Contrasts of Mexico
Overview
Highlights
- Explore some of the very best Aztec & Mayan sites of Mexico
- Experience the local life & colour of Indigenous villages
- Discover little-explored ruins, hidden by rainforest
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Itinerary
Our tour starts today in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and the bustling heart and soul of the country. CDMX, as the city is also known, gives 'metropolis' a whole new meaning with a new landmark, museum or gallery at every turn, not to mention the countless colou...
We'll head out to explore the city like a local this morning, on foot and by public transport. The Zocalo is the vibrant heart of the city; the main square that has been a cornerstone in public gatherings since ancient times. We'll walk down to the centre from the hot...
Our destination today is Teotihuacan, a mysterious complex of pyramid ruins, abandoned 13 centuries ago. En route, we'll make a stop at the Basilica de Guadalupe, an important pilgrimage site for Mexicans which has a miraculous story to tell (our tour leader will fill...
Leaving the capital behind, today we'll drive south through cactus country to Oaxaca, one of the most charming colonial cities in Mexico. The drive will take around eight hours, but we'll make several stops along the way. During the latter half of our journey, we'll b...
As with many of Mexico's colonial cities, Oaxaca was built in the 16th century using stones from ancient civilisations in the surrounding areas. Today, we'll visit Monte Alban which was built by the Zapotec people who flourished here over 1,500 years ago. This complex...
We have a long journey ahead of us today as we begin to head towards San Cristobal. The drive will lead us up through the winding roads of the Sierra Madre Mountain range and we'll make several stops along the way. Our first port of call is a 2,000-year-old swamp cypr...
Leaving early this morning, we'll have a five-hour drive to Cahuare, the starting point for our visit to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon. The canyon is a unique rift measuring 41 kilometres long and up to 1000 metres deep, cut by the Rio Grijalva. This is the spot whe...
San Cristobal has a unique atmosphere, located high in the scenic Chiapas Mountain range. The indigenous groups from the surrounding hills fill the town and marketplace with their colourful dress including the distinctive Tzotzil community who still retain much of the...
Leaving the highlands behind us, today we have a long driving day ahead of us (approximately eight hours, plus stops). The road is slow and winding, but there are scenic views as we descend to the jungles of Palenque. We'll be driving via the town of Villahermosa, whe...
Today's guided visit to the ruins of Palenque is one of the highlights of our tour of Mexico. Palenque is both a fascinating and important site and we'll explore it in depth with a guide. Once the choking forest was cleared, the ruins revealed the tomb of the high pri...
Today we'll drive for three and a half hours to Frontera Corozal on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. From the lodge, we'll board our lancha (river boat) on the Ucumacinta River and head for the remote site of Yaxchilan, only accessible by boat and famous for its st...
We'll continue our Mayan rainforest adventure this morning, travelling on the water to the small settlement of Bethel. Here, we'll cross the border into Guatemala and drive for three hours on to Flores. Flores, on Lake Peten Itza, is beautifully picturesque and ve...
Today we'll visit Tikal, the great Maya metropolis set amid the rainforest, which can justly be compared with the celebrated ancient cities of Egypt and Greece. Initially settled in about 600 BC, Tikal was abandoned by its rulers around 890 AD and totally deserted a h...
Today we'll say goodbye to Guatemala and drive over the border to San Ignacio in Belize. En route, we'll visit the little-known site of Xunantunich, with its fantastic array of pyramids and temples. Then, we'll make our way to our hotel, where the rest of the afternoo...
Departing San Ignacio this morning, we'll drive to Belize's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), arriving at around 10am, and this is where our trip ends. The earliest your flight can depart is 12.30pm. Haven't had your fill of Latin America? Extend yo...
Our tour starts today in Mexico City, the capital of Mexico and the bustling heart and soul of the country. CDMX, as the city is also known, gives 'metropolis' a whole new meaning with a new landmark, museum or gallery at every turn, not to mention the countless colou...
We'll head out to explore the city like a local this morning, on foot and by public transport. The Zocalo is the vibrant heart of the city; the main square that has been a cornerstone in public gatherings since ancient times. We'll walk down to the centre from the hot...
Our destination today is Teotihuacan, a mysterious complex of pyramid ruins, abandoned 13 centuries ago. En route, we'll make a stop at the Basilica de Guadalupe, an important pilgrimage site for Mexicans which has a miraculous story to tell (our tour leader will fill...
Leaving the capital behind, today we'll drive south through cactus country to Oaxaca, one of the most charming colonial cities in Mexico. The drive will take around eight hours, but we'll make several stops along the way. During the latter half of our journey, we'll b...
As with many of Mexico's colonial cities, Oaxaca was built in the 16th century using stones from ancient civilisations in the surrounding areas. Today, we'll visit Monte Alban which was built by the Zapotec people who flourished here over 1,500 years ago. This complex...
We have a long journey ahead of us today as we begin to head towards San Cristobal. The drive will lead us up through the winding roads of the Sierra Madre Mountain range and we'll make several stops along the way. Our first port of call is a 2,000-year-old swamp cypr...
Leaving early this morning, we'll have a five-hour drive to Cahuare, the starting point for our visit to the spectacular Sumidero Canyon. The canyon is a unique rift measuring 41 kilometres long and up to 1000 metres deep, cut by the Rio Grijalva. This is the spot whe...
San Cristobal has a unique atmosphere, located high in the scenic Chiapas Mountain range. The indigenous groups from the surrounding hills fill the town and marketplace with their colourful dress including the distinctive Tzotzil community who still retain much of the...
Leaving the highlands behind us, today we have a long driving day ahead of us (approximately eight hours, plus stops). The road is slow and winding, but there are scenic views as we descend to the jungles of Palenque. We'll be driving via the town of Villahermosa, whe...
Today's guided visit to the ruins of Palenque is one of the highlights of our tour of Mexico. Palenque is both a fascinating and important site and we'll explore it in depth with a guide. Once the choking forest was cleared, the ruins revealed the tomb of the high pri...
Today we'll drive for three and a half hours to Frontera Corozal on the border of Mexico and Guatemala. From the lodge, we'll board our lancha (river boat) on the Ucumacinta River and head for the remote site of Yaxchilan, only accessible by boat and famous for its st...
We'll continue our Mayan rainforest adventure this morning, travelling on the water to the small settlement of Bethel. Here, we'll cross the border into Guatemala and drive for three hours on to Flores. Flores, on Lake Peten Itza, is beautifully picturesque and ve...
Today we'll visit Tikal, the great Maya metropolis set amid the rainforest, which can justly be compared with the celebrated ancient cities of Egypt and Greece. Initially settled in about 600 BC, Tikal was abandoned by its rulers around 890 AD and totally deserted a h...
Today we'll say goodbye to Guatemala and drive over the border to San Ignacio in Belize. En route, we'll visit the little-known site of Xunantunich, with its fantastic array of pyramids and temples. Then, we'll make our way to our hotel, where the rest of the afternoo...
Departing San Ignacio this morning, we'll drive to Belize's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE), arriving at around 10am, and this is where our trip ends. The earliest your flight can depart is 12.30pm. Haven't had your fill of Latin America? Extend yo...
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Explore!.
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.
Explore! Reviews & Ratings
HMT
Apr 2024
Contrasts of Mexico
Great trip, with a splendid leader. He had a marvelous sense of humor an...
Jane
Mar 2024
Contrasts of Mexico
A wonderful and varied trip. Special highlights were Oaxaca, Monte Alban, Palenque, the howler monkeys at Yaxha (think Jurassic Park), and the unusual church at San...
Sarah
Mar 2024
Contrasts of Mexico
Great itinerary, great guide (Luis) and great group - would highly recommend!
Other Explore! Reviews
Ann
Apr 2024
Highlights of Albania
Excellent trip with a great leader and itinerary.
Lucy
Apr 2024
Sri Lanka in Depth
This was an exceptional holiday from start to finish. Su, our tour guide was so knowledgeable, helpful, funny, energetic and passionate about his country, job and ma...
Gill
Apr 2024
Shogun Trail
The Shogun trip is absolutely fantastic. The itinerary surpassed my (high) expectations, the experience was totally immersive - food, culture, history and environmen...
Tour Operator
About Explore
We've been taking small groups on adventure vacations for over 41 years. Our authentic adventure travel experiences explore the sights and culture of a country, with hand-picked accommodation that balances comfort and location. Our average group tour size is just 11; perfect for meeting new people and getting to the heart of our destinations. Explore is one of the world's most trusted adventure travel companies with over 350 trips to more than 100 countries. We are passionate about travel and have developed a wide range of unique activities and adventures which give our customers an unforgettable experience with a team of award-winning Explore leaders. With Explore, you'll get to see your destination from a whole new perspective that takes you away from the typical well-trodden tourist track. You'll have the chance to meet, dine and stay with local people, rest in authentic accommodation with other like-minded explorers and travel to must-see destinations with a unique Explore twist. From family holidays to trips for solo travelers; cycling tours to wildlife safaris; trekking on mountains or exploring miles of scenic coastline, there is something for every kind of traveler with Explore. We will provide our expert knowledge, exciting itineraries and outstanding service as part of our sustainable travel experiences which take you under the skin of the country you're visiting for the adventure of a lifetime.
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Transportation & Flights
Transportation & flights
- Breakfast : 14
- Dinner : 1
- Breakfast : 14
- Dinner : 1
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations