30 Day itinerary in Mexico, North America
Embark on an unforgettable adventure from vibrant Mexico City to the pristine beaches of Cancun, immersing yourself in the rich cultures of Guatemala and Belize. Experience ancient Mayan ruins, breathtaking landscapes, and local traditions. Swim in crystal-clear cenotes, explore colonial towns, and ... Read More
By Bamba Travel Inc
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Experience Chichen Itza and the pyramids of Teotihuacan
Sail through the impressive Sumidero Canyon
Trek the Pacaya Volcano for stunning views
Stay the night with a local Maya family
Experience Chichen Itza and the pyramids of Teotihuacan
Sail through the impressive Sumidero Canyon
Trek the Pacaya Volcano for stunning views
Stay the night with a local Maya family
Accommodation Categories
Day 1: Mexico City, Mexico
Teotihuacan Early Morning Tour
Departure Time: 6:20
Duration: 8 hrs
Embark on a mystical journey to the "City of the Gods," Teotihuacan, before the tour groups from Mexico City arrive. Explore the impressive archaeological site in peace and tranquility as you visit its different structures, squares, and murals, surrounded by a magical and mystical atmosphere.
Your experience is enhanced by a knowledgeable guide who shares stories, history, and updates on the latest discoveries at the site. Immerse yourself in the culture of ancient Mexico with a stop at a local Teotihuacan family's obsidian workshop, where you'll sample cactus-based liqueurs and traditional Mexican spirits like tequila, mezcal, and pulque.
Cap off your day with a delightful lunch experience (not included), where you can savor a variety of traditional Mexican dishes and flavors.
Day 2: Oaxaca, Mexico
Mexico City to Oaxaca
Type: Bus
Time: 00:10, 09:00, 10:00, 23:00
Duration: 7 Hours
Transfer from Mexico City to Oaxaca
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Oaxaca.
Day 3: Oaxaca, Mexico
Hike through Hierve el Agua
Departure Time: 7:00
Departure Days: Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday
Duration: 9 hrs
Join us on a tour of Hierve el Agua, a popular tourist destination in the Mexican state of Oaxaca known for its tall petrified waterfalls made of carbonated water and natural springs. During the tour, you'll have the chance to swim in the crystal-clear pools, take guided walks through the trails, and learn about the tradition of mezcal making while sampling different flavors. We'll also visit the Zapotec weavers town of Teotitlan del Valle, where skilled artisans use ancient techniques to create and paint stunning rugs inspired by famous artists. Hierve el Agua is located in the Sierra Madre mountain range and is about 50 kilometers from the city of Oaxaca.
Day 4: Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
Type: Bus
Time: 10:45, 19:45
Duration: 3 Hours
Transfer from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Puerto Escondido.
Day 5: Puerto Escondido, Mexico
Puerto Escondido Learn to Surf Experience (2 Hours)
Departure Time: 09:00, 15:30
Duration: 2 hrs
Test your surfing abilities in Mexico's number one surf spot!
Take a 2-hour lesson based on your experience level, our fully bilingual instructors will take you to specific beaches scattered around Puerto Escondido. If you are a begginer they might take you to La Punta located on the south-end of Zicatela, and if you are experienced and love challenges they could take you to the striking Mexican Pipeline.
Our surf instructors work with a maximum of 2 students per instructor, so that students can receive all the attention they need in order to have a quick progress, a personalised class and a safe instruction. We have experience in teaching all ages and levels. We guarantee that you will have a great and unforgettable surfing experience.
Puerto Escondido is characterized for its easy-going surfer vibe, so don't be afraid to share some pointers and tips while you sip some beers with fellow surfers after your lesson!
Day 6: Pochutla (Mazunte), Mexico
Puerto Escondido to Pochutla (Mazunte)
Type: Bus
Time: 07:00, 11:30, 16:30, 20:00, 21:15, 21:30
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Transfer from Puerto Escondido to Pochutla (Mazunte)
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Pochutla (Mazunte).
Day 7: San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
Pochutla (Mazunte) to San Cristobal de las Casas
Type: Night bus
Time: 13:10, 21:30, 23:00
Duration: 12 Hours
Transfer from Pochutla (Mazunte) to San Cristobal de las Casas
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to San Cristobal de las Casas.
Day 8: San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
Local & Sustainable Foodie Experience
Departure Time: 13:00
Duration: 2 hrs
Mexican food is varied, as is the diversity of its culture. The best experiences are meaningful when the senses are nurtured. In Chiapas, traditional cuisine is recreated with the ingredients that walkers of history brought with them and mixed with local ingredients to create delicious gastronomic dishes. First we will give you an introduction to the meaning of party dishes in Chiapas and their special ingredients. You will be able to taste a dish from the Chiapas culinary options' menu. Then, you will taste a Posh Traditional tsotsil, and you will learn about the traditional food of Chiapas, being able to taste an authentic soup from San Cristóbal and a dish based on pork, chicken or vegetarian with the seasoning and secrets of the "Coletas" families. You can taste a Mayan drink to accompany your food. The place you will be taking part in the activity, is a pleasant and light-filled space where fair trade in handicrafts made by indigenous women is also promoted. In addition to providing the inputs with which the dishes are made, they also exhibit here their handicrafts. Language is not a problem, we love learning new words and making friends!
NOTE: Travelers can also choose local vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan food options.
PLEASE NOTE THIS ACTIVITY DOES NOT OPERATE ON SUNDAYS.
Meals: Lunch
Day 9: Panajachel, Guatemala
San Cristobal de las Casas to Panajachel
Type: Shuttle
Time: 07:00
Duration: 10 Hours
Transfer from San Cristobal de las Casas to Panajachel
You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Panajachel, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.
Day 10: San Jorge La Laguna, Guatemala
Maya Homestay Experience 2D/1N with Maya Communities Lake Tour
Home Stay in San Jorge La Laguna (D)
Upon arrival at Avenida Santander Zona 2 (next to Hotel Dos Mundos), you will be given instructions on how to take a public bus from Panajachel to reach the village where your host family lives, San Jorge La Laguna.
The home stay will give you a genuine insight into the everyday lives of a local family during your trip by staying one or more more nights with a family from the Kakchiquel Indigenous group in San Jorge La Laguna. Maya Experience Home Stays has started this home stay program in the village to give something back to the communities around Lake Atitlan, and also to give you a very genuine experience of living with a Maya local family to experience their culture and customs. This experience is very new to the village and families who welcome foreigners into their homes. As a responsible traveler, we as guests must be aware of and sensitive to the culture by behaving respectfully during our time with the family and in the village.
Although shy at first, the villagers are very friendly and welcoming people. Make sure you ask permission to take photos of the people in the village since the Mayan community commonly believes a photograph will steal their soul. You will most likely find the housing situation in San Jorge La Laguna rather basic but the reason for partcipating in this home stay is to enjoy a real insight into Guatemala, so you can experience the culture firsthand and interact with the local community on a personal basis. We hope that you enjoy this very unique experience.
A small gift for the family would be a nice gesture of appreciation for the family welcoming you into their home. Cooking or kitchen materials such as pasta, rice, sugar, fruit, vegetables or kitchen utensils are very much appreciated ($3 USD per person approx). Other materials from your home country or children's books (coloring, basic English, workbooks, almanacs) would be a great addition to the family library.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation:
Day 11: Panajachel, Guatemala
Maya Homestay Experience 2D/1N with Maya Communities Lake Tour
Boat Tour of Lake Atitlan with visits to indigenous villages. Return to Panajachel (B)
You will have all the instructions on how to go from the Homestay to the meeting point. Then, you will hop in a boat for a tour of Lake Atitlan and a visit to its colorful indigenous villages.
The word "atitlan" is translated from Maya as "the place where the rainbow gets its colors" and accordingly you will understand why so many people have been drawn to this magical lake for hundreds of years. Panajachel alone is an 800 year old town home to mostly Cachikel Maya and an increasing number foreigners from every corner of the globe, all coming together to soak up a piece of that serenity and originality that this place provides.
You'll visit the following villages:
You will be dropped off back in Panajachel when the tour is finished.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Antigua, Guatemala
Panajachel to Antigua
Type: Shuttle
Time: 12:00, 16:00
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Transfer from Panajachel to Antigua
You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Antigua, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.
Day 13: Antigua, Guatemala
Pacaya Volcano Trek
Departure Time: 14:00
Duration: 8 hrs
Get up close and personal with an active volcano and brag to your friends about it. Hike up the Pacaya Volcano slope fo two hours and then trek onto dry lava that resembles a moon-like landscape. Look up to catch an eruption from the active volcano if you're lucky (depending on the activity of the volcano you may or may not see eruptions or lava). Take unforgettable photos in a landscape so surreal that you feel like you are walking on the moon. Admire the breathtaking landscape and views of neighbouring volcanoes peeking through the clouds around you. Take your time returning to the base of the mountain as you make your way down the slippery, muddy slopes. (Note: Horses can be rented for the trip up and back.)
We recommend wearing comfortable trekking shoes and bringing a flash light and a walking stick (or rent one for a few dollars from local kids before you start your hike). It gets dark and steep on the mountain if you are going up in the afternoon. If you are travelling during rainy season bring a raincoat or poncho... you will definitely need it! Bring bottled water for the trek and some extra cash to buy snacks afterwards or pack a few power bars in your day pack to take with you.
Day 14: Lanquin, Guatemala
Antigua to Lanquin
Type: Shuttle
Time: 08:00
Duration: 8 Hours
Transfer from Antigua to Lanquin
You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Lanquin, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.
Day 15: Lanquin, Guatemala
Semuc Champey & Kanba Caves Tour
Departure Time: 09:00
Duration: 10 hrs
Take a hike through the mysterious caves of Kanba (activity at your own risk) which are filled with extraordinary limestone formations distributed among an endless stretch of different chambers (so far, the end of the cave system has not yet been discovered) housing a sharp pointed rock altar where ancient Maya once performed sacred rituals. The Maya people of Guatemala continue holding spiritual ceremonies here and believe that the cave is the "heart of heaven" where the secrets of many centuries are held.
Enjoy some free time to swim and go river tubing in the crystalline waters of Semuc Champey where there are natural pools filled with fresh mountain spring water above a 300-meter long limestone bridge. Flowing underneath the bridge is the Cahabón River where you will have time to swim in the cool waters in a beautiful natural surrounding immersed in native flora and fauna. At the end of the bridge you will visit waterfalls over 40-feet in height where the water from the pools rejoins the Cahabon River. The color of the water is constantly changing depending on factors such as the season, sun and rainfall, a characteristic of the national park that makes this place an idyllic and awe-inspiring setting to experience and take photographs.
Day 16: Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Lanquin to Rio Dulce
Type: Shuttle (Privarte)
Time: 08:00
Duration: 6 Hours
Transfer from Lanquin to Rio Dulce
You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Rio Dulce, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.
Day 17: Flores, Guatemala
Rio Dulce to Flores
Type: Shuttle
Time: 13:00
Duration: 4.5 Hours
Transfer from Rio Dulce to Flores
You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Flores, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.
Day 18: Flores, Guatemala
Tikal Early Morning Day Tour
Departure Time: 04:30, 06:00, 08:00
Duration: 8.5 hrs
Depart Flores at 4:30 am this morning for your early morning experience to Tikal archaeological site. Walk among giant pyramids towering over 200 feet at dawn to feel the magical vibration of Tikal and its historic splendor. Listen to the jungle sounds of exotic birds, monkeys and small mammals and feel the humid jungle air on your skin as the Maya inhabitants of this site felt it 2000 years ago. Immerse yourself in the jungle at dawn for an early morning tour through the archaeological site to experience the jungle come alive as it wakes up at sunrise, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get in touch with nature and marvel at the majestic pyramids hidden away in the jungle.
This magical ancient city is teeming with native flora and fauna. If you are lucky you may be able to spot a jaguar walking leisurely through the park, although large numbers of visitors have caused the wildlife to move further into the jungle away from the noise. Howler monkeys here are famous for their loud growling sounds which may surprise you from a tree top overhead. Keep an eye out for colorful birds throughout the park such as toucan, parrots, eagles and quetzals.
Tucked away in the vast Peten Region that covers 222 square miles of lush jungle in the northwest corner of Guatemala lie the ruins of the most magnificent archaeological site and important Maya citadel in Mesoamerica. Tikal National Park, declared as a UN World Heritage Site in 1979, is the largest excavated archaeological site on the American continents and is one of the most important natural reserves of Central America.
It is known that Tikal, meaning “Place of Voices” in Maya, was one of the most powerful cities of their era covering more than 16 square kilometers and dominating other tribes in the surrounding region as well as interacting with neighboring cultures as far as Teotihuacan in the Valle de Mexico. The site was estimated to house between 10,000 - 90,000 inhabitants before being abruptly abandoned over 1000 years ago.
*If you prefer, you can purchase your entrance tickets at any Banrural bank in Flores the day before the tour to avoid waiting in line.
Day 19: San Ignacio, Belize
Flores to San Ignacio
Type: Shuttle
Time: 07:00
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Transfer from Flores to San Ignacio
Please make your own way to the meeting point to catch your transfer to San Ignacio.
Day 20: Belize City, Belize
San Ignacio to Belize City
Type: Shuttle
Time: 10:30
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Transfer from San Ignacio to Belize City
Please make your own way to the meeting point to catch your transfer to Belize City.
Day 21: Caye Caulker, Belize
Belize City to Caye Caulker
Type: Ferry
Time: 16:30, 17:30
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Transfer from Belize City to Caye Caulker
Please make your own way to the ferry terminal to catch your overwater transfer to Caye Caulker.
Day 22: Caye Caulker, Belize
Snorkel with Sharks & Rays
Departure Time: 10:30, 13:30
Duration: 3 hrs
Discover the unparalleled natural beauty of Belize's marine life with a snorkeling experience that you will never forget. On this half-day tour in Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, you will get the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to snorkel along the reef in complete serenity. Navigate through mazes of pristine coral reef among schools of tropical fish, and even get the chance to swim with nurse sharks and stingrays. See all this and more at three different snorkeling stops along the magnificent local reef of Caye Caulker.
Meals: Snacks
Day 23: Chetumal, Mexico
Caye Caulker to Chetumal via San Pedro
Type: Ferry
Time: 12:45
Duration: 3 Hours
Transfer from Caye Caulker to Chetumal
Please make your own way to the ferry terminal to catch your overwater transfer to Chetumal. Please keep in mind that the check-in is 2 hours prior to departure!
Day 24: Bacalar, Mexico
Chetumal to Bacalar
Type: Bus
Time: 7:30:00 AM, 08:30, 10:30, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 14:30, 18:30
Duration: 1 Hours
Transfer from Chetumal to Bacalar
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Bacalar.
Day 25: Tulum, Mexico
Bacalar to Tulum
Type: Bus
Time: 07:20, 08:20, 09:20, 11:20, 12:20, 14:20, 15:20, 16:20, 17:20, 19:20
Duration: 2.5 Hours
Transfer from Bacalar to Tulum
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Tulum.
Day 26: Tulum, Mexico
Tulum: Shared ATVs, Rappel, Ziplines, Cenote Tour with Lunch
Departure Time: 8:30, 12:00
Duration: 5 hrs
Embark on an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Tulum's jungle with our ATV Park experience. Get ready to kick off the excitement by navigating through lush trails on powerful ATVs, immersing yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you.
Take your adrenaline to new heights as you zip through the treetops on our exhilarating zip lines, providing breathtaking aerial views of the jungle landscape. Then, dive into the magic of the Yucatan Peninsula with a refreshing dip in a stunning cenote, a natural sinkhole with pristine, crystal-clear waters, creating a unique and invigorating swimming experience.
To ensure a stress-free journey, our package includes convenient transportation. After your thrilling activities, indulge in a delicious lunch featuring local flavors, providing a culinary delight that complements your day of adventure. Don't miss out on this unforgettable experience in Tulum's jungle!
If you choose a shared ATV and the number of travelers in your reservation is odd, the extra passenger will be automatically assigned an individual ATV, and extra 12USD will be charged at check-in.
We offer roundtrip transportation (from hotel or meeting point, as applicable) for all travelers who book this tour.
NOTE: Please note outdoor activities carry risks, and you may be exposed to dangerous situations as part of this experience. Make sure you can participate safely given your abilities and the conditions (such as location, weather, and equipment).
Meals: Lunch
Day 27: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Tulum to Playa del Carmen
Type: Bus
Time: 08:10, 10:20, 11:20, 11:30, 13:00, 14:20, 15:20, 16:30, 17:35, 18:45, 19:20, 20:20, 21:25, 22:20, 23:57
Duration: 1 Hours
Transfer from Tulum to Playa del Carmen
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Playa del Carmen.
Day 28: Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Free Day
Day 29: Cancun, Mexico
Playa del Carmen to Cancun
Type: Bus
Time: Every 30 minutes from 07:00 to 23:10
Duration: 1.5 Hours
Transfer from Playa del Carmen to Cancun
Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Cancun.
Day 30: Cancun, Mexico
Chichen Itza Day Trip (roundtrip from Cancun)
Departure Time: 4:00
Duration: 12 hrs
Embark on a thrilling adventure to the heart of ancient civilization with this breathtaking early morning tour of Chichen Itza. Rise with the sun and beat the crowds as you delve into the rich history of this renowned archaeological site.
With a specialized guide by your side, journey back in time as you explore the remains of this once powerful city. Discover the secrets of the Maya civilization and learn how Chichen Itza played a pivotal role in shaping their world from 600 AD to 1200. Marvel at the intricate details of this sacred site, still considered holy by the Maya people of the Yucatan today.
Brave the jungle's lush terrain as you unearth the mystery of this lost city, protected by UNESCO and now listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. With the cool morning air at your back and the warm sun at your face, this early morning tour offers a unique opportunity to experience Chichen Itza in a way most will never have the chance to.
Please note: The government requires an additional fee for the use of mobile devices such as GoPros, professional cameras, selfie sticks, and drones at the ticket office. Get ready for a truly epic adventure!
Meals: Lunch
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