Communities of the Yucatán Peninsula

Make a Difference: Mexico
History, cultural immersion, and festivity come together to make your tour a uniquely worthwhile excursion. You’ll experience Mayan architecture at its most impressive. You’ll visit some of the region’s most idyllic locales. And you'll spend time learning from locals along the way.
Learn more
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Day 1 Hola Cancún
Details: Meet your tour director and check into hotel
Your 24-hour Tour Director will meet you at the airport and remain with your group until your final airport departure. You’ll also have a private coach and driver while touring .
Day 2 Cancún--Mérida
Mérida tour director-led sightseeing tour
Government PalaceMérida CathedralPlaza Grande
Museum of Anthropology visit
Travel to Progreso
Details: Mérida tour director-led sightseeing tour
Tropical flowers in fuchsia, yellow and orange. The dark green leaves of almond and tamarind trees. Couples dressed all in white, sitting on ornate stone benches ringing the central plaza or "xocolo". The capital of the state of Yucatán, this sunny city is also the perfect base for excursions to the ancient Mayan Empire. But check out the city's sites first: Your tour director will take you to the Cathedral of San Il defonso, located on the central Plaza de Armas. Begun in 1563, the Cathedral is the oldest on the American mainland, with the oldest true dome in Mexico. See what many consider Mexico's most "dignified" church interior, complete with thick Tuscan columns, a coffered nave and high altar. Walk across the sunny plaza to the Government Palace to see huge murals depicting scenes of the Spanish conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula and aspects of the Mayan culture that still flourish.
Day 3 Uxmal
Uxmal guided excursion
Magician’s PyramidGovernor’s PalaceNunnery Quadrangle
Kabah guided visit
Details: Uxmal guided excursion
What did this region look like before the Spaniards arrived? Set off to Uxmal, one of the largest and most powerful of the former Mayan cities, to see. A licensed, local guide will lead you through the wooded valley to the wide, uncrowded plazas, where you'll find some of the best-proportioned Mayan buildings known. See the restored Magician's Pyramid, a three-tiered structure built between the 6th and 10th centuries, the grand Governor's Palace, and the Nunnery Quadrangle, four buildings surrounding a central courtyard, resembling a monastery or nunnery.
Day 4 Mérida
Tekit Community excursion
Mayan bakery workshopLunch in a Mayan householdGuayaberas clothing factory visitRefresh in the local cenote
Details: Tekit Community excursion
Just south of Merida, is Tekit, a traditional Yucatecan town whose daily life revolves around its beautiful church, the market and some small shops. Spend the day with a local cooperative and join in on their daily activities. Prepare and taste local bread made in a stone oven at a local bakery, meet Ana and Manuel who will introduce you to agro-ecological production systems. Learn about the production of melipon bees (bees without a sting) and try different varieties of honey. Stop at Ana's house for a traditional Yucatecan lunch. Visit a guayabera factory to learn about the manufacturing process and explore some local stores where it is possible to buy typical and quality clothing directly from the producers. Finally, cool off with a dip in a lush cenote.
Day 5 Mérida--Valladolid
Details: Travel to Valladolid
Visit the small city of Valladolid where the townspeople still dress in traditional Mayan clothing, the buildings in the main plaza are painted in brilliant pastel colors, and the local women sell their home-made arts and crafts in the central square. Wander through the main plaza and browse through the embroidered blouses and shawls for sale, explore the historic neighborhoods, the seven local churches and visit the impressive San Bernardino Convent for a true feel of this Yucatan city.
Details: Izamal visit
See the melding of Mayan and Catholic culture at Izamal, where the enormous 16th-century Convent of St. Anthony stands atop the ruins of an ancient Mayan pyramid. The church's atrium, almost as large as St. Peter's in Rome, holds newly discovered frescoes. The ruins of other Mayan temples surround the site, giving Izamal the nickname "City of the Hills."
Details: Chichén Itzá guided visit
Ruins, ruins everywhere. Join a licensed, local guide for a visit to Chichén Itzá, one of the country's most famous Mayan sites. The city dates from around the 7th century AD (though there is evidence of farmers living here as early as the 4th century BC). A major trade and ceremonial center, Chichén Itzá is known for its huge, 365-stepped, four-sided, pyramid El Castillo, as well as other buildings, sculptures and carved murals.
Details: Cenote visit
Slip into the cool and shadowed world of Yucatan cenotes, where the turquoise water promises relief from the blistering heat outside. These underground caves were held sacred by the Mayans and have been a source of fascination for travelers since ancient times.
Details: Chichén Itzá sound and light show
Learn more about the Mayan culture with a sound and light show - a visual blast from the past.
Day 6 Valladolid--Playa del Carmen
Details: Travel to Playa del Carmen via Dzitnup
Add to the record books—Playa del Carmen is now, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the fastest growing town in the world. Attracted by the gorgeous white-sand beach and stunning blue water, the town's newcomers maintain Playa's friendliness and vibrancy. Check out the beach or shop for souvenirs along the bustling main strip.
Details: Volunteer with a local community
It’s not just exposure to new places that brings growth, it’s participation and personal engagement that challenge travelers to make an impact. We work hand-in-hand with trusted organizations and charities around the world to coordinate volunteer projects that meet the needs of local communities, so when it’s time for your group to travel, you may participate in activities like: Helping the community plant Aloe Vera plants which is used for the production of soap and shampoo. Maintaining lagoon paths and eco trails to promote tourism in the area.
Day 7 Playa del Carmen
Details: Playa del Carmen beach time
Spend an afternoon soaking up some vitamin D on the fine white sands of Playa del Carmen, named for the patron saint of Cancún. The turquoise waters offer ample opportunity to explore the marine life and reefs in the Caribbean Sea. So pack your snorkel and fins!
Details: Tulum visit
See the Mayan idea of a beach town. Tulum is the largest Mayan coastal city and one of Cancún’s favorite daytrips. Survey the limestone ruins, the surrounding lush jungle, and the super-blue ocean with your Tour Director.
Day 8 End tour
Map of Mexico - Culture & Compassion Tour
Tour Includes:
  • Round-trip airfare
  • 7 overnight stays in hotel with private bathrooms
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Lunch included on day 4
  • Full-time services of a professional tour director
  • Guided sightseeing and city walks as per itinerary
  • Tour Diary™
  • Local Guide and Local Bus Driver tips; see note regarding other important tips
  • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa. Optional excursions, optional pre-paid Tour Director and multi-day bus driver tipping, among other individual and group customizations will be listed as separate line items in the total trip cost, if included.
We are better able to assist you with a quote for your selected departure date and city over the phone. Please call 1.888.310.7120 to price this tour with your requested options.
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3425.00 total fee
Basic Options


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