Mysteries of the Mayan World

Highlights

• Visit the Mayan Planetarium will be substituted
• Visit the Ball Court, the Temple of Jaguars, the famous pyramid of Kukulcan, and the Sacred Cenote (Well of Sacrifice)
• Visit Mérida, capital of the Yucatán and its colonial heart
• Visits the Zocalo (main square), the stately cathedral, City Hall, and a city market, where you can shop for authentic arts and crafts
• Visit the Museum Of Anthropology with its excellent displays of Mayan artifacts from various Yucatán sites

What's this trip about?

The end of the world…some say the Mayan calendar depicted the end of the world in December 2012. But guess what? To the dismay and excitement of some, we—along with all of the ancient Mayan ruins—are still here! And with Monograms, now is your chance to visit the most famous of the Mayan ruins—Chichen Itza and Uxmal—in Mexico. On this 5-day vacation, we've arranged your hotel accommodations, daily breakfast, two lunches, three dinners, sightseeing, and transportation. Plus, a one-of-a-kind feature is the Monograms Local Host®, someone there for you throughout your vacation to guide you, answer questions, offer suggestions, and generally help you get the most out of your trip. Your vacation begins the moment you arrive in Cancun, where your Local Host will greet you at the airport with a warm welcome and transfer you to Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World®. Your hotel in Chichen Itza has its own entrance to the archaeological site. The next day, after included breakfast, we will take you on a tour of this ancient Mayan city, which dates back to 800 AD. You'll hear the stories behind the Temple of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo, which is a pyramid with 365 steps, one for each day of the year—a great example of the Maya’s supremacy in astronomy. You’ll also see the Ball Court, where the teams’ captains were decapitated after the games; the Sacred Cenote, the sacrificial well where humans (mostly girls) were tossed into the waters as sacrifices to the gods; the Temple of Jaguars; and more. While in Chichen Itza, we've also arranged for you to attend a Mayan cooking or language class, as well as the nighttime Light & Sound show, which tells the story of this ancient Mayan civilization. Then we will transfer you to Uxmal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best restored and maintained ruins in the Yucatan. We've arranged for a tour that includes the Magician’s Pyramid, the Nuns Quadrangle, the Palace of the Governor, and the Great Pyramid. We've also arranged for you to attend the Light & Sound show, which tells the history of the Mayans in a magnificent setting. We will also take you to nearby Kabah, where you will see the Codz Pop, a palace famous for its façade of 250 Chac masks and statues of ancient rulers. It is believed this building was used for religious rituals and state ceremonies. Just wait until you see it! And did we mention that we’ve included transportation back to Cancun’s airport as well as a walking tour of Merida, capital of the Yucatan and its colonial heart? You’ll see the must-see attractions, such as the main square, and visit the Museum of Anthropology with its excellent displays of Mayan artifacts. In fact, between the sightseeing and guides we’ve arranged, the attractions and transportation we’ve included, the hotels we’ve booked, and the meals we’ve included, we’ve taken care of all of the details for you. Your only job is to show up ready to learn and have fun!

Accommodation