Compare Classic Mexico Adventure by G Adventures vs Magical Mexico by Indus Travels

Day 1 Mexico City

Arrive at any time.

We recommend arriving a day or two early to fully explore this bustling metropolis. Talk to your agent about booking pre-tour accommodation.

Day 2 Mexico City

Take advantage of a day get to know Mexico City. Opt to check out the sprawling zócalo (main square), visit the Frida Kahlo museum in vibrant Coyoacán, or view impressive Mayan and Aztec artifacts at the National Anthropology Museum.

Day 3 Mexico City/Puebla

Rise early and explore the ancient city of Teotihuacan on a guided tour. Stand in awe of the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, stroll down the Avenue of the Dead and learn all about the site's importance to Mexico's ancient cultures for thousands of years, at one point being the largest city in the entire Americas. Continue to Puebla and enjoy an orientation walk downtown.

Day 4 Puebla

Enjoy a free day to explore the city. Opt to visit a ceramics workshop, check out the pyramid of nearby Cholula, sample delicious local specialties, or watch a lucha libre wrestling match at night.

Day 5 Puebla/Oaxaca

Journey south to beautiful Oaxaca, and get a feel for the city on an orientation walk, stopping to visit one of its sprawling markets. After, visit the Alebrijes Artisan Community for your G for Good moment. Meet a local artisan, speak with them, ask any questions the group may have, and learn more about how the Alebrijes are crafted.

Day 6 Oaxaca

Take advantage of free time, and opt to learn how to make mole in a cooking class, shop at nearby artisan villages, Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mitla, or sample some mezcal at a local distillery - look out for the worm! In the evening enjoy a cooking demonstration with a local expert and taste a variety of regional cuisine.

Day 7 Oaxaca/Palenque

Travel in style and fly to Villahermosa, then transfer to Palenque by land.

Day 8 Palenque

Enjoy a guided tour of the Mayan ruins of Palenque, set in the jungle of Chiapas. Opt for a jungle walk in the afternoon.

Day 9 Palenque/Mérida

Travel to the Yucatán Peninsula, stopping off in the seaside historic city of Campeche. Upon arrival in Mérida, enjoy an orientation walk to get to know the city's layout and attractions.

Day 10 Mérida

Enjoy a free day to explore Mérida and surroundings. Opt to visit the Mayan ruins of Uxmal or explore the main square and historic buildings of Mérida.

Day 11 Mérida/Valladolid

Explore the ancient Mayan City of Chichén Itzá with a guided tour, then continue on to the quaint city of Valladolid. Opt to cool off with a swim in a nearby cenote, a natural water-filled sinkhole.

Day 12 Valladolid/Playa del Carmen

Travel to Playa del Carmen to lounge on Mayan Riviera beaches.

Day 13 Playa del Carmen

Opt to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulúm or just play in the waves and enjoy the beach!

Day 14 Playa del Carmen

Depart at any time.

The Cancún airport is approximately 1 hour from Playa del Carmen. There are frequent public buses and shuttles from Playa del Carmen to the airport throughout the day.

Welcome to Mexico City! You will be amazed by the size of the city from the moment you arrive. Meet and greet with a local representative and transfer to your hotel.

Overnight in Mexico City

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Get to know one of the world´s biggest and most exciting cities! Enjoy a guided visit in the historical centre, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. This interesting tour will include “The Zocalo,” the heart of the city, where you will visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the oldest and largest of the Americas, and the National Palace, home of the famous murals of Diego Rivera. You will also see the ruins of the Templo Mayor, one of the most important temples of the Aztecs in their ancient capital city of Tenochtitlan. Next, we drive down the beautiful Paseo de la Reforma Avenue to arrive at Chapultepec Park. In pre-Hispanic times a summer residence for the noble class of the Aztecs, now it is Mexico City’s largest park and one of the largest city parks in the world. We will visit the Museum of Anthropology. This museum is considered to be among the finest in the world. Here you will admire the famous Aztec calendar stone, models of Tenochtitlán, a fascinating market place diorama, giant stone Olmec heads from the jungles of Tabasco and Veracruz, as well as many other interesting treasures.

Overnight in Mexico City

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Discover Teotihuacán, “the place where gods were created.” Teotihuacan is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the country. It is assumed that the city may have counted 200,000 inhabitants during its period of prosperity. In those years, Teotihuacán was the largest city of the American continent and one of the biggest of the world. Until its inhabitants abandoned the city around the 8th century, Teotihuacan was probably the most significant and civilized cultural centre in ancient Mexico. During this guided excursion you will encounter the magic and mystery of Teotihuacan. Admire (and climb?) the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Walk down the Avenue of the Dead, visit the Temple of Quetzalcoatl with its unique stone sculptures of plumed serpents, the Temple of the Butterflies, and the Fortresses. Before arriving back at your hotel, we make a stop at the Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a pilgrimage place for millions of Mexicans and people from all around the world.

Overnight in Mexico City

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Today we leave Mexico City behind. We head west towards Puebla, Mexico’s fourth largest city, passing the photogenic, snow-capped volcanoes Popocatépetl (Smoking Mountain, 5464m) and Iztaccíhuatl (Sleeping Lady, 5230m). A visit is planned to Santa Maria Tonantzintla, with its gorgeous temple decorated by indigenous people. In Puebla, also known as the “City of Angels,” we will visit the extraordinary Rosary Chapel, the Cathedral, the main square and its beautiful historical centre. Continue to Oaxaca, one of the most colourful colonial towns of Mexico and, just like Puebla, listed as a World Heritage Site.

Overnight in Oaxaca 

After breakfast at the hotel, visit Monte Alban, built on a mountain top flattened by the Zapotecs. Here we will find cultural traces from different civilizations, such as the Olmecs, Mixtecs and Zapotecs. We will then continue to Mitla, one of the most enigmatic sacred places of the region, famous especially for its mosaics. The village had great importance as a burial site and is also a great place to buy crafts. Enroute we will make a stop at the Tule tree, perhaps one of the largest living organisms in the world. Return to Oaxaca and experience the beauty of this city, with wonderful crafts, traditional gastronomy, and sights such as the Cathedral, the magnificent Santo Domingo church, the Museum of Gold, and the colourful “20 de Noviembre” market.

Overnight in Oaxaca

In the early morning (around 4:00am) we will depart to the beautiful state of Chiapas. We will enjoy breakfast enroute. Today’s highlight will be a boat ride through the Sumidero Canyon, which measures a thousand metres at its highest point. Admire the beautiful rock formations and enjoy the abundant wildlife that lives on the shores of the Grijalva River (crocodiles, spider monkeys, and many different species of birds). Afterwards, you will pass through the historically important town Chiapa de Corzo, on our way to San Cristobal de las Casas.

Overnight in San Cristobal

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Take a stroll through the narrow cobblestone streets of San Cristobal, one of Mexico’s best-preserved colonial towns, full of brightly painted houses and beautiful churches. With its laid-back, bohemian atmosphere, you can spend hours browsing the shops and artisans’ markets. Full day at leisure. Alternatively, take an optional trip to San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan. These two indigenous villages, located in the highlands of Chiapas, are full of mystic traditions and famous for their unique textiles.

Overnight in San Cristobal

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. On the way to Palenque we will visit the waterfalls of Agua Azul. The turquoise colour, which makes these waterfalls so unique, comes from the high mineral content of the water. Enjoy the surrounding jungle environment and go for a swim (if time permits). Afterwards we will continue our way through the lush jungle to Palenque as today’s final destination.

Overnight in Palenque

After breakfast at the hotel, visit the archaeological zone of Palenque, surrounded by jungle, and one of the most important sites of the Maya World. It was inside the Pyramid of the Inscriptions where King Pakal’s sarcophagus and its carved gravestone were found. Enjoy the impressive structures as well as the breathtaking natural environment of this World Heritage Site. After this visit, we head to the coastal town of Campeche. Campeche’s prosperity as a thriving port town made it a frequent target for attacks by pirates. Following the worst attack in 1663, impressive defensive walls were built around the town. Upon arrival you will enjoy a panoramic tour through the city.

Overnight in Campeche

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. On the way to Merida we will visit Uxmal (meaning “built three times"), located in the Puuc region. Uxmal, also listed as a World Heritage Site, is considered one of the Maya cities that is most representative of the Puuc style, the region's dominant architectural style. Explore the Magician Pyramid, the Quadrangle of the Nuns, the Governor’s palace and the ballgame court. After this visit you will proceed to Merida, “The White City,” to enjoy a panoramic tour, including Montejo Avenue, the monument to Motherland, the main square, the cathedral and government palace.

Overnight in Merida

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. At the end of the Early Classic Period, around the year 600 AD, Chichen Itza was one of the largest and most prominent Maya cities. Nowadays, Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the best-preserved Maya site on the Yucatan peninsula, and it was recently declared one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Various different architectural styles are seen in Chichen Itza. Most famous landmarks are the Temple of Kukulkan (“El Castillo”), the Ballgame Court, the Platform of the Skulls, the Temple of the Jaguar, the Observatory, the One Thousand Columns, and the Sacred Cenote. Continue to Cancun. Drop off at your hotel (beach extension available upon request).

Please note when booking flight or extending your stay – the arrival time in Cancun is approximately at 18:00pm