Ancient Civilisations

23 days
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4.7/5 Excellent
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Small Group Tour
This is our most comprehensive tour in Mexico and Central America. Having explored Mexico City and the great ruins of Teotihuacan we discover the delights of Puebla and Oaxaca. From Monte Alban we visit the ruins of the Zapotec capital before continuing southward to the town of San Cristobal, complete with its traditional Indian communities. The magnificent P...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • This is our most comprehensive tour in Mexico and Central America.
    • Having explored Mexico City and the great ruins of Teotihuacan we discover the delights of Puebla and Oaxaca.
    • From Monte Alban we visit the ruins of the Zapotec capital before continuing southward to the town of San Cristobal, complete with its traditional Indian communities.
    • The magnificent Palenque Mayan ruins are next and then comes the Yucatan Peninsula with stops in Merida and the Mayan sites of Uxmal and Chichen Itza.
    • Having discovered ritzy Cancun and the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean we continue via the stunning seaside ruins of Tulum to Tikal, deep in the Guatemalan jungle, before finishing up in Antigua.

What's this trip about?

    This is our most comprehensive tour in Mexico and Central America. Having explored Mexico City and the great ruins of Teotihuacan we discover the delights of Puebla and Oaxaca. From Monte Alban we visit the ruins of the Zapotec capital before continuing southward to the town of San Cristobal, complete with its traditional Indian communities. The magnificent Palenque Mayan ruins are next and then comes the Yucatan Peninsula with stops in Merida and the Mayan sites of Uxmal and Chichen Itza. Having discovered ritzy Cancun and the sun-drenched beaches of the Caribbean we continue via the stunning seaside ruins of Tulum to Tikal, deep in the Guatemalan jungle, before the final part of our journey takes us to Antigua.

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Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

Attractions

  • Antigua
  • Caribbean
  • Mexico City
  • Palenque
  • San Cristobal
  • Tehuantepec
  • Tikal

Activities

  • Culture

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 16

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Mexico City

On arrival at Mexico City’s Benito Juarez International Airport you will be transferred to a hotel in the heart of the downtown area. In the evening (usually around 6pm) you will meet your tour leader and the other members of your group for a pre-tour briefing. Pleas...

Day 2 Mexico City

Mexico City is an exciting mix of modern cosmopolitan glamour with remnants from both its ancient and colonial history. Situated in the middle of a vast valley, this energetic metropolis, with a population exceeding 20 million, is one of the largest cities in the worl...

Day 3 Teotihuacan - Puebla

This morning you will travel by private minivan to Puebla, stopping at Teotihuacan along the way. Located 50 kilometres northeast of Mexico City are the 'must-see' archaeological ruins of Teotihuacan - the site of the massive Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon...

Day 4 Oaxaca

This morning you will travel by minibus to the colonial city of Oaxaca. If you're interested in purchasing traditional Mexican handicrafts, this is the place! Oaxaca is famous for its colourful markets and unique shopping opportunities, as well as its relaxed, laid-b...

Day 5 Monte Alban - Oaxaca

Today you will drive the short distance up a nearby hill to the ancient Zapotec ruins of Monte Alban, which looks out across the three legs of the valley of Oaxaca. The Zapotec civilisation began construction of this city around 200 BC and it reached its peak during t...

Day 6 Tehuantepec

This morning we drive south towards the Pacific coast on our way to Tehuantepec. On the way we will stop to see the Tule Tree (an impressively large Montezuma cypress tree), a Mezcal factory, and the ruins at Mitla. Mitla is an important Zapotec archaeological site a...

Day 7-8 San Cristobal de Las Casas

Today we continue driving east into the state of Chiapas. On the way we visit Sumidero Canyon, an 800-metre deep canyon carved out by the Sumidero River and dating from the same time as the Grand Canyon. We then continue on to San Cristobal de las Casas. San Cristobal...

Day 9-10 Palenque

You will depart San Cristobal de Las Casas and head for Palenque today. Due to increased activity by the Zapatista movement in the region around Palenque some changes to your itinerary may be necessary due to safety concerns. The Zapatistas have recently been targetin...

Day 11 Campeche

Pack your swimsuits today as we drive north towards the Gulf of Mexico, where we stop at the beach for a swim. We then drive on to Campeche where we spend the night. Campeche is a typical Spanish colonial harbour town, complete with walls and fortifications. A UNESCO ...

Day 12-13 Merida

This morning we head into the ancient ruins of Uxmal to view the amazing Palace of the Governors, considered by many to be the finest example of classic Mayan architecture, and the mystical Pyramid of the Magician, which consists of 5 super-imposed temples. We then co...

Day 14-15 Chichen Itza - Playa del Carmen

Chichen Itza is arguably the most famous Mayan site in Mexico. Its name came from the deep, natural well known as a ‘cenote’ (sinkhole containing groundwater) located near the centre of the site, which was used during the city's heyday as a place for human sacrifices ...

Day 16-17 Tulum - Caye Caulker

You will travel by minibus to the cliff-top ruins of Tulum today. From the crumbling walls of the city ruins, you will enjoy breathtaking views across the coastline of the Caribbean below. Dating back to to the year 1200, these ruins are quite young by Mayan standards...

Day 18 San Ignacio

Today you head to San Ignacio (approx. 3 hours). It is situated in the highlands, and is surrounded by forest, waterfalls, rivers, and Mayan ruins, a beautiful place in its own right, and a great base for uncovering the beauty and history of the area. This afternoon w...

Day 19 Tikal

You will continue by minibus to Tikal today. Home to some of the most magnificent Mayan ruins, the Tikal National Park is awash with wonder. The five granite temples of Tikal tower above the impressive jungle canopy, while a veritable feast of smaller structures remai...

Day 20 Flores

Following your early morning tour of the Tikal ruins, we have a short drive to Flores, where we spend the afternoon. Take time to stroll through the cobblestone streets past pastel-coloured buildings, buy local handicrafts or take a dip in Lake Peten Itza.

Day 21-23 Antigua

This morning, we drive to the nearby airport and fly to Guatemala City, from where we transfer to Antigua. A beautifully preserved UNESCO World Heritage site, Antigua is home to a plethora of Spanish Baroque architecture and ruined churches. Once the capital of Spanis...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $0
Price per day$0
Last Updated: 2/22/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Peregrine Adventures.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Peregrine Adventures

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It’s been more than 36 years since our first small group set out to discover Nepal. It’s this heritage and our reputation that keeps travellers coming back time and time again.

We appeal to the well-travelled, discerning traveller. The one who chooses value over price, and wants to immerse themselves in a place instead of just ticking landmarks off a bucket list. The type of person who would rather stay in a family run B&B built in a 16th century Venetian convent than a forgettable hotel. We’re for travellers who want inclusions along the way instead of fiddling around for loose change.

Almost 20 years ago, Peregrine led an industry revolution by solely employing locally born leaders. This innovative approach gives our travellers a deeper insight into the countries they visit. Doorways are opened and a true understanding of the place is fostered.

At Peregrine, we travel in intimate groups and take the time to get under the skin of a destination. Of course we all want to see the Taj Mahal in India. But imagine then heading to a remote Rajasthani village and learning about rural life while in the company of locals. Seeing the famous sites is a must, but it’s often the memory of wandering through a small village or sharing dinner with a local family that will leave a lasting impact.

We promise to share our knowledge and expertise with you, and ensure you will come home with stories you will tell for years to come.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (22 nts)

Transportation & Flights

Plane,Private minibus,Boat,

Transportation & flights

Plane,Private minibus,Boat
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a group trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.
Visa requirements
Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for Mexico. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. Australians, Americans, British, Canadian and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for Belize. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent. A migration fee of USD20 is payable at the border on departure from Belize. Please ensure you check the validity dates on your passport stamp at the border. Australians, Americans, Canadians, British and New Zealanders do not currently require a visa for Guatemala. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Hotel Villa Colonial
  • Alameda del Calvario #28
  • Antigua
  • Antigua
  • GUATEMALA
  • Phone: +502 77203100
Trip ID
peregrine-PSAV

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