3 Days: Merida

Tour overview:

In 3 days, explore the Mayan and colonial history of the Yucatan Peninsula. Visit the Mayan archeological sites of Exbalam, Uxmal, and Chichen Itza. Enjoy a panoramic city tour of the ‘White City’, Merida.

Day 1 - Cancun / Ekbalam / Coba / Merida (390 km)

Arrive in Cancun and transfer to the Cancun hotel (meeting point) from where tour leaves for Merida. En route, visit the archeological site of Cobá, which was not discovered and consequently not destroyed by the Spanish. The site hosts the tallest Mayan pyramids of Mexico: the “Nohoch Mul”.

Continue to Valladolid and visit the Ekbalam archaeological site. Ekbalam is a Mayan word that means “Black Jaguar”, and this site was built during the years 700 to 1000 AD. Visitors can admire the Plaza Central that stands out thanks to its three ceremonial sculptures; the main pyramid is known as “La Torre” (The Tower) and is comparable in size to the outstanding Mayan constructions of the southeast Yucatán. Lunch at a local restaurant. The trip to Mérida continues in the afternoon, followed by a panoramic tour of the city known as the “White City”, which has Colonial houses as well as houses that date back to the beginning of the century in Arabic, French and Italian styles. Those houses have witnessed all the old wealth that was generated thanks to the sisal culture. Stop at Mérida’s Zócalo, where visitors can admire the city’s main monuments, such as: the Cathedral, the Government’s Palace, the Municipal Palace and the Francisco Montejo’s House (BL)

Day 2 - Mérida / Uxmal / Mérida (162 km)

Visit of the Uxmal archaeological site. Uxmal means “built in three stages”, and is a typical example of the classic and post classic Mayan period. Uxmal’s main constructions are: Pirámide del Adivino (The Fortuneteller’s Pyramid), Palacio de los Gobernadores (Governor’s Palace) and the Cuadrángulo de las Monjas (Quadrangle of the Nuns). Lunch at a local restaurant and return to Mérida. (BL)

Day 3 - Mérida / Chichén itzá / Riviera Maya (310 km)

Depart to Riviera Maya. En route visit the Chichén Itzá archaeological site. Chichén Itzá was the Mayan capital of Yucatán that flourished between the 5th and 10th centuries AD. Visitors can admire the impressive buildings of the northern and central archaeological sites, such as the Kukulcán Temple, the Ball Game, the Observatory, the Warrior’s Temple, the Convent of the Nuns and the Sacred Cenote. After lunch at a local restaurant continue towards Riviera Maya. Arrival and transfer to the chosen hotel. (BL)