or on two wheels. How many flamingos can you count on your tour? Ride along beautiful sandy beaches as far as you like and stop here and there for a dip in the shimmering turquoise water. When you're in the town itself, keep an eye out for the colorful street art that adorns the building facades. But don't forget the time! You're leaving Holbox again today.

Pack your suitcase, take the ferry back to the mainland, and drive to your accommodation in Cancún. Enjoy your last evening in Mexico!

• Breakfast

What now? Where have the last few days gone? In fact, your trip through Mexico flew by and yet: if you remember every single detail of your adventure, your time was packed full of experiences and unforgettable memories. Your camera has the proof: countless photos! Your head? Filled with even more pictures. You return your rental car at Cancún airport. As your plane takes off, you watch as the paradise beneath you gets smaller and smaller and whisper quietly to yourself "Adios mexico! You will see me again!"

• Cancun to New York
• Breakfast

You land at the airport of your choice and on your way home you can already imagine the amazed faces of your loved ones when you tell them about your experiences!