Mayan Architecture - Superior Category

Early in the morning we head to the first archaeological site of our tour, Tulum, located 130 km from Cancun's hotel zone.

Departure from Cancun to go to the archaeological site of Tulum. Known as the port of Zama, which means "morning" or "dawn". Tulum is the only Mayan city located on a cliff, and because of its strategic location, it was a vital nexus for both maritime and land trade routes, so it became one of the main cities during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Among its most important constructions are the Castle, which served as a lighthouse; the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of the Frescoes.

We will continue our tour at the archaeological site and ceremonial center of Kohunlich. It reached its peak during the Late Classic period (550-830 A.D.). Among its constructions are the Palace of the Stelae, the Acropolis, the Ball Court, the Set of 27 Steps and the Temple of the Masks; the latter contains a series of spectacular anthropomorphic sculptures adorned that seem to correspond to historical personages invested with attributes of gods. Our last stop will be at the archaeological site of Chicanna, whose name means "in the house of the serpent's mouth". It is known for the eclecticism of its constructions and its type of decoration, is distinguished by its masks with zoomorphic figures, and has the largest number of buildings of the Rio Bec style in good state of preservation.

At the end of the tour of the archaeological sites of Quintana Roo we crossed the Campeche state border to reach the community of Xpujil to rest and spend the night.

Departure from the hotel (checkout) to go to the archaeological site of Becán; this is a peculiar archaeological site, since its main constructions are surrounded by a moat, so 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. Its Bec-style buildings contain magnificent decorations on their facades with large checkerboard panels and tall, slender towers on the sides of the main temples. Transfer to Santo Domingo de Palenque and check-in at the hotel.

Departure from the hotel (checkout) very early in the morning to go to the archaeological site of Palenque. Located in the heart of the Chiapas high jungle, it was the capital of the ancient Kingdom of B'aakal, and developed one of the most powerful dynasties of the Mayan World, which dominated the mountains and plains around it. Initially known as Lakam Há, "place of the great waters", it later changed to Otulun, which means "fortified houses". After the first visit of a European, 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 its unique architectural style called Palencano; these include 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

De la Cruz, De la Cruz Foliada, Del Sol, Del Jaguar and Del Conde. The National Park and archaeological zone of Palenque were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1987. At the end of the tour, we will begin our transfer to the capital of the state of Campeche. Check-in at the hotel in San Francisco de Campeche, and free afternoon.

Free time offers the opportunity to try the delights of Campeche cuisine, for example the famous dogfish bread.

Tour of the Historic Center of Campeche. The capital of the state of the same name was founded by the Spanish conquistadors in 1540, and 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 and looting 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 in 1999. We will visit pastel-colored colonial mansions, museums, San Miguel Fort, San José Fort, the Cathedral, Independence Square, San Carlos Bastion, the Land Gate, San Román Church and the traditional neighborhoods.

Continue to the spectacular archaeological site of Uxmal, whose name means "thrice built". This beautiful Mayan city, belonging to the Classic period (250-830 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 is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Mesoamerica; its façade was exquisitely decorated with very detailed mosaic-like sculptures, with thousands of small stones perfectly polished and adjusted to form masks of the god Chaac, serpents and astrological symbols. Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site since December 7, 1996, Uxmal is one of the most important archaeological sites of the Maya culture, along with Chichén Itzá and Tikal in Guatemala.

Transfer to Merida, and check-in at the hotel.

Merida, free night, rest and overnight

Visit the capital of the state of Yucatán. Founded on January 6, 1542, Mérida was built over the ancient Maya 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. Mérida was named American Capital of Culture in 2000 and later in 2017. 

At the end of Mérida Tour, we will continue to one of the main archaeological sites of the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza, religious capital of the Itzaes, and whose greatest apogee occurred during the Early Postclassic period (950-1200 AD); 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, world famous for the play of light and shadow that occurs on its main

staircase during the spring and autumn equinoxes, and the winter and summer solstices. 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. Afterwards, we will head to the Sacred Cenote and other major constructions, such as the Ball Court, the Observatory, also known as the Snail, the Plaza of the Thousand Columns, and the Temple of the Warriors, among others. 

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 Maya settlement of Zací. It is the second most important city in the state of Yucatan, and has been the protagonist of two important chapters in Mexico's history: the beginning of the

Caste War in 1847, and witnessed the first spark of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. During the tour, you will be able to distinguish the cultural syncretism between the Mayan and Spanish traditions in Yucatán, and enjoy the charming colonial style of Valladolid in the Central Plaza, the church of San Servasio,

the Barrio del Sisal and the old Franciscan convent of San Bernardino de Siena.

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

After the long tour through the architecture of the Mayan culture, we make the trip back to your hotel in Cancun.